Hellmouth's Twilight

Chapter 9 – Fume and Fury (Part I)

TRIGGER WARNING! VERY DARK TIMES AHEAD!

Angel pov

"How much did you give her?!"

"I gave her one 1mL as you said to."

"Give her another dose. Whatever he's doing to her gives her unpredictable strength."

"Edward! Carlisle isn't here to-"

"You weren't there, Alice! Bella… She isn't herself! She stabbed me like it was nothing! It must be something he's done or doing. How else would you explain Bella's change in personality and a human having that sort of ability?"

Angel opened his eyes as he picked up the voices around him. His wrists were cuffed from iron chains that hung from the ceiling, and they were in the Hawley mausoleum.

Angel narrowed his eyes when he saw Edward, Alice, and what he assumed to be Esme from what Bella described after telling him about the little visit she received in the hospital. They hovered over someone lying on one of the mausoleum tables, generally used for displaying bodies.

"I want to be alone for this next part," Edward said.

Angel hadn't a clue what was going on. The last thing he remembered was he and Bella passing out in the alleyway after his literal brush with death, aka the curse, aka that son of a bitch Angelus. This had Angel looking around the mausoleum, wondering if that was Bella they were perched over. He wanted to holler out and threaten their very existence if they touched a single hair on her head. Angel could tell they had injected him with something, as he was a little groggy still. But it was nowhere near as potent as what they gave Bella. Angel decided it might be best to fake them out instead by pretending to be out of it still.

"You can come back in three days once the transition has taken effect," Edward said, then regarded Bella in thought.

Transition? What kind of transition takes three days?!

"Make it four. We're going to need that day to ourselves."

Angel knew damn well what Edward was referring to.

Over my undead dead body!

"And what about him?" Alice said with a scowl in Angel's direction.

Angel was quick to lower his eyes. He could feel their piercing gazes as he did.

"I haven't decided his fate yet. I'll have to think on that one."

"I don't understand why you didn't let me kill him! After everything he's done to Bella!"

"You would've made his death too quick. He needs to suffer, Alice. And I made it perfectly clear that you and Esme were to let me handle the demon." Edward hissed.

"I just need you two to keep guard and be on the lookout for Victoria. She's out there somewhere." Edward said, then paused.

"What is it, Esme?" The way he said this had Angel opening his eyes.

"Are you sure we're doing the right thing?"

"Esme, I told you Bella isn't herself. She needs our help. The demon… He's been in her head and was there long before I came into the picture. I should've done something sooner. But I didn't realize how serious it was until it was too late. But I'm going to fix this, I promise. Bella will be part of our family again." Edward vowed, then sighed.

"All this time, I was worried about damning her. Bella was begging me to turn her. Now, I know why… It was a cry for help, and I ignored it! I let that…." Edward paused, then gritted his teeth.

"I let that monster take her over, and now he's seduced her into thinking she's in love with him! Had I done what Bella asked of me, I could've saved her!"

Good God. How can anyone stand to listen to this guy's drivel?! To think, Bella was with this loser for two fucking years. Talk about torture!

"You still can, Edward. There is time." Esme encouraged.

Didn't you just literally try to kill her not even a couple of days ago? Are those two even aware of that?

"She's right. I know I haven't been able to see past the demon since he's come into physical contact. But I saw Bella in our future. She will be one of us!"

So Edward can't read my thoughts, and Alice can't read the future where I am concerned. Interesting.

"If only Carlisle and the others saw it that way."

"Jasper will come around. You'll see!" Alice said with a beam.

"And Emmett?"

"That depends on Rose," Esme uttered, and Edward let out a miserable laugh.

"And we already know how she feels about Bella."

"Just give it time, Edward. The others will see once Bella's one of us. Our family will be whole again." Alice encouraged.

Edward nodded, then opened the mausoleum door for them.

"I'll see you two in four days." Edward sternly reminded.

Angel watched as the women exited the mausoleum, and Edward shut the door behind them. Angel closed his eyes as a precaution. He could hear Edward making his way back to Bella.

"It's okay, love. It'll all be over soon, and we can get back to our lives."

"Please don't cry."

Bella… Angel thought with that heart-sinking feeling. He wanted to call to her. To reassure her somehow, but felt that would be too risky.

