Chapter 8 Judas
A/N: So sorry about the long wait been caught up in the Olympics and watching Michael Phelps winning 22 Olympic medals, 22 who does that? It was awesome. Also had to watch the Fab 5 take the team gold medal in Women's Gymnastics that hasn't happened since the Magnificent 7 in '96. I was a gymnast back in the day so had to watch the girls own it. Been watching soccer as well GO BRAZIL. Yeah as you can tell I love the Olympics. And track and field just started so yeah.
A/N: Angel's chapter and this one is a setback for Angel. Enjoy.
Angel and William woke up to the sun and Angel woke up hungry. It was time to find food for him and William maybe. Angel could hear a stream which meant fish. Angel wanted to sneak away from William but it didn't work. William got up just a tad bit earlier than Angel and they were off to the local stream for breakfast. Angel began to wade in the water trying to catch their meal and was hoping William would help but asking for help was asking too much these days.
"I'm so plugged up," William stated rubbing his belly and Angel rolled his eyes as he watched for a fish.
"Used to be as regular as morning prayers." William explained as he whined a little. "Matter of fact I could set my watch by my bowels. Open my gut now they'd find turds stacked up like little black twigs." Angel didn't need to hear that at all and continued to fish but it wasn't working he needed a rod and some line not his bare hands. Angel grabbed a fish and managed to pull it out of the water but it slipped away and he cursed under his breath. But then Angel heard something coming their way.
"Home Guard!" Angel warned William and they crouched down hiding as a pack of horse ran by a few yards away. Angel watched them and sat up seeing them disappear. His heart was racing he wasn't sure how much longer he could go on like this. He just hoped Buffy was back at Cold Mountain waiting for him making this deadly trip worth it.
"Hey," William started and Angel was tempted to shoot him now this was getting to be too much and Angel went to hush him. "Look at this," William went on.
"Keep your voice down." Angel demanded and William held something up showing Angel.
"Look at this!" William held up a huge saw and Angel stood there could this get any worse than this? "It's a good saw!"
"And it's not yours," Angel added. "You're a Christian don't you know your Commandments?" He asked as William walked closer to him holding the saw.
"You'll find the good Lord is very flexible on the subject of property Peaches." William looked at his new found treasure with delight. "We could do a lot with this saw. Cut down a tree, play music with it. You're gonna thank me for this saw." Angel just turned his back scooped up his gear and started walking. William sat there admiring the saw and looked up seeing Angel leaving.
"I'll say thank you when I've lost you and I've found some food." Angel said and William ran to catch up with him. And now they walked side by side again through the woods. Angel was looking for food his stomach was dying for some. He had an idea where he was but it was nowhere close to home.
"You'll see you'll thank me." William insisted but then Angel stopped dead in his track and looked down seeing a man in a creek pulling at a huge bull cow. Then William made his way down and Angel tried to stop him but it was too late he was heading down there. William held up his new saw. Angel tried to grab him but William already was making his way down. Something then told Angel to run away and leave William.
"Good day to you!" William called out to the man. The man jumped and was skittish and backed away from the bull as William came down. The man can see he didn't pose a threat not at the moment at least. Angel hung back on top of the hill not sure if he should go down there.
"My old bull…" The man started and walked closer to the bull again. "Wandered off…and died in this here creek." The man explained and Angel still stayed put debating if he should go down there in the creek. "Poisonin' up our water is how I found him,"
"Thank you, you are a true Christian." William commented on the truth the man was giving. "That's a rank odor from that animal." William then covered his nose protecting himself from the odor.
"Been dead a good while I reckon." The man added as he looked to the dead bull.
"This is a tricky one." William looked around the bull wondering how to get it out of the creek.
"You fellers help me out my woman'll cook you up a good dinner." The man offered and Angel's stomach growled. The thought of food sounded good he needed to eat and soon.
"I'm gettin' an idea," William then held up his saw thinking and then looked up to Angel who still hadn't come down yet. "My saw's the remedy." William held it up proudly smiling and the man nodded.
"I believe you need two people, one on either end." The man pointed out and William nodded as he walked closer and now Angel was getting frustrated these two had no idea what to do. He could see William not knowing he was a preacher but this other man should if he owned a bull. Angel then came down into the creek removing his gear he was starving and if this man's wife was going to make dinner for helping then he'll slice up the bull himself if he has too.
