There's No Light Without Darkness Chapter 8, an angel fanfic

Seven Blocks South of the Hyperion Hotel

"So you see… Some people are meant to live and others are meant to die. Guess which one you are." The brunette woman who seemed to be a real ball breaker stared into the eyes of the man. A cocky smirk played along her lips and the dark green scarf around her throat brought out the gold flecks in her eyes.

"Go to hell you bitch!" The man yelled into her face with defiance. He was trapped, trapped to a wall; not like it would do much good even if he wasn't; his body broken beyond all repair.

"Oh ho sorry been there, done that have the t-shirt –and- the coffee mug. Though I do have to say Mr. Carington, if the rest of the British populous had the same tenacity you did… Well we'd still be under English rule." She grinned lightly, taking a few steps towards him. "But… It wouldn't matter anyways, you'd still be about to die."

"I don't see where killing me will do you any good. She didn't need me before; she won't need me now. You can't break her, can't turn her. You'll only piss her off more."

The woman laughed. "Well you see Mr. Carington, my employers don't care what it does as long as it's done. She helped ruin their plans and thought they should return the gesture. So have a nice afterlife." The woman turned and began to walk away as two large vampires stepped towards him about to bring in the killing blow.

"You better pray after she kills you; we don't meet in the afterlife!" He yelled after her.

Laughing under her breath as her feet carried her away. "I'm already dead, idiot."

An anguished cry of pain and then silence is all that was returned.

Hyperion Hotel

"Did someone bump the map?" Willow raised her head to look at the others after looking at the parchment.

"No one's been moving but me sweet pea and my loafers haven't taken me over there. Why what's the haps?" Lorne asked looking over towards the growingly distraught witch.

Giles set down his book as did Andrew their attention solely placed on Willow. Noticing the fear in her eyes, the stood up quickly.

"Will?" Xander asked, worriedly.

Swallowing, Willow re-did the locater spell. Several red lights showed up, four yellow lights close to them, yet no vibrant white lights appeared, though there were several faded lights here and there. The lights all represented different beings. Demons, humans, champions… The target of the spell should have been in a bright white light, however, there wasn't one. "He… He… His light's not showing up!" Staring at the map in shock. "It should be showing up!"

"Who's light?" Angel asked as he looked to Willow curiously.

"Eric's… Kaya's Watcher. Meaning either he's been placed under some form of anti-scrying incantation…" Rupert so readily offered the information though trailing off.

"Or he's dead." Willow murmured very gently.

Five Blocks South of the Hyperion

"Gunn, I must say mate you have –the- luckiest streak when it comes to rescuing females." Spike murmured to Charles as they walked a few paces from Kaya and Wesley.

"Really? Naah. Anyone saving Kaya is definitely… Wait… Hold up. You're not thinking of macking on her are you?" That protective streak in Gunn seeming to rear up as he stopped walking, holding his arm out to stop Spike as well.

Spike shook his head quickly. "No. No! No more blonde Slayers for this vampire thank you very much. I mean… Well she comes to help you. End of the world and there she was saving you. And afterwards, started saving a few others too."

Gunn grinned. "Yea… well it's my influence on her what can I say?"

Kaya walked along quietly with Wesley before she almost tripped over the long legs of Angel's pants. Giving a disgruntled look over towards Wesley, "I think after we go and get Eric, I need to go and find something that may actually fit me. I feel like I'm swimming in these."

"You know, I always thought Angel wore a smaller size than he does apparently." Wesley chuckled faintly. "Either that or you're the first non graceful Slayer I've ever seen."

"Oh hey, now I take extreme resentment to that remark! I used to be a cheerleader, for your information." Grinning at the ex Watcher.

"You? Well… It does somewhat make sense. It seems to be a perquisite, much like a stick being firmly placed in the backside of every Watcher, and some form of accent." Giving the blonde a wry grin as they got closer to their destination he shrugged his shoulders as she laughed in amusement.

