Summary: It's Tabula Rasa, Angel style! A demon from Angel's past temporarily erases the memory of the Angel team so that he can find a way to kill Angel, without him knowing who he really was.

WARNING: low level coarse language, just to be safe

Chapter Three: The Hyperion Hotel

Angel pulled up outside the old Hyperion, in the alley behind the garden. Everyone climbed out and gathered near the landing in the courtyard.

'Guys, we know this place better than the guy who called us here will. Let's take advantage of that.' Angel spoke as his team prepared to enter the old hotel.

'Angel, should we take positions somewhere in case this guy means business? I mean, instead of just crowding in a bunch inside the door. If this guy has got Fred, then he's probably trying to get us as well. Together we're a target, but divided we stand a chance of fighting back.' Wesley suggested.

'Good idea. Gunn and Spike, you come with me. We'll enter through the front door. Wes, you and Lorne come in the back when you see us come through into the lobby. I'll give Fred a call on her cell and see if she answers. With any luck, we can locate her that way.' Angel turned and left, with Spike and Gunn by his side. Wesley and Lorne sat and waited.

Angel dialled Fred's number on his cell phone. Fred answered.

'Hello? Winifred Burkle, Wolfram and Hart Science Department.' Fred's cheerful voice told Angel that she wasn't in danger at all.

'Fred? Where are you?' Angel jumped in quickly.

'Me?' I'm walking back to my apartment. My car's in for a service and there was no one back at the offices to take me home. Where are you guys?' Fred seemed completely normal.

'We're at the Hyperion. Wesley received a phone call from a guy who told us to be at the Hyperion at nightfall, and that people's lives were in danger. When Spike said he couldn't find you, we came to the conclusion that he had you with him at the hotel.'

Angel heard Fred's trademark chuckle. 'Oh, no silly. I was working late in the lab and then I left. I'm about half a block away from the hotel now actually. Do you want me to come join you?'

'Uh, no it's okay Fred. You head home and we'll see what this guy really wants.' Angel replied. 'Bye.' He hung up and informed Spike and Gunn that Fred was fine.

'Damn, I must have just missed her.' Spike sighed, referring to his visit to the lab to find no Fred.

'Well, at least we know that it's a bit safer to enter the hotel now. I mean, at least this guy isn't gonna try an' hurt us.' Gunn seemed comforted by the thought.

'Well, we still have to go in. Now.' Angel tucked his cell inside his coat and headed up to the front door. He pushed it open, and it was unlocked.

They entered to find the hotel exactly how they'd left it. Spike just looked around at the new surroundings. Gunn closed the door behind them and then a man appeared from the basement door.

'Angel.' He simply said. Angel couldn't see the man in the dark shadows cast by the dim moonlight, but his eyes had mostly adjusted to the dark outside and he could make out the shape of a man.

He was relatively short with what appeared to be short, spiky hair. Angel could make out the outline of a long coat trailing around his knees, and could see that he was wearing a wide brimmed hat, tipped down over his face. Wesley and Lorne had their signal and entered through the back door. The man didn't take his eyes off Angel. He removed his hat and coat and placed them on the lounge in the middle of the lobby.

'Who are you?' Wesley asked, and the man ignored him. He didn't even turn around.

'My name is Kirk.'

'Kirk. Right, well Kirk, maybe you can explain why you dragged us out here tonight.' Angel answered coldly.

'All in due time.'

'I don't play along with the cryptic type. I don't like it much.'

'And yet, you played games with a young Slayer in your time, Angel. You warned her of evil rising using cryptic messages, so you can't tell me you at least don't admire me using them?' Angel's stare turned even colder, but Kirk nor the others could see in the dark.

'How do you know about her?' He asked, taking a step forward.

'I have a friend. He's been watching you, Angel. For quite a while now.' Angel was getting suspicious.

'Watching me?' he asked. 'What does your friend want?'

'I want you to pay for what you did, Angelus.' Came a voice from the balcony above. Everyone looked up to see another man standing and leaning over the railing, looking down at them. He suddenly jumped over the railing and landed on the floor in front of Angel.

'Oh boy, what did you do?' Spike asked. 'This guy seems pretty pissed.'

'Who are you and what do you want?' Angel asked, directing his full attention to this new intruder.

'My name is Dennis Perkins.' The man replied as he took a step towards Angel. 'Back in 1802, you killed my family.'

'I'm sorry Dennis, but that's not who I am anymore.' He paused and pieced things together. 'What exactly did you bring us here for then? All of us?'

'Kirk, are you ready?' Dennis turned around to face Kirk who had picked up a book and a small vial from on the counter.

'Ready when you are.' He replied.

'Ready for what exactly?' Spike asked, confused. Dennis watched Angel in the dark as Kirk organised himself on the floor.

'When I say so, cue the lights.' Kirk told Dennis.

'How about we do that now?' Gunn stepped down from the landing and flicked the switch. The lobby was illuminated in a bright light from the several ceiling lights. Kirk was sitting in a circle of orange dust with the book in his hands. He suddenly looked up.

'Alright, now is good.' Kirk dropped his head and began mumbling some words from in the book.

'Wesley!' Angel called as he stepped forward and lunged at Dennis.

'Right!' Wesley knew what Angel wanted. He was to get the book. Spike and Gunn stepped in when Angel was knocked down by Dennis, and Lorne stood back and watched.

'I should've never come… I'm not good at this stuff…' he whispered to himself, knowing that no one else was listening.

Kirk continued to read from the book, blowing Wesley across the room with a burst of magic. Angel still fought Dennis, trying to throw him off and take him down.

Spike and Gunn stood back while Angel fought, despite both of them wanting to be a part of the battle. Angel received a kick in his jaw and stumbled backwards, giving Dennis a few moments to show himself.

His face morphed into that of a vampire's, and his fangs dropped as he snarled at Angel and the others.

'You're a vampire?' Angel asked, regaining his footing. 'Like me.'

Dennis snarled. 'I'm not like you. I was never like you, and I hope to God I never will be. You were a menace to society; a beast who preyed on the weak and the strong, because you were stronger. You were what everyone feared was lurking in the darkness, and you showed them all what darkness really was. Angelus, you're going to pay. But not like this.' He threw a strong punch which smoothly connected with Angel's face and sent him flying backwards. He crashed into Spike and Gunn who fell backwards and to the floor with him.

Kirk's voice could suddenly be heard, now everything was quiet after the brief fight and exchange of powerful words.

'Guyra tapa!' he shouted, and for a moment there was nothing. Then Lorne suddenly fell forward and down the stairs. He collapsed in a heap on the floor. Wesley followed, landing against the counter. Gunn, Spike and Angel felt themselves slowly slipping out of consciousness also, and collapsed on the floor. Then there was silence again. Dennis and Kirk left the room and headed down into the basement.

'Nicely done Kirk.'

'What about the sun in the morning? There are two vampires in the room.' Kirk asked, afraid for Spike and Angel.

'They'll be awake in time. If not, then the sun will wake them.' Dennis led Kirk down into the basement and they left the five bodies lying scattered around the lobby of the old Hyperion Hotel.

AN: Chapter three was a little longer than I expected; almost as long as the first two chapters put together! So I decided to just leave it as it's own chapter instead of sticking another one in with it. Please review, all feedback is welcome.