"I know you don't understand. I drugged you because I wanted to make this painless as possible. You are completely paralyzed…."

PARALYZED?! WHY THE FUCK WOULD HE DO THAT?! WHAT IF SHE ENDS UP PERMANENTLY… Angel couldn't bear to finish that horrific thought.

"And will be until the transition has been completed. You won't be able to move or talk during this." Edward explained, and Angel opened his eyes once again.

Transition? What the hell are you talking about, you fucking lunatic?!

Edward used his thumb to wipe Bella's tears away.

"It was the only way, Bella. I need you to know that. I love you and will do anything to get you out of this immoral situation and have you back by my side where you belong." He said before kissing her.

It took all will for Angel not to react. He needed Edward to think he was completely out of it.

"I hope you're ready to live your eternity with me. I just hope the sire bond fully takes. Something tells me you will get a little out of hand without it. You need control and discipline in your life. That much is obvious, granted your most recent decisions. Hanging out with the wolves against my wishes was one thing. I can't believe you befriended a demon, Bella! Can't you see how much you need me? These are the kind of decisions you make without me! You're acting like a child! That will come to an end once we're married."

Transition… Eternity… Sire Bond… Marriage?! He's talking like he's going to fucking turn her! Angel thought in alarm.

"I will walk you through everything I'm about to do. That way, you're fully prepared. I will start by removing what I'm assuming is the demon's shirt. This will leave you without any clothes on. But you will not feel the cold due to the paralyzing effects of the drugs we gave you." Edward said before tearing the shirt off her body.

This had Angel glancing toward the ceiling where the chains to his cuffs hang from. He might not be able to break through the cuffs, but he should be able to pull the chains down from the ceiling with enough force.

"Bella…" Edward muttered like he was out of breath.

"All those times you thought I didn't want you… You have no idea. The thoughts I had… But you were human, so I couldn't act on them. Not without hurting you or worse. Bella, it's like I told you, I thought about killing you constantly. More so after finally having a taste. If Carlisle hadn't been there, I wouldn't have been able to stop. Turning you will put an end to that fear.

If you didn't have enough control then, what makes you think you have control enough to turn her now? You really are delusional.

Angel gritted his teeth when he glanced over and saw Edward running his fingers along one of Bella's breasts. He couldn't even begin to imagine what was going through Bella's mind as she was obviously aware of everything happening. Angel wondered if Bella even knew he was there.

"I know we talked about your soul and how I wouldn't damn you to that. But considering the mess you've gotten yourself into, it could be no worse than what you're facing now. Can't you see how much strength it took? I could've acted those fantasies out a long time ago. Easily. The way you threw yourself at me…." Edward said with a look of disgust.

"You're better than that, Bella! I could've had you, anyway, I wanted!" Edward lustfully growled as he took his shirt off.

That certainly explains her hesitance when it comes to me. Bella was never free to be herself around this guy!

"Do you know how many times I pictured myself feeding from you while we made love?" Edward said, then let out a miserable laugh.

"Let me reword that… Feeding while fucking you. That's what you want to hear, right? You want me to talk to you like that… Like that demon does! That's right, I pretended not to hear what all was said during those dreams of yours, but you were extremely vocal and made it perfectly clear how you wanted it!" Edward said while positioning himself over her. "So, I'm going to give you what you want while I spread my venom."

Yeah, word it however you want. It's still rape!

Angel gripped those chains in preparation. He gave one little test but was careful not to make any sound as he did this.

"YOU SMELL LIKE HIM!" Edward possessively growled as he buried his nose into the crevice of her neck.

Edward made his way down and then cruelly spread her legs apart. This snapped Angel right out of that grogginess.

"BELLA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Edward shouted after smelling her sex.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LET THAT-THAT…"

Angel lifted his arms, gripped the chains with his hands, then pulled them down with incredible force. This had Edward snapping a look in that direction. Part of the ceiling cracked and crumbled, but it wasn't enough to break Angel free of the restraints.

Edward chuckled as he observed Angel's struggle.

"Perfect timing." Edward darkly muttered before sitting up just enough to undo his pants.

