CHP2
They were running, everyone was running and it was dark but I could hear voices. The dark streets gave way to lit and populated ones and-.
"Dad!"
What?
Since when did Angel and Connor get along? Since when did they go out hunting together?
All around us people were staring, they were shocked, surprised, wanting to know what had just happened because most of the café patrons had seen Angel stake the vampire and that same vampire go poof.
None of Angel Inc. said anything, no one answered the questions except for Angel who was trying to reassure a woman and then she dropped to her knees.
Why-?
What was going on here? Angel had this goofy look on his face and… oddly enough so did Gunn and Wesley and …. What was going on? Everywhere people where dropping to their knees. It was like some mass holy pilgrimage. Strange enough it brought memories back of the one my Mom had made accompany her to. We went to some old city in Mexico only I can't remember where, I was that young. I do remember the blazing sun and how bright everything was. The buildings were very old, made of clay or bricks though I don't recall there being blocks, all the walls were smooth and for the first time I was actually allowed to wander. On my own. By myself.
"You're hurt."
No I'm no-.
Oh. The old balding guy wasn't talking to me and turning to the one he was talking too I couldn't help but jerk backwards, away from the horrifying creature in front of me. The corpse like thing smiled, though that just made more of the worms spill out of its toothless hole.
"All my life, so empty. That's over now, isn't it?" the woman said from her place on the ground.
Empty? Her life was empty?
"Yes, Margaret, it's over. I know you. I know you all. I've come here for you to bring you the gift of peace. You will be freed from the pains you've suffered. The world will change forever, and you will know the power of my love. The chaos will fade, and harmony will reign."
What? How did she know her name and what was all this gift of peace krap and being freed from our pains? What was going on here?
Hey!
I yelled, waved my arms but none of them took any notice of me. If I hadn't been worried before I was starting to panic a bit now.
"Monster!" I turned at the yell. There he was, holding a knife and bleeding. The guy looked… he wasn't… there was a certain panicked look in his eyes and what he did next? God, he must be seriously demented, attacking that- that- that thing.
Stop! Stop it!
But the more I yelled for Angel to let the guy go the more he pounded on his face. I tried to pull him off but it was as if- as- I just- couldn't. He wouldn't budge. He didn't even feel my hands on him.
"It has to die!"
Suddenly breathless I sat up. My hands were clenched and glowing hotly, gathering clumps of my coverlet. The smell of singed material, just before it burst into flames, reached my nostrils and I had to jump out of bed dragging it with me to the bathroom. I was careful not to touch the water myself, not unless I wanted to go all fish girl again with the gills and webbed appendages. I had to suffer through it every time I took a shower. I missed the tub and my long baths but every time my skin came in contact with water I became the fish and got these crazy, yet terribly disturbing images in my head. I could say they were visions but then that would lob me in there with Cordelia and her brain pains. I'm very adamant about comparisons, especially when it involves me being compared to someone. I really don't like it and I make sure to let anyone and everyone know it the moment they start in on their 'why cant you be more like…'.
"It has to die."
The poor guy… but was it real? Did Angel really beat up on some innocent guy? And why where they slaying out in public, in front of regular I-don't-know-about-demons type of people?
"Uugh…" oh this was not good. I doubled over, one hand splayed over my stomach and tried not to let the empty nothingness I had in there spill out of my mouth. I was feeling it all over again and I kinda wished I was sleeping even if I had to dream those creepy-looks-real kind of dreams. Since when did I get sick? I mean I've got the runes; I'm all strong and healthy now so why all of a sudden does my stomach refuse to keep food down?
"Chingado, I have to do something about this."
****
After several weeks of sky-rocketing homicide rates, finally this week a dramatic decrease in southland murders. The Sheriff's Department spokesman attributes the drop to their new "Tough on Crime" policy instituted last month—.
I shut it off shaking my head at the stupid newscasters. Who was ever going to believe that load of boloney?
Wes had been by earlier wanting to know if I was ok. I faked feeling worse than I really did especially since I now had this cool little charm that kept me from feeling too awful, just a slight head ache now. He looked disappointed saying he wanted me to spend more time with the others which of course meant that thing. I broke my promise then, the one about not looking in their heads because it just didn't seem normal that he above all others wasn't freaking out over the undead walking corpse that was traipsing about the Hyperion. That brief look was difficult to perform especially when I didn't want Wes to know what I was doing. He didn't seem to realize what was going on but in the brief instant my mind grazed his I felt worse than when I woke up. There was no faking feeling awful…
Whatever was happening, Wesley believed the glamour of it, the fake image and the lies that thing was spewing. He left me then, going back to his adoring of that monster. I spent the rest of the afternoon hiding from them trying to figure out how to break the spell they were under but I had no idea what or even how it was doing…what it was doing.
Once again any questions I had about me and what I was or who the Od VaiLumin were had to be pushed aside in order to take care of this problem. It seemed like every time I got a little closer, found one more piece of my puzzle something cropped up that diverts every effort from my problem. I was tired of shit getting in the way, tired of being in the dark and not knowing who was fucking with my life and pulling strings as if I were some damn puppet.
I decided that staying in wasn't going to help me feel better and it certainly wasn't going to help me figure out what was going on. What I had to do was move, start doing instead of sitting so I got dressed. All I'd been wearing for the past couple of weeks were jeans, warm ups, or my leather. I kinda felt like a dress but with the way things were weird around here…? Nope, definitely not a dress but I did have a pair of cute shorts, they were the dressy type but I never wore them to the office because they were just too short. I mean you can get away with wearing capris at work but not shorts no matter how busnessy they look.
That settled I grabbed a peachy looking blouse in a gauzy material, put my hair up in a messy bun, very light shimmer make-up and low peeked toed heels and I was done. Looking in the mirror critically I had to say it wasn't too shabby. I could look much worse.
****
"What is going on here?"
"We are just excited head over teakettle about this entire event. I-I just can't even believe—." Lorne turned waving a green hand as I tried to make sense of all the people in the lobby. "Hey, hey, hey, pumpkin. Where've you been?"
"I wasn't feeli-." Oh, well not me again. Why do I always answer questions not directed at me? Why can't they ever be clear as to who they are speaking to before they ask questions?
"Out." Fred replied looking around at all the people. "What happened?"
"That's what I just asked Lorne." I muttered with a glower at the green demon. "Hi Fred." She waved distractedly which was normal for her.
"Oh, she went out for a walk—it was like A Hard Day's Night—everybody followed her back. Isn't it fabulous." He pointed at a man, his attention diverted. "Oh, hey, hey, hey."
I couldn't believe we were actually taking in guests. Half of the hotel was under construction and besides the suites we'd cleaned out nothing else was prepared for taking in guests. What were they thinking?
"Excuse me, darlings." Lorne said with an airy wave of his hand. He headed off into the crowds apparently he was playing hostess to the crowds gathering. I turned in a half circle which wasn't a great idea since I got more than a little bit dizzy. Bits of conversations drifted in and out, none of them making sense. Half of the voices weren't recognizable and some were so garbled they were indecipherable.
"I need you." That voice I recognized and it certainly wasn't my little friend with the annoying half truths and information on what I was or the Od VaiLumin.
"…you'd trust me, right?"
Fred.
"Of course. "
And Wesley. What were they talking about? Why did it feel as if they were whispering? But something was off, it was strange…
"…he saw something. We both s-saw something."
No, she needed to stop. Why was she telling him? Didn't she realize he wasn't on her side?
"Rotting flesh? Really?"
God, why did you tell him?
The cheering crowd jabbed at my brain and I had to grab onto the counter just to stay upright. I gasped for breath trying to quiet the voices in my head
"Of course I'll help you. Wait here."
"I'm sorry…" there was nothing I could do for her. I couldn't help them and the pain in my head grew worse. The cool tiles soothed my hot skin and the more I pressed my hands to my head the less I felt the piercing ache. I had to stay conscious but the effort that was taking seemed to take my breath away.
I couldn't help feeling just a little bit angry, I mean after the trouble I went through to get that stupid little charm to work and this is what I got? How fucking fair is this? Damn piece of krap. I couldn't even stay standing!
"I'm sorry." Fred's voice seemed come from right next to me. I barely caught a glimpse of her with the crossbow. It dawned on me; this girl was completely off her rocker! She actually intended to kill that demon.
"Fred! Are you crazy? What— I mean— Fred!" Lorne exclaimed as Fred put the edge of a knife to his throat.
"Don't come near me!" she shouted clearly panicked. They didn't listen to her though. Each one tried to make her give up but Fred wasn't thinking clearly. I could hear the panic in her voice and in her situation I can't say as I would do any different.
"I'll kill him, Charles!" she yelled.
"Easy, kiddo, huh?" Lorne somehow managed to keep his voice under control. I couldn't help but think he was always getting the short end of the stick. Poor guy…
"There's nowhere you can go, Fred. My love will follow you everywhere."
"Ooh," I doubled over at her voice, soft and silky it sent a wave of nausea ripping through my stomach and it was all I could do to keep from puking right there.
"Hey!"
"Let her go. Now is not the time. We are all gathered here in peace. Let's not let her take that away from us."
****
So they didn't follow her but the little meeting it held afterwards was worse than if they had followed Fred. I still can't believe they think she's evil when the evil thing is the one they're so intent on protecting. What the hell kind of monster did Cordelia birth into our world? Nothing I said made any difference; I was just 'sick girl' to them. I can't say it hurt my feelings because if it kept me out of that things way I'm all for being sick girl. As a matter of fact the further I stayed away form their Jasmine the better the charm worked. Yeah, they named her. God, what a load of krap. Everyone blaming themselves for not seeing Fred's evil or blaming the guy at the hospital for spelling Fred's brain. As if! But it has a plan and by tomorrow Fred is not going to find any safe place to hide and how am I supposed to help her?
"I have to help her."
****
"What are you doing?" Ryan asked swiping the TV remote from Dom who immediately got off the couch reaching for it.
"Hey!"
"We got work." Ryan clicked off the TV twirling the remote in his hand as if it were a gun then slid it into his back pocket with a grin. "Get off your butts and let's finish up."
Jax muttered under his breath as he preceded Dom out of the rec room complaining about that lady they were going to interview next. He'd wanted to hear all about the 'love' she planned on using to get the world to get along. Now that would make for plenty of jokes but he couldn't do that if he didn't know what she was gonna say.
Ryan kept the smile pasted on his face as the Hell'sAngel left the rec room. Once out of sight he turned to the TV unplugging it before yanking the cord from the back of the set. He'd already gone through all the other TV sets in the warehouse and all because Phade asked him to. Of course she had a good reason and after the things he'd seen he wasn't about to scoff at the idea of a demon being able to sway the entire world to peace by the sound of its voice or its look. He'd managed to get her Dad to help him sabotage every and all radios so about the only thing he had to worry over was the internet. Now that was gonna be a bitch to get around but he didn't have to worry about it until later, as in when they finished working on the engine.
Tasha, Matthew and Mr. Vartan knew of Phade's call and the reason for the sudden silence. He was worried, well they both were. Phade was dealing with the situation alone and though both men had tried to force her to accept help from the Hell'sAngel's she refused. She didn't want them to get caught in the spell even though she wasn't sure that's what it was. Still, Ryan couldn't help feeling angry and he wouldn't blame her Father for thinking less of him.
"I can't be worrying about you being affected by this thing and still try and figure out how to stop it. Besides, when-because you will fall under its spell- when you do everything I'm trying to do or have done it will know."
Mr. Vartan gave in after that though Ryan could see he wasn't happy and the grumpy old man was keeping himself busy patching up the warehouse and using the boys as his little laborers. Ryan didn't mind so long as they were kept out of harms way.
"Now, for the big kids." He muttered heading into the garage.
****
For now Fred would have to take care of herself, right now I had to go to a certain book store, one with books on the Od VaiLumin, at least I hoped so and if not then maybe I could find something on this thing.
"As changuitos." I muttered crossing my fingers and heading inside with snort at the sign.
Everything THEY don't want you to know.
Seriously? The owner should've just painted a bulls eye on his store. I wondered if Wolfram and Hart knew about this place. I imagined they wouldn't want anyone to find it let alone have the information contained in the books then I wondered where the owner got the books in the first place.
"Hello?" there was no echo in here but it was still eerie. A dark figure popped out from behind the counter. "Eek!" hey, he startled me ok? And it wasn't exactly an Eek! It was more of a gasp- forget it.
So the freak behind the counter gave a perfunctory smile as greeting while I checked out the alien t-shirt.
"Great." I muttered. Freak confirmed add a splash of weirdo in the mix and it's this guy.
"Hi." He said just a little too cheerful.
'Freaky weirdo.'
Yup, this was gonna be interesting.
"I'm looking for some books." The fool looked around at the full shelves and I knew he was thinking I must be some kind of idiot. I glared. "Specifically on higher beings, not exactly gods but there about."
"Greek, Roman, Egyptian…" he trailed off as he headed around some book shelves.
"No, not- I don't think so." But I wasn't sure. I mean, where they part of those Gods or where those just branch offs of the Od VaiLumin? What was their purpose? They just can't be without a purpose, the universe and everything in it just doesn't work that way.
For example, I don't like spiders; hate 'em, can't stand 'em, they freak me out. But… we need 'em because without spiders we'd be overrun with bugs and certain bugs I'd rather not have around. So that's their purpose.
What were the Od VaiLumin and what was their purpose? That's what I wanted to know. Once I had that I could figure out how to tell them to go fuck themselves.
You see how much I like being told what to do? Not to mention- fish girl here! I have no problem with the fire or the stone, those are pretty cool but I can't even take a bath! I have to shower and it has to be quick, no dawdling like before because I go fish girl and get those 'moving pictures' in my head. It's very disorienting not too mention nauseous. Then there's the dishes, no one's gonna wash my dirty dishes for me so I'm stuck wearing those funky yellow gloves. And rain? Yeah, that's fucking fun, really fucking enjoyable, walking around all covered in plastic with an umbrella and gloves- no, I really do not like these Od VaiLumin. They are the goddamn thorn in my side I can't seem to get rid of and the kicker?
I did it to myself.
****