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 Three
Cordelia was pacing, tapping her teeth with a nail. She had tried the door. Her shoulder killed from trying it. Movies were full of crap. Anyone that could knock a door in with a shoulder had to be superhuman. It shouldn't take too long for Angel and the others to find him. She sent him right to the office. The problem was if they staked him right away, they wouldn't find out where she was. So she was on her own for getting out of this mess. Which, admittedly, was where her plan fell apart. The door was the only idea she had. That had fallen by the wayside almost immediately.
"Think Chase. Think! And no, you are not screaming like you're in some bad horror movie!"
Just as she turned to glare at the door, hands on her hips, she heard the outer door and yelped. Backing up a step as the door she'd been staring at burst open, she was sure she was caught. Then she grinned.
"Angel!"
She ran forward and hugged him. He grinned over her shoulder and wrapped an arm around her. Spike poked at his shoulder and he pulled back to let Spike smile at her.
"Told th' poof you were fine. I did all th' work! Kicked th' door all by meself."
Cordelia hugged him too and then went and hugged Faith for good measure.
"I figured you'd find him! Where's Wes?"
Angel looked at Spike who was happily smirking. Angel shook his head.
"How did you know we'd find him? And how did you get an ancient assassin afraid of you?"
Cordy shrugged.
"Just told him we could help him, and let him know that I am oh so tired of being the kidnap victim. I mean, am I wearing a sign or what?"
Faith shook her head.
"So you sent him for nail polish?"
Cordelia grinned.
"No I sent him for nail polish that doesn't exist. I also used the biggest Queen C attitude I could find to make him believe that without it, he'd not have a moment's peace."
Angel frowned and crossed his arms over his chest.
"And what if he killed you instead?"
Cordy rolled her eyes.
"Oh give me some credit. He wants out from the council, as long as he knew I'd help, he wasn't going to kill me. Not when all I wanted was an itty bitty bottle of nail polish! Did you um, stake him?"
Spike shrugged.
"Nah, 'e's watchin' th' front."
"With Wes?"
She looked between them then frowned and crossed her arms. They all looked properly chagrined and Faith finally looked at her.
"Wes is missing. We think the Council grabbed him. We thought they grabbed you too."
Cordelia furrowed her brow.
"I think, they tried to. There were like four guys and I tried to attack a couple and get away when vampy boy showed up. Have I mentioned how really tired I am of playing bait girl or rescue damsel?"
"Yeah we got it. We should head back, see if we can find out where they are keeping Wes."
Faith was obviously still worried so Cordy just shrugged, she was good at not taking things personal. Or at least looking like she didn't. Angel tilted his head and he and Faith went ahead while Cordelia then Spike took up the rear. As soon as they hit the street she saw the vamp and went to give him a smile of triumph when her face fell and she slumped forward. Spike grabbed her before she hit the ground but then Faith swore and then fell over.
"Traitor!"
The vampire growled and looked at Angel who suddenly was on the offensive.
"What did you do?"
"Don' think it was him, poof."
Angel stopped at Spike's growl and turned to look, he saw them then. Council retrieval team. The three vampires moved slowly back to back. One man stepped forward and shook his head.
"Sorry, orders are orders. Two shots each."
Spike lifted his lip in a sneer as guns were raised. His only thought that if any of those bullets hit the girls on the ground, someone was dying.
"Two shots o' what? Personally I'm a scotch man."
He took a step but the guns fired. More tranqs, two each, three on their new friend and Spike caught Angel's eye as he tried not to go down and reached for one of the tranqs in his leg.
"Fuuu-"
AA
Cordelia groaned and opened her eyes. She looked above her and then closed her eyes again.
"Not again."
She would have continued whining if she hadn't heard the sigh and looked over to see Wesley come over and sit on the edge of the cot she was laying on. She sat up quickly and wrapped arms around him.
"Wes! You're all right!"
He smiled and returned the hug.
"Well, as all right as one can get in captivity."
She frowned and then nodded.
"Right, because I've just not had enough kidnapping for like a life time. Council?"
Wesley nodded and she swung legs around to stand up.
"Okay you watcher people! Open up!"
She was pacing and glaring. Up around, looking for the door. Wesley followed trying to calm her down.
"Er, I don't believe that will work. They are going to make sure we can not interfere with their tests, so are stuck here until they are done."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Psssht. So they say. I don't think so."
He opened his mouth but then she was chewing on her lip, looking around, he knew that look, she was thinking of a plan. Not always a good thing, but even worse if he interrupted.
AA
Angel tried to lift his head but it was so heavy. He pulled at his arm to wipe a hand over his face but it didn't move.
"No way t' break th' chains, mate. We tried."
He did raise his head that time and saw Spike chained across from him. Looking to the side he saw Faith as well. She was quiet, eyes distant.
"Faith?"
She turned slowly to look at him. He was going to ask if she was all right when he heard the screams. She didn't flinch and he pulled at the chains again.
