-----Elrok'na-----

"Taking all bets!" I called to the crowded bar of higher powers, "Two worlds, two champions, one portal, one fight! Angel Vs Angelus, the fight of the infinite voids of time! Please place all bets on the fight through me, Elrok'na!"

The bar was dark and smoky, and looked a lot like a castle from the middle-ages of Earth. I inherited it from my father, who got it from his father, who got it from his father. And now the Powers That Be are trying to get me to close it down. But I'm not budging."

"One hundred human souls on Angelus, please," one of the lesser goddesses said, wearing a nice little skirt and a top so low-cut I would have paid her the hundred just to take it off.

"Righteo, you're down, any other takers?"

A divinity from a paradise dimension leaned over the table to talk to the goddess. He was attractive too, although there's a different scale up here. But if I swung that way, I'd be on him on a flash.

"You're mistaken in placing that bet, m'lady. Angel has friends and colleagues, they'll not let him die," he turned to me, "Do you take unicorn eggs?"

I nodded and let them continue their conversation.

"Read the rulebook, man. No-one but them will be allowed in the ring once they both enter."
"True, but Angelus has no-one to live for except himself. He will give up quicker."

"I doubt it will last long enough for it to come to that. Angelus has been training. He fights, he hunts, he really lives. Angel, fighting for good, doesn't get it. He doesn't have to hunt, his prey come to him. Plus, he cares. That's the big thing. Blinded by emotion. Angelus sees nothing but the kill. He will win."
"We shall see."

"Besides, look what good they're doing now. They think the portal was created by the witch. Bit pig-headed if you ask me."
"That was planned that way," I butted in. "They needed to think they knew how the portal came into being. Less suspicious."

The goddess rolled her eyes and left back to her table, carrying drinks for her and her friends. The divinity took his blood and vodka to his party too. I was alone again. I peered into the orb. Nothing much happening. Angel and his bunch were still researching, (Do they ever DO anything?) and Angelus was... Finding Xander's ashes at the hotel.

"Oh, look at that, he smells the slayer's tears," I said to no-one in particular.

Angelus rubbed the mash of ashes and salty tears between his fingers, thinking. He stood up and laughed, throwing his arms up and staring into the ceiling. He ran around the room, re-enacting the fight. He was perceptive, I'll give them that. I thought back to the divinity, and his attractiveness. Remember I said it was a different scale up here? Those leather pants would still win out over the rest. I chuckled, then glanced around self-consciously. Like I said, I don't swing that way. I turned back to the orb. Angel had stopped looking at books and was swinging his sword around, fighting imagined enemies. He had his shirt off, and could almost equal Angelus' leather. The two looked quite a pair now. Both running around fighting, like children at play. I tried to picture them in my mind fighting each-other. It was the perfect idea really. No matter who wins, I'm coming out on top, a rich power. Angel and Angelus, both champions, one good, one evil. I'm a genius pitting them against each-other. And the timing was perfect. I had picked a murky time where everything was unstable. That was good because it meant seers couldn't cheat me out of my money. I had plenty of different Angels to choose from. No use playing Angelus against and Angel who never met Whistler. There wouldn't be a fight at all. Yes, I'm a fan of the great Liam. It's probably best I'll never meet him, I'd be a gibbering schoolgirl. But he has led a few interesting lives. And being able to see an infinite number of universes, there's always more for me to learn.

Another god walked over and ordered spring water.

"Caves of Roknor or the waterfall of youth?" I asked, annoyed that he had broken me out of my thoughts.

"Roknor. Helps me with my mind-reading. Hey, I know what you were thinking about Angel, and frankly I have to agree with you. I'm not him, but I've got some leather pants in my closet. If you're interested."

He slipped me a piece of paper with his number on it and walked away. I huffed and tore it up. I don't know what he was thinking. I don't swing that way.

-----Elrok'na-----

--------------Author's Note--------------
Yes, this is a little silly. Sorry. If you can believe that higher beings have bars, it works quite well. Anyway, it moves the story along. Please review and tell me if you want to keep this one or exchange it for something more serious that works to the same effect. Your choice. PS: Who thinks Elrok'na is in denial about something?

--------------Author's Note--------------