Chapter 12
Angelus and Branna
"I want to do it now." Branna told her father.
"We have to wait until sunset. I'd like to get a piece of them too." Angelus retorted.
"I don't have to wait until sunset." She sat herself down across from him and shot him an evil smirk.
"You do if you want to keep this," He held up the bottle that contained her soul. "out of you as long as possible."
"You're impossible." Branna slouched back and crossed her arms over her chest in a pout.
"I'm your father, aren't I suppose to be impossible?" Angelus asked as stood and began to walk around the room.
"No. We're supposed to be having fun. Like, you know, out killing people and stuff?"
"WE can't do anything until the sun sets. End of discussion."
"You're no fun."
Hyperion Hotel
"Everyone have a weapon?" Buffy asked before they left the building.
They decided they weren't going to just sit around a wait for Angelus and Branna to show up and kill them all, they were going to find them first. They also decided to have Lorne, Fred and Cordelia stay behind with Connor, so Neala put a protection barrier around the hotel so no demon or soulless witch could go in.
Everyone nodded at Buffy's question. The slayer had decided at the last minute to bring Dawn along. She was very good with her sword and Buffy figured it would be easier to worry about her while she could see her than to worry about her when she couldn't she her.
Each person had his or her own weapon or weapons. She and Faith had three or four stakes in their back pockets and Buffy was carrying an ax. Spike and Dawn both had swords strapped to their backs. Skye had only her magic and Willow had magic and a couple stakes, while Neala had her magic and a sword. Xander, Gunn and Wes had axes as well.
"Alright. Let's go." Buffy led the way out of the hotel and out onto the streets. "Ok. Before we go any farther, which way should we go? Do you think we should split up?" She asked stopping the group.
"How 'bout we split into three groups? Three or four people and a witch per group." Neala suggested. The all nodded in agreement and began splitting themselves into their groups. Faith, Wes and Skye in one group, Buffy, Dawn, Spike and Willow in another, Gunn, Xander and Neala in the last one.
"Wait!" A voice shouted. They turned and saw Cordelia running toward them. "Here. You might need these if you're going to split up." She handed them three small walkie-talkies and turn back to the hotel.
"Ok. Whoever thinks they found something let the rest of us know." Wes said dropping the walkie in his pocket. They split up and left in different directions.
Angelus and Branna
"Now, we can go." Angelus said as he walked into the room Branna was in.
"It's about time. I thought I was going to die of boredom." Branna said standing up and walking past him out of the room. She stopped suddenly. Her eyes blazed red then returned to black.
"What is it?" Angelus asked walking around her and facing her, noticing her eyes flash.
"She's close." Branna said grinning evilly.
"Mommy dearest?" Angelus asked.
"Yeah. Her and two men. I think its Xander and Gunn. She'll be able to sense me soon. Should we play with them a little?" She asked looking thoughtful. Angelus cocked his head and narrowed his eyebrows.
"What do you propose?" he asked curiously. She looked up at the man whom she now thought of as her father and smiled sweetly.
"Leave a trail of bodies of course." She walked around him as he shifted into his demon face.
"Let's go have some fun."
Neala, Xander, and Gunn
"Wait." Neala said stopping the two men behind her. "They're here." She scanned the area and saw Branna standing about 300 ft away from them. Branna smirked and then disappeared via teleportation. "Gunn, let the others know what just happened. Tell them to be prepared just in case her and Angelus decide to attack any of them." Gunn nodded and pulled out the walkie- talkie.
Neala walked away from them toward them building and slowly dropped to her knees. She closed her eyes and concentrated on finding either Angelus or Branna.
"Neala?" Xander asked coming up behind her. She lifted her hand to silence him and he stopped talking. She dropped her hand and opened her eyes.
"I found Angelus. He's near Buffy's team. Gunn! Tell Buffy Angelus is near her and to be careful. I can't locate Branna." She told the tall demon hunter. Gunn nodded and proceeded to tell Buffy what Neala had told him. "Did you want something Xander?" She asked as he helped her to her feet.
"Gunn couldn't get a hold of Wes, Skye, and Faith." Xander told her, the worry clear in his voice, even though the only one of them he really kind of knew was Faith. Neala's eyes widened with equal worry as Gunn joined them.
"Will you two be ok to find Buffy on your own?" She asked.
"Yeah sure. What are you going to do?" Gunn answered.
"I'm gonna try and see if I can locate Wes. Get going and keep your eyes and ears opened. We all know Angelus is dangerous and Branna's very tricky with her soul, I hate to think what she's like without it. Be careful." Neala turned around and again dropped to her knees. She heard the two men run off, leaving her alone. She closed her eyes and focused her mind on trying to find Wesley. Something or someone was blocking her from finding him.
She opened her eyes and took a deep breath and reached into her pocket and pulled out the spell she and Willow had used to contact Skye.
"Maybe if I rearrange a few words I can't call her without having her come directly to me." She said to herself. She began to chant the spell her own way. :Skye? Skye? Can you hear me?: She called through her mind after she finished the chant.
:I hear you. What do you need?: Skye answered back.
:Are Wes and Faith with you?:
:Yes. If you were trying to get a hold of us on the radio, Wesley dropped it and it broke.: Skye told the Huntress.
:We were. I saw Branna briefly before she disappeared. I just wanted you to be alert. Do you think you'd be able to put her soul back as well?:
:I need both souls in order for the spell to work. If they are bottled up the spell will not work.: The sorceress informed her. Neala sighed mentally.
:Alright, I'll work on finding them. I'll contact you when I do.: Neala opened her eyes without waiting for a response from Skye.
