~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 6~
Tammy waited in the hallway for Angelus and his little family to exit from having lunch. Her nerves were on edge from having to fight with separate clan members that were employed here at the retreat. Like any of this was up to her. She couldn't get from one end of the building to the other without someone pulling her aside. Is this what Stacia went through on a daily basis? Because if it was then Tammy was thrilled not to have the responsibility of head elder on her shoulders.
"Angel," Tammy walked forward as soon as she spotted him. "I need a word with you."
Angel was holding his son in one arm, his other snaked around Cordelia's waist. "What's wrong?"
Trying to give the vampire a huge smile Tammy shook her head. "Nothing's wrong. I just have an opening later today in my Father child class. Usually that class is booked months ahead, but one of the families didn't show this weekend, so I thought of you and Conner."
"You don't think that Conner and I have bonded?" Cordelia stifled a low groan at Angel's side. She'd been to this conversation before, and there was no real urge to revisit it. Plus there was so much she wanted to talk to Angel about. So many things still left unsaid.
"No! I think I really need to come up with a better name for the class." Tammy laughed. "It's really a fun class. You learn different games to play with your child, songs to sing-."
Cordelia snorted. "Trust me you don't want Angel singing."
"Really? I bet he has a wonderful singing voice." Angel gave Cordelia a victorious look.
"The class is very small." Tammy saw the hesitation on both of their faces as they looked at one another. "It's only for an hour, and I've also booked Cordelia for a stress relief massage." From the reports they had gathered on Angelus's seer they knew that the young woman loved an occasional pampering. But Cordelia didn't look as thrilled as Tammy had thought she would.
"Well..." Angel cast a look down at Cordelia. Though the idea of the class was intriguing he really didn't want to be separated from Cordelia right at that moment. They had a clear schedule until dinner and honestly he had other plans. Ones that included putting Conner down for a nap and Cordelia curled up to his side. Perhaps a couple kisses here and there.
"You should go." Even though the words sounded encouraging, her face showed just the opposite.
"Are you sure?" Both could sense the other's hesitation. It wasn't until Conner spoke up, grabbing at Angel's shirt with loud undistinguishable chatter. It reminded both adults of why they came. To give Conner a taste of normal life.
Gently caressing the back of Conner's head Cordelia made her decision. "Yes I'm sure. Normal remember?"
Angel didn't look one hundred percent sure, but gave in. "Fine. What time?"
"At five. That still gives the three of you some time for some alone time. Plus I bet the little guy is wiped out." Any hesitation on either Angel or Cordelia's faces vanished.
"Sounds great." Angel grinned. "We'll see you then." Literally dragging Cordelia down the hall, Tammy watched as they turned the corner, letting out a long sigh. She hadn't really thought they'd say no, but the doubt had been there. What would she do if Angel hadn't agreed to come? Thankfully she'd never have to know.
~~*~~
As soon as the door to their suite was securely shut, and Conner was happily chirping to himself in the automatic swing, Angel advanced on Cordelia. Cupping both sides of her lovely face in his hands, he lowered his head to hers, until their lips were just inches apart.
"Do you know how badly I've been wanting to do this?" He whispered.
"Then will you just shut up and do--." Her taunting words were extinguished as his lips covered hers. It started off softly, but with the pent up desire and longing that had been stored up for months, the kiss turned fervent. Skimming his tongue over her bottom lip, he nearly died again when her tongue brushed up against his.
Her hands were running up his chest to his shoulders as she pulled him closer to her body. They didn't notice that they were backing up, until Cordelia found herself being pressed into the wall. Pulling away to give her a moment to breath, they stood staring at one another in amazement.
"Wow." She grinned breathlessly. "That was...wow."
Running his hands up and down her arms, enjoying the feeling of her smooth flesh beneath his touch, he grinned his agreement. "Perhaps I should play hooky from class."
"Maybe." Cordelia grinned back. "But you can't, Conner remember. This is our weekend to be normal. Do the normal family together thing." Taking a look around him to check on Conner, her heart melted at his sleeping face. "How about we put Conner to bed?"
Looking from his son down to the woman in his arms Angel leaned in for one more kiss. This time her mouth opened up to him immediately. Too quickly it ended, as Angel hurried over to the swing and gingerly picked up his sleeping son. Carrying Conner over to his crib, Angel brushed a kiss on his son's forehead before tucking him in.
