Blood Bonds
by Sage Darkwoods
Disclaimer: The characters in this story that were created by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy belong to them and them alone. No infringement is intended, and no profit is being made.
Chapter 4: MeetingsWhen Cassie finally got up, it was 6PM. The November sun was just setting in the LA skyline. Cassie found her clothes at the end of her bed, freshly washed and folded. She changed quickly, if for nothing else than ridding herself of the frilly pink negligee.
Tugging at the hem of her slightly short t-shirt, she marvelled at the fact she was able to wear it at this time of year. Being from Toronto, in Canada, it could be said she came from the land of the ice and snow. They had already had their first snowfall of the season; a drizzly wet affair that turned quickly to sleet on the busy streets. It was about 20 degrees Celsius here. Doing some quick mental math, that made it about 68 Farenheit. Americans and their Imperial system, she thought, shaking her head.
She walked down the hallway, looking for… she didn't quite know. She had met only three people here so far, one of who tried to carry her off as a snack. Harmony did seem nice enough, and she did try to get her back in one piece. At least she put the blame where blame was due: on Peter. Cassie mentally smacked herself for her stupidity. She toddled into a potentially deadly situation, and convinced herself it was a smart, safe thing to do.
Then Cassie looked up and realized she may have done the same thing again. She had wandered into the lobby, and saw all sorts of… things she couldn't believe she was seeing. There were three cloaked grey-skinned creatures, speaking in a series of clicks and trills. A woman with blue scaly skin glided by, not seeming to touch the ground. There were many women and men in business suits, speaking in languages that she wasn't sure were human. Harmony, sitting behind the reception desk, was talking animatedly to a green-skinned man wearing a nicely tailored red suit.
"So I told him, 'Justin, baby, it's not a problem! Lance's acting career takes off? We'll make it flop at the box office. Joey's Broadway show? Closes in a week. You can have any woman you want.' How do you think he got Cameron?"
"That is so cool! I can't beLEEEVE you met Justin!" she squealed. She caught sight of Cassie and waved her over.
"Cassie, this is Lorne. He's head of the entertainment division here."
Cassie smiled weakly, just now noticing that his eyes and horns matched the exact colour of his suit.
"Glad to see you're up and moving, kitten. We were worried about you." Lorne smiled genially. His outer appearance, as freaky and slightly garish as it was, did not quite match the smiling man in front of her.
"It's a good thing the boss showed up when he did," Harmony said.
"Angel showed up and caught ya, eh honeycake?"
"Hey, I was trying to help her. Sort of," the blonde pouted.
"Let me get this straight," Cassie interjected. "Harmony, you're a vampire." The blonde nodded. "And Lorne, you're a…"
"Demon," he provided. "Pylean, to be exact."
"And I was saved by an angel?"
"Oh, not an angel," Harmony said, waving her hands. "Just 'Angel.' He's a vampire, too."
"He's more like a big Mr. Cranky Fangs today," Lorne muttered. "Seems last night's adventure got his knickers in a twist."
"Maybe I should go explain myself," Cassie said uncertainly.
"I'll take you up, kitten."
Lorne led her upstairs to a large office and knocked on the door. They heard an affirmative grunt on the other side. He pushed open the door as quietly as he could, but of course it creaked ominously. "Angel, um, Miss Harvey is here to see you."
A dark-clad figure at the front of the office grunted in response.
Lorne patted Cassie's arm affectionately, and gave her a look of… pity? No, sympathy. This type of thing may happen often around here.
Cassie approached the mahogany desk carefully. The entire office was furnished in the dark wood, including the wall panels, with gilded accents on the desk and end tables. Deep red armchairs sat in front of the desk. The colours were mostly dark. The room matched the clothing and apparently the mood of the man staring at the wall behind the desk.
"Mr. Angel? My name is Cassie Harvey, and I would like to thank you for –"
"Saving your ass last night?" he said roughly, turning to face her. "Do you have any idea of the danger you were in? Do you know what you were with?"
