Chapter6 :

° Disclaimer in the prologue.

"An… Angel?!"

"Hello Giles" said the man.

"What… How…" stammered Giles.

He was surprised by Angel's presence at his door as he didn't really know the man. All he knew was that Buffy had wanted to jump him since the first time she met him. They had exchanged some words when Angel was around, but he never trusted him, there was something wrong about him. Xander told him once, that he was on edge around him, that something was repressing Angel's very nature. That was why he would become cold and mistrusting around him, and certainly not because he was jealous of Buffy, like she seemed to think.

There was also the fact that he was letting Buffy flirt with him, helping and protecting her against the demons and that didn't help them to trust him. Though it had been a moment since they last saw him with her, maybe he was beginning to see the real Buffy and not the vulnerable young girl she was showing to those around her.

Deciding to listen to him for once and learned what was wrong; he stared in Angel's eyes and willed him to continue.

"I need your help" said Angel not lowering them.

Giles was shock to say the least, but seeing the honesty and need in the man's eyes helped him to make his decision. He was going to invite him inside, when he felt something strange coming from Angel. He pushed some of his freshly returned magic in the man's direction and felt around the disturbance. He was a vampire; that much he could tell, but there was something else, something wrong. The rush of magic that went through him this night not only returned Giles his real identity but his magic as well. This magic enabled him to see the flows of energies, be they magic, mutations or inherent to a species; he could read anyone by those energies.

Reading Angel was troubling, he could see two different lines; the dark green one which was representing his magic and the second, which he knew by the size and colour was the vampire line. It was a dark crimson practically black that was showing its strength in all its splendour; the darker the colour the more powerful the clan. But those two lines were blocked by a dark mist that prevented Angel from using their powers, that's why Xander was on edge when around Angel, he realised, it was blocking Angel's true nature and Xander felt it.

It explained a lot of things like why a vampire as powerful as Angel wasn't sensed by Buffy when in her vicinity or why he didn't sense the craziness and bloodlust in her. Someone had messed with the vampire big time, and once it was revealed this someone was going to have to deal with repercussions they won't like and he would be there to watch. What has been done was a serious prejudice against Angel and his clan, this curse was against nature and forbidden to use on any creatures. It was cruel and inhuman because the victim was forced into a state of uncontrollable craziness and violence where he or she would turn against their loved ones without remorse, and it would finally cause the death of the victim or the end of the clan, pack or family.

Seeing as Angel was sane and in control, Giles pushed a little more power in his reading and was surprised to see the mist surrounded by a transparent bubble of clear magic protecting him from its evil effects. So someone was able to freeze the curse before it was too late, but seeing Angel's brooding behaviour, not before someone dear to him was hurt.

Horrified by what had happen, Giles invited him in and with one last look at Angel decided to take his chance and took his mask off, letting Ripper come to play. Angel seemed to sense the change in power, as he tensed and turned back to Giles, searching his eyes for any threat. Ripper took charge of the situation; he directed Angel to a chair and sat in front of him.

"Alright I'm listening, but I hope to learn why a vampire of the Aurelius clan and as powerful as you are, had been cursed with a dark and forbidden spell which had been said to be forgotten by all." Ripper said with a tone of voice that said he would not accept anything else.

"Yes" answered Angel looking a little out of balance as Ripper let him know that he knew who and what he really was. As he was going to explain why he was here in the first place, someone knocked on the door.

"Giles it's me, sorry to be late but I went to Kyle and we bought pizzas on the way" called Xander as he let themselves in. They took the food to the kitchen and went to find Giles in his living room. "Oh! I didn't know you were having another visitor." He said his voice carrying a hint of shock and suspicion.

"It wasn't planned, but now that the two of you are here, we should listen to Angel and see what we could do to help? If you don't mind of course Angel…" responded Giles in a tone of voice that left no place to argument.

Xander acquiesced without reserve knowing that for Ripper to take off his mask, something must really be wrong. He could feel the anger and outrage coming of him from where he was; whoever wronged Angel was going to pay the price. Kyle nodded his head as well not wanting to displease Ripper when he was this angry and took his position a step in front of Xander, protecting his alpha. They were curious of what was going on.

Angel seemed to hesitate for a moment but felt power coming from Xander and Kyle that wasn't there a few days before and knew that he made the right choice in coming to Giles. Sensing that they had the power to help him, he began to explain what forced him to come here in the first place.