"I want you to suffer the way you made me suffer. Night after night of hearing her call YOUR name! Now, you can watch as I release some much-needed frustration, and when I'm done, you can watch as I sire her to me. That'll be your last image before I let the sun turn you to ash. I will erase any memory Bella ever had of you, you soul-sucking demon!"

Angel cried out as he frantically yanked on those chains repeatedly, drawing blood as the iron cut into his wrists.

"WHO'S THE DEMON NOW, YOU RAPIST PIECE OF SHIT!" Angel bellowed so loudly he scratched the back of his throat.

Edward laughed.

"Bella's been wanting this for years. You have no idea the number of times she literally begged for it!"

"Again, you old charmer you! Fuck, you and Angelus would get along great, you bastard!"

Just as Edward was to do the unthinkable, someone entered the mausoleum and snatched Bella right out from under Edward. Everything happened so fast from there Angel couldn't even think. It wasn't long before the scent of blood filled the room.

Edward and Angel snapped their heads in that direction. A redheaded vampire had Bella braced against her as she eyed Edward in particular.

"It's about time." She said before using one of her nails to slit Bella's throat.

It wasn't enough to kill her, but enough to get a blood-starved vampire's attention. Edward's eyes turned pitch black as blood trickled down Bella's neck and breasts, and he was instantly aroused. All that self-control Bella had mentioned when it came to Edward was gone. But something told Angel it was never there, to begin with…

"Well, come on now. What are you waiting for? A dinner bell?" The redhead encouraged.

Victoria… Angel thought as he vamped out with a growl.

"It's what you always wanted, isn't it? One taste just wasn't enough… You need more." The cold one said before giving Bella's neck a little lick.

"Mhm, so good." Victoria purred.

Edward flew across the room, and Angel managed to break free just as Edward plunged his teeth into Bella's throat. Victoria had Bella braced against her while Edward was in a feeding frenzy.

The scene itself was like something straight out of hell. They were sharing her, and Edward was seconds away from full-on raping Bella as the redhead encouraged him by sensually touching Bella while they fed. Angel couldn't help but think this was karma from all the shit he did in the past. Angel was doomed to watch as the love of his life went through the same fate Liam and Angelus put other women through. This right here was ten times worse than any curse.

This was Victoria's demented plan all along. That's what Angel gathered when he forced the information out of Riley. Victoria wanted to spill Bella's blood and have her die at the hands of her "supposed mate". Only Edward wasn't her mate! He never was! No, Angel was her mate, and irony, have it…

"You know what's funny about all this?" Victoria said while leaning into Edward's ear.

Edward didn't respond. He was too busy draining "the love of his life".

"She isn't even your mate, you fool. She's his!" Victoria taunted with a smirk in Angel's direction.

Angel swore the redhead knew her fate the second she made that reveal. In fact, she welcomed it. She didn't even put up a fight when Angel closed in on them. Angel grabbed Bella first as he pulled her into the safety of his arms. Once he had her better positioned, Angel wrapped the chain link around Victoria's throat. He flung her against one of the mausoleum walls and then jerked her back down with enough strength that her head popped right off. Angel stared Edward down afterward.

Angel knew without a shadow of a doubt this was going to be one hell of a fight. He had two things going against him. First - Edward was in full-on bloodlust, meaning he would do ANYTHING to get back to Bella. Second - He had Slayer blood in him now. That alone made Edward more powerful.

On the other hand, Angel's mate was dying from blood loss and running the risk of being turned into a cold one and being sired to one if Angel didn't hurry and do something. That desperation brought out a side of Angel he wasn't even aware of.

Angel used his teeth to tear his wrist open. He put it to Bella's mouth afterward. He did this in hopes of not only keeping her alive but overriding any bond Edward might've created and giving Bella the strength she needed to make it through this.

"What the bloody hell is going on here?! You realize this is my home, right?! I didn't invite any of…." Spike paused once he caught wind of Angel feeding a very nude Bella.

"Come on, baby. Drink." Angel pleaded.

"Baby?" Spike muttered in disbelief.

Angel was quick to lay Bella down as Edward dived right for him. Angel didn't want her caught in the crossfire but feared she didn't get anywhere near the amount of blood she needed.

"SPIKE!" Angel warned when he saw him headed right for Bella as he was dealing with Edward.

