Salvation of the Fallen
Written by Ashen Ravenwing
Deceptive Heart
Angel walked the streets of his city, jaw set, eyes hard, but mind swimming with a million thoughts. It had been three days since he'd turned Spike away in the rain. He hadn't felt bad about it, the stupid 'kid' had deserved a good slap in the face... and yet... Three days had passed and he hadn't been able to get the blonde out of his head. Spike suddenly being there at his door, needing help even though he would have never admitted to it... It brought up too many memories. Painful, hurtful, regretful memories.
The souled vampire shook his head, spraying water droplets. It was still raining... As if Spike had brought it with him and it wouldn't let up until the younger vampire left LA completely...
Angel frowned at that thought. As much as he despised Spike at times, the blonde was still his grandchilde, and his last surviving blood tie. They were family, so-to-speak, and had been trusted friends towards each other. Spike had been young and naive once, clinging to the emotions of the human heart like a babe to its blanket. 'Angelus' had found great pleasure in teaching him the ways of the vampire life... pushing his young pupil to his breaking point only to ease him back down into a comforting embrace... He used to love that young man... Used to...
A flashing neon sigh caught Angel's attention as he passed underneath it. He looked up at the pulsing club sign emblazed with the name Blood Moon, so named for the phenomenon when the waxing moon rose into the night sky as crimson as the life giving liquid that pulsed through the veins of all living things. Angel knew that he'd been in this establishment before. It was one of the local demon hangouts as well as a sanctuary to vampires in the daylight hours... it was also a good place to dig up information. He stepped to the side as a pair of Vestao demons sauntered inside, practically disrobing each other along the way. The female gave the vampire an inviting gaze, grinning with cat-like eyes glowing intensely. Angel blinked and countered with a scrutinizing look of his own. The male of the pair shot a seething glare at him, baring sharp teeth and flicking out a serpentine tongue in warning. Angel turned his head away, not particularly looking to pick a fight with a lower class demon.
After the couple entered, the brunette followed, hoping that the nightlife of the club would distract him. It didn't. Angel drew in a crisp breath at seeing all too familiar peroxide white/blonde hair and black leather making it's way through the crowded dance floor.
... Spike...
The younger blonde wove his way through the mass of gyrating bodies towards one of the many dimly lit booths near the back. He slid his blazer off his shoulders, a ripped-sleeve black and crimson accented tank top covering his toned torso underneath. Angel watched his misplaced grandchilde under the strobing lights of the nightclub, curious as to what Spike was doing there.
The brunette's dark eyes flashed as he watched the younger vampire slide into the booth next to a sultry fem and an unusual looking winged male. They seemed to be discussing something of some seriousness, but the sly grin that suddenly split Spike's lips entailed that whatever they were speaking of wasn't exactly legal. Angel's interest was further perked as he watched the unknown male slip a folded piece of paper across the table at Spike who, in turn, unfolded it to read it's contents and slid it into his pants pocket with an agreeing nod.
Angel growled as his pent up frustration at Spike mounted. He made his way down the entrance banister that he'd been standing on and wove his way over to his grandchilde. The winged male looked up first in surprise at seeing Angel's determined approach. The fem and Spike both turned their heads to look back over their shoulders to look at the 'intruder'. Spike seemed to be the most taken back his grandsire's presence.
" Angel..."
" Why are you still here Spike? I turned you away three days ago..."
The bleached blonde seemed to bristle at Angel's hard tone, his cornflower eyes flashing with anger. He turned from Angel, knowing it would infuriate the older man, and took another deep slug of his beer.
" Well I was going to ask you to join us pet... but I think you're a bit too uptight for our crowd tonight..."
" Spike!"
Angel barked his name, eyes blazing in rage. He grabbed the younger man's shoulder tight, physically turning him and leaning down so that they were uncomfortably close. Spike tried to shy away, but the brunette's grip on him held him in place.
" This is not your home Spike... You have no business being here, nor will I tolerate you doing business in my town... Go home Spike..."
The table fell into silence; the two vampires locked in a mental battle and the two animorphs watching in uncertain reserve. The heavily pulsing techno beat washed over them, seeming to thicken the very air around the four. Abyssinian cleared his throat to break the tension.