"Yes. Vampires. Two of them. One who is under your employ."
"And you still stuck around?" Angel stepped towards her. "Vampires are dangerous creatures, and I'm frankly surprised you're still alive. Do you know how stupid a move that was on your part?"
Cassie was about to throw a sarcastic remark about being saved by one of those 'dangerous creatures,' when she stopped herself. Instead, her lower lip began to quiver, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"I- I'm so so sorry!" she wailed. "I thought he was good, and nice! I mean, not all vampires could be dangerous! It has to be a stereotype, right? I just thought he was one of the good ones!" she sniffled.
Angel stepped forward a bit. "Not all of them are bad," he started. "He was. You need to be careful. It's not Canada here. Not everyone is as calm and laid-back as they are in Toronto."
Cassie blinked up at him. "I'm glad you came to save me." She sank into one of the armchairs and folded herself into a ball. "It's been really tough these last few years. I guess I just wanted to believe in something good again." He came to stand beside the chair and put his hand on the headrest. "I mean, with my mom dying and all, and the way she went…" Cassie shuddered.
"Was it vampires?"
She shook her head. "Suicide. Slit her wrists. My mom's friend – practically my aunt – she, she left her journals and the note – it was addressed to her."
Angel's face darkened. "So you need help. Why are you here in L.A?"
Cassie told him a bit about her thesis and what she was trying to accomplish through her blood analyses. He listened attentively, nodding at appropriate places. Then he offered her the use of the lab at Wolfram & Hart, with what he was told was top-of-the-line equipment. She smiled and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. He attempted a small smile in return. He said that Lorne would show her to a room where she can keep her things. She started to protest that she had a hotel room, but he insisted she move her things over to the firm, and would pay for the room. "It's safer here."
"Thanks, Angel, for everything," Cassie said, and walked out of the office.
"Thanks Angel, for being my dark knight in shining leather," mimicked a falsetto voice. Cassie turned to see Spike leaning against the wall and smirking at her.
"Do you make it a habit to lurk in shadows?" Cassie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I thought girls liked a man of the shadows," Spike said, pushing away from the wall. "Least, you seem to. I thought you were going to bat your eyelashes right off."
"What?" she laughed, and started to walk away. "You're kidding, right?"
"Nope. You got a thing for the Big Man. Can see it plain on your face."
"Then you're not looking hard enough," she replied lightly, and continued walking down the hallway. "Have you seen Lorne?"
Spike cut in front of her. "Then what was that sob story about, then? Was any of it even true?"
"Every word of it." Cassie stared him coldly in the face. "And I'd appreciate it if you just got out of my way. I need to find Lorne."
"Got a thing for the green guy too, eh?"
"God! What is with you?" Cassie said, exasperated. "Can you think of something else besides speculating about which non-human I want to bang?"
"So it's true?" he grinned.
"If you must know, I don't date vampires. Especially ones like Angel." She leaned over the railing and looked down at the lawyers and secretaries and demons milling about the lobby.
"What do you mean, ones like him?"
"Oh, you know, the brooding hero type," she explained. "The ones that are so tragic they can barely function. They swoop in and save the damsel in distress, not for the glory, or even for possible nookie, but because 'it's the right thing to do'."
Spike looked amused. "You know a lot of these?"
"One," she said, sighing. "My aunt Natalie is practically married to him. So tragic it's pathetic."
Spike cocked his head, a smile spreading over his face. "Let's go get a drink."
"To clarify, this is an alcoholic drink."
"Yes. Unless you'd prefer me to snack on you," he said, waggling his eyebrows. "Seems you go in for that."
Cassie rolled her eyes. "I'm buying. I don't want you getting ideas from Peter."
"That sodding idiot?" he scoffed. "I could have you if I wanted, luv, and I don't need date rape drugs like that deficient moron."
Grinning, they walked out into the night, and headed towards Liquide.