Chapter 4

"Giles sent you to see if I knew why she was after me didn't he?" Angel asked as Buffy walked back into the main room of the mansion for the second time that day.

Buffy smiled to herself, "Sometimes I think you're psychic."

"I've been thinking about it ever since you said Nemisis was after me."

Buffy sat down next to him, "If it helps, we think she was just one of Nemisis's priestesses."

"Surprisingly," Angel said, putting his arm around his girlfriend, "it does not."

"So," Buffy put here head on his shoulder, "when you were thinking, what were you thinking? Does that make any sense?"

"I was thinking," Angel said seriously, "that after over 100 years of murder and mayhem, I have no idea what one event would cause a goddess to seek revenge on me."

There was a long pause, in fact in seemed more like a series of long pauses. Neither of them really knew what to say next. Finally it was Buffy who broke the silence, "I'm really worried, Angel. I've never been up against someone that can't be killed before."

"I know," Angel whispered reassuringly, "but it'll be okay, we'll get through this together."

"Promise?" Buffy asked hopefully, her eyes were starting to water.

Angel kissed her, attempting to take her fears away from her. She kissed him back, unconsciously filling that kiss with all the feeling that she had pent up, and all of the hunger she felt for this man's touch. Sensing her hunger, Angel slowly pushed her so that she was lying beneath him. Buffy loved the feel of him above her. As long as he was there, she felt, there was nothing in the world that could harm her. She reached down to undo his belt buckle, but couldn't seem to get it from that position. Forgetting that they were on a couch, Buffy flipped them over so that she was on top.

Angel landed hard on the floor with a thump. Had Angel needed air, Buffy would have knocked it out of him as she landed on top of him. "Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Yeah. Are you?"

As an answer, Angel pulled Buffy's head down for another kiss. Seeing that the object of her affection was indeed alright, Buffy went back to work on his belt. In quick order, she dispatched of his belt, undid the button to his trousers, and unzipped his fly. Buffy was slipping her hands under the elastic of his boxers when they were interrupted by an arrow that whizzed passed Buffy and embedded in the floor by Angel's left shoulder.

They turned to look to the door where the same woman who had been in the kitchen earlier was standing holding a short bow. "Well, well, this seems quite a fitting way to find you Angelus. Although, I seem to remember you preferring to be on top."

Buffy and Angel stood up, "You," he said, "you've been trying to kill me for centuries, why?"

"Revenge," the woman said simply.

"Revenge for what?" Buffy asked.

"You haven't told her, Angelus, I'm shocked, you use to brag so much about this sort of thing. Or is it possible that you forgot about Italy."

"What happened in Italy?" Buffy asked

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Sicily, Italy 1831

Angelus walked into the apartments that he had been sharing with Darla while they were in Italy. It wasn't as large as the one they had in Paris, but for the delicacy of Italian cuisine, certain luxuries may have to be sacrificed.

"Is that you, Angelus?" Darla called from the parlor.

"None other," Angelus entered the parlor to find Darla sitting on the sofa. With her gown fanned out around her, she looked the very picture of nobility and refinement, but Angelus knew different. "Did you find anything to eat?" He asked as he moved to stand behind her. While he loved Italian food, it was not to Darla's taste; too spicy she said.

"There was a lovely German couple at the Theatre," Darla licked her lips. "Delicious."

"That's my girl," Angelus pushed the sleeves off of Darla's shoulders. He bent over and nuzzled her neck, letting out a deep, throaty growl.

Darla smiled, "Not yet, love, soon, but not yet. Besides, you haven't even seen the present I got you yet."

"Oh," Angelus whispered, "a present."

Darla took hold of his hand, stood up, and led him toward the bedroom, "It's just something I picked up for you at the Theatre."

"Another actress, I'm sure," Angelus sighed. "After awhile they all start to taste the same."

Darla stopped and put her hands on her hips, "Well, look who's suddenly became a picky-eater. I'll have you know that it's not an actress, but if you don't want her, I suppose I could take her back."

Angelus gave her a sly grin, "I hate to think that you went through all that trouble for nothing." He threw open the bedroom doors and stepped in.

Lying on the bed was a young woman, barely more than 18 years of age. She was in a full length ball gown, with a dippy neck that showed just a hint of cleavage. She was tied to the bed by her wrists and a gag was in her mouth.

"A young noble woman," Angelus said with approval. He stepped closer and inhaled the woman's scent deeply, "and a virgin, if I'm not mistaken. A rare find these days."

"Only the best for my Angelus. Do you like her?"

"She's just what I always wanted. I have the feeling she's not for dinner though," he turned to face Darla.

"You just ate!" Darla looked shocked, but Angelus could hear the smile in her voice, "How can you still be hungry?"

He pulled Darla to him, her hips hitting his, "You, of all people, should know that I have an insatiable appetite."

"You do indeed, but no," she reached up and undid his neck tie, "she's not for dinner."

Angelus grin mischievously as he approached the bed. The girl's dove gray eyes widened, Angelus could smell the fear rolling off of her in waves, like a cheap perfume; he loved it. "Not to fear, love," he sat next to her on the bed, his brogue becoming more pronounced, "I know the rules, no eating in the bedroom," very gently he removed the gag from her mouth.

"What are you doing?" Darla demanded, moving to stand on the other side of the bed. "Her screams will alert everyone to our presence."

"She won't scream," Angelus told Darla, "Will you, pet?" The girl, to frightened to talk, shook her head.

