Chapter 9 The Valkyrie
Angel woke up; it was too early what was the point of school he thought. He put on a shirt and headed downstairs. He walked into the kitchen to find Isabella, Evan and Levy at the dining table.
"Where's our cups dad?" The seven year old Isabella asked. Usually Cordelia was awake doing all this. Angel rubbed his eyes and grabbed three cups and filled each with milk. He set them before the kids and thought well while he was up just to get their breakfasts together. He took out some bowls and three different kinds of cereals and grabbed a loaf of bread.
"Oh good you've started." Cordelia said coming into the kitchen and then helped out. "Late, we are late." She said while grabbing the jelly. Angel put the pieces of toast in the toaster and began. "You know one day Angel we'll find a six slice toaster and then this will be a breeze." Angel smiled and poured the three different cereals into three different bowls. Isabella liked Rice Chex, Evan Froot Loops and Levy liked Frosted Flakes. He carried the bowls over to the kids and they began to eat.
"May I have a banana daddy?" Isabella asked and Angel went to get her one, she loved bananas but he could never remember if Buffy liked them or not or did he when he was human eat bananas, who knows. He handed her one and Cordelia passed around the toast. Willow came in yawning followed in by Xander. Angel realized it was always this group up early, the originals Willow, Xander, Cordelia and himself. These were the ones that started the problems back in Sunnydale. This was his first family and that family grew and it had kids. These kids would be the new generation soon.
"You be good and have a good day." Angel said to Isabella as he gave her a hug.
"I will dad." She said and he kissed her as she skipped her way to Willow who was driving them to school today. He hated school, Isabella was gone all day and the hotel was so boring so quiet. He at one point loved the quietness but now he couldn't stand it. He missed Isabella when she went to school, eight hours for five days a week she was gone. The hotel was too quiet too dull and too boring without her running around and being her crazy self. He had to entertain himself for eight hours and training took up only two, going back to bed took up two so he still four more to kill. Why did she have to go to school why couldn't she just stay home all day? He was like that with Buffy when they dated back when she was in high school. He spent the whole day waiting for night to happen just so they can go out on patrol.
Angel sat his desk reading a book about a monster they were looking for. Isabella was walking slowly and saw the office door was open just enough for her to get in unnoticed. She slipped in and crawled on the floor as quiet as possible. She saw her father's back and slowly walked to him. She got closer and closer inching up to Angel. She wanted to scare him. Just as she was about to scream Angel looked up.
"Don't even think about it." Angel said and Isabella stopped her stalking and walked up to her father's side. He already picked up her heart beat when she was outside the office, she could never sneak up on him. She was for her age though rather stealthily but she had a lot to learn about sneaking around and up on people.
"How did you know?" She asked as she climbed up to sit on his lap and see what he was reading.
"I'm your father I know everything." He said flipping the page. "Your homework done?" He asked.
"I thought you knew everything." She said. Oh she was a handful, she was Buffy. He kissed her head and closed the book and set her down as he got up. He went to look at her homework to make sure everything was correct before she could terrorize Evan and any other poor soul at the hotel.
Angel pulled the covers over Isabella as she settled into her bed. He took a seat next to her, he had just read her a chapter of a story and now it was time for her to sleep. He stroked her forehead and he had a small smile. Her green eyes looked up to him and she smiled back. Angel couldn't remember life before Isabella and know he can't imagine life without her. He could remember when she was just a few hours old, holding her and he never thought he could love someone so much that he had just met. He loved Buffy with whatever he had but the love for his daughter was different. She was made from him, Buffy created her out of him for him, Isabella had his blood running through her, she was him. He would die if he lost her, he would burn this world, rip it a part if she died. Isabella was his only link now to humanity, she was his soul and if she was gone then there was nothing to atone for, nothing worth living for. Isabella reached and pointed her finger on Angel's chest and he looked down and she flicked his nose. He laughed a little and grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"Sneak," He said. "Get some sleep." He then leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Love you."
