CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Angel and Lorne are in the that night. Lorne fixed himself a drink.
" Archduke Sebassis. Bona fide nobility from the fiery down under. Commands over 40 legions. He's the living end of a pure bloodline of demonic royalty," Lorne was telling Angel.
" Great. Just great,"
" Well, also, the very peak of the A-list mountain. He's the crown jewel of the underworld jet set. If we convince him to come, all the other glitterati will just domino in right behind him, and then we'll be in business."
" This really matters to you, doesn't it?" Angel asked.
" Well, of course. The new Wolfram & Hart. I mean, we have to-"
" No. I mean, this really matters to you. Personally."
" Yeah. You know, Angel, I don't have superhuman strength, and I'm not a fighter. Quantum physics makes me nauseous, and I barely made a passing grade at mystical studies, but I'm on your team. This is something I can do. I believe it has a purpose that can help you, even if you don't." Lorne paused, " And organising this party has kept my mind of Abigail and her…well, you know."
" I haven't seen the two of you together much lately. Is everything ok?" Angel asked.
" We're fine." Lorne said and didn't elaborate further.
~**~
Angel and Lorne are seated in chairs facing a pale demon with horns seated on a high throne. Another similar demon was standing at his side.
" So... this is the mighty Angel. I've been told many things about you. Bit of a restless frog, hmm? Making lots of waves in your little swamp."
Yeah, well, I'm just trying to keep the fly population down.
Lorne laughed.
" Yes. Though I do prefer the tales of your counterpart Angelus. Ah, you had flair back then, child."
" Well, I guess we all mellow in our old age."
" Your contempt is fragrant."
Sebassis sipped blue liquid from a wine glass and finished the drink. He put his glass down and a smaller, thinner, paler demon walks out to him. The smaller slave-like demon pulled a cork out of his arm and held his arm out over the glass. The blue liquid Sebassis was drinking flowed from the slave's uncorked vein into the glass. Lorne witnessed this with great discomfort, although he tried to hide it.
" And Lorne, how is that lovely girlfriend of yours?" Sebassis asked Lorne.
" Abigail's fine." Lorne told him. Sebassis has met Abigail on a few occasions. He also knows about Abigail's destiny.
" So, your lordship, we were deeply grieved when you declined our invitation. I mean, we'd love for you to reconsider."
" Yeah. I mean, a party just isn't a party without the archduke," Angel added after getting a slap on the arm from Lorne.
" You're sure you wouldn't like some?"
" I'm fine." Angel said and Lorne glared at him. " But thanks."
" Oh, come, come. We're all blood-drinkers here. Ah, but that's right. You choose to drink the blood of swine. Filthy beasts."
" Actually, that's a misconception."
" Filthy! Yes! Honestly, I don't know how he does it," Lorne chuckled. He sipped from his glass. " Mmm. Wow, this is-" he glanced at the demon, " I mean, you taste great."
" Well... in light of this amusing chat, and of my longstanding acquaintance with you, Lorne, I will come to the gala."
" Oh, that's wonderful news, your lordship! Well, we don't wanna waste any more of your valuable time."
They left the room.
" See how easy that was?" Lorne asked Angel as they were shown back to their limo.
~~**~~
The following night, the party started. Lorne walked around the room talking to people. Abigail was also mingling and onto her third glass of wine.
He spotted Fred and Wesley near the snack table.
" I guess I've always hated parties. I never know what to do with myself. I just end up at the hors d'oeuvres table, trying to look occupied." Fred was telling Wes.
" Hey there, wallflowers!" Lorne greeted them.
" Wallflowers?"
" I need you to give me a hand, help light the fuse on this powder keg? Look at the dance floor. The only thing on it is Harmony. Hey, you keep pushing that envelope, baby!" he called to the vampire.
" I'm afraid this really isn't our element, Lorne." Wesley said.
" Yeah, we're wallflowers."
" Oh, no, no, no, sweetie. You're the young, the beautiful, the ready-to…oh. Well, here's one problem. You're totally sober! It's Halloween. You should be 3 sheets to the wind already. Now, try and get into the spirit of things, OK?" he moved on.
Lorne walked into Angel's office, where Angel is sitting at his desk frowning.
" Angel. It's a graveyard out there, and all the guests wanna meet the new guy in charge."
" Look Lorne…I'm busy."
Lorne glanced at him.
" I have things….I'm brooding."
Lorne turned to see the tv was on. " You're watching hockey!" he exclaimed.
" Yeah, but my team is losing,"
" Get up off your keister and get out there! I can't steer this ship of fools by my lonesome! I just can't do it!…"
Lorne groaned and rubbed his temples in pain as his frustration escalated.
" Lorne?" Angel stared at his friend worriedly.
Lorne looked up, all smiles again. " Let's boogie, sweet tart."
~~**~~
As the party went on, Fred and Wesley began noticing weird things that are happening. Fred and Wes were both drunk but they had barely drunken a thing.
" There's Gunn. Let's go ask him if this is weird." Fred said as they stumbled towards Gunn.
" Gunn, is this weird-" Fred began when Gunn turned around and promptly peed on Wesley.
" Charles, you just peed on my shoes." Wesley was shocked.
" Damn," Gunn said looking down.
" Hey guys!" Spike greeted the group brightly. Fred stared at him for a moment. His was bobbing to the song, " This…has got to be the greatest song ever written."
" Ok…there's something wrong with this picture." Fred said.
" And with that." Gunn pointed to Harmony and Abigail dancing together, " Since when they have become friends? Have I missed something?"
" They haven't…Abigail avoids Harmony as much as possible." Fred frowned.
Lorne walked up to them, " Hey guys! Gee, this place is smoking! Whoo!"
They all looked at him.
" What?"
