See Prologue for disclaimer and details. Howdy, and welcome to the latest chapter of the story! Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, as always. And wow, we certainly received a lot of PMs with regard to the events of the previous chapter - and most of it said that either Cordelia wouldn't have stopped trying to knock Xander's teeth out until she'd succeeded, or else Harris wouldn't have stopped the make-out session before their clothes started flying and their passion couldn't be contained within the walls of propriety, so to speak. :)
Fair enough with scenario #1, but as for #2, Xander and Cordy are both just fifteen, and we wanted to keep the characters acting as in-character as possible. And by this we mean that Cordy is the same age that Dawn was during the first half of season 6, so if that girl was too young to do the dance with no pants during that point of the show, ditto with Cordelia during 1996! Anyway, this chapter contains the events of the story before we finally arrive into season 1 of the show, so we hope you enjoy...
Part Four: New Assignment
Sunnydale High, Sunnydale
Late May, 1996
To those with the long view, this was a special time. It was the last occasion when a school year would finish on a nice, normal note for Sunnydale High. From this point on, the Hellmouth would start to become far more active and the vampires would soon cease biding their time, waiting for the Master to emerge from his pool of blood.
Xander himself was attending the Spring Fling dance tonight, as it was Prom time and he was pretty much expected to attend. Harris might have preferred otherwise, as this sort of shindig wasn't really his scene, but since Dawn had finally screamed at him to stop smothering her already – he'd had to get out of the house beaucoup fast.
Not that life at the Chase residence had been all roses since the day he and Cordelia had kissed in his bedroom. Xander had been desperately worried at first that the brunette would spill everything, but luckily those fears had been groundless. Cassandra's big sister had said nothing to anyone, for which Xander had given effusive thanks to the gods above.
But since he was a normal, hormonal teenage male, the dreams had started soon afterwards. Xander just couldn't help it. His subconscious seemed determined to constantly remind him of their little...tryst. Late at night he would remember Cordelia's arms circling around his neck, her lips, her tongue, her rack and her butt and her...well, her everything.
Psychologically it made a lot of sense, of course. Harris had had very little prior success with girls, which meant one that didn't automatically reject him was bound to become the object of obsession, at least to some extent. And, from living in the same house as him, this female specimen came equipped with inside knowledge of all his pet likes and dislikes.
That was how Cordelia knew how to get back at the so-called 'social reject' by bringing home various male 'friends' of hers, and parading them right in his face.
Putting away such thoughts, Xander scanned the crowd. He saw Cordelia, who had been crowned the freshman princess, near the stage of the gym chatting with her escort Jason Kent. So he quickly moved on to Willow...who was talking to Jonathan and Jesse.
Things in that area weren't looking so hot either, come to think of it. Levinson seemed to have taken his place with those two over the last couple of months. Even though Willow seemed to still love tutoring him in math, it just wasn't the same for Xander when his redheaded friend also constantly babbled about Jonathan this and Jesse that and oh, did you hear about what Jonathan and Jesse got up to?
He was definitely no longer the belle of the ball here.
And there was also the guilt factor over having made a move on Jesse's girl that way. Even though it had been only the one time, it hadn't exactly been premeditated and Cordelia would no doubt kill him if she ever heard herself being called that.
( Not to be all with the self-pity party, but looks like I'm pretty much an outcast nowadays, ) Xander thought miserably. ( Don't belong with any of the cool crowd like Cordelia's friends, and I can't seem to fit in with my own friends anymore either. I swear to God, if it wasn't for Dawnie I'd have run away from Sunnydale by now, hightailed it for LA or someplace like that... )
Xander soon walked out of the high school gym, unable to stand overhearing the other kids' conversations anymore. He didn't care about how Madonna was now four months pregnant, or about the latest hit from Oasis, or the fact that Pamela Anderson Lee and husband Tommy were embroiled in a legal battle with Penthouse over some X-rated home movies.
All right, maybe that last one was a bit more interesting than the rest, but given his luck with the ladies – it was probably something more to be avoided than focused upon at this point.
No one noticed his departure, although Cordelia soon realized Harris had split the scene when she looked around to see how well her efforts to make him jealous were going. Ignorant of her sudden concern, Xander took a quick walk around campus, trying to relieve the stress a little but not succeeding very well.
Two figures watched the youth from within the shadows. One of them was the black man from 2003 that had been nicknamed 'Robe Boy' by Buffy Summers. The other...
