Chapter 15 I Promise
A/N: Haven't updated in a while I know. I'm writing another story plus school so yeah I'm a busy bee. So what's in this chapter? Well the last chapter Wolfram and Hart is back. Had to bring these guys back I know they're evil but it's awesome. Isabella is the new target it's kind of obvious that she would be I mean who wouldn't want a half vampire soon to be slayer?
A/N: Now with WR&H back how ugly is it going to get? I'm thinking mudslinging, name calling, brutality all that kind of ugly. These men are after Angel's only daughter, his last link to Buffy, and his last ties to humanity of course the fangs will come out. I'll put in light happy moments but it's time to take off the kid gloves and for Angel to really grow a set. Izzy is still a baby in a sense she needs his protection.
A/N: This chapter is going to blend reality and dream world so it's going to mess with you a little but it's all good.
A/N: One word Angelus. Angelus well we all have our guilty pleasures of Angelus. Yes we love Angel he's tormented, sweet, brooding, dark but then we have Angelus. Brutal, sexy in leather pants, mean, manipulative, sadistic I mean evil has never been so hot until Angelus. So keep that in mind, Angelus.
Isabella sat there looking at a crystal studying it as it dangled before her.
"Amathis." Isabella answered and Giles nodded. On the table were dozens of stones. Isabella wasn't the slayer not yet but she wanted to train like one. But this part of the training, the studying all that wasn't the fun part she liked the action and the fighting.
"Used for?" Giles asked.
"Breath mints?" She asked and Giles sighed, it was really like working with Buffy all over again.
"Charm bags, mini spells and to cleanse one's aura." Giles answered as Isabella fidgeted a little in her chair.
"So how would you know one's aura is dirty?" Isabella asked and Giles rolled his eyes and sighed. "Someone come by and write 'wash me'?" She asked.
"Izzy I'm aware that you don't like to study vibrations stones your mother didn't like it either." Giles began. "But you asked to be trained as a slayer and this is part of the slayer training so I would appreciate just a little interest in it." Giles finished and Isabella nodded.
"Sorry." She said to her sergeant grandfather. Isabella was now thirteen and more like her mother than ever. Giles reached for another stone a huge blue one.
"This one?" Giles asked.
The night was over as Isabella sat on her window sill looking out into the night. She felt her father walking into to her room as she gazed out.
"So how was crystal…reading?" Angel asked.
"Boring." She replied.
"You're the one who wants to be trained like a slayer."
"Yeah I know I'm more into the action and fighting." Angel smiled, Buffy was the same way. "When will I be the slayer?" She asked and Angel shrugged.
"Whenever they need you." He answered. "But in the mean time get to bed." Isabella climbed back into her room as Angel shut and looked the window. Isabella crawled into her bed as Angel sat down. They have been saying good night like this for years. Isabella could tell her father was on edge they shared a deep and unique bond. But this on edge feeling was different, she was afraid for him. She never felt so much fear and dread in him ever. So being the curious and loving daughter she was she sat up.
"What's wrong dad?" She asked and Angel diverted his look away. He knew she could sense it and it was stupid to think he could hide it from her. "I'll find out so it's just best to tell me."
"I'm just airing on the side of caution for now." He answered and she nodded.
"Is that why you won't let me go out after dark or without you?"
"Izzy Wolfram and Hart they are up to something ok and I won't risk your life not ever." She nodded knowing he was serious and she leaned forward and hugged him. After a brief moment they pulled away. "I know this scares you hell it scares me too but say it." What he meant was her promise to him if something ever happened to where he couldn't help her whether because he was trapped or worse Angelus was back. Isabella hated this little prayer, saying whatever it was.
"I promise to run, I promise to not look back," She stopped and looked at her father. "And if he ever comes back I promise not to fight, to not hide, I promise to run." Angel nodded and hugged her again kissing her head. He didn't like putting that pressure and fear onto her. But as soon as she could understand Angel talked to her about Angelus and who he was. Angel made her promise him if Angelus ever returned that she'd would run and never stop running. It was a promise she didn't like making, she didn't want to run from her father but Angelus was not her father. For Angel, Angelus was always in the back of his mind always. And now with Wolfram and Hart back there only purpose was to unleash Angelus. Angelus could take a part this world and all those in it and he'd do it with a song and a dance. They broke their embrace and Isabella laid back down and Angel kissed her forehead.
