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"I've got it," Angel called out, holding up the key, "How's things?"
"She got another vision," said Lorne, "However, this time, I managed to tap into the line and someone is tampering with the visions. Something evil"
"And we all know there's only one person who would do this," Wesley said
"Lilah"
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"Angel, it's so nice to see you," Lilah Morgan smiled, "What can I do for you?"
"What kind of game are you playing here?" Angel growled
"Oh you mean with the visions? The medallion and the key? Well, let's see, there is a man who has been wrongly imprisoned and I need a Champion to free him"
"And if I were to do this, you'll leave Cordy alone?"
"No, you'll do this because I asked you. This man is a powerful client and I need him here. Therefore, I need you to travel through into a fortified demon dimension to get him. Do this and what's-her-name will be okay"
"Her name is Cordelia Chase," Angel growled, grabbing Lilah by the throat, "So, what do I have to do?"
"I knew I could count on you, Angel," Lilah said with a smile after Angel released her
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"Everything ready?" Angel asked
"Are you?" Wesley replied
Angel gripped his broadsword and axe, as Wesley slid the key into the centre of the medallion. Arms branched out from the key to touch the edge of the medallion, as Wesley spun it like a top at Angel's feet. A portal opened up, sucking Angel inside. When it closed, all of his weapons clattered to the floor, as Angel found himself standing inside a castle without them
"Of course, because defending myself would be too easy"
He followed the corridor to a small set of stairs and headed down, coming out into a large room with rock walls and a sandy floor. A large prism of flames hung in the centre, as an image of a man could be seen inside. A demon with an armoured body suddenly appeared beside Angel, watching the man burn
"Hey, how's it going?" he asked
"Quite good. Yourself?" Angel asked
"Good, good thanks. You're a vampire? How come you work for the Powers?"
"Just a thing I do. How come he's not screaming?"
"I block it out. The name's Skip"
"I'm Angel," he replied, shaking Skip's hand, "So, what did he do?"
"Oh something bad to get something this bad"
"Huh, well, I hate to say this, but I'm here to free him"
"You're a Champion and this guy is evil. You're gonna free him?"
"Afraid so. The only way I'm gonna save my girlfriend"
"Oh, well that's a shame," Skip said, "Because I really didn't want to do this"
Angel flew across the room from the blow. He got up, vamping out, as Skip swung his fist. Ducking, Angel delivered two swift blows to his stomach, followed by an uppercut. The blows hardly had any effect on Skip, as he punched Angel to the ground, before kicking him into the air and against the wall. Getting to his feet, Angel dodged Skip's next swing and cracked him across the jaw, then slammed him against the wall. Skip shoved Angel away and backhanded him
Angel kicked Skip in the solar plexus, then punched him, before running him headfirst into the wall, then threw him to the ground. Skip remained still, the flames died down and the man dropped to the ground, his skin smoky black from the fire, as his eyes glittered from his ashen face
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The Plymouth pulled up across from the two limousines. Lilah and a few bodyguards got out of the limo, as Angel grabbed the man by the shirt and hauled him out of the car with ease, before heading over to Lilah
"Before you get him, reverse it," Angel ordered
Lilah looked back at her car, as the window wound down and a man wearing a fez popped his head out. Lilah nodded at him and he closed his eyes in concentration. Back at the Hyperion, the slashes, boils and scorch marks faded away from Cordelia's body, as Wesley called Fred on the cell phone
"It's done," she said
Wesley closed the phone, as Angel let go of the man. Two bodyguards grabbed him and took him to the other limo, before cutting the rope bounding his hands together. The man smirked at Angel as he was placed inside the limo
"Don't worry, Angel, its just business," Lilah said coolly
"Yeah, just business," Angel said
He walked away as Lilah did the same. However, a split second later, a rebar smashed through the window and impaled Fez Man through the head, killing him instantly. Lilah whirled around to see Angel standing up close to her, a furious look on his face. The amount of distance he had covered in such short time scared her, but not so much as what he said next,
"Don't you dare come at me through Cordelia again. You play that card a second time and I will kill you!"
Angel glared at Lilah, before walking away. Visibly frightened, Lilah headed back to her own limo, now having to deal with a dead client, as Angel drove away
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"How are you feeling?" Angel asked
"Feeling better," Cordelia replied
She placed a hand on her swollen stomach protectively, before continuing to serve up waffles and coffee. Angel watched her, as Connor joined them at the counter
"You know I don't eat, right?" Angel said
"Yeah I know, but you can eat them at least. Connor loves them"
Angel smiled at his son, who had his waffles covered in syrup and was now trying to eat them, prompting Angel to cut up the waffles for him and help him eat it
"Angel…about what you did," Cordelia started
"There's nothing to discuss about it"
"But, what about that man that Wolfram and Hart now has? He would be evil and would be hurting people. And he'll be doing it because of me"
"Cordy, in this case, it wasn't what mattered, but who. You were who mattered, not only to me, but also to the team. I did what I had to and I'll worry about the consequences later. Given a chance to do it all again, I'd do the same thing again"
Cordelia smiled, as Angel did the same. She sipped her coffee, before seeing that Connor had syrup all over his face. Angel grabbed a napkin and wiped it up for him, as the trio sat together in contentment
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"In one months time, our armies will march forth to Questral and we shall destroy the half-breed scum that wallow there," cried the general, "From there, we shall continue our crusade against half-breeds until only the pure remain"
"Huzzah!" cried the massive army, consisting of only pureblood demons
"We shall succeed where the Scourge had failed. The vampire Champion, Angel, shall fall to our might. And from there, no one can stop us"
"Huzzah!"
"Spread our message to all half-breeds: you can run, but you can't hide. And to our fellow purebloods: join us or stay out of our way!"
"Axtius! Axtius! Axtius!"
"There is something pleasing about all this," Axtius grinned
"How will you deal with the vampire?" his second-in-command, Haborym, asked
"With great satisfaction," Axtius replied, palming a glowing mace
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Thought I might go with something different instead. For those who have read Monster Island, you'll know who Axtius is