"Love you to daddy." She replied and he switched of off her lamp and left, shutting the door. Isabella laid awake for a moment and then closed her eyes. Angel headed downstairs where Gunn, Wes, Spike and Xander were getting weapons the day at the office began. Cordelia handed Angel a slip of paper with an address to where they were going. The guys headed out there was a rumor was out of a vampire nest and Cordelia had a vision at a club, a familiar club where they could find some information.
"We'll keep the fires going." Lorne said as they left. Willow and Tara went back to the books. They pulled up to the club and headed inside. As always the women saw Angelus and William the Bloody and began to make cat calls.
"Still got it." Spike said looking at Angel, Angel could help but smile just a little he was two hundred and fifty two years old and he still had it he was still looking good.
The group got some information but it was vague as they headed to the outer parts of the city. Out here was just abandon buildings. Then a woman came up out of the shadows.
"Kate," Angel said and she walked up.
"Well I did a quick look around but nothing." She said and Angel nodded.
"The nest will be under, somewhere out of sight." Angel said looking around as the wind picked up speed, he could smell it, it was going to rain.
"We can take a quick look but these places are breeding places for vampires." Spike stated and they all headed to one building.
"Let's make it quick." Angel said. "It's going to rain."
"No it's not." Kate protested looking up to the sky.
Angel's car pulled up to the hotel as it was pouring outside. The group ran inside trying to stay as dry as possible. They came into the hotel and didn't find the nest well not yet at least.
Angel and Isabella stood in an elevator waiting for it to reach the top floor. Once they were there they walked up to the roof access and walked up on the roof. Angel then picked her as he walked over to the ledge of the building. She could see the city lit up at night. The wind was much faster up here but she seemed to like it.
"So you watch this entire place?" She asked Angel and he nodded.
"A lot of people need help."
"Mom use to do the same?" She asked.
"Yes a smaller town but yes she protected people too." Angel replied.
"Will I be a slayer someday?" Isabella asked. Angel knew she would be she already had incredible strength for a girl her age and size.
"One day." He said and they both looked out to the city the City of Angels. "Ready?" He asked and she nodded with a smile. Isabella held on and Angel ran and jumped to the next building as Isabella squealed with laughter.
"Again, again!" She pleaded and Angel smiled, she wasn't afraid of heights. He jumped to another building and landed. She placed both hands on his face and smiled. "I want to be like you someday dad." She stated and he smiled and kissed her.
Isabella snuck into the training room as her father was in the middle of a training session with Giles. She loved to watch him train; she was in awe by him. Giles held some knives and threw them at Angel and he blocked them each perfectly. Isabella sat in the corner completely drawn in. Angel had noticed over the last four to five years his fighting style had changed it became more like Buffy's a mix so to speak. Giles had noticed it too which as always caused a huge research session when his style changed after his encounter with Holtz at first he thought it's because of Holtz but what made Giles think was he moved were that of Buffy, her style. Angel had a totally different style, very animal driven.
"You sure about that Angel?" Giles asked. Angel had described what he saw before he killed Holtz, he saw Buffy and she stopped Holtz from delivering the final blow. Giles understood her coming into his dreams, speaking to him, holding him. But take physical manifestation, to block a sword's blow now that was interesting. Angel nodded and it was time to do some research.
Wes and Giles poured into the books four months and finally they found the description or at least what Angel had described. A huge meeting was held after the children went to bed.
"Does anyone know what a Valkyrie is?" Giles asked as he wrote the word on a white board. Everyone shook their heads no. "The word comes from the name in Old Norse, Valkyrja and it means "chooser of the slain."Giles said and everyone nodded. "From Angel has told us I believe Buffy maybe have become a Valkyrie." Everyone was quiet. "The way to become a Valkyrie is for a woman usually of higher warrior stature or of some great importance to sacrifice herself in battle. Buffy did that." Giles said while pacing. "She gave up her life to give birth to her daughter; she gave her life in battle." Giles paused and everyone understood what battle they were in. It was a war with evil.
