Crown of Black Thorns

Author: Eshe

Rating: PG for now

Pairing: W/A eventually, W/K right now

Disclaimer: Not mine nor will they ever be

Distribution: Wherever will have me

Summary: Final season of Angel and after the finale of Buffy

Authors notes: Just a litle teaser, more tonight...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 
 

~Prologue~

Crown of black thorns on his head... blood… death…

Willow woke with a start; she jumped out of bed waking Kennedy. She couldn’t shake the dreams; they had been plaguing her for months now, ever since she had arrived in South America. Even Kennedy was starting to feel the affects of the restless nights. Willow just could not sleep anymore, she couldn’t sit back and just accept what was happening to him, not anymore, and it was taking a toll on her day to day life in an extreme way. The last few days had been hard on her mentally and physically. Every time she closed her eyes she saw him, suffering. Something was happening and she needed to go help him. Even though she was forbidden to go to him, she knew that she had to. She had to go help Angel.

~Part: 1~

Getting back into the United States was harder for Willow than it was getting out, first the fact that she was traveling on short notice. Catching the bus required her to basically jump on it while it was still moving, the bus drivers in Esmeraldas did not really like Americans and it was either catch the bus at one of the checkpoints where there were armed guards everywhere and they always asked questions. Looking out of the bus window she was almost ashamed to leave this beautiful city. Everything that she had worked for in the past six months was gone now. She had a new destiny and no one would understand the need she felt to go help Angel. Willow knew that in a few hours Kennedy would wake up and after that the shit would hit the fan.

To Willow leaving South America was difficult, she had in every way made it her home, it was a very beautiful country that she had fell in love with immediately after arriving. After the first few difficult weeks of setting up a council office she had a whole month to explore Esmeraldas’ forests and visitor sites before they started receiving new slayers. Things were pretty routine for Willow at first, training in the morning for the girls, after she had time to practice her magick before they went on a nightly patrol of the city. Things with Kennedy were wonderful until the dreams started, Kennedy just could not understand the toll the dreams were taking on Willow’s mental health, most of the time Willow stayed up trying to escape them, she had even tried a few spells to no avail. She understood these dreams were coming from something higher than herself and she needed to do something.

After Giles found out about Angel taking over Wolfram and Hart, contact with him and his crew had been forbidden. That was the reason why Giles denied Willow to go help with the slayer. He had sent Jonathan instead because he had no personal connection to Angel and that he would not let his feeling get in the way of doing his job. Willow knew that the slayer had to be taken back to Giles, Angel could have never helped her like Giles and Buffy could. Willow knew this and it made her feel bad that her own friends did not want to trust that she wouldn’t do her job like she was supposed to. What was it that they saw that she couldn’t see?

After countless hours of traveling on a dirty bus and a night in a cheap hotel, Willow finally made it on her seven hour flight to L.A. After arriving she made a quick job of cleaning up and changing into a simple black business suit and headed to the offices of Wolfram and Heart.

~Part: 2~

When Willow walked through the doors of Wolfram and Heart the evil that surrounded her started to consume her and threatened to contain her and let out the black magick that still ran throughout her body, so much so that she started to sway under its influence.

“Red!” She heard the voice behind her but she couldn’t believe it. Willow turned around with half closed eyes, “Spike?” It was all she could get out before her world turned black.

When Willow awoke she felt as though her insides were being pulled at in all directions from the magick, “This must be why Giles didn’t want me to come.” She turned towards Angel and gave a weak smile.

“Its all the darkness that lives here, and feeds here, it sometimes gets to me as well. Are you okay?” Angel walked over to his bed and pushed some of her hair from out of her face.

“Not really, I just need to get out of here for a minute so I can center myself. I can handle it, I was just a little bit overwhelmed at first, its mostly residuals leftover from my time as evil Willow.”

“Can you walk?” He asked and Willow nodded, “Okay then lets get out of here for awhile, I know you want to get caught up on everything that has been going on here since we took over. I'm sure you’ll be surprised at what’s happened.” Angel gave Willow a smile and then all of a sudden she noticed something different about him something that she didn’t quite like. Willow reached out to Angel and was relieved to feel that it was still there, but still with all the evil around him she couldn’t be sure that something else was wrong with him.

“What are you thinking about?” Angel asked startling her from her thoughts.

“Nothing really, just how much you seem to have changed, you seem relaxed.”

Angel grabbed her hands and held them, “You’d be surprised how much I have changed, why don’t you go freshen up in the bathroom before we leave?”

“Okay, I'm sure my hair is a mess.” Willow eyed him curiously before heading in the direction Angel was pointing in. Once Willow made it to the bathroom she chanted a quick spell to diffuse any equipment that may have been in the room before opening her hand to read the small slip of paper that Angel placed in her hand.

