AUTHOR'S NOTE: I really need someone to tell me whether I should do the long or the short version with the demon-climax. Please, please (grovels shamelessly) tell me what to do! I can only update one more chapter, if I don't have an answer.
CHAPTER 13 -GOING PLACES-
(Bucegi Mountains, Southern Romania 1245)
Mabon moaned, everything ached. He suddenly became aware of some kind of coarse material surrounding him and opened his eyes. He was met by the sight of the inside of a hut's roof.
Mabon scanned his surroundings, he really was in a hut, a very shabby one at that. The walls were decorated with an array of dead things and dry plants that seemed to be swaying as if the hut was moving. The air was stuffy, but comforting in an odd sort of way.
A dry, cracked voice spoke from somewhere ahead. "It's about time for you to wake up."
Slowly Mabon propped himself up against the wall behind him. The source of the voice had been undoubtedly the most unattractive female of any species Mabon had ever seen. She was clad in several layers of rags and grey hair had concealed most of her wrinkled face beneath it.
The woman shuffled closer to Mabon and inspected him with surprisingly clear eyes. "You're a sorry sight. Haven't really seen your type treat one of their own like that before. Well, never understood how your minds work to begin with."
Mabon tilted his head. "I'm sorry, but I am a little confused..."
The woman laughed. "You don't say? Must have bonked your head on something when I brought you in."
"I..." Mabon attempted to shift his position further, but a sharp pain shot through his right leg, making him bent forward.
"I wouldn't go using that leg of yours just yet, boy. Stay still and be happy you're not a human. I was kind of disappointed when I figured that out, could've used a snack."
"You are a cannibal?" Mabon asked in shock.
"Cannibal?" the woman laughed again. "Boy, cannibals eat their own kind, I'd never do that."
"Excuse me for being so intrusive, but who and what are you?"
"A polite elemental, that's a first. I have many names, some of humans they call me Skuld, some call me Atropos."
"You're one of the fates?"
The woman nodded. "Yes, that I am. But the name I like best is what they call me in the north; Baba Yaga."
"I was lead to believe that she was a demon."
"Never said I wasn't one." Baba Yaga smiled ruthlessly. "That would explain the lust for meat. Oh! Don't look so worried, boy! I wouldn't eat one of your kind, I know better."
"But why did you bring me here then?"
"Didn't know you were what you were until I had you in. Seeing as how I took the trouble of dragging your scrawny rear here, I thought I might as well see what comes of having an elemental in my house." Baba Yaga sat down on a chair made of bones.
"I am thankful that you bothered to care for my injuries. I would not wish to be a further inconvenience to you."
Baba Yaga reared her head backwards and laughed, she seemed to do that a lot. "If that's what you are, you wouldn't be here. I don't waste my time being a philanthropist."
"But you just said that you brought me here by accident."
"Yeah. And I could've thrown you out of the window, if I didn't feel like keeping you around."
"Why would you feel like keeping me around?"
"Well, you know how to start a fire, don't you? If you really want a reason, which a person doesn't always need to have, then I thought maybe you'd help me out a bit."
"Help?"
"You have something wrong with your ears?"
"No!"
Baba Yaga scoffed. "Then you're just being plain silly, boy. It gets hard, starting a fire. Bones don't catch fire as easily as wood, no matter how dry you make them."
"Oh, I see."
"So, if you don't want to be "an inconvenience", you can keep the house warm until you feel well enough to leave."
"I will do that. Thank you, my lady."
"Another first. No one's called me that before. Hope you have a strong stomach, cause this house is heading east in a hurry."
- - - - - - - -
(Present day L.A.)
"Every one, come down!" Wesley's voice rang across the second floor corridor.
Soon the full staff of Angel Investigations, and Mabon, were gathered around Wesley in the lobby.
"What is it?" Cordelia asked as she rubber her eyes.
"I was listening to the police radio, they have discovered an abandoned tourist bus."
"And you think the Casotrosians would've had something to do with it?" Angel asked.
"Well, there were apparently sighs of struggle on the bus and it was found close to the Warehouse District."
Gunn rolled his eyes. "Typical. You know, I bet we'd have a lot less trouble, if they'd just tear down that place."
"It does seem like a hotspot for villainous activity," Fred said.
"The sun's nearly gone. I say we head there and find the Casotrosians before they finish that ritual." Angel pulled open the doors for the weapon's cabinet and took out a broadsword.
"Sounds like a plan." Gunn smiled taking up his axe.
Wesley grabbed a crossbow and handed it to Fred, taking a pair of short swords for himself.
Cordelia armed herself with a katana and then looked to Mabon who has standing a few feet away, looking very out of place. "You know how to use any of these?"
"I have some experience with a spear, but I don't know if I-"
"Here!" Fred tossed a spear to Mabon. "No point in you staying here alone."
