Chapter 5
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the Angel series except my own.
Gunn was not the only one doubting Angel's decision to continue investigating their mysterious visitor. Wesley was having similar reservations himself, but for other reasons. He was not afraid of this girl hurting him physically, but more of what he felt in her presence. He had stayed away from female company for fear of getting into any entanglements. After Fred...he just couldn't do it anymore. Now fate decided to throw a curveball at him, except this curveball had long dark hair, big brown eyes, and the most luscious lips he had ever laid eyes on.
"Wesley is there something else you wanted," Angel asked making Wesley jump slightly. Wesley swallowed hard and replied, "No". He turned around and proceeded to make his way to the door when Angel called his name. "Yes Angel," he answered spinning back around to face the vampire.
Angel didn't respond for a moment causing Wesley to feel a bit uncomfortable. "You feel it too don't you," Angel said quietly. "I've been here trying to figure out what is it about her that makes me so determined to find her, but I can't figure out what it is." Angel spun back around in his chair, his dark eyes meeting Wesley's blue ones directly.
Wesley stared down at the floor while placing his hands in his pockets. He wasn't exactly sure what to say to that. He decided to just put it on the line and be honest. "In all honesty, this girl...sets me a little on edge," Wesley replied uneasily, lifting his eyes to look at Angel again. "I'm not sure if you noticed, but the way she was looking at me...it's almost as if she...I don't know...her eyes were so intense. I don't think I've ever been stared at so blatantly by a woman before." Wesley felt a tinge of irritation at the faint blush he felt creeping up his neck.
"Yeah, actually I did notice that," Angel responded, raising a brow curiously. "When we first looked at each other she sort of looked at me like that too." Wesley's head sprang up in surprise and Angel noticed he looked slightly disappointed. "No, no, no," Angel continued in a rushed tone. "She wasn't looking at me like that. She just looked at me as if she knew me, but I know I don't know her. You now...well I'm pretty sure she was checking you out." Angel smirked as he noticed Wesley blushed even harder.
"But Wesley, I need you to be careful," said Angel, his tone more serious. "We don't really know who she is or what she is for that matter. When we find her, and I do mean when not if, just remember we don't know what we're dealing with here. You didn't see the way she fought today. It's almost like she was...well...a female me," Angel finished quietly. "So just don't wear your heart on your sleeve alright."
Wesley rolled his eyes. Angel was overreacting. Yes he was a little attracted to her, but he wasn't stupid. "Angel, give me a little credit here," Wesley said snidely. "I am not; I repeat not interested in becoming involved with this girl. Furthermore, I am well aware of the danger here. I can take care of myself." Wesley saw a flash of hurt on Angel's face for just a second and then it was gone. Wesley cursed under his breath, instantly regretting speaking so harshly.
"Look, I'm sorry," Wesley stated. "I guess I'm just a little apprehensive myself. I don't mean to take it out on you."
"It's alright," Angel assured him. "I understand completely. Anyway, you have some investigating to finish."
Wesley gave Angel a long look. "Ok...I'll see you at 7:00," Wesley said finally. Then he was out the door, closing it behind him.
Kaia awoke slowly, her eyes fluttering before finally opening. Her eyes floated over to the clock on the nightstand. Her eyes widened when she saw it was 6:30 pm. She had actually slept through the entire day. She was surprised that she had slept so soundly and without any dreams, especially since she had just seen them today. It figured that the one time she actually didn't dream about them was when she had met them in person...or at least two people who looked exactly like them. Kaia sighed as she sat up in bed. Who was she kidding? Her instincts told her that those men she met today were the same men from her dreams. They had even smelled just like she remembered.
Her stomach growled and she let out a frustrated groan. Whether she liked it or not, she would have to go out and get something to eat. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, wincing at the dull ache in her side that still remained from the fight earlier. She tried her best not to think about Angel and Wesley as she moved through her room looking for clothes to put on. She dressed hurriedly, pulling on jeans and a tank top, before going into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and dragged a brush through her hair hurriedly, deciding that she would wear it down today.
Kaia grimaced at that thought. She knew only reason she was even considering leaving it down was because of him. She threw her brush down on her dresser, disgusted with herself for letting a guy affect her so much. Logic was telling that she couldn't afford to see Wesley again, not if she wanted him to stay alive, but yet she couldn't stop herself from hoping that she would. You see this is why you stay away from men. They make you act totally out of character. Kaia pulled on her black boots and her leather jacket, stopping to grab some money off her dresser. She took one last look in the mirror quickly and then headed out the door.
She found herself at this little club/restaurant several blocks from her building. She knew the owner there and he was nice about hooking her up with food without asking too many questions. Kaia had saved his life once and he had been nice to her ever since. He didn't see her too often because she hardly left her apartment, but when he did he always greeted her like a long lost friend.
The club was in a slightly bad part of town, which made sense seeing as how it was actually a demon hangout. No humans ever came in there and if they did...well let's say they didn't always walk out. Lorne, the owner always did his best to keep peace, but sometimes things got out of hand. She was glad that Lorne made sure that no one bothered her when she went there. Her outward appearance as a human would have gotten her into unnecessary trouble otherwise.
Kaia smiled at the bouncer at the front entrance and he returned her smile, stepping aside to let her in. As she weaved her way through the crowd, her eyes floated around the club looking for Lorne. She saw him to the side of the stage talking to one of his bouncers and she walked over to him. Kaia tapped him on his shoulder and he swung around with an irritated expression on his face that changed to a beaming smile.
"Hey honey," Lorne said enthusiastically. "Haven't seen you in a while. Where you been?"