Willow smiled briefly before lighting the paper up and letting it burn before dropping it in the toilet and flushing it, taking the time to properly compose herself she diffused the spell and headed out of the bathroom to join Angel who led her to the elevator and took her down to his office where Spike and Wesley were waiting.

~Part: 3~

“Angel, Gunn has some things he would like to discuss with you.” Wesley says as he comes out of the elevator, “I see you are up Willow, how are you feeling? You gave us all a shock when Spike carried you up here.”

“I'm okay, just a little shocked by everything in here.” Willow smiled and looked towards Angel, who gave her a pointed look, she immediately stopped smiling.

Angel picked some papers up off his desk, “Where is Gunn, I have a meeting in a few and I'm in a hurry.”

Spike snorted, “Haven’t been doing anything up there you shouldn’t have?”

“Shut up Spike, tell Gunn to meet me in the conference room.” Angel grabbed Willows arm, “We have to go.” Angel all but dragged Willow out the office ignoring Harmony when she went to say hi to Willow.

“Angel let me go I can walk on my own.” Willow pulled her arm back and followed him to the lobby.

Angel stepped up to one of the people and introduced him, Willow, this is Hamilton, he is the liaison to the senior partners, and this distinguished woman here is Senator Brucker.”

Willow held out her hand to Hamilton and all but pulled it back when she felt the evil that was within him, and repeated the same gesture to Senator Brucker.

Brucker smiled , “Angel, I am so pleased you have someone here who I can fully say has what it takes to be here, I can feel the power within her, there is great potential there.

“Well I decided that I needed someone here I can trust. Shall we?” He gestured to one of the offices.

Before they go to the office, Gunn walked up followed by Harmony, “Is there anything that I can get you?” she asked.

Brucker waved her hand, “Nothing for me but you could get my aide, Ernesto a glass of blood.”

Gunn stepped up,” I'm sorry but we have a no-“

“Get this man whatever he wants Harmony; I'm sure we can make an exception for our wonderful guests. There should be some in the lab. GO. NOW.” Angel smiled at Harmony who pouted before leaving.

Before they could enter the office Wesley walked up followed by Spike and Illyria. Wesley flashed a file in Angels face, “There has been another murder at the abandoned amusement park, it appears to be the work of a Boretz demon.”

Angel pointed to Senator and her aide to the office and then turned to Wesley, “Look, in the end run its just another statistic, we cant expect to save everyone. Look buddy, don’t sweat the small stuff.”

“But Angel it was a teenage girl, her name was Stacy Bleuth.” Wesley whispered in disbelief.

“If it makes you feel any better go out and find it yourself, I'm sure Spike will help ya.” Angel retreated into the office and closed the door leaving Wesley in shock.

Spike patted him in the back, “Come on, I’ll kill it, some of us haven’t forgotten our calling. Wanna help blue?”

Illyria  shook her head yes still looking at the closed office door.

“Come, lets go to my office and figure this out.” Wesley shook his head and walked away, soon followed by Spike and Illyria.

~Part: 4~

The day was long for Willow, she was still waiting for Angel to tell her what was going on, and she soon realized that everyone around him were thinking that he had turned evil, at some points during her day she thought the same thing. For lunch Angel took her out of the building so she could center herself properly and release the buildup of evil that she was absorbing, Willow knew she had to stay balanced to keep herself from going over the edge. Angel pulled her out at the right point because when they got into the car he told her that her eyes were starting to get darker. He didn’t tell her anything at lunch, he just sat at watched her eat and told her he would tell her when he knew that they were safe. Willows patience was running thin, so when they got back into Wolfram and Hart she pulled Angel close to her and suddenly everything around them stopped. “I cant take it anymore, tell me now!” She demanded.

Angel looked around the office and smiled, “Didn’t know you were that strong, could have done this hours ago. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Willow shook her head, “First, I'm most likely the most powerful Wicca in the world, second, I was waiting for you, it takes a lot of energy to pull something like this off and I couldn’t do it at first because I wasn’t centered properly.”

“Okay, basically, I just want you to play along with this whole evil thing, with you I know we can do this. First off, the others don’t know, and I’d like it to be that way for the time being. Second, I have visions.” Angel gestured willow not to talk, “Cordeila left me them when she came back that last time, and with them I can see what’s going to happen and trust me Willow its bad, I need to take out the Circle of the black Thorn before its too late.”

Willow paled and the mention of that name and she answered Angels question before he asked it, “In my dreams, I saw it in my dreams. You were in them, sometimes there was a crown of black thorns on your head, other times you were being whipped with them, there was so much blood Angel, so much death, I could even smell all the death that was around you.” Tears started to fall from her eyes as she remembered it.

