Diclaimer: Don't own Buffy, Angel or the support characters. Just borrowing
them for a little fun.
Review: Please, good, bad I don't care.
Chapter Two: Connections.
(Los Angelus, Hyperion Hotel)
"Don't tell me, skulking?" Gunn asked a man with his head buried deep within a dusty tome.
"No at the office." The man replied pulling himself away from his book. "But he's probably skulking over there." The Hyperion, once full of life and enthusiasm was now beginning to gather dust. No one had set foot inside since Jasmine was destroyed and Wolfram and Heart offered Angel Investigations a chance to run their LA office.
"Hey pass us the big green one," The man looked shocked at such a request but passed it over, "Might as well do something, with business being well, non existent now." Just as Gunn began to read the dusty tome, the phone rang. "Angel Investigations we help the helpless. Oh Fred, you wanna talk to Wes? Sure." Gunn handed to the phone over to the other man.
"Fred what's wrong? Anything apocalyptic?" Wes asked sounding rather hopeful. "No." the disappointment was evident even to Gunn. "There's a what? A Peruvian orb in the kitchen. Yeah I'll run it over. Okay see you in twenty minutes. " Wes hung the phone up and turned to Gunn.
"So, Peruvian orb hey? What's it do?"
"Well it depends on who uses it." Came a familiar female voice from the doorway. "You know you shouldn't keep it in the kitchen, I'd think it'd be better in the fires of hell but hey been gone a while, so I'm guessin' I lost the right to complain."
"Back foul beast of hell." Wes said stumbling from his chair.
"Wesley that's no way to treat a friend. I mean." Cordelia was cut off by Wesley's hug.
"We thought you were... you know dead."
"Well, I will be if you don't let go. You know, the whole oxygen issue." Cordy replied smiling at them both as Wesley released her from his grip. "What happened here? Where is everyone?"
"Up at the office. You know, we're working at Wolfram and Heart." Gunn replied.
"YOU'RE WHAT!" Cordy retorted in complete shock. "How could. you're. I. what the.?!"
"Cordelia breath." Came a voice from the just beyond the door. It was Nicholas.
"Do you two, know each other?" Wesley asked surveying Nicholas.
"Sorta yeah. Wes, Gunn this is Nicholas."
"Hey, you a higher being too?" Gunn asked seemingly intrigued.
"You could say that." Nicholas replied with a smile. Nicholas walked into the middle of the foyer and looked the hotel over. "Not a bad place."
"Thanks. But you really aren't seeing it in its best. Not that it was much better then." Gunn replied turning to Cordy. "Where've you been? I mean, I thought you weren't, meant to come back."
"Well, I'm not unless."
"Unless there's something big coming." Wesley answered somewhat apprehensively.
"Bingo. So why the hell are you working for the lawyers from hell?"
"Long story."
"They killed Jasmine, ending world peace, so Wolfram and Heart offered them a job. Simple really." Nicholas replied still looking around the foyer.
"How'd you know.?" Gunn was asking when Cordy interrupted.
"Him over there," Cordy said pointing towards Nicholas, "well he's a God." Both Wesley and Gunn froze on the spot. "Oh jeez, does everyone have to do that?"
"Well, y'know you don't have to tell everyone, exactly who I am. I mean, most people have an image of a God as being really tall and wearing a massive beard. Which I myself don't like, I mean, how practical is it, food and stuff would get caught. Talk about yuck factor." Cordy walked over up to both Wesley and Gunn and snapped them back to reality.
"Are we back? Good. Did we enjoy our little escape from reality?"
"You were kidding right? I mean he's not.not really a God?" Gunn asked still rather bewildered.
"I thought Gods stayed out of this dimension? Too trivial." Wesley asked astounded by such a possibility.
"Most Gods would, but I'm not most Gods. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that most Gods don't even come close to what I am." Nicholas replied making his way over to the stairs.
"My, haven't we got a complex." Gunn retorted under his breath.
"Well I'd be a little careful what you say Gunn. I don't imagine having a God pissed at you would be a good thing." Nicholas rebutted now standing directly behind Gunn.
"How'd you.?" Gunn was lost for words.
"God remember. All powerful and that."
"Boys, we don't have time for games." Cordy reminded them. "Big bad on its way, and it's bigger than ever."
"Bigger than Miss 'I'll make people happy whist feeding on them?'"
"Oh you have no idea."
"Well they will when The Bitch arrives."
"The. Bitch?" Wesley asked somewhat confused.
"Oh yeah." Nicholas retorted falling into a nearby chair. "Have you ever had a family member who was such a bitch that you just wanted to close your eyes and hope it was all a dream?"
"Can't say that I have." Gunn replied.
"Are you saying the big bad is, a family member?" Nicholas nodded towards Wesley, "You mean to tell me the big bad is another, God?"
"Got it in one. She's my sister, well I don't know if that's the right term but we existed from the beginning and I'm really not looking forward to existing with her in the end."
"So that's why you're back then?" Wesley asked Cordelia.
"But I thought that when Jasmine, y'know 'popped' out you." Gunn said still watching Nicholas closely.
"Died, come on, give me some credit. You really think that some super bitch could keep me down?"
"Sorry, not to interrupt this nice moment you're all having, but, we have a little matter to attend to." Nicholas retorted, somewhat blunter than usual.
"Oh yeah, but I think we should fill everyone in at the same time." Cordy replied.
"I Agree. Looks like we're taking a trip to Wolfram and Heart." Nicholas retorted almost smiling.
**** (Wolfram and Heart)
The once empty building was now again filled with the bustle of people rushing here there and everywhere. So much so that no one noticed Cordy, Nicholas, Wesley and Gunn enter the main foyer.
"I still can't believe you took a job here. Why? What on Earth possessed any of you to, I don't know, work for the major bad guys." Cordy again bellowed whilst Wesley and Gunn both tried to hush their now worked up friend.
"Excuse me, do you have an appointment?" One of the security guards asked Nicholas who simply just stared blankly at him. "Hey, no appointment, no entry!" the security guard repeated now placing his hand on his weapon.
"Whoa there's no need for that Greg." Wesley retorted seeing him reach for his gun. "He's with us. We're on our way to see Angel."
Greg seemed somewhat taken back by Wesley's approach. He seemed worried, not for Nicholas's safety but his, but reluctantly he let them pass. "Oh sorry Mr. Pryce, I didn't know."
"Wow Wes, you really command authority here." Cordelia said in astonishment, "Who would've thought.?" At this, Wesley shied away slightly but soon regained his demeanour. The corridors seemed to go on forever, everyone immaculate and identical to the last, with the obvious exception to the gold names attached to each of the doors.
"Where's tall dark 'n' broody work anyway? It's like we've been walking around for hours." Cordy began to moan, "What are we, waiting for sunset or somethin'."
They walked down this corridor and then another, finally they reached two highly polished oak doors with the gold name telling a relieved Cordelia the they'd finally reached their destination, they'd finally reached Angel's office. As they entered through the huge doors Cordy was shocked to find that they where in another large room and over in the corner there was a small, yet obviously expensive desk. Behind which, sat a small elegant woman.
"Mr. Angel's office how may I be of assistance?"
"We're here to see erm, Mr. Angel." Cordy told the woman sounding unsure as why she was referring to Angel as Mr.
"Do you have an appointment?" The small woman asked sounding rather offended by there presence.
"Erm. no, we're old friends of his." Cordy replied.
"I'm afraid without an appointment you can't proceed."
Wesley was now walking over to the woman's desk, seeing how much progress or lack there of Cordy was making. "Erm, Alice Mr. Angel is expecting them. He just hasn't placed it on the books," Wesley paused for a moment allowing his words to sink into Alice's mind, "you know how sensitive his matters are."
The colour all but drained from her face. "Oh, right." Turning to Cordelia, "I'm sorry. I didn't realise. Please, go right a head."
"Wes, what did you say? What did you do?" Cordy asked quite astounded.
"It's nothing, it just well, Angel has a reputation and the people here know it." He replied trying not to arouse Nicholas's attention.
"Do you honestly think that just 'cause other people are around I can't here you?" Nicholas replied looking absent-mindedly around the large room they had just entered, "God-like hearing, remember?" Cordy was looking around the room as if she was in pure heaven, the marble pillars reaching to the high ceiling, the wood flooring and the expensive furniture reminded her of her old life. The life she'd been forced out of so many years ago, her first life and that was saying something, because she was now in her third life, a life that she'd fight that bit harder to keep.
"This is just amazing. I mean, look at this stuff." Just then the chair behind the desk turn around revealing a tall handsome man, wearing a suit by Ralph Loren but somehow still seeming to hold a solemn gaze. "Angel."
"Cordy? It's, it's not possible you're. you're." Angel was lost for words, the woman of his dreams had returned. Was this a dream? Was he losing his mind?
"Dead. Yeah I noticed. Thanks for just leaving my 'stolen' body just lying in a warehouse." Cordy said holding a stern look. Angel's face seemed overrun with terror. Was she angry with him for like she said leaving her body in a warehouse? "Oh for crap sake, get off your butt and give us a hug at least. I mean it's been almost two years since we've actually talked." Cordy's face was now full of the glow he'd wished a thousand times he could see just once more.
Angel didn't need to be told twice. With seemingly no effort Angel had jumped from his chair straight over his desk and held Cordy in the tightest embrace anyone could possibly stand. "I'm so sorry. If I'd know that, I would have, found some way." Angel's words were cut short as Cordy's lips engulfed his mouth, pulling him into a passionate kiss that seemed to stop time itself.
"Now that's what I'm talking about. You know spending as long as I did up there, not being able to touch anyone, talk to anyone, that's probably the one thing I missed the most," Cordy replied slowly pulling her lips free of Angel's.
"They've been waiting to do that from the moment they met up in LA. I thought they might have exploded with sexual tension by now." Nicholas said to Gunn as they were both trying to avoid the uncomfortable moment that now presented itself.
"You mean to tell me that you've been watching over us, all? Just how long do you watch and when?" Gunn asked wearing a worried expression.
"Don't worry 'bout it. It's not like I don't have other stuff to occupy myself with. I don't sit watching everyone. I mean, come on, the boredom of some people's lives, I mean please." Nicholas replied now staring at an eighteenth century statue of a Roman solider. "You know I think I used to know him."
"Not to break up this tender moment, but Cordy don't you have some news to tell?" Wesley interrupted Angel's and Cordy's longing gaze.
"Oh yeah." Looking into Angel's eyes, "Sorry not just a social call, business as usual. Well it would be if you weren't, you know, working for the people who spend most of their time trying to bring an end to the world, but hey, who cares, right?"
"What's wrong? What is it?" Angel asked now noticing Nicholas but the wall, "And who's he?"
"Names Nicholas but," He paused for a moment, "I don't actually have a nickname, so I guess it's just Nicholas."
"What are you then? Cause you sure don't smell human. I mean, there's not even a trace of fear." Angel asked now trying to outstare Nicholas.
"Hey I wouldn't bother with that Dead boy, not unless you wanna stand here for all eternity."
"Got nothin' but time." Angel replied.
"Oh, I like him, he's got spunk." Just then, Nicholas disappeared, "But like I said you really shouldn't bother." The voice coming from everywhere but finally fixing behind the desk, the chair in which Angel had leapt from only moments ago, "I mean if you want to of course I've never backed down from a challenge before, well, not from a vampire anyway."
"How'd you do that?" Angel asked slowly moving over to the side cabinet.
"Oh I wouldn't do that if I were you. I mean, sure if you press it they'll come racing in, ask you what's wrong and of course you'll say something like 'hold him' but I'll just do this," and once again Nicholas had vanished from the chair only to reappear behind Angel. "Now you wouldn't want me to have to resort to any violence now, would you?"
