FIC: A New World (10?)

Connor reacted instantly. His free hand snatched Dawn's newly bought sports bag off her and flung it at the lead vampire. The packed bag crashed into the unprepared demon's face, knocking him to the ground, and leaving a gap in the ring of vampires surrounding them. Taking advantage of the slight opportunity offered to them, Connor pulled Dawn through the gap, expertly staking the stunned demons to the left and right of the space as he went.

They'd barely got thirty yards when the vampires' leader reacted. "Get them!"

"Faster!" Connor ordered as they sped around a corner, the demons in hot pursuit.

"I can't," Dawn gasped. "Leave me."

"Not going to happen!" Connor retorted, his heart sinking even as he spoke. On his own he could probably escape, but with Dawn accompanying him he didn't have a chance. He spun round a corner only to stop in his tracks when faced by a nine foot tall brick wall. He spun round to the alley opening. "Dawn, get over the wall. I'll hold them off."

"No," Dawn's voice trembled. "I left Buffy, I'm never running again."

"How noble," the group's leader mocked as he led his remaining companions into the alley. "It makes me all-."

"Six words and I can't stand you already." A cold voice cut in from behind the massed demons. "However, you I'm going to let live. At least until you've answered some questions."


"Who the fuck are you?"

Angel stared at the demon before replying. Upon arriving at his son's last hotel room he'd tracked him across the ancient city by scent. "They used to call me Angelus," he shrugged. "But I prefer Angel these days." His smile broadened at the other vampires' alarmed faces. Sometimes it felt good to be feared. "Illyria don't kill that one," he nodded towards the demons' apparent leader. "I'd really like to talk to him."

"Understood." The goddess nodded before charging forward and driving her fist through the nearest vamp's chest. "But the others?"

"Oh," he blocked a straight right on his forearm before retaliating with a butt to the face and a knee to the groin. "I'm leaning towards," he thrust a stake through his adversary's heart, "killing them all."

"Excellent." Illyria tore another demon's head off.

Angel side thrust kicked a vampire in the stomach doubling it up and leaving it open to a stake through the back. Seeing his son moving into the fray, he called out. "No Connor!" he stepped inside a right hook to his body before cracking an uppercut into his rival's jaw, staggering him. "Your priority is Dawn, stay with her!"

Another demon grabbed him from behind in a half-nelson. Reacting instantly, he dropped to his knees, snapping out a heel that caught the demon on his shin, sending him stumbling backwards even as Angel rolled to his feet. His rival roared furiously before charging him. At the last second he side-stepped the on-rushing demon, leaving his stake behind for his adversary to run onto.

Angel spun around to face his next opponent only to find all the vampires bar the leader were dust. He glanced at Illyria to check that she had the vampire restrained before turning to Dawn. "They killed her!" the youngster's face hit him in the chest as the sobbing girl ran into him. "They killed Buffy."

"I know Dawn." Pushing aside his own sense of loss, he embraced the girl. "But you're safe now, we won't let anyone hurt you." He was vaguely amused to catch the faintest scent of jealousy from his son when he hugged Dawn. Obviously Connor also had a thing for Summers women. Like father, like son.

"What do you wish to do with this half-breed?" asked Illyria.

"Yeah," Angel gently guided Dawn back to Connor before turning to regard the vampire, his eyes flickering golden. Memories of Angelus' last stay in Italy assaulted him, making him sick to his stomach but also giving him an idea. "We passed a church two streets back, let's head there."


"I understand you have disappointing news?"

Agent F swallowed at his superior's disapproving tone. "Yes sir," he shuffled nervously. "The extraction team failed to capture her or injure any of her companions. Seven of our agents were killed and four injured."

The older man waved away that piece of information as if it was unimportant. "And we've had no further sightings?"

"No sir," he shook his head.

"OH BUGGER!" His boss surged to his feet. "I need that little slapper to control the Slayer Line!" After a second the red-faced man slumped back in his chair. "And I understand a WH plane was hijacked?"

"Yes sir. We're not sure who-."

"I am," his boss snorted. "Angel. Who else would have the balls to steal from Wolfram Hart. The only question remains was he alone or accompanied. And how goes Stage 2 of our operation?"