"Love you." He said.
"Love you to dad." She replied and he got up and left the room shutting off the light. Isabella curled up in her bed closing her eyes. Angel headed downstairs to the main lobby where Spike waited. The hotel was quiet as everyone had turned in for the night. But Angel had some prowling to do and Spike wanted in. The two vampires, the two most renowned and dangerous vampires headed off into the night.
"Isabella finds out we're doing this she's going to kill me." Angel stated and Spike nodded agreeing. Angel bent to Isabella's every wish and will she was the true master like her mother.
Meanwhile a woman dressed up in a suit sat at her desk on the computer. Then the screen went black and she looked around and saw a shadow in the corner. Angel came out of the shadow twirling the plug.
"How did you get in?" The woman asked and Angel smiled that smile an evil one that most would only see if he was Angelus.
"I have ways." Angel answered and dropped the plug. "Oh no wouldn't do that." He said in calm voice as Lilah reached for a button. "Just stopping by to drop off a threat, first you aren't the one I want I'll kill you if I have too but where's Lindsey?" Lilah smiled.
"Business trip." She answered and then with lightening fast speed Angel as at her desk and slammed his hands on her desk. Lilah tried to remain calm but Angel knew how to put the fear of god in puny mortals. Then Spiked walked in followed by Kate. Kate was in love with Angel she had been for years now. Being in love with Angel meant caring for his daughter. She adored Isabella and would do anything for that kid.
"Ok I'm not messing around I know what you guys are up to you want Angelus and Isabella is the one right?" Angel asked his face was inches from Lilah's. "Well guess what bitch you guys come near my baby I will kill you. No actually I'll torture you so much so you'll beg for death. They didn't even have chainsaws back in my day it'll be fun." Angel said with a low growl. "You want me then you come after me you leave her out of this."
"She's the key to your downfall." Lilah said.
"Oh poor choice of words." Spike commented as he lit up a cigarette. All Lilah felt was pain in her head. Angel had reached out with both hands slamming her forehead into her own desk. Lilah fell to the ground a little disorientated. "See what I mean pet." Lilah sat up and when she opened her eyes Angel was once again in front of her. Kate just stood there with her arms folded across her chest.
"Back off now and you all might live through this." Angel warned her and she laughed a little.
"You think I'm afraid of your threats?" She asked but then she felt Angel's choke hold around her neck. Angel stood up pulling her to her feet as she gasped for air.
"You should be you're not the one I want, I want Lindsey. I will take this place apart if you so much look at my daughter funny." Angel said as Lilah begun to turn blue. Spike just sat there smoking his cigarette and Kate stood there quietly. Angel then tossed Lilah away she landed on a glass table breaking it and glass went everywhere and she coughed trying to get air. Angel stood there for a moment. "The more you try you'll see your men strung up around town and pretty soon I won't wait for them to come to me I'll just kill them. Then I'll start killing your higher ups, then I'll kill you then Lindsey." Angel then walked away but before he left he turned around seeing Lilah still there on the floor huffing and puffing it was a mix of fear and catching her breath. "Oh by the way sorry about the mess." Angel then walked away.
Angel shut the light off to his bathroom and headed over to his bed and crawled in. He saw the picture of Buffy and kissed his finger tips and placed them on Buffy's picture. He reached for the lamp and shut it off and got comfortable ready to sleep. But his eyes shot opened as he heard a scream. Angel jumped out of bed running down the hall as the screaming continued. He burst into Isabella's room ready to kill anything that posed even the slightest threat to her. He looked around the room and she wasn't in her bed but he could hear her. He made it to her closet where he heard cries and sobs. He opened the door and she huddled up in there. Angel reached in and grabbed her as he sat on the floor. She sobbed in his arms and he held her.
"Daddy," She sobbed and he just held her. Very few things scared Isabella these days it had to be a dream of some type and this dream had to be from hell if she had to hide in her closet.