Returning to where Cordelia stood, Angel took her by the hand and led the way to the massive bed. "We need to talk." Cordelia stated as she settled onto the soft mattress.
"I know." Angel agreed as he lay down next to her, pulling her closer. "But later. Right now I need to." The need to feel her lips beneath his again was more important. With a moan deep in his throat he dipped his head down to hers, relishing the intense feelings that coursed through his body when their lips and tongues met.
He had never felt so much with just a simple kiss. Perhaps simple wasn't the word, seeing that nothing was ever simple when it came to Cordelia Chase. A kiss shared with her was like a drug, an addictive one. His mind would get all fuzzy, as instinct kicked in.
If the kiss wasn't enough to make him lose his mind, the feeling of her body beneath his made him lose control. Their hands roamed one another's bodies.
"Too much." Angel rolled off, bringing shaky hands to cover his face. "You're right we need to talk. I don't want this to happen too fast. Whatever is between us I don't want either of us to have any regrets."
Taking in deep breaths, Cordelia nodded. "Yes talk we need..." Looking over at his perfect body so close to hers. "Why?" Running her hand from his stomach up to his chest, she was rewarded by his deep groan.
Grabbing her hand he held it still over his unbeating heart. "Because." Fighting to remember just why they needed to slow things down. "I'd love to be able to lay here and keep touching and caressing you. I've been dreaming of nothing else but that. But the curse..."
Boy funny how just one word could kill your sexual libido. Another was Angelus. Yup those two words thrown into a little tryst could turn a girl off. "The curse. Damn gypsies."
"I meant what I said earlier, I love you. But my feelings also make me feel slightly selfish. If anything happens between us I'll be denying you of so much."
"Oh this isn't going to be that little speech you have down so well. The I want you to have sunlight and a normal life blah, blah, blah. Because I'm not, you know who. I don't sit around wishing for normal, whining about what life has thrown at me. I haven't dedicated my life to the cause because I want normalcy. Try again." Cordelia's features hardened.
"Guess you've heard that spiel a few times?" Angel sighed. "I guess I just wanted to give you an easy out. Not that I want you to take it, but give you a choice."
"Still don't see me heading for the door do you?" Her face softened. "I'm not going anywhere. And really don't appreciate the easy out clauses you keep throwing my way. I have a voice, and know how to use it."
"Fine but that doesn't change the fact of my curse." Angel stared at the ceiling.
"I know. Angel I'm not going to say that loving you is going to be easy, what with you're shrewish ways and all." Relieved to bring a smile to his face, she went on. "But I know about the curse, it's not something that's going to sneak up on us out of left field."
"Right field."
"Huh?"
"It's not going to...never mind not important." Angel shook his head. "Fine then what about the others? I'm sure us together might be a little weird for them."
"Yeah right. With all this talk of Kyerumotion and Moira talk around the hotel lately?"
"You heard about that too huh?" Angel grinned at her becoming blush.
"Just a few hundred times or so."
"Okay so we're good with this?" He needed to hear it again. To know that what they felt for one another was all right.
"Yes."
"Good." With uncanny speed he had her wrapped in his arms.
~~~*~~~
Tammy checked her watch again for what had to be for the tenth time in the last five minutes. Angel was late. Maybe only by a few minutes, but late just the same. Her nerves were already tense, so much could go wrong from now until they got Angel and Conner out of the building. Telling herself to relax, she walked across her office to stare down at the small blue globe and went over the words in her mind.
"Tammy?" Angel stood behind her giving her a start. She hadn't heard him enter the room, and made a mental note not to let him get the upper hand again.
"Angel, I'm so happy you made it. Cordelia off getting pampered?"
"Yeah. Sorry we're late, I ah fell asleep." Seeing the awkward shift he made from foot to foot, Tammy highly doubted that he did any sleeping.
"That's okay. The other father and son are running late as well. Why don't we get started?" Conjuring up a smile, Tammy wiped her sweaty palms on her pants. "I thought we'd first talk, see if we can come up with any areas you might need help in to get closer to..."
"Conner?" Angel could smell the tension pounding through Tammy's veins. Narrowing his eyes he took a step back. "Are you okay? You seem a little--."
"I'm fine. I just had to fire one of our waiters. I guess I'm still a little upset." Tammy felt her heart do a flip. "Why don't you let Conner play with some of the toys while we talk?" Angel saw the blanket already lay out on the ground, and was indecisive. Something was off, he could feel it. "Unless you feel more comfortable holding him."