Thrown by the sudden change of subject it took him a few seconds to regain his focus. "We should have preliminary reports by tomorrow."

"Good." The older man's glare froze his blood. "I do hope those are rather more satisfactory."


"I'm leaving on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again."

Faith glanced at her singing companion with mixture of amusement and irritation. "You seem awfully cheerful X," she commented.

"Just an act Faith," Xander replied. "I hate flying. Just singing to myself to keep distracted."

Faith nodded. "Know what you mean X. I hate giving away control too." She guessed that came from her abusive childhood. Ever since she'd been called she'd revelled in the control being a Slayer had given her. Being in prison, having to take orders, had been wicked tough but at least if any prisoner or guard had tried to take liberties she'd had her powers to fall back on. But if a pilot fucked up or the plane broke down, her powers wouldn't help her.

Resisting the urge to shudder as thoughts of fiery death assaulted her, Faith turned back to her companion. "Xan," she smirked. "I've got a wicked way of keeping you distracted."

"Oh yeah?" Xander raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Try picturing me in one of those stewardesses' outfits." Her chuckles at Xander's reddening died as she considered their next move. Italy, Fang, and Dawn next. Maybe they'd get some answers there. God she hoped so.


Angel's demon cowered as Illyria tore the church's double doors open. Ignoring its' whimperings, he turned to Connor and Dawn. "Stay in the porch," he ordered. Seeing Connor's mouth opened in protest, he interrupted. "Neither of you need to see this. Only come in if there's trouble. Okay?" his son nodded reluctantly. "Good." He smiled at Dawn. "We'll just be a couple of minutes."

His face morphed into its demonic visage as he followed Illyria and their wailing captive into the church's nave. "I'll tell you – arh!"

He back-handed the vampire to the ground and quickly placed his heel on his fellow demon's throat. "I know you will," he replied. "Problem is," you might be lying. Unless you're given an incentive." He looked around. "Illyria, get me those crosses off the altar will you?"

"I do not follow your orders half-breed. I am a god!"

Angel counted to ten as he shot the blue-haired woman an irritated glance. How Wes put up with her he had no idea. "I can't pick them up can I?"

Illyria nodded. "Very well, I will do it."

"Thank you," he turned to the demon struggling under-foot. "Women eh?" His smile disappeared. "Which brings us to Angelus' last Italian visit. I was building an army of vampires to take out the local underworld boss. I always was an ambitious vampire. So," he shrugged. "I turned this bare-knuckles fighter, good-looking and he knew it. You know how it is. Although," he looked down at his less than handsome captive and grimaced, "maybe you don't. Anyway, back to the story. I found this bastard in bed with my Darla." Angel shook his head. "Now I'm an easy-going vampire, but there's some things you can't let slide."

"You talk too much," commented the goddess as she returned holding a pair of ornate silver crosses.

Angel forced a smile at Illyria's comment. Oh yeah, Wes definitely had the patience of a saint. "Just setting the scene. So, as I was saying, an example had to be made. Anyhow," Angel looked around. "I broke into a church a lot like this one and had my minions nail him to a cross." He glanced at his blue-haired companion. "If you wouldn't mind?"

He'd barely finished speaking when Illyria had the vampire pinned against the cross at the front of the church, smoke coming out of its back as it screamed. Another half-second and the blue-haired woman had shoved the crosses through the shrieking demon's palms, nailing him there.

Ignoring his own queasiness at the demon's screams and stench of its burning flesh, Angel strode over to the front pew and tore one of its legs off. "After that, we emptied the font of its water, tore the cross off from the wall, and threw it and the demon fixed to it into the back of a cart. We took it back to our hiding place, threw him out in the grounds, poured the holy water on him, and watched him scream until sunrise. 'Course I'm not going to let you live, but I can make your death fast," he raised his makeshift stake. "Or slow. But it depends on you answering a question?"

"Anything!" the vampire screamed.

Angel walked until he was just inches from the prisoner. "Who ordered you to hunt Dawn down?"

"The Immortal! It was the Immortal!"