"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!"

"I wouldn't dream of it," Spike sarcastically muttered as he approached the Slayer.

"You're in a bit of a pickle, aren't you, love? Naked and afraid. Only… you're…" Spike sighed as if disappointed.

"Dying…" He stated.

"Well, that's a pity. I was hoping to get to know you! Such a pretty little thing."

Angel tried his hardest to keep an eye on Spike but was a little busy keeping Edward away from Bella.

Spike crouched down as he cupped Bella's chin and got a better look at her neck. He curled his lip once he realized what was taking place.

"Not so sure how I feel about that. If you're going to be turned, you could at least become a real vampire and not some dried-up Nancy with a sparkling personality."

Spike lifted his head as he checked on the situation between Edward and Angel. Spike narrowed his eyes in observation. Something was unsettling in not only Angel's eyes but his mannerisms. Nothing about this fight read Angel.

"Angelus?" Spike whispered in wonder.

Spike sighed among himself as he lifted Bella off the ground, then flung her over his shoulder. He knew he was a dead vampire the second he made that decision. But Spike never did well with curiosity and wasn't one to turn down a golden opportunity like this. He'd deal with the consequences later.

Angel let out a grunt as he and Edward rolled about the mausoleum floor. Edward took a swing after pinning Angel against a pillar. They'd been back and forth with this for a solid three minutes, neither gaining the upper hand, no matter how hard they tried. Angel turned just in time for Edward's fist to go through the floor rather than Angel's face.

"Try harder," Angel snarled as he used his knees to fling the cold one off him. Angel hopped to his feet immediately after.

Edward let out this pitiful zombie-like growl as he sprang to his feet. Angel rolled his eyes.

"God, you really are pathetic." Angel taunted while egging the cold one on.

Edward charged for him yet again. Angel stepped out of the way, pivoted back around, and sent both fists flying into Edward's back. Edward dropped one knee, and Angel went in for another strike, only to have Edward sock him right in the balls.

"Talk about a cheap shot. You think that's going to stop me from giving Bella what she wants?!" Angel heatedly groaned. The pain was enough to make his eyes water. But he wasn't about to give Edward the satisfaction of knowing how badly that fucking hurt.

Edward wrapped his hand around Angel's throat, then slammed him against the wall.

"She was never yours to touch," Edward said before decking Angel in the face, not once or twice, but three times.

Angel saw double as he struggled to stay on his feet. He spit out a puddle of blood, and it landed on Edward's shoes.

"Take it easy, little boy. You're just mad that someone else was willing to do what you couldn't! Trust me when I say I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I will continue to enjoy it, time and time again! And you know what makes it even better? I don't have to paralyze her and rape her in order to do that, you sick, demented fuck!"

Edward's eyes went wild at this, and Angel chuckled when Edward took another swing but missed. Angel scooped the chain link up off the floor. Then used it to knock some sense into Edward.

"You know, you really do suck, Edward. You see, I know your secret now." Angel said as he took that chain against Edward's skull. Edward became disoriented as this left a decent-sized crack along the base of his skull and down the center of his forehead.

"Bella told me all about the gifts you cold ones have. Only, I don't think she realized that your ability to read minds also granted you the gift of being one hell of a manipulator. You used others' weaknesses and fears against them, and all in order to get your way. Hell, you even did it to your own coven!" Angel said with another wallop, only the chain struck Edward on the rear end this time. Angel did this with every intention of giving Edward the ass-beating he truly deserved. He'd half the mind to yank his pants down and give the boy a whole other ass crack. It was no more than Edward deserved after the humiliation he put Bella through. But Angel was far too gone and far too angry to stop what he was doing now.

"And you tried doing that with Bella, only you couldn't, not to your fullest potential anyhow. That pesky little safeguard got in your way." He said with another echoing - "THWACK".

"But that's the irony, isn't it? That safeguard's what drew you in to begin with. She had you curious. But rather than enjoying the peace and quiet for once, you decided to take things to a whole new level…." -Thwack.

"You wanted to see if you could control her like you did everyone else in your life." – THWACK.