The other was the one and only vampire with a soul in this world.
"Why are we here?" Angel asked, looking at his companion and wishing he'd been given a name instead of having to say 'hey, you' or whatever. "This town isn't exactly safe territory for me, you know."
"Look at him," the black man intoned, ignoring that and motioning at Xander. "Tell me what you see."
Angel looked at Xander briefly. "An idiot who should know better than to walk around alone at night, especially on the Hellmouth."
Robe Boy clucked his tongue impatiently. "Please look harder, vampire."
"Why?"
"Because I asked politely."
It had only been a few months since the messenger named Whistler had found the tormented vamp in Manhattan, and started cleaning him up and training him after pointing out Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But that didn't mean Angel failed to hear the annoyance and distaste in the other man's voice, and he eventually decided it would probably be best to simply humor Robe Boy. "Fine, but I'm assuming there's a reason for this."
The black man gestured and Angel suddenly couldn't move, not even to talk. "I find your attitude...disturbing. Perhaps I should just release your soul back to wherever it belongs in the afterlife? Because, believe me, I could do it with just a thought. And then you would be free game for that Slayer you recently met."
Angel shuddered after Robe Boy let him go. And knowing that losing his soul was the very last thing he wanted – or needed – Angel did as the robed being requested and examined the boy, carefully. He brought all of the knowledge of human nature that his two hundred and forty-odd years of vampiric existence, plus the too well remembered twenty-six years as a living human wastrel, had given him, and all of his insight, to bear on the problem.
"He's angry," Angel finally murmured, after analysing Xander's face and body language. "Not killing angry, though. Just pissed off at the world. There's some sort of frustration there as well – probably because of a girl. So what?"
"Does he remind you of anyone?"
"No," Angel shrugged.
"And yet somehow he very much reminds me of you, before you were turned...Liam." The dislike in Robe Boy's voice was clearly evident upon using Angel's old human name.
"That's not who I am anymore," Angel said defensively, even as he wondered whether the robed man was right about the comparison.
"If you say so. But that's Liam's body you've got there, vampire. And his soul now as well, thanks to those foolish gypsies – who couldn't even perform a magical ritual for revenge properly."
"What does that mean?" Angel demanded. ( What's he saying? That the soul curse was flawed somehow? )
"Never mind for now. The point is, who are you? Better yet, who would you prefer to be: Liam trapped in a vampire's body, or Angelus with a tacked-on soul?"
Angel shook his head. "You're not making any sense."
The black man stared at Xander again, who was far off into the distance now. Robe Boy thought about that meeting during 2003 for a moment, cursing the fact that things hadn't worked out as expected then – and so it was his job now to keep the guardian of the Key alive. "Just as Darla turned you, she might also turn him. He needs protection far more than the Slayer does. And spare me your protests, vampire, I already know how you feel about the Chosen One. I should warn you, if that boy ever follows in your footsteps? He'd make Angelus look like an amateur."
Robe Boy paused for a moment. "In the future that would have been, I know which path he would have taken. But which one would you choose? Love or duty? Happiness or sacrifice?"
( This guy's even worse with the cryptic than Whistler, ) Angel thought in annoyance. But the mage or whatever he was had also known things when he'd appeared out of nowhere earlier, things that Angel had never mentioned to anyone. His last words with his father and sister, for example.
Combined with the little Darth Vader act just now, it all meant that this unknown was a serious player who couldn't just be ignored.
"What do you want from me?" Angel finally demanded.
"I already told you. Protect him for as long as he stays upon the mouth of Hell. Your Slayer will be fine without you for a while, however much you'd prefer to help and protect her. This is your chance to do the right thing for once, without hope for reward...and if you fail or refuse, I fear that all hope will eventually be lost."
Chase Manor, Sunnydale
Late September, 1996
Summer had come and gone. Angel had reluctantly accepted his new assignment and kept an eye on Xander in between Whistler's lessons. Well, except for the month or so when the Chase family, including Xander and Dawn, had vacationed in La Paz. Since Angel understandably decided to pass on the opportunity to try out his sunbathing skills, he just kept to himself until the group arrived back in Sunnydale.
Right now, Xander was heading to the library of the mansion. Cordelia's father had sent the butler to inform the youth that he was needed for a discussion with the older man, and Harris didn't want to be late.
"You wanted to see me, Mr. Chase?" Xander asked as he came in and closed the door.
"Yes, come in, have a seat."
Xander did as requested. "What's this about, sir?"
