"I go by Angel and I just want to help you."

"By following me around?! How the Hell does that help me?! I can tell you're there, but I can't see you. You've been doing it since I got to Sunnydale a month ago and I'm sick of it! What kind of demon are you?"

"I'm not exactly a demon."

"Right, you barely register on my senses, but you do register and my Watcher says that might mean you have demon ancestry. Do you?"

"You could say that."

"Well, you're not saying a whole lot yourself, so I'm left with having to guess. Why did you help me with these guys? Do you know who they are?"

"They're called or rather, were called, the Three. Fanatical warriors sworn to serve the Master."

"The Master? That's the old vampire you warned me about, the one that's trapped somewhere underground and wants out. The one that was doing that Harvest dealio."

"Yes, him. You're the Slayer, he wants you out of the way. He's probably planning another escape attempt."

"And you don't know anything about it? How did you find out about the Harvest anyway?"

"Vampires gossip too. I overheard them talking."

"And how do you know I'm the Slayer? Can you sense me the way vampires and demons can? With your demon ancestry?"

"I can sense you, yes."

"Following me around doesn't help me and it makes me really suspicious when you just happen to show up just as I'm attacked by vampires. And it's doubly interesting that you managed to get the stake away from that vampire and stake him with it. Implies you're really strong, stronger than a normal human. Is that because of your demon ancestry?"

"You could say that."

"Is there something you want or are you just trying to drive me nuts with the non answers? Why do you want to help the Vampire Slayer anyway?'

"I don't exactly like vampires, one killed my family."

"I'm sorry, that's rough."

"It was a long time ago but I still...remember."

"So you hunt them, what for revenge?"

"I don't hunt them, but I am willing to dust them if I run into them."

"Yeah well, hunting them isn't a great idea, even if you are stronger than a normal human. Although you looked like you were holding your own there."

"Thanks, I practice Tai Chi."

"Not at all useful information at present. Stop following me, okay? I don't need your brand of help. It's stalking and if I catch you doing it again I'll have you arrested. Am I understood?"

"Not a lot the police could do about me."

"Any other town and you'd probably be right. Sunnydale is the exception to a lot of rules. I catch you following me again and I'm going to kick your ass."

"I won't follow you anymore, but if I have information where can I find you?"

"My Watcher is at Sunnydale High School and I hang out at a teen club called the Bronze, I'm sure you're familiar with it, you followed me there my first night in Sunnydale and from there nearly to my home."

"I'm familiar with it. Where at the High School can I find your Watcher?"

"The Library. Understand me, I don't particularly like him, but if you hurt him or any of my friends, I'll destroy you. Now go away."

"I'll see you later." He melted into the shadows.

"Not a single straight answer, what is he hiding?"

Since the air had no answers for her either, Buffy continued on home, not knowing or caring that the Master was raging over the loss of still more minions. The next day she reported the encounter with both the Three and the Angel guy again.

"He gave no useful information on his demon ancestry?" Giles asked.

"Just a lot of 'you could say that' which doesn't say one way or another. He claims he's been following me because he wants to help me, but aside from warning me about the Harvest dealio and dusting one of those vamps, he hasn't done anything helpful. He stayed out of my reach, even with Slayer speed he could have run before I got to him. The only thing he really confirmed is that he's stronger than a normal human. He claims he heard about the Harvest from gossipy vampires and says his family was killed by vampires. He might be telling the truth about everything or he could just be some asshole stalking me. He did give me a name, Angel."

"Angel? I'll check the Watchers Chronicles, see if there's any references to anyone calling himself Angel, it's a long shot, but another Slayer might have run across him if he's telling the truth about occasionally destroying vampires. And I'll keep an eye out in case he drops by claiming he has information."

"And I'll keep an eye out in case he starts stalking me again and let Willow and Johnathan and Alex and the pack know about him showing up again and give them a description in case they run into him themselves. I've got to go, I've got class."

"And I have research to do. Perhaps if you return during your lunch period."

"Yeah, I'll do that."

Unfortunately Giles had to report failure as he found no references to anyone named Angel in the Watchers Chronicles. The closest to that name was Angelus, a particularly brutal vampire that was part of a group called the Whirlwind, a insane Seer named Drusilla, a vampire named Spike that liked to torture people with railroad spikes and killed two Slayers and the founder of the group and Angelus' Sire, a former prostitute named Darla. But the group had broken up nearly a century ago after Angelus disappeared and was believed destroyed.

"And I doubt would be him anyway." Giles pointed out. "Why would a vampire want to help a Vampire Slayer?"

Good question.