"Give me that saw," Angel demanded and William handed it to him and slung it over the bull to the man and he took the other side. "Start at the neck," Angel gave the other and Angel pulled the saw towards him and then the man pulled the saw towards him and the two got a rhythm going. William started to cringe a little as he could hear the cracking of the spine of the bull as the saw was cutting in.
"Aw…" William looked away as soon as he saw blood following into the river. "Oh, well…that is unpleasant."
The bull was sliced up and Angel and William followed the man through the woods and then Angel could smell smoke and then the three came into a clearing and saw a small farm with a house. The sun was just beginning to settle now as they came walking up.
"There's my place," The man pointed out as they kept walking. "Hope you can stomach a yard chock full of female." But then William stopped walking and the man and Angel stood around.
"Oh, God, Oh my God hallelujah, hallelujah!" William looked happy and Angel looked to the former preacher and rolled his eyes. Angel just wanted to eat and then leave. William could stay here for all he cared. "Oh hallelujah! The Israelites!"
"What happened?" The man asked as William squatted down now. Angel sighed and then looked back to the house.
"He's got a shit comin' its overdue." Angel answered the man as they stopped short of the house.
"The tribes of Israel are about to flee from the banks of Egypt!" William called out and Angel couldn't help but smirk but he was hungry he wanted food not to see the preacher use the bathroom.
"Good God," The man commented and they waited for a moment. Once William was done for now they walked the rest of the way to the house and then a few women came out the front door. Angel didn't really care about the women William however did take notice. "These boys are stoppin' for supper!" The man called out to the woman as they got closer. "Brought my woman home, she showed up with her three sisters, so-called, and their brats." The man explained as they stood in front of the women. "That's Drusilla, Lilah, Nina and the pretty one in blue is my wife Darla." He introduced the women as they giggled.
"Those are fine examples of the female." William commented and the man ushered them inside as the sun started to set.
Everyone was well into dinner by now. Angel had stopped eating and the laughing around him was muffled and his vision was blurry maybe he was tired and needed to sleep. Angel looked up seeing the man dancing and then looked over and saw William smiling and he looked a little out of it. Angel looked back to his food but he couldn't eat anymore.
"Oh, I'm about to pass out," William commented but sounded happy as one of the women Drusilla had her hand under the table feeling William up.
"My home brew sneaks up on you it curdles your durdles." The man said and everyone at the table laughed. Angel rested his chin in his hand fighting the feeling of passing out and then looked up as it was quiet and everyone was looking at him.
"Oh, oh, look, he's gone now." The man pointed and everyone smiled. Angel sat up a little not understanding what the man was saying. "Look he's gone now his eyes, they've gone, his eyes are gone,"
"What?" Angel asked as everyone asked he was out of it that much was for sure he just wanted to sleep now. He knew he was drunk but he didn't think he was that drunk.
"Gone, gone, gone, gone!" The man laughed and got up kissing Darla and grabbing a shoot gun and his hat. "I'm leavin' soon as I'm full y'all havin' too much fun for me." He said and William looked up still feeling Drusilla's hand in a certain spot.
"Really? Goodbye," William waved not caring at all and took another sip of his drink.
"Well, yeah, I got a bunch of traps need visitin'," The man explained. "But I'll be back before dark tomorrow y'all still be here?" The man asked.
"That's my fervent prayer." William answered meaning yes he was going to be here but Angel already told himself no he was leaving now. Angel got up from the table as did everyone else. While the man was preparing to leave Darla kept her eye on Angel.
"I'll say my goodbyes I gotta go," Angel said standing there but on the verge of falling over. "I got miles and miles and miles and miles ahead of me before I reach the Blue Ridge," Angel started to stumble a little.
"Blue Ridge? What's the hurry?" The man asked.
"Maybe I will just lie down a moment," Angel said and then fell into a pile of burlap about ready to sleep."
"Yeah, this house is on a bit of a tilt," The man said smiling and then looked to William. "What about you Reverend?"
"I'm headin' for that smokehouse and I'm ready to be washed clean of my dirt." William said also ready to sleep.
"Yeah, Dru you go tend to him." And she nodded with delight.
"You and me preacher are gonna have some fun." She giggled and helped him up. Lilah then got up following Dru and William.
"All right y'all get to bed." The man said to the kids as he was heading out. "Everybody else got their job, everybody to bed, Lilah, you stay with them kids." Lilah gave a small sad look but once he was gone that would change. The man left and Nina was already straddling Angel trying to kiss him but he didn't respond at all. Angel was trying to fight it but he was so dizzy.