“Don’t cry, its going to be okay, I can feel it.” Angel pulled her into a hug and looked at her for a minute before giving into temptation and kissing her on the lips. Willow was shocked at first but then gave into the feeling of his mouth on hers. Neither one notices when Willows spell ended and people turning around to stare at them. It was Hamilton who came up behind Angel and cleared his throat.

“I'm glad to see you are taking a break Angel but I have some things I need to discuss with you.”

Angel pulled away from Willow a little confused and turned to Hamilton, “Give me a minute here, meet me in my office.”

Wesley sat at his desk leafing through a book on Boretz demons, he was tired a worn out from the past few days at Wolfram and Hart, he still couldn’t believe how Angel was acting. He closed his eyes for a moment feigning rest before turning the page in the book, he couldn’t believe his eyes when a message appeared:

Wesley blinked a few times and then a symbol appeared after the message. Gunn walked into his office, “WE got a serious problem, its Angel-“

“Hold on.” He interrupted, Wesley looked up at him and then back down to the book and the message disappeared.

Gunn looked at Wesley strangely before he went and closed the office door.

Later that night, Spike and Illriya walked through Funville Amusement Park looking for the demon, “See, this isn’t so bad now is it?” Spike asked trying for small talk.

“Angel does not think the casualties of this creature are important enough to avenge.” Illyria said looking behind her.

Spike shook his head, “Corporate living has made him lose his love for the hunt.”

“Your leader has been corrupted.”

Spike stopped walking, “Hang on. First Angel is not my leader, second, what in the bloody hell do you mean corrupted?”

“He turns a blind eye to the dealings of battles from which he cannot gain… and a deaf ear to the counsel of those closest to him. As his strength increases, so does the separation between he and his fellow-“

Spike shushed Illyria, “You smell that?”

“The odors of everything in this world are equally repugnant.”

Spike continued walking, “You’re wrong about Angel. Not that I don’t think the sod couldn’t be corrupted, I just know that if he was… I’d know it… hell I’d feel it.”

“You will have your proof soon enough, he will murder one of you.”

Spike shook his head and was about to peak except someone answered for him, “He already has.”

“Drogyn?” Spike called out in disbelief.

“Who is this?” Illyria asked stepping in front of Spike.

“Guardian of the deeper well, Greens keeper of you graveyard so to speak.”

“My jailer.” Illyria glared at him.

Drogyn squinted for a minute before he recognized who she was, “Illyria.” Drogyn swayed on his feet.

Spike then noticed the blood and wounds covering him, “Who did this to you?”

“Angel, I couldn’t find anyone else, none of the others who keep the well… I came to warn you all, it was Angel who did it.”

~Part: 5~

Wesley walked through Wolfram and carrying a drawing of the symbol he saw on the book and walked into Angels office, “Angel, something unusual… oh I didn’t know you were occupied.” Wesley trailed off noticing Hamilton was in the office as well, “Angel, I really have something important to tell you can we speak in private?”

“Actually Wes, I'm kinda busy right now, Willow is in the last office down the hall, and from now on I would appreciate it if you would take up all matters with her now.” Angel turned back to Hamilton and smiled.

Wesley turned towards the door, “So Willow works here now?”

“Yes, she’s my second in command now; I have other priorities right now.”

“Alright, I’ll go talk to her about this then.”

“Oh, and Wesley,” Angel looked up as Wesley turned around; “close the door behind you.”

Wesley left the office and met Gunn and Lorne outside, they all walked to Wesley’s office.

Gunn closed the door,” So what happened?”

“He was in a meeting with Hamilton and said from now on take everything to Willow.”

Lorne shook his head, “Something’s not right with this.”

“I agree, Angel is acting way too wrong for me, and now he’s got witchy working here. Both of them are giving me the creeps.” Gunn, sat down in a chair.

Wesley nodded, “I do think something is going on, but we can’t just lose faith in Angel just yet, this could be a part of some secret plan. And Willow could be helping.”

“Yeah right, her aura is surrounded by darkness sweetcakes; it’s almost as bad as that Hamilton.” Lorne said.

Wesley opened his mouth to speak just as his phone rang, “Hello… Spike… What? We’re on our way now.” He hung up, “We need to get over to Spikes, he says there is something there we need to see.”

Angel walked into Willows office where she was busy typing on the computer, he wasn’t surprised when she magically closed the door behind him, “We need to talk Angel.”

“I know, earlier I wasn’t thinking when I kissed you, I'm sorry if I offended-“

“I wasn’t talking about that, that actually cleared up a lot for me. I got a call from Archduke Sebassis, he wants me to come with you tonight because I am being considered for membership into a very prestigious club.”

