The day had come and went as darkness fell over Los Angels. Seeking refuge from the others Gunn, Illyria, Spike and Angel were walking through the sewers underneath the city. For a long time they were silent. Nothing but the sloshing of shoes in the water beneath them at a steady and hypnotizing pace. Finally, upon reaching the end of a tunnel, Angel, who was leading the group, stopped and turned to the others.
"We far enough away now?" asked his blonde haired vampire counterpart.
"What exactly are we trying to get away from anyway? Haven't we done enough running?" Asked Gunn
"Were not running, or trying to get away. I just needed some time to think. I needed for the four of us, on our own, to at least come up with some plan of attack. We brought this to them. I'm not just gonna let everybody die again. They didn't ask for this. We need to think of something."
"Symantec's. Yours, ours, theirs, it is all the same. They created what we are. And we created what they will be. We are not just in a war with the enemy; we are in a war with ourselves." Illyria silenced herself, but did not pull her gaze away from Angel. He felt as if her blue eyes were boring straight into his soul, he wondered if she saw how broken it was. He also wondered when exactly she became so insightful on the human experience. Perhaps the time spent with Fred and Wes provided her with more than just a daytime distraction.
"Well, listen to Blue over there all full of insight. Seems you're not such a mystery after all, now are you Mr. Big and Broody."
"Shut up Spike."
"No one ever appreciates me."
"Well, I don't care who we are fighting. I just want to get this over with and move on." Gunn added, a bit annoyed
"I think that is part of the question, isn't it, mate. What do we do if there is nothing to move on to?"
Angel thought for a moment and then remembered something from a long time ago. Something that he hadn't given any thought to in a long while. And in that thought it triggered an idea. "I remember realizing that if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. And it just hit me; I think it is time we do something. Here's the plan. Illyria…"
Lorne hung up the phone and looked over to see Angel and Cordelia "I had to call in a big favor for this one, so let's not blow it, okay?"
"What would I do?" Cordelia asked, insulted that he would think she could every offend anyone.
"Don't worry you pretty little head over there, Miss. Tact. It's not just your people skills I'm worried about. Now you my little cream puff, you need to put on a happy face for just a little while."
Angel crossed his arms belligerently and starred at him.
"For goodness sake, Angel would it kill you to smile for like 5 seconds. I mean really the world won't end."
"I smile"
"Yah, when?" Lorne Challenged
Angel thought for a moment. He went to open his mouth, but closed it quickly deciding against it.
"Look, all I'm asking is for a little courtesy 'hey have a nice day' or maybe a 'thank you for helping protect our very lives' you know, something like that." He waved his hands in the air to elaborate his point.
"I may be antisocial, but I'm not rude." He shot a look at Cordelia
"Hey! It's not my fault I call it like I see it. Some people just have hard time accepting the truth."
"Yes, yes, you're both real humanitarians. The Furies should be here tomorrow night. Let's just try not to comment on their outfits not matter what we think..." he shot a look at Cordelia "…Or try to kill them, they are not the enemy, okay?" he finished, looking at Angel.
"Whatever" they replied in unison.
It was morning. The sun was shining and the sky was a crisp clear blue. Cars flew behind her as she entered the Wolfram and Hart law firm. She took a moment to stare at the sign at the entrance of the building and the continued on her way into the firm.
People were passing her buy in expensive shoes and suits not giving her any notice, which was just they way she wanted it. No need to be seen until it was necessary. Just blend.
She approached the receptionist seated behind a large desk. "Can I help you Miss?" the woman asked politely enough.
"I…I don't know. I 'm lost. I think I'm lost. I've been gone for so long and then all of a sudden...POOF! Here I am again." Fred held her hands up to her face and giggled into them quite aware that she wasn't invisible any longer. She settled her nerves and continued. "Only it's not like I remember it. There are things I don't understand. There are people that look like people, but there not."
The secretary raised an eyebrow and spoke in a slightly condescending tone "I'm not sure we are the people to help you miss. We are a law firm, and it sounds like you might need more than a lawyer."
"But these people, they keep talking about you, they think you're evil, but they are not right. Something is wrong with them. It's only when it's dark, or they think I'm not looking, but I can see it."
The receptionist looked one second away from calling security. "I know you think I'm crazy. Maybe I am, but I'm not wrong."
A voice came from behind her "That's right, your not." Fred swung around to see a hand being extended her way, which she grabbed a hold of and gave a quick shake. "Hi, I'm Lilah Morgan. Why don't you come with me? I am sure I can be of assistance."
