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1753
"Who is that?" the vampire Darla asked
She was in Galway, Ireland and had stopped in at a bar, hoping to find a potential partner. And from the looks of things, she had found one, watching the mortal Liam brawl against the other drinkers with maniac abandon
"Who, that one?" asked the bar maid
"Yes. He's magnificent," Darla replied
"Ooh yah, God's gift alright"
Liam sculled half a mug of ale, before punching another fighter
"Really! I never knew God to be so generous," Darla said
"Oh, his lies sound pretty when the stars are out, but he forgets every promise he's made when the sun comes up again," said the bar maid
Liam looked over at the pair and grinned at them, just as someone clocked him in the jaw
"That really won't be a problem for me," Darla smiled
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Angel watched quietly from the corner as the deliveryman from the train station knocked on Trevor's door. The former police officer answered quickly, giving something to the man. Angel hung back, letting the deliveryman go past, before going to Trevor's door. He had heard reports that the Kwaini demon was going after the deliveryman. Now there was something going on between the man and Trevor and Angel had a feeling it wasn't legal
"Can I help you?" Trevor asked, answering the door
"I'm Angel, a friend of your daughter's," Angel replied, "We met at your retirement party"
"Oh yeah, Angel. What do you want?"
"Just wondering what you were doing at the station today? Making sure your deliveryman survived the ordeal. Cause I don't think you were there for Kate"
"Excuse me?" Trevor asked, "What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about," Angel replied, "I will find out what's going on. I'm telling you that out of respect for your daughter"
"You threatening me?"
"No. Just protecting Kate from finding out the reason you were at the crime scene wasn't because you care for her"
"You got kids, Angel?"
"My girlfriend is expecting our firstborn"
"Until he's born, don't expect you know exactly how a father feels or why he does the things he does"
And with that, he slammed the door in Angel's face
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"Geez, you're back," Cordelia said, "Finally. What took you so long?"
"She's a little cranky you were gone for some time," Wesley said
"She does that," Angel said, "I was following something up. Kate's father was at the crime scene. I think he's involved in something pretty illegal"
"What makes you say that?" asked Wesley
"The Kwaini demon was going after a delivery guy. Afterwards, that guy took a package from Kate's father. I think that it's something bad"
"Kwaini demons are very peaceful demons," Wesley said, "According to Cordelia, this one was aggressive"
"It was. Put up quite a fight. Then it suddenly died. Just seized up and died"
"It could be that Kate's father is passing along illegal contraband involving demons. If that's the case, then it's possible he'll end up in grave danger"
"I have to find out what's going on," Angel said
"Angel, I'm tired. Can you give me a massage?" Cordelia asked
"Sure thing, honey. Wes, can you carry on for a bit?"
"Not a problem"
Angel scooped Cordelia up into her arms, before taking her downstairs
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"Strange. You seem taller when I was alive," Angelus said
His human father looked on in horror at his son, crossing himself and saying a prayer
"To think that I ever let such a tiny, trembling thing make me feel the way you did"
"Deliver me under thy protection, Lord"
"You told me I wasn't a man. You told me I was nothing. And I believed you. You said I'd never amount to anything. You were wrong," Angelus said, before vamping, "You see, Father. I have made something of myself after all"
Holding his father against the wall, Angelus grinned and descended
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Angel headed towards Trevor's apartment. It had been a few days since he last confronted the former police officer and in that time, he had found out what Trevor was up to. He had partially joined a small, but powerful criminal ring run by vampires, using his police connections to pass illegal contraband around, such as a small chemical that could make passive demons, such as Kwainis, aggressive and stronger than normal. Not only that, but Angel had a feeling that Trevor was in great danger. Knocking on the door, he hoped that Trevor was home
"What now?" Trevor demanded after he answered
Angel looked over his shoulder and saw two businessmen in the room. However, he knew better than Trevor
"Invite me in," he said, "You have to invite me in"
He watched as the two men vamped out
"You're crazy," Trevor said, "Go away"
"Trevor, please, sir, invite me in," Angel pleaded
One of the vampires grabbed Trevor and threw him across the room, as the other vampire smirked at Angel
"Guess you're not invited. Sorry"
"He dies, his soul leaves this place, I can get in and kill you both"
The vampire continued smirking, as his companion held Trevor in an arm lock. The vampire grinned and sank his fangs into Trevor's throat, as Angel watched on helplessly. The vampires dropped Trevor's body, as the invisible force field dropped and Angel rushed into the apartment, breaking a chair leg off and kicking the second vampire, staking him as Trevor's killer ran for it. Just as he left, Kate entered and immediately rushed to her father's corpse, tears welling up in her eyes as she saw the bite marks on his throat
"Kate, I tried to warn him. I couldn't stop them. I-"
"Get out," Kate cried, "Get out now!"
Angel left, leaving Kate with her father's body
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"Can I help-"
BLAM!
The vampire fell back, a bullet wound in his chest. He growled and vamped out, getting to his feet, as several other vampires showed up. Kate raised her handgun and unloaded the whole magazine into the vampire. He snarled and lunged at her, as she threw him over her shoulder and ran a stake into his heart. Trevor's killer burst into dust, as the rest of vampires snarled. One charged at Kate, as someone staked him
"Kate, get out of here," Angel said
"Who disturbs my work?" boomed a voice
A large demon stepped into view. Kate's jaw dropped slightly when she saw him. Angel, however, staked two vampires at once, before charging at the demon, withdrawing a small axe from inside his coat. The demon roared and swung at Angel, who ducked and leapt up, implanting the axe into his head. The demon fell over dead, as Angel and Kate took care of the vampires, turning them all to dust
"Kate, about your father-" Angel started when the fight was over
"My father was human," Kate said, "You don't know anything about that"
She stormed off, as Angel watched her go
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Two weeks later…
The bus pulled up and opened its doors, as the passengers all got off and headed off in different directions. One such passenger, a young woman with long flowing brown hair and dressed in a black tank top and tight leather pants, headed off, as a man watched her, before following after her
"You new in town?" he asked, "Have to be careful in a city like this. People can take advantage of you"
The young woman faced him, dropping her bag aside, before looking around
"You know, I've got a place where you can stay. Also some money. There'll only be a few things you'll have to do, but-"
The woman punched him, knocking him down, before taking his jacket and wallet
"Now I have a place to stay," Faith said, "And money"
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Next chapter: Faith is in Los Angeles. Sounds like fun