Chapter 16 A Nightmare is Reality
A/N: Back to back update I know. Well the last chapter and this chapter run together but I felt if posted it as one chapter you would get tired and a little overwhelmed. So broke it up but I'm sorry in advance because I'm leaving you with lots of questions at the end.
A/N: The title name? Well there is another dream sequence in this chapter a rather not good one. The reason being is because one it's not a dream but a nightmare and a nightmare that can come true.
A/N: Angel and Kate? I think everyone picked up on something between them because I did when Angel the series started and that coupling was much better than Angel and Cordelia. For this story is there a spark or a moment? Guess you'll to read and if it's not in the chapter than guess you'll have to wait until the next one. Oh gosh I know I'm mean but keeps you guys guessing and you know that's fun. Enjoy.
Angel sat at the dining room table wrapping up his hand it was most defiantly sprained maybe even broken. He punched that monster with all the force he could will, he didn't realize he was that strong. But knowing it was going to hurt his daughter that's all he could do. He looked pretty beat up in general especially after being thrown off from a hotel roof and into the woods. His lip was split opened, a bruise was forming on his right eye, there was another bruise forming on his jaw not to mention all the cuts, scrapes and bruises under the clothing. In all honesty he couldn't remember the last time he was beaten up like this.
Killing that huge monster, beast whatever it was took all his strength. He figured he got that strength out of pure fear and anger because he could have lost Isabella. In his mind that would never happen. He'd fight until the death before anything like that came close to happening. All the adults were at the table too and the kids in the training room asleep on the floor. The training room was close to the dining hall so if some ugly thing decided to rear its head in the hotel for the remainder of the night then they could reach the kids faster.
"Angel you shouldn't have," Wes explained, Angel told them he killed Lilah. It was a bold move perhaps even stupider than bold. "You know what this can do?" Wes asked out of the entire group Wes was the most rational person even more than Giles. Angel didn't answer he was off in his own mind right now. Whatever Wes was saying it meant nothing to him.
"Give it a break Wes." Gunn stepped in seeing how Angel wasn't going to speak.
"Lilah was one of Hart's valuable assets." Wes started. "Taking her out like that only means Angel has declared war."
"I think Angel declared war on Wolfram and Hart a long time ago." Cordelia suggested but Angel still sat in silence.
"Killing the beast thing was one thing but to take out Lilah," Wes was still trying to argue.
"If you had a child what would you do?" Angel asked and everyone looked to him. "Hmm?" He asked and then turned to Willow. "Willow, Tara this thing went after Levy what would you two have done? Xander, Anya what if it was Evan?" There was a pause as the other parents of the group thought about it and there was only one answer.
"I'm with dead boy on this one, anything came after my son I'd kill whatever it was and the thing that sent it." Xander finished. Wes was a good man but he didn't have a child nor did he ever raise something like a child. Giles understood, he was Buffy's father by all accounts and had a father's love for Buffy. Gunn had his baby sister at one point. Cordelia has been helping with Isabella so she was somewhat the sergeant mother and an aunt biproxy to Evan and Levy. Spike took on an uncle role to all three kids. As for Kate ever since that Thanksgiving so long ago she found herself mixed up with Isabella and was more like a babysitter but she did love the girl. And then there's Fred, she was like Cordelia fulfilling the aunt role. But Wes he still stuck to his job. He knew why Angel did what he did but he would ever fully understand it not unless he had child of his own.
"Ok everyone just listen," Giles stepped in knowing everyone was tired. "First while I do agree with Wes that going after and killing Lilah wasn't the right thing to do well not yet at least I do understand why. But there's nothing we can do about it right now ok. What we can do is get some sleep." Giles finished.
"Willow, Tara I want you two to put up a defense spell." Angel said leaning forward; he was taking charge of this now. While the immediate danger was over he knew he awoken something in Wolfram and Hart and the fun hasn't even started yet. "Gunn, Spike I want you two to walk a perimeter." Gunn nodded standing up with Spike each holding a crossbow. There was some mumbling going on most with Wes disagreeing but everyone knew that was just too bad. "Hey," Angel said as everyone was either getting up or talking amongst themselves. "We're all bent out of shape ok I get that but stay calm and alert, can't let any one of those Wolfram and Hart bastards in here."