Peering around the room, Angel couldn't find anything that could harm Conner and told himself he was being stupid. Settling his son on the blanket, Conner quickly made a grab for the nearest toy.
"Great. So I thought we'd start by talking about what things you already do with your son." Tammy went to perch against the desk, blocking the globe from Angelus's view.
"Like what games I play with him?" Angel took a seat, keeping an eye on Conner.
"For starters." Slowly reaching behind her, Tammy felt the smooth cool surface of the orb.
"Well I play with him when he's taking a bath." Hoping that this was what Tammy was talking about. He could see that she wasn't really listening, her arm behind her back. "What's going on?"
"What? Nothing." He could smell her fear, as her eyes popped open. Bolting out of his chair he started to advance on her.
Tammy dodged behind the desk, out of reach. Holding a small glowing blue orb in her hand. "I'm sorry but this is what must be." With a few quickly spoken words, Angel felt his head go fuzzy. Staggering over toward Conner, his intention was to take his son and find Cordelia. He didn't make it two steps before falling to his knees.
"Gypsy." The word was spoken more in a grunt. Tammy held her breath until Angel's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his entire body was on the floor.
Picking up the phone, she told John that it was time.
~Part: 7~
Cordelia stood near the entryway of the dinning area, waiting impatiently for Angel and Conner. Letting out a long frustrated sigh she checked her watch again. Dinner had started ten minutes ago, and with every minute that passed her aggravation turned into anxiety. Angel wasn't like most males, he never ran late...for anything. He was precise with everything that he did. So him not meeting her on time made her heart beat double time.
She had gotten a bad feeling in the middle of her massage. One moment she was in the lap of luxury, the next her body was tense, as she felt anxiety grip at her nerves. She hadn't thought anything of it really, but now that Angel was late...Could they have let their guard down so much that they hadn't even noticed that there was a threat right under their noses? She was over reacting, she had to be.
In her minds eye she could practically see Angel's blank expression when she found him. That innocent 'What did I do wrong?' look he seemed to always be giving her. She was going to chew his butt out for scaring her. Tell him that if he wished to spend anymore time on this planet he'd never do this to her again.
Taking one last look around, Cordelia headed toward their room. Maybe something was wrong with Conner. Or perhaps Angel was feeding Conner. Then there was the possibility that Conner puked down Angel's back again. Logically she knew that none of these lame excuses could be true, but in a small way they gave her hope.
Going over every reason why Angel would be in their room, Cordelia reached the door and stood with her hand on the handle for a moment. If he wasn't in there then what?
Slowly she swung the door open and felt her stomach lurch as she saw that everything was just as they had left it earlier that day. Something was wrong. A sense of foreboding came over her as her heart started to race and her eyes stung. The feeling was like the one she used to get when she'd get separated from her Mother at the Mall. The kind of panic that threatened to choke, the desperation that ate away at her insides.
But she wasn't at the Mall where her Mother was just a few clothes racks away. She was a grown up, and the two dearest things to her heart where missing.
STOP. Her mind berated. There's a logical explanation as to where Angel and Conner were. All she had to do was calm down and not let her inane fears get the best of her. She needed to start at the beginning. Go to the last place she had seen Angel. Tammy's office, she had walked with Angel to the office before her massage. They had kissed goodbye...
Spinning on her heel she hurried out of the room, barely remembering to close the door behind her. Walking down the halls at a reckless speed, Cordelia told herself to breathe. It would do her no good to start hyperventilating now.
Reaching Tammy's office she gave a short knock and waited. Knocking one more time, Cordy didn't wait long before she opened the door. The sight that greeted her made bile rise in her throat.
One of the heavy wingback chairs was lying on its side. Papers from Tammy's desk scattered onto the floor. A small blanket off to the side was vacant, but from the crumpled look it looked as though not long ago a child sat upon it.
Giving a startled gasp Cordelia looked down at the item near her right foot. Dropping to her knees, she picked up a small teddy bear, Conner's teddy bear. Tears were swimming before her eyes, falling down her checks as she held the bear close to her.
They were gone. Worse, it looked as though they were taken. Letting herself cry for a few minutes she stood, wiping the tears away with the back of her hand. The others needed to know, perhaps Wes could find something out about the resort that could help her. Angel and Conner couldn't have been gone that long, so their trail had to still be fresh.