Spinning around and walking backwards, looking back at Spike and Gunn, Kaya grinned. "Yo, Gunn; you should take lessons from your friend, he's actually funny." Waggling her eyebrows at her long time friend and one time savior, grinning the entire time like the cat that ate the cream.

"Oh girl that is harsh, you make my soul cry. Gets me right here." Pounding onto his chest with a fist, as Spike nudged him and Kaya spun right back around and she slowed in her steps glancing around for a moment.

"What's she doin'?" Spike asked quietly.

Wesley supplying the answer, "Looking for any form of ambush it seems."

Making sure the coast was clear Kaya began walking once more, each man able to notice an abrupt change in her demeanor as their destination was right around the corner.

Hyperion Foyer

"Think it could be a trap?" Angel mused as he looked over the map for a moment, there seemed to be quite a few bright red lights. "I mean, that's a lot of demons."

"I don't know Angel, it's not like they'd know that we're here. And I doubt demons are stupid enough to think that Slayers equip their Watcher's with homing beacons… Though now that I think about it, that's not a bad idea. I mean seriously, think about it, two way beacons, and never loose your Slayer or Watcher again." Andrew began to ramble about such a novel idea, while Angel ignored him, turning to look at Giles and the others.

"It's possible Angel, however… There's no way we could make it there before they enter the alley. A few of us could go and give backup if it's needed, even if it's slightly late." Giles stood up, putting his glasses back on.

Angel looked over every single person that was still available to go on this sort of thing. He didn't have much faith in Andrew, and Lorne didn't like fighting; it was evident. Those two were definitely out. His eyes glancing over towards Willow who looked worried and worn out all at once, she too would be left behind. It only left Giles, Xander, and Connor.

"All right, Giles, Connor, and Xander, come with me. And if you don't want to come Xander, I can understand." He moved to get his coat and grab an axe that he'd be able to hide within the folds.

Xander looked up for a moment, as if to argue, then he noticed the insistent look on Willow's face and that's all it took; he stood up and gave a nod. "Sure, all right. Why not, not the first time I've fought demons."

"We'll stick here Angel face in case they come in, and uuh… Well we don't have first aid kit anymore." Lorne fidgeted a moment. "Think nothing of it, I'll go down and get one from the local store." He was already moving towards the door.

"I'll try and keep looking through the books and keep an eye on Fre-… Illyria and Eve." Willow murmured as she rubbed at her eyes. "So will Andrew."

Echoing the words he said almost twenty-four hours prior, as he looked over the three that would be going with him. "Let's get to work."

Seven Blocks South of the Hyperion

As the four entered the mouth of the alley, they didn't see anyone or anything. Kaya took a few steps back, and glanced down the street, then across it, before looking to the other three for a moment with a furrow of her eyebrow.

"This is seven blocks right?" She asked the three of them, though Spike didn't seem to be paying attention.

"It is indeed, seven blocks south of the Hyperion, perhaps he's further in." Wesley glanced around, looking a bit alarmed.

"Right me and Spike…" Gunn trailed off as he noticed the blonde vampire moving through the alleyway slowly. "Will go and check it out…" He began to follow after the vampire, glancing around as he did so.

As Gunn and Spike got out of ear shot, the vampire's steps slowed so Gunn could catch up with him, as he spoke. "I smell blood." Looking over to Gunn adding, "Human blood."

"Where at?" Gunn asked, just as quietly, looking behind him over at Wesley and Kaya, before looking back to Spike. "Show me." There was intensity in his voice, and a slow cold dread spread over his body.

Spike and Gunn continued to move further into the alleyway, towards a fire escape that had a chain hanging from it. Blood was on the chain, and on the ground. "Bugger me." Spike whispered under his breath as he noticed something gleaming under the light that came from the street.

As Gunn crouched down, he pushed the newspaper away and saw the pale face of a man who was in his late thirties or maybe early forties staring ahead blankly, turning his head slowly Gunn noticed the bite marks of a vampire. Feeling for a pulse, a pulse he knew he'd not find there, he shut the man's eyes.