"I'm right here baby." He tried to hush her. Every once in a while he forgot she still young girl and there were still things in this world that could scare and hurt her. She was still truly a little girl in many ways. Isabella begun to quiet down a little knowing she was in the safety of her father's arms. Angel held on to her and stood up and cradled her in his arms as he left the room. Everyone on the floor peered out of their rooms looking to see what was happening but seeing Angel holding Isabella met he had it under control. Angel made it into his room closing the door and sat on his bed doing his best to hush his daughter.
Angel sat there watching Isabella as she remained asleep. He managed to get her to go to bed but he wanted to take a look at her room to make sure it was just a dream and nothing more. He leaned in and kissed her temple and got up walking down the dark hall. The sun would be up soon but he wasn't tired not anymore. Angel walked into her room looking around trying to sense if anything was amiss. It had to be a dream and a hell of a dream for her to scream like that and then to call him daddy. Isabella never called Angel daddy anymore it was always dad or hey you but daddy something was wrong.
Isabella's eyes opened as if she knew Angel was gone and her safety net was gone. Her dream was something truly out of hell. She saw death, pain, horror but most importantly she saw her father dying. Something was after her something big and nasty and it killed her father. Isabella sat up and rubbed her eyes, the light was on just enough to see parts of her father's room but there were still shadows. Shadows never scared her until now.
"Dad?" She asked softly but no response. The door was open so she tossed aside the cover and got up to find her father. She headed out into the hall which was dark. She looked around and headed to her room but it was empty. "Dad?" She asked and then heard something coming from down the hall so she followed it. She walked all the way to the end to the stairs and stood there looking down the dark flight of stairs. But then something shoved her and rolled down. Once she stopped she looked up seeing some huge thing. "Dad!" She screamed but nothing. Isabella got up and ran away as the thing stalked her. "Dad!" She screamed and ran to the weapons room. But thing about the weapons room was there was no way out once you got in. She ran across the hotel lobby and to the back. All she knew was she was alone and there was no one to help her. Isabella ran through the kitchen and found a knife just sitting there and she grabbed it and kept going. She made it to the fire exit and got in the stairwell. She climbed up the stairs as fast as she could. She went up a few more floors to the parts of the hotel where no one else went. She ran down the hall trying to open up any door but they were all locked. "Dad!" She screamed again and then came to a dead end. She was in tears now. But there was nothing coming down the hall it just dark. She had to calm herself otherwise nothing would get done. She slowly walked down the hall looking around when something behind her grabbed her.
Isabella woke up looking around. She wasn't in her room and she could sense the sun was rising soon. She slowly sat up and looked around, the blackout curtains the old classy pictures. She looked over to the other side of the bed and saw her father's back was against her. It was a dream it was all a dream. She sat up a little more to see the clock and it read five thirty in the morning. She then sat on the side of the bed and her feet barely reached the ground. She felt cold and lost and scared she was scared out of her mind.
Angel woke up saw it was six in the morning. The sun was probably on the horizon by now. He rolled over and saw the space was empty. But Isabella wasn't gone he could still sense her. Angel got out of bed looking around the room. He checked the bathroom but nothing. Maybe she was actually gone and went back to her own room so he'd go check on her. Angel began to leave when he heard something. Angel walked over to his bed and knelt down and lifted up the comforter and found Isabella balled up and asleep. Angel stood up and walked over to the other side of his bed and crawled under and next to her. She started to squirm a little moaning.
"Hey, shh shh it's just me." He said softly placing a kiss on her head and wrapped one arm around her. She settled and went back to what sleep she could. Angel closed his eyes to sneak in a little more sleep.
Angel waited impatiently for Isabella to come home from school. She was late going because Angel allowed her to sleep in after last night. Then Isabella came through the door and Angel felt relief as long as she remained in his sight everything was ok. But he couldn't be with her all the time but there was one person who could.
Kate sat at her desk going through some papers when a cop came up.
"Lockely you've got a visitor." The cop said and Kate got up and left the room and found Angel standing there in his usual black on black with his trench coat.
"Well what do I owe this pleasure?" She asked as he stood there with his arms crossed like a bodyguard. "I sense this is a business trip and you're not picking me up for a date." Then Isabella came out from behind him. "Hey Izzy."
"Hi Kate." Isabella said.
