Chapitre 21 :
°Disclaimer still in the prologue.
° Just to avoid confusion:
"speech"
'Mind speech'
As Angel's vision was becoming darker by the minute because of the pain that was overwhelming him, he didn't notice before it was too late the silhouette that was rushing in his direction. In a last effort to escape the new threat he tried to dodge his attacker but all it did was make him loose his equilibrium and fall. Before he was to meet the ground in a painful contact, his would be attacker caught him in his arms and led him to a dark corner.
Xander watched as Angel killed the Master once and for all when he saw a crimson mist appearing to surround the vampire. He could see the intense pain it was causing his friend and knew that he had little time to act by biting and helping Angel. So he rushed to the vampire but was surprised to see Angel tried to avoid him. Xander didn't have the time to reassure him as he saw him began to fall and decided to try his luck by taking him to an obscure corner where they wouldn't be notice.
He laid Angel's back against one of the crates that was blocking them from everyone's sight and kneeled between his legs, then without loosing time he bent his head down and bite just above Angel's collarbone. He felt the creation of the mind link between them while he let it flow through him, like with Kyle and by respect to Angel's Alpha's status he let it stayed 'open' between as well. If they wanted to manage the pack between themselves they needed to stay open to each others at all time, it was extremely important for them to not have any doubt or secret for each other. No pack had ever been ruled by two Alphas before, it had never been done and if they wanted for it to continue to grow and become powerful, they needed to trust in each other.
After an extremely short lapse of time Xander found himself in the middle of what he only could describe as pure chaos. Crimson winds were fighting against dark green flashes of lighting as walls of dark mists were dissolving against waves of pearled lilac. All this forces were fighting against each others to reach the man curled in a ball just before Xander, hurting him to the point of making him go crazy; had he come a minute later Angel would have died, killed by those forces gone wild.
Knowing instinctively what he had to do Xander kneeled by the vampire's side and laid a hand on his shoulder. He then used the link they now shared to create a shield that would surround them and would only let the crimson winds pass through; those winds were the physical representation of Angel's vampire's line. What Xander didn't plan was the enormous energy it was taking him to maintain the shield; he couldn't hope to do it alone. So taking advantage that Angel's mind was clearing itself from the pain for the moment Xander told him about it. He told him that he needed everyone here if they wanted to keep the shield strong, he needed them to lend him their strength; it was the only way. Without them the shield would broke for certain in the middle of Angel assimilating the Lore of his line and would kill him.
For a moment Angel didn't respond or even react and Xander feared he had been too late, but after a frightening wait he was able to hear a tired and rough voice telling him that it was okay. He needed them and they were pack now, they had nothing to hide from each others. Xander smiled and took his hands in his own showing the vampire his support and called to the other members of their pack, asking them to trust and let him open their link as they needed their help. The others had all been anxious to know how it was going and to have Xander asking for their help told them two things. The first was that they were alive and it had relieved them a lot, but the second was that they still were in danger of loosing Angel. Without a question they opened their mind link, knowing that Xander would be there and would explain them everything.
Once in Angel's mind they understood the problem, they had seen the chaos that Xander was trying to protect him from and they had rushed to them. They smiled warmly at Angel showing him their happiness at seeing him being one of them and their second Alpha. Xander seeing them running and smiling felt extremely proud while watching their show of support and their readiness to help. It made him smile fondly at them in spite of the difficulty he had in maintaining the shield.
Once the pack had reached them, they helped Xander in getting up and gathered themselves in a circle around Angel. Taking each others hands they focused their power on Xander who directed it to the shield strengthening it and keeping it erected. With everyone's forces Angel was able to listen and accept his vampire line without suffering the pain of his magic and family's bonds pressing on him.
Finally feeling the intense pain lessened, Angel was able to open his eyes and was shocked though curious to watch the silhouette of a woman made of crimson mist standing right in front of him. Seeing his curiosity the woman spoke, "You already know who I am but I feel that you are curious. So yes I am your vampire line, I have no real form except for the mist and to make it easier for you to accept me, I took the form of what would make you feel the more comfortable and less threatened. In this occasion I took the form of how you thought I would look, I hope it doesn't annoy you."
"No of course not", Angel replied.
