Dark Times
Chapter Two: Adopted
Disclaimer: see first chapter
Posted: July 4th, 2004.
Author's notes: Here's the second chapter. I just barely posted the last chapter, so there are no reviews yet to answer.
Feedback: At my dad's, I'm pretty much on a low carb diet. I need reviews like I need sugar.
The café was a little unnerved by the appearance of the demon, but the customers soon went back to their meals and conversations.
"What did she mean?" she asked, shivering, but not from the lack of cold. She crossed her arms over her gray tank top.
"I don't know, but I know someone who can find out," he stood up, pulling some bills from his black jeans, throwing the cash onto the table, before grabbing her hand. A few people watched them warily as they left.
"What about class?" she pulled her hand away.
"Would you rather listen to some old foggy, or find out what that vampire meant?" he asked. When she didn't answer, he grabbed her hand and dragged her down the street.
"When we get there, let me do the talking," he said, when they were halfway there.
"What?" she cried, stopping. But he still had a hold of her arm, and he dragged her forward.
"I have… almost like a photographic memory, only with words. Just trust me."
"I barely know you! Or these people. How do you know they can help?"
"My dad got in contact with them when these demons were ruining his business. The guy in charge has almost a vendetta going against demons and vampires. They used to work for Wolfram and Hart for awhile-"
"But that's run by demons!" she exclaimed. Everyone knew of the ruthless history of the law firm.
"one of these guys is a demon, but trust me. He can get to the bottom of whatever she said."
"ok…"
They arrived at a shabby apartment building closer to the bad part of town then the good. The top floor housed a Private Investigator's office.
They hesitated after getting off the elevator, before opening the door, and walking right into a fight.
The man, tall dark, and handsome, Jennifer thought, noticed them first, "Could we please do this later?"
The woman shook her blond head furiously, green eyes flashing, "I'm leaving, Angel, tonight. I'm going back to England, where they haven't gotten such a hold yet. The academy needs me."
"Buffy-"
"Goodbye, Angel." she strode out of the office, brushing by the two teens. Her arm hit Jennifer's, and they both shivered. The woman scrutinized her for a second, before turning on her heel and leaving.
"Buffy, wait!" the guy called after her. He sighed, turning to the two teens, starting slightly when he caught sight of them, "Ah, what can I do for you?"
Connor introduced them, and then told the man why they were there. Jennifer took the time to look around, noticing first the lack of sunlight, with all the windows shaded, and the skylight boarded up.
"You're a vampire!" she interrupted. Connor glared at her.
"Not a fact I'm proud of…Jenny," he winced at the name, "But don't worry, I have a soul. I haven't killed an innocent human in over…ninety years," he quickly discounted his two Angelus periods.
"Hey, Angel," a brunette came into the room, "Would this go under propthetic texts, or demonic?" she held up a book. She was daringly dressed in a yellow tank top and white pants. She looked up and saw them, "oh, sorry. I didn't know you were busy."
Connor looked at her quizzically, "Have we met?"
"Not that I know of…" she smiled at him, "I'm-"
"Cordy," he interrupted, "we're busy right now. Put the book, and any others you have questions on, aside, and I'll take a look later."
"Ok, Mr. Grouchy," she left in a huff. He sighed.
"What were you saying…Connor?"
"We want you to find out what she, the vampire, meant," Jennifer stepped in, "it certainly doesn't make any sense to me."
"Say it once more, please," Angel grabbed some scrap paper, and as Connor recited, Angel wrote.
"How can she wear clothes like that?" Jennifer asked unexpectedly, "Everyone knows vampires are attracted to bright colors."
Angel looked at the closed door like he could see through it, "Cordy hasn't been right in the head since…At times she's fine, like her old self, and others…" he lapsed into silence, reminiscing for a moment, before shaking loose, "I'll get on this, and give you a call if I find anything."
The two teens looked at each other, "I have my own line," Jennifer said, writing down the number on some scrap paper. She handed it to the vampire.
"I'll be in touch," he promised. The two teens turned to leave. As an afterthought, Jennifer grabbed a business card, and hurried to catch up with Connor.
"See if you can make head or tail of this," Angel passed the slip to Wesley, Fred looked over his shoulder, "I get the evil parentage part, but I don't get the rest."
"We'll get right on it, Fred promised as Wesley went to get some books.
As Angel left, he heard Wesley say, "It almost seems prophetic."
A knock sounded on her door as she sat, trying to study for upcoming finals.
"Come in," she called.
"Jena, we've been thinking, since you're now an adult, and we've come to a conclusion," her mother said, nervous.
"Come sit down, sweetie," her Dad patted the bed beside him.
"Ok…What's up?" she smiled, catching the nervous bug from her Mom.
"Right after we got married, we desperately wanted children, but I couldn't get pregnant. After three hears of trying, we decided to adopt."
"We got you when you were only an hour old, and it felt like you were ours," her father continued.
"Wha-No," she murmured.
"Sweetie, we thought you should know. We didn't want anything to happen to us, and you never know," her mother placed a hand on her shoulder, and she shrugged it off.
"Jenny," her father warned.
"I need to be alone. Now." she said, turning away from the people she had thought as her parents for eighteen years.
"I'm sorry sweetie-" her mother started.
"GO!" she screamed, throwing a throw pillow at the door. The couple hurried out.
After sitting in silence for what could have been hours, Jennifer grabbed her cordless phone, and dug through her purse for the card.
"Hello, Angel Investigations, we help the-"
"Is this Angel?"
"Yes, it is. Jennifer?"
"I think I have something that could help," she deadpanned.
To Be Continued…