He came in Sunnydale because one of his children told him that he would fine the solution to his problem there that he would find those who will be able to help him destroy the curse placed on him. Well not in those terms exactly, it was more like: "When the time come for the blond killer to stay on the sunny mouth of Hell, with the help of the doggies and their Ripper; the rightful heir of the bloodline will take back his place; ending the rule of the bald bat; giving back to the angels their free will."

That's why he stayed around Buffy, not knowing who the doggies and the Ripper were; he thought she would be his best chance to find them. They would have to stumble upon them one day as he had complete confidence in his child visions; she was that powerful, even though a little lunatic but she had the right to be after what happened to her.

Ripper didn't appear to be shock by his child's power, contrary to the two young men and he lifted an eyebrow in question.

"Yes I know about Drusilla, I know that she is not the crazy vampire that the council made her to be, but those revelations will have to wait for later. We need to know what happened to you if we are to help" answered Ripper, letting him know he would not be the only one to share his secrets tonight.

Nodding his head in agreement he continued his explanations. Buffy had asked him to come to the school and help her with something about Xander, but as he came to the entrance of the school he saw her herding Xander and his friends away. He was going to follow them but then he saw Giles rushing to his car and leave as well. He was confused about what had just happened and was staring in the direction they just left, when he heard cursing and shouting coming from the school. Hiding himself in the shadows he saw Willow running and cursing about how his plan wasn't going as it should and how she would make Giles paid for daring to go against her.

At that Kyle and Xander began growling, eyes glowing green and looking threatening, stopping Angel from his story. Realising what they were doing Xander looked at Ripper sheepish while Kyle was smirking.

"Well as you can see something happen to the three of us tonight and I think I know who are the doggies and their Ripper" Ripper told him smirking.

A gasp was heard around the room as they watch Angel smiling for the first time in joy and anticipation; it was a sight they wanted to see again in the near future. His demeanour brightening, Angel returned to his story.

He followed Willow to the zoo and the Hyena House but was stopped by fledglings that were passing by. He killed them in no time and was going to enter the House, as a rush of magic passed through him and made him fall to his knees. It broke a wall that was placed on his memory and feelings; and like a dam it flooded him with sensations that nearly caused him to black out. He remembered the curse, what he did under it and the love he felt for all his children; which he was ashamed of forgetting in the first place.

There was something else, something that scared him enough to search help from the only person who he knew would listen to him. It scared him but he couldn't reach any of his children, he had a bond with each of them but none of them were accessible. He could feel a vague feeling coming from two of them but nothing from the others. It made him doubt that the curse was the only problem here, but while he wanted to assure himself of their safety and well being, he knew he couldn't do anything till the curse was destroyed and his bloodline freed.

Looking at Ripper Angel said "I know who placed the curse on me and who wanted it done in the first place, and while the one who did it is already long dead the other one will pay!"

"Yes he will and we will help! This curse is immoral and against nature! Its nature is to reverse the bond between a sire and his children; making him lust for their blood and death. The victim's loved ones have to kill him if they want to survive, but if they aren't powerful enough, the spell will release its victim on the death of his last cherished one. And you know as well as I do that the victim won't be able to survive the grief and guilt." Ripper told them, anger coming from him in vague.

Xander and Kyle blanched and nodded their heads at that, "We will help too!" Xander said horror-struck. "Bonds between vampire and children are more powerful than those between human. The pain and grief for those who survived would be intolerable!"

For the first time since they invited themselves in Kyle spoke. "I don't see the magic like Ripper and Xander seemed to do but I trust them completely. So if this curse was placed on you; how come you seemed to be sane?"

"I have a child who is an adept at magic and she saw me coming to hurt my youngest. You have to understand that in the vampire lore any child is to be cherished and protected, but the youngest one is always protected by every members of his clan. So till he became a master the bonds with his siblings are as powerful as the one with his sire. It allowed the young one to be protected at all time, but this time I was the enemy. I… I wanted to kill him, I… I practically killed his spirit and I know he won't ever be the same again." Angel said in a desperate whisper.

Looking at each others in sorrow and not knowing what to say to soften Angel's pain, Ripper decided to act and stood up from his chair. He went to kneel in front of the suffering man and taking his hands in his owns, he made him look into his eyes.