Angel walked up to her, “So you really are that strong huh? I knew the minute you walked in here that they would want you. This is very good Willow, we are so close to the end of this.”

“I know, but what happens after?” Willow looked up at Angel, fear clearly showing in her face.

Angel leaned down next to her, “I don’t know Willow.”

“We can’t get out of this unscathed, I know it, I can feel it Angel. My dreams were more than just that, the powers sent them to me for a reason, there has to be some backlash that we aren’t expecting. We need to cover everything, check through everything, and make sure we aren’t missing something.”

“So what are you thinking about doing?” Angel cupped her cheek.

“I can’t tell you right now, I need to make sure I can get everything done first. Let’s not worry about that right now, lets get ready for tonight.” Willow jumped out of her chair, “Oh and Angel, don’t worry about the kiss, I liked it, and I was sent here for you. The powers sent me to you to be by your side, maybe it was more than just for this. I don’t know what this could mean for us and technically I am still in a relationship, and I am more than a little confused about what I'm feeling because it seems like they have always been there but I am going to stop talking now before I say something even more confusing than what I just said.”

Willow turned to Angel who just grinned at her before pulling her into another kiss.

SPIKES APARTMENT

Wesley, Gunn, and Lorne arrived at Spikes apartment in record time. When they got there Spike explained who Drogyn was and what he had told him previously about Angel. Spike decided to wait until the others arrived to hear the rest of the story.

“I was attacked by a Satari demon, it’s basically a demon assassin who carries a poisonous blade in each of its four arms. He hit me with one but it wasn’t enough poison to kill me. We both fought for hours until I overwhelmed him, then I tortured him until he told me who sent him. The Satari said that Angel sent him so that I wouldn’t find out about his part in helping Illyria escape from her tomb, before the assassin died he said that Angel needed to sacrifice someone trusted and dear.” Drogyn shifted barely suppressing a moan from al the pain he was in. “I came here to warn you all that he has turned.”

“Angel couldn’t have done that to Fred… it just wasn’t in him.” Wesley paced the room.

“The assassin wouldn’t lie, not that close to death. It was Angel, and we need to stop him.” Drogyn tried to get up from the couch but was pushed down by Spike, “Look you're not going anywhere right now. Lorne, Wesley, and I are going to go talk to our esteemed leader, you stay here with Illyria and play a game or something.” Spike grabbed his duster and followed Gunn out the door leaving Drogyn and Illyria.

Gunn speeded all the way to the office building, finding Angel and Willow in Angel’s office..

Spike talked first, “You know your old friend Drogyn is in town, looks like someone wants him dead, you wouldn’t know anything about that would you?”

Angel smiled, “Now why on earth would you think that I would know something about it? I've been here with Willow the whole time, handling business.”

“And what business is that Angel?” Wesley asked.

“Do I really have to explain this to you people? We're in the business 0f business. Oil, software, worldwide wickets. The product doesn't matter. It's the game that matters. Get to the top, be the best, have the most, win.”

“Win what?” Wesley pressed.

“You're still missin' the point.”

Gunn stepped forward, “That Angel talking? 'Cause it sounds a lot more like Angelus.”

Willow answered, “Cause if he were Angelus, half of you would already be dead, just for the fun of it.” Willow sat on the edge of his desk.

Spiked got in Angels face, “One of us already is. We havin' fun yet?”

“You think it's Wolfram and Hart getting to me here, and maybe you're right, because they've shown us what power is. From day one, they've been calling the shots, and all we've done is get shot at. I have a chance to change that.”

Lorne shook his head, “And will you? I mean, not to play an old saw, but power does traditionally corrupt. You get high up enough, and, well, the people, they do start to look like ants.”

“I can't worry about that... the small stuff.”

Harmony walked into the office, “Angel, that important phone call from... that guy about that thing, it's on line three.”

I have to take this, this meeting is over.” Angel gestured to the door.

“Angel one more thing,” Wesley stopped at the door. “Was Fred included in this small stuff?”

Angel turned towards him, emotion clearly in his eyes, “I loved Fred.” Angel slammed the door in his face, after he walked to Willow and pulled her into an embrace, and didn’t let go until Harmony interrupted about his phone call.

Meanwhile Wesley, Lorne and Gunn headed to the county jail.

A few hours later Angel  walked along a dark stone corridor, he sees flames and runs through them into a stone chamber where he sees that there is a man being beaten by masked, robed assassins. The assassins stand back and Angel lifts the man up and removes his cloth hood, he sees that is it Drogyn.

“Thank you Angel for saving me.”