"What'd you guys find?!" Kaya called out as she began to move into the alley with Wesley not far behind her.

"We can't let her see him like this, if that's who it is." Spike whispered to Gunn.

"Stay back Kaya, just… stay back." Gunn warned the blonde Slayer as he turned to look at her, the light from the street illuminating her worried features.

The alarmed tone in Gunn's voice, the look on his face didn't cause her to stop however; it only caused her to quicken her pace into that of a jog so she would get to the other two. Wesley, right on her heels feared the worse.

Gunn stood up quickly, moving to intercept her. His hands coming up to stop her as he spoke quietly, "Kaya, don't." His voice stern, as he looked into her eyes.

Spike's head was bowed, his hands folded in front of him by the corpse.

"Gunn let me through!" She pushed against her friend, though he wrapped his arms around her tightly so she couldn't move, though it didn't stop her from trying to fight Gunn. Her voice, filled with pain and fright causing Gunn's eyes to close as he tried to hold onto her. "Please." She whispered, pleading to him.

Wesley's hand moved to Gunn's shoulder, as Gunn raised his head to look at the ex-Watcher, seeing the nod given to him, his arms slipped from around her body letting her go. He turned to watch her move over to the man's limp and lifeless body, saw her fall to her knees as tears rolled down her face, the bottom lip trembling. Watching as his "sister" broke in front of him and there was nothing he could do.

"She should be allowed to grieve." Wesley whispered softly.

Six blocks south of the Hyperion

As the four men moved down the sidewalk, the nightlife of Los Angeles seemed to be subdued somehow. Everyone moving almost at a lethargic pace, or it could be that they were walking rather quickly to get to where they knew the others were at. They moved with a purpose, a goal. The goal and purpose was to make sure that they could give their friends and allies back up if it were needed. Or if it was a false alarm, to help bring in a Watcher who's knowledge could definitely be useful. Each one hoping somewhere in the back of their mind it was just a false alarm.

Angel glanced over towards Rupert Giles, who was amazingly quiet. "So… Listen, I wanted to tell you…" He began, though somehow couldn't find the words that needed to be said at that moment. "What I mean to say is…" Once again the words just didn't seem to come out even though the en-souled brooding vampire tried.

"Right, I couldn't have said it better myself." Giles replied in that dry British way that he had always been known for.

Angel gave an uneasy smile to the man, as he glanced back over his shoulder at Connor and Xander. Both were quietly taking in the sights of Los Angeles, the cars driving by, the people they passed. His son had been given a chance not to deal with this, not to deal with the world that Angel walked in nightly that for all intents and purposes shouldn't have been able to step out of last night. None of them should have, yet somehow through luck and the Powers That Be stepping in; they did. Xander, now he was surprising in and of itself. He could never remember that sort of anger coming from the brown haired clown before. It was as if something had taken hold of him, wrung out all the humor within him and left him filled with only a quiet anger.

"Right we're coming up to the alley where Willow said they would be at." Giles spoke, breaking Angel out of his thoughts and his reverie.

"Stick together; we don't know what will be going down when we get in there. We don't leave anyone behind." Angel spoke to the three of them, in a steady tone.

"Yea, tell us something we don't know Angel." Xander said with a roll of his eye.

Slowly they rounded the corner into the alley.

Seven Blocks South of the Hyperion – Alley

The three men were silent as they watched Kaya crying. Each one of them unable to find any words to say to comfort the blonde woman as she wept, however when asked later on what had happened, none of them would be able to state that she had sobbed; as she cried silently in her grief.

Kaya's thoughts were vacant at that moment, filled only with sadness that was turning into a burning rage that was taking her over. She blamed herself for his death, if she hadn't just gone running off the night before to help out Lorne, to help supposedly save the world, Eric would still be alive. One of the few people left in this world who still gave a damn about her. Instead she got caught up in the worlds worst drama, got caught up in lives that weren't her own, that didn't need to be her own. Because of her own need to save people, she hadn't been able to save one of the few who mattered to her. It was her fault he was laying there lifeless, drained of his blood.