Angel left no time for any second thoughts. He spun round and grabbed Nicholas by the throat, but Nicholas didn't even move, actually he was wearing a look of pure joy. "Now I'll ask again, what are you?" Nicholas just smiled raised his hand to Angel's chest, so fast Angel didn't even see him move, which sent Angel flying over to the other side of the very large office. As soon as Angel managed to pull himself up several security officers came bursting through the doors.
"Mr. Angel are you alright?" Asked one of the security guards now brandishing his gun.
"Okay, what is it with people and guns, I mean, they never solve anything." Nicholas said as he picked up a small glass orb.
"Angel, Nicholas is a friend and trust me none of this," pointing to the security guards, "none of this is necessary." Cordelia said trying her hardest to convince Angel to listen.
"She's right. Nicholas is kind of a higher being." Wesley said trying to help Cordy.
"A higher being?" Angel repeated looking over to Nicholas, "Him?"
"In a fashion anyway." Replied Cordy in an apprehensive voice. Nevertheless, Angel trusted Cordelia's judgment and called off the guards. As Angel walked back over to his desk he didn't take his eyes of Nicholas, he simply didn't trust him. It wasn't that he was a higher being, that didn't help but it was something else, something darker.
"So spill. What's the what?" Angel asked leaning against his desk eyes still on Nicholas.
"Shouldn't we wait for Fred and Lorne? They need to hear this too." Replied Cordy, now noticing Angel's forceful look at Nicholas.
"Sure." He reached over to his phone and dialled a number. "Fred, Lorne meeting." And with that said, he replaced the phone. "They'll be here in a minute." They stood there in silence waiting for Fred and Lorne to arrive. The time seemed to slow to an almost halt until the door opened and revealed Fred and Lorne.
"Aaarrrggghhh!" Lorne let put a huge shout as he came face to face with Cordelia. "What the hell!?"
"Well it's nice to see you again too." Cordy said with a smile.
"Cordy, but I thought." Fred said slowly, still recovering from Lorne's outburst and the shock of see her standing no less than six feet away.
"Hey it takes more than some all powerful she-bitch to get rid of me."
"Great so everyone's here, lets get the story." Angel said briskly.
"Well the same sort of deal basically but with a mega twist." Cordy said turning to Nicholas who was still amusing himself with the glass orb.
"The worlds going to be destroyed." He replied calmly.
"The worlds going to be destroyed, well that really helps. I mean, you got anything other than a vague statement like perhaps name, time and place, or is that too much?" Angel said harshly.
"Angel!" Wesley said astounded by his attitude.
"It's okay Wes. He doesn't trust me. I mean would you trust someone you've never seen before if they told you the worlds was going to end? Of course not and at any rate vampires aren't the most intelligent demons." Angel's blood was beginning to boil, he could just snap this guy's neck, who would care really? It's not like he's important. Angel could save the world without this guy, he's done it before. "Actually Angel, you need me." Everyone but Angel was now looking very confused, what was he talking about.
"What makes you so sure?"
"Well it's kinda a family issue." Nicholas said now staring deeply into the glass orb.
"Erm, excuse me but, who are you?" Fred asked still a little confused.
"My names Nicholas."
"He's a higher being apparently." Added Angel.
"Well, to be completely honest, I'm a God." The room fell into silence as if they'd been sucked into a black hole. They simply stood there in complete shock. "You know, I'm starting love it when this happens. It used to be everyone just ran in the opposite direction but now, now they simply go catatonic."
"Well we haven't got the time. Angel." Cordy bellowed as they came back to their senses. "What is it with people and freaking out over Nicholas being a God?"
"A God, as in fire and brimstone God?" Fred asked somewhat perplexed.
"I need a drink." Lorne walked over to the drink tray and began to pour himself the strongest drink he could, which wasn't much as most of the bottles were filled with blood. "You know Angel, you should stock up on something other than blood and gin, I mean, for moments like this."
"Well yeah, I guess so but I'm not a big fan of the fire and what not." Nicholas replied now seemingly focused on the glass orb, expecting it to leap around the room. "But that's not.well, actually it's most probably why we're here." As Nicholas said that Angel straightened up as if to say, 'I told you.'
"So are you going to tell us about this apocalypse or are we just suppose to guess?" Gunn asked almost as if he was aching for a fight.
"Yeah. I think it's about time we tell you." Nicholas said now completely covering the orb with his hands. "I'm sure that most of you know that the Earth is far older than anyone has ever guessed. Much older than six billion years. In fact the Earth has existed many times before as would most of you."
"You mean reincarnation?" Wesley asked sounding rather enthused by the idea.
"Reincarnation is probably the wrong word. It's more like, a parallel life. You all had life before you died and you were most likely reincarnated, then the world was destroyed and life had to start over once more." Everyone in the room was floored by this information. Had they actually been alive before? Had the world been destroyed? It all seemed too unreal.
"You saying the world's already been destroyed. How? By who?" Gunn was totally over come by shock.
"Just some run of the mill demons in what is now Egypt. But they were wiped out by the Slayer over three thousand years ago. Anyway there was a time when the universe, when all of existence was like this," Nicholas held out his hand to reveal a small ball of pure energy. "For eons this was all, but as the eons passed the energy split into three parts, though three unequal parts," As he spoke the energy split revealing three parts, two were equal in size but the third was much larger. "This larger ball formed everything. It formed the Heavens, it formed Hell and it formed the mortal world-Earth. For a long time everything existed fine, in perfect harmony, of course there were no beings in existence. The growing influence of the two smaller energy balls created life, first the Hells were populated, followed by the Heavens, but the Earth was left clean. This is where your knowledge of the world starts to become accurate."
"So these smaller energies, what are they, the PTB's?" Angel asked, now intrigued by what Nicholas was saying.
"No, these energies are something more powerful then the PTB's. These are the sole reason for life, for magicks and for death." Nicholas replied in a sombre tone. "And these are the reason the Earth, the universe and possibly the whole of existence is in grave danger. For over the eons as the primary source of energy grew so too did these. They grew into humanoid form and became Shalimar and myself." As those words left his mouth, Nicholas was faced by a room of perplexed faces, only to be broken by Lorne.
"Oh sweet merciful Zeus, I need another drink."
"Well Shalimar chose to preside over the hell dimensions, I chose to protect everything else, the heavens, life, death, and magicks." The energies floating begin to merge and become solid again but before Nicholas was able to grab it, he was sent flying into the far wall by an invisible force.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN STOP ME WITH THESE MERE MORTALS!" The voice boomed throughout the entire building. Nicholas pulled himself up with a look of sheer power and anger in his eyes.
"No. I know I will defeat you. No more playing around. This time you won't escape oblivion."
"YOU"RE MORE OF A FOOL THAN THE LAST TIME WE FOUGHT! BUT THIS TIME YOU WON"T BE SO LUCKY!" Everyone but Nicholas was hiding from the omnipotent voice, looking like they were once again facing The Beast for the first time.
"NOM EST INVERNATOR!" A huge flash of white light emanated for Nicholas and as suddenly as the voice started it was gone.
"Okay that, was new." But as Gunn said that Nicholas collapsed, weak from banishing Shalimar from the building. Cordy, seeing Nicholas collapse raced over to his side just as he was coming around.
"Are you okay?" she asked her voice full of concern.
"Never better, well apart from the huge head splitting pain and the ringing in my ears that is." Nicholas replied pulling himself up with help of Cordelia. "Not as powerful as you'd think a god to be hey?" he said looking at all the bewildered faces. "But once you see her you'll know why, it takes a lot of power to banish a God even if it is only her voice."
"Oh what's the matter kitten? Scared of the big bad voices?" Angel said somewhat lighter than before. But it wasn't long before Cordelia had a terrifying realisation.
"What did you just say Angel?" Asking as she stood up and turned to face Angel. The mind filled with apprehension.
"I said, were you scared of the evil she-bitch?" He replied calmly, "Kitten."
Cordy was now sure of it. The person standing before her was not Angel, a trusted friend but the murderous creature that dwells within him. "Angelus!" Those words echoed through everyone's minds but really having no time for it to fully sink in.
"Well maybe you're not all as dumb as Angel thinks, huh." Angelus said with surprise. But the static moment wasn't left for long as Angelus charged at Gunn who was reaching for his stake, which he kept in his jacket pocket. "Now that's not nice." Angelus replied as he grabbed Gunn and threw him with such force into Wesley, who was moving to assist Gunn. As both Gunn and Wesley hit the ground, Angelus let out a satisfied laugh. "Now that, was fun."
"Angelus but how?" Lorne asked racing over to Cordy's side. "I mean where's Angel's happy?"
"Well Angel was growing bored of the whole saving people bit and well, here's Angelus." He replied as he grasped Lorne's throat. "You know what's one of the most annoying things Angel ever did, besides fall in love and bone a slayer, was not breaking your little neck every time you sang." Angelus simply spun around and snapped Lorne's neck before sending him flying onto an unconscious Gunn and Wesley. "I really never get tired of that."
"That's enough Angelus!" Nicholas, now fully recovered from forcing Shalimar out and was staring him down, but all he could do was laugh. "You think you can take me? Then by all means lets go." Angelus, wasting no time, charged at Nicholas who simply raised his hand and sent Angelus flying. "Come on Angelus, I thought you were the scourge of Europe, not a common demon." This seemed to enrage Angelus ever further because he now changed to reveal his demonic features.
"God or no God I'm still gonna rip you to pieces." Again, Angelus tried to rush Nicholas but he was sent flying once again into the wall. "You think you can hold me here forever?"
"He's right, you can't hold him there forever, I mean the coming apocalypse. Aren't you like needed for that?" Fred asked not looking at Angelus.
"That's exactly how she wants it. Isn't it, Shalimar?" he replied staring directly into Angelus' eyes. "You think if you bring back Angelus, the baddest mother of a vampire to ever walk this Earth that I'd just forget about you?"
"Oh no dear brother. In fact, I'm so looking forward to the time when we can meet face to face." Angelus's mouth moved but the voice was female and much colder than Angelus could have possibly portrayed. It was the voice of hell itself.
"As am I, but for now we'll just have to settle for this." Nicholas gathered a small ball of energy and threw it towards Angelus. Unfortunately, an energy barrier erected in front of Angelus protecting him.
"Do you honestly think I'm giving up this body, with it's connections, it's history, it's power. You've become just as simple as those you've sworn to protect." As Angelus said those final words, a huge explosion emanated from his spot sending everyone to the floor. As they got back to there feet they finally saw the reason behind the explosion.
"Erm, where's Angelus?" Fred asked brushing her hair out of her face. The one once beautiful office was now home to a smouldering pile of rubble. But Angelus was nowhere to be seen.
"Damn it!" Nicholas let out much louder than he expected. "That bitch is so going to pay!" Hitting his hand on what remained of the desk.
Now, both Gunn and Wesley were coming around. Trying to push Lorne off them. "Oh my God!" Wesley replied at the sight before him.
"Okay, what the hell happened?"
"Shalimar." Nicholas replied somewhat defeatedly. "I didn't see that coming. Maybe she's right, maybe my time here has left me weak and blind." THWACK!!! Cordy walked over to Nicholas and slapped him across the face.
"I'm not having you do this, especially now. We need to focus on finding Angel."
"Erm don't you mean Angelus?" Gunn retorted.
"What I don't get is how Angelus returned. There was no moment of pure happiness; I mean Cordy's kisses aren't that good." Wesley said not catching Cordelia's gaze.