"Good, now I'm sorry to say it but we do not have much time for me to explain you everything. I should have been teaching you since I choose you as my heir but this stupid bald bad had to try and gain my powers. Sadly because of him the rest of my line and children were lost, either by death or by being welcomed in another vampire line. Only your family had stayed true to me and for that I'm really grateful, thank you very much for your love and loyalty; it had pained me so much to see you live through so much hardships." She said.
Then she explained everything she could in the so short time they had. First was what she meant by welcoming someone into another line, it was for the master of a vampire line to accept another vampire by the mean of a blood ritual and then by drinking all the vampire's blood while the Master offered his own in welcoming him in his new family. It could be seen as a second turning and was considered a great honour. She taught him their lore and where he would be able to find its written form; their lore had been written in a sacred book and could be seen as the guidelines and rules that formed their line's heritage and tradition, their code of conduct in a way. The book had been stolen from that wrong master or bald bat by wizards for its powers and was kept hidden somewhere in England. Each true master of the line had had to sign with their own blood their loyalty to their line in that book; powers had been infused in it with each name. The line was furious, it was the treasure she had entrusted to each and every master of her line and that good for nothing had to loose it not even two days after he stole her powers.
She also taught him how to use and master his new powers; his senses were a lot more acute than before and being a 'Were' as well had only intensified it, his strength had doubled and his mind had cleared. Ever since the Master had stolen his place as heir of the line, his mind had been muddled.
That time when he had been curse for example, he had felt the need to go to his childers for help even though he knew what had cursed him; his brain hadn't been able to recall the threat he was going to be for them. If his mind had been clear at that time he would have send a note to them explaining everything while asking for one of his older children to come and protect them. They would have been safe then but now he didn't even know if they were alright, just that they were alive.
As he was becoming upset, he felt a warm feeling of calm, love and reassurance coming through his mind link and look at all his friends, to see the determination to help him find and protect them. Then he felt the joy and fondness coming from his line and she said; "You choose well my heir, these men will help you through whatever will come to you and yours in the future."
Surprised Angel asked her in a tone not different from a child asking his mother. "Aren't you angry with me? What with me joining a Were-pack?"
She smiled softly at him and said, "Of course not my heir, you are the first vampire open minded and loving enough to see what was really behind a person and not what they were. Let me tell you that you had made me extremely proud, the proudest I had been in a while."
She then turned to everyone and explained that she was proud and happy to be a part of their pack, vampires and 'Weres' were meant to protect each others, that had been one of the reason for the vampire's creation in the first place, but sadly someone turned them against each others. The magic had been extremely hurt to see her children fighting against each other, feeling only hate for one another. It created an unbalance that had weakened the magic to the point of her loosing control, that's why some monsters had been able to use her for killing and hurting.
Though now she could feel hope, the balance was beginning to right itself again and she knew the magic would began to regain her control as well. What they were created was a blood pack, but for it to balance itself, Xander had to understand that they needed to create an equitable exchange. So while the vampires were to be bitten to join the pack, they needed to make a Calice to anchor them. They needed someone who accepted to give them some of their blood freely at least once a week, in exchange for an unending lifespan and strength while the vampires would gain an animal form with the additional and more acute senses, strengths and instincts.
"Well your friends are becoming exhausted and I taught you everything I could for now, so we will continue to see each other during your sleep till you know everything, and then you will be able to call me for help anytime you need it." She told him and then said her good byes to everyone before disappearing.
"Well now we will let your magic through." Xander said relieved and happy that it had gone so well.
All watched as the green flashes of lighting which had been striking against the barrier that protected them, were now all heading for Angel. They watched powerless as Angel was going to be shocked and hurt by that seemingly unending source of magic when it stopped just before reaching the vampire and surrounded him. With the gentleness of a mother or a lover, the magic caressed Angel and went back through him, settling back in its true place. Angel glowed for a few minutes while he reacquainted himself with his magic and then laughed at the look of shock and relief on each one of his friends faces.
His magic would never have tried to hurt him it was just a little too eager to return to him and was acting like an excited puppy. Now that he felt his magic back, it was like he had found back a part of himself that was missing. He was filled with energy that was happily healing the exhaustion he had been feeling after he killed the Master and finally let himself relax. He then let his magic out to help heal his friends as well; they had done more than anyone could have asked of them and he didn't want to see them suffer if he could do anything about it.