" Uh.. Excuse me... Mr..? Angel was it? I believe it is our fault for Spike still being in Los Angeles... We asked him to stay you see... Our employer has hired him and he claimed to have no lodging... So we gave him sanctuary from the sunlight in our home... I'm sorry if this has distressed -."
" Don't apologize for his pissy attitude Abyss! He has no right to confront me like this..."
Spike slammed the flat of his palms into Angel's chest, pushing him back a few feet so he could stand. He felt the change of his features into the demon's mask before realizing he'd even willed it out. Angel didn't change, but Spike hadn't expected him to...
" Just because you've decided to 'save' this city Angel, doesn't mean that we of the night don't have the right to be here! I'm not doin' no one no wrong you twat, so piss off!"
" Have you hunted?"
Angel hissed back between clenched teeth.
Spike's demon grinned maliciously, his bright eyes narrowing in devious delight.
" Oh my pet... You may have given up the old ways, but I continue to embrace my nature..."
" Stop calling me that! I've told you Spike... We are NOT friends!"
" But it wasn't always so Angel!"
Both paused, staring at each other in surprise at how worked up they'd become. Spike's expression softened as his face morphed back into it's human facade. The look of sorrow written on his features took Angel back in shock. The two animorphs stayed respectfully silent, their eyes down cast at the table to give the two men some form of 'privacy'. Spike stepped forward, an almost pleading look in his eyes. It unnerved Angel to have his grandchilde looking at him so pitifully.
" Angel... it wasn't always like this... We weren't always like this. We were mates once, you and I. we trusted each other... Cared about each other. Christ luv... don't you remember anything of the old days? Or have you forgotten about us completely?"
The older vampire looked down, his eyes closed and fists balled.
" I remember what I was... What I did in the past... Images I'd rather forget, but can't... A past I'm trying to atone for..."
" It's that bleedin' soul of yours! You are what you are Angel, you can't deny that!"
" I know that! Damn you Spike! I know what I am far too well! I know what I did and I'm not proud of it! I remember EVERYTHING Spike... Every... single... detail of that former life..."
Angel's voice cracked with his own inner agony, his head shaking as if trying to clear the very images that haunted him. Spike watched his grandsire with angry and pained eyes... His jaw set tight as he stared down at the other male ruefully.
" You remember him Angel... but not us. You think you know me...? Truth is luv; you know nothing about me... You've forgotten me because you chose to forget him. Angelus was the only man who truly knew me... the only man I ever trusted enough to let in. to let touch me as deeply as you once did... You didn't just abandon Angelus, mate... You abandoned me as well... You betrayed me long before I betrayed you in China."
Spike pushed past Angel, grabbing up his blazer on the way and storming out of the club. Abyssinian and the lovely fem slid out of the booth and quietly bowed their heads to Angel before heading out towards the street to follow the blonde. Angel started to breathe heavily, his lungs gulping down large amounts of air that he knew he didn't need. He collapsed into the seat his old companion had been sitting in a moment earlier, covering his face with his hand.
Why? Why was this emotional pain burning inside him? Spike's words had plunged into his soul as scorching and mercilessly as God's flaming sword itself... Had he truly forgotten everything? In disregarding is former self, in locking Angelus away deep inside himself. Had he locked away all those past memories as well? All he could ever recall about Spike and himself was bittersweet remorse... Always strife, and pain, and anger... He knew he'd once loved that man... His own. His William... But once the blonde had transformed himself into 'Spike'... all that tenderness seemed to have disappeared between them...Angel shuddered and slumped down further into the worn leather booth. He needed to work out the missing pieces of his past and was not yet ready to face his grandchilde again to get those answers... Angel figured that the records would be the best place to start. Perhaps Wes could be of more help. He'd have access to the Watchers records, and he knew that his own past was buried among the ancient archives. Angel pulled out his cell and punched the speed dial.
" Why hello Angel... Didn't expect you to be calling me... What can I do for you boss?"
Angel paused for a moment, Spike's harsh words ringing clear in his head. He looked down at his free hand, turning it to look at the vein beneath the wrist that pulsed with undead life... Same as Spike's... He took another shaky yet unnecessary breath.
" Hey Wes...? I-I think I really need your help right now... More than ever..."