David Chase looked a bit uncomfortable. "Well, uh, let's not beat around the bush; I think we both know what day this is. Alexander, I know you haven't mentioned her very often over the last year or so, at least not to me and Julia. But if you want to talk about it...what happened to your mother...I want you to know that my wife and I are here for you."
"Thank you sir, that's very decent of you both," Xander replied politely and calmly, even though on the inside his emotions were a wild maelstrom. The anniversary of his mom's death was something he'd tried not to think about until today, when Dawn had cried a river of tears while they had been alone together in his room. Xander's own eyes had gotten pretty wet too, but damned if he was going to admit that to anyone.
Mr. Chase stared at him. "Alexander, I'd like an honest answer. How much longer are you going to keep calling me 'sir' like that? It's not like we're strangers, you know."
"I understand that, Mr. Chase. But since I'm still a guest in your house, I don't want to be presumptuous or anything."
"For God's sake, boy, you're not a guest anymore! What do I have to do to prove that? Adopt you as my son and heir?" David demanded.
"I don't think Cordy would appreciate that, sir," Xander replied at once. ( And for more reasons than one. )
The other man pounced on Xander's reply. "Yes, and that's another thing. What is it with you two lately? Because don't think I haven't noticed you staring at one another like that, when you think no one's looking. Have you two had a fight or something?" Mr. Chase wanted to know.
Xander stiffened. He did not want to talk about it, especially after what had happened in Mexico.
The thing was that Mr. and Mrs. Chase had decided to vacation in that part of Baja California this year not only because was it a great tourist attraction, it also had plenty of fun stuff for kids Cassandra and Dawn's age to keep themselves busy with. Including the aquarium, two marinas, museums, theatres, and even an art institute. But it was La Paz's beaches that the two girls had wanted to spend the most time at, so when the older kids had drawn babysitting duty they'd donned their swimming outfits and kept an eye on them.
As well as an eye on each other.
Cordelia's bust size had grown over those months, a fact that was emphasized a great deal by the tiny pink bikini she'd worn. That was why Xander had started thinking thoughts he shouldn't have, the moment he saw her in it. For her part, behind her indifferent public mask the Chase girl had also appreciated Harris's body, which had filled out nicely thanks to the home environment and better nutrition. The abs and chest were pretty drool-worthy, in her not-so-humble opinion.
Despite the past, where their one and only kiss had ended so disastrously, Xander and Cordelia could not deny they were still attracted to one another. And so the inevitable had happened one night. The two of them had started making out again, constantly sucking face after the mutual teen lust and antagonism became too much to withstand any longer.
But now that they were back in Sunnydale, Xander had decided they had to cool it for all the reasons he'd mentioned back in spring. He could tell Cordelia hadn't liked hearing that, but at least it meant the young man could be somewhat honest in this conversation with her father.
"We're not fighting, Mr. Chase," Xander replied to David's question. "It's just we're both a bit...unsettled, now that school's about to start again."
The man grunted, missing the subtle nuances. "Well, that's good. I mean, I don't want to hear that there's trouble brewing between you. Don't think I haven't heard Cassandra and Dawn complain how you stare at any boy coming near them like an angry Doberman. So the last thing we need around here is for Cordelia to add her voice to all that!"
Xander blushed. "I just feel Cassandra's like my little sister, Mr. Chase, almost as much as Dawn is. I'm sorry if that upsets you-"
"No, no! Believe me, I do appreciate it. In fact..." The millionaire looked thoughtful. "I've been meaning to tell you, I consulted with my lawyers recently. If anything ever happens to me and Julia, Klein & Gabler will see to it that all four of you kids are well taken care of."
"Thank you, Mr. Chase. For Dawn's sake, I'm very glad to hear that." Xander unleashed a rare smile, which warmed the heart of the other man.
"Well, son, it's the least I can do. After all, it's been a year; you're practically a member of the family nowadays. And that question of adoption I mentioned just now? It wasn't entirely a joke; I really was wondering whether you want my wife and I to set the wheels in motion. No pressure, though, you understand."
Xander hesitated. "If Dawn wants that...that's her decision, sir. But I don't think you'd be doing yourself any favors giving your name to the son of Anthony Harris."
Mr. Chase exhaled, briefly wondering if the boy was in fact correct. "You should know I went to visit your father in prison once. I thought he'd like to hear that his children were being properly looked after, and how well you and Dawn were doing despite everything that happened. However...well, I hate to tell you this, but he just started screaming abuse at me till the guards eventually dragged him away."