Angel looks at his friend, vamps out and then sinks his fangs into Drogyn's neck before snapping it and dropping him to the floor

~Part: 6~

Back in the Chamber, Angel stands face to face with one of the robed strangers. The man opens his hand where the symbol of the blackthorn is glowing, Angel pulled opened his shirt and the man places his hand on his chest where it transfers to Angels chest and then fades away. The other figures in the room start to chant, Willow is pulled into the room and she is pushed forward to where there is a woman tied up in the corner. The woman Willow can sense has power inside of her and Willow almost screams out at what she knows she has to do. Willow walks forward and puts her hand on the woman’s chest and opens herself up to draw the energy out of her body. Willow stops when there is nothing left inside of her, and the woman slumps on the ground lifeless.

Willow looks up at Angel on the verge of crying, instead she says, “That was a nice pick-me-up.”

The same figure who came to Angel walks up to Willow and repeats the same ritual, transferring the symbol onto her chest. Then he pulls of his mask, followed by the others in the room and he smiles at her, a demon Angel recognizes as Vail, “Well done you two.”

Izzy steps up to Angel, “See? Didn't I tell you it was gonna happen? And how about that lamb we got you for the slaughter, any idea who that was?”

Angel buttoned up his shirt, “Drogyn. The battlebrand.”

A man brings Angel, Willow and Izzy champagne flutes.

“Damn straight. We got you some supercharged warrior juice, not some schmuck. You must feel great, and how about you young lady, she was a Wicca in the area, strong, full of power. I would have loved to drain her myself but someone said it would be best for you to do it, they couldn’t lose you t someone else, not with your reputation.”

Willow smiled and clinked glasses with Angel, before taking a large drink of champagne.

“Ok, you two, let me introduce you around to a few people. Some of these folks you know, some you don't. Angel, of course, you're acquainted with the Archduke.”

Archduke Sebassis held out his hand to Angel, “Kudos, child. I must say, it's gratifying to see you've returned to form, Angelus. And you dear sweet child, I’m happy to see that someone of your power has come into our fold.”

Willow shook his hand but was distracted by the moaning coming from the other side of the room. Sebassis shook his head, “Looks like the girl isn’t dead after all.” He waved his hand, “Izzy could you remove her, I’m sure one of the guards will find her… appetizing.”

Willow could hardly contain her disgust at his words and turned into Angel.

“I’m also happy to see that you two have connected, this should be a very promising partnership. I can tell these things, you know Angel.”

“I'm glad that you say that, you should also know that I have out her in charge of my old crew. I’m pretty sure that she can keep them in check, and if not… she can always fire them. One more thing, its still Angel.” Angel smiled and took another sip of the champagne.

“Ah. Well, what's in a name, eh? In the spirit of our new alliance, you must allow me to throw a dinner party in your honor.”

“You know how I love parties.” Angel turned as Senator Brucker walked up.

“It's nice to see you again so soon, Angel.” She said lifting her glass.

“Senator. I had no idea you were so well...connected.“

:”Well, I'm not gonna take the White House in 2008 on just my sparkling wit and funding from hostile governments. And Willow I'm so glad you’ve decided to join our little organization.”

Willow smiled, “Well you must know it was last minute, when I got the call I didn’t know what I was expecting until Angel explained it all, how could I say no?”

“I expect not.”

“Excuse us, Helen. Angel, I've got someone here who'd like to pay his respects. “ Izzy cut in.

Angel turned, “Vail.”

“You've been looking for me.”

“Actually, I've been looking like I'm looking for you. Appearances, you know.”

Vail laughed, wheezing some before stopping.

“See, Cyvus?, I told you it was all good. Now why don't you two shake hands? Come on.” Izzy insisted.

“No hard feelings then Angel?”

Angel took his hand and shook, “Ultimately, everything worked out for the best.”

Vail smiled, “Oh. Your son, he kills quite well.”

“Thanks.”

“Got a great turnout for your initiation.”

Willow looked around, “Really?”

“Oh, yeah. Everybody's here. Here, let me freshen that up.” Izzy took Angels drink and went to get him another one. Angel and Willow looked around the room and noted everyone there, Willow squeezed his hand in a silent affirmation.

~Part: 7~

Back at Wolfram and Hart, Wesley, Spike, Gunn and Lorne stand around Lindsey McDonald who is sitting at a table smirking at them all. “So what are you gonna do? Beat it out of me?”

Spike leaned over him, “If you say so.”

Lindsey jumped to his feet and looked into Spikes eyes, Gunn jumped between the two of them, “We all know how this goes.” He shoved Lindsey back into the chair. “Spike beats you to a bloody pulp, you beg for mercy, and we get what we came for.”

“I told you, I don't know why Angel gave up that kid. Or anything else. Me and him, not too close. I gotta get back to my game of Solitaire.” Lindsey looks down a the table.