"Right," Gunn said and patted Spike's shoulder and they were off to check the hotel. Willow and Tara left to grab some ingredients for a protection charm. Angel still sat there as everyone moved around. Giles wanted to see if he could find the beast that attacked Angel, Isabella and Kate. Kate looked over at Angel as he sat there brooding.
"Hey? You ok?" She asked and Angel looked over to Kate. "Ok stupid question I know but,"
"I'm fine." He answered and she nodded. "I want you to stay here for the rest of the night ok." Kate nodded and Angel stood up to check on Isabella even though Willow, Tara, Anya and Xander probably already looked in on the children. Kate got up and followed Angel as he walked over to the training room and opened the door peering in. The three kids were asleep on the floor with pillows and blankets. Angel picked up Isabella's heartbeat and it was slow and steady the way it should be. Angel closed the door and walked away, the kids would be the only ones sleeping for the rest of the night. Angel headed upstairs to him to clean himself up and Kate followed. Angel noticed but it didn't bother him. Kate never saw Angel's room and it looked…normal. She looked around and smiled seeing Isabella's pictures everywhere. Then she saw a picture of Buffy and picked it up smiling.
"This is Buffy?" She asked and Angel looked up and walked over and nodded. "She's beautiful Angel." Angel couldn't help but smile a little. "I can see the resemblance between Isabella and her."
"It was what I was hoping for." Angel replied and Kate put the picture down as Angel slowly took of his trench coat but winced in pain as the adrenaline started to wear off and pain was setting in. Kate walked over to him and helped so the coat slid off. She took and placed it on the bed as Angel let his body registered the pain. But that's not all he felt, there was some tension between these two. Angel then removed his shirt which Kate wanted to look away but she couldn't help herself. She could see the bruises and as he tossed the shirt away she could a tattoo well actually three. One was a bird of some kind on his right shoulder. Then on his left were two small ones.
"Uh nice tattoos." She commented. "Uh what are they?" Angel turned around and now Kate could see his whole front side and tried to keep herself from blushing, he was a very beautiful man…vampire…manpire? Whatever he was just beautiful.
"The one on my right shoulder is gryphon, bird of prey. The A stands for well now Angel it used to be for Angelus. The other two," He walked up to her showing. It was a footprint, a baby's footprint and under it was a date, Isabella's birth date. Under to foot print was a heart with two hands holding it and over the heart was a crown. That image was encased in a cross the same cross design as the one Angel gave to Buffy. Kate knew that one meant something about Buffy.
"The cross doesn't burn you?" She asked.
"It's just an image plus it's not blessed." He answered.
"What does it stand for?" She asked and then Angel held out his hand showing her a ring which matched the tattoo. Kate recognized it because Isabella wore the ring as a necklace and then the cross on Angel's back looked liked the same one Isabella wore.
"Hands are friendship, crown loyalty and the heart love." He said. "The ring Isabella wears is the ring I gave to her mom same with that cross necklace a very long time ago." Angel explained and Kate nodded with a small smile.
"That's really sweet." She admitted. Angel walked away pulling out a new shirt and sweats handing them to Kate.
"Will these fit?" He asked and she nodded taking them.
"Thank you." And Angel walked back to his dresser and pulled out another shirt and sweats for himself.
"You can change in the bathroom." He said and she walked over to the bathroom. After changing she stepped out and saw Angel rewrapping his hand and she walked over to help him. They both could feel the tension between them. There was attraction between the two of course but that's all it could be just tension. Once she was done Kate walked over and sat on the bed as Angel stood up and begun to walk out.
"You can take the bed; I'll crash on the floor." Angel said.
"No Angel that's fine besides you're pretty beat up you need a good night's rest, I'll sleep on the floor." Kate insisted plus she knew he was going to have Isabella with him when he came back. There was no way she was sleeping alone not tonight.
Angel walked down to the main lobby where he meant Willow, Tara was getting levy.