"Like you're an expert kisser Mr. Drool much."
"It's what Shalimar's good at. She sees the evil within and brings it out, like a virus. She can corrupt even the most reformed person. If you were evil once, did an evil act, no matter how small, she can bring it out and amplify it ten fold." Nicholas replied now calmer.
"Lorne!" Fred screamed as Lorne rose form the ground to reveal his head facing the other way.
"You know, this doesn't hurt as much as you'd think but." Lorne cracked his head back into the right position, "What in all of Pylea was that and what happened here?" He asked now seeing the destruction before him.
"Angelus." Fred replied.
"What! I need a drink."
"You do drink and awful lot Krevlorneswath of the Deathwok clan but under these circumstances I believe a drink is definitely in order." Nicholas replied walking over to where the bar used to be and waved his hand over the debris. As he did so, the debris began to reassemble. "Now this is much better. Can I tempt anyone else?" He asked now holding a bottle of nineteen- century brandy.
"Okay now you're my new best friend." Lorne replied remembering the previous contents of the bar. "Could I possibly ask for a Sea Breeze, by any chance?"
"Hey why not, if the worlds going to end might as well live it up whilst you can." As Nicholas said that, he waved his hand over another pile of debris and several more bottles appeared.
**** (Meanwhile in an abandoned warehouse.)
"My Queen, why have you summoned this, abomination? He's a vampire, a worthless being." Alex asked kneeling before a solid gold throne partially hidden behind the shadows.
"You would question me? Who has commanded power like you've never seen? Who can make all kneel before me? Who has existed since the beginning and who shall exist in the end?" Came a cold voice from a shadowy throne.
"I mean no disrespect, but a vampire?" Alex replied the fear so evident within his voice.
"This vampire is all that stands between me and complete failure. My dear brother won't dare risk this champion's soul." Her demeanour now shifting to be more comical and amused. "Champion, what a strange term for someone seeking redemption. Honestly after what he did, slaughtering countless men, women and children, you'd think it would be the least he could do." Shalimar now rose, dressed in the finest silks and cloths ever seen. She walked slowly down past Alex towards another man standing in the shadows. "Angelus, how do you feel after being liberated from this monstrosity placed upon you?" Now walking behind Angelus placing her arm across his chest, "How anyone could curse a creature so ingenious, so devilishly evil," Shrugging as she stepped away, "Is beyond me."
"Not to put a damper on all this lovey dovey emotion crap but why exactly did you set me free? Cause if it's to do thy bidding, I'm not what you call, a team player. Really more of a one man show, you know what I mean?" Angelus replied smirking at Alex who still seemed disgusted by the vampire's presents.
"My dear Angelus, who said it was you I'm interested in?" Shalimar replied tuning to face Angelus. "I was just asking how you felt after what I've done. The real reason you're here has been removed." Shalimar now pointing to Angel bound to the floor by an unseen force. "He is the one they will protect, he is the one my dear brother wishes to save, not you. No one cares if 'you' live or die." The smirk on Angelus's face vanished almost as quickly as it came. "But you're not without your appeal. In fact I shall spare you, so that you may perform a task for me." Shalimar said, now sitting beside Angel. "Yes Angel, your dear friends are going to have a little visitor. Just imagine the carnage knowing that even if they try, Angelus will never again know the feeling of a soul."
**** (Back at the Hyperion Hotel)
Once again, the foyer in the Hyperion was bustling with activity. Books were again piled five-six copies high, many lay open at pages filled with demonic languages. Fred and Wesley were making their way through the sixteenth book on demonic Gods, hoping to find any reference to Shalimar or her plan.
"This is useless, I've read this book twice and still no reference to anything remotely describing Shalimar." Fred said as she rubbed her tired eyes.
"Maybe that's because St. Nick over there isn't really helping out. I mean if your evil super bitch of a sister had stolen a friend and was now waiting to destroy the Earth and probably the rest of the universe wouldn't you want to at least contribute some of that divine knowledge?" Gunn replied as he too threw his book on the increasingly large pile.
"Gunn I'm sure if he knew anything he'd let us know. It's not like we've never faced situations like this before." Fred retorted rather harshly. "Pass me that book beside you." Gunn moved to hand Fred the book when Wesley jumped from his seat.
"Ah ha!"
"What? You found something?" Fred asked surprisingly.
"Well, I'm not sure. You see it's a passaged from the dairy of Toa Jinn." Wesley explained.
"Toa who?" Gunn asked dumbfounded. The noise had attracted the attention of the remaining three.
"Toa Jinn was a powerful sorcerer. He was said to command the four elements." Wesley replied as he scanned the passage more thoroughly. "But this passage isn't the original and from the looks of it, it seems to have been translated wrong."
"What's it say?" Cordy asked now sitting herself down on a nearby stool.
"Something about a noble man, who holds hearts in his hands." Wesley replied moving closer to the book as if tempting the words to speak to him. "Or perhaps his heart is blind. It's all quite unclear."
"When is an important piece of information clear? I mean do you remember the whole Connor prophecies or the Beast for that matter." Fred said wearily.
"But sweet cheeks those were all rewritten by the big and evil." Lorne replied placing his hand on her shoulder. "But maybe tall, dark and powerful over here can make some sense of it." As soon as Lorne uttered those words, all eyes fell upon Nicholas.
"Oh sure, just because I'm a God doesn't mean I can decipher old texts." He said, but Wesley just handed him the book anyway. "Fine, I'll try but I'm not promising you any thing here." Nicholas retorted as he began to look over the text. "Well it's definitely not the original work of Toa Jinn. He was known for inscribing a small insignia on all of this work."
"That's really interesting but what's it say?" Cordy asked sounding impatient.
"Well Wesley was close. It says, 'the blind shall lead the man of heart into the fire.' What that means, I have no idea." Wesley let out a small sigh but was cut off by a loud popping noise emanating from the foyer.
Lorne went to investigate the noise when the hotel filled with a cry of happiness. "Faith, Willow what are you doing here?" With those words said, the rest of the gang filed out into the foyer to be met by Willow, Faith, Buffy and Xander, all being held tightly by Lorne.
"Hey, it's nice to see you too but, ribs, being crushed." Willow replied somewhat muffled by Xander's arm covering her face.
"Oh sorry." Wesley and the others were now standing in complete shock. "What are you doing here?" Lorne replied but Wesley interrupted any further questions Lorne might have had with one of his own.
"How'd you get here?"
"Oh that, that's simple. Teleportation spell is there any better way to travel?" Willow replied smiling sheepishly.
"Oh, what about the normal way?" Xander said propping himself up with the nearest chair. "I feel as if I left my insides somewhere over Knoxville."
"Oh you big baby. It wasn't that bad." Faith replied jokingly. "Hey Wes."
"Faith, Buffy." Wesley replied in acknowledgment.
"So spill, what are you doing here?" Lorne asked, still rather hyped.
"Big bad a brewin'. The coven rang and told us that we should be in LA so, here we are."
"Angelus is back." Fred said looking directly at Willow expecting her to blow up at them.
"What!" Xander let out, "Who'd he sleep with this time?"
"No one. Shalimar's taken him." Nicholas replied.
"What? Why?" Buffy asked knowing that this wasn't the time to be distracted by the past.
"Why do you think Buff?" A cold voice came from the main entrance into the foyer. "She wanted us to relive old times." Twenty-five young girls surrounded Angelus. All of which looked no older than sixteen. "Would you believe she even gave me my own army? Slayers of course."
"Lasa obscurus acum!" Willow chanted before anyone was able to move. Sending a barrier to block the path between Angelus and the others.
"I was so hoping you'd do that." Angelus replied not trying to hide his joy. "You three get what we came here for. Whilst we have a little fun." Angelus turned to face Nicholas. "You know Nicky, your sister, she's well, well you know kinda nuts but hey, she brought me out so, kinda growing on me."
"Well once you've served her purpose, trust me she'll introduce you to pain you couldn't possibly imagine."
"Oh I've no doubt that you're right but you see she's more interested in torturing you. So I'm thinkin' if I hand you to her all gifty like, she's probably gonna, oh I don't know, torture you instead." Angelus turned to face Willow, "Hey Willow I bet you didn't know Shalimar knew you'd be here. She gave me a little, oh how'd you put it, some of the whammy. Wanna see?" Angelus held out his hand, palm up and began to chant under his breath.
Willow was sent flying into the far wall but the barrier remained up. "That's all you got?" Willow replied standing back up, her eyes now black, "Hear me forces of the upper reaches, forces of the lower reaches, banish this evil, cast his mind from his body, never to find freedom. Imperium acerbus..."
"Willow no!" Nicholas bellowed but she had already cast the spell. Angelus was sent flying but the full force of the spell rebounded and sent everyone flying against the far wall.
"Whoa! Now that was fun." Angelus said as he stood back up. "What's the matter Red? You didn't think you could possibly match the power she lent me?"
"She might not be able to but I sure as hell can." Nicholas replied as he sent Angelus flying into a small bunch of Slayers. "Will, the barrier its failing." As Angelus pulled himself up once again he revealed his demonic features. "That's supposed to scare me? Come on then Dead boy." But before Nicholas could prepare himself a massive wave of energy washed over him sending him up to the ceiling.
"Now stay there!" Angelus said before turning his attention to Faith. "I so owe you pain." Faith said, wasting no time she charged Angelus, spin kicking him, but the impact seemed to be absorbed as he just grabbed her by the ankle and caused her to spiral onto the floor. "Come on Faithy. Show us that slayer pride." But before she could move, Angelus kicked her in the stomach.
Faith looked around to see if anyone had noticed the pummelling she was getting from Angelus but everyone was too busy fighting off the small army of Rouge Slayers.
"Xander your left. Watch your left." Nicholas bellowed over the noise just as a Slayer was about to blind side him but it was too late. The Slayer's fist connected with his face and sent him down.
"A little more of a warning would be nice." Xander replied getting back to his feet. "You know before they connect!" Xander just managed to dodge the next punch from the Slayer, which left her open for his revenge. Using his elbow, he buried it in the Slayer's ribs causing her to cry out in pain. "What's the matter not a fan of pain?"
Meanwhile three Slayers cornered Willow and Fred. "What do we do?" Fred asked hysterically but it soon became obvious that Willow wasn't letting anyone corner them. Her eyes were now completely black. She had let the magicks take her over. With one look, she sent the three Slayers cornering them and the two beating on Lorne flying into the counter.
"Thanks a bunch muffin." Lorne replied with his hand over his left horn.
Their little moment of peace was interrupted by Angelus flying past them. Faith had managed to regain the upper hand but she was slightly bruised. "How's that for Slayer pride, dumb-ass?" Faith's breather didn't last long either as another Slayer took a swing at her but she overbalanced and Faith was able to connect with her jaw sending her spiralling into the near by wall.
"ENOUGH!" Nicholas had had just about enough with everyone, with all the fighting. He summoned all of his power and let out a large burst of energy, which floored everyone. Now standing on the ground only inches from Angelus, Nicholas waved his hand over the body bringing it to its feet. "You think you could even compete with my power. No one can, not even the Bitch can. I sealed her away before, but this time, I've had about as much of it as I can stand, she's going down. You hear me!?" With that, Angelus was sent through the wall. All eyes were on Nicholas. He was mad; in fact mad didn't even seem to come close. There was a fire in his eyes, gone was the warm and funny individual they barely knew. Now they could see the God in him. As he turned to the Slayers, they went from being cool and calm to being overcome with fear. "Shalimar get the hell out of those Slayers, NOW!" Arcs of energy emanated from Nicholas hitting each Slayer possessed by Shalimar's influence.