"You didn't want a mate, Edward. You wanted a lab rat that you could puppeteer. Only Bella was too strong-minded to allow that. So, you resorted to things such as constant criticism and manipulation, and when that didn't work, you would belittle her every need. You would break through her safeguard just long enough to dazzle Bella into loving you again and forgetting everything you had done. And you did this all in the name of boosting your own ego." – THWACK.

"In other words, you needed to tear her down in order to build yourself up. And that right there is why you didn't deserve her, and you never will. Who's the soul-sucking demon again?" Angel said and was about to give that deathly blow when Alice entered the mausoleum.

"Don't do it. He isn't worth it!" Angel warned through gritted teeth.

Alice ignored that warning, however, and attacked Angel. Angel rolled his eyes. He was doing whatever he could not to kill her, for Bella's sake. But Alice wasn't making it easy. No, she was out for blood.

"KNOCK IT OFF!" Angel growled after getting socked in the face for the fourth time and having to fling her off him like an annoying tantrum-throwing toddler.

"I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I have to!" Angel said in one last warning.

Alice ignored the warning yet again. Only this time, she made the mistake of snatching Edward up off the floor. She started to take off, and Angel sighed. There was no way in hell he was letting Edward out of this mausoleum alive!

"I'm sorry, Bella. I tried, but she won't fucking listen," Angel whispered as he yanked the chain link back.

This had Alice and Edward flying back toward him. Angel bashed their heads together, then used the chain as a lasso to fling them into one of the mausoleum statues - rodeo style. He took advantage of their bewildered states and used one of Spike's lit wall torches to finish them off.

"That should do it!" Spike said after laying Bella down in one of the other mausoleums.

Spike frowned, however, as Bella was in the process of dying still.

"None of that now! After all, I did save you. The least you could do is keep that heart of yours ticking. If nothing else, long enough for me to figure out what you are." Spike murmured.

"Maybe for a little rendezvous even. You're giving me quite the appetite, love." He uttered while running a hand between her breasts.

Spike was quick to move his hand, however, when he saw a single tear drop run down her cheek.

"Bloody hell, love. You can't even speak, can you?"

Bella closed her eyes as if in response. Spike tilted his head at this.

"That's perfect! I've always wanted a woman that can keep her gob shut for once! Not so sure how I feel about you being a literal stiff in the sack, though. But we can…."

Bella's eyes fluttered wildly, and Spike reared back as he was lying beside her with his chin propped up on his knuckled fist.

"You think I'm going to rape you? Is that it?"

Bella blinked yet again, and Spike rolled his eyes in frustration.

"Blink once for yes. Twice for no." He said, and Bella blinked once.

"I won't lie. I thought about it more than a handful of times. But what's the fun in that? I rather enjoy a good challenge! I'll just chase you to the ends of this earth until you…." Spike paused yet again as he listened to her heart rate.

"That is incredibly rude! Would you quit trying to die?! We're having a conversation! I can't very well do that if you're dead, now can I?"

Something in her eyes had Spike taking his jacket off. He draped it over her nudity and then sighed.

"I was enjoying the view, you know. You're a perky little thing. I was engrossed in those succulent pink nipples. It's been a while since I've had someone of your stature." Spike bitterly complained as he reached into his leather pants and adjusted himself.

"Relax, I'm not going to do anything. I even covered you up. I'm just getting to know you, love." He said while reaching over and moving a strand of hair away from her face.

"That gaping wound of yours is making me awfully hungry," Spike muttered, taking a good whiff, then vamped out.

"I'm afraid even a small amount would do you in." He said while taking his finger and dipping it into the wound.

Spike licked his finger clean; then he let out a hunger-filled moan.

"What is that? There's something about your blood. Something awfully familiar." Spike murmured, then went on to nurse and licked the remaining blood off her neck.

"What do you say, darlin'? Tit-for-tat? I'll give a little if you give in return?" Spike said before biting his wrist, then bringing it toward her lips.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Spike heard in a deafening voice that made the entire room shake.

Before Spike even had the chance to glance in that direction, he was up against a wall with Angel's fist plunged into his chest.

"I WARNED YOU, DIDN'T I?" Angel said with every intention of ripping Spike's undead heart out.

"Angelus? Is that you?" Spike grunted.

"He looks and sounds like daddy, but he isn't daddy. He's a part of daddy – a very angry daddy."