Her hands rolled into fists against Eric's cold body, as she closed her eyes, her jaw clenching. She could feel her anger welling up inside of her, needing an escape.

"Kaya, come on." Gunn's voice was soft. "We should go."

Kaya turned around, slowly standing up. "We?!... We?! There is no we, Gunn." Shaking her head in disbelief; "No. I'm not going anywhere with any of you." Her tone far too calm, making Gunn uneasy. "I am not going back there and getting stuck in that fucking drama! It's not mine, and it wasn't my fight last night! If it hadn't been for me running off and playing hero, Eric would still be alive." She turned and began to walk away.

Spike reached out, grabbing her shoulder, only a moment later he found himself on his back after Kaya flipped him over and she began to run away, trying to out run the pain and anger that was coursing through her.

"Kaya!" Gunn yelled to her back, about to take off after her. Until he felt a hand on his shoulder, making him stop.

"She needs time and she needs space Gunn." Wesley's voice was soft; however there was a worried overtone to it.

As Spike stood up, he turned and saw four people coming towards them. He sighed, shaking his head. "Great, just great; Peaches and the gang are here." He lit up a Lucky Strike and wiped his hands on his pants afterwards. "What should we do with her Watcher?" He asked Gunn and Wesley.

"We should bury him." Wesley thought about this for a moment, as he turned to look at Angel and the others coming in ear shot distance. "We… were too late."

Gunn was silent, as he looked down the alleyway, the direction that Kaya had gone. Worried about his friend, upset that they hadn't gotten there in time to save someone who seemed so important to her, after all, Spike said it… She saved him last night and others today somehow.

"What are you all doing here anyways?" Spike asked around his cigarette.

"We were afraid it was a trap; there were demon counters up and showing that they were around this area. Thought we could help. No signs of any demons or anything?" Angel asked after he looked over Eric's body a moment.

"Nah haven't seen any demons." Gunn replied quietly, as he moved to pick up Eric's body, pausing for a moment to turn to the others. "We can't exactly carry his body back to the hotel."

Before anyone could answer, the sound of dual growls could be heard coming from both sides of them. As they looked around, they could spot four vampires walking towards them slowly along with two large red skinned demons.

"Well… guess those were the demon counters." Wesley said quietly, as they all took defensive stances.

Somewhere in L.A.

Lindsey McDonald slowly walked down the sidewalk, ignoring the faces of the people he passed. He was always good at that, ignoring the world if he needed to; just to escape. Escape, it seems that's all he's been doing since he was born, running away from problems by either ignoring them or totally leaving them behind.

Except a person can't out run their memories, can't escape their own mind.

I guess I oughta tell you what's been going on…Well I've been chasing dreams for everyone but me…When your heart is filled with misery…It's hard to find the energy…To remember just how much she means to me.

He had been about seven or eight when his baby sister and little brother had passed away that winter, and then later on that very same year, his father had lost the farm. He remembered when he would crawl into the lap of his mother before she too got sick, and she'd tell him everything would be all right. Everything would be okay, though they never did. He and what was left of his family were moved from town to town when his father's schemes would fall through.

Well I keep everything inside so long till it burns…Everybody stokes the fire and the walls get a little higher…I light the candle at both ends…And I hit the gas, the wheels start to spin…But she's always there to catch me when I fall.

When Lindsey got the scholarship to Hastings College, he took it without looking back at what was left of his family, of his life. His mother had been buried the year before, his father had never crawled out of the bottle, and his siblings had all been taken to different foster homes. He had no family left, no strings, so taking the old beat up Ford that was his father's, he left. Studying and working hard to put the past truly behind him, he wanted to be better, needed to have a better life than his father.

Cause I've been hell on wheels for days now…There ain't a shade of red I can't paint…When the lights go down, she always helps me see.

