Part 15
Graham put his hand over Willow's fingers that were nervously tapping on the seat between them and intertwined their fingers. This was very difficult for her and he knew it. Besides going against Buffy, Xander and Mr. Giles this would be one of the hardest things she'd have to do. Yeah, killing for the job was very hard and each time it ate a little more from her soul but THIS was different. This was intentionally deceiving and possibly hurting someone she considered a very close friend.
Willow's mind was racing with what she'd say to Angel and how to conceal her feelings. From being research girl all those years she knew that vampires could tell when someone was lying or trying to deceive. It wasn't so much that they could smell a lie or anything like that. They were just human, or was that superhuman, lie detectors. They could tell from the sped up heart rate and the accelerated breathing just like a computer can read the rapid heart rate, quickening pulse and accelerated breathing when you lie. Telling the truth comes naturally it's when a human lies that the body reacts. Which was one of the reasons that Whistler always said that if she learned nothing else learn to stay as close to the truth as possible when lying. You can pass lie detector tests both natural and supernatural that way. That rule had kept him alive on more than one occasion.
Graham parked the car outside the Hyperion and turned to Willow, "Are you ready?"
A small smile flitted across Willow's features as she squeezed Graham's hand, "Not really."
"We can sit out here for as long as you need, Willow." Graham leaned his head down for a soft kiss. "I won't say everything will be fine because I don't know that. But I do know you and I know if anyone is capable of pulling this off it's you. Angel will know you had his best interests at heart when this is finally over. And if he doesn't I'll be more than happy to beat the idea into his head. I'm sure Riley will help. Hell, he'd probably push me out of the way just to get at him first."
Willow turned her face up and placed a quick kiss on Graham's lips, "Not the best pep talk I've had but it's okay for a rookie. Angel's probably waiting and wondering why I called to meet him. I took a page out of his book and was all cryptic girl."
She took a deep breath and grabbed the video as she opened her door. "Let's go, Hunter."
Angel paced the lobby waiting for Willow and Graham to arrive. He'd called Giles just after the odd conversation with Willow and had been informed that 'Hunter' was actually Graham Miller from Sunnydale. He had been part of the Initiative that had chipped Spike and developed the being known as ADAM. It seems they had both worked against demons and now they were working for demons. Life was ironic like that.
Wesley had done some research on Red Death and Hunter. He found out that Hunter had a very colorful past. He sold himself to the highest bidder yet he had a sort of 'code of honor'. He never took a job for an opposing side while in the hire of one demon. That didn't mean he wouldn't switch sides once his job was over, he also seemed to cut a swath of death through the worst of the worst. Of course that could just be his way of earning a reputation. Angel would keep a guarded eye on Graham.
Willow.
Willow was a different problem. Angel had trouble believing the Willow he knew was the witch known as Red Death. The witch who seemed to kill without remorse and for profit. He'd gotten a glimpse at her dark side when the vampire version of her came to this reality. The demon that takes over the body intensifies the dark side that all humans have so he knew what Willow was capable of.
The sound of the door opening brought him out of his thoughts, he turned to see Willow and Graham standing just inside the lobby doors. He'd made Cordelia, Fred, Gunn and Wes go out on a case. He wanted to talk to Willow alone without the interference of the others whether intentional or not.
"Angel."
"Willow…"
Willow molded her mask into a frown, "I'm not here for a lecture about how much I've changed."
"Why did you call, Willow?"
"You probably already know this since Lilah picked Hunter and I up."
Angel held up his hand to interrupt Willow, "I've talked to Giles. I know Hunter is Graham Miller."
Fuck! That meant that Buffy, Xander and Giles knew that she was working with Graham, which meant that they would have contacted Riley about Red Death and Hunter. This was one of the bad things about working deep undercover, you weren't kept apprised of the small details like Giles and the others knowing about her. Working with Zelana she had no doubt that sooner or later her path would cross those in Sunnydale but she was hoping for later.