"To be honest? Doesn't surprise me much, sir," Xander shrugged. Then his face hardened. "And if Dad ever comes near Dawn again once he gets out, I'll just have to be ready for him."
Mr. Chase just nodded without saying anything, as Xander left the room. ( He seems determined enough, even at this age. Hmm, I'll need someone trustworthy to run the company one day – and depending on the circumstances, that boy might just fit the bill... )
The Bronze, Sunnydale
A few days later
Cordelia Chase was not in a good mood. And even though she had no idea that the Master had finally risen from his pool of blood, she had good reason not to be happy.
Sophomore year was about to start, for one thing, which was annoying in that the teachers were a pain and her beach time was so over. Plus Cordy had not enjoyed listening to Harmony's whining about how she'd been stood up for a date the other night, and thus had made her displeasure known. Her mind was too full of Xander Harris to care about that blonde's romantic disasters.
Miss Chase had honestly thought that things would be different this time, once she and Xander had started things up again during the summer. In her mind they'd seriously connected. They'd also managed to keep it a secret from the rest of the family, even Dawn and Cassandra.
But obviously she'd been wrong, if the big dumbass had just ended it that way once they got back home. It annoyed the hell out of the brunette that her not-boyfriend held so much power over her this way. She was Cordelia Chase, damn it, and NO ONE was supposed to be able to do that to her!
Still, she just couldn't stop thinking about him. And Cordelia knew she was the best possible catch Xander was ever gonna find, so why did he have to make everything so damned complicated? As if her father would throw him out on his ass if she told everyone the truth! They should just openly start dating and be happy together.
Okay, there was Xander's 'loser' status to be concerned about. Even though he and Dawn weren't really Harris's anymore, the cheerleader knew that the company Xander kept – used to keep – was still a big drawback to him attaining popularity and being 'worthy' of her.
( What am I gonna do? ) Cordelia thought to herself restlessly that evening, looking around in the dark and crowded club while her friends chatted away. ( I need to talk to someone about Xander and me. But I promised him I wouldn't confide in Cassandra and Dawn, and as for my friends? Forget it! It's not as if any of them really know me. I don't know if they even like me half the time. )
Suddenly, Cordelia had an epiphany. ( Of course! The one person who knows Xander as well as I do, and who I can bully into keeping her mouth shut if I have to. ) "Willow! I really like your outfit!" Cordy said nicely, as she came over to the appropriate table.
Willow looked at her fuzzy pink sweater for a second. "No you don't."
Cordelia dropped the act. "No, I really don't, but I need a favor."
"What kind?"
The rich girl looked around and saw Jesse heading towards them. "To talk, but not here. Let's go outside, the alley in the back where we can have some privacy. And don't follow me too closely, okay? I don't want people to get the wrong idea and think that we're friends or anything."
Miss Rosenberg rolled her eyes once Cordy turned away. "Okay, what's this all about?" Willow asked, once they met outside as requested.
Cordelia hesitated, briefly looking around. "Okay, like I said we're not friends. And if you tell anyone anything after I confide in you, I'll have to kill you – or at least make sure you get detention for a year, understand?"
The threat horrified the shy and insecure redhead, making Willow gulp audibly and her eyes grow wider. "Yeah. But-but, why would you wanna confide in me?"
"You're the one girl in Sunnydale who knows Xander as well as I do, aren't you?"
Willow instantly looked concerned. "Well, yeah. I guess. I mean okay, ever since last year we're not exactly as close as we once were, but...i-is something wrong with him? Or with Dawn?"
Cordelia huffed, "No, she's okay and Xander's fine too. I just wanted to ask-"
"Hey! What are you two doing out here?"
Both schoolgirls turned around, and Cordelia groaned. "Xander, this is a private conversation, that's why we came out here. Can't you take a hint?"
Harris came fully out into the alley, having seen the two femmes leave the building and wondering what was up with that. "Uh, I'm thinking not. So, what are you two gals talkin' about?"
"Well, I was gonna ask her advice on how to convince you to get over your insecurities, and finally take our romantic relationship out of the closet!" Cordy retorted, missing Willow's suddenly horrified expression.
"Are you nuts?!" Xander demanded. Then he saw Miss Rosenberg's face. "Uh, Will..."
"She, she's just kidding, right? I mean, Xander, you – you and Cordelia?" Willow squeaked.