When Holland Manners arrived in his life, his senior year in College, it was as if a prayer had been answered. Of course, it was starting at the very bottom in a mail room of a law firm but it was something! Something he could see, something he could grasp, and something he could cling to. Moreover it was a ladder he could climb. From the get-go he had ambition to make it to he top. When he graduated from college, once more he never looked back, leaving those friends and those few girlfriends behind in the rear view mirror and went out to LA.

In the darkness a day will come…Another light for you to lean upon…But until then maybe your heart…Can rest in mine.

It didn't take too long for Lindsey to get the attention of the others in the law firm. The entire time he had been so focused on his career, he still had un-opened letters from his sister and from his brother. The only information he had from his home, was that his father had finally died, some type of heart attack or something, he never did end up going to the funeral. When he found out what was truly going on in Wolfram and Hart, it was far too late for him to turn back if he wanted to, but then again all he could see was the top of that ladder.

I just can't get the hang of hanging on…Every time I try to grab it, the will is gone.

When he had finally made it, finally a practicing lawyer for the firm, he knew that he was going to be making something of himself. His first big client was Russell Winters a vampire and a big time client. Remembering how excited he had been to finally be there in the big picture, until Angel came crashing in and throwing his prized client out of a window. That wouldn't be the last time that the en-souled vampire would ruin his life.

When she looks into my eyes…She sees a man she used to recognize…And not the stranger trying to go it all alone…

He had tried to go good, he honestly had tried, when the Nanjin had been contracted to kill the three Seer children, he had sided with Angel, and that was going to be it. He was going to get out, but then he remembered how it was to be cold and hungry, going to bed and listening to the sickening thick coughs of his sister and his brother, watching his mother die of a broken heart and a sickness that seemed to eat at her from the inside, he couldn't do it. He had turned back to Wolfram and Hart, gaining a larger office, and sacrificing even more of him; though he didn't know it at the time. When he had lost his hand during the raising of Darla, he hadn't even thought a thing of it. It was just a hazard that came with his job.

Maybe someday I'll see exactly what she sees in me…

Darla, that woman had played him like a fine steel guitar. He had went against the firm, went against himself, went against everyone for her. He had thought if he did, maybe she would love him, they had so much in common; including the destruction of Angel, but that didn't even seem to matter. He had thought she saved him because she cared for him, until he saw that she had spared Lilah as well. It was all a ruse, a ploy… She had screwed him, by screwing Angel; then just left. He hadn't seen her ever again after that, but apparently, there was a good reason for that one. Once more Angel had ruined it all and somehow gotten Darla pregnant with Connor.

Maybe someday I'll be exactly who she wants me to be…

When it was all said and done and he had finally left LA, he and Angel had buried the hatchet, at least for that moment. As the long road stretched out in front of him, Lindsey traveled the country, and then further in a sudden wanderlust that he could never explain. Only now could he realize he was trying to find himself, and also run from the anger that didn't seem to ever abate.

Maybe someday I'll have the strength to run into the man that I once was…

Lindsey McDonald, the man who had fought tooth and nail to get to the top of that ladder was slowly crashing down; he had nothing to show for himself. He had stopped in Oklahoma to try and find his family, but that didn't happen; instead all he found was a tombstone that held the last remnants of his past. His mother and his father now both passed away. As he turned away with a dry eye, he felt another surge of anger boiling up inside of him, but it was only for himself, only for the life that he led.

But right now I think I'll walk into a crawl…

He finally made his way to Nepal, to find some clarity, and while he was there he was able to become enlightened, unfortunately his enlightenment had come with a price of his anger resurfacing once more for Angel. Maybe it was the fact that he knew that Angel was going where he wanted to be, where he had fought so hard for, and got there for being the good guy. When he arrived back in LA he had a plan, and that plan was to bring Angel down to his knees. He had everything planned, hiding from the Senior Partners, taking over Wolfram and Hart, everything was in order… That was until he met Eve, a woman who had enchanted him, intrigued him, and was one helluva looker. It only made sense that she'd be with him for it all, he had fallen and fallen hard.