"Spell is up and running like a charm…uh no pun intended." Willow said quickly and Angel smiled, he needed a joke. "Anyways we'll know if anything tries to get in." Angel nodded and saw Tara holding Levy's hand as the young girl rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"Say night to Uncle Angel." Tara said and Levy waved and Angel reached out touching the girl's head and she smiled as the three witches went to bed for the remainder or the night. Anya was walking over to the training room. Anya shook Evan awake gently and they left. Angel just bent over and scooped up Isabella like she was two. Her chin rested on his shoulder, she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist and he held her and left the training room. Then Giles was there and they nodded in goodnight to one another. Angel climbed the stairs to the second floor and down the hall to his room. He pushed the door open with his foot and Kate looked up and smiled. Isabella was so tiny compared to her father. Angel was gently rubbing her back as he shut the door behind him with his foot. Kate already made a makeshift bed on the floor and Angel walked around it putting Isabella to bed. Angel then crawled in on the other side and shut off the lamp.
Isabella woke up but not anywhere she recognized. She sat up and walked away from whatever she slept on. There was no one here so she left and came into a white hallway and looked to her right and then to her left and saw something. It was covered in blood, it looked like a person wrapped in white sheets, white sheets covered in their blood.
"Hello?" She asked then the feet of the body rose and some invisible force dragged it away. Isabella chased after it seeing what it was or more importantly who it was. The body slid down the hall and turned a corner and then it was gone. But there was a trail of blood and Isabella stood there and then followed it. She knew she should run but she didn't she just followed the blood trail down the long hall. "Hello?" She asked again. But there was nothing just silence and she stopped dead in her tracks and looked behind her and the trail of blood wasn't there it was only in front of her. She looked ahead of her and then kept going.
'Isabella, Isabella, Isabella' She could hear whispers everywhere they were hissing and they got louder. 'Isabella!' She turned around and there was that huge monster beast thing again and she took off running but she stopped as it was gone. 'Isabella' the voice whispered again.
"Who are you?" She asked looking around.
'Isabella!' She then turned around again and Angel was standing there.
"Dad?" She asked and he just stood there. "Dad?" She asked again but nothing. "Angel?" she called him by his real name but still nothing. There was only one other name to call him. "Angelus?" And then he smiled a wicked smile. Isabella tear up and ran as fast as she could to nowhere. "No! No!" She screamed as she ran as fast as possible. She could feel him following her. "Help!" She screamed hoping someone could hear her. "No!" She felt her body falling forward to the ground. "Help! Mom! Mom! Mom!" She called for her mother, which was the only person she could call out to the only person in the world that had a chance against Angelus. Angelus smiled, she knew that wasn't her father, Angelus and Angel may look alike but they were polar opposites. She kicked at him as he was trying to subdue her. "No! No!" She managed to get a good kick in the jaw breaking free and crawled away. Then someone wrapped their arms around her and Angelus stood up slowly with his vampire features staring at whoever was holding Isabella.
Isabella looked up and saw a woman all in white, long blonde hair and green eyes.
"You." Angelus said hissing as the woman pulled Isabella up to her feet. The woman held onto Isabella and she felt like she was home and well protected.
"You will never have her, she's mine." The woman said Angelus and he roared in defense. "Stay away from my baby."
Isabella shot up in bed looking around the dark room. Her father was asleep next to her and on the floor was Kate. She took in some deep breaths looking around and then turned to her father shaking him.
"Dad, dad, dad," She repeated and he woke up sitting up quickly.
"What, what? What's wrong did you hear something?" He asked looking around and Isabella just hugged him. "Hey it's ok." He calmed her because she was trembling violently. "Shh, shh." And she just held him hoping for that dream to go away. It meant something and she hoped it was wrong.
Everyone got little to no sleep. The feeling that something was coming from Wolfram and Hart made everyone on edge. Willow, Tara and Cordelia were making breakfast as everyone gathered around the table well everyone except Angel, Isabella and Kate. But Kate walked in to the dining room half asleep.
"Coffee is almost ready if you need it." Willow said to her and she nodded sitting down. Xander studied Kate for a second and then when Kate made eye contact Xander turned away.
"How's the vampire and bite size?" Spike asked and Kate shrugged.
"Izzy was up most of the morning crying I ignored it. It seemed important though." Kate answered as Giles set down a coffee mug before Kate with fresh hot coffee in it. "Oh thank you."
"Something is disturbing Isabella." Giles said sipping his tea.
"Anyone got a feeling something really bad is going to happen?" Xander asked and Evan raised his hand.