Wesley lifts up a drawing of the thorns and shoved it in Lindsey’s face, “Know about this?”

His face was in shock, “Where'd you get that?”

“It doesn't matter. What does it mean?”

“Is that what all this is about? All these questions about Angel.” He looked at the drawing one more time, “No. No way. No way they'd take Angel.”

“Who they?” Spike demanded

He looked up at Spike, “The Circle of the Black Thorn.”

Lorne snorted, “Sounds like a little sewing club for pirates.”

“It's a secret society.”

“Never heard of them.”

“That's 'cause they're secret.”

“There's plenty of these cabals about. They usually spend a lot of time in basements paddling one another's bums to prove their manhood.”

“These are not frat boys, Spike. The circle's small. It's elite. They got connections you boys can't even comprehend.”

Wesley sat down, “They're evil.”

“Sure. But evil's not the point. Power is.”

Gunn shook his head in understanding, “OK, we get it. They're bad ass. What do they do?”

Lindsey snickered, “Jeez. Are you guys always this slow? Huh? Starts with an ‘a,’ ends in ‘pocalypse.’ It's a well-oiled machine, this circle. These people grease the wheels, keep the parts in place. Make sure man's inhumanity to man keeps rolling along.”

“We thought the senior partners were responsible for the apocalypse.” Wesley interjected.

“The senior partners are on a different plane. Down here...it's the players in the circle that make things happen. Hell, you get tapped by one of them, it's kind of like getting the keys to the chocolate factory.”

Wesley moved across from Lindsey, “That's why you came back to L.A., tried to kill Angel. To get into the circle.”

“To be a Black Thorn is to be the senior partners' instrument on Earth. Doesn't get bigger than that.”

“Looks like Angel succeeded where you failed.”

Lindsey shook his head, “He doesn't have it in him.”

“Doesn't have what in him?” Wesley asked.

“Well, for starters, he's gotta give up the champion angle. Quit saving girls in alleys. Probably wouldn't even make it on the circle's radar until he killed one of his lieutenants.”

Wesley, Spike, Gunn and Lorne look at each other, alarmed.

Lorne shook his head in disbelief, “The senior partners, the Circle, they're killing Angel by degrees.”

Wesley hung his head down. “And we all watched it happen.”

“The guy I knew wouldn't want this. He wouldn't wanna be this.” Gunn sat down with his head down as well

“Angel dedicated his life to helping others, not because he had to, but because it was a path he'd chosen.” Wesley stood up, “If he's been swayed from that, influenced... then maybe there's still time. We can bring him back. He'd do the same for any of us, regardless of our actions.”

Lorne looked up at Wesley, “And what if he's skipped too far down that evil brick road?”

Angel carried Willow to his room, she had fell asleep on the way back to Wolfram and Hart, Angel really couldn’t blame her, even though he knew she wasn’t exhausted. The magick she had consumed earlier that night would keep her juiced for the next few hours. Willow had cried most of the way back, even though she knew that it was a price to pay for the ultimate goal it was still hard for her to deal with, even though she didn’t actually take the woman’s life, she had contributed to it and the person Willow was almost couldn’t handle killing an innocent.

“Angel?’ Willow said sleepily.

“Yes, I'm here.” Angle laid her in the bed.

“I feel like crap, I knew what I had to do and I thought that I could handle it, but it’s too much. I… I don’t want this anymore.” Willow closed her eyes as the tears fell.

Angel rubbed his hand over her head, “Its okay Willow, if you want to leave I will understand.”

Willow shook her head, “I can’t leave now, then all of this would have been for nothing, that woman would have died for nothing. I can’t leave you now, besides I know you still need me Angel, you still need me to be in your corner while no one else is.”

Angel gave a faint smile, “Also what about the whole you were sent here by the powers thing?”

“That too, and I'm smarter and better at planning things than you are.” Willow finally smiled.

“Where would I be without you? Willow I'm glad that you are here; I really needed someone to be here with me, someone who I could share all this with. When you came through those doors I knew that you were what I needed, that you could be a big part of my master plan. They heard about you, they felt you when you came in the city’s limits. You came closer to ending the world than I did when I was evil, and now you have a balance of the good and bad within you, all they can feel is evil, because that’s all they want to feel.”

“Angel you don’t know how hard it is for me to stay focused through all this, my insides are being pulled at and it is so hard not to give into this.”

“Yes I do, Willow. I know better than anyone here how it feels, I almost did give in a few times. Things got so rough for me, especially after the whole Conner fiasco. I came here so that he would have a better life, one that wasn’t filled with pain, something I knew I couldn’t give him myself.”

