:: Yes people, I know it's another Angelus POV and to be honest, I don't really like writing like this. But I've had a good long think about it and this is the easiest way to get it to where I want it to be! And I really do need those reviews. I might not carry it on if I don't get reviews. Ok that was a lie, I'm gonna carry it on even if I don't get any, but reviews are what make it all worth it. So press that little button dammit!! ::
And a Disclaimer because everyone else is doing it! : I do not own the watchers council, Darla, Drusilla or Angelus. Yes I do own William, do not tell me otherwise. What do you mean I don't, yes I do! I do! Dammit, Joss, why d'ya have to go and own William as well? Well I do own the man in the kitchen so HA!
I must confess I felt a little bit guilty for leaving Will with Darla and not telling him why. But I had hoped they would possibly manage to get along while I was away. They hate each other, and it really makes things hard for me, having to choose between Will and Darla all the time. I thought maybe if I left them for a while they would, well, make friends.
Only now I see how wrong I was.
After three days I came home. Drusilla was bouncing with happiness after our little trip, and she went in first. Will appeared out of nowhere and she sidled over to him happily, resting her head briefly against his shoulder. He put his arms loosely round her waist, clearly glad to have her home again.
Then he saw me and the two of them stopped being so engrossed in each other. He broke away from her and shuffled a little, looking awkward. I fought the urge to laugh, and hung my coat up.
"Where's Darla?" I asked, and I saw him scowl. He shrugged loosely, glaring at the floor as if it had offended him in some way.
Suddenly Drusilla interrupted with a moan. Will sprang towards her, concerned. The boy hasn't yet grasped the fact that Dru's visions aren't dangerous to her in anyway, no matter how she might act.
"Come on, Drusilla," I said, taking her gently by the arm and leading her upstairs. Will watched us go silently. I lead Drusilla up to her room on the top floor and then left her there. Unlike Will, she doesn't mind being left alone for long periods of time. In fact, I think she likes it. Then I went to find Darla.
When I found her, she was fixing her hair unsuccessfully. She spoke without turning round. "Angelus, will you do my hair? The stupid mirror won't let me see myself." I smiled faintly and took the comb, kissing her on the neck before combing it all upwards. That was something Darla always complained about, not being able to see herself in the mirror. I think it's the same for all of us really. Except maybe Will. He doesn't care much for appearances.
After Darla's hair was perfect, we headed downstairs. As I passed my room I frowned, and stopped. "Why does my room smell of William?"
"Oh," Darla said dismissively, "he's been sleeping in there these past couple of days."
"And you didn't stop him?"
"I thought I'd let you," she said with a suggestive smirk. I didn't reply, but carried on downstairs, frowning at the amount of dust on the banister as I did so.
Will was sitting on the hearth looking into the fire. I don't know why he does that. Plenty of seats all over the room, but he sits on the stone hearth. He turned his head as we came in, and then swivelled back round to face the fire again. I was perfectly content to leave it at that, but Darla stopped.
"William. What do you do when one of us comes into the room?" she asked, her voice sticky sweet. I saw Will close his eyes briefly then stand up, again turning to face us. "Good," Darla smirked, and a muscle twitched in his jaw. He had his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows and I couldn't help but notice the nasty looking burn on his left forearm that hadn't been there when I left. Of course he could have acquired this in a fight, but it was more likely that Darla could be held responsible.
She and I sat down together, and Will glared at her before once again sitting with his back to us. I couldn't focus my attention on him for long, however, because Darla was tracing patterns on my jaw with her fingers and whispering something in my ear.
There was blood in Angelus' hair. I smelt it the minute he arrived home. I couldn't see it, but it was there. I glared into the fire, watching the flames flicker and dance. Fire is power, Angelus once told me. You can do anything with fire. It's dangerous, he said.
He's so close now, after days of not seeing him, but he hasn't spoken to me since he got back. Well not properly. 'Where's Darla' doesn't exactly count. I wonder what he did on his trip.
Suddenly Darla let out another little giggle and I didn't want to be in the room with them anymore. I got up to leave.
"Where are you going Will?" Angelus stopped me.
"Upstairs. To see Dru."
"Leave her," he commanded. I scowled but turned away so he couldn't see.
"Then I'm going out."
"No you're not," he said calmly. I scowled again, not bothering to hide it this time.
"I'm hungry," I said moodily. Why was he being so awkward tonight?
Angelus growled at me and stood up. "I don't care. You should've drank more yesterday."
Um, hello? Having been left with your psycho Sire for three days? I think not, mate. I turned and opened the door, intending to go up to my room.
"William!" he called sharply after me but I ignored him. I knew it. I just knew the minute he got home he would be all nasty to me again. "WILLIAM! Get back here now!!!" I hesitated for a second at that tone of voice, half of me wanting to get away from him and the other half scared of making him angry. The independent half won, and I carried on up the stairs. He seemed to give up at that point and I allowed myself a small grin.