Just as the possessed Slayers collapsed to the ground, Nicholas was hit with a large ball of green energy sending him across the room. Angelus was now standing in the garden entrance, his eyes glowing red. "You think it's that simple dear brother." Shalimar's voice was once again speaking through Angelus.
"Are you that scared to fight me face to face that you must resort to stealing people's bodies?" Nicholas asked, the anger still fuelling his power.
"Why waste my time and energy fighting you, when it's much easier and far more amusing to use those around you." Shalimar's voice filled with sense of enjoyment over the pain Nicholas was obviously in. "You know, you 'could' try and curse him again but then, you know perfectly well that such an action would be a waste of time." Nicholas looked around at the confused faces, "What? You haven't told them? Shame on you, Nicholas is it now?"
"What's he, she mean by it's a waste of time?" Faith asked sounding rather confused but Nicholas simply ignored her.
"What do you want, huh? Cause if it's to destroy the world you already have the power, what more could you need?" He retorted staring directly at Angelus, who was now floating several inches from the floor.
"Where's the fun in simply telling you? You have this. team of. of mortals to help you in your search. Now we can't deprive them of the chance to at least say they tried, now can we?" Just then, three rogue Slayers that escaped Nicholas's outburst exited the kitchen clutching a small box. "Ah, here's my little toy surprise." Angelus's hand rose and the box flew directly into it. "Well I can't stay, so much destruction so little time you see." In a flash of green light Angelus and the three remaining rogue Slayers had vanished leaving only a large clap of thunder echoing throughout the hotel.
"Well, wasn't that just fan-fricken-tastic." Sighed Lorne. "And what was all that about not being able to re-ensoul Angel?"
"It was nothing!" Nicholas snapped to everyone's amazement. "I mean, she's trying to spread mistrust." He replied calmly.
"Charles!" Fred screamed as Gunn was clinging to the stair rail in order to stand up. His free hand grasping a deep wound. "What? How?" Fred was dumbstruck.
"Damn bitch took a swing at me with a pen. A pen of all things." Gunn replied as blood began to flow through his fingers.
"That's kinda deep. I think we should get you to a hospital before." Faith began until she realised that both Cordelia and Buffy were nowhere to be seen. "Erm. where's B and Cordy?" Everyone began frantically looking throughout the hotel's foyer, but both Buffy and Cordelia weren't among the now unconscious rouge slayers.
"Okay Angelus is back, the worlds on the verge of total destruction and we're missing both a Slayer and a higher being. Does anyone else have a sense of nostalgia setting in? I mean it's just like we're back on the Hellmouth." Xander said his voice filled with a dry humour.
"No, Buffy and Cordelia are fine. They're just somewhere else." Nicholas said as he paused under the 'well duh' looks he was now receiving from everyone, "What I mean is either Cordy or Buffy must have some idea on how to turn this situation around. Together they've lived through enough hardships, they're probably just thinking outside the box." Nicholas began to walk over to the over turned seat when Lorne interrupted him.
"Erm not to be all ungrateful, because I'm so grateful that you did this." motioning to the floor now littered with the bodies of rouge Slayers, "but what did you do to them?"
"Oh. them, yeah I kinda lost it a bit hey?" Nicholas replied sheepishly.
"Kinda, you kicked there arses without even, well without even moving. I'm like wow!" Xander retorted still bewildered by Nicholas's actions.
"Actually it's somewhat more serious than it appears." The faces now staring at him were filled with the faint traces of fear and apprehension. How much worse could things get? "These girls, all of them, they were Slayers." Nicholas's small pause allowed the volley of questions to hit him.
"Were Slayers?" Fred asked somewhat perplexed.
"You mean they're not.?" Wesley began but was cut off by Nicholas.
"Yes that's precisely what I mean. They were and now they're not."
"What?" Faith let out louder than she expected.
"Look it was either them not being Slayers or, or let them continue this fight," Pointing at Gunn, who was still holding his side. The bleeding now beginning to stop. "And let more, if not all of you end up injured; or worse." Seeing Faith's expression, "You know as well as I do that if I'd just let the fight continue they would have wiped the floor with you."
"But you can't just take their destinies away from them! Just because they're under the influence of your psycho sister doesn't..."
"Doesn't what Faith? Doesn't make them the enemy? Doesn't mean they can't be saved? Well I've got news for you, these girls would be dead by the end of the day. No more Slayers, no more little girls having to fight the darkness that plagues this world. The darkness would have taken them. Would have ripped their insides out and laughed whilst doing it. What would you rather have, dead Slayers or a bunch of live girls? Huh Faith tell me!" Nicholas was now standing only inches away from Faith, the anger he had displayed to Angelus wasn't what was fuelling him now. No, his eyes were filled with what almost looked like tears, he was crying, why? "You think I wanted to take their power, their destinies?"
"Hey, hey we're all friends here." Lorne said calmly sensing that there was more to Nicholas's actions than he let on.
"Yeah I mean all of one and that, right?" Fred replied trying to lift the mood. "And besides Charles doesn't look to good."
"Oh well thanks for that Fred. I just fought a bunch of Slayers, got stabbed by a pen of *all* things and now you have to go and say I look like crap. I'm definitely feeling the love in this room." Gunn replied giving Fred a comforting look.
"Oh you big baby, look it's just a flesh wound." Willow said after taking a closer examination of the wound. "Here this'll fix it." Willow placed her left hand over the wound and began chanting. As soon as she begun Gunn could feel something warm flow over his body, the pain was no more, all he could feel was the warmth of Willow's touch. "There all better." She said now smiling like a small child who had just received a sweet.
"Sure everyone gets there wounds healed by Miss Super-witch, but me, me I've got to live with one eye." Xander said with an air of humour.
"Hey I'll have you know I tried to," Willow now waving her arms around hoping to catch the words as they flew past, "to heal your eye but."
"But you couldn't." Nicholas said now more composed than a moment ago. "I also tried and failed. Xander something doesn't want you to have your eye back. Something with more power than myself and that's saying something."
"Huh? More power." Xander was at a complete loss for words.
"But I thought you were, like a. super God or something?" Fred said only moments behind Xander on the lost for words train.
"Just because I existed before time itself doesn't mean that other beings can't reach or even exceed my power." Pausing for a moment so to let the words sink in. "It's like the Slayer, Buffy, her destiny should have ended at the hands of The Master but instead she lives. She's one of the longest serving Slayers and possibly the only Slayer I know of, who actually managed to defeat a God."
"But that's because he has us." Willow retorted.
"Yes I know but in the end she has obtained a power unlike any Slayer before her."
"You mean friendship." Wesley added in effortlessly.
"Exactly. For along time the Council believed, well in actual fact they always believed that in order to fight the darkness the Slayer had to isolate herself from those around. An idiotic notion really, but then again the Council was filled with bloody idiots." Nicholas paused as he remembered that Wesley was once a member of the council. "Oh, I didn't mean to. you know I'm not talking about you. You and Giles are like the only Council members that I really have respect for." As those words left Nicholas's mouth Wes shifted his stance as he was overcome with pride. A God, a supreme being had respect for him. This was like nothing Wes could have imagined. How he would give for his father to hear that a God had respect for him.
"I. I'm. hon. honoured." Wesley stuttered as he was overcome with embarrassment.
"Not to spoil this very happy moment but we do have the little matter of an approaching apocalypse and were minus most of our force." Came Xander's voice from behind the foyer's counter. "And what the hell did those three Slayers have in their greedy little hands?"
"Yeah what's so important about it. I mean it was just a little box. What could it possibly contain?" Faith asked sound rather confident that noting of importance was in the box.
"Erm. that box had a Peruvian orb in it." Fred said sheepishly.
"Huh? What's a Peruvian orb?" Xander asked felling like an idiot as the faces within the room, with the exception of Faith's drop.
"You sure it was a Peruvian orb? I mean why even have one?" Willow retorted forcefully.
"Hey guys what's the what with this orb thingy?" Faith bellowed in effort to gain everyone's attention.
*** (Boston University Campus) There was a bustle of activity going on all around the campus, so mush so that no one noticed Cordelia and Buffy as they made their way to the administration building.
"Erm Cordy, where are we?" Buffy asked as they passed through the large glass doors.
"Boston." She replied simply, as if travelling nearly four thousand kilometres in less than a minute was all in a normal days work.
"Okay, you do realise that that's about four thousand." buffy began.
"Yeah, yeah it's three thousand five hundred kilometres, and don't worry we'll only be here for a short while. I hope." Those last two words didn't fill Buffy with the confidence she was looking for. Angelus was lose, a God was terrorising L.A; well she really hadn't seen anything that Shalimar had done, apart from releasing Angelus. But Buffy trusted Cordelia, well more than several years ago at any rate, so she decided to sit back and let Cordy do what ever it was she was here to do.
As they approached the reception desk they were greeted by a young woman who's eyes where hidden beneath thick strands of hair but amazingly she had noticed them.
"Welcome to the University of Boston. How may I help you today?" she asked as if she were Willow on a coffee binge.
"Erm, hi. I was wondering if you could tell me where I might find a particular person." Cordy asked taken slightly back by the girl's perkiness.
"That's easy, who is it your looking for?" The girl asked and was completely surprised when she heard the name. "Oh, are you like family or."
"We're some friends from L.A. We just thought since we're in the area that we might stop by and say hello y'know." Cordy replied with almost as much perkiness as the receptionist. Buffy on the other hand was still in some shock. Why this person? Surely they didn't need that sort of help.
"Yeah here it is. Alexander Hall room 208."
"Thanks." Cordy replied as she ushered Buffy out of the building.
"Erm Cor, why are we." Buffy was again cut off by Cordelia.
"You know what? You'd think they make these places user friendly. Were the hell is Alexander Hall?" Cordy asked but not really expecting an answer.
"Well they're kinda built to. oh look, there it is." Buffy replied now pointing to an old style building. "Not bad. Better than the dorms at UC Sunnydale."
"Yeah well, considering they're what, a huge smouldering hole in the ground now, anything would be better." Cordy said as she slowly made her way up to the Hall.
"Cordy are you going to tell me why, why we're here looking for." Buffy asked again this time grabbing Cordelia by the arm so that she couldn't avoid the question.
"Fine if you must know, we're here because he can help us find Angel, Angelus who ever he is now."
"Okay I'll buy that but why bring me along? I mean I've never even met the kid." Buffy asked now following Cordy through the main doors.
"Well you're stronger and well for my own protection, the questions and what not." Cordy replied now looking at Buffy as if to say 'please help'.
"Oh well now I know the stitch, lets go find him." But they didn't get far as they were soon cornered by two guys. "Erm what's the problem guys?"
"You can't go up there, residents only." One of the guys said eying up Cordelia.
"Oh well we're here to see a friend and he's up there so." Buffy began to move towards the stairs but the other guys moved to block her. "Oh come on. It's not like we're gonna break anything or disturb the peace." The guy blocking Buffy's way moved closer and grabbed her tightly by the shoulders. "Oh I was so hoping you'd do that." With nearly no effort Buffy grabbed the guys wrists and spun around flipping him over her head. As he hit the floor the guy who was eying Cordy moved to grab Buffy but Cordy spun around and hit him on the base of the next knocking him out cold.
"Well, shall we continue?" Cordy asked Buffy as she stepped over the unconscious body before her.
As the reached the second floor Buffy turned to Cordelia. "But doesn't he have like an amnesia deal, no memories of the past, just what that law firm gave him."
"Yeah but this is important, y'know the whole end of the world thing." Cordy replied as she outstretched her hand to knock on the door but before she could the door flung open. "Connor."
