Part Eleven:

ANGEL’S

"Willow?" She called as she entered the quite mansion. She moved into the living room and finding it empty, headed toward the bedroom thinking maybe she was sleeping. She stopped dead in her tracks. Willow’s necklace lay on the floor in pieces. The small bed side stand turned over on end and the lamp that had once stood on it in pieces on the floor.

"Where the hell is she?" demanded a voice from behind her. Buffy turned in shock surprised to see Angel standing there with a small pizza box. She stared at it.

"She was hungry." He said. Buffy stared back at the bed.

"I don’t know when I got here she wasn’t here." Buffy said. Her eyes traveling over the bed once more and then she turned to look at Angel when he gasped.

"Bastard." He yelled out angrily."He’s got her. GOD DAMN it I was hoping it take longer for him to heal." Angel turned suddenly and began staking back over to the door.

"Angel wait we should tell Giles’ what’s going on it might now how to help. He might."

"Fine it’s on the way." Angel said. Buffy watched with shock as Angel’s human face melted into the demon. He didn’t even seem to notice that his "Game Face" was in evidence.

She followed him about the mansion as he grabbed a number of weapons and then headed out the front door.

Willow trembled her eyes wide as she watched the beast pace. He looked toward her every so often, anger clear in its gaze. "You have turned out to be more trouble then your worth." He spat angrily. "However I know he’ll come after you, he made that clear with his little display, he truly considers you his," he chuckled, "But then you know that, don’t you little girl. He certainly didn’t leave any doubt of that in your mind." He said smiling darkly. Willow jerked away from him angry. Her eyes blazed into his. She stared into him knowing somehow that is bothered him that when she looked at him she didn’t see the vampire she didn’t see anything.

"What is it with you your own form and shape too hideous to show?" Willow demanded trying to bate the demon. He laughed. He stepped closer to her, "Oh I was just going to kill you when he was close. "Now I think maybe I’ll let him see what it’s like to watch someone else take what’s his."The evil stupid guy asked as, Willow had dubbed him just moments before. She knew Angel was coming to get her with a sort of preternatural certainty. She simply could feel it all she had to do was manage to keep that thing at bay long enough for him to get here.

"I don’t think so." Willow said edging back from him.

"Where are you going to go witch there is only one way out of here and you’ll never find it." He said smugly.

"Well that’s your opinion and it’s not a very good one. I’ll find my own way, thank you very much." Willow all but sputtered. She bolted for the door that was on the other side of the room only to be caught around the waist.

"Really I would have thought better of you, witch. You know it’s not that simple. Nothing is that simple."He said darkly. Turning her to face him he laughed coldly. "You could always pretend I am him." The double said running his hand along the side of her face.

"I am a bit older then he is, I could teach you such things, if you would only let me."It husked pressing its mouth to her cheek and then trailing down to her mouth.

"No!" Willow screamed pushing him away.

"Have things your way then bitch." The double growled angrily. "When he comes, he will watch your death and my pleasure before he witnesses his own." Willow growled inwardly she could feel Angel on the edge of her mind, like a strange foreign yet familiar thing. He was angry and worried and had Buffy with him. Okay this is just too strange. Angel inside her head, even slightly was something that the hacker hadn’t been prepared for, but then lots of things she hadn’t been prepared for seemed to be happening to her as of late.

She watched as he moved about the room. He seemed to have decided on a course of action causing the young witch’s blood to turn cold. He had picked up a large, sharp, evil looking knife. She gasped she recognized it for what it was. Magical in nature, something that pulled at her senses. She was after all a daughter of the moon, she could feel its dark malevolent power. She sighed softly, this was going to be the longest or shortest night of her life either way you looked at it she really wanted a rewrite, or at least another take.

"The sooner they get here, the sooner you die witch," The angel look alike whispered harshly, he turned his back on the hacker, no longer considering the young woman a threat, Willow growled to herself suddenly wishing she had learned away to create something from nothing, to draw something to her, a weapon or how to untie herself, or how to stop the insane guy that looked like Angel. She pulled at he bonds that held her futilely, knowing that they wouldn’t give.

Maybe that was the key, she thought brokenly, thought maybe if she stopped thinking she was doomed it would change what was happening. She somehow didn’t think that was possible. Pulling again on the bonds telling herself they would come on done, she gasped inwardly when his tie job suddenly gave under her hands.

She glanced at the double realizing that Angel must be very close, for him to not have noticed her sudden movement. She sighed soundlessly, thankful for his distraction, knowing with cold certainty that had been Angel gone bad she would not have been given the chance that she had just taken.

Not for the first time she thanked the gods that this creature was not as intelligent as their Angel. She moved slowly trying to get herself into the right position to escape, Angel was getting closer she could feel it now. Not an actual link, she didn’t think she could speak to him if she wished, but she could feel him on the edge of her awareness. She tried to reach out to him letting him know she was well, only she couldn’t be sure that he could sense her as she did him. She was the witch, after all he was the vampire.