A smile spread across Fred's face. "Thank you. That's very kind."
"Look at you all skin and bones. Would you like something to eat, drink?" Lilah asked ushering Fred into her office.
"Do you have an ice cream? I just love raspberry ice cream."
Lilah hit a button on her telephone "Barbara, can you please get me cup of raspberry ice cream please."
She looked up a Fred who quietly added "With sprinkles, too?"
Lilah echoed "With sprinkles"
"The multi colored kind?"
Lilah smiled at Fred "And please make those multicolored. Thanks Barbara." Lilah let go of the button and over her desk at Fred. "It might be a minute, kay?"
"Oh, that's fine. Thank you so much."
"No problem, we here at Wolfram and Hart aim to please. Now, while we are waiting why don't you fill me in on your problem?" Seeing that she looked a little overwhelmed Lilah coxed her on "I can't help if I don't know what is wrong, now can I?"
Fred took a deep breath and began her story "It all started just over five years ago. I was at the library reading a book when the next thing I know, I'm in the middle of a forest and there is nothing around for miles except trees and grass."
Barbara entered the room with her ice cream. Fred smiled widely and accepted the offering thanking the secretary for it on her way out.
As Fred continued with her story Lilah sat there looking completely engrossed with every word that passed her lips. And it truth for most of it she was. With the exceptions of her constant and completely non linear ramblings which forced Lilah to coax her back on track, it was a very good story to hear.
"Why don't you stay here for a minute, Fred. I am just going to confer with a colleague of mine and I will be right back. Okay?"
Fred shook her head yes as she ate up the last bite of sprinkled covered raspberry ice cream.
As soon as Lilah left the room she placed the empty cup down on the desk in front of her and made her way to the door. Cracking it open a bit she looked around outside to office to make sure Lilah was no where to be found. Quickly, but carefully she made her way out of the office and across the hallway to the elevator. She hit the 'Up' button and within seconds the elevator doors opened up to greet her. Thankfully there was no one inside.
She examined the list of buttons in front of her, closed her eyes for a second and then hit a pattern into the buttons symbolizing each floor of the office building. Without much surprise a white button appeared at the top. Looking pleased, she hit that one as well. Then slowly everything went into a white haze.
She stepped out into what some people might thing was an industrial version of heaven. White surrounded her at every angel. The only thing that held any contrast were what appeared to be steal beams above her, also white. As she stepped further into the area her shape slowly transformed from Fred into a very blue Illyria. She smiled. Her blue from contrasted quite nicely against the white backdrop.
"Well, your certainly not who you pretend to be, now are you?" Came a voice from behind her. She turned to see Wesley, or at least what appeared to be Wesley.
"Neither are you." She commented back to him
"No, I don't suppose I am, but I rather though you would appreciate this form. After all I am your guide, am I not?"
"Wesley's dead. Your magick tricks can not fool me."
"No they may not, but that isn't the point."
She cocked her head, trying to figure out exactly what the motivation of the conduit was to appear in this form. "You try to make me weak by playing on emotions. You will not succeed."
"Again, not the point."
"And what is your point."
"I think you know. You're the one that came to see me after all."
"I have no use for your games or your glamour's. I came here for information, which I know you have. And I do not intend to leave until I get it."
"You want to change the future? Or fix the past? However you feel like putting it. Isn't that it? You think you can make a difference. "
She just starred at him.
"I think you are confused. Poor little girl, so lost, so wrong. This world isn't what you want. It is bright and clean and full of everything you hate. The world we could create. The one that you started back there…" He waved his hand opening up a window to the ally behind the Hyperion. There they were fighting a battle they knew they would loose. She looked in for a moment then turned her attention back the conduit. He then continued "…That is the world you want. It's what you are used to. We will wipe out everything and it will be like before, in your time - in our time. Isn't that what you want?"
"No. What I want is gone, nothing more than ashes. Nothing you offer me will change that."
He closed the window with a flick of the wrist and looked slightly confused "Then I guess you should tell me then. Why are you here?"
"To get what I need."
Holding his stomach he gave a hearty laugh at that. So much so that the punch Illyria sent flying his way caught him completely off guard.
"You stopped laughing" Illyria commented, looking completely disappointed.
"Not to worry, it won't be for long."
Illyria held out her hand forcing time to slow down. "So you think." She was pleased. Her powers were the one thing that never disappointed her. She knew it wouldn't hold for long and made good use of what little time she had left. She held out her other hand opening a portal opened in front of her. Not very large or very clear as to what was on the other side, but it was all she needed.
