I didn't mention this in the last chapter cause I was tired from travel, but I got a tattoo yesterday. It's the griffon from the book of kell, the same as Angel's, only it has a 'C', instead of an 'A'. And it looks pretty cool. I love it! Anyhow, on with the story
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Two weeks later…
The lone girl was heading home when three men appeared behind her at a distance and started following her. The girl looked over her shoulder, saw their game faces and quickened her pace, turning a corner into a courtyard. The vampires gave chase, finding her standing in the middle of the courtyard. The vampires grinned, but turned around when they felt a presence. A man was standing before them, his coat reaching down to his knees and a sword in his hand
"You were expecting somebody else?" Charles Gunn asked
Several people showed up, carrying either swords or crossbows, as a truck drove up behind Gunn, four large pieces of timber sharpened into stakes and drilled to the bonnet on braces. A couple more vampires arrived, as the fight began
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One week later…
"How much longer?" Cordelia asked, rubbing her swollen stomach
"I believe about a month and a half," Wesley replied
"I am so gonna kill Angel for doing this to me"
"Who's gonna kill me for doing what to them?" Angel asked, coming into the office
"Don't play coy. You and your vamp hearing. You heard me," Cordelia said
"Oh come on, it'll be okay. Once you get through all the – oh, now I see why you want to kill me"
"I am so not looking forward to the birth," Cordelia said, "But at the same time, I want the kid out of me. He keeps kicking me, especially at night!"
"I know, cause you keep me awake every time you toss and turn"
"You try being this pregnant and see how much sleep you can get"
"I'll take a pass"
"Yeah, I thought you would say something like that"
Angel smiled and gave her a quick kiss
"So, anything new?" he asked Wesley
"Yes, we're gonna meet up with a client tonight," Wesley replied, "His name is David Nabbit and he has a case for us. I think it's just an ordinary run-of-the-mill job"
"Yeah and what is that?" Cordelia asked, "What's ordinary in our world?"
"I think it's something to do with blackmail"
"Blackmail. Haven't had one of those since-" Angel started
"Ever," Cordelia finished for him, "Well, at least it's not vampires or something. Now, if you don't mind, I'm stealing Angel's bed for a nap"
She headed off downstairs, as Angel watched her go with a smile on his face
"I'm so excited about the upcoming birth," he said
"Of course you would. Seeing as you're a vampire, having children would be impossible. But you were allowed one chance to conceive a child and you took it"
"It wasn't like that," Angel said, "I just got turned into a human for a day and me and Cordy ended up attracted to each other. Boom and it went from there"
"And you're happy," Wesley said, "Which is good. Hopefully, not too happy, cause that would be bad for us all, but still, at least you're not broody. Cordy likes that"
"She doesn't like it when I brood?"
"Oh course not. Now, shall we go over some cases?"
"Yeah, sounds good"
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Wesley and Angel arrived at the party, which made Angel instantly uncomfortable. He hated crowds, always felt awkward around them. Cordelia was at the office resting, as Wesley pointed out David Nabbit and headed over
"Hi there," Wesley said, "I'm Wesley Wyndam-Pryce and this is Angel"
"Nice to meet you," David said, shaking his hand, "Uh, what can I do for you?"
"We spoke on the phone earlier. Angel Investigations?"
"Oh right"
"So, what can we do for you?" Angel asked, "I'm told it was something about blackmail"
"Yeah, it is," David said, "You know Dungeons and Dragons?"
"Yeah, seen a few"
"The role-playing game?" Wesley said, covering up for Angel, who realized his mistake
"Yeah that. Well, me and my friends really got into that. Be someone else, a warrior, a wizard and go on quests, save demon ladies and slay the bad guys. Well, we really got into it and heard about this place where you can meet and romance a demon lady"
"Ah, a demon brothel," Wesley said, "I've read about them," he said off Angel's look
"Yeah, so there's this guy who's taken photos and look, it wouldn't look good for my business if they got out," David said, "And I have a big business"
"Do you know the name of your blackmailer?" Angel asked
"No, but I could give you the name of the place I went to," David said
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Lenny Edwards was out standing beside his car, smoking a cigarette. Angel smiled slightly when he saw him, recognising his scent as human. Now this should be easy. After visiting the demon brothel, he had threatened the owner into giving him the name of the blackmailer. Then it was as simple as phoning him and arranging a place
"Lenny Edwards," Angel said, "I'm here on behalf of David Nabbit"
"Nabbit? Oh yeah, that guy. He got the money for me?"
"I have a better idea. You give me the photos and you walk away, bones intact"
"Nabbit owes me the money," Lenny said, "Now he better pay up or he's gonna see my bad side. Trust me, you don't wanna see that"
"You show me yours, I'll show you mine," Angel said, vamping out
He grabbed Lenny and slammed him against his car
"You will give me the photos and everything to do with them. If you don't, I will dog you every day and every night until I get what I want. Clear?"
"Sure, not a problem," Lenny squeaked
Angel let him go and walked off, as Lenny got into his car and drove away. Meanwhile, Charles Gunn and his crew of vampire hunters had seen the whole incident while on patrol
"Vamp must be new in town," said a hunter
"Yeah? Well, he's not gonna stay for long," Gunn said
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Lenny was next to his car in the same spot, as Angel walked towards him
"Here's everything, photos, negatives, the lot," Lenny said
He handed the small folder to Angel, who looked inside just to make sure
"And there's also a demon here to kick your ass"
Angel whirled around as a fist slammed into his face, throwing him over the car. Angel got to his feet, blocking the demon's punch and striking it, then kicking it in the stomach and making a run for it. The demon gave chase, as Angel grabbed onto a street sign and swung around, kicking the demon in the chest. Rushing over, Angel delivered several blows, taking a few hits as well, before overpowering the demon and snapping its neck. Just as he dropped the body, lights flared up, as a truck came rushing towards him. Angel's eyes widened when he saw the stakes and he ran for it
Grabbing a Dumpster, Angel pulled it out towards the truck, as it swerved around it and accelerated. A wooden stake suddenly appeared in Angel's shoulder, as he grabbed a bin and threw it at the windscreen, knocking the truck off course, as he came to a chain-link fence
The truck was speeding up, so Angel abandoned the fence and dived into a building through a gap in the wall. He leaned against the wall, hearing the truck back away. Angel let out a sigh he didn't need, just as four large stakes rammed through the wall, just missing him. Angel took off again, doding a spiked trap, as a young man charged at him with a stake raised. Angel threw him aside easily, before turning and kicking another hunter in the chest. A third hunter jumped on Angel's back, but he threw her off, before grabbing her, as Gunn and a few hunters arrived
"Alonna! Whoa, whoa, whoa," Gunn cried, signalling to the others to lower their crossbows
"Call me crazy, but I'm getting the feeling you don't like me very much," Angel said
"let her go," Gunn said
"Sure, no problem"
Angel let Alonna go, as she backed away from him, never taking her eyes off him. However, she tripped over a low wire, launching a small arrow right towards herself
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