There was no way she was going to just lie down without a fight. Her son and the man she loved were somewhere, and god help the person that took them.
~~~*~~~
"What are you saying?" Tammy paced, ignoring the questioning glances from the other clan members. It seemed anyone in a hundred-mile radius was present, no one wanting to miss an event of a lifetime. "I thought you said that the potion mixed with the massage oil would knock her out until tomorrow afternoon!"
"I think we may have underestimated her origins." The voice replied calmly over the phone. "I really don't think she's as human as we first thought."
"That's impossible. Do you know how long we've been watching Angelus and the humans he surrounded himself with? I have read and reread all the notes left by Jenny before she died. Cordelia was defiantly human in Sunnydale, perhaps a bitch, but still human. And in LA...there hasn't been a thing that we missed. We would know."
"I don't know what to tell you Tammy. Miss Chase hopped off the table fine as can be."
"So she's now probably tearing the place apart looking for Angelus and his baby." Tammy cursed under her breath. They never thought of Cordelia being a threat in the last phase of the plan. "Get her and bring her here. I can't have her disrupting the other guests." Ending the call before she heard anymore excuses she turned to face her smug cousin. "What is it John?"
"Angelus has awoken."
"And?"
"Thought you'd like to know that he's beating the holy hell out of his little prison." He gave a lazy shrug that had her wanting to slap him silly.
"Don't worry your pretty little head over it. Angelus can't break out, no matter how hard he tries. There's no turning back now, this is going to happen whether you like it or not." Not having anymore time to put up with his irritating looks or snide comments, Tammy turned and hurried off to find the Elder's. They were going to need to know that Miss Chase would be here soon. They weren't going to like it, but what else could they do?
~~~*~~~
Rage, pure dark rage poured over him as he pounded on the metal walls of his confinement. His knuckles were bleeding, raw from the force of his fists continually connecting with the only door that led out of his small cell. He had to get out, find Conner and Cordelia.
He'd been awake now for what seemed an eternity. Kicking and pounding, trying to escape. It had been Conner's distant cries that had brought him out of his haze, making him see red the moment he opened his eyes. At first he had tried to logically figure a way out. But when that failed he snapped, desperate to get out of his prison,
Pushing himself up against the back wall of the tiny cell, Angel ran full speed at the metal door. Slamming his entire length up against the hard surface with all the strength he could muster. The unrelenting door didn't even dent from his impact. Trying again one more time, Angel found himself sprawled on the floor, blood flowing from the huge gash on his forehead.
Rolling over to push himself up off the floor, he let out a loud curse as he started to kick out in frustration.
"Well, well. Look at the caged animal." A muffled voice came from behind the door. "Amazing how far the mighty Angelus has fallen."
Angel balled his fists at his side, just waiting for the door to open so he could tear into whatever fool was behind it.
"It doesn't matter how I feel about you.... You don't deserve what they are planning. So I'll tell you what. I'm gonna open this door and make sure the coast is clear. All you have to do is leave." A moment later the sound of the lock being unbolted rang through the small cell. Not wasting a second, Angel sprung from the room, stopping in front of a familiar face of one of the employees from the resort.
Grasping the young man by the throat Angel crushed his captive up against the wall. "I'm going to ask only once, and you are going to answer me. Where's Conner and Cordelia?"
"You're...free." His eyes wide, as he gasped to breathe, the young man not even realizing his near fatal blunder.
"I see that we're not communicating here. Let me try it another way. I'm not leaving here with out my son and Cordelia. Now be a good little boy and point me in the right direction." Giving a harsh squeeze to the young man's throat, Angel glared into terrified eyes.
"Enough." A strong female voice commanded from behind. "Angelus drop the foolish boy." Not letting go of his victim, Angel looked over his shoulder at the large audience gathered.
~~~*~~~
"Wes, you're not understanding me here. They...are...gone. As in was once here but not anymore. I think they were taken." Cordelia paced as far as the cord on the phone would let her. After standing in Tammy's office with the teddy bear crushed in her grasp, Cordelia had run back to their room.
"Yes I checked everywhere... No Wes I didn't try his cell...Why?! Well for one I'm holding it in my hand...No...No...Yesss..."