"Angel! Listen to me. I can't began to imagine what pain you are suffering at the moment, but I know what I would feel if I was to hurt those two boys" Ripper said nodding in the direction of Xander and Kyle. "Those two boys have had to suffer through much more than any child of their age should have and I would hate myself if I had to add to it. I love them too much."

From his place at Angel's feet, he could felt the warmth and happiness radiated from the boys as their eyes shined the love they felt for him. He smiled with pride and love at them in return, then turned his attention back to watch Angel's shoulders sagged, a feeling of despair coming from the man.

"But you forgot something Angel" Ripper said capturing the vampire's attention back. "You weren't the one hurting your little one, it was the curse and the one who put you under."

"But I… I was going to rape him. My child came just in time to freeze the curse, a minute later and it would have been too late. Even now I can't come near them without risking her spell to weaken. I haven't been able to see them in years, I'm afraid of what has become of my youngest." Angel said softly waiting for them to reject him and made him leave.

Only for Ripper to said fiercely "But it wasn't your fault! Who did it Angel? Who wanted you placed under that curse? I will make him regret to even think of taking from a child his parent's love!"

Angel looked in Giles eyes, then in Xander's and Kyle's as well; not seeing the disgust he thought would be there, he began to forgive himself and heal. He needed to come back to his powerful and confident self, if he was to destroy that curse, and help his youngest in dealing with what had happened. So with all the hate, fury and disgust he felt for him, he said; "The master!"

"What! The one of the prophecy? Your clan's master?" Ripper asked shocked.

"Yes! That… that bald bat…" he could see Xander struggling to restrain himself from laughing and Kyle and Giles smirking. "That bastard killed two birds with one stone with that curse, but had forsaken our line with that betrayal. That's why when reaching to our vampire's power ridges formed on our faces, it's the mark of the leader's betrayal" Angel told them.

He then went on with his explanation. The Aurelius clan had lost his power and respect when 'the Master' killed the last leader to gain the line's power. Neither deserving them nor being mark as its heir and chosen, he wasn't able to access all of its powers, only the one directly connected to the safety of the clan. In the years following his new position, he lost all his clan members to other clans or death, except for his child who was as insane as he was. The madman killed her when the line recognised Angel, his grandchild as its heir, marking him with a tattoo on his back, as well as passing its powers and lore to him. He never thought that three days after being marked and two after turning his youngest, he would be betrayed by his grandsire.

Though now that he thought about it, he should have; there never was lost love between the two of them. That monster had no honour, never liking anything more than power, so what would stop him to seek Angel's child's gypsy tribe for help. They saw Angel as the devil who stole children from them after killing their father, not even thinking that maybe the father was an abusive bastard.

That tribe was powerful and kept trace of the forbidden curse never hesitating in inflicting him with it, to avenge children that were gone for years and happily living with him. The irony was that they didn't even hesitate to sacrifice pure little children to call on the power they needed. They were the monsters and never realised it, they disgusted him.

Once the spell was done the transfer of powers was blocked and had to returned to its former host but in anger the line strike back to him and imprison him where no one could reach him. That's when Angel went after his youngest and his magical gypsy child came in time to freeze his curse and saved them both. Feeling that the spell wouldn't resist the nearness of his children, he had to leave before his youngest regain consciousness, but not before his child told him to come to Sunnydale when the slayer would come to live there, and that she would look after her little brother. Her last words before he left were to promise him that he would free their cherished one of his nightmare.

That's what made him continue to fight to this day, that and the chance to kill the bastard who made his life Hell. He knew 'the Master' was awakening, he was making himself an army of minions but with the help of Ripper and the doggies they would get rid of him once and for all.

As Angel finished his story he looked in three pairs of understanding eyes, they told him that they would help him and that he had been badly wronged for something which was rightfully his. They also assured him that 'the Master' would felt his death and that it was a promise.

After that they helped themselves to the pizzas, while Angel drank the blood he had brought with him. As he was watching Xander, he decided to ask "So Xander, I have a question for you. How come I saw you use powerful demon's magic a while ago in that cemetery?"

Author notes:

° I used the name Giles when we are from the point of view of Angel because he still doesn't know Ripper took back his rightful place.

° Hope you like it!

° Please review!!!