"No gettin' away from it. We're in fo' th' pits, luv."
Angel frowned.
"Spike! Stop mumbling and explain."
Spike looked at him then. It was an attempt at a glare, but Angel saw the fear there.
"Them screams? That be the fighters. Keep 'em in fightin' mood. Starve 'em, torture th' ones not intr'sted in fightin'. You go in th' pit, fight till the death yeah? No out, unless you win enough, an' it's up t' the rich ones bettin' on ya if it's enough."
"How do you know all that?"
Faith finally spoke, staring at Spike with a look that said she wanted to fight, but not in the pits. He turned his head and gave her a weak smile.
"Not m' first time, luv."
He nodded to Angel.
"Bettin' this be your test. Fights start in groups, all for one kinda thing, move up t' one on one wit' the bigger blokes. Thing is, they don' care much if you lot are fighters or not, powers or not. Fought a Zankleth once."
Angel frowned.
"Zankleth are peaceful, they don't fight."
"Not a choice, pet. Not a choice."
Angel growled and yanked at the chains again. Spike just hung his head. Faith shook hers.
"So this is their idea of a test? Now I didn't finish school, but pretty sure this is bull shit."
"We're getting out of here. Where's Cordelia?"
Angel growled. Faith tried for a shrug.
"Havent' seen her. She's not supposed to be tested though. Wait, neither is Spike."
Spike snorted.
"Don' need a reason t' lock up a vampire."
They all went quiet as the door opened and guards with long sticks came in.
"You're up."
Spike didn't move. He let them undo the chains and then stood quietly. Angel didn't understand, Spike didn't just give up, he fought. So when they undid his chains he did just that. He turned and punched the guard, another stepped forward and shoved the stick in Angel's side. He screamed and convulsed to the floor. Spike winced but looked at Faith, eyes begging her to not fight.
"Save it for the pit! Vampire."
The guard kicked him in the side before grabbing his coat to yank him to standing and shoving him towards Spike. He went to undo Faith's chains and Spike lowered his voice.
"Sorry mate, f'got t' warn ya. No fightin' it. We're in th' pit."
Faith stood there quietly and nodded to the both of them as they were led out, moving down a dark hall towards the sound of applause.
AA
Cordelia was pissed. Hands on her hips she looked up again. Wesley explained that they seemed to be monitored from above but that he hadn't heard from anyone since they brought her in. She was going to get someone's attention. She was Cordelia Chase! If there was one thing she was good at, it was getting attention.
"Hey! I'm talking to you here! Do you have any idea who I am? If you don't let me out of here. Right. Now! There's going to be hell to pay buddy!"
"Cordelia, please. You have been yelling for nearly twenty minutes. No one is responding. I'm unsure they are even there. If they are already beginning these tests. . . Ow!"
He rubbed at his arm where she had just smacked at him.
"Do you want to get out of here or not?"
"And you need to hit me for that?"
She narrowed her eyes at him then they went wide and her head jerked back. He reached for her, too late as she hit the ground. She was flailing and screaming and he looked around then fell to his knees to grab her from doing more damage to herself.
"Someone! She's having a vision! Damn it! We need help in here!"
He pulled her into his lap worried that the vision was lasting too long. He heard the door open behind him, the hidden door he still couldn't find the edge of when closed. He didn't bother looking behind him, worried about Cordelia.
"Move aside!"
He growled and finally looked up. Two men stood there and a third at the door.
"Like bloody hell I will!"
Cordelia rolled to the side and swept the legs out from under one guard and then kicked the knee of the other in the wrong direction. He screamed and fell to the side. Wesley blinked but was up on his feet, turning for the door. He punched at the man, then kneed him in the stomach, grabbed his head and kneed him again.
"Little help?"
He pulled the body of the unconscious guard to keep the door open and turned to find Cordelia trying to fight back, unfortunately her training wasn't as far along as she'd like. She did get some nice hits in but she was nursing a hand when one of the guards tripped her up. She kicked him in the face a few times and Wesley came to get the second guard off of her. A bloody nose wasn't stopping the last guard so Wesley kicked him in the stomach then knocked his head to the ground before offering her a hand up.
"You could have told me you were faking a vision! Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"Hey, actress here! It's called improve. So you want to argue or get out of here and find some council people to yell at?"
"Right then. Escape first."
AA
Angel was shoved back into the room first, then Faith. Spike was still in the pit. The door slammed and Faith sighed, standing up to brush herself off.
"Well, at least we aren't chained up this time. What was with that? I think we were on teams but hard to tell the players without a program. Also, the rich white people in gowns? What was up with that?"
Angel tried the door then shook his head.
"Spike was right, it's a pit. I thought they were gone by now. Those are the betters, they pay top dollar and this, is just entertainment."
"Speaking of. . . "
"Yeah, he's still out there. They obviously plan on pitting us against beings they consider evil, to see if we can kill them or not. Spike, is just fighting to survive."
"So, what if they put us against him?"