"Willow..." Harris said.
"It's, it's not possible. I mean, you, and her, it's, it's simply not natural!" the redhead added.
"Hey!" Cordelia said, feeling insulted.
"Willow..." Xander tried again.
But by now, the girl had seemingly gone into full denial. "It'd be against all known laws of God and man! I mean, y-you guys hate each other. Remember? And Xander, you're, you're the treasurer and co-founder of the 'We Hate Cordelia' club!"
"You're the what?" Cordelia demanded, turning to glare at Harris.
Xander cringed before her, something Willow had never seen him do before. "Ah, Cordy, I can explain. Remember, sixth grade and we all went on that field trip, and the guy with the antlers on his belt showed up? I got...kinda bored..."
"So what are you saying? You and your stupid friends, you all used to gather around and say horrible things about me...just to make yourselves feel good? Just for laughs?!" Cordelia demanded.
"No! No!" Xander hesitated. "Well, i-it was never just for laughs, I mean..."
The look of murderous fury on Cordelia's face was almost enough to make Xander start running. "That's it. We're through, mister! I don't know what the hell I was thinking, wanting to get back together with you. So the next time you wanna kiss me, use a damn photo of me to do it!" the young woman ranted, before taking off the crucifix birthday present he'd given her, throwing it at Harris and storming back into the club.
Xander picked it up and muttered, "Well, that's just swell." Then he noticed his red-haired friend staring at him in horror. "Willow? What's wrong?" he asked cluelessly.
"You goofhead!" Willow began to yell at him, as the dam finally burst and Xander recoiled. Nearly ten years' worth of emotions since kindergarten could now no longer be denied, not after what she'd just heard and witnessed. "I've been in love with you since we were six! Six!"
Willow's declaration was totally unexpected to Xander, even though it shouldn't have been. "Huh? Wha...Willow, I, I..." Harris floundered badly, trying to respond.
"I've always loved you! I even wanted to be Mrs. Xander Harris one day! But you chose that bitch instead of me?!"
Xander was momentarily stunned to hear the b-word from his sweet little innocent Willow's lips. ( She's definitely changed if she's started using language like that. Must be Jonathan's influence! ) He looked at her nervously. "Look, Willow..."
"NO! Don't you ever speak to me again!" Willow stormed back into the Bronze, almost the exact same way Cordelia had done.
"Great. Just perfect," Xander muttered to himself, throwing his arms up in disgust. "Obviously, they now both think that I'm a moron and/or an asshole."
"Well, I don't."
Xander whirled around and saw a stunningly beautiful girl with short blonde hair. She was dressed in a Catholic schoolgirl outfit, even though she looked a bit old for something like that. "What?" he asked.
"I couldn't help overhearing. And I don't think you're moron," Miss Blonde and Beautiful replied.
"Uh..." Xander said nervously, almost having gone into the usual pretty-girl-speechless-dork mode. "H-hi. I'm, I'm Xander Harris. Who are you?"
The woman laughed. "Call me Darla."
"Right," Xander said, as the blonde came closer. "Uh, Darla, is there something I can help you with?"
"Well, I'm hungry. Think you can help me with that?"
Xander shrugged. "Yeah, sure. I got some money, we can get a mocha latte inside the Bronze?"
Darla smiled with a predator's grin. It instantly reminded Xander of his father, whenever the old man was about to do something particularly nasty. "Great. Oh, but remember what I said just now, about you not being a moron?" she asked.
"Yeah?"
"I lied."
Darla's face changed, morphing into something hideous and nightmarish. Xander got a glimpse of yellow eyes, a ridged and bumpy forehead, and fangs just before there was a sharp stinging sensation in his neck. Then there was pain like he'd never felt before, as he struggled to get free of her embrace.
"Let him go, Darla!"
The pain in his neck ended, but quickly resumed as the girl – or whatever she was – grabbed Xander into a chokehold. "And why should I do that, dear boy?" she purred.
"Can you hear me, Harris? Answer me!" the male voice demanded.
Xander blurrily tried to focus. "Yeah, I'm-"
The grip on his neck tightened and choked off the rest of the reply. "You know who dinner is, how nice. But it's not polite to ignore a civil question like that, Angelus," Darla said cuttingly.
"That's not my name anymore. And if you kill him you'll never know details about how the curse is flawed somehow," Xander heard 'Angelus' reply.
The young man then heard a noise from his captor that sounded like an intake of breath, yet not. "Really?"