Willow put her hand on his face and pulled him down for a kiss. “lets go to bed, tomorrow is gonna be a very long day for us. Only two more days before the end of this.”

~Part: 8~

The next day Angel took Willow out for breakfast just so she could get away from the office for awhile. They were laughing and hugging each other when they walked into his office not really noticing the door closing behind them, until Spike knocked Angel in the back of the head sending him flying to the ground. Wesley and Lorne walk out of the conference room, Wesley holding a glowing ball in his hand that he points at Willow chanting, he throws the ball to the ground and an energy beam shoots out covering her. They all surround the two, all armed Gunn with a sword, Spike with his fists, Wesley with a shotgun, and Lorne with a crossbow. Angel goes to get up.

Spike kicks him in the face, “You might wanna stay down.”

“Or what? Careful.” Angel stood up, “You don't wanna get yourselves hurt and just so you know that’s not gonna hold her much longer.”

Gunn looked at him with disgust, “We know what you've been doing. Giving up the baby to the Fell Brethren, working for Senator Bitch, trying to take out Drogyn to cover up what you did to Fred. And for what? To get in bed with the Circle of the Black Thorn?”

“So you figured it out.” Angel put his hand on Willows shoulder and pulled her free.

“Yeah, a little singing from a jailbird we know... and loathe.” Lorne pointed the crossbow towards Willow.

“Lindsey?” Angel scoffed, “And you believed him.”

“Doesn't have a reason to lie.”

“Doesn't need one.”

Wesley raised his gun at Willow, “Unlike you two? We still haven’t figured out what Willow is doing here, care to share Angel?”

Angel stepped in front of her, “What I do here is my business. You don't like how I conduct it; you can leave... before I kill you.”

“Kill us? Hard to believe we're having trouble trusting you.” Wesley laughed.

“Just telling it like it is.”

Wesley cocked his shotgun, “Then we have a problem.”

“I guess we do.“

Angel grabbed the shotgun barrel and pushed it away from Wesley and kicked him to the ground. Spike charged Angel, but Willow waved her hand and sent him flying into the wall. Gunn raised his sword, and Angel blocked his swing and hit him in the head with the barrel of the shotgun. Lorne pointed his crossbow at Angel and fired a bolt that hit Angel in the shoulder. Angel dropped the shotgun and Wesley pulled a pistol from his belt, Willow waved her hand again and the pistol flew from Wesley’s hand. Angel took advantage of the distraction and grabbed Lorne around the neck and pulled him close to him. “Are we done?”

Wesley stood up, “Let him go.”

“You don't give the orders. Lorne, pull this thing out of me.” Lorne reached for the arrow, “Easy. Not in a great mood.” He pulled out the arrow, making Angel grimace, “Good. Now, let's finish this.”

Willow pulled a crystal out of her pocket and held it in front of herself, “Involvere.” The crystal glowed and sent a force throughout the entire room.

Angel let go of Lorne, “All right, we have 6 minutes. Right Willow?” Willow nodded.

Spike got to his feet, “'Til what?”

Willow answered, “The glamour collapses. As far as anyone outside this room is concerned, we're still at each other's throats.”

Wesley looked around, “Aren't we?”

Angel let go of Lorne, “Look, we don't have a lot of time here, so I'm gonna have to make this short. Everything you think you know, everything you've heard,

is a lie.”

Gunn picked up his sword, “Why should we believe you?”

“Because I'm the one who told it. Read any good books lately?”

Wesley looked astonished, “You sent us the message?”

Angel nodded, “And the assassin to kill Drogyn.”

“So that part was true.” Spike looked around at everyone with an ‘I told you so look on his face’.

“I knew Drogyn could handle himself. I told the assassin just enough to lead Drogyn to think I played a part in resurrecting Illyria. I figured he'd come here looking for allies against me.”

Wesley had a look of concentration on his face, “Why would you want us to believe you killed Fred?”

“Because they needed to believe it.”

“The Black Thorn.” Gunn said remembering Lindsey’s words.

Angel smiled and patted Gunn on the back, “They needed to believe my own people didn't trust me anymore. They needed to believe a person as good and as pure as Drogyn considered me an enemy. It was he only way to gain their confidence.”

Lorne started to rub his neck, “Oh, so this whole evil Angel thing has been a big scamola. Hmm. I smell Oscar.”

“When did this all start?”

Angel looked at Willow, “2 months ago. With a kiss. When Cordelia came back, though I didn’t realize it till later that night, woke up with a mild headache and the information I needed.”

“Cordelia gave you her visions?” Wesley asked in disbelief.