Angel backed away from the door as it opened and Spike was tossed back in. He groaned but didn't get up. Faith was there first and rolled him over to help him sit up.
"Well shit, if you won I'd hate to see the loser."
Spike tried for a laugh, running his hand over his lip and sitting up against the wall.
"Point is, there isn' a loser left t' see, pet."
Angel frowned down at him.
"They let us out early, you. . "
Spike shook his head.
"Had t' kill or be killed, poof. This ain't no test f'r me."
He looked from Faith to Angel again.
"Listen up, they put us in together again, you lot are gonna hafta kill me."
"No way."
Faith wasn't even considering it. She shook her head and Spike frowned. He looked from Faith to Angel, figuring at least he would listen.
"Wasn' a request! Look, you're all champion wit' a soul an' that. This one's a slayer, me, I'm jus' a vampire. Meant t' be staked. Not havin' you all fail cause o' me. You get put in, you gotta do what you gotta do t' get out. You lot take th' first chance an' leave, find th' other two an' go. Understan'?"
Angel's jaw ticked but he looked at Faith. She shook her head and he sighed.
"Faith's right. Not an option. We are all getting out of here."
Spike growled and pushed to standing, obviously favoring one leg.
"Look, I ain't sayin' I'm givin' up. Gonna do what I hafta t' survive, but it comes down t' it. Me or th' slayer, me or th' watcher, me or, me or her. You know what I'm sayin' yeah?"
Angel saw the flicker, he wouldn't even say her name just in case it put her in danger. He nodded.
"Yeah, I know."
Spike nodded. He knew that his grand sire had thoughts on her. Had caught him watching her a few times himself, but he'd been caught as often as well. Neither would say anything, but they knew that when it came time to make a choice, it was already made. After all, they'd both lived longer then they should have, so saving the others was the priority.
AA
Cordelia kept a hold of Wesley's arm as they snuck through halls trying to find a way out. They ducked a few times and luckily no one had noticed them missing. Most likely because they put the guards into the room and closed it, so until they woke up and started yelling, no one would. Hopefully. The hallways changed, from some sort of sterile steel to something that spoke of being underground.
"Okay what is it with bad guys and lairs?"
Wesley frowned and lowered his own voice to match hers.
"I do not believe the Council is considered, 'bad guys'."
Cordelia rolled her eyes.
"Kidnapping people, hiring vampire assassins, hello? Not good guys!"
"Right, I'd have to agree with you on that. Do you hear, applause?"
He asked a bit confused. She tilted her head and furrowed her brow as she listened. With a gasp and a grin she grabbed his arm and turned.
"Yes I do! And applause means people!"
They took off down a hall and there was a door with a small window just above her head in it. Rather than waiting to see what was through the window she shoved the door open and looked in, glanced back to Wes and slipped through. He followed, with a silent prayer that this wasn't going to be as bad an idea as he thought it would.
What he saw was what appeared to be a cocktail party. He looked to the side and saw Cordelia's face. It pulled a smile from his lips, the look was that she was obviously under dressed. He reached for her hand and lowered his head towards her.
"We are trying to escape remember?"
She shot him a look then sighed and nodded. She couldn't even remember the last cocktail party she actually went to. They tried to stay at the outskirts but they caught plenty of conversation and hearing about a vampire with a soul and a slayer being put to the highest fight level had them both jerking to a stop. They would have tried to find out more but they noticed guards. Wesley grabbed her arm and tried to get them out of there. Cordelia dragged her feet.
"They have them! What are they talking about, fight levels?"
He shook his head and kept them moving, finally finding the entrance.
"Fighting pits. I thought they were all abolished. We can't rescue them right now. There's too many guards. We'll have to find another way."
She looked like she was going to argue but then saw the guards and her eyes went wide when they spotted her. She nodded and let him lead her out. They hit the street, noticed where they were and ran.
"Caritas!"
Wesley wasn't sure why she'd wanted to go there but now wasn't the time to argue.
AA
It was a private box. Set aside so that the Council members could watch the fighting without being seen by those fighting. Marcus was the oldest, and as such he felt he was the one in charge. The other three were weak, to his mind. Empathizing with the slayer, doubting the Council's ways.
"I am unsure what we are supposed to learn from this."
Marcus frowned and turned to stare at them.
"They say he's a champion for the powers, that she is 'reformed'. If so then this should be no problem for them."
"Wouldn't their cases from the last three months show their work in a truer light then forcing them to fight to the death?"
"They are demons and vampires! There should be no qualms for them to kill them! It is their job!"
The other three exchanged looks, one looked down. He was the only weak willed one really, he'd rather wait and see how things turned out then have his own opinion. Marcus huffed out a breath.
"If they can survive, if they can prove their ability to destroy evil when they come across it, we may yet have a use for them. Working with a vampire is not a good sign, however."
Robertson, younger but already hungry for change, for making the Council bend to his ideas and lead simply smiled and saluted him with his drink.
"Then it will be an interesting night, won't it?"