'Cause I've been hell on wheels for days now…There ain't a shade of red I can't paint…When the lights go down, she always helps me see.

Everything seemed so perfect, that was until Angel foiled his plans once more, once more that damn vampire had gotten the upper hand and he had been sent into a hell specifically created for him. Then… Angel saved him, freed him from that hell to give him the answers that he needed to save Fred, to help him. He was once again rejoined with Eve, and he saw that the only way to be free from that hell permanently, to be free from the evil Black Thorn, he would have to side with Angel. He truly believed that he could do it this time. He could do it, and he and Eve would be free. Maybe even start up a family, he only had to survive the upcoming fight.

In the darkness a day will come…Another light for you to lean upon.

In the end however it wouldn't be a fairy tale for Lindsey, it wouldn't ever be a fairy tale. He had been killed by Angel's orders. Killed because he couldn't be trusted; which while he couldn't blame the vampire, it still angered him. But once again, death wasn't going to be final for Lindsey, and he'd be tortured with the proof of his past. Eve still in a coma, and Kaya who was the fruit that was born of his labors while being a lawyer, both just staring him right in the face and there was nothing he could do. Angel still didn't trust him, none of them did. He didn't see the point of jumping for his redemption when it dangled like a carrot. He didn't jump for anyone.

But until then maybe your heart…Can rest in mine.

As he glanced around, shaken out of his reverie, he could have sworn someone had called his name. He had managed to walk into a small urban park, the ones that the Governor thought would beautify the city.

"Who's there?" He asked his voice faintly cracking.

"Awww, Lindsey. Are you nervous? You should be." A familiar voice came from behind him.

As Lindsey turned around, his jaw clenching as he knew that voice far too well. He could see a brunette woman standing there with a green scarf around her throat, and a matching Gucci suit. "Lilah… I'm not surprised."

An Alley Seven Blocks South from the Hyperion Hotel

"Guess we're going to be getting that fight after all t'night." Spike said as he glanced to Angel, ducking under the swing of a vampire, giving him a good shove towards the rest of the group as Angel followed suit.

"Looks like." Angel responded grimly, heading immediately towards the red faced demons that looked like the Hulk, but only with a different colour.

Connor, Gunn, Wesley, and Xander all stood steadfast, looking to the vampires that they were faced with. As two of them were shoved into the fray, Xander and Connor were the first ones to act, moving forward, catching them.

Connor smirked at his, drawing a confused look from his opponent. "You're a vampire, aren't you?" He asked in his all too innocent manner he'd gotten since his memories had been replaced. The vampire nodded dumbly. "I know just what to do with you." Connor said with a laugh, throwing the first punch and catching the shocked vampire in the jaw.

Xander didn't so much as catch his would-be hunter, as hip toss him to the ground, trying to stake him as soon as possible. The vampire thudded to the concrete floor of the alley, crossing his hands and holding Xander's stake at bay. The ugly faced minion grinning up at the one-eyed man and shoved him backwards, kipping to his feet.

The other two vampires hissed, baring their fangs and rushing the mirthful champion. "Un uh, I don't think so. Play fair fangs for brains!" Quipped Gunn as he ran forward to help out Connor, slamming his foot into the knee of one o f the vampires, making him kneel. The vampire looked up shocked, only to have his head whipped to the side by Gunn's meaty black fist.

Giles had separated from the fighting, and was taking in all the details; as was his very nature to do so. His main focus not on the vampires themselves, but the red faced demons, he could vaguely remember them, however without his books it would be almost useless.

Wesley having noticed that one of the new arrivals was not turning out so well, he began to head towards Xander and his vampire; the vampire surely having the upper hand. However, before he could reach them, he was attacked with a stinging blow to his face, Wesley's head snapping forward, as he felt himself burn with a strength that was not his own. He delivered a steady punch into the sternum of the vampire, sending him careening into an alley wall, and leaving a dent within the reddened bricks.

Giles looking on with a rather large surprised look on his face, his jaw gaping slowly.

