Intrigued, Holland contacted the head of Security and instructed him to allow the vampire free access to Wolfram and Hart's personnel. He watched as Angelus stalked through the halls until he reached Lindsey McDonald's office.
Deciding to keep an eye on the proceedings, Holland switched views. Both Lee Mercer and Lilah Morgan were in the office, unfortunately for them, they had scheduled a meeting with Lindsey. Holland supposed he could warn them of the impending danger, but why? Lawyers were easy to come by.
Holland watched with pleasure as Angelus grabbed both Lee Mercer and Lilah Morgan and pulled them close. Oddly enough, there was no sign of Angelus's 'game face'. In fact, it looked almost as if Angelus was reassuring the two lawyers. Holland was briefly puzzled before he realized what was happening. Of course, Angelus is playing with his prey, taunting them, adding a level of psychological torment to the physical torture, he thought.
Oblivious to the danger, Lindsey entered his office. Spotting the intruder, he tried to escape, but Angelus's vampire speed was more than a match for Lindsey's mere human reflexes. Angelus quickly captured Lindsey and gripped him in what appeared to be a painful stranglehold.
Holland nodded approvingly at the sight of Angelus crushing Lindsey. Angelus had turned dark ahead of schedule. It was a shame about the three lawyers, but you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, Holland thought as he watched Lindsey's frantic struggles. The Senior Partners would be pleased, which meant that, as head of Special Projects, he would receive a suitable reward.
Finally, the vampire finished tormenting his latest victim. Lindsey hit the ground, then jumped up, yelled something and tried to hit Angelus.
For a man just attacked by a vicious vampire, Lindsey seemed surprisingly unhurt. Holland frowned. Something wasn't right, he thought. He switched on the intercom in time to hear Angelus say: "Don't you feel better now, Lindsey?
Lindsey responded with a volley of curse words.
Angelus smiled encouragingly, "There, there, let all that hostility out."
Lindsey continued to curse as he backed away from Angelus. Lilah cowered in the corner, while Lee Mercer attempted to hide under Lindsey's desk.
Ignoring their reactions, Angelus beamed happily at his captives and said, "I think we've gotten off to a great start."
Holland watched in mounting horror as Angelus continued to lecture his unwilling audience with a pastiche of clichés, maudlin sentiment, and yes, a chorus of Kumbayah. By the time he finished singing, Lilah was sobbing, Lee was curled up in a fetal position on the floor, and Lindsey was rocking back and forth moaning, "I'm sorry, I'll never do anything bad again."
Mercifully, Angelus concluded his soliloquy, but not before one last nauseatingly saccharine remark, complete with air quotes, "Remember, you can be a rainbow or a painbow."
Something was terribly wrong, but what? Then it hit him. The sensitivity stick! That's what was causing the vampire to act in such a revolting manner. It was the malign influence of that cursed stick. Apparently, the effects were permanent when it came to vampires.
"Now where's that nice boss of yours?" Angelus said. Lilah promptly gave him directions to Holland's office. Some dim corner of Holland's mind noted her disloyalty. No bonus for you this year, he thought vindictively.
He started to leave his office, but before he could reach the hall, Angelus appeared before him, grinned and said, "Someone looks like he needs a hug."
Holland froze. As Angelus advanced towards him with outstretched arms and a sappy smile, Holland's heart sank. The Seniors Partners were not going to be happy with him, not at all.
The End.