I'm a little new to this thing, so any feedback is very helpful. I would be more than happy to return the favor to anyone who takes the time to review any of this. Thanks
Illyria wandered the wet and dark streets of Los Angeles, not sure of where she was headed until she got there. The battle lay behind. Illyria had crushed all who had dared stand against her. It was now as it always had been. She was Illyria.
That thought struck her harder than any blow she had ever received in battle. Illyria had just thought of her person as a...she. In eons past, Illyria had always been...Illyria. Crusher of Hope. Destroyer of Life. Terror. Illyria had been all those things. Illyria had never been a she.
Angel and the others had hated her because of her rebirth into the vessel named Wynafred Burkle. They said she had infected her. Yet, it was she... No, Illyria that had been infected by the insignificant creature they called "Fred".
What power she must have had to instill such loyalty in them. Yet, when Illyria drew upon the template of Wynafred Burke, she found no overwhelming power coming from her, no memories of subjugating those around her; Illyria simply found emotions. Simple, needless emotions.
Yet, it was those emotions that drew her back to this place. Back to him.
Why was she here? Back in Vail's mansion. Back where she had slain Vail. Where Vail had slain Wesley. Something Illyria didn't understand drove her against her will to the place. The mere thought caused Illyria to snarl in rage. Had this...feeling...been a foe, she would had ripped it limb from limb, destroying it like she had those who had threatened her back in the streets surrounding the building of the Wolf, the Ram, and the Hart. Yet, inside her was the foe. Fred and her emotions. For him.
Upon her first visit to the mansion, Illyria had found the front doors mystically sealed. That had not proved a problem, just an inconvenience. Like any other inconvenience, Illyria deal with it. The wall next to the door was not shielded.
Stepping through the gaping hole in the wall, Illyria suddenly felt something...different. Illyria feared nothing that lived, walked, or breathed; yet it wasn't any of those things that gave her pause. Illyria realized that it was fear of the dead that gave her pause. Fear of seeing him there.
Curse you and your weakness insect. Illyria fears nothing. Living or dead.
As if Wynafred Burke had heard her and decided to answer, a voice from somewhere in the back of Illyria's mind answered. Then why are you still standing here? Go to him.
Illyria cocked her head to the side, as if trying to listen to see if the voice would continue, yet nothing more was said. With the determination on her face that usually meant death, Illyria continued down the hallway, through the antechamber, and into the Hall. Illyria passed by Vail; in truth, just his body. His head lay several yards back down the hallway where she had separated it earlier.
Just before crossing the threshold of the Hall, Illyria stopped and peered into the room. That something in the back of her mind began to laugh. She stood there overwhelmed by the flood of emotions that come over her. The way the room smelled, the sound of a single clock ticking in the background, and how Wesley's limp body had felt in her arms.
No, Illyria roared at the voice laughing in her mind.
Entering the Hall, Illyria noticed that everything remained the same as it had when she had left. Everything, except one thing. Wesley's body was gone.
Ah... a little mystery to keep hope alive. Outside of Spike, Wes is my favorite character, so maybe... I'd have to say that Angel is my least favorite, though that is the worst of the best, if you know what I mean.
I'm trying to set the stage for what is up and coming, but it seems so tedious when I start writing it. I hope it's not too boring of a read.
What's next? A little Wesley flash back(He's always thinking of others), what Gunn has been up to (hint-he's dead.), and we see where Angel landed (literally).