"Buffy fits the description perfectly, blonde hair, fair skin." Wes added. Angel sat there thinking, Buffy was something even more powerful than a slayer right now?
"So what does a Valkyrie do?" Fred asked.
"They are seen as demigoddesses of death. Valkyries carry out the will of Odin in determining the victors of the battle and the course of the war." Giles said which meant they were more or less warrior angels and they could determine the outcome in their favor which explained why Angel won against Holtz and which is why he may win against Wolfram and Hart. "It says if one sees a Valkyrie in battle especially one that attacks them or protecting the one they are fighting it means they will die in that battle which explains Holtz's death. Valkyries also have duties in the great hall which depending on what text you read translates roughly into heaven. There, having exchanged their armor as a mortal for pure white robes, they will serve the warriors they have chosen which explains why she appears to you Angel, you're a worrier." Everyone looked to Angel as he sat there. "You're here warrior she has chosen to aid in battle." Buffy did say she would always be with him. "A woman who becomes a Valkyrie will remain immortal and invulnerable." Giles finished.
"Also if she remains loyal and serves because she is a demigoddess she has a chance to become a goddess herself." Wes added. Angel thought about that too, Buffy could be a goddess someday.
"Wow," Cordelia began in some awe and Willow smiled.
"Angel married a demigoddess, how does that make you feel champ?" Willow asked and small smile tugged at the corners of Angel's mouth. Buffy was always amazing he thought but this, this just made her so perfect and yet he still didn't believe he deserved her especially as a Valkyrie or a demigoddess he didn't even deserve her if she was just a normal girl. But that made him proud and that was Isabella's mother which meant Isabella could have limitless powers.
Angel dodged another knife and rolled to the ground. But what caused the change in him was he had a dream about Buffy one night after Holtz's death when he came back from Ireland. It wasn't his normal dreams with her usually those consist of heated kissing, shedding of clothing and other things that he wouldn't mention. But this dream this was one important and he knew it.
"You're strong Angel but I'm going to make you stronger." Buffy said to him as he held her close. He smiled at his slayer his Valkyrie. She chose to die in battle to sacrifice herself for her daughter and her lover. She chosen him as the warrior to watch over. He liked that, his lover was a demigoddess and could be a goddess one day but he worshiped her as a goddess in every way before he found out about what she had become, he would bow before her in every dream before holding her. Only in dreams were they together but it was more than he could ask for.
"What do you mean?" He asked her as she held him and she smiled and her green eyes glittered.
"You will be the strongest vampire; no one will out match you." She placed both hands on his chest and pushed him away and stood before him. Buffy smiled at her vampire and held up her hand and a butterfly formed out of light. "In this is my strength, my speed, me. It shall mix with you." She then blew at the butterfly and it flew to him and touched him causing him to light up briefly. She stood there smiling at him. He felt a rush a surge of energy as she walked back to him and embraced him. She nuzzled into his neck purring and their lips found one another's in a heated passionate kiss. While he wondered what she had done he couldn't help but rid her of her white robes.
Ever since then he was faster, stronger. Before his enemies would flee before him but now as his legend grows and vampires tremble before him, run and hide. He was the bogyman now, the true creature of the night. Isabella was proud of her father, at night when they thought she was asleep the adults would talk about how Angel was progressing and she would smile. Angel did a few back flips dodging Giles as he threw knives. Giles was always impressed by Angel. He had encompassed a great deal of power from both age and Buffy. Buffy before she died had saw to it that if she was going to leave him behind to fight then she would gift him with what he needed to protect Isabella and the world, she would make sure he shined like the true champion he was. Isabella smiled; she wanted to be like him someday, strong and fast like her father. She wanted to fight side by side with him. Giles held the punching bag as Angel went at it.
Isabella walked around the mansion, her father was still training and she found Spike.