Review: Please, good, bad I don't care.
Chapter Two: Connections.
(Los Angelus, Hyperion Hotel)
"Don't tell me, skulking?" Gunn asked a man with his head buried deep within a dusty tome.
"No at the office." The man replied pulling himself away from his book. "But he's probably skulking over there." The Hyperion, once full of life and enthusiasm was now beginning to gather dust. No one had set foot inside since Jasmine was destroyed and Wolfram and Heart offered Angel Investigations a chance to run their LA office.
"Hey pass us the big green one," The man looked shocked at such a request but passed it over, "Might as well do something, with business being well, non existent now." Just as Gunn began to read the dusty tome, the phone rang. "Angel Investigations we help the helpless. Oh Fred, you wanna talk to Wes? Sure." Gunn handed to the phone over to the other man.
"Fred what's wrong? Anything apocalyptic?" Wes asked sounding rather hopeful. "No." the disappointment was evident even to Gunn. "There's a what? A Peruvian orb in the kitchen. Yeah I'll run it over. Okay see you in twenty minutes. " Wes hung the phone up and turned to Gunn.
"So, Peruvian orb hey? What's it do?"
"Well it depends on who uses it." Came a familiar female voice from the doorway. "You know you shouldn't keep it in the kitchen, I'd think it'd be better in the fires of hell but hey been gone a while, so I'm guessin' I lost the right to complain."
"Back foul beast of hell." Wes said stumbling from his chair.
"Wesley that's no way to treat a friend. I mean." Cordelia was cut off by Wesley's hug.
"We thought you were... you know dead."
"Well, I will be if you don't let go. You know, the whole oxygen issue." Cordy replied smiling at them both as Wesley released her from his grip. "What happened here? Where is everyone?"
"Up at the office. You know, we're working at Wolfram and Heart." Gunn replied.
"YOU'RE WHAT!" Cordy retorted in complete shock. "How could. you're. I. what the.?!"
"Cordelia breath." Came a voice from the just beyond the door. It was Nicholas.
"Do you two, know each other?" Wesley asked surveying Nicholas.
"Sorta yeah. Wes, Gunn this is Nicholas."
"Hey, you a higher being too?" Gunn asked seemingly intrigued.
"You could say that." Nicholas replied with a smile. Nicholas walked into the middle of the foyer and looked the hotel over. "Not a bad place."
"Thanks. But you really aren't seeing it in its best. Not that it was much better then." Gunn replied turning to Cordy. "Where've you been? I mean, I thought you weren't, meant to come back."
"Well, I'm not unless."
"Unless there's something big coming." Wesley answered somewhat apprehensively.
"Bingo. So why the hell are you working for the lawyers from hell?"
"Long story."
"They killed Jasmine, ending world peace, so Wolfram and Heart offered them a job. Simple really." Nicholas replied still looking around the foyer.
"How'd you know.?" Gunn was asking when Cordy interrupted.
"Him over there," Cordy said pointing towards Nicholas, "well he's a God." Both Wesley and Gunn froze on the spot. "Oh jeez, does everyone have to do that?"
"Well, y'know you don't have to tell everyone, exactly who I am. I mean, most people have an image of a God as being really tall and wearing a massive beard. Which I myself don't like, I mean, how practical is it, food and stuff would get caught. Talk about yuck factor." Cordy walked over up to both Wesley and Gunn and snapped them back to reality.
"Are we back? Good. Did we enjoy our little escape from reality?"
"You were kidding right? I mean he's not.not really a God?" Gunn asked still rather bewildered.
"I thought Gods stayed out of this dimension? Too trivial." Wesley asked astounded by such a possibility.
"Most Gods would, but I'm not most Gods. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that most Gods don't even come close to what I am." Nicholas replied making his way over to the stairs.
"My, haven't we got a complex." Gunn retorted under his breath.
"Well I'd be a little careful what you say Gunn. I don't imagine having a God pissed at you would be a good thing." Nicholas rebutted now standing directly behind Gunn.
"How'd you.?" Gunn was lost for words.
"God remember. All powerful and that."
"Boys, we don't have time for games." Cordy reminded them. "Big bad on its way, and it's bigger than ever."
"Bigger than Miss 'I'll make people happy whist feeding on them?'"
"Oh you have no idea."
"Well they will when The Bitch arrives."
"The. Bitch?" Wesley asked somewhat confused.
"Oh yeah." Nicholas retorted falling into a nearby chair. "Have you ever had a family member who was such a bitch that you just wanted to close your eyes and hope it was all a dream?"
"Can't say that I have." Gunn replied.
"Are you saying the big bad is, a family member?" Nicholas nodded towards Wesley, "You mean to tell me the big bad is another, God?"
"Got it in one. She's my sister, well I don't know if that's the right term but we existed from the beginning and I'm really not looking forward to existing with her in the end."
"So that's why you're back then?" Wesley asked Cordelia.
"But I thought that when Jasmine, y'know 'popped' out you." Gunn said still watching Nicholas closely.
"Died, come on, give me some credit. You really think that some super bitch could keep me down?"
"Sorry, not to interrupt this nice moment you're all having, but, we have a little matter to attend to." Nicholas retorted, somewhat blunter than usual.
"Oh yeah, but I think we should fill everyone in at the same time." Cordy replied.
"I Agree. Looks like we're taking a trip to Wolfram and Heart." Nicholas retorted almost smiling.
**** (Wolfram and Heart)
The once empty building was now again filled with the bustle of people rushing here there and everywhere. So much so that no one noticed Cordy, Nicholas, Wesley and Gunn enter the main foyer.
"I still can't believe you took a job here. Why? What on Earth possessed any of you to, I don't know, work for the major bad guys." Cordy again bellowed whilst Wesley and Gunn both tried to hush their now worked up friend.
"Excuse me, do you have an appointment?" One of the security guards asked Nicholas who simply just stared blankly at him. "Hey, no appointment, no entry!" the security guard repeated now placing his hand on his weapon.
"Whoa there's no need for that Greg." Wesley retorted seeing him reach for his gun. "He's with us. We're on our way to see Angel."
Greg seemed somewhat taken back by Wesley's approach. He seemed worried, not for Nicholas's safety but his, but reluctantly he let them pass. "Oh sorry Mr. Pryce, I didn't know."
"Wow Wes, you really command authority here." Cordelia said in astonishment, "Who would've thought.?" At this, Wesley shied away slightly but soon regained his demeanour. The corridors seemed to go on forever, everyone immaculate and identical to the last, with the obvious exception to the gold names attached to each of the doors.
"Where's tall dark 'n' broody work anyway? It's like we've been walking around for hours." Cordy began to moan, "What are we, waiting for sunset or somethin'."
They walked down this corridor and then another, finally they reached two highly polished oak doors with the gold name telling a relieved Cordelia the they'd finally reached their destination, they'd finally reached Angel's office. As they entered through the huge doors Cordy was shocked to find that they where in another large room and over in the corner there was a small, yet obviously expensive desk. Behind which, sat a small elegant woman.
"Mr. Angel's office how may I be of assistance?"
"We're here to see erm, Mr. Angel." Cordy told the woman sounding unsure as why she was referring to Angel as Mr.
"Do you have an appointment?" The small woman asked sounding rather offended by there presence.
"Erm. no, we're old friends of his." Cordy replied.
"I'm afraid without an appointment you can't proceed."
Wesley was now walking over to the woman's desk, seeing how much progress or lack there of Cordy was making. "Erm, Alice Mr. Angel is expecting them. He just hasn't placed it on the books," Wesley paused for a moment allowing his words to sink into Alice's mind, "you know how sensitive his matters are."
The colour all but drained from her face. "Oh, right." Turning to Cordelia, "I'm sorry. I didn't realise. Please, go right a head."
"Wes, what did you say? What did you do?" Cordy asked quite astounded.
"It's nothing, it just well, Angel has a reputation and the people here know it." He replied trying not to arouse Nicholas's attention.
"Do you honestly think that just 'cause other people are around I can't here you?" Nicholas replied looking absent-mindedly around the large room they had just entered, "God-like hearing, remember?" Cordy was looking around the room as if she was in pure heaven, the marble pillars reaching to the high ceiling, the wood flooring and the expensive furniture reminded her of her old life. The life she'd been forced out of so many years ago, her first life and that was saying something, because she was now in her third life, a life that she'd fight that bit harder to keep.
"This is just amazing. I mean, look at this stuff." Just then the chair behind the desk turn around revealing a tall handsome man, wearing a suit by Ralph Loren but somehow still seeming to hold a solemn gaze. "Angel."
"Cordy? It's, it's not possible you're. you're." Angel was lost for words, the woman of his dreams had returned. Was this a dream? Was he losing his mind?
"Dead. Yeah I noticed. Thanks for just leaving my 'stolen' body just lying in a warehouse." Cordy said holding a stern look. Angel's face seemed overrun with terror. Was she angry with him for like she said leaving her body in a warehouse? "Oh for crap sake, get off your butt and give us a hug at least. I mean it's been almost two years since we've actually talked." Cordy's face was now full of the glow he'd wished a thousand times he could see just once more.
Angel didn't need to be told twice. With seemingly no effort Angel had jumped from his chair straight over his desk and held Cordy in the tightest embrace anyone could possibly stand. "I'm so sorry. If I'd know that, I would have, found some way." Angel's words were cut short as Cordy's lips engulfed his mouth, pulling him into a passionate kiss that seemed to stop time itself.
"Now that's what I'm talking about. You know spending as long as I did up there, not being able to touch anyone, talk to anyone, that's probably the one thing I missed the most," Cordy replied slowly pulling her lips free of Angel's.
"They've been waiting to do that from the moment they met up in LA. I thought they might have exploded with sexual tension by now." Nicholas said to Gunn as they were both trying to avoid the uncomfortable moment that now presented itself.
"You mean to tell me that you've been watching over us, all? Just how long do you watch and when?" Gunn asked wearing a worried expression.
"Don't worry 'bout it. It's not like I don't have other stuff to occupy myself with. I don't sit watching everyone. I mean, come on, the boredom of some people's lives, I mean please." Nicholas replied now staring at an eighteenth century statue of a Roman solider. "You know I think I used to know him."
"Not to break up this tender moment, but Cordy don't you have some news to tell?" Wesley interrupted Angel's and Cordy's longing gaze.
"Oh yeah." Looking into Angel's eyes, "Sorry not just a social call, business as usual. Well it would be if you weren't, you know, working for the people who spend most of their time trying to bring an end to the world, but hey, who cares, right?"
"What's wrong? What is it?" Angel asked now noticing Nicholas but the wall, "And who's he?"
"Names Nicholas but," He paused for a moment, "I don't actually have a nickname, so I guess it's just Nicholas."
"What are you then? Cause you sure don't smell human. I mean, there's not even a trace of fear." Angel asked now trying to outstare Nicholas.
"Hey I wouldn't bother with that Dead boy, not unless you wanna stand here for all eternity."
"Got nothin' but time." Angel replied.
"Oh, I like him, he's got spunk." Just then, Nicholas disappeared, "But like I said you really shouldn't bother." The voice coming from everywhere but finally fixing behind the desk, the chair in which Angel had leapt from only moments ago, "I mean if you want to of course I've never backed down from a challenge before, well, not from a vampire anyway."
"How'd you do that?" Angel asked slowly moving over to the side cabinet.
"Oh I wouldn't do that if I were you. I mean, sure if you press it they'll come racing in, ask you what's wrong and of course you'll say something like 'hold him' but I'll just do this," and once again Nicholas had vanished from the chair only to reappear behind Angel. "Now you wouldn't want me to have to resort to any violence now, would you?"