Angel watched Willow's face intently and sighed inwardly when she gave nothing away. If nothing else came from this meeting he would now have to acknowledge that this Willow was very different from HIS Willow.
Willow continued, "Okay, you know that since Lilah picked Graham and I up at the airport, we've been hired by Wolfram and Hart. We're to be a bodyguard for a demon."
"Why come to me? Why would I care what your latest assignment is?"
Graham stepped in and put his arm around Willow's shoulder, "Come on, baby. I told you it'd be a waste of time. I know you wanted to come here first but we'll find someone else. Ranger can do the job, he owes me."
Willow nodded, "You're right." She turned to Angel, "Sorry, I guess I'm more Sunnydale Willow than I thought. I need to break the habit of turning to those I used to turn to." She wrapped her arm around Graham's waist and turned to leave.
Angel felt Willow's sadness though she hid it well. "Wait. Why did you come to me, Willow?"
"Despite what you may have heard about Red Death or what I've said about me not being the same Willow one thing has never changed and will never change. I will never allow another GLORY to happen… EVER." She handed the tape to Angel, "Lilah gave us a briefing yesterday about the demon Jasmine and while watching it I realized that Jasmine has the potential of being another Glory. Oh she doesn't need Dawnie's blood to open a portal to get home she's not that kind of goddess. No, this one's more dangerous and Wolfram and Hart know that. Jasmine has the ability to take normal, rational people and turn them into mindless zombie worshippers who will do anything for their goddess."
Willow gave a slight shudder, "Tara." Willow cleared her throat and began again, "After Tara's brush with insanity I swore if I could prevent that from happening again I would."
Angel was silent as he digested all that she'd said, "So Lilah just let you go and gave you the tape? I don't buy it, Willow. Why are you really here?"
"What don't you buy, Angel? The fact that I might not want another Glory or the fact that I stupidly followed my instincts? I know… the fact that I might have brains and figured out a way to get the tape without Lilah knowing about it. Yeah, I can see how you'd have a problem with that. After all it's not like I know how to hack and get information or that maybe I might have said I needed to study my assignment to find the weakness could I take a copy with me?!? I'm sure it was a fluke in high school that I was smart enough to smuggle out information on the Mayor's ascension while I was kidnapped." Willow turned to Graham, "You're right, let's go. Sorry I wasted your time, Angel."
Going for the jugular in guilt she whispered to Graham knowing Angel could hear, "Maybe I should have taken a page out of Faith's book and tortured Wesley or be like Connor and locked him up in a glass coffin. Seems the only people he'll trust not to set him up have to try to kill him or torture those he cares about."
Angel's hand whipped out and grabbed Willow's arm, "I've learned not to be so trusting, ask Wesley about the scar on his neck. Let's say I believe you and that you've come to me for help. What do you think I can do?"
"It's not what you can do for me it's what Graham and I can do for you. In the video of one of Jasmine's press conferences I noticed you in the crowd watching her. I know you don't want her to rise to power anymore than I do. I'm offering our services to take Jasmine out."
"What about Zelana and Lilah? I've done research on you and you both have a code that you've never broken. You don't take the opposite side from the person hiring you."
"That's correct. However, our ultimate boss is okay with this. Wolfram and Hart was just a side job. Zelana understands my feelings on Jasmine and is okay with our taking her out. Lilah on the other hand won't be so forgiving but as we haven't been paid yet technically we aren't working for her."
"Again I come back to why did you come to me? Hunter and Red Death could easily take out Jasmine what do you need me for?"
This time Graham answered, "You're right, we could take her out on our own but there would be high casualties. Not that I care but Willow didn't want to harm the innocents that are surrounding Jasmine. I think it goes back to her guilt with Tara. That's where the champion for the Powers comes in. Your merry band of do-gooders help with the innocents and we take out Jasmine."
"What about Wolfram and Hart?"
"We can handle anything Lilah might send our way."