This had both vampires freezing in their tracks.

"Dru?" Spike called out in shock.

Angel removed his hand as Drusilla lay right beside Bella. She, too, took a finger and used it to test a drop of Bella's blood, as the wound hadn't fully closed yet. Angel was extra cautious as he inched his way over.

"Mhm, sweet like strawberries. Mummy likes that, I do."

"Dru, she's not a snack!" Spike scolded.

Dru pouted, then let out a tormented scream. She backed away from Bella and then regarded the Slayer with fear in her eyes.

"What is it, Dru? What did you see?" Spike questioned.

Angel didn't take the time to find out what that was about. He didn't trust Dru, not even for a second. He grabbed Bella and then got the hell out of dodge.

"Come on…" Angel pleaded as they were back in his apartment. He was sitting in his office chair and cradled Bella as he held her in his lap. He was trying yet again to give Bella some of his blood. He knew she'd ingested some, but it was nowhere near enough to save her.

Judging by her incredibly slow heart rate, Bella wouldn't make it through the night.

"Bella, I know you can hear me. Please. Take my blood. You need it."

He tried yet again, but the blood oozed out of her mouth and dripped down her naked body.

"DAMMIT, BELLA!" He said before shooting to his feet with Bella in his arms.

Angel headed for the bed, then laid her down.

"LOOK AT ME!" He shouted, and Bella's eyes darted in that direction.

"DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!" He yelled, and Bella blinked her eyes once.

Angel narrowed his eyes, taking notice.

"You understand what I'm saying, right? Blink twice for no and once for yes."

Bella blinked once, and Angel let out a sigh of relief.

"You're dying. Do you understand that?" He asked, and Bella blinked once again.

"Do you know what happens if you die with Edward's venom in you?"

Bella blinked once again but with tears in her eyes.

"Is that what you want? To become one of them?" Angel asked but without an ounce of judgment.

If that's what Bella truly wanted, Angel wasn't about to dictate her life and tell her she couldn't make that choice for herself. That's not to say he didn't hate the idea, but he loved her, no matter her decision.

Bella blinked twice, and Angel nodded.

"Then I need you to take my blood. Don't worry about hurting me. It doesn't hurt, and you take as much as you need."

Angel watched as his wrist healed itself shut. He came to his feet, grabbed a wooden stake from his trunk then used it to slit his throat open the way Victoria had hers. Dark as it was, Angel wanted to get his point across. That point? He wasn't giving in. Bella would feed from him, even if that meant slicing and dicing himself in the process.

Angel hovered over her and then brought his neck over her mouth.

"Drink, and don't even think about stopping until you have your strength back!" He ordered.

Angel let the blood drip into her mouth. A solid two minutes went by before he felt a faint suckling sensation.

"That's right, baby. Take what you need." He murmured. He couldn't help but find himself somewhat aroused.

Angel hadn't experienced anything like this before. Knowing Bella was his true mate only added to that sensory overload.

Angel lifted his head long enough to look her in the eyes.

"I should've said it by now… I love you. I have loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you, and I love you more than I've ever loved anything or anyone in my entire existence, that includes my human years." He professed, then went back to feeding her.

A solid three hours had passed, and still, Bella hadn't moved or slept. She just lay there staring at the wall even when Angel got her dressed. Angel was growing more and more anxious as time progressed. He spent most of that time pacing the room and praying that Bella would come out of this soon.

"Are you in pain?" Angel asked for the fifth time, but she didn't respond this time.

"Bella?" He uttered.

Bella didn't so much as glance in his direction.

"Bella, can you hear me?" Angel asked with a trembling voice.

"Hey! Blink or something!" He shouted while giving her a little shake.

Still nothing.

Angel closed his eyes as he focused on her heart rate. It was out of rhythm and unbelievably slow. Angel shot to his feet in a panic.

"Bella, I'm getting help. Just hold on! Keep that heart of yours ticking!" He said before phoning Giles.

Angel opened the door, then stepped aside, allowing the two Watchers in. Angel quickly explained what happened with Edward and what took place from there. Bram checked on her vitals while Giles checked for dilated pupils.

"What's happening to her?" Angel questioned with tears in his eyes.