Kaia shrugged. "Around," she responded simply. "Lorne I hate to interrupt, but I need some of that special pasta you make. Oh and make it to go please?" Lorne whispered something to the bouncer and he walked away. Lorne then turned to her looking disappointed, taking her arm gently and dragging her backstage away from prying ears. She knew instantly it was time for the begging and whining.
"But sweetheart, you just got here," Lorne said pouting, predictable as ever. "Stick around. We have some live entertainment coming up. You're so young and beautiful and you never get out. Kaia just stay a little while...for me." Kaia rolled her eyes as Lorne began to ramble on and on about how much he missed her and that he would die right on the spot if she left. Now that made her giggle. He could be so dramatic sometimes.
"Was that a giggle," Lorne said in mock surprise. "Honey, I've rarely heard that come out of your mouth. Are you alright," he said as he felt her forehead. Kaia swatted his hand away and rolled her eyes again. "You're such a drama queen," she said, shaking her head. "And yes I'll stay, but only for a little while. Only a half hour...that's it."
Lorne smiled, glad that he had gotten his way, and led her back to a table in the corner away from most of the crowd. "Now you just wait right here," he told her. "I'll go in back and tell the cook to whip up that pasta in a jiffy…okay. I'll make sure he makes that garlic bread you like too."
Kaia smiled gratefully. "Thanks a lot Lorne," she said, her enthusiasm slightly forced. "I'm starved." Lorne watched her closely for a moment.
"Before you ask if I'm ok, then let me beat you to it," Kaia said, reading his expression like a book. "I'm fine. Fantastic. Wonderful. Now could you go get me some food? I'm starving here." Lorne looked at her for a moment longer, tenderly brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Kaia gave him a little push and he nodded, walking away towards the kitchen. Kaia used that time to become aware of her surroundings. Even though she was comfortable in Lorne's club, she knew that she couldn't afford to get careless. Sometimes, she got scared that her being there would get Lorne hurt, but the fear of loneliness always won in the end. It may sound selfish, but she got so tired of always being by herself and Lorne had such a bubbly personality that made you long to be in his presence. She couldn't help but want to be around him every now and again.
Suddenly, she felt prickles on the back of her neck. She had the feeling that she was being watched. Her eyes looked around the club quickly, automatically turning yellow as she went into feral mode. Every one of her nerves stood on edge. She continued scanning the club until her eyes stopped on a figure that seemed familiar to her. As she focused her eyes, she realized it was that British jerk that was fighting those demons with Angel earlier and he was looking directly at her. Her blood instantaneously sky rocketed. This idiot was following her and not even doing a good job of being subtle about it.
Kaia averted her eyes from him and stood up quickly. She swiftly started making her way backstage towards the back entrance of the club. She figured 10 to 1 he would follow her. She jogged down the hallway and kicked open the back door. She continued running until she found a little side alley. She stood silently, patiently waiting for him to appear. He didn't disappoint her. She heard the back door open and close loudly. He sniffed the air briefly before starting to walk towards the alley she was hiding in. Her eyes widened. He knew she was there waiting for him. He could smell her.
"I know you're hiding back there so you might as well come out," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Kaia closed her eyes for a moment and slowly stepped out into his line of sight. They both stood shock still waiting for the other person to make the first move. She was impatient...angry...and she wanted to know why he was here...why he was following her. She walked closer to him until she was just a couple feet away, barely managing to contain her anger. He was just standing there smirking at her.
"Can you tell me why you're stalking me," she asked, her voice low and clipped. He had the nerve to chuckle then. Kaia silently counted to ten before she spoke again. "Look, let's the cut the crap alright," she bit out. "I know you're only here at this club because I'm here. Why are you following me?"
He raised an eyebrow mockingly. "What makes you think I'm following you," he replied flippantly. "I may have just come out here to get a smoke. Speaking of which, you got a light love?" The jerk actually pulled out a pack of cigarettes as if that was the real reason he was out here.
Kaia closed the distance between them until she was standing a mere inch from his face. "I know you're not out here to smoke. I know you're following me and I want to know why...now!" He didn't even flinch. "So I guess that's a no then," she remarked sarcastically. Kaia smiled slowly and looked down at her feet. She then sucker punched him hard in the face. He flew backwards crashing against the wall from the impact of her punch. She walked over to him, picked him up off the ground, and slammed him up against the wall for extra measure.
"Now, like I was saying what do you want with me," she asked. "And you better answer quickly, because I'm about two seconds away from kicking your British ass." Before she knew what was happening, his face changed suddenly alerting her to the fact that he was a vampire. He punched her in the mouth and kicked her hard in the stomach, causing her to fly backwards. Okay…she wasn't prepared for that.
Kaia stood up slowly clutching her stomach, annoyed that she had been hit in the exact same spot that was already sore. So this British idiot was a vampire. When he had been fighting earlier, she hadn't noticed that his face was vamped out. Now that she thought about it, it wasn't. He had looked completely normal. She had just thought he was a great fighter. He started walking towards her, his face still contorted. She quietly stood her ground, waiting to see what he would do next. Then his face changed back to normal as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief. He offered it to her and she stared at it in confusion.
"For your lip," he clarified. "It's split pretty badly." Now she was really confused. First he attacks her and now he offers a handkerchief to wipe away the blood he caused to flow in the first place. Call her crazy, but that was just a little messed up. She shook her head no as she backed away from him slowly. The door to the club opened suddenly causing him to turn around towards the sound. It was only one of the assistant cooks coming out to dump some trash. By the time Spike turned back around, she was gone.
Note: Alright, you guys. You know what to do. Review please.