"Yeah because something is." Angel said standing at the entrance way with Isabella standing next to him.
"I take it we better all sit down for this." Xander deadpan.
Isabella explained her dream about Angelus to everyone over breakfast but no one ate. How could you eat hearing about Angelus, he could make anyone sick.
"Well as long as Angel doesn't get the happy then nothing right?" Xander asked nervously but Giles shook his head.
"There can be two ways for Angelus to come back. One is to experience pure happiness and the other like with anyone else give up his soul." Giles explained, Angel just sat there in silences.
"Pure happiness?" Kate asked.
"The curse is specific and pure happiness is really anything." Giles stated.
"So sex makes him…perfectly happy?" Kate asked but Giles shook his head.
"Well it did the first time." Willow interjected.
"Yes but he was perfectly happy because he had what he wanted most and that was Buffy. But to achieve perfect happiness is getting harder because well Angel is surrounded by joy now, I don't think sex will turn him." Giles stated.
"Unless it's with Buffy." Xander quickly add but Angel shot him a look and if looks could kill.
"Ok so Angel has to well right now he has to give up his soul willingly but why would he especially to Wolfram and Hart?" Fred asked and then Giles turned to Isabella as she stirred her spoon in her cereal but nothing more.
"He'll give up his soul for his daughter." Wes said and Isabella looked up at everyone.
"But why release Angelus?" Kate asked. "If he's as brutal as the books say,"
"He's worse." Cordelia jumped in. "Most of us here have dealt with Angelus and," Cordelia didn't go on.
"Well maybe we should tell Wolfram and Hart that Angelus isn't a team player." Spike joined in. "Yeah he might be evil but he won't play with others."
"So why would they release him he won't help?" Kate asked confused.
"Because Angelus will destroy this world on his own. Wolfram and Hart might offer him something if he allows them to help. They might give him access to what he needs but Angelus wants to end the world." Spike explained. "I don't think that Hart can take out the world. But Angelus he can."
"Almost did once." Xander added quickly.
"Most of the time vampires don't want to destroy the world." Spike started explained to Kate. "It's tough guy talk. Strutten around your friends over a pint of blood. The truth is vampires we like this world. There's dog racing and Manchester United. And then there's people. Billions of people walking around like happy meals on legs. But then someone comes along with a vision a real passion for destruction. Angelus can pull it off. Wolfram will be the weapon Angelus will be the one pulling the trigger." The air was thick now as everyone understood Wolfram and Harts intentions.
"So Isabella's purpose is to make Angelus come back? Then what?" Kate asked.
"Angelus kills Isabella because he'll figure if Angel comes back then he'll have to live with the guilt of killing his own daughter or if Angel never comes back then he just killed Angel's daughter, Buffy's daughter that'll be something gloat about." Spike said and sighed. Isabella just sat there. Either way Isabella dies.
"These dreams," Angel spoke up looking to Giles.
"They could be a manifestation or a uh premonition." Giles explained. "Angelus is still a part of you Angel he is that…animal if you will that's within all of us. I think Angelus knows something wants to release him and he's getting,"
"Excited." Xander finished and Giles nodded.
"Not my choice of words but yes." Giles said and looked back at Angel. "Isabella may not be a slayer herself but she was born of a slayer she probably has visions when she's in danger." Angel nodded accepting that idea but there was one more thing.
"Buffy," Angel said.
"Mom was in my dream." Isabella spoke up. "She told Angelus that he couldn't have me." Everyone looked around.
"Seems even in death Angelus fears Buffy." Wes added.
"Why?" Kate asked.
"Buffy was by far the only person who could take Angelus out. He'd killed five slayers and Buffy was the one giving him the most trouble. I do believe Buffy might be the only who can defeat Angelus." Giles finished.
"But she's not here anymore so?" Willow asked.
"I got a feeling that if Angelus comes back Buffy will too." Giles stated.
"And what duke it out?" Gunn asked.
"Buffy made a promise to me." Angel joined back in the conversion. "She promised that if Angelus ever came back she'd kill him."
"Looks like she's going to make good on that promise." Xander added.
"Great but how?" Lorne asked. "I mean that makes me feel better but how is she going to do it?" Then everyone looked to Isabella and she looked back at them with her eyes widening.
"Uh no," She started.