She shivered slightly as she caught the feel of Angel on her awareness, something tangible. She turned catching sight of him out of the corner of her eyes shocked when she saw Buffy with him. Please, please she thought to have found a way to kill this thing. She silently begged, she knew the exact moment the double became aware of her. He spun on his heel with practiced ease. Reaching forward to grab her by the throat without thought.

She was only marginally aware of the harsh snarl that fell from Angel’s lips at the sight, she struggled against his hold for a moment trying desperately to free herself from his grip. She thrashed wildly, her lungs screaming for air. Angel snarled loudly enough for the double to hear, as Buffy ran toward the struggling forms.

She didn’t think about what she was doing, or what her current thoughts were, protecting Willow was as natural to her as breath and the rage that suddenly burned deep in the pit of her stomach at the site of someone hurting her best friend, burned away whatever rage had been left over. She knew that this, this feeling of fear and friendship that lent such power to her, such strength, would be there, long after the love she had always felt for Angel withered and died. Nothing, not anything could be what this was, Willow was hers and no one harmed what belonged to the slayer. She didn’t even stop to consider the nature of her possessiveness, or the fact that in reality Willow belonged to no one save Willow here, in this moment she belonged solely to Buffy. The slayer growled giving into the darkest part of her soul, she wanted to rip the double to pieces, for pushing Willow and Angel together, for forcing her to see that they could never be. For so many things, but mostly at that moment for daring to harm the hacker, turned Witch.

Angel watched as Buffy’s quick efficient actions caused the double to lose his hold on Willow, Angel stepped forward, sure to stay out of the fighting figures way, to scoop the slumming hacker up into his arms. He clutched her close allowing the warm reality of her to seep inside him. She was safe, now he had to help Buffy and yet he was reluctant to realize the witch. Pressing a quick kiss to slightly parted lips Angel settled the hacker onto the only chair in the room, and stepped over to the fighting forms, Buffy glanced up just as he moved into the fray. The slayer caught his gaze, and like so many times before, Angel knew what she was thinking. He was more then ready with the doubles heavy form was thrust toward him by all the slayers strength.

"I believe" he hissed allowing his game face to come to the fore, "that we discussed once before your better manners in trying to take what is mine. I told you she is mine." He growled racking his sharp nails down the doubled neck tearing the flesh. He sighed pleased when he caught sight of the first stirring of what he could only assume was blood.

"You have no idea, the truth of my nature." The double hissed, "You . . . for all your demon and power, are compared to me a weak mortal." Adrian boasted pleased that no one had learned his name. He’d been surprised, he had to admit this was easier then the last one he had taken over. True the witch and vampire had make him work for it, but once he killed the vampire he would have the added bonus of the witch belonging to him.

He chuckled twisting easily out of the vampire’s grip hissing in anger he grabbed his counterpart and drawing back his fist, punched the vampire hard, watching his dark head snap back at the impact. He grinned pleased, sensing the slayer come up behind him, he swung the dark vampire in to her path causing the two to collided. The Slayer stumbled back un prepared for the move he’d made. Adrian smiled at her, knowing it would be over soon.

He envied the vampire a bit, he’d known the slayer, though when this was over, he could very well choose the witch or the slayer, neither would be the wiser, no one would even recall the harshness of the past few days. The transaction complete, one vampire’s life his own.

Grabbing the edge of a now broken chair, Adrian prepared to impale the vampire, knowing that in moments the witch would believe she belonged to him. He grinned knowing that Buffy wouldn’t make it in time and the vampire wasn’t having any luck getting out of his grasp. The witch, he paused where was she. He glanced around the room, looking away from Angel for a split second. The witch was gone, he glanced toward the slayer, and still no witch. Worry whispered through him for the first time, she had gotten away and hidden, but where, he listened staining his enhanced senses well past the normal, and still he couldn’t find her.

Angel came to complete awareness, as the darkling held him, and he realized that something other them him had the doubles attention using it to the best of his advantage, he moved quickly dipping down, to get out of the demons harsh grasp.

The demon had only a moment to react before he was hit full force from behind as well, Oh so there was the little witch. He thought before losing his grip o n the vampire. Strong little thing, he spun on his heal grasping the interfering hacker, by the arm, he spun her around in front of him, his fist connecting with the side of her face in a satisfying crunch. He grinned as he heard her sharp intake of breath.

Pain blossomed in his chest, and glancing down, he caught sight of a long piece of wood, that had somehow been imbedded into his chest. He glared angrily over his shoulder, at the grinning vampire slayer, he gasped he felt it, the exact moment he realized what had happened, he dropped the hacker and took one faltering step toward the slayer, before disintegrating in a pile of dust.

The still standing occupants of the room, stared in shocked awe at the ruminates of the pretender.