Angel walked around the room, “One-shot deal. She put me on the path, showed me where the real powers are. But I couldn't see who they were. Then, when Fred died, I wasn't gonna let that be another random horrible event in another random horrible world. So I decided to use it, to make her death matter. And it worked. I'm in. I've seen the faces of evil. I know who the real powers in the apocalypse are.”

“So, all that power tilts the scales crap...?”

“It's true. We're in a machine. That machine's gonna be here long after our bodies are dust. But the senior partners will always exist in one form or another because mankind is weak.”

Lorne snickered, “Uh, do you want me to point my crossbow at him, 'cause I think he's gonna start talking about ants again.”

Angel shook his head, “We are weak. The powerful control everything... except our will to choose. Look, Lindsey's a pathetic halfwit, but he was right about one thing. Heroes don't accept the way the world is. The senior partners may be eternal, but we can make their existence painful.”

Willow finally joined in, “We’re gonna take them on and we want all of you to help.”

Angel walked over to Willow and put his hand in hers, “We're in a machine. The Black Thorn runs it. We can bring their gears to a grinding halt, even if it's just for a moment.”

Spike grinned, “About time we got our hands dirty.”

“This isn't a keep-fightin'- the-good-fight kind of deal. Let's be clear. I'm talking about killing every... single...member... of the Black Thorn. We don't walk away from that.”

Lorne folded his arms, “Do we crawl away, at least?”

Angel looked grim, “We do this, the senior partners will rain their full wrath. They'll make an example of us. I'm talking full-on hell, not the basic fire-and-brimstone kind we're used to.”

“We know the drill.” Gunn moved closer to Angel.

“No, you don't. 10-to-1, we're gone when the smoke clears. They will do everything in their power to destroy us. So...I need you to be sure. Power endures. We can't bring down the senior partners, but for one bright, shining moment, we can show them that they don't own us. You need to decide for yourselves if that's worth dying for. I can't order you to do this. I can't do it without you. So we'll vote. As a team. Think about what I'm asking you to do, think about what I'm asking you to give.”

“Kill 'em all... burn the house down while we're still in it.” Spike still had the grim on his face.

Angel nodded, “Something like that. You need to decide for yourselves what’s worth dying for.”

Angel looked around the room taking in all of the looks on their faces; it showed two things, seriousness and determination. Spike was the first to speak, raising his hand, “I'm in.”

He was followed by everyone else raising their hands in turn and echoing ‘I'm in’.

“Then we're all agreed.”

Spike snorted, “Yeah, we're all one big happy Manson family.”

“We taking 'em all at once?” Gunn questioned.

Angel shook his head, “Can't. Circle of the Black Thorn is the most powerful group in this plane of existence. Together, they'd vaporize us, but separated, they're

just demons.”

Wesley picked up his shotgun, slung it over his shoulder and walked toward Angel, “When do we make our move?”

Angel handed Wesley back his pistol, “Soon. In the meantime, we have to keep up the infighting. The circle needs to believe we're coming apart at the seams.”

“What about Illyria?” Gunn asked.

Angel crossed his arms, “What about her?”

Gunn shrugged his shoulders, “Move like this, wouldn't hate having Blue Thunder in our corner.”

“Can't trust she'll come down on our side.”

Lorne waved his hand dismissing Angel, “Trust me, she's housebroken. She was babysitting Drogyn—“

“She was with Drogyn?” Willow and Angel look at each other alarmed.

“Relax. The two of them were getting on well enough.” Spike went to sit down.

“You have to get over there now.”

“Why? What is it?” Wesley was confused

“Drogyn's dead.” Willow stated.

Spike looks at them both and then walks up to Angel, “And how does she know that, Kreskin?

Angel looks Spike directly in the eyes, “Because I killed him.”

“What?” Angel punched Spike in the face, “Ow! You son of a—“ Spike swings at Angel but missed, Angel grabbed Spike around the neck just as Hamilton walked through the door.

“Sorry. Didn't know you were... in conference.”

“I was just making a closing statement...” Angel let go of Spike and shoved him towards the door, “unless somebody didn’t hear me.”

Gunn, Spike, and Lorne file out the door; and Angel stops Wesley, “Goes for you, too, Wes. Illyria's your responsibility. Make sure she doesn't get twitchy.”

Willow walked behind them and closed the door then turned back to Angel, “They really thought they were gonna do something, didn’t they?”

“You know how it was thinking that you could stop all the evil. So whats up, Hamilton?”

“Well, you've got yourself a problem.”

Angel cocked his head, “Nothing you have to worry about.”

“Oh, not me. Your new friends. The Black Thorn. They're very concerned.”

Angel sat down at his desk, “Tell them to send me a memo. I'm busy trying to run a business.”

“You can tell them yourself. They want to see both of you right now.” Hamilton turned towards the door, “No rest for the wicked.”

next | back