"Who the hell are you?" She demanded. "Where the hell am I and what do you want?"
"My name is skip. Pleasure to meet you." The demon held out his hand.
Cordelia just glared at him, not caring that he was a demon. "So that answers the who are you but what about the others?"
"You are here to be tested Miss Chase?" he told her simply.
Her eyes narrowed suspicoulsy. "Tested how, why?"
"Well I can't give you any more answers." He told her regretfully.
"Any more answers." She snorted. "The only one you've answered is your name. Why can't I have any more answers."
"Think of this as like it like the Matrix, you are Keanu and have to work out what is real." Skip said with a grin.
"You've watched the Matrix." Cordy asked him in an amused tone.
"Oh, I love that flick. When Trinity is all 'dodge this' and the agent just crumples to the and I'm not really instilling any 'awe' anymore, am I?" Skip asked her his face a little disappointed
Cordy just watched him amusement covering her face. "Look I just want to go home that is all." She said sadness evident in her voice.
"You will if you pass these tests with the champion you have choosing?" Skip said reassuringly.
"Huh what champion?" Cordy asked she couldn't remember telling anyone who her champion would be the only name she had said was. "Oh god you have to be kidding me."
Skip just grinned and waved his hand the light around her started to glow.
Spike leant towards Cordelia's face and stared at her intently. He was sure he had heard her voice. He reached out a hand and poked her in the cheek with his finger and then waiting to see if had any reaction, when there was nothing he poked her again.
"Weird." He mumbled.
A light started to glow from the unconscious woman on the bed he moved backwards but the light got to him first and he was frozen to the spot, the light got brighter and brighter until he was blinded, the light covered him and then he could feel something pull him, it felt as if he were being ripped from his body. The scream escaped from Spike's mouth and echoed around the whole hotel.
Angel stopped in mid punch as soon as he heard the noise and in the blink if an eye he was on his way up the stairs with Buffy close on his heels, they ran past the others in the lobby who had just managed to get to their feet as the vampire and the slayer moved past them up to Angel's room.
He flung open the door as the light disappeared and on the bed Spike was collapsed over Cordelia. His head looked like he was using her breasts as pillows. Angel went over and moved him so he was laying on his back beside Cordelia, unconscious.
"What is happening Angel?" Buffy asked, briefly wondering why Spike was alone with Cordelia anyway.
Angel shrugged his shoulders as the others from AI walked in. Wesley rushed over and checked out Spike, well as much as he could for someone who was already dead.
"Wes we have to figure out what is going on? First Cordelia and then Spike what is the connection?" The vampire asked.
"I have no idea Angel but I will see what I can find out. Gunn hit the streets." Gunn nodded and left. "Fred get on the net?" Fred rushed out the door.
The Scoobies had arrived and were watching from the door and had to move apart to let Fred and Gunn through. Willow rushed out and followed down the stairs maybe she could help with the net stuff. Xander just stood there and looked at Cordelia, she was like sleeping beauty, she was more beautiful now then when he had dated her. This life made her happy, she was with the people she loved.
Spike slowly opened his eyes, his head pounded it was like waking up with a hangover but it was a damn shame that he had drunk any alcohol to get like this. He looked around, it was well nothing, until he reached a pair of feminine feet and a not so feminine feet. His eyes went back to the more attractive pair, his eyes roamed on the shapely legs, the curve of her hips, the flat stomach and the more than ample breasts until he reached the face, it was a face he recognised, it was one Cordelia Chase who had no placed her hands on her hips and was tapping a foot, her eyebrow raised she had seen him appreciate her form.
He struggled to his feet, his body hurt all over.
"So?" Spike said not really knowing what to say.
"Your champion has arrived?" Skip told her.
She groaned and Spike looked around he couldn't see Angel anywhere and then he realised that they were both looking at him and then it hit the vampire, HE was her champion and looked at the miserable look on Cordelia's face and started to laugh and he continued to laugh, he bent over the waist, tears rolling down his face.
"Me?" He choked out. "I'm her champion."
Skip turned to her. "Nope not my champion, look at him, please." She said waving at the now quiet blonde vampire who was glaring at her.
"Then you will have to protect yourself." The demon did not look happy at this prospect. "This is unusual."
"Hey I can protect myself." She cried out in annoyance. "Not everyone is Miss Likes to fight but that doesn't mean I can't."
Spike looked at her. "You're kidding, YOU?"
She thumped him on the arm.
"Yes me Angel has been training me." She told him smugly.
"I'll bet he has." He said leering at her.
"Oh get your little soap opera mind out of the gutter. Do you actually have an life." She snapped.
"Nope I'm dead." Spike grinned.
"Well I can see why people wanted you dead, now next time just don't wake up."
Spike opened his mouth to retort when Skip jumped in before they could start another round, these two were like children.
"It begins." The demon said as he voice echoed around them.
"What…." Before she could finish her sentence something big, strong and hard slammed into her side and knocked her across the nothingness.
"You are your own champion." Skip said.
Cordelia looked up and before she could get a good look at her opponent it backhanded her, her head snapped back as she flew across the nothingness again.
TBC