Angel left no time for any second thoughts. He spun round and grabbed Nicholas by the throat, but Nicholas didn't even move, actually he was wearing a look of pure joy. "Now I'll ask again, what are you?" Nicholas just smiled raised his hand to Angel's chest, so fast Angel didn't even see him move, which sent Angel flying over to the other side of the very large office. As soon as Angel managed to pull himself up several security officers came bursting through the doors.
"Mr. Angel are you alright?" Asked one of the security guards now brandishing his gun.
"Okay, what is it with people and guns, I mean, they never solve anything." Nicholas said as he picked up a small glass orb.
"Angel, Nicholas is a friend and trust me none of this," pointing to the security guards, "none of this is necessary." Cordelia said trying her hardest to convince Angel to listen.
"She's right. Nicholas is kind of a higher being." Wesley said trying to help Cordy.
"A higher being?" Angel repeated looking over to Nicholas, "Him?"
"In a fashion anyway." Replied Cordy in an apprehensive voice. Nevertheless, Angel trusted Cordelia's judgment and called off the guards. As Angel walked back over to his desk he didn't take his eyes of Nicholas, he simply didn't trust him. It wasn't that he was a higher being, that didn't help but it was something else, something darker.
"So spill. What's the what?" Angel asked leaning against his desk eyes still on Nicholas.
"Shouldn't we wait for Fred and Lorne? They need to hear this too." Replied Cordy, now noticing Angel's forceful look at Nicholas.
"Sure." He reached over to his phone and dialled a number. "Fred, Lorne meeting." And with that said, he replaced the phone. "They'll be here in a minute." They stood there in silence waiting for Fred and Lorne to arrive. The time seemed to slow to an almost halt until the door opened and revealed Fred and Lorne.
"Aaarrrggghhh!" Lorne let put a huge shout as he came face to face with Cordelia. "What the hell!?"
"Well it's nice to see you again too." Cordy said with a smile.
"Cordy, but I thought." Fred said slowly, still recovering from Lorne's outburst and the shock of see her standing no less than six feet away.
"Hey it takes more than some all powerful she-bitch to get rid of me."
"Great so everyone's here, lets get the story." Angel said briskly.
"Well the same sort of deal basically but with a mega twist." Cordy said turning to Nicholas who was still amusing himself with the glass orb.
"The worlds going to be destroyed." He replied calmly.
"The worlds going to be destroyed, well that really helps. I mean, you got anything other than a vague statement like perhaps name, time and place, or is that too much?" Angel said harshly.
"Angel!" Wesley said astounded by his attitude.
"It's okay Wes. He doesn't trust me. I mean would you trust someone you've never seen before if they told you the worlds was going to end? Of course not and at any rate vampires aren't the most intelligent demons." Angel's blood was beginning to boil, he could just snap this guy's neck, who would care really? It's not like he's important. Angel could save the world without this guy, he's done it before. "Actually Angel, you need me." Everyone but Angel was now looking very confused, what was he talking about.
"What makes you so sure?"
"Well it's kinda a family issue." Nicholas said now staring deeply into the glass orb.
"Erm, excuse me but, who are you?" Fred asked still a little confused.
"My names Nicholas."
"He's a higher being apparently." Added Angel.
"Well, to be completely honest, I'm a God." The room fell into silence as if they'd been sucked into a black hole. They simply stood there in complete shock. "You know, I'm starting love it when this happens. It used to be everyone just ran in the opposite direction but now, now they simply go catatonic."
"Well we haven't got the time. Angel." Cordy bellowed as they came back to their senses. "What is it with people and freaking out over Nicholas being a God?"
"A God, as in fire and brimstone God?" Fred asked somewhat perplexed.
"I need a drink." Lorne walked over to the drink tray and began to pour himself the strongest drink he could, which wasn't much as most of the bottles were filled with blood. "You know Angel, you should stock up on something other than blood and gin, I mean, for moments like this."
"Well yeah, I guess so but I'm not a big fan of the fire and what not." Nicholas replied now seemingly focused on the glass orb, expecting it to leap around the room. "But that's not.well, actually it's most probably why we're here." As Nicholas said that Angel straightened up as if to say, 'I told you.'
"So are you going to tell us about this apocalypse or are we just suppose to guess?" Gunn asked almost as if he was aching for a fight.
"Yeah. I think it's about time we tell you." Nicholas said now completely covering the orb with his hands. "I'm sure that most of you know that the Earth is far older than anyone has ever guessed. Much older than six billion years. In fact the Earth has existed many times before as would most of you."
"You mean reincarnation?" Wesley asked sounding rather enthused by the idea.
"Reincarnation is probably the wrong word. It's more like, a parallel life. You all had life before you died and you were most likely reincarnated, then the world was destroyed and life had to start over once more." Everyone in the room was floored by this information. Had they actually been alive before? Had the world been destroyed? It all seemed too unreal.
"You saying the world's already been destroyed. How? By who?" Gunn was totally over come by shock.
"Just some run of the mill demons in what is now Egypt. But they were wiped out by the Slayer over three thousand years ago. Anyway there was a time when the universe, when all of existence was like this," Nicholas held out his hand to reveal a small ball of pure energy. "For eons this was all, but as the eons passed the energy split into three parts, though three unequal parts," As he spoke the energy split revealing three parts, two were equal in size but the third was much larger. "This larger ball formed everything. It formed the Heavens, it formed Hell and it formed the mortal world-Earth. For a long time everything existed fine, in perfect harmony, of course there were no beings in existence. The growing influence of the two smaller energy balls created life, first the Hells were populated, followed by the Heavens, but the Earth was left clean. This is where your knowledge of the world starts to become accurate."
"So these smaller energies, what are they, the PTB's?" Angel asked, now intrigued by what Nicholas was saying.
"No, these energies are something more powerful then the PTB's. These are the sole reason for life, for magicks and for death." Nicholas replied in a sombre tone. "And these are the reason the Earth, the universe and possibly the whole of existence is in grave danger. For over the eons as the primary source of energy grew so too did these. They grew into humanoid form and became Shalimar and myself." As those words left his mouth, Nicholas was faced by a room of perplexed faces, only to be broken by Lorne.
"Oh sweet merciful Zeus, I need another drink."
"Well Shalimar chose to preside over the hell dimensions, I chose to protect everything else, the heavens, life, death, and magicks." The energies floating begin to merge and become solid again but before Nicholas was able to grab it, he was sent flying into the far wall by an invisible force.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN STOP ME WITH THESE MERE MORTALS!" The voice boomed throughout the entire building. Nicholas pulled himself up with a look of sheer power and anger in his eyes.
"No. I know I will defeat you. No more playing around. This time you won't escape oblivion."
"YOU"RE MORE OF A FOOL THAN THE LAST TIME WE FOUGHT! BUT THIS TIME YOU WON"T BE SO LUCKY!" Everyone but Nicholas was hiding from the omnipotent voice, looking like they were once again facing The Beast for the first time.
"NOM EST INVERNATOR!" A huge flash of white light emanated for Nicholas and as suddenly as the voice started it was gone.
"Okay that, was new." But as Gunn said that Nicholas collapsed, weak from banishing Shalimar from the building. Cordy, seeing Nicholas collapse raced over to his side just as he was coming around.
"Are you okay?" she asked her voice full of concern.
"Never better, well apart from the huge head splitting pain and the ringing in my ears that is." Nicholas replied pulling himself up with help of Cordelia. "Not as powerful as you'd think a god to be hey?" he said looking at all the bewildered faces. "But once you see her you'll know why, it takes a lot of power to banish a God even if it is only her voice."
"Oh what's the matter kitten? Scared of the big bad voices?" Angel said somewhat lighter than before. But it wasn't long before Cordelia had a terrifying realisation.
"What did you just say Angel?" Asking as she stood up and turned to face Angel. The mind filled with apprehension.
"I said, were you scared of the evil she-bitch?" He replied calmly, "Kitten."
Cordy was now sure of it. The person standing before her was not Angel, a trusted friend but the murderous creature that dwells within him. "Angelus!" Those words echoed through everyone's minds but really having no time for it to fully sink in.
"Well maybe you're not all as dumb as Angel thinks, huh." Angelus said with surprise. But the static moment wasn't left for long as Angelus charged at Gunn who was reaching for his stake, which he kept in his jacket pocket. "Now that's not nice." Angelus replied as he grabbed Gunn and threw him with such force into Wesley, who was moving to assist Gunn. As both Gunn and Wesley hit the ground, Angelus let out a satisfied laugh. "Now that, was fun."
"Angelus but how?" Lorne asked racing over to Cordy's side. "I mean where's Angel's happy?"
"Well Angel was growing bored of the whole saving people bit and well, here's Angelus." He replied as he grasped Lorne's throat. "You know what's one of the most annoying things Angel ever did, besides fall in love and bone a slayer, was not breaking your little neck every time you sang." Angelus simply spun around and snapped Lorne's neck before sending him flying onto an unconscious Gunn and Wesley. "I really never get tired of that."
"That's enough Angelus!" Nicholas, now fully recovered from forcing Shalimar out and was staring him down, but all he could do was laugh. "You think you can take me? Then by all means lets go." Angelus, wasting no time, charged at Nicholas who simply raised his hand and sent Angelus flying. "Come on Angelus, I thought you were the scourge of Europe, not a common demon." This seemed to enrage Angelus ever further because he now changed to reveal his demonic features.
"God or no God I'm still gonna rip you to pieces." Again, Angelus tried to rush Nicholas but he was sent flying once again into the wall. "You think you can hold me here forever?"
"He's right, you can't hold him there forever, I mean the coming apocalypse. Aren't you like needed for that?" Fred asked not looking at Angelus.
"That's exactly how she wants it. Isn't it, Shalimar?" he replied staring directly into Angelus' eyes. "You think if you bring back Angelus, the baddest mother of a vampire to ever walk this Earth that I'd just forget about you?"
"Oh no dear brother. In fact, I'm so looking forward to the time when we can meet face to face." Angelus's mouth moved but the voice was female and much colder than Angelus could have possibly portrayed. It was the voice of hell itself.
"As am I, but for now we'll just have to settle for this." Nicholas gathered a small ball of energy and threw it towards Angelus. Unfortunately, an energy barrier erected in front of Angelus protecting him.
"Do you honestly think I'm giving up this body, with it's connections, it's history, it's power. You've become just as simple as those you've sworn to protect." As Angelus said those final words, a huge explosion emanated from his spot sending everyone to the floor. As they got back to there feet they finally saw the reason behind the explosion.
"Erm, where's Angelus?" Fred asked brushing her hair out of her face. The one once beautiful office was now home to a smouldering pile of rubble. But Angelus was nowhere to be seen.
"Damn it!" Nicholas let out much louder than he expected. "That bitch is so going to pay!" Hitting his hand on what remained of the desk.
Now, both Gunn and Wesley were coming around. Trying to push Lorne off them. "Oh my God!" Wesley replied at the sight before him.
"Okay, what the hell happened?"
"Shalimar." Nicholas replied somewhat defeatedly. "I didn't see that coming. Maybe she's right, maybe my time here has left me weak and blind." THWACK!!! Cordy walked over to Nicholas and slapped him across the face.
"I'm not having you do this, especially now. We need to focus on finding Angel."
"Erm don't you mean Angelus?" Gunn retorted.
"What I don't get is how Angelus returned. There was no moment of pure happiness; I mean Cordy's kisses aren't that good." Wesley said not catching Cordelia's gaze.