"Got something to ask you." Angel said. "Izzy hang out here for a second this is…tall talk." Isabella nodded as Angel took Kate aside for a moment.
"What's up?" She asked.
"Something's going on with Izzy like last night it must have been a dream but I've never heard her scream like that not since she was a baby." Angel explained and Kate nodded.
"You're thinking something with Wolfram?" Kate asked.
"Narrowed my list down to one suspect." Angel answered her looking back at Isabella as she stood there waiting. "Look I can't be around her twenty four seven." Kate smiled a little and nodded.
"It's ok Angel I'll look out for her." Kate assured him.
"Thanks I owe you." He said smiling and she smiled back.
"You two going to kiss or what?" Isabella asked and Angel nodded looking at her and Kate walked over to her.
"It's gonna be you and me baby Buffy." Kate said.
"Cool I say we go shopping first." Isabella suggested and Kate smiled.
One Week Later
Isabella was out on the streets at night with Angel as they patrolled.
"Well you know my opinion dad." Isabella said and Angel nodded. "Besides you seem to have a thing for blondes, mom your sire Darla."
"I like Kate she's a friend but," Angel started.
"Dad I know you still love mom but I just see something missing." Isabella stated.
"Izzy I'm fine really ok you don't need to play match maker with me if there's someone out there for me then I'll find her but right now you're my number one priority." Angel assured her and Isabella nodded. Angel threw his arm around her shoulder as the two walked through the cemetery.
"Vampires," Isabella pointed and Angel pulled out his stake along with Isabella. "Go right I go left?" Angel nodded and they snuck up on the small group of vampires. The fight wasn't hard as these vampires were probably fresh. Isabella stabbed the last one and smiled. "Easy." She looked around but her father wasn't insight. "Dad?" She asked looking around. "Uh this isn't funny." She looked around. "Dad?" She asked again but she felt someone or something was watching her. She then turned around and the huge figure was back. Isabella did what she knew was best and took off running through the graveyard as this massive thing chased her. She couldn't scream as she ran hoping to run into her father. Then as she did what she promised not to do she looked back and saw nothing but ran into something.
Isabella woke up looking around her room and took in a deep breath.
'Angel wake up,' A voice said and Angel did as it was told. Buffy was looking at him. 'Angel our daughter needs you something is coming for her.' Angel nodded.
Angel woke up and got up quickly to check up on Isabella. He opened her door and found her awake at her desk packing her backpack. Angel squinted at the light and Isabella looked up and ran to her window to shut the curtains.
"Morning." She said.
"You ok?" He asked and she nodded and he gave a small smile.
Later that night Angel went out patrolling while Isabella was at the hotel with Kate. Everyone else was out doing family things or just out. Isabella was showing Kate some fighting moves. These two laughed as Kate struggled a little.
Angel headed over to Lorne's bar for a quick drink that he needed before going back.
"How's the pumpkin?" Lorne asked.
"Ok." Angel replied but then he felt something strange and then something hit him. Lorne raced over to the other side of the bar as Angel was on the ground having a vision. Angel was having a vision that somehow Cordelia was sending him without even knowing. Once it passed Angel sat up. "Crum cake you ok?"
"Izzy," He said and ran out, Lorne got to his phone to call the gang that something wasn't right.
Kate and Isabella sat in the kitchen sharing some chocolate milk together laughing. It was nice to hang out with her Isabella thought but then she could sense her father was close. The two heard someone come in and they walked into the main lobby to see who it was.
"Dad?" Isabella asked as Angel ran up to her hugging her. "Yeah dad I'm ok." Kate came in looking concern but before she could ask what was happening the lights went out. Isabella looked around.
"Izzy, listen to me very carefully." Angel said as he looked around and he reached for Kate pulling her closer.
"Dad," Isabella was getting nervous but it was too late something kicked down the front doors. Isabella screamed as Angel pulled Kate down with him and Isabella as well. The three looked up seeing this massive being standing there. Angel pushed Isabella and Kate back as this thing looked at them. This same thing was from Isabella's dreams and she clung tightly to her father's arm and Kate did likewise. Angel slowly backed away with them. "Run," He said softly to the girls. "Do it now." He ordered and Kate took Isabella and they were off. This huge thing that was twice Angel's size, it wore all black and its skin looked burned, its face was melted. Its mouth was exposed showing its teeth. The thing followed the girls but Angel raised his hands. "No here, you want me, here." Angel said and the thing grunted and walked over to him. The ground seemed to shake a little as it walked over to him.