Once I was upstairs the small feeling of triumph had disappeared and I was once again thinking bitterly of Angelus. I flopped down on my bed and a sharp hunger pain reminded me at once how much I hated him. I kicked the wardrobe angrily. Bastard. I kicked a few more things before I heard the unmistakable sound of his footsteps coming up the stairs. Uh oh. No, Angelus, please don't come in here... he stopped outside my room and I tensed, waiting for the door to open...
I was surprised when I heard a knock instead.
"Can I come in, Will?" Whoa... way to freak me out Angelus...
"Y-yeah," I said shakily. The door opened slowly and he came in. I looked at the floor and shuffled around a bit.
"Keep still," he said. Good, something that's not too out of character. I can handle that. I tried to stop shuffling, but the only way to do that was by fiddling with my quill pen. "Are you going to come downstairs? There's fresh blood."
"Is Darla there?" I muttered, glaring at the quill.
He paused. "No."
"Ok then." But I didn't move. I risked a glance up and saw that rare look on his face that meant he cared. I stabbed my hand with the quill to make sure it wasn't a dream.
"Come on." He made sure I was following before going downstairs. There was a man tied up in the kitchen. I could have sworn he wasn't there earlier. "Just take enough so that he's still alive. I don't want him dead." Why? I wanted to ask, but the smell of the man's fear was such that I couldn't wait. I sank my fangs in gently, all the while thinking that this was the first time in three days I'd had the first bite of a victim. Actually, it was probably the first time in three days I'd had a live victim. Darla had usually just left a half drained body for me.
Angelus pulled me away suddenly. That's not fair – I'm still hungry! The man was unconscious – I was unaware of when he'd passed out – but still very much alive. Angelus simply left the man where he was and we went through to the sitting room. He gestured at the settee.
"Sit down." I hesitated, but did so.
Angelus will you please tell me what's going on? I hate it when you do this...
He sat down beside me and his scent wafted over me. His real, almost-live scent, not the faded one I'd been breathing in every night from his bed. My stomach turned. Is he going to punish me, or love me? I can never tell with him. God, please...
He stayed absolutely still for a couple of seconds, but it seemed like hours. I was tense all over, but I think Angelus was relaxed. So close. I rested my head against his shoulder and felt the familiar feeling of his fingers combing my hair. It wasn't long before both of us were purring softly and I nuzzled deeper into his chest. I felt like a child again. No, I felt like a dog. This was my master, and I would do anything he said, anything.
"Did you miss me?"
"Yes," I answered simply.
"Darla said you were sleeping in my room." Uh oh. He knows. Is he mad? I looked up at him, moving my head away from it's comfortable position. He doesn't look angry. That's good. And he doesn't smell angry. I think I'm safe for now.
"It smelled of you," I whispered. He smiled at me and I settled back where I was contentedly.
"I missed you too, little one."
"Don't call me that," I said suddenly.
"Why not?" He seemed surprised that I'd reacted that way.
"I don't like it. I'm not that little."
In reply, he picked up my hand and opened up the fingers. Then he pressed his own palm against mine. The size difference was impressive; his strong hand against my much daintier one. "Little one," he repeated with a slight smile. I scowled and drew my hand away.
"Don't sulk, boy."
"Not sulking." I replied, forgetting my momentary annoyance and relaxing back into his comforting figure. We stayed like that for a while, but then he ran a finger over my burnt arm and I flinched.
"Did Darla do that?"
I shifted awkwardly. Yes, Darla did do that, I wanted to tell him. It hurt and she did a lot more that just that. She left me in the freezing rain for over an hour then made me walk home. She gave the minions the night off then made me do all the chores without letting me hunt. She... I could go on forever, but for some reason I didn't say any of that. "No."
"How did you get it then?"
Um... "I knocked over a pan of boiling water."
He looked at me but didn't say anything. I don't think he believed me. So why didn't I just tell him that it was Darla? I don't know. I don't want him to know, for some reason. Just like I try and hide it from Dru whenever he... punishes me.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, my face buried in his chest so it must've been hard to hear.
"For what?"
"For being stupid, and pathetic, and useless." I drew away again and looked up, a tear balling in my eye. "I try, I do try, but it never works." I swallowed and looked down at the floor.
"Shh, Will." He pulled me back in to him again. "You're still learning, you're a baby. And you're not stupid, even if I say that a lot."
I blinked away the tears that were threatening to fall any second. I don't want to cry, I don't want to. I'm strong, I don't cry. No I'm not, I'm weak, and now my Sire's back and everything's going to be ok and I don't care about Darla or Watchers or anything because Angelus is here. I pressed closer to him, desperate to savour every second because some small part of me knew it wouldn't be long before his mood changed again and he decided I was stupid, and then the punishments would start again.
:: Ok! Nope, sorry, no massacre in that one either... it is coming though, I promise! Won't be long now! So did you like that? Well review then, dammit! Sorry I took so long getting this chapter out... I got stuck halfway through (you might be able to tell!!) and then I got distracted by doing Higgy's challenge when I was in a really odd mood. Sorry! ::
