Lindsey swooped his card through the lock and entered the room. A young
looking blonde sat on one of the chairs in the office, her back to the
door.
Lindsey moved past her and sat at his desk, setting out a portfolio file.
"Now, Darla. I'll be your consultant adviser in anything you need." He began.
"You're a lawyer," she commented dryly.
"Yes, yes I am. But this company isn't like any you may have encountered
in
your past life. Or unlife rather. We deliver special help to those under
your
stata."
"In other words, you cater to vampires."
"And other demon species, yes."
"So why am I here?"
"We went through a great deal to bring you back. Please be more considerate."
Lindsey said, shifting files with his only hand. What was the last thing
you
remember from before you ended up in the box?"
"I was fighting the slayer and felt something stab me in the heart from
behind. I twirled to see my ungrateful favorite childe holding the stake."
She tilted her head. "So how and why did you bring me back from a dusty
grave?"
"Just for that ungrateful favorite childe, matter of fact. Angel's become
a
costly liability to our organization." He raised his un-hand arm."I've
given
a great cost to the problem myself. Now we've brought you here."
"If anyone knows Angel's weakness, it's his sire," came the female voice
from
behind Darla. She turned a bit to the new addition. "Darla." She held out
her
hand and shook Darla's. "Sorry I'm late. I'm Lilah." She leaned against
the
desk and looked at Darla. "So, what's Angel's weakness?"
"You delivered me from the pits of hell to know Angel's weakness. Something
so simple?" Darla almost laughed but settled for a large smile.
"Well, then, Darla. Please, do tell. How do we kill Angel?" Lilah said,
leaning in closer, still holding the desk and mocking Darla's smile.
"It's so simple and yet you don't know. Humans," she snickered.
"We've tried putting a stake in him We need something that will throw his
guard. Something he won't expect." Lindsey commented, leaning over the
desk.
"Oh, no. A stake won't get it done. That would be a waist," Darla answered.
"A waist of what? Angel won't do bad. We tried that, or Lilah did anyway."
"No, Angel won't, will he?" Darla sat back more. "Did you look up my darling
boy?"
"There was no history on an 'Angel'." Lindsey answered.
"Of course there wasn't." Darla basically whispered, sighing as she finished.
"Angel isn't his real name, children. It's Angelus." Lilah looked at Lindsey
and he looked back. Both their faced mirrored the same expression of
nonbelief.
"Angelus?" Lindsey asked.
Darla nodded her head.
"Angelus, Scorch of Europe?" Lilah asked.
Darla nodded her head again with more emphasizes and added an "Um-hmm."
"Now I can see why he'd be a waist as dust." Lindsey commented, standing.
"So, the question now is, how do we get rid of that pesky soul that makes
him
Angel?" Lindsey came around and leaned in on the chair Darla sat at, hand
and
stub on each chair arm.
"Now if I knew that don't you think I would have taken it? I almost had
him
eating humans when he turned on me. That damn slayer."
"Which slayer?" Lindsey asked.
"What do you mean, 'which'? There is only one."
"Two, actually." Lilah opened a file. "Buffy Summers, died at the hand
--
pardon me -- teeth of Heinrich Joseph Nest but was revived by a friend,
name
unknown, and ours truly, Angel. Called was Kendra but she didn't last long.
She was murdered but the case was never solved on who did it. Then there's
Faith. Dear Faith is our ... former assassin. Went bad after killing a
man
and is now spending time in a jail for that such act." Lilah looked at
Darla
and closed the files. "Now, which was it?"
"Buffy Summers. Her mother was a nice nibble." She smiled gleefully.
"Buffy. The good one," Lilah commented offhandedly.
"Do you think sorcery might bring forth his demon?" Lindsey asked Lilah.
"It's not bringing it forth we need worry about. It's there. It's getting
rid
of what's blocking it's control." Darla spoke up. "But I think you are
thinking in the right direction. Magic gave him it. Magic can take it back."
* * *
The men sat at a large desk that stretched both ways like a table for about
twenty feet and had a rise in the middle for the middle person. Five people
sat on each end next to the middle person. The one in the middle spoke
up.
"Special Ops. Step forward." Three men stepped forth. "You've failed all
that
you serve. Each of us is disappointed at how you dealt with the slayer
situation."
"Sir -- "Hobs started but was silenced by the council.
"Silence. We've given you all two chances at catching her. First you catch
her and as you're killing her loose her. Then you loose her because the
vampire is protecting her.
"This team used to mean something just as this council did but now you've
made us something to laugh at." One man two down from the center on the
left
continued.
"You must set an example for the others. Now you may have an honorable
death,
or a dishonorable discharge and leave being paddled as you walk down the
hall." The three looked at each other then back at the council man as he
burst out laughing. "Just kidding! You don't have a choice! You're all
going
to be thrown in a cell with hungry vampires!"
"Your Council! Please! We make a bargain for our lives."
"What on Earth could you offer us?" The last to the right asked.
"A slayer's death." All the council looked at each other.
"Continue," the head councilman stated.
"We've progressed a deal with some Americans. They have bad debts from
our
slayer as well. They promise her death, ensuring the calling of the next
slayer which we train to our liking."
"Can you promise such results?" the head asked.
"If not, our lives are in your hands."
"So be it. You're forgiven but such a bad reputation does not go forgotten.
If you fail us, you will have wished for the vampire cage."