"Hey Spike," She said as she skipped to him. Angel's spawn was coming up to him although she wasn't unpleasant like her mother or Angel but she was still their spawn.
"What nibblet?" Spike asked.
"Guess what." She said as she scaled the up the kitchen counter top and walked on it as Spike reached for some blood.
"I hate guessing games." Spike said and turned around facing the little girl.
"Dad showed me all of L.A and one day I'll be the slayer and protect it." She said proudly.
"Oh goodie well forgive me for not leaping for joy but got a kink in my back."
"What happen you get into a fight?" She asked and Spike nodded. "You win?" And he nodded. "Hey Spike what's going to happen when I become the slayer?" She asked.
"I'll be a monkey's uncle." Spike replied and she laughed.
"You don't look like a monkey." She said and sat down on the counter top.
"Well thank you, so pops showed you the city." Isabella nodded with a smile. "Hope not the outer parts."
"No," She said with a slightly sad face. "He says those are out of bounds."
"And you'll do well to remember it." Spike said.
"Why what's out there?" She asked.
"Nasty evil things pet."
"It can't be that bad," The little girl stated. "Are there vampires out there?" She asked but Spike didn't answer which meant yes. "Cool, I want to chase and hunt vampires."
"Well one day you will, you're just too little at the moment." Spike said, Isabella frown, no she was not too little.
"Why not now?" She asked she knew she could fight.
"Why not now what?" Angel asked coming into the kitchen and Isabella smiled.
"Girl talk I mean you know what I mean." Spike said drinking more blood. Spike then begun to ramble about something while Isabella stood up on the counter top and begun to sneak towards Spike.
"What are you doing Inion?" Angel asked before he grabbed a glass.
"Being stealthily," She replied and Angel smiled and walked over to her, wrapped his arms around her, placed a kiss on her head and looked to Spike as he kept going on about some gripe.
"Let an old pro show you how it's done." Angel said with an evil smile and she smiled back, she loved it when her dad taught her a lesson. He took Isabella off the counter top and then looked to Spike while Isabella dangled in the air and she kicked her feet wildly with a smile. "Hey Spike?" He asked as the vampire kept going on. "You mind turning your back to us?" Angel asked and Spike did and Angel placed Isabella on the ground. It seemed like he was going about Kate and how he was trying to make the moves but the blonde wasn't going for it, why did blondes hate him.
"It's your fault you know she likes the overhanging foreheaded men that brood day in and day out and act all mysterious and work up a load of sexual tension." Spike kept going.
"You need to be as quiet as possible," Angel explained to Isabella as they were both crouched down on the floor.
"Quiet as possible, got it what's next." Isabella waited for further instructions.
"Wait what's going on?" Spike asked realizing he just listen to Angel, he never listens to Angel.
"Stalking lesson." Angel replied and Spike nodded.
"Oh stalking…stalking hey wait." Spike turned around looking at the two but Angel gave him the look to turn his back. "You got to be joking; this is so humiliating and stupid." He said while crossing his arms
"Try not to make a sound," Angel whispered to his daughter.
"What are you telling her you big poof?" Spike asked but he got no responses. "Peaches? Nibblet?" Spike asked. Then out of nowhere Isabella jumped out at got Spike by the ankles, she was strong enough that Spike went down landing face first on the ground, he caught himself before his face actually smashed to the floor. "Bugger," Spike said as he could hear Angel laughing at his expense. Isabella skipped back to her father.
"That was very good." He said Angel was impressed with Isabella's skills at such a young age. Spike got up and was ready to a brawl with his Sire even though he wouldn't win. But then Xander came running in.
"Angel we've got trouble." Xander stated and Angel jumped into action but he noticed Isabella was following him. "No Izzy you stay here."
"But dad," Isabella was always interested in her father's work.
"Spike put her to bed if need be." Angel ordered and he was off. "Love you." Angel was then off, Isabella scoffed and was annoyed. She thought she was old enough to go out places.
"I never get to go anywhere." She whined.
