Friday 16th November 2005

Something stirs in the ruins of Wolfram & Hart…

A hollow wreck remained where the prominent lawyer's office Wolfram & Hart used to stand so proud. Charred walls, broken windows, the putrid carcasses of demonic figures, an innate sense of pain and hunger. The public feared to go near this building, too many horror stories of curses and 'revenge from beyond the grave'. Silence is all that came from the wreckage. Silence. But this night, something could be heard, a bang, a bright spark and a crash. Then more silence.

Cordelia woke, lying on the floor of a burnt-out room overlooking an empty parking lot. She gathered her breath and pushed herself up from the ground to the support of a broken wall.

"What the…" she murmured as she gazed around in bewilderment at her surroundings. Desperately looking for an answer to what the hell was going on. She remembered how to walk and steadied herself through what looked like used to be a hallway. A reception desk still stood, beneath a fading sign that read 'Wolfram & Hart, attorneys at law'. Cordelia's facial expression shifted to one of fear and sudden panic over the welfare of her beloved Angel and her friends. She darted her head around frantically and quickened her pace towards the lower floors.

Cordelia trailed her fingers along the peeling walls and thought out loud.

"What happened here?" As she reached the stairway she caught a whiff of the familiar scent of death. She opened the door ajar and discovered the source, the rotten flesh hanging in strands from the charred bones of former Wolfram &Hart employees.

"Oh god." She covered her mouth with her arm and walked quickly past the bodies, down the stairs to the entrance lobby and straight out the doorway, meeting the fresh night breeze and the harsh light of the street.

She was in a fluster, hot and nauseous, dazed and confused. With no thought she let out an almighty cry and dropped to the ground. She had no idea what was going on, where her friends were, what to do to find them, who could help her. Left with only one option, she concentrated, fell still and called upon the powers.

Cordelia stood in a circular room, the ceiling towering over her head, a pedestal in the centre with a burning flame teasing her. Out of nowhere a powerful voice called her name.

"Cordelia Chase." She stood tall and stretched her neck.

"Yes."

"You are not supposed to be here. You are dead."

"Yep, but still achingly beautiful."

"Why are you here, on this plain?"

"I don't know that's what I'm here to ask you." A sudden silence fell, but she wanted her questions answered.

"Where are my friends?"

"They are dead."

Cordelia backed towards the wall and looked towards the floor, shaking her head, uncertain and afraid.

"…are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Um …how …when?"

"A long time ago, many died in a great battle against the forces of evil. The demon Lorne was murdered by a slayer." The voice changed tone.

"Angel …was killed by his sire, protecting Buffy Summers." Cordelia was tense, fighting back the tears filling in her eyes, her fists clenched.

"You have your answers. But why you are back, this I do no know."

With a flash of light she was back on the pavement alone. Passers by whispered and sneered at her lying on the ground. But she didn't notice. Rage was surging through her, her mind bent on pain and destruction. She rose, patted the dust of her shirt and jeans and walked onwards.

She entered a familiar artefact store run by a woman the team had previously saved from a Keslar demon. The woman got up off her seat to aid her in her search, dancing about gleefully.

"Miss Chase I, I can't believe you're here, it's been like I dunno, three years or more even-"

"Yeah I missed you too Luanne."

"So what are you looking for exactly?"

"A weapon."

"You guys off to fight the forces of darkness again!?"

"Something like that."

"Then I have just the thing." She skipped past some shelves into the back and brought out a shining katana blade. "I think this should do nicely." She passed the sword to Cordelia, stepped back and clasped her hands together.

"So what d'ya think? Is this alright?" Cordelia gave a faint smirk.

"This'll do fine. Listen though Luanne, I don't exactly have the money to-"

"No charge. You guys have done so much for me already."

"Thanks."

"Hey tell the gang I said hi, ok." Cordelia's lips tightened up and her heart started pounding harder in her chest.

"Sure."

She left the store, concealing the blade behind her back with the strap. She stood still for a minute, trying to gather some thoughts. But the only thing she could think of was …revenge.