Salvation of the Fallen

Written by Ashen Ravenwing

Family Tree

The younger man let out a heated moan, throwing his head back against the soft goose down pillows as the brunette claimed him again and again. Their cries and groans of ecstasy stayed soft so as not to wake up the manor, but resounded enough to fill the room with the sounds of their passionate connection. Although the sandy blonde was well into his early twenties, a man in all rights, he still had yet to wed and was still a 'virgin' to many ways of the world. This included the blasphemous act of sharing your bed with one of the same sex. yet, God be blind to this sight and take a deaf ear to the needy cries of building climax; the young master of this house could not have refused his guests advances, even if he'd wanted to. The dark haired stranger had not arrived alone, though he might as well have for the younger man could not stop himself from being captivated by him. this rouge told stories that although he knew to be fables were nonetheless intriguing and he could listen to that deep rich voice carry on for hours at a time. When the stranger had approached him in his study, the dirty blonde had been slightly abash by the hunger he saw radiating in this handsome strangers eyes... But his coaxing touch had been so tender, and his syrupy voice soothing and reassuring... weaving promises of forbidden fruit and the sweet blasphemy that followed...

" Oh God! Angelus!"

William arched against his sinful lovers chest, arms wrapped over the broad shoulders that seemed to shield him from the terrors of the world and encased him in a hot cocoon of ecstasy.

Angelus nearly purred the 'boys' name, storm colored eyes hooded under passion heavy lids watching the young mortals expression. He knew the his little treasure was untainted and that it would be painful for him his first time around, especially when being claimed by a vampire master as powerful as he was. Angelus was constantly aware of his strength, putting little effort into his thrusts so as not to split his precious pet in twine. The vampire had wanted the blonde the moment he'd laid eyes on him. William was a beautiful man with a good heart and passionate soul... It was rare to find one as pure natured as him in these times. It was this reason that he had held his initial instinct to claim him as a childe at bay. Angelus loved this mortal...A classic 'love at first sight'. His purity... his fragility... his mortality... It was all so beautiful and Angelus loved him for it. Only when this true profound emotion sank in did the brunette no longer want him for his own, but rather as his own. he wanted to claim William is his pure form... And it hadn't taken much to coax his love into accepting his offer... That was beautiful as well...

A sudden cry of pain erupted from the blonde and Angelus, startled, looked up quickly to see what was wrong.

" William!"

He gasped in horror and leaned up and away at seeing the body of his lover sprawled out motionless under him, crimson seeping from a puncture in his throat and... without a face. Where Williams angelic visage had once been was a faceless pallet of flesh tone. Like a two dimensional painting of a man who had been left incomplete. Angelus cried out in confused anger and fear, shaking the body below him and calling out his name over and over, But, no matter how hard he shook the boy, how anguished his pleas became, William would not revive and rather turned to dust... slipping through Angelus' fingers. Tears streaming down his cheeks, the vampire threw his head back and let out a chilling scream of torment.

" WILLIAM!"

Angel awoke with a start, his eyes wide in panic and breath coming out rapidly. His fingers gripped his sheets like a vise, his body trembling with how shot his nerves were. Once he'd had a moment to calm down and take one last soothing breath, Angel ran a hand through his short unruly brown hair.

Where the hell had that dream come from? And why now of all times? Angel had had this dream before, though it had ended much differently the other times. Usually when that dream took him during sleep he would wake calmly and finding that he needed to coax a weeping erection into submission once again... But not this time... This was different... and quite unnerving in all truth. Angel had not woken up that horrified since he'd first gotten his soul back and had been plagued by Angelus' memories. Perhaps that's why he had subconsciously locked them all away? Angel shuddered and got out of bed, walking to the bathroom to take a hot shower. Even though he no longer sweated, unless making love, he felt as though his body was slick with it... and he couldn't shake the weird creeping feeling that was crawling along his spine...

By the time he stepped out of the shower, Angel knew in his gut that something was very wrong. A part of him seemed to be out of place, missing even... And he had a dreadful feeling that he knew exactly what that part was... Or rather, who.

" ...Spike..."

20 minutes later

Wesley looked up from behind the front desk as Angel walked down the stairs in only a pair of loose fit, waist hugging sweat. He tilted his head to the side curiously and checked his wristwatch.

" It's only ten past noon... You're up early... Washed and everything even! I must say, I'm impressed Angel."

The vampire faked a smile and stretched his arms up over his head as he descended the final step and walked over to the Watcher.

" Any messages I should know about Wes?"

He didn't bother waiting for an answer before shuffling into the kitchen for a mug of blood. Wesley shook his head with a small smile at his boss' predictable behavior.