"He's mine," Darla came up from behind Nina and threw her off Angel. "You go rub yourself off on the preacher," And then Darla picked up Nina and set her aside. "I'm gonna make him hug me till I grunt." But before Nina turned away she smiled seeing Angel as he sat there half asleep.
"He's purty, ain't he?" Nina asked about ready to go back to him but Darla pushed her away.
"Get," Darla demanded and Nina walked away to another room. Darla then walked over to the dining table and sat down. "She ain't even supposed to get a man," But Angel didn't stir as she spoke. "Hey," Angel then got up to walk and leave but Darla stuck out her foot and Angel stopped and looked down and Darla smiled. "How about that?" She asked as Angel stood there
"I gotta go," Angel started but Darla pulled her dress off and was naked in front of Angel and turned around bending over. Angel just stood there not knowing what to do.
"Get on," Darla demanded. "And ride me all the way to China," She sat there waiting. Angel just stood there thinking. He could do it he could have sex with this Darla woman but then one person flashed through his mind and that was Buffy. He wanted Buffy and she was at home waiting for him he loved her even though he didn't know her as well as he should. But while he thought about Buffy Darla was getting impatient and turned around as Angel just stood there. "You shy?" She asked smiling. "Do you need a hand?" She asked and started to tug at his pants but Angel tried to fight her off but he was so dizzy. "Let's have a look and see what we can muster," But then Angel's book fell to the floor.
"Oh no, look what you made me do," Angel bent over to grab his stuff as Darla tugged at him trying to pull his pants down but Angel paid no attention he was trying to grab Buffy's picture and then get out of here. As Angel went to grab his stuff the front door flew open. Angel didn't react he was concerned on his falling apart book and worn picture.
"Slut!" The man of the house yelled and killed his wife square in the chin. Darla crawled away from him to the table as more men flooded into the house.
"Home Guard!" Another man yelled as they swarmed in. Angel felt someone kick him in the stomach and he almost felt like throwing up. Angel laid on the ground and saw men surrounding him pointing their weapons ready to fire. He maybe be drunk but he knew he was heading back to the battlefield or maybe taken out back and shot.
"Cover yourself up!" Darla's husband demanded and she did huddling under the table. "I told you, you don't touch the money!" The man nodded to the men and they headed to another room and opened the door. William was on the ground with Drusilla on top of him kissing him. Nina and Dilah were smiling and giggling waiting their turn with William.
"Get up!" The owner of the house yelled Drusilla stopped kissing William and looked over smiling.
"Evenin', Hank," She said smiling and went back to William.
"Evenin', Hank," Nina and Dilah said at the same time and backed away knowing it was time for William to leave.
"You took your time," Hank the owner of the house said as he walked in.
"Oh Hank I wasn't done playing he hasn't made pretty colors yet." Drusilla whined but Hank came charging in. "I said get up!" Hank yelled and Drusilla crawled away giving off a whimper as Hank and few of the Home Guard grabbed William.
Outside the home were more men chained to one another. Angel was brought outside and a Home Guard man picked up come chains and hooked Angel up to the rest of the men. William was being brought out as he put his pants back on. Angel didn't care about William anymore he was heading back to war a place he didn't want to go. He had to get back home to Buffy she was waiting for him. What if she was sick, hungry he wasn't there to help her.
"Get in line," A man forced William to the other men. "You fools fall for it every time," He chuckled as he linked William up with the other men.
"God will judge you, you Judas!" William cried out to Hank as he and the Home Guard exchanged money. It was a trap many war deserters came this way and Hank led them here for the Home Guard to take. "God will judge you!" William swore to Hank and the Home Guard got on their horses and begun to walk and the men in chains started to walk to in the night. Angel started to walk when he felt someone tug on his shirt. He looked down and it was a little boy. The little boy ate dinner with him and watched him all night. The little boy held up the torn book and Buffy's picture to Angel. Angel took it with a nodded saying thank you and the boy ran back home. William had been screaming at Hank and the Home Guard all this time but they were already marching back out to war.
"You got a long walk back to the fightin'," One Home Guard member said as the horses trotted along. Angel followed along as his chains around his wrist dragged him. This wasn't over this was just a step back. He would escape again and run as soon as he could. The first shot he gets he's running again he would not go back to war. He was going to make it back to Buffy no matter what.
Angel is heading back to war so now what? Next we check in on Buffy. More to come thanks for reading comments and reviews are welcomed.