"Angelus!" It roared and charged at him and Angel took off running away from it. He headed upstairs as the thing ran after him. Angel went to the first floor knowing it was a weak floor, this thing weighed a ton and it would fall through. Angel ran and the floor was already giving out and this beast whatever it was fell through. Angel didn't bother to check on it and kept going. Now he had to find Isabella and Kate.
Kate led Isabella through a hall and when they turned a corn they ran into Angel. Isabella couldn't help but scream a little but hugged her father and Kate couldn't hold back and hugged him too.
"You two alright?" He asked and they nodded but they heard a noise.
"What the hell is that thing?" Kate asked but Angel just pulled them along up a flight of stairs heading to the roof. Angel opened the roof access and looked around and led them to the side.
"Listen I need you guys to climb down ok." Angel said. This was a rather high building and Angel saw some old cable. "Come here." He said to Kate and started to tie the cable around her. "Izzy I want you to hold onto Kate understood. Once you get down I want you guys to run." Kate nodded and got on the ledge and Isabella held onto her as Angel begun to lower them down. About half way Isabella screamed pointing. The thing was back. Angel dodged its swipe but that meant he let go of the cable dropping Kate and Isabella. Isabella managed to grab a ledge from the roof breaking the fall. The two dangled for a moment and then they saw Angel flying off the roof landing in the nearby tree area.
"Dad!" Isabella screamed and looked back up seeing the creature looking at her. Isabella grabbed Kate and jumped the last few feet down and they ran to find Angel. "Dad?" Isabella called out and then she saw him lying there on the ground. "Daddy, daddy!" She slid to the ground and he was still. "Daddy please you have to get up please, please." She begged shaking him but he was still. "Daddy please, please," She begged some more crying and then she felt Kate grab her pulling her. When she looked up the monster was in the distance. "DADDY!" She scream but Kate pried her away and they ran through the woods.
The two girls came out of the wooded area to an old part of town and ran into the building hoping to hide. Kate pulled out her gun hoping it could help as they ran. They held hands and Isabella scooped up a pole for defense as they walked through the building. They looked around as Isabella was trying to calm herself otherwise she wouldn't be able to fight. Really all she wanted was her father he could fix anything but she was on her own right now. Then they both heard something and turned around it was monster thing. Kate held up her gun and begun to shoot at it.
"Run Isabella!" Kate ordered and Isabella did just that as Kate fired but it didn't stop it. She was out of bullets but she had one magazine left and reloaded and fired some more.
Angel rolled over and coughed up blood. He felt pain and dizzy, he hadn't been beaten up that hard in years. But the first thing that came to mind was Isabella. His human features morphed into his true vampire self and roared in anger and took off running.
Isabella heard the gun stop firing as she ran. It meant Kate was no longer defending herself. Isabella came to a wall and then made a left. She wanted to get out of here and into open spaces she didn't like the feeling of being trapped. She knew this thing was after her but why? As she ran she tripped and felt pain in her ankle. She sat up grabbing it and then she tuned in, this thing was closer than she'd like. Isabella stood up trying not to put weight on her foot and hobbled but then it was the monster. Isabella turned back around and ran the other way as fast a hurt ankle could carry you. She could feel the thing running after her as the ground shook. The pain was no longer there now as she ran. She then saw a chance to slow this thing down. She through her pole and dived to the ground. The pole hit the weaker poles allowing some of the structure to fall onto the thing.
Isabella crawled away not wanting to get back up because of the pain but she willed herself to. She kept going not sure how much time she had and then she found a hole in the wall and crawled in. She then crawled up in the wall and into the ceiling and she laid there trying to rest. She laid on her back closing her eyes praying her father would come to help her.
