Marcus sensed them as they approached. They weren't subtle or skilled. Angelus had sent minions, stupid minions at that. It was beyond disrespectful. He rolled his shoulders and smiled. Housekeeping would have extra work when next they cleaned.
They didn't bother to knock. Uncouth monsters with no flair, the five burly fools burst into his room with not a year of unlife amongst them. Marcus took a deep breath. These bits of animated corpse weren't going to provide much of a challenge. He'd been hoping for at least a bit of entertainment. Was that really too much to ask?
"What has happened to the society of vampires." He shook his head in mocking disappointment. "Have we forgotten our manners?"
"Master Angelus commands your presence." The tallest one snarled.
"Master Angelus is old enough to know better. I'm quite sure Darla wouldn't have tolerated such insolence." Marcus grinned. "She was nothing better than a pretty whore. I was an emperor. Do you know what that means?"
The group stared at him blankly. They weren't fit to be fodder. Marcus relaxed his shoulders and shook his head.
"I do not take commands from any vampire. You master has overstepped his authority."
They looked flummoxed. There was simply no other word for it. Unable to imagine a vampire stronger than Angelus, they stood gaping at him.
Angelus' strangle hold on the local vampire community made it weak. He wanted only those that fawned upon him. The fledges no longer had the ability to think for themeselves or, if these fools were an indication, at all. The newly risen were not being properly educated. A pity for them.
Marcus tilted his head and waited for the idiots to attack. They didn't disappoint. He flicked his wrists and smiled as two short blades slid neatly into his hands. The familiarity of it soothed him. Once a warrior, always a warrior. Gods, it was good to fight again. All hail, Mithras.
He spun and took one of minion's heads with his trailing sword, using the brief tug of the body's inertia to slow his spin, and took the other down with a quick twist of his free hand's wrist.
"Two down." Marcus grinned as he landed in the swirling dust of his second kill And turned toward his three remaining playthings. "Are you ready to accept your fate?"
Willow grimaced as she stared down at the pages before her. She didn't want to read about some obscure, demonic ritual. Sophie and Giles didn't really need her here. Buffy was too busy to hang out, and her spare time all went to Spike. The whole world had gone topsy turvy.
"I think I've got something." Oz said softly. His eyes went straight to hers.
Giles and Sophie came towards him with all that odd speed of theirs, and Willow moved closer. Oz smiled at her, and she felt a flood of relief. They were trying so hard to piece their relationship back together that each little gesture took on more meaning.
A smile was like the best Valentine's Day and birthday gifts rolled into one.
"The touch of Eros shall return the last to the living, the new order will blossom with power, the first and the last shall pull the usurper down and cast him and his to Hades." Oz looked up from the scroll. "This one seems to apply. The translation spell is wearing off though."
"I can translate it without the spell." Giles smiled. "This is a good find, Oz."
Joyce cooked quietly. There was never enough food in the house. She flinched at the sound of a body hitting the mats below. She popped the trays of lasagna into the oven.
"It's hard to be the one feeding the army." Cordelia smiled. "Usually, I pick up the pizza. It's easier than sharpening weapons and way better for the manicure."
"What else do you do?" Joyce smiled at the girl.
"I make them a crazy. They get bogged down in the mess of it all, but a well placed hit of aggravation gets the back on track." Cordelia smiled. "I learned some basic defense, too. It helps."
"I've got an hour." Joyce frowned. "Want to teach me?"
Marcus tossed the dust of the minions at Angel's feet. He raised a mocking brow at the arrogant whelp. Angelus frowned down at the bag.
"Did you have to kill them all?"
"I prefer invitations to commands, Angelus. There is no need to surrender ourselves to the degradation of poor manners." Marcus slid his fingers along his pristine suit jacket. "Have you forgotten how to approach another master?"
"This is my territory." Angelus glared at him. "I'll run it as I see fit."
"One can only expect so much from a savage." Marcus curled his lip.
"I see no need to hide what I am." Angelus smirked.
"You see no need for civility." Marcus shrugged one shoulder nonchalantly. "There is no hiding what you are."
"You removed a thorn from my side, or I'd show you my hospitality." Angelus stood. "Why are you here?"
"Your little war is causing quite the stir. It needs to end before it causes problems beyond your ken." Marcus frowned as he examined the pile of corpses in the corner. "Doesn't the stench bother you?"
"We savages are made of sterner stuff, apparently." Angelus grinned up at the moaning victim hanging from the hooks. "It makes the fear so sweet."
"I've always preferred passion in my blood." Marcus smiled. "A little death leading to a true one is wonderfully profane."
"To each his own." Angelus nodded. "Why did you come here? You never leave Rome."
"Never is such a very long time." Marcus shrugged. "Your little war is drawing attention from many places. There are some hornet's nests best left undisturbed."
"Are the priests really so much of a problem?" Angel leaned back against a wall.
"Is one slayer worth all this?"