" Not really... A few tips came in on some of the cases, but Gunn and Fred are already looking into them. Oh... And your mother called."

Wesley chuckled as he heard a loud sputtering sound and Angel cough a few times. The vampire's head popped around the corner in bewilderment as he wiped away the chocked up blood off his chin.

" W-what did you say!"

" I was kidding Angel, honestly... Just a bit of office humor..."

The Watcher chuckled again, turning away to look at some files and hide the satisfied grin on his face. Angel stared at Wesley's back for a moment longer, his brow knit in astonished confusion. Was it coincidence that Wes would say that when he'd just had the dream about Spike... And now thoughts of his lost Darla... His lover for centuries and his dark 'mother' as well... Angel shivered and turned back into the kitchen to clean up the mess he'd made and retrieve a fresh mug from the fridge. He was just taking a sip from the new mug when he heard the phone ring in the other room. He heard Wes pick up and talk for a brief moment before his frame appeared in the doorway, a worried look on his face.

" Uh... phone's for you Angel..."

The brunette glanced up curiously and set down his mug, walking into the main room and towards the far door.

" Ok Wes, I'll take it in my office. Patch it through will you?"

The other man nodded slowly and went behind the reception desk to transfer the call. Angel shut the door and reclined back into his leather chair; picking up the receiver as the cradle toned that he had a call on hold.

" Angel Investigations, Angel speaking. How may I help you?"

There was a moments pause before a soft yet chilling voice from the past whispered into the phone.

" Hello daddy... have you missed me?"

" A chill ran down Angel's spine, making him shudder.

" ... Dru..."

A soft sprinkle of silvery laughter met his ear.

" So, you haven't forgotten me... I'm glad. Tell me daddy... Have you been dreaming lately?"

Angel inhaled a crisp breath, his brows knitting in pain. he leaned back in his chair, cradling the phone between his cheek and shoulder.

" I could never forget you Drusilla... not ever... But, how did you know?"

" I've been dreaming too... but this last one scared me so that i couldn't stay asleep. I'm so worried that something terrible has happened to our little Spiky."

Angel frowned, closing his eyes as the image of his once beloved flashed through his mind. A faceless corpse that faded to dust in his hands.

" Yeh... I get that feeling too. I woke up today with this sickening feeling in my gut that i still can't escape. It's like Spike just..."

"Vanished?"

" ...Yeh... I've always been able to feel him, even if we were miles apart... His presence has nave just... disappeared. "

There was a moment of silent reverie between them.

" Angel... I know I haven't always pleased you in the past... I understand how upset you were with me when I took lovely William away from you... But... I couldn't stand it. The way you looked at him that entire night, pining for him like you were. I hated knowing that your eyes were no longer on me, and that if I didn't do something, they might never be again. I wanted you to love me, and only me."

" Dru... please..."

Angel sighed at hearing his childe sniffle softly on the opposite line.

" Listen to me Angel... I took William from you out of spite, not love as you would have, but... That doesn't mean that I haven't grown to love him since then..."

" Dru... you abandoned him five years ago!"

" He gave me to a slayer! I'd say we're even!"

Angel had to admit that it was a good point. Spike had felt betrayed by Dru, and so to prove his devotion to Buffy had held her captive to be staked. 'All's fair in love and war' came to mind. Still... in a way... He's done the same to Darla, so he didn't have right to criticize either of them.

" Daddy... Spiky is precious to me in his own way, as I know deep down he is to you too. I don't want anything bad to happen to him that we aren't in control of. Please daddy... If you did anything for me, bring our William back to us safely. He's always loved you more... needed and trusted you... if anyone could bring him back, it would be you Angel. He needs you right now, I can feel it. Needs you now more than he ever has. I have visions of him crying out your name somewhere... Please Angel, I ask only this one thing of you... Find him and take care of him. I'm sure if you let him in again, as you once did all those years ago... He could heal many of your festering wounds within."

It took a moment for Angel to process all that had been said. He bowed his head, covering his eyes with one hand as he thought about what it would mean to have Spike back in his life. Angel groaned internally and leaned back all the way in his chair, face pointed at the ceiling.

" I-I'll get him back Dru... No matter what, I'll bring Spike home. I promise."

" ... Thank you Angel... thank you so much..."

" I'll talk to you later Dru... Stay out of trouble, ok?"

" Yes daddy... I love you."

" ... And I, you... Goodbye Drusilla."

" For now..."

Angel hung up and tried to clear the turmoil in his brain. His family was falling apart and somehow... he'd have to pull it together again... Somehow. Angel's fist gripped over his heart as if the ache inside was just too painful to bare.

" I'll get you back William... I promise you that... If you wait for me just... a bit longer... I swear... I'll come back for you..."