Darla slapped the bed, "Of course she'll scream. They always scream."

"I like it when they scream," he told her.

"But the neighbors-" Darla protested.

"We'll kill the neighbors," Angelus assured her.

Resigned Darla sighed, "I never was able to deny you your fun. She's your present, do as you like."

Angelus untied her hands from the bed. She sat up, but there was nowhere for her to run. He put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her back down. Then he pushed her dress up slowly started at the ankles. "No," she whispered, "please."

"Begging already," Darla mused, "You're making quick work of this one." She went to sit in a chair not far from the bed.

When the girl's skirt was around her waist, Angelus shrugged of his jacket. He then straddled her and undid his trousers. "Please," she begged, "no, please."

"Hush, now, my lovely," Angelus leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "just except it; it will go easier for you if you don't struggle."

That was when he took her, and for all of his soft and gentle words there was nothing gentle about it. Darla had said she would scream, and scream she did. Over and over she screamed, until she was too hoarse to scream any more, and still he continued. When Angelus was finally done with her, all she could do was weep.

Angelus was laughing when he rolled off of the young noble woman. He laid next to her, in the middle of the bed. He held his hand out to Darla, "Come here, my lover." Darla took his hand and he pulled her into bed with him. "How did you enjoy the show?"

She smiled and rubbed his chest, "Magnificent. Much better than anything I've seen at the Theatre."

"Stick around, in a few more minutes, I may be able to give you an encore. Better yet, I'll give you a first-hand, private performance. But first, first I need to have a little snack." Quickly Angelus got out of the bed and grabbed the girl who was now curled up in a ball at the edge of the bed, "Come along, little one, Daddy's hungry."

She allowed him to pull her out of the room. She was too weak and numbed by shock to fight him anymore. Once in the outer room, he pulled her around to face him. Tilting her head to the side, Angelus bit into her and he drank. He loved how she tasted, like a fine wine, smooth and rich, all of the fear and rape had made her taste all the more delicious. He took a deeper drink.

"Angelus," a call from the other room interrupted his feedings, "Come to bed."

Angelus dropped the girls limp body on the floor, "Coming dear." He wiped the blood from his mouth and went back into the bedroom.

About half an hour later, the young woman slowly opened her eyes. She could hear moans of pleasure coming from the bedroom. Gradually she picked herself up off the floor and, barefoot, with her dress in tatters, she walked out of the apartment and into the night.

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"After that, I dedicated my life to Nemisis, and in return she gave me the opportunity to exact revenge on my rapist. I was naïve though, I didn't know what he was or how to kill him, I tried to shoot him and I tried to smother him," she turned, speaking directly to Angel, "but you kept eluding me."

"Don't forget trying to poison me," Angel told her.

"But I've learned, and now I know better. I should have stuck with what my goddess was known for from the beginning." The priestess pulled out a bow and arrow, aimed straight for Angel's heart and shot. Buffy's hand shot out and caught the arrow, just inches away from turning the vampire into a pile of dust. "How dare you," the brunette woman shouted.

Buffy tossed the arrow away and stalked toward the other woman, "No, how dare you. He's not the same vampire who did that to you, he's good now, and he has a soul. You have no right to him."

"Out of my way, child," the woman shoved Buffy to the side. "I was only a little older than you when this monster raped me; I was to be married the next week. He ruined my life, I have every right."

Buffy punched her across the jaw. The priestess kicked out, connecting with Buffy's stomach. As Slayer and priestess fought on, it became clearer and clearer to Angel that the two women were evenly matched. Angel glimpsed the discarded bow, not to far from were the woman he loved and the woman he'd wronged were fighting, and saw he's chance.

He dove for the bow; then rushed back to where the arrow was stuck in his floor. Stringing the arrow to the bow he yelled for his love to look out, and then loosed the arrow. It found it's mark and the priestess of Nemisis crumbled to the ground. Angel tossed the bow to the ground and Buffy ran into his embrace.

Suddenly a cloud of mist formed a few feet from the couple. When the mist cleared, it revealed a woman; there was no doubt that it was the goddess Nemisis, and she was livid. She stalked toward the pair, "You murdered one of my priestesses," she reached out her hand and the bow flew to it, while an arrow materialized in her other hand, "now you will pay!"

"No!" Buffy shouted and stepped forward.

Angel grabbed her arm and pushed her behind him. "I killed your priestess! Do as you must to me, but leave her out of this."

"No, you can't do this." Buffy said again. "It was self-defense."

Nemisis took aim at Angel's heart, "There is no defense against vengeance."

"You can't exact revenge on a changed man. He has a soul now, and he had no part in the offense committed by his demon."

A strong wind blew around the room. Nemisis stopped and looked up, as if listening to someone. When the wind died down she said, "You are the Chosen One."

Buffy wasn't sure if it was a question, so she answered just in case, "I am."

"But he is chosen also. Chosen to help you in your fight. It is as you say," the bow and arrow disappeared, "you no longer have anything to fear from me." And with that, Nemisis and the body of her priestess vanished.

"Well, that was exciting." Buffy said. She kissed Angel quickly, "I'm hungry, are you hungry? I think I'm going to go get a burger, you wanta come?"

"No," Angel said, "you go on ahead. I need to think about some things."

"You're going to brood over what happened to that woman, aren't you?"

"Yeah, something like that," he smiled, Buffy knew him so well.

"I can stay, if you want."

"No," Angel kissed his slayer on the cheek, "you go on and get something to eat."

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