"You're Buffy's daughter I have feeling somehow if this gets out of hand then Buffy will summon her way through and fight." Giles explained. It wasn't comforting in the slightest. Isabella didn't want to kill her father; she couldn't wrap her head around it.
"Look this is all theoretical right now ok. We might be able to stop Wolfram and Hart before they can do anything." Gunn tried to lighten up the mood but it wasn't going to happen.
"Angel killed Lilah it's only going to make them more upset." Wes added. Angel looked over to Isabella as she sat back in her chair with a blank stare. Her birthday was in three days. She was going to be fourteen. Angel couldn't believe it; his daughter was growing up so fast right before his eyes. She should be happy and excited about her birthday but instead she had to worry that her father was going to turn into a monster and destroy the world.
Angel just sat there watching Isabella fiddle with her necklace as she laid on her bed. There was now tension between them. It's not every day you learn that your father's alter ego wants to kill you and would probably get off on it. Angel walked into her room and sat on the edge of the bed and they made eye contact. Angel just looked at her and couldn't help but let a small, soft smile tug at him. Isabella saw the smile; it was so different from Angelus' smile. And then she couldn't help but smile back. She sat up and they hugged.
"You know I love you Izzy." Angel said and felt her nodded in his embrace. "I'd never do anything in this world to hurt you." Isabella pulled away nodding and he kissed her forehead and she cuddled up closer to him and he held her. "If he does somehow come back promise me if the time and opportunity is right,"
"I will dad." Isabella finished knowing what he was asking of her. This wasn't something to be taken lightly and while she said she would do it, it was the matter when the time actually came can she do it. Angel had feeling if Buffy was going to come back and help she would do it at the final blow. Angel didn't want to die if he did Isabella would be alone in this world with no one to protect her, no one that she could trust. He couldn't do that so he'd fight with what he had to stay here with her.
"Now for your birthday?" He asked and she smiled and looked up. "Party? Quiet night in?" He asked and she thought about it.
"The mansion." She answered. "I just want to go there." Angel smiled and nodded.
"We can do that." And he pulled her a closer. "That sounds nice."
Sunnydale was quiet which was needed after all this. But the somewhat blissful weekend came to an end. Angel and Isabella talked, they planned and she cried but things needed to be said and promises needed to be made. One good thing happened she turned fourteen. The two of them sat on a couch watching black and white Mickey Mouse cartoons and ate cake. They were going to leave that night and Angel was just waiting for the sun to set. Isabella sat on his bed watching more old cartoons as Angel was in the bathroom but he wasn't showering or brushing his teeth. He was on the bathroom floor crying. Angel doesn't cry in front of others especially Isabella. But he was crying now. He was in fear so much so that it brought him to tears.
He could lose Isabella and he would be the one that kills her. The idea of Isabella dying made him hurt, it crushed his bones. But the thought that he would be the reason for her death that made his sick. He knew Angelus would love to kill Isabella and would hope that he'd get his soul back just so Angel would forever walk this world with the pain and guilt of murdering his own daughter. He begged to Buffy not let this happen or if did Angelus could be put down right away like a sick dog. But then Isabella, she would be alone all alone. They were a team, a pair. They only survived because one of them was around. Leaving Isabella alone and defenseless in this awful world was not an option. But then again letting Angelus free wasn't an option either. Right now it was a lesser of the two evils, a double edge sword. He just begged for Isabella's mercy and forgiveness. He begged for Buffy's mercy and forgiveness. 'I just want to be a good father, I just want her to know how much I love her and would do anything and everything in this world for her. I just want her safe and happy; please keep her safe, please, please, please. If there is a god then spare her, please keep her safe please.'
Wow. I know this was a more of talky chapter but it leaves questions right alot of questions. Like is Buffy going to come around? Is Angelus really coming back? Can Isabella take on the most ruthless vampire ever and have the guts to kill him even though it's her own father? And then Kate and Angel anything between them? Well this I will say with those two it's going to end and it's going to be sad when it happens. Put it this way sad stuff is coming not all in one chapter but sad stuff in general. I'm becoming Joss aren't I? Making you wonder and get mad and kill everyone. Anyways yes it's going to be a whirlwind soon this is just the start. So more on the way, comments and reviews are most welcomed thanks for reading.