"I have it on pretty good authority, anyway."
Despite the pain, Xander managed to finally get a glimpse of the other guy in the alley. He was tall, broad-shouldered, wore a leather jacket, and used way too much hair gel. Xander judged he might have been in his mid-twenties. ( Who is this guy? )
"I see. And just who would that be...now, now!" Darla tightened her grip again at once as Xander began to squirm free. "Be a good boy and behave while your elders are talking."
"Don't suppose you've got a cross on you, by any chance?" 'Angelus' seemed pessimistic to Xander about the chances.
But God – or maybe the higher power that had seeded Dawn into the Harris family so long ago – seemed to be on the human's side for the moment. Xander's hand closed around Cordelia's birthday gift, and he managed to bring it directly onto Darla's face.
The blonde howled in pain and her grip weakened. Old instincts immediately surfaced in Xander's mind about how to run, when Anthony Harris got into one of his rages. Xander stamped down on her instep and sprinted towards the only source of possible help: this 'Angelus' character.
The dark-haired vampire instantly shielded Xander with his own body, shoving the kid behind him. "Back off," he told Darla bluntly. "I mean it. Go find someone else for tonight."
Darla's face turned human again, much to Xander's amazement. She sneered, "Still trying to protect mortal children, Angelus? You haven't changed since 1900."
"Lose the Catholic schoolgirl look, sweetheart. It doesn't suit you," was the man's short reply.
"We'll meet again soon, dear boy. I look forward to it." With that, Darla slipped away into the shadows.
"Who, who...what was that?" Xander panted out in shocked disbelief. "And who are you?"
"Name's Angel," the mysterious stranger said simply, as he turned around and checked out Xander's neck.
( Uh, but didn't she call him Angelus just now? Whatever... ) "Angel? Um, no offense, but isn't that a bit of a girly name? Not to mention a character in that movie, 'The Wild Bunch'?"
Angel just stared at the kid for a moment. ( I help save his life, and he starts with the insults? Terrific. ) "You'll be okay. She didn't manage to feed for long."
"You know her? Who – what was she?" Xander demanded again after feeling his neck, which had finally stopped bleeding.
"Her name's Darla. And she's a vampire," Angel said simply.
Xander laughed through the pain. "What? There's no such thing, dude! Geez, are you high on PCP or something?"
Angel grabbed Xander's right wrist at the mention of 'angel dust'. He growled, "Listen to me very carefully. Vampires are real, and they live here in this town. Because Sunnydale is built on the mouth of Hell, that's why the original settlers called it 'la Boca del Infierno'. Vampires are dead corpses animated by a demon, so they have no breath and no heartbeat and no body heat. But they're a lot stronger and faster than humans, and they have an excellent sense of smell too, like a bloodhound. They're very dangerous, but not unbeatable. Sunlight, fire, decapitation, or a stake to the heart, just like in the movies, can kill them. They also don't like holy water, not to mention..."
He held up Xander's arm containing the crucifix and grabbed it with his other hand. A strong burning smell instantly assaulted the young man's nostrils, as Angel's features shifted into the same sort of game face that Darla had had. "...the Christian cross."
Harris backed away at once. "You're, you're like her...?" he babbled in fear.
"Not exactly. But make no mistake, this is the face of the enemy," Angel said, before putting his human mask back on. "You ever see a vampire if I'm not around, you run for your life. They can't get into your home without an invitation, so don't ever offer one out of hand. Hotel rooms don't count as a personal dwelling, though, so don't ever head for any place like that. Try to get to a church if one is close enough, there are forty-three of them in Sunnydale. Any questions?"
Xander shook his head weakly. "Am I dreaming? Is, is this a nightmare?"
"No. And the bite marks will still be there in the morning to prove it, I can assure you."
Xander felt his neck again, head still whirling. "If you're a vampire – and I can't believe I actually just said that – then, uh, then why are you helping me? Why didn't you just grab me to kill for yourself?"
Angel hesitated. "Good question, but I can't explain everything. I was told to protect you. Help you. Keep you alive."
"By who?"
"I never got a name." Angel then said roughly, "Go home, boy. Make sure to stay in public places if you're ever out after dark again. And don't try to pretend this was all just a dream in the morning. You'll live longer that way." With that, Angel strode off into the night.
Xander was still in too much shock to do anything to stop him. "Wait! How do I contact you again, if I ever need to find you?" he then called out.
"I'll find you."
TBC...