Xander pushed the vampire off of him, only to see him be caught by Wesley's hand, who drove him back into the ground, before offering Xander a hand up. "Figured perhaps you could use some help. Are you all right?" Tugging the one-eyed man up onto his feet.

"Perfectly fine, other than for getting rescued by you. When did you learn how to do that?" Xander was awestruck.

"I was a rogue demon hunter after I left Sunnydale." In that ever so cocky tone of Wesley Wyndham Price, he smirked, as Xander pushed him out of the way, rather quickly, catching the Englishman off guard. Wesley turning in time to see Xander shoving a stake through the heart of a charging vampire.

"We're even now."

Within seconds, the ash filled the alley where the vampires had once stood.

However, Giles was watching, as his eyes went wide. "Oh bloody hell."

"Angel... I ah suggest that you-" Before Giles could finish his words; Angel was thrown into Wesley, Gunn, Connor, and Xander. "Go for the eyes." He finished with a sigh.

Spike was not having any easier of a time either. Every punch that he delivered seemed not to phase the red faced demons. With a yell of irritation, Spike lowered his head and sent himself careening into the demon, staggering back as he tried to shake the cobwebs from his skull, a hand coming up as he hissed in pain. "T'hell with this." Spike muttered as his face contorted to that of the beast that he always tried to keep at bay.

As Angel and the other four stood up slowly, Angel shook his head. "They were easier to kill last time."

"Last time, they were puppets." Wesley said with a dour affirmation.

Angel pulled out the small knife that he had been carrying with him and charged for the beast once more. Moving as quickly as he did, it was in mid stride that his own face changed; he ducked under what would have been a debilitating blow and stepped into the personal space of the "red hulk." As the red beast tried to attack once more, Angel raised the knife, and plunged it deep into the tender spot of the demon's eye. With a loud yowl of pain, the beast fell back, giving Angel the opportunity to attack.

Spike, however was not fairing so well. He had not heard the warning uttered by Giles, it was almost impossible it seemed. Every time he tried to punch the demon, it was countered, and every time the demon tried to punch Spike, he countered as well. "What is it with you?!" He yelled in frustration.

Xander would roll his good eye, reaching into his pocket, and tilted his head as he felt the small papery packets of salt and pepper that he had also brought along with the food. Perhaps fortunate for him, Xander had forgotten to hand them out as well.

"Spike! Here!" He would hand Spike a few of the packets while Spike had moved back towards the others.

"What do you want me to do, tenderize them? Hate to break it to you mate, but they're rather tough."

"Throw it at him, his eyes."

Spike threw the salt packet at the demon, and then threw his hands up. "It didn't do anything!"

Xander shook his head. "The salt, out of the packet."

As if a light bulb went off in Spike's head, he ripped open the salt packets, and as he got in close to the demon once more, he threw the salt into his face. The demon quickly putting his hands up to his eyes, as if to try and wipe out the crystal iodized granules that caused his eyes to burn and water.

"Brilliant!" Spike yelled as he then charged back to the demon.

As Angel and Spike now both had the upper hand, they made short work of killing the demons. Spike breaking the neck of his foe, while Angel stabbed the knife further into the eye socket of the red demon. Making sure that both were truly dead, they then turned to look at one another, then towards the rag tag crew that they had fought with that night.

"You have fought these demons before then I take it." Giles would say as he walked up to the rest of the men. "However, there is still something rather odd about all of this."

They all shared a look, before Spike blurted out, "Oh enough of the cliffhanger, what is it?" Impatient as always, at least there were some things that never changed.

"They didn't attack us out right, it was as if they were here to take their lumps." Wesley said, as if he were almost able to gleam into the thoughts of his old colleague.

"Exactly, they could have easily taken on all of you but didn't." Giles sighed lightly.

"Why? What's the point in them being here then, other than to die?" Connor asked, curiously, perhaps even confused.

"Because it was nothing more than a distraction. Dammit!" Gunn ran his hands over his bald head.

Before Gunn could even utter those words, Angel had turned and was using his cellphone to dial the Hyperion.

