Angel looked around the room curiously. This was definitely the place of a master vamp. At lot like the "masters". That was something about the truly old ones. They had a thing for rat infested filthy nests.

Right now he was mostly concerned and mostly about Faith. They'd both almost been killed last night when they were sleeping.

Two vampires came into his home. He had gotten into a fight with them that had led them outside. He had managed to take out one but the other had started to run off. He knew he should've woken Faith but if he didn't chase after him he would have lost him.

He killed him right outside the building but it didn't take a genius to figure out he was going inside.

Now he was at Kakistos'. He used his old name; he hoped it still carried his old reputation along with it.

The door next to him opened and in walked Kakistos.

"Angelus. I have heard much about you. The scourge of Europe? What can I help you with?"

"Heard there's a slayer in town, and from what I hear you're after her. Oh, and it looks like she's already taken a nice little chunk out of you hasn't she."

"This is why you've come here? To insult me?" Kakistos said his voice darkening dangerously.

"No exactly, but it was so easy I couldn't resist. I'm here because I'm curious. I saw the new slayer a couple nights ago. Young pretty little thing, but not much different then any other slayer, so now I'm curious what is it about her that would attract the attention of someone like you?"

"I could ask what it is about her that would attract someone like you."

"Maybe I'm just looking for some new sport. You should know the victim is everything. The choice of victim is key to make something truly artful." The last part of it came out of Angel's mouth so easily that he almost felt like Angelus again.

"Now then," said Angel with his voice dark. "Why do you want to play around with my prey?"

Kakistos looked at him for a moment as if to judge him. "She is destined to kill and to cleanse the tormented of it's demons."

"And what is that last part supposed to mean."

"Honestly I have no idea but in the first part she kills me and personally I really don't care about the rest."

"Tell you what, why don't you let me have Faith. I've been playing all nice with her. You don't have to worry about a thing, as long as you stay away from my little precious that is."

Kakistos studied Angelus closely. With most vampires this would have been odd, but Angelus was well known to have and obsessive behavior toward his victims. He easily recalled the tale of him torturing and killing forty of their kind because of and 'interference' with a victim.

Angelus was obsessive and possessive. His victims were his art. He was powerful and skilled and they would be a blood war soon enough if he got in the way of Angelus' newest master piece.

"Fine then I'll back off but if she gets any closer I snap her neck in a second."

"Perfect." It really was perfect with this he would have time to explain to Faith and they had the element of surprise working for them when they got to the point of attacking Kakistos. Right now he had to find her.

What he didn't know was that Faith was much closer then he thought. Right outside the window, listening to absolutely everything, and feeling hurt.