She let her hand fall, closing the portal and turned her attention to the Conduit. Allowing him to come back into regular time, he was unaware that anything had just taken place. "I think it is time for you to go."
Illyria opened her mouth to begin mock protest, but realized before she could she was back in the elevator heading back down to Lilah's office. She smiled slyly. He thought he had won but she got everything she needed and a little bit more. By the time the doors opened she had morphed back into Fred. She stepped out of the elevator and began walking around looking lost.
She saw Lilah a little bit ahead of her "Fred! I was wondering where you went."
"I'm sorry, but I was trying to find the ladies room. It's my nerves. Hope I didn't cause you any problems."
"No, no of course not. But his place can be like a maze if you are not familiar with it. So don't go wandering off. Come on I'll show you the way."
"Thanks." She smiled to herself knowing that she could find her way around the building blindfolded, in the dark, drunk. But Lilah didn't need to know that and she had no intention of filling her in.
Later that afternoon Illyria walked back into the hotel lobby still sporting her Fredly appearance. Wes looked up from the book he was reading and smiled as he saw her walk in. "Fred! You went outside, how wonderful!" He ran to great her at the door to please with the fact that she ventured out of her room to really care that it wasn't very safe.
She smiled back at him, seeing such happiness in his eyes. She had grown close to him over the past few months. She realized her bond with him went much deeper than she expected. She wrote some of that off to his closeness with Fred, which, as much as she denied it, was at least a small part of who she still was. But most of the feeling was her own which she wasn't sure if she found comforting or not. Probably not.
When he reached her and he was still smiling she was afraid he would be disappointed when she changed back into her true form. She smiled at him and reached her hand out to his face, lightly touching his cheek. He looked down at her with wide eyes as she changed before him.
"Fascinating!" he sounded like a school boy that had just discovered girls weren't icky with a grin to match.
She turned her eyes away from his "You weren't meant to see. My Wesley didn't take as well to the other form." He noticed that when she spoke about his future self her eyes always changed. There was something behind them that seemed to come to the front, something she was tying to keep hidden. He felt sorry. He wanted to make it better. He was very confused.
"That's a neat little trick you got there Blue." Gunn said biting into an apple looking more weirded out then impressed.
"I'm glad you were amused."
"Yah, well, when are the Furies showing up anyway? It has been hours since Lorne called in that favor and I'm not feeling any protection."
"They should be here soon. Lorne took Angel and Cordy to get some supplies from the Occult Shop. They should be arriving back shortly as well."
Illyria looked confused "Furies?"
"They are going to put a spell on the hotel to protect us from demon violence. That way we will always have a safe place to come back to if it gets too rough out there."
"You are just doing this now. Would it not have made sense to always have this in place?"
Gunn and Wesley looked at each other. They didn't really have an answer for that.
"It is of no matter now. I wish to be alone." She walked away from the two men and towards her room upstairs.
"Friendly, huh?" Gunn said, finishing off his apple
Wesley just watched her walk away.
Illyria walked in the room and shut the door behind her, relieved to finally be alone. She still wasn't happy about the size of the room, but was managing to adjust to this life. She walked to the window and looked out onto the sunset. She didn't understand how a world that was so simple could house lives that were this complicated. One thing she was now certain of. She underestimated humanity.
"You were supposed to come tell us what happened." Angel had made his way into her room. She knew he was there before he spoke, but paid him no mind. She had no need for him right now.
She whipped her head around to look at him "You do not tell me what to do. I take orders from no one."
He sighed. She could be so difficult to deal with. Since they had come to this place they had become closer, which helped him deal with her most of the time. But right now he wasn't in the mood. "I'm not ordering you to do anything, Illyria. I just want to know what happened. That was the plan, remember?"
"I was able to open the passage. No one noticed." She turned back to the window. She seemed to have lost the normal boom she had to her voice. And although she hated to admit it to herself, the little encounter at Wolfram and Hart left her feeling a bit drained. She still had her powers, but they weren't what they used to be – what they should be.
"And the Conduit?"
She was quite. Not having any real answer to give him. When she was in the room with him she did not allow his appearance, or his words, to affect her. But now, well now she was time to reflect.
He prodded her "Illyria?"
"He underestimated me." That was all he was getting for an answer. She was done talking.
"Okay." Angel left the room not sure what to think. The little mission she went out on seemed to go well. And yet she seemed so…sad. Deciding that was not possible he continued on his way to find Spike and Gunn and fill them in on the day's events.