They had proved to him that they would be there for him if needed and they had welcomed him without any questions; the link they were sharing now was growing and it was already stronger than it should have been, seeing as they had little time to really know each others. This pack was meant to be and they were meant to be a part of this pack, each one of them was balancing the others and it was what would keep making them stronger. They trusted each other with their lives and would do everything they could to protect everyone.
Angel's magic had restored everyone's strength and they all look at him thankful and happy. They noticed that he was looking younger; his eyes were gleaming, his lips were smiling and he looked as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His magic had rejuvenated him and he was ready for the final step to come.
He looked to Xander and with a fond smile said, "I'm ready now, you can let your shield down. I felt the curse disappear and I'm anxious to gain my childers and children bonds back. I have to know how they are and they need to come back to me, they are still too young and need my … well our protection."
"Yes I can understand now, I would be really afraid and worried if I couldn't reach the bond I have with anyone of you. I would be anxious as well in your place" Xander said before letting his shield down with a last burst of magic.
The waves of pearled lilac went directly to his mind and for the first time in years, Angel felt the presence of some of his childers. Happiness and relief flew through him at feeling them alive, but he was disturbed when most of them were unreachable. Something was blocking them from him but this time it wasn't on his side, something had happen and he didn't like it at all. Though he felt relieved once he had tried to focus on all his children; even though he couldn't open the bonds he had with some of them, he could feel that they were alive and feel a vague notion of where they could be found. Luckily some of them were in England and as it was their next destination, he would be able to find what was going on with them in a few days.
Angel went back to concentrating on the three childers he could reach and was sad to feel the state they were in. Drusilla, his princess was extremely weak due to an injury caused when William and she were attacked in Prague. Without her sire's blood she wasn't healing well and her magic was taking advantage of it by fighting against her control. Even though Spike was doing all he could to help, by lending her his magic and giving her his blood, he was too young to have access to the power she needed. He knew that only his blood would be able to heal her, but how were they going to make William come to him was the bigger question. The boy would never come to him willingly after what had happened, he could feel the betrayal, rage and need flowing from him.
Knowing that there was only one thing he could do for the moment, he used their mind link to call to Drusilla. At the happiness and excitation he felt coming from her he knew that the stars had told her what had happened. She only confirmed it when she showed him that they were already on the road and would certainly arrived during the next night, seeing the too high speed his youngest was driving at.
She explained to him that William didn't know that they were driving to their sire, just that the one who would be able to heal and save her was in Sunnydale. She told him to not let William know of his presence for the moment because her younger brother wasn't in the state of mind to listen and trust in their sire like before. The curse had left scars and injuries in his soul that she wasn't sure would heal even with time, but she knew what to do about it, the stars had told her everything they would need.
Agreeing with her he lovingly told her his good byes and looked at all his friends who had done so much for him in his time of need. He thanked them all and opening his mind, he let them learned everything there was to know about him. He didn't want any secret between them and he had to smile at the look of shock and awe appearing within all their eyes, they recognized it for the act of trust it was; like he knew they would. He couldn't even begin to describe the feeling he felt though, when they returned his trust by opening their mind to him; he hadn't felt this happy since the day he turned his youngest.
Sadly they had to stop as Angel and Xander had still to deal with Willow, they knew they had to return to consciousness now if they didn't want her to become too suspicious and with one last smile for each others they left Angel's mind. Xander found himself back into that dark corner hidden by crates, embracing Angel against his chest. He squeezed him a little harder when he felt him moving and awaking, once he saw his eyes opening and felt him come back to consciousness, Xander waited for a few minutes and gently helped him stand. They didn't have time to think about what they were going to do, before they heard footsteps coming from the basement.
A.N:
°First: Sorry for the long wait but I had lots of things to do (not including Christmas and the New Year) and didn't have the time to write.
°Then: Jewle69,Emeralden Rapley, Carlough and LostGryffindorFoundSlytherin: thank you so much for your reviews!!! I really liked them!
°Last but not least I think that there will only be two more chapters before the end of the first Arc^^ There will be more author note in the last chapter. Please continue to review!