Hyperion Hotel Lobby

"Angel, what is it?" Willow asked as she answered the phone, her fingers crossed, her breath held in hopes that it wasn't bad news.

"No, no one's here, everything's all right. I've been keeping an eye on things. What is it?" Willow asked a second time, this time with more insistance.

As the words entered into Willow's ear, she fell heavily into the chair that had been thankfully behind her. "I understand. Right, I'll... make sure everything is all right. I... You... You just be safe." As Willow hung up the phone, she raised her head to look at Lorne.

"Her Watcher is dead. It was a trap of some sort." The features of the Witch paled, as Lorne put a hand up to his face in disbelief. "Kaya's gone, they're bringing back his body for burial." Even as she said those words, tears rolled down her cheeks. She had not known the man, but every time something horrible happened, Willow believed it was her fault.

Lorne, Willow, and Andrew sat there quietly, looking to one another. Tonight there had been plans to bring another home. To perhaps start healing the wounds and finding out what could be in store next. Tonight however, they would indeed bring another home. To be put to eternal rest.

Somewhere in LA

"Aww is that any way to greet an old friend Lindsey? I mean we've always been the closest of friends. All the times you tried to kill me, set me up for failure, and leave me to clean up your messes. I'd say we're the best friends ever." Lilah's lips turned into the cold cynical smile that she had always had. Death could not even soften the woman's remorse.

"What is it you want Lilah?" He growled the words out, as Lindsey's cold eyes would look to her, an anger rolling off of him like waves.

"Oh testy! Well, I just figured we should catch up a little bit before you and the rest of the goodie two shoes die. I mean, with the hell that's prepared for you, we won't have time afterwards." Grinning, she walked towards Lindsey. "Oh now don't look so glum chum, we'll make sure that you're at least well taken care of. You know Wolfram and Hart as well as the Senior Partners, we look out for our own."

Lindsey swung at Lilah, however he was unable to touch her, his hand went right through her. "I'm nothing like you!" His voice echoed through the park, his chest heaving in anger. "I'm NOTHING like them!" His words rung true in his ears, however he as he tried to get his point across to his ex-colleague, he tried to also get the point across to himself.

"No? Really?" Lilah smirked gently, shaking her head as she bit her bottom lip gently. "I don't think so Lindsey. You got a second shot at life, and hey I'm happy for you. But we both know that power and greed is all that fills that black heart of yours. Why I doubt you even love that pathetic little Eve. By the way... How is she?"

Lindsey stared at Lilah a moment with absolute disgust and hatred. Her words cutting deeply, but he refused to let her know it, he refused to let her see the pain that those words brought forth. "She's not any of your concern."

Lilah smirked. "No, she's not my concern at all... She's yours."

Lilah turned and began to walk away, disappearing into the darkness as if she had never been there.

Lindsey stared at the spot where she had once been. Raising his hand, he ran it through his hair, tugging at it as if to try and bring back rational thought. He had no idea what was going on. The only thing he knew that that the afterlife had not been kind to Lilah Morgan, in fact, it seemed as if she had turned into much more of a cold bitch.

----

The world wasn't a very giving place for a Champion. With every single victory and win, the losses were always high; leaving the bittersweet aftertaste. Loss was something that was not new to any of them. The loss of friendship, love, life, hope, and even themselves weighed upon their shoulders like Atlas who carried the world. Never truly belonging to the world in which they were destined to protect, and never truly able to find peace. Some may say that it's a great thing to be a Champion, but these champions... These champions could say otherwise.

They stand upon the dawn of a new battle, one that none were prepared to face. Being forced to face their own failures, their own losses; this is what the Senior Partners and the forces of evil wanted for these beings. To break them so slowly, they would never know what hit them. In the coming hours, coming days, it would truly be a test of strength.

The darkness was getting closer. Their light was slowly diminishing. The end was no where in sight, the chaos only becoming stronger.

Song: The Darkness by Kane (Lead singer: Christian Kane (Woot)