The front door to the Hyperion opened as if of its own accord. Seconds later 3 floating female figures entered the lobby.
"Good evening ladies" Greeted Wesley exiting the office with Gunn trailing right behind him.
"We've come..."
"…to perform…"
"…your spell."
The three sisters each took a turn speaking, as if they had one brain.
"Now I see why Lorne was going on about these ladies, they are quite the vision, aren't they?" Gunn gave a suave smile their way.
"You are not the ones…"
"…we seek."
"Where is Krevlorneswath?"
"He is out with Cordelia and Angel; they should be back in just a second." Answered Wesley
"Mmmmm. Angel" All three said in a dreamy tone.
Gunn looked at Wes with a raised eyebrow "They're starting to freak me out a little bit"
"Would you like anything while we wait?" Wes was trying to be polite, but really he hoped they would need anything since really, they had nothing to give.
"We cannot wait."
"The danger is everywhere."
"It approaches us now."
Just as the third sister finished speaking Angel burst through the door practically carrying Lorne and Cordelia.
"Good Lord!" Wesley ran towards Angel to assist with his burden asking what happen when he reached them.
"Mmmm. Angel" The three girls floated lazily in the air starring at Angel with lust filled eyes as if completely unaware of the situation around them.
Angel looked up and gave an awkward smile allowing Wesley and Gunn to help him with Cordy and Lorne. "We were attacked. Vampires, they came from everywhere. There must have been a dozen or more. Cordy got bit."
Cordy and Lorne were placed on the couch in the center of the lobby, both conscious but groggy. Gunn applied a bandage to her neck from the looks of it she will be weak for a bit, but should be fine. Lorne had a nasty gash on his forehead that Wesley was attending to.
"Here is the stuff you needed" Angel handed the closest sister the bag which he managed to keep in tact during the battle. "You'd better make it quick. I'm sure the next attack won't be far behind."
"We'll do your spell…"
"…but you will have to…"
"…repay our kindness."
"We know you can." They added together
The three hovered up above him with smiling lips and gleaming eyes. "Uh…of course." Sounding more like a question then an answer. He looked over to see Cordelia glaring at him. Even all bit and weak she could still make him feel like an ass with no problem what so ever. He smiled at her meekly. She rolled her eyes and looked away.
"What is going on down here?" Angel asked walking down the steps, Spike and Gunn behind him. He had come down to inform the others of their plan, but found quite a scene laid out before him.
"Is that the Furies, mate? Oh, you're bloody in for it now." Spike laughed at him
The three sisters looked at each other, their hovering getting slightly faster paced.
"Oh, well isn't this…"
"…a nice treat."
"Will there be a third?"
"NO!" both Angels replied completely creeped out.
The girls laughed and began the preparation for the spell.
"We'll, I'm glad that is over." Angel sighed in relief as he re entered the Hyperion after escorting out the Furies"
"I think I can speak for all of us, that if I heard one more 'mmmmm Angel' from those girls I was gonna throw them out myself. Screw the consequences."
"Yah, sorry about that."
"So, are we sure this spell actually worked? I didn't see any bells or hear any whistles." Gunn asked
"Perhaps we should test it." Illyria suggested. She then swung her fist full force at Spike. A loud crack sent her stumbling backwards, but caused no damage otherwise.
"Bloody hell woman! You should be thanking your lucky stars that spell held up. Shouldn't have left your damn room in the first place."
"I don't care for this spell." She looked at Spike disappointed "Undo it."
"We can't undo it Illyria, it is what will protect us. Not all of us have the power of a God, you know." Wesley was trying to sooth her, which he had gotten quite good at.
"Very well then, I will allow it." She conceded
Wes gave her a grateful smile.
"It's good that the spell works. We are probably going to need it more than you think." Angel said, looking as if he had volumes more to say
"You mean there is someone else out there that we are looking to piss off? Don't you think we have enough trouble already? Asked Cordy, still nursing her neck wound.
"Illyria went on a trip today and we found an opportunity to get to them. It's not something I'm looking to ignore. If we strike at the right time, they won't know what hit them"
"Who are you talking about?"
Angel paused and looked over to Spike who gave him a little 'go ahead and say it' nod He took in a deep breath gathering courage. "The Senior Partners."
TBC…
A/N: I know this was a super long chapter, and I hope that it wasn't too long for anyone. I always prefer chapters that veer to the longer side when I read anything (I'm just not usually able to write them!) but I know that isn't for everyone. It was a lot of info so I hope it didn't come out to choppy. Feel free to let me know what you think and thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed.