Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Angel, and Buffy the series.
A/N: This is the second story in what I am calling the Soul series. The first story is The Price of a Soul. It's recommended you read them in order, but hey, who am I to dictate your reading schedule?
Chapter Two
Wesley woke up with what felt like the worst hangover ever. Except, he hadn't been drinking. As a matter of fact, he had only finished off the tea before heading home and. . .
A groan and he moved to sit up and looked around the room. It was mostly empty, but the ceiling was high, as if he was in the bottom of a pit. Slipping off the cot he'd been on he rubbed at the back of his neck and glanced up.
"Ah, you're awake."
The voice had a familiar accent and Wesley frowned.
"We were under the impression you were not arriving until tomorrow."
"The testing begins tomorrow. The slayer and this so called champion will be tested."
"Then what the bloody hell am I doing here?"
"Temper, Pryce. The slayer and vampire have an unfair advantage. With the knowledge you have and the link to the Powers. . . "
"Cordelia? What have you done with her!"
"Nothing as of yet. The testing will begin with no outside help."
"Outside help? We are a team -"
"If he really is a Champion then he does not need a failed watcher or human with visions in order to prove it. Or do you disagree? Are they dependent on two humans to keep them on the path?"
Wesley grit his teeth, it was a trick question of course, but he was left with little choice.
"He is a champion. Even without your ridiculous tests. I take it you sent the Alleriad?"
"Of course, but that is merely the distraction before the test. There is another vampire, one without a soul, working there with you."
Wesley held his breath. This could not be a good thing.
"There is."
"Funny how a slayer is working with not just one but two of her natural enemy. You will be made aware of the results in time."
With that it was silent and Wesley swore under his breath and began walking around the room looking for any way out.
AA
The phone, would not stop. No matter how much she glared. Cordelia growled and rolled over to pick it up.
"This had better be good."
She frowned and sat up, pushing the hair from her face.
"What? No, I haven't heard from Wes. You sure he's not-"
She winced, muttered something about cranky slayers and sighed.
"No, no visions. Look I'll be in soon. Well let me get dressed! Faith, Faith, Faith, FAITH! I'm on my way."
She hung up the phone and tossed back the blanket. Looking down at herself she never did change and go to bed. With a sigh she figured it was an emergency and got up to hit the bathroom. A quick wash up and she was ready to head out. She was hoping that Wesley had just fallen asleep studying or something. They had enough worries with the stupid council showing up tomorrow. Closing the door behind her she headed down the stairs. Just before she hit the bottom two men stopped and stared up at her.
"Riiiight. I guess, I'll go back the other way."
Cordelia backed up a couple of steps then turned around, but two more men were right there.
"Okay guys, you get how this is just a tad creepy right?"
"If you'll just come with us, Miss Chase."
"Yeah, just got creepier. How do you know my name?"
The two men above her started to descend so she turned to head back down and the two men there started up. She kept her hand on the railing and watched them both as much as she could.
"The Council sent us, we just need to have a few words. . . "
"Did you think maybe of picking up a phone?"
Swinging her purse around she hit the people above her and then kicked at the guys below. One fell back the other grabbed her leg and yanked. She yelped as she hit the stairs and winced. The hands began grabbing and pulling and she kicked then opened her eyes to get up. The man's wide eyes stared back and she froze then he let go of her leg and fell to the side. She really didn't want to look up, she really really didn't. But she did. Standing there over now two bodies, one bloody, was the vampire from her vision. Long hair, bumpy forehead and bad leather and metal armor.
AA
Faith was pacing now. Spike sat on the couch, feet up across from him. He looked up at the pacing slayer and frowned.
"What time you say you called her, pet?"
Faith stopped and glared at him as if she had just realized he was there.
"An hour ago."
Spike jumped up then and glared at the office.
"Right then. Oi! Poof! Seems t' me we got a problem!"
Faith and Spike both stared at the door and finally Angel came out with some notes. He looked between them both and Faith and Spike shared a look.
"What is it?"
Angel glanced around as if he wasn't sure who was listening then inclined his head to the office and headed back inside. Spike shrugged as he and Faith headed inside. Angel was bent over the desk, he didn't bother looking up.
"Close the door."
Spike rolled his eyes and shut the door.
"Yes'm Miss Daisy."
Faith snickered and Angel looked up confused. Spike waved him off and Angel shook his head.
"Wesley was looking up the vampires we ran into last night."
"Got that, he said he was heading home after he got some information."
Angel nodded.
"Looking over his notes, there's a really good chance that they were sent by the council."
Faith crossed her arms over her chest.
"Come again?"
"Them blokes love their li'l tests, eh?"
Angel sighed.
"They like to test their slayers. If they make it to 18, there's a test the watchers are supposed to give them. You never went through it."
"So, you think this is that test?"
"No, this one is different. It's not just you getting tested. They wanted to make sure that I was actually working for the powers. That you were all following me on the 'right path'."
"Shit! You think the council took Wes."
Angel sat down and looked at the other two. Spike was glaring now as well.
"I think they are going to make sure we fail this test."
"Then we make sure you all don' fail."
Faith wasn't so sure and shook her head.
"And how are we supposed to do that? The only person that might have a clue what the tests are is gone. There's no way for us to know what's going to happen."
Spike and Angel exchanged a look and it dawned on them the same time it hit Faith.
"Shit! Cordelia!"
AA
Wesley was no closer to finding a way out when he finally sat back down on the cot and slipped his head into his hands. There was no telling how long this test would be anyway. He could be stuck there for days.
"The tests will begin early."
His head snapped up. He was well aware that the Council hated changing their plans.
"Anxious are we? What's the hurry?"
"We were unaware that your so called champion had failed to destroy all three vampires."
Wesley stood up then and paced looking above him.
"What does that have to do with anything? You said they were simply a distraction."
"They were, however, they are all dangerous on their own. They left one alive and he intercepted our retrieval team."
"The team?"
"Dead."
"And what were they retrieving?"
"The human seer."
"Is she-"
"We do not know but it is doubtful that the vampire will keep her alive for long."
"Does Angel know?"
There was nothing. He lowered his arms to his sides.
"You have to let him know! You are sentencing her to death otherwise!"
"We are not sentencing anyone, we are simply performing the tests necessary to be sure that the vampire and the slayer are on the right path."
"You and your, outdated tests! You sit there and pass judgment with no idea what we sacrifice!"
"Do not forget that you have your own test to pass, Pryce!"
"Fine! Test me! Let Angel know about the Alleriad before it's too late!"
"You do not dictate our actions."
"Well someone should! Since common sense and integrity sure as hell don't!"
"Enough!"
The lights went out then and the silence was deafening.
AA
Angel and Spike put on game faces and Faith stared at them. Spike threw an explanation over his shoulder.
"Blood."
She simply nodded and followed them. There was nothing at her apartment, but they bypassed going inside to head around to the back stairs. Faith jumped the railing halfway down and picked up a bag.
"It's her purse. I don't see the blood."
Spike continued down the stairs and stooped over the last three. Ran his fingers over them.
"Cleanin' crew been through here."
"The council?"
Angel nodded.
"That would be my bet."
"Playin' a li'l divide an' conquer."
Faith did a side kick at the railing. Both vampires stood up and let their faces fall into human as they watched her.
"Faith?"
"This is my fault! Damn it, like Wes hasn't been through enough, and Cordy? She wasn't supposed to even be part of this!"
Spike leaned against the banister.
"Think you miss'd the memo there, pet."
She frowned and looked at him. Angel shoved his hands into his pockets and gave her a smile.
"She might not have been happy about it at first, but, I think what Spike means is that Cordy thinks of us all as family. No way she'd let you go through this alone if she could help it."
Faith popped her head to the side and crossed her arms over her chest, the woman in question's purse hanging from her hand.
"Yeah well doesn't seem she had a choice now."
Spike narrowed his eyes and glanced to Angel. It had happened every once in awhile. Something unspoken passed between the two vampires and suddenly they would have a plan. They had all stopped asking about it.
"You lot thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"
Angel smiled slowly and the two looked at Faith.
"What?"
Angel gave Spike a nod since he'd come up with it first.
"Why we playin' on their terms, pet? I say, we bring th' game back t' our terms. Meanin'. . ."
"Meaning, we want our friends."
AA
Cordelia was not happy. Not that she had reason to be. She had fallen asleep on the couch and gotten a crick in her neck. She had gotten woken up way too early, on way too little sleep. She hadn't even gotten a full shower in before having to leave. Then, as if her day wasn't already going downhill fast, she was attacked by those freaks from the Watcher's Council. Top it off, and she watched them get killed and was kidnapped, again, by a vampire.
Oh and not just any vampire. One that had not yet heard of the invention of shampoo or body soap. She wasn't even going to talk about his fashion sense! He had shoved her in a room, no windows, one horrible lamp and a table and chair. Some sort of pile of blankets in the corner that she had already declared was not going to be her bed. So she sat at the table, legs crossed, and drummed her fingernails on the table. Glaring at the door.
Finally it opened and the vampire came in with what looked like a bag from some fast food joint. She wrinkled her nose and crossed her arms over her chest. He glared at her and put the bag down then turned to leave.
"Uh, excuse me?"
He stopped and turned to look at her. She rolled her eyes.
"So what, you just get your kicks keeping girls hostage in what I'm pretty sure you think are acceptable living conditions?"
He grunted and she stood up gesturing around her.
"Look! I am not staying here! This is disgusting! Who lives like this?"
He growled and walked towards her. Standing straight she pointed at him.
"Hey! Who you growling at? Also, drop the bumpy thing. I know you can look normal, so knock off the theatrics for someone who cares."
"Woman! You should know your place!"
"My place? Oh I know my place and this, isn't it. So spill."
"Spill?"
She growled and started pacing.
"You know, you're evil plan? What you want, who you think you get to kill. Blah blah blah, no one will defeat me, that crap?"
"I will wait for the Council to finish their testing and then trade you for my freedom from them."
Cordelia stopped and blinked at him.
"Really?"
He frowned. She started laughing and he growled.
"Why do you laugh at me?"
"That is like, the worst plan ever! What would the council want with me?"
"They sent a team to capture you."
She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Psssht. No one every kidnaps me for me. They just wanted to piss Angel off. Or Faith. Maybe Spike. And to be honest, I am sooooo tired of the kidnapping thing. I mean, have a little originality!"
"Woman you are infuriating me!"
"Yeah well join the club!"
He advanced on her, until she backed up into the wall and winced at the idea of what was on it. Growling in her face he looked her over.
"I could kill you right now and leave your body for the rats."
"Okay sure, you could. Big bad vampire and all, but um, how would that get you what you want?"
His lip trembled into a snarl and she tried for a smile, putting a hand to his shoulder and pushing him back a little then looking at her palm. Her only thought being that she was so going to need a shower when this was over.
"You claim you can not get me what I want."
"Noooo, what I said was that the council didn't want me. Not that I couldn't help you."
He backed up and confused looked at her.
"Then how can you help me?"
"First, we need a talk, a long one, about hygiene. And your lack of it. Tell me there's a clean bathroom in here somewhere."
AA
Faith, Spike and Angel headed into the Hyperion all talking about how they were going to find the council to demand their friends back. They had hit Caritas and Lorne had promised them that the answer would find them. That hadn't helped any, as Spike was really not thrilled with having to sing anyway. Faith was doing her level best not to make a comment. Mandy, followed by Queen was just too much for her. She was just glad that Lorne had stopped them before she had to sing.
"Still think we need a plan, poof. I don' buy this answers fallin' from the sky thing."
"I'm not any happier than you are Spike, but until we know where they are -"
The sound of someone tearing apart the office had all three freezing. With the sound of the desk being thrown they nodded and Angel pointed to the side. He moved to the office door and Spike took the left while Faith moved around to the right. They stayed still, silent, until the vampire left the office with a bag. Faith kicked him in the back of the knee and he growled turning to attack her. Angel punched him down and the vampire turned, grabbing Faith's legs with his own and pulling her to the floor. Grabbing her arm and twisting he pulled her to him and growled at Angel who froze, Spike came up right next to him and stared at the vampire.
"Best be lettin' 'er go mate."
Faith whipped her head behind her and hit him. He dropped the bag and she kicked it to the side. He stared at it then growled at them.
"Do you have any idea what it takes to appease that witch!"
Angel frowned and put a hand up to Faith to stop. They stood staring, a stand off. Stooping he picked up the bag and looked through it. Handing it to Spike he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Where is she?"
AA
Four men sat around a table and frowned. Not one looked happy.
"Do you really believe he can be saved?"
"Wyndham-Pryce is an old family, they have served the Council for generations."
"His time with this vampire has changed him, and not for the better."
"When the vampire fails and the slayer is back in custody he will fall in line."
"You sound so sure."
"Of the watcher?"
"No, of the vampire. All reports do show he is a champion of the Powers."
"It would not be the first time they were mistaken."
"It would be a first for us."
All heads turned.
"Do you believe we are mistaken? Centuries we have followed the same rules, the same training."
"Perhaps that's the problem. Times have changed, and we have not."
Frowns deepened.
"We have had far more successes then failures."
"Our greatest success is a slayer that has quit us."
Dissension had begun. The oldest of the council members shook his head and glared. Two other members raised their chins, both showing defiance, the third was still unsure.
"I suppose we will find out much more during these trials then just the fate of one slayer then."