"That’s it, after all that shit, that’s it." Buffy growled, "of course it would be that easy." The slayer looked up toward Willow, whom Angel had gone to stand beside. Angel’s hands rested possessively on the hacker’s shoulder and she leaned gratefully back into the touch.

"I can’t believe it, Are you okay Wills." Xander asked as he frantically hugged his best friend, not missing the look he was receiving from the vampire. He chuckled well as long as he took care of his Wills Xander realized he didn’t have a problem with the two of them, they where sort of cute together, plus, it was sort of neat to see Willow so happy after so long.

She had only been back a day in that time, Angel hadn’t wanted to leave her side. The vampire had become a permit part of the hacker, one could tell where he would be by where she was, it was rather sweet, in a greeting card sort of way. He sighed allowing his best friend to pull out of his arms a bit reluctantly. He loved Willow, she was the one constant in his life, and he wasn’t at all sure he liked the idea of her being all involved with Angel, sensed the vampire wasn’t like Oz and the chances of him being willing to part with the hacker for their Xander Willow nights would be slimmer. The thought gave the young man pause and forced the words past his lips before he could stop them.

"So are we still on for movie ice cream and pop corn." He asked Willow softly, pleased when her eyes lit slightly.

"Oh yeah, of course." She said, not even turning to ensure that Angel agreed with her, she was after all her own person. She felt the vampire in question come to stand behind her draping his arms easily around her. She leaned back and smiled at Xander, who simply nodded to the vampire without speaking.

The last thing Xander wanted to do was make Willow angry, he didn’t want to do anything to drive her away. Unlike the slayer, who had been for a moment willing to allow her relationship with Angel to upset the balance within the group, Xander had known Willow far to long to allow something like that to come between them.

He reached forward and grabbed Angel’s hand forcing the vampire to come with him a few paces way from Willow, who watched curiously.

"If you hurt her, in any way. I will find the nearest sharp pointy thing and introduce it to you. Understand me, Angel." Xander demanded, his tone cool, calm and brooking no argument. Angel actually smiled, "I believe you would Harris, it’s good to know that for once you have your head out of your ass." Angel growled softly.

"Hey, I may not always show it but I know how special Willow is, I know," Xander said softly. He smiled, then added in a small voice,"I never thought I was worthy of her, she’s always been there even when I didn’t deserve her to be, even when I went and broke her heart she stayed, I won’t let anything take that away from me. I mean I haven’t managed to drive her away, I am not about to allow something petty ruin our friendship. I may not have to like you, but I can be an adult . . . At least about this." Angel nodded, impressed to the point of silence with the boys new and improved attitude, he understood he’d go to the ends of creation for Willow as well.

They all turned as Buffy, and Giles entered the library. The Slayer flashed the two lovers a warm smile before coming over and hugging Willow. She smiled gently at Angel and then took her seat beside Xander, who had set at the large oak table when she came in.

"So Giles what’s the newest baddy, and how come no one knew that the double could be killed just like a vampire?" Buffy demanded looking at her watcher. Giles looked preplexed for a moment before Angel spoke up.

"Willow and I came up with this theory that the double had all the same weaknesses, he had to feed like a vampire, even though he had no need for blood it only goes to assume that he would also have the same death knolls as a vampire." Buffy nodded, and Giles looked curiously at Angel, pleased with the fact that his student and her friends seemed to have adjusted to the new dynamic of the group. Willow was now with Angel, and Angelus was no where in site, while Giles knew that the two were definitely lovers. He sighed, one of these days he’d learn to knock when Buffy told him too.

"So what’s the flavor of the week Giles?" Xander asked, drawing his gaze away from his best friend and her boyfriend. The two lovers were too busy lost in each others arms to notice the embarrassed group about them.

"Oops, sorry," Willow said as she drew her mouth at last from the handsome vampires."I know we promised no more PDA’s" Willow’s cheeks flamed slightly at the skeptical look she was receiving from the other occupants of the room. "What . . . We can behave."

"Hmm" Giles said in his British way of his adding to the heat pooling in the hackers cheeks.

"Yeah Will, that’s why every time I turn around, you two are locked at the lips." Buffy chimed grinning teasingly at the couple. "Or other parts" Xander added, remembering one time over at Angel’s.

"Hey, you were early." Angel excused, the incident, and thanked the gods that he couldn’t blush, while he had played it off as no big deal, he had really wondered for a moment if Xander wouldn’t stake him when faced with the very clear proof of just how close he and Willow were. Her blood on his lips.

"Yeah well it perminately scared my retina’s" Xander joked, loving the blush that covered Willow’s cheeks."

"Okay, Okay enough are we gonna research or are you gonna discus Angel and I?"

"Research," Giles said, "Though I am sure the other would be far more entertaining." He smiled softly watching as the good natured banter continued as they began to slowly poor over the many books looking for a correlation between the moon and the latest demons to go after Sunnydale.

END
 
 

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