In His Shadow, Book 2: The Shadow of Angelus

By Night Nymph

Summary: As Angel, Spike, and Buffy adapt to their new situation, an old enemy threatens their happiness. Sequel to In His Shadow.

Rating: PG13 for now.

Disclaimers: All unoriginal characters in this story belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, and any other production companies that own the rights. I am just borrowing them and the back story.

Spoilers: This story takes place after "Normal Again", and may include anything up to that episode. It also overlaps some plots from "Seeing Red," though in my universe, things have been altered for the purposes of this story.

Dedication: This is for all the readers of my first story in this series, especially to those of you who reviewed, and as always, to my supportive husband.

Thanks: A huge "thank you" to my beta, Sethoz Chan, for taking on the daunting task of being my beta reader. Any mistakes herein are mine.

Important Author's notes: Okay guys, here it is - the continuation of In His Shadow. To best understand this story, I strongly suggest reading the first story, but for those of you who are fans of Angelus and just want to read this story, and for those of you who would like a refresher of the storyline of In His Shadow, I'm providing a brief synopsis below. Everyone else who's read the first story and doesn't need a refresher, feel free to skip ahead to the prologue below the synopsis. For those Angelus lovers, I suggest you at least read the second half of chapter 12 and 13 of In His Shadow to get the history of Angelus' part of the plot. The sections aren't too long, and the beginning of this story will make much more sense. For those who haven't read the first story, but would like to – please don't read the summary below – it will spoil the plot for you.

Synopsis of Book 1: "In His Shadow"

After the events of "Normal Again", Spike decided that something must be wrong with Buffy. He goes to see a demon named Gnash who is known to be an expert in dimensional travel. For a price, Gnash will tell Spike what is wrong with Buffy and how to fix it.

After enduring a tough journey in an alternate dimension, Spike retrieves an amulet for Gnash and earns his answer that nothing is wrong except a slight metaphysical change and the fact that she is unhappy about being taken out of heaven. While Spike was away, however, Gnash used the time to devise a plan of his own. He gives Spike what he says is a way to help Buffy be happy as a reward, but it is actually a flawed spell designed to bind Angel's soul to Angelus while allowing the latter to have more power. Unaware of the flaw, Spike decides he will help Angel bind his soul and counteract the effects of the curse for Buffy, and he will leave for parts unknown to start over. Tara discovers the potential problem with the spell, however, and Spike has a dream that shakes him. Both of these events lead Spike to decide that to make Buffy happy, they will still do the spell, but modify it so they can get rid of Angelus. After getting rid of Angelus, Spike would take his place as Angel's demon. Spike convinces Tara and Anya to help him research and fix the spell.

Spike spends one last perfect evening fixing dinner and telling stories to Dawn and explains his motivations to Tara and Willow before heading to L.A. to explain his plan to Angel. Angel and Spike come to terms with Spike's relationship with Buffy, and both learn some interesting things about Spike's memories from Lorne. Angel also promises that he will make sure to visit Spike's beloved Dawn at least once a month.

Meanwhile, Gnash uses the amulet Spike retrieved for him to spy on the vampires and unexpectedly finds a partner in crime in Warren who had been planning his own revenge on Buffy. Angel and Spike return to Sunnydale, where Angel learns firsthand about the strange relationship between Buffy and Spike as he watches them fight demons and trade remarks. Spike makes his peace of sorts with his decision and with Buffy. The spell, however, doesn't go quite as planned when Gnash sends Warren to disrupt the proceedings. When Willow, acting as observer, sees Tara threatened with being shot by Warren, she takes an active role and instinctively takes magic from Tara. To prevent Spike from likely being killed by Angelus by this turn of events, Angel grabs Spike and retreats to Spike's body instead, leaving Angelus as sole proprietor of Angel's body. Angelus kills Warren, but is banished to an alternate dimension by the now angry and power-induced Willow. Willow and Tara finish the binding spell. Angel will no longer lose his soul if he finds happiness, but he will now live in Spike's body. In the last hours before the spell takes full effect, Buffy and Spike have a potentially final goodbye.

Angel and Buffy then come to terms, agreeing that they will see one another, but will not have to be ever present fixtures in each other's lives. Buffy assures him she doesn't need that anymore, but will be happy having him in her life sometimes. Angel agrees then returns to L.A. to break the news to his gang and reconnect with his son. Angel hopes that Spike will not be lost forever, and things look hopeful that even though he's inside a body that Angel controls, his presence will still be known. The short epilogue does a good job of summarizing this last point, and serves as a good introduction to the next story – go read.

This second story continues directly from the plot of the first story, but takes place several months after Angel's return to L.A.

Prologue for Book 2: Shadow of Angelus

It was barren: barren rock, empty sky, and lifeless dirt below. It was nowhere of this earth, and nothing that anyone would want to imagine, except as an example of somewhere no one would ever want to be. But he was there. She had to do something.

"Angel," she called to him, her voice echoing across the wasteland.

He must have heard, because he lifted his head, searching for the source of her voice.

"Angel, where is this place? I have to get you out of there!"

A smile crossed his lips then, but it wasn't like any she had ever seen from him. His eyes flashed gold, and his smile became marred by vicious fangs. He laughed, a malicious, hateful sound coming from him with uncharacteristic ease. Cold, cruel eyes seemed to stare into her very soul.

"Oh, don't worry, lover. I'll be coming home soon."

Not Angel. Angelus.

As she woke, she didn't scream, too shocked for even that response. Wrapping her arms around herself wasn't enough to stop the shivering that seemed to reach to her bones. She wanted to close her eyes, but that might mean she'd dream again; only she knew that this hadn't been a normal dream. After so many years, Buffy knew a slayer dream by now, and this was one she had dreaded above most others. It was one she didn't think she was ready to face.

Chapter 1 is posted – if the link still doesn't come up – go to the url address at the top and add "&chapter=2" to the end of the story ID number and this will get you to the second chapter. Sorry for the inconvenience.