"Oh nibblet don't worry one day you'll be the half vampire half slayer you and then you can chase those stupid oversize dogs from dawn until dusk well dusk till dawn." Spike explained and she smiled at him. Angel ran outside to see Kate as she came out of her car. She had feelings growing for Angel but she had to push it aside for now. Although she knew Angel would never go for her she was still in love with Buffy and always would be but still the chance to work with him was enough. Angel put on his coat and she was always a little captivated by how it whipped behind him.
"What is it Kate?" Angel asked.
"Vampires." She said and Angel saw Wes walking out of the hotel and took the keys to his bike from his hand.
"Hey," Wes protested.
"It'll be faster than the car." Angel said and Kate walked with him to the bike.
"You think this is the nest we're looking for?" She asked, it could be or just a whole new set of vampires. "They're hoards of them Angel what are you going to do?" She asked as Angel got on the bike.
"Kill them all." He said like it was no big deal.
"Whoa, whoa a hoard man that's not good you might want Spike in on this too." Gunn suggested and Xander was on it.
"Look grab some weapons and follow in the car." Angel ordered.
"They're off the overpass at least most of them but Angel some are attacking on the overpass." Kate said and Angel nodded.
"We're going on the freeway?" Spike asked walking outside entering in the last half of the conversion and Angel shrugged. "Finally fast and furious the way I like it. Maybe we'll get a descent brawl tonight."
"Angel man you stay off the freeways remember." Gunn said and Wes nodded. Angel turned the motorcycle on. "Freeways are suicide you know this."
"Well hope that's wrong for tonight." Angel said while shifting the bike into gear and was off. They all watched him drive off into the night.
"Well why we standing here let's kill us some vampires." Gunn said and they headed to Angel's car.
"To the Angel Mobil away." Spike said and Kate got into her car and they sped off into the night as well.
Angel got onto the freeway even at night there were cars everywhere, but it wasn't going to slow him down just meant he could weave something that was rather fun. It felt good to drive fast but Wes didn't have a motorcycle that actually perform this was just a motorcycle. Angel was looking into buying a motorcycle for around town at night, not that he didn't love his car. He could see the overpass and just before it he could see the damage they were causing. Angel sped up and weaved through the cars. The vampires were dumping stuff onto the road causing major accidents or at least potential accidents. Angel got into the emergence lane and sped up faster as much as he liked to weave but he couldn't deal with people drivers, too slow and they never signal if they were going to change lanes. A vampire caught him in his line of vision. Angel skid the bike to the ground, stood on the side and jumped into the air and grabbed the side of the bridge. He pulled himself up and the vampires begun to panic.
"It's Angelus!" One yelled and he went to fighting them a few stayed to fight while others fled warning the others that were off the freeway that Angel beast was here. His crew then saw him already engaged in battle.
"Where's my bike?" Wes asked with some panic in his voice.
Angel opened Isabella's door and found her sleeping peacefully. He walked in and leaned over her.
"Sleeping my sweet?" He asked and there was no response and he smiled. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Night my dear." He then left and headed back downstairs to get his wounds attended to.
So Buffy is a demigoddess right pretty cool huh, oh it's all making sense from The Gift right? If you've read The Gift if not I won't spoil anything. The little moment between Spike, Isabella and Angel anyone catch it where's it from? If you guess right I'll…I don't know but yeah it's from one of my favorite movies that I didn't get to see in 3D because it was always sold out. Anyways keep in mind about the whole "I want to be like you dad," that comes up in the next chapter. So Angel is now like the most powerful vampire which is pretty cool and also sexy. Will there be a Kate/Angel pairing…no it's just how can Kate not be attracted to him. What about Spike and Kate err um I'm not sure yet probably not unless you as the readers want to see it but as warning Spike will have his heartbroken if it happens not because of a break up but because you know what let me know and I'll see if it has a place so give me a yes or no if it's something you might want to see. Anyways more to come, comments and reviews are welcomed. Thanks for reading.