As she prayed she heard the heavy breathing of the monster. Isabella slowly rolled over and found a hole she could look through and saw it searching. She kept as still and as quiet as possible. She held her breath as she laid there but then she felt something crawl on her leg. It was a rat she tried to shake it off and it squealed. Isabella realized she didn't hear the heavy breathing, it was quiet. But then a huge two by four burst through the ceiling. Isabella screamed as the monster kept ramming it up into the ceiling. Isabella crawled away trying to avoid the two by four. But Isabella crawled onto a weak spot and fell through the roof. She landed on her back and found to catch her breath when she felt someone pull her up to her feet.
"Kate!" She scream and the two ran away with the monster chasing them. The monster threw the two by four at them and Isabella grabbed Kate and pulled her down to the ground dodging the flying weapon. The girls rolled over seeing the beast getting closer and Isabella acted quickly and found a pipe and reached for it and shoved it through the monster and it screamed in pain. Isabella grabbed Kate and they got back up again holding onto one another running away. Then Isabella stopped running and Kate looked behind her.
"Izzy come on!" Kate scream and Isabella pushed her to keep running as Isabella picked up another pipe. Kate wouldn't win and kept running, maybe she could find some help. The monster roar and took out the pipe Isabella stabbed him with and twirled it. Isabella held her ground as the thing charged at her. Isabella jumped into the dodging him. The monster came back and swung the pipe and Isabella blocked the blow. She kicked the monster in the knee and it stepped back. Isabella swung the pipe again and got a good blow. She swung again and again.
Kate ran and turned a corner and ran into the greatest person on earth she considered.
Isabella swung again but this time she wasn't lucky. The monster grabbed the pipe and ripped it from her hands and back handed Isabella. She flew across the room and skid on the ground. She rolled over coughing and saw the thing walking to her. Isabella tear up and all she could do was crawl away and she did just that. But then she crawled right into a very familiar pair of shoes. She looked up and seeing the tall figure vamped out and there were no words to describe the anger she saw. Angel jumped over Isabella and charged at the monster.
Angel jumped into the air and kicked the monster in the face. Angel roared in anger and threw another punch. Kate ran over to Isabella and sat next to her. The monster roared back at Angel as is was now beast against beast. Angel grabbed a huge pipe and swung it. The monster blocked it but Angel jumped in the air kicking it. Angel then dropped to the floor and with both feet to its knees. The monster grunted as Angel then stabbed the thing with the pipe. In a quick second Angel saw chains that held some piping together. The beast took out the pipe while Angel rolled over and grabbed the chains and ran behind the monster. The chains were tossed around the monster's neck as Angel pulled tightly. Angel kicked the back of the monster's knees and the thing went down grunting as Angel only pulled tighter. Angel ran on its back and placed his foot on its face. He pushed his foot down while pulling the chains upward as hard as he could. Then with one forceful pull and twist you heard a large crack. The monster didn't move anymore.
Angel grunted as he released the chains and slowly got off the monster and then fell to the ground in sheer exhaustion. He morphed back into his human face and then felt someone land on him. He knew who it was as he wrapped his arms around her. Isabella buried her face into his neck.
"It's ok, you're ok." He said and kissed her cheek.
Lilah sat at her desk typing up something when her window shattered. Lilah ducked behind her desk and then sat up seeing the huge dead monster on her office floor. Lilah slowly stood up looking around and then someone came in through the broken window. Her heart started to pound as Angel walked in.
"One of yours?" He asked and Lilah said nothing. "I thought I made it clear that if you came near my daughter I would kill you." Lilah said nothing. Angel looked down at the massive beast he killed and then when Lilah looked up Angel was vamped out. "I keep my threats." Angel walked over to Lilah as she was going to scream but Angel grabbed her by the throat and covered her mouth with his hand. "I guess threatening the little people of this firm isn't working. So how about I just go bold." Angel placed his hand under Lilah's chin as she finally had the fear in her eyes knowing she went too far. With one swift move Angel drove his hand upwards and he felt her tiny neck snap. He let go and Lilah fell down. "I never get tired of doing that." He cracked his neck and left.
Angel didn't burn Lilah's body just strung her up. He was done with it no more. Anyone who tried to hurt Isabella they would die, no second chances, no remorse, no fear just pure animal instinct, just a father's love for his child.
Kind of dark I know but if someone was trying to hurt your child what would you? So Angelus? What's going to happen with that? More to come soon thanks for reading. Comments and reviews are welcomed.