"Like you're an expert kisser Mr. Drool much."
"It's what Shalimar's good at. She sees the evil within and brings it out, like a virus. She can corrupt even the most reformed person. If you were evil once, did an evil act, no matter how small, she can bring it out and amplify it ten fold." Nicholas replied now calmer.
"Lorne!" Fred screamed as Lorne rose form the ground to reveal his head facing the other way.
"You know, this doesn't hurt as much as you'd think but." Lorne cracked his head back into the right position, "What in all of Pylea was that and what happened here?" He asked now seeing the destruction before him.
"Angelus." Fred replied.
"What! I need a drink."
"You do drink and awful lot Krevlorneswath of the Deathwok clan but under these circumstances I believe a drink is definitely in order." Nicholas replied walking over to where the bar used to be and waved his hand over the debris. As he did so, the debris began to reassemble. "Now this is much better. Can I tempt anyone else?" He asked now holding a bottle of nineteen- century brandy.
"Okay now you're my new best friend." Lorne replied remembering the previous contents of the bar. "Could I possibly ask for a Sea Breeze, by any chance?"
"Hey why not, if the worlds going to end might as well live it up whilst you can." As Nicholas said that, he waved his hand over another pile of debris and several more bottles appeared.
**** (Meanwhile in an abandoned warehouse.)
"My Queen, why have you summoned this, abomination? He's a vampire, a worthless being." Alex asked kneeling before a solid gold throne partially hidden behind the shadows.
"You would question me? Who has commanded power like you've never seen? Who can make all kneel before me? Who has existed since the beginning and who shall exist in the end?" Came a cold voice from a shadowy throne.
"I mean no disrespect, but a vampire?" Alex replied the fear so evident within his voice.
"This vampire is all that stands between me and complete failure. My dear brother won't dare risk this champion's soul." Her demeanour now shifting to be more comical and amused. "Champion, what a strange term for someone seeking redemption. Honestly after what he did, slaughtering countless men, women and children, you'd think it would be the least he could do." Shalimar now rose, dressed in the finest silks and cloths ever seen. She walked slowly down past Alex towards another man standing in the shadows. "Angelus, how do you feel after being liberated from this monstrosity placed upon you?" Now walking behind Angelus placing her arm across his chest, "How anyone could curse a creature so ingenious, so devilishly evil," Shrugging as she stepped away, "Is beyond me."
"Not to put a damper on all this lovey dovey emotion crap but why exactly did you set me free? Cause if it's to do thy bidding, I'm not what you call, a team player. Really more of a one man show, you know what I mean?" Angelus replied smirking at Alex who still seemed disgusted by the vampire's presents.
"My dear Angelus, who said it was you I'm interested in?" Shalimar replied tuning to face Angelus. "I was just asking how you felt after what I've done. The real reason you're here has been removed." Shalimar now pointing to Angel bound to the floor by an unseen force. "He is the one they will protect, he is the one my dear brother wishes to save, not you. No one cares if 'you' live or die." The smirk on Angelus's face vanished almost as quickly as it came. "But you're not without your appeal. In fact I shall spare you, so that you may perform a task for me." Shalimar said, now sitting beside Angel. "Yes Angel, your dear friends are going to have a little visitor. Just imagine the carnage knowing that even if they try, Angelus will never again know the feeling of a soul."
**** (Back at the Hyperion Hotel)
Once again, the foyer in the Hyperion was bustling with activity. Books were again piled five-six copies high, many lay open at pages filled with demonic languages. Fred and Wesley were making their way through the sixteenth book on demonic Gods, hoping to find any reference to Shalimar or her plan.
"This is useless, I've read this book twice and still no reference to anything remotely describing Shalimar." Fred said as she rubbed her tired eyes.
"Maybe that's because St. Nick over there isn't really helping out. I mean if your evil super bitch of a sister had stolen a friend and was now waiting to destroy the Earth and probably the rest of the universe wouldn't you want to at least contribute some of that divine knowledge?" Gunn replied as he too threw his book on the increasingly large pile.
"Gunn I'm sure if he knew anything he'd let us know. It's not like we've never faced situations like this before." Fred retorted rather harshly. "Pass me that book beside you." Gunn moved to hand Fred the book when Wesley jumped from his seat.
"Ah ha!"
"What? You found something?" Fred asked surprisingly.
"Well, I'm not sure. You see it's a passaged from the dairy of Toa Jinn." Wesley explained.
"Toa who?" Gunn asked dumbfounded. The noise had attracted the attention of the remaining three.
"Toa Jinn was a powerful sorcerer. He was said to command the four elements." Wesley replied as he scanned the passage more thoroughly. "But this passage isn't the original and from the looks of it, it seems to have been translated wrong."
"What's it say?" Cordy asked now sitting herself down on a nearby stool.
"Something about a noble man, who holds hearts in his hands." Wesley replied moving closer to the book as if tempting the words to speak to him. "Or perhaps his heart is blind. It's all quite unclear."
"When is an important piece of information clear? I mean do you remember the whole Connor prophecies or the Beast for that matter." Fred said wearily.
"But sweet cheeks those were all rewritten by the big and evil." Lorne replied placing his hand on her shoulder. "But maybe tall, dark and powerful over here can make some sense of it." As soon as Lorne uttered those words, all eyes fell upon Nicholas.
"Oh sure, just because I'm a God doesn't mean I can decipher old texts." He said, but Wesley just handed him the book anyway. "Fine, I'll try but I'm not promising you any thing here." Nicholas retorted as he began to look over the text. "Well it's definitely not the original work of Toa Jinn. He was known for inscribing a small insignia on all of this work."
"That's really interesting but what's it say?" Cordy asked sounding impatient.
"Well Wesley was close. It says, 'the blind shall lead the man of heart into the fire.' What that means, I have no idea." Wesley let out a small sigh but was cut off by a loud popping noise emanating from the foyer.
Lorne went to investigate the noise when the hotel filled with a cry of happiness. "Faith, Willow what are you doing here?" With those words said, the rest of the gang filed out into the foyer to be met by Willow, Faith, Buffy and Xander, all being held tightly by Lorne.
"Hey, it's nice to see you too but, ribs, being crushed." Willow replied somewhat muffled by Xander's arm covering her face.
"Oh sorry." Wesley and the others were now standing in complete shock. "What are you doing here?" Lorne replied but Wesley interrupted any further questions Lorne might have had with one of his own.
"How'd you get here?"
"Oh that, that's simple. Teleportation spell is there any better way to travel?" Willow replied smiling sheepishly.
"Oh, what about the normal way?" Xander said propping himself up with the nearest chair. "I feel as if I left my insides somewhere over Knoxville."
"Oh you big baby. It wasn't that bad." Faith replied jokingly. "Hey Wes."
"Faith, Buffy." Wesley replied in acknowledgment.
"So spill, what are you doing here?" Lorne asked, still rather hyped.
"Big bad a brewin'. The coven rang and told us that we should be in LA so, here we are."
"Angelus is back." Fred said looking directly at Willow expecting her to blow up at them.
"What!" Xander let out, "Who'd he sleep with this time?"
"No one. Shalimar's taken him." Nicholas replied.
"What? Why?" Buffy asked knowing that this wasn't the time to be distracted by the past.
"Why do you think Buff?" A cold voice came from the main entrance into the foyer. "She wanted us to relive old times." Twenty-five young girls surrounded Angelus. All of which looked no older than sixteen. "Would you believe she even gave me my own army? Slayers of course."
"Lasa obscurus acum!" Willow chanted before anyone was able to move. Sending a barrier to block the path between Angelus and the others.
"I was so hoping you'd do that." Angelus replied not trying to hide his joy. "You three get what we came here for. Whilst we have a little fun." Angelus turned to face Nicholas. "You know Nicky, your sister, she's well, well you know kinda nuts but hey, she brought me out so, kinda growing on me."
"Well once you've served her purpose, trust me she'll introduce you to pain you couldn't possibly imagine."
"Oh I've no doubt that you're right but you see she's more interested in torturing you. So I'm thinkin' if I hand you to her all gifty like, she's probably gonna, oh I don't know, torture you instead." Angelus turned to face Willow, "Hey Willow I bet you didn't know Shalimar knew you'd be here. She gave me a little, oh how'd you put it, some of the whammy. Wanna see?" Angelus held out his hand, palm up and began to chant under his breath.
Willow was sent flying into the far wall but the barrier remained up. "That's all you got?" Willow replied standing back up, her eyes now black, "Hear me forces of the upper reaches, forces of the lower reaches, banish this evil, cast his mind from his body, never to find freedom. Imperium acerbus..."
"Willow no!" Nicholas bellowed but she had already cast the spell. Angelus was sent flying but the full force of the spell rebounded and sent everyone flying against the far wall.
"Whoa! Now that was fun." Angelus said as he stood back up. "What's the matter Red? You didn't think you could possibly match the power she lent me?"
"She might not be able to but I sure as hell can." Nicholas replied as he sent Angelus flying into a small bunch of Slayers. "Will, the barrier its failing." As Angelus pulled himself up once again he revealed his demonic features. "That's supposed to scare me? Come on then Dead boy." But before Nicholas could prepare himself a massive wave of energy washed over him sending him up to the ceiling.
"Now stay there!" Angelus said before turning his attention to Faith. "I so owe you pain." Faith said, wasting no time she charged Angelus, spin kicking him, but the impact seemed to be absorbed as he just grabbed her by the ankle and caused her to spiral onto the floor. "Come on Faithy. Show us that slayer pride." But before she could move, Angelus kicked her in the stomach.
Faith looked around to see if anyone had noticed the pummelling she was getting from Angelus but everyone was too busy fighting off the small army of Rouge Slayers.
"Xander your left. Watch your left." Nicholas bellowed over the noise just as a Slayer was about to blind side him but it was too late. The Slayer's fist connected with his face and sent him down.
"A little more of a warning would be nice." Xander replied getting back to his feet. "You know before they connect!" Xander just managed to dodge the next punch from the Slayer, which left her open for his revenge. Using his elbow, he buried it in the Slayer's ribs causing her to cry out in pain. "What's the matter not a fan of pain?"
Meanwhile three Slayers cornered Willow and Fred. "What do we do?" Fred asked hysterically but it soon became obvious that Willow wasn't letting anyone corner them. Her eyes were now completely black. She had let the magicks take her over. With one look, she sent the three Slayers cornering them and the two beating on Lorne flying into the counter.
"Thanks a bunch muffin." Lorne replied with his hand over his left horn.
Their little moment of peace was interrupted by Angelus flying past them. Faith had managed to regain the upper hand but she was slightly bruised. "How's that for Slayer pride, dumb-ass?" Faith's breather didn't last long either as another Slayer took a swing at her but she overbalanced and Faith was able to connect with her jaw sending her spiralling into the near by wall.
"ENOUGH!" Nicholas had had just about enough with everyone, with all the fighting. He summoned all of his power and let out a large burst of energy, which floored everyone. Now standing on the ground only inches from Angelus, Nicholas waved his hand over the body bringing it to its feet. "You think you could even compete with my power. No one can, not even the Bitch can. I sealed her away before, but this time, I've had about as much of it as I can stand, she's going down. You hear me!?" With that, Angelus was sent through the wall. All eyes were on Nicholas. He was mad; in fact mad didn't even seem to come close. There was a fire in his eyes, gone was the warm and funny individual they barely knew. Now they could see the God in him. As he turned to the Slayers, they went from being cool and calm to being overcome with fear. "Shalimar get the hell out of those Slayers, NOW!" Arcs of energy emanated from Nicholas hitting each Slayer possessed by Shalimar's influence.