"I'm not sure." Giles honestly replied.

"This is new territory for me, I'm afraid. She's-She's-She's got two different breeds of vampire in her, on top of the fact that she's a Slayer. I honestly haven't a clue where to go from here or how to help her."

"Please just tell me what to do! Is there ANYTHING I can do to help her?"

"We could try an anti-possession spell. It's not quite along the lines of what's going on, I'm afraid, but it might help…." Bram suggested, and Giles regarded the other watcher in thought.

"It wouldn't hurt, I suppose."

"Whatever it takes, just please don't let her die!"

"Don't do that," Bram muttered with a curled lip.

"Do what?" Angel asked.

"Pretend to care. You're the reason she's in this mess to begin with! If you cared about her, you'd walk away and never look back!" Bram barked.

"Why don't you take your focus off me and worry about what really matters…." Angel said with a finger pointed in Bella's direction.

"She's dying, and instead of helping her, you'd rather sit there and pick a fight with me."

"He's-He's got a point," Giles muttered under his breath.

Giles dug into his bag. He grabbed one of his spell books and then tossed it in Bram's direction.

"See what you can find. I'll look in this one." Giles said as he flipped through the book.

Angel hated this. He had never felt so useless. He felt like he should be doing something. But all he could do was stand there while the two Watchers flanked his girl and looked for this anti-possession spell.

"Is there a book or something I flip through?" Angel asked, feeling somewhat foolish.

"We don't have anything with pictures," Bram taunted, and Giles couldn't help but chuckle.

"Really?" Angel hissed, and Giles shrugged.

"I'm a Watcher," Giles muttered before handing Angel a book as well.

"Anything yet?" Giles asked, looking somewhat perplexed.

"No, but what is it."

"I believe I left that particular book with that particular spell back at the office." He said, causing Bram to rear back in surprise.

"And I thought you were prepared and all-knowing."

"I'm-I'm-I'm a Watcher, Bram, not God."

"You two keep looking. I'll head to the office and see if it's there." Giles said before darting out of the apartment.

This had Bram and Angel eyeing one another off and on.

"Hold on!" Angel said as he found something in the book he was flipping through.

"What about a cleansing spell instead? What would that do?" Angel said while making his way over with the book.

Angel handed the book over, and Bram adjusted his glasses before looking it over.

"Visigoth pyre spell… Hmmm. Interesting. That might work, actually. It may rid of the venom anyhow. If nothing else, keep from spreading more than it already has."

Bram let out a reluctant sigh, however.

"What?"

"It requires a unified chant… Meaning we'll have to perform this together."

"And?" Angel muttered, not seeing what the big deal was.

"I was hoping to run a bloody stake through you, but I guess that'll have to wait for another day," Bram uttered with a mischievous smirk.

"Funny."

"Oh, I'm a riot!"

Bram whispered the chant over and over under his breath as he worked on getting it memorized. He handed the book back once he had it down.

"Get that down and make sure you say every word correctly, or you could unleash something else entirely! I don't care to have a Slayer that's been turned into a rat or something along those lines. Heaven forbid should you get hungry." Bram taunted as to the stories he'd heard about Angel.

Angel ignored him as he, too, memorized the spell.

"Please tell me she's fully clothed under there," Bram said.

Angel lifted his head as he was in the process of getting the chant down.

"She is," Angel said, and Bram lifted the covers.

"Your clothes, I take it." The Watcher hissed as Bella wore an oversized black sweater and gray sweatpants. Angel rolled his eyes.

"You didn't ask what clothes she was wearing. You asked if she was clothed, and she is! And why does any of this matter right now?! Considering the situation, what she's wearing should be the least of your concern!" Angel spat, then went back to getting the chant down.

"Hmmm. You ready? Or do you need me to take the time to sound everything out for you?" Bram impatiently questioned.

"You really are a fucking dick," Angel muttered as he put the open book down on the nightstand.

Bram took his jacket off, draped it over the chair at Angel's desk, and then stood opposite of Angel.

"How did you two meet anyhow?" Bram asked while he got his Slayer positioned.

"Does it really matter?" Angel asked while the Watcher signaled for him to take Bella's hand.

"Yes, actually. It does!"

