Chapter Three
Thunder crashed and the ground shook. Spike didn't know what to think or to feel at this moment. The army of demons was frozen as if some fear had over come them. Far off the sound of helicopters reached his ears. Illyria also did not know what to make of what was going on, but though she was extremely tempted to commit more acts of violence felt the change of the tide in the air. She looked for Gunn, but he had vanished from the scene. She caught Spike's eye, and sensed his thoughts. 'Go! Find him!'
Illyria turned to head back, but was stopped by a tall man with silver hair, who appeared from nowhere directly behind her. Illyria, who cowed to no man or demon, felt awed and frightened. This was something old; older than her, older than the world. He ignored her and stepped past into the midst of the horde.
"You will leave now!"
Quite a few of the horde turned and ran, but a few rash ones stayed rooted to their spots.
"Who are you that would order us so?!" shouted the largest. He turned to his compatriot, "Kill him!"
The demon had not moved a hair, when faster than thought the man drew his sword. Flames burst forth from it as soon as it left its sheath, and the demon was gone before it could react. His leader was equally as rapidly dispatched. The man turned to those who remained silver eyes flashing, and they fled in terror.
The roaring of the dragon above was halted in its tracks as a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky incinerating it in mid flight.
Spike stared at the newcomer, who in turned stared back at him. Spike dropped his sword. The man nodded, and turned to Illyria. "Take your wounded and go. Bury your dead. The end of days has been...postponed." Spike blinked, and the man was gone.
Across the alley an elderly, homeless man performed the sign of the cross on his chest. "Angels and Ministers of Grace, defend us."
Charles Gunn awoke inside the Hyperion hotel. He knew it was the hotel by the round sofa he was currently hanging off of. However, he also knew he was not alone. He sat up slowly, and felt the wound on his side. It was still bleeding, but it had slowed. "Ok," he said to himself, "I should be dead. Why am I not dead?"
"Because I managed to get to you in time," said a soft, feminine voice from behind him.
Gunn spun around quickly, and nearly fell over, but was caught equally as quickly.
"You should be careful. You are not completely healed yet. I did what I could, but I can only aid the healing process."
Gunn felt himself lowered back on to the couch, and turned his head to look at his savior. She was beautiful, but not overly so. She looked at him with concerned blue eyes, and long chestnut hair fell from her head touching his cheek. She touched his forehead with the back of her hand.
"There is no fever. We were lucky." She smiled at him. Oh would he love to see her smile like that again.
"Are you an angel?" he whispered. Then blushed, "I can't believe I just said that."
She grinned, "It's ok. In human terms and frames of reference, yes, I suppose I am."
That made him blink. "You mean there ARE angels! That they exist!"
She sat down next to him, still smiling. "Yes, in a sense. Your religions state that beings from God come and guide humanity. I have been sent by those higher than you and me to guide you, so in that respect the analogy works."
"So you are a Power that Be?"
She shook her head, "Oh no! I am not so high as them. I am from the...dimensions...that they are from, but I am merely a servant...a messenger if you will. Those higher than me have chosen to end this battle, and sent me to help you; all of you."
"Well, thank you then. I am Charles Gunn." He offered her his hand.
She took it, but seemed surprised when he started shaking it. "Then Charles Gunn, I am Layla." She released his hand and looked at her hand. She grinned. "Hands! Such a concept! I am unused to physical form. This will be fun! I cannot wait to learn more!"
"More? Are you staying, then?" Gunn asked in wonder. "Don't angels live in Heaven?"
She looked at him with enthusiasm. "Actually that is the second part of my mission. I am to stay with you and help...what is the term...fight the good fight? Those higher than me want to learn more about humanity and their world. This apocalypse that almost was, has alerted them that watching may not be all that is necessary. But.." she frowned, "I guess they want to know more about what they are protecting."
"Right," said a very confused Charles Gunn. "Well, since you are sticking around, we need to find the rest of the team."
"Not to worry!" answered Spike from the doorway, "We found you." He looked over at Layla, "And apparently the Powers that Be have decided to finally take action."