Just as the possessed Slayers collapsed to the ground, Nicholas was hit with a large ball of green energy sending him across the room. Angelus was now standing in the garden entrance, his eyes glowing red. "You think it's that simple dear brother." Shalimar's voice was once again speaking through Angelus.
"Are you that scared to fight me face to face that you must resort to stealing people's bodies?" Nicholas asked, the anger still fuelling his power.
"Why waste my time and energy fighting you, when it's much easier and far more amusing to use those around you." Shalimar's voice filled with sense of enjoyment over the pain Nicholas was obviously in. "You know, you 'could' try and curse him again but then, you know perfectly well that such an action would be a waste of time." Nicholas looked around at the confused faces, "What? You haven't told them? Shame on you, Nicholas is it now?"
"What's he, she mean by it's a waste of time?" Faith asked sounding rather confused but Nicholas simply ignored her.
"What do you want, huh? Cause if it's to destroy the world you already have the power, what more could you need?" He retorted staring directly at Angelus, who was now floating several inches from the floor.
"Where's the fun in simply telling you? You have this. team of. of mortals to help you in your search. Now we can't deprive them of the chance to at least say they tried, now can we?" Just then, three rogue Slayers that escaped Nicholas's outburst exited the kitchen clutching a small box. "Ah, here's my little toy surprise." Angelus's hand rose and the box flew directly into it. "Well I can't stay, so much destruction so little time you see." In a flash of green light Angelus and the three remaining rogue Slayers had vanished leaving only a large clap of thunder echoing throughout the hotel.
"Well, wasn't that just fan-fricken-tastic." Sighed Lorne. "And what was all that about not being able to re-ensoul Angel?"
"It was nothing!" Nicholas snapped to everyone's amazement. "I mean, she's trying to spread mistrust." He replied calmly.
"Charles!" Fred screamed as Gunn was clinging to the stair rail in order to stand up. His free hand grasping a deep wound. "What? How?" Fred was dumbstruck.
"Damn bitch took a swing at me with a pen. A pen of all things." Gunn replied as blood began to flow through his fingers.
"That's kinda deep. I think we should get you to a hospital before." Faith began until she realised that both Cordelia and Buffy were nowhere to be seen. "Erm. where's B and Cordy?" Everyone began frantically looking throughout the hotel's foyer, but both Buffy and Cordelia weren't among the now unconscious rouge slayers.
"Okay Angelus is back, the worlds on the verge of total destruction and we're missing both a Slayer and a higher being. Does anyone else have a sense of nostalgia setting in? I mean it's just like we're back on the Hellmouth." Xander said his voice filled with a dry humour.
"No, Buffy and Cordelia are fine. They're just somewhere else." Nicholas said as he paused under the 'well duh' looks he was now receiving from everyone, "What I mean is either Cordy or Buffy must have some idea on how to turn this situation around. Together they've lived through enough hardships, they're probably just thinking outside the box." Nicholas began to walk over to the over turned seat when Lorne interrupted him.
"Erm not to be all ungrateful, because I'm so grateful that you did this." motioning to the floor now littered with the bodies of rouge Slayers, "but what did you do to them?"
"Oh. them, yeah I kinda lost it a bit hey?" Nicholas replied sheepishly.
"Kinda, you kicked there arses without even, well without even moving. I'm like wow!" Xander retorted still bewildered by Nicholas's actions.
"Actually it's somewhat more serious than it appears." The faces now staring at him were filled with the faint traces of fear and apprehension. How much worse could things get? "These girls, all of them, they were Slayers." Nicholas's small pause allowed the volley of questions to hit him.
"Were Slayers?" Fred asked somewhat perplexed.
"You mean they're not.?" Wesley began but was cut off by Nicholas.
"Yes that's precisely what I mean. They were and now they're not."
"What?" Faith let out louder than she expected.
"Look it was either them not being Slayers or, or let them continue this fight," Pointing at Gunn, who was still holding his side. The bleeding now beginning to stop. "And let more, if not all of you end up injured; or worse." Seeing Faith's expression, "You know as well as I do that if I'd just let the fight continue they would have wiped the floor with you."
"But you can't just take their destinies away from them! Just because they're under the influence of your psycho sister doesn't..."
"Doesn't what Faith? Doesn't make them the enemy? Doesn't mean they can't be saved? Well I've got news for you, these girls would be dead by the end of the day. No more Slayers, no more little girls having to fight the darkness that plagues this world. The darkness would have taken them. Would have ripped their insides out and laughed whilst doing it. What would you rather have, dead Slayers or a bunch of live girls? Huh Faith tell me!" Nicholas was now standing only inches away from Faith, the anger he had displayed to Angelus wasn't what was fuelling him now. No, his eyes were filled with what almost looked like tears, he was crying, why? "You think I wanted to take their power, their destinies?"
"Hey, hey we're all friends here." Lorne said calmly sensing that there was more to Nicholas's actions than he let on.
"Yeah I mean all of one and that, right?" Fred replied trying to lift the mood. "And besides Charles doesn't look to good."
"Oh well thanks for that Fred. I just fought a bunch of Slayers, got stabbed by a pen of *all* things and now you have to go and say I look like crap. I'm definitely feeling the love in this room." Gunn replied giving Fred a comforting look.
"Oh you big baby, look it's just a flesh wound." Willow said after taking a closer examination of the wound. "Here this'll fix it." Willow placed her left hand over the wound and began chanting. As soon as she begun Gunn could feel something warm flow over his body, the pain was no more, all he could feel was the warmth of Willow's touch. "There all better." She said now smiling like a small child who had just received a sweet.
"Sure everyone gets there wounds healed by Miss Super-witch, but me, me I've got to live with one eye." Xander said with an air of humour.
"Hey I'll have you know I tried to," Willow now waving her arms around hoping to catch the words as they flew past, "to heal your eye but."
"But you couldn't." Nicholas said now more composed than a moment ago. "I also tried and failed. Xander something doesn't want you to have your eye back. Something with more power than myself and that's saying something."
"Huh? More power." Xander was at a complete loss for words.
"But I thought you were, like a. super God or something?" Fred said only moments behind Xander on the lost for words train.
"Just because I existed before time itself doesn't mean that other beings can't reach or even exceed my power." Pausing for a moment so to let the words sink in. "It's like the Slayer, Buffy, her destiny should have ended at the hands of The Master but instead she lives. She's one of the longest serving Slayers and possibly the only Slayer I know of, who actually managed to defeat a God."
"But that's because he has us." Willow retorted.
"Yes I know but in the end she has obtained a power unlike any Slayer before her."
"You mean friendship." Wesley added in effortlessly.
"Exactly. For along time the Council believed, well in actual fact they always believed that in order to fight the darkness the Slayer had to isolate herself from those around. An idiotic notion really, but then again the Council was filled with bloody idiots." Nicholas paused as he remembered that Wesley was once a member of the council. "Oh, I didn't mean to. you know I'm not talking about you. You and Giles are like the only Council members that I really have respect for." As those words left Nicholas's mouth Wes shifted his stance as he was overcome with pride. A God, a supreme being had respect for him. This was like nothing Wes could have imagined. How he would give for his father to hear that a God had respect for him.
"I. I'm. hon. honoured." Wesley stuttered as he was overcome with embarrassment.
"Not to spoil this very happy moment but we do have the little matter of an approaching apocalypse and were minus most of our force." Came Xander's voice from behind the foyer's counter. "And what the hell did those three Slayers have in their greedy little hands?"
"Yeah what's so important about it. I mean it was just a little box. What could it possibly contain?" Faith asked sound rather confident that noting of importance was in the box.
"Erm. that box had a Peruvian orb in it." Fred said sheepishly.
"Huh? What's a Peruvian orb?" Xander asked felling like an idiot as the faces within the room, with the exception of Faith's drop.
"You sure it was a Peruvian orb? I mean why even have one?" Willow retorted forcefully.
"Hey guys what's the what with this orb thingy?" Faith bellowed in effort to gain everyone's attention.
*** (Boston University Campus) There was a bustle of activity going on all around the campus, so mush so that no one noticed Cordelia and Buffy as they made their way to the administration building.
"Erm Cordy, where are we?" Buffy asked as they passed through the large glass doors.
"Boston." She replied simply, as if travelling nearly four thousand kilometres in less than a minute was all in a normal days work.
"Okay, you do realise that that's about four thousand." buffy began.
"Yeah, yeah it's three thousand five hundred kilometres, and don't worry we'll only be here for a short while. I hope." Those last two words didn't fill Buffy with the confidence she was looking for. Angelus was lose, a God was terrorising L.A; well she really hadn't seen anything that Shalimar had done, apart from releasing Angelus. But Buffy trusted Cordelia, well more than several years ago at any rate, so she decided to sit back and let Cordy do what ever it was she was here to do.
As they approached the reception desk they were greeted by a young woman who's eyes where hidden beneath thick strands of hair but amazingly she had noticed them.
"Welcome to the University of Boston. How may I help you today?" she asked as if she were Willow on a coffee binge.
"Erm, hi. I was wondering if you could tell me where I might find a particular person." Cordy asked taken slightly back by the girl's perkiness.
"That's easy, who is it your looking for?" The girl asked and was completely surprised when she heard the name. "Oh, are you like family or."
"We're some friends from L.A. We just thought since we're in the area that we might stop by and say hello y'know." Cordy replied with almost as much perkiness as the receptionist. Buffy on the other hand was still in some shock. Why this person? Surely they didn't need that sort of help.
"Yeah here it is. Alexander Hall room 208."
"Thanks." Cordy replied as she ushered Buffy out of the building.
"Erm Cor, why are we." Buffy was again cut off by Cordelia.
"You know what? You'd think they make these places user friendly. Were the hell is Alexander Hall?" Cordy asked but not really expecting an answer.
"Well they're kinda built to. oh look, there it is." Buffy replied now pointing to an old style building. "Not bad. Better than the dorms at UC Sunnydale."
"Yeah well, considering they're what, a huge smouldering hole in the ground now, anything would be better." Cordy said as she slowly made her way up to the Hall.
"Cordy are you going to tell me why, why we're here looking for." Buffy asked again this time grabbing Cordelia by the arm so that she couldn't avoid the question.
"Fine if you must know, we're here because he can help us find Angel, Angelus who ever he is now."
"Okay I'll buy that but why bring me along? I mean I've never even met the kid." Buffy asked now following Cordy through the main doors.
"Well you're stronger and well for my own protection, the questions and what not." Cordy replied now looking at Buffy as if to say 'please help'.
"Oh well now I know the stitch, lets go find him." But they didn't get far as they were soon cornered by two guys. "Erm what's the problem guys?"
"You can't go up there, residents only." One of the guys said eying up Cordelia.
"Oh well we're here to see a friend and he's up there so." Buffy began to move towards the stairs but the other guys moved to block her. "Oh come on. It's not like we're gonna break anything or disturb the peace." The guy blocking Buffy's way moved closer and grabbed her tightly by the shoulders. "Oh I was so hoping you'd do that." With nearly no effort Buffy grabbed the guys wrists and spun around flipping him over her head. As he hit the floor the guy who was eying Cordy moved to grab Buffy but Cordy spun around and hit him on the base of the next knocking him out cold.
"Well, shall we continue?" Cordy asked Buffy as she stepped over the unconscious body before her.
As the reached the second floor Buffy turned to Cordelia. "But doesn't he have like an amnesia deal, no memories of the past, just what that law firm gave him."
"Yeah but this is important, y'know the whole end of the world thing." Cordy replied as she outstretched her hand to knock on the door but before she could the door flung open. "Connor."