Angel looked at Bella as he took her hand, then thought back to that day.

"She was fighting for her life. Like she is now… I thought I was saving her, but she was saving me. I was blind and couldn't see that at the time."

Bram picked up on the metaphor but didn't comment. The Watcher took Bella's free hand, then held his out for Angel's.

"I don't like this any more than you, and it's like you said. All that matters is bringing her back. We can see about killing one another later." Bram said after seeing Angel's hesitance.

Angel took the Watcher's hand, then waited for his cue.

"NYEKTA ZON. KIREN ARON. MASTEL WENS. DARA ZON, DARA ZON!" They chorused.

The entire room was cloaked with a bright light. Bram squeezed Angel's hand, letting him know they needed to keep the chant going. Bella started to hover off the bed a good four feet off the bed. Angel looked up in alarm, and Bram gave him a nod indicating this was perfectly normal.

"NYEKTA ZON. KIREN ARON. MASTEL WENS. DARA ZON, DARA ZON!" They repeated as Bella's head tilted back and her mouth flew open.

"LET HER GO!" Bram warned as the lights in Angel's apartment began to flicker.

"Is that normal?" Angel whispered as they could see Bella's veins rising as the venom pulsated in her veins.

Bella screamed out in agony, and the two men recoiled.

"Regrettably. I'm afraid the venom is causing a boiling-like sensation in her veins from the cleansing." Bram gravely explained.

"Jesus!"

"I can't believe I'm saying this… But try giving her your blood again. There's no need to make her suffer if she doesn't have to."

Angel nodded and was quick to bite down on his wrist. He reached over and then squeezed the contents of his wrist into Bella's mouth. Bram curled his lip, then looked away like he couldn't stand the sight.

The screaming stopped almost instantly.

"GRAB HER!" Bram warned.

Angel caught her and just in time as gravity from the spell gave. He brought her against his chest, then caressed her cheek.

"Angel…" She called, and both men let out simultaneous sighs of relief.

"Hey, baby," Angel greeted with a tearful smile.

"Don't ever leave me like that again." He said but lost all composure as he sat on the bed and hugged her.

Bram kept quiet but looked on as Angel rocked her against his chest and cried.

Giles had reentered the apartment with the proper book in hand. Bram unobtrusively shoed him out of the apartment. Bram grabbed Giles's bag, then stuffed the other books inside.

"Well, you are just full of surprises," Giles said as Bram exited the apartment.

"Yes, well, how bout a drink, on you, of course."

"Bella?" Angel called when she lifted her head off his chest and looked him in the eyes.

Bella leaned in, then licked a tear off his face. Angel closed his eyes as he could feel her breathing in his ear.

"I love you too," She whispered.

Angel kissed her, then ripped the sweater she was wearing open. He licked and sucked on her breasts as she rubbed herself against him. Angel thought back to Angelus's little comment, however, and a territorial growl escaped him.

Angel was well aware of everything that was said between the two and knew Bella's safeguard was the only thing keeping the son of a bitch at bay. How did he know that? Because he was happy, and that happiness is what instigated the curse and invited Angelus in - in the first place.

Angel laid Bella down and then yanked her sweatpants off. Bella gasped the moment his lips touched her sex. Angel imagined Angelus throwing one hell of a tantrum as Angel gave one teasing lick after another. As disturbing as it was, Angelus wasn't lying about wanting to pleasure Bella. Angelus wanted her in a bad way. Bella arched her back, then enticingly pulled at his hair. Angel took the hint and buried his tongue as far it would go, then licked in all the places Angelus had envisioned licking when he tried taking over. Angel couldn't help but feed that territorial need of his. If he couldn't physically beat the living shit out of the soulless bastard like he did Edward, he'd stick to him where it hurt most. And Angel did this by having the one thing Angelus could never have.

Bella screamed Angel's name, then came in his mouth. Bella froze immediately after and with this apologetic air about her. Angel licked his lips, letting her know he thoroughly enjoyed every drop. Angel threw his shirt off, whipped himself out, then flipped Bella onto all fours. There was an animalistic need Angel needed to fill, and he could sense that need in Bella as well.

Please remember to review, like, or comment on parts 1 and 2 of chapter 9, please. Thank you!