"WESLEY shut up. I checked everywhere and I refuse to stand here wasting time going over everything I've already explained to you twice. Conner and Angel are gone. I need help figuring out who and why." Feeling a little bad at losing her patience, Cordelia wouldn't let the guilt get to her. "I'm going to see if I can get a hold of any security tapes. I need you guys to find out more about this place."
Her eyes came to rest on the teddy bear that stared back at her from the bed. That urge to sink to the ground and bawl her eyes out was back, but she didn't have the time to give into it. She had to be the adult here.
"I understand Wes. Okay I--." The door to the room opened interrupting her. Her heart jumped to her throat, as she spun around half expecting Angel to be standing there holding Conner. Instead two very large and intimidating man stood just inside the room. "Wes I think there's going to be a small problem."
Both men advanced on her, blocking any escape. She wasn't about to let all those hours of training with Angel, go down the drain. As soon as the first male got within striking distance, Cordelia lashed out, kicking him in the abdomen. Giving he time to turn her attention to the other guy.
"I suggest you leave. My friends are calling the police." Giving a startled shriek when the phone was ripped from her hands, Cordelia balled her first and planted it into the smirking expression of her attacker.
Giving a victorious grin, Cordelia was about to strike out again when her arm was grabbed and instead of receiving the blow she was expecting, she felt a sharp prick in her arm.
Looking down at the needle to the she lifted her eyes back to the stranger. Her head started to get fuzzy, the earth tilted, and everything went black.
~~~*~~~
Angel glared defiantly at the old woman, not relaxing his hold. "Where's my son?"
The owner of the voice stepped forward, an aging woman well along in years. Her hair that had once been raven, was now dusted with gray. Her skin almost like leather, her back hunched. But her eyes were alive and bright, giving off strength that couldn't be ignored. "He is safe, and will remain so as long as you don't do anything foolish. John is an imprudent young pup, spoiled and reckless. But he's still a good boy."
Angel looked at the young man in his grasp, seeing the fear now in the young man's eyes. Uncurling his fingers one by one, Angel let John fall to the ground in an ungraceful heap. "I want Conner and Cordelia."
John stood up on shaky legs, one hand to his throat the other pointing frantically at Angel. "I told all of you that he's a beast. You saw what he did to me."
The older woman turned to John, lifting her cane high into the air and rapping the young man over the head. "You idiot. Did you really think he'd leave without his son?"
"So you don't have Cordelia?" Angel questioned, not missing the fact the woman didn't say they had Cordelia.
The woman turned her attention back to Angel and spit in his face. "Can't tell you how long I've wanted to do that. Take him to the circle." With that the woman shuffled away.
Tammy reappeared holding the blue orb in front of her. Angel tried to lash out at the object, but found that his lower body was practically paralyzed. Two large men moved forward, flanking him on each side, dragging him to a post in the middle of the building where a tall pole stood. Chaining him securely, they stepped back leaving Angel alone.
Soon a match was lit, and a circle of flames sprung to life around him. Not close enough to burn, but he could feel the heat. Trying to move his arms he was sickened at what little strength he had. How could he escape if he could barely stand?
Hearing Conner's wails, Angel couldn't help it when his human mask slipped. A collective gasp echoed through his head as the group watching from a safe distance witnessed his change. He was losing control over his body. Trying to lift a heavy head, he looked up at the old woman through the flames.
She stood, swaying back and forth. Her eyes were closed, her lips moving with unspoken words. In her grasp was yet another glass globe, this one was pink. Not having the energy to keep his head erect, Angel let it drop.
~~~*~~~
Cordelia awoke to car doors shutting. Then there was a slight breeze on her face as hands grasped at her. Through her foggy mind she could feel her legs moving but wasn't too sure whether or not there was ground under her steps. He head felt heavy, and trying to rationalize what was happening to her was draining her of the small amount of energy she had.
Trying to remember the last thing she had been doing before the darkness came, Cordelia remembered talking to Wes. Telling him that Angel had been missing. He had been suggesting that she return to Tammy's office and going through the papers on the woman's desk. The next thing she knew here she was all fuzzyheaded walking on air.
Muffled voices floated inside of her head, none were making sense. An odd smell burned at her lungs every time she breathed in.
Shoes, there was lots of shoes. The most hideous shoes she had ever seen. If Cordelia could lift her head without fear that it would fall of she would. But right now it seemed that she was stuck staring at shoes.
~~~*~~~
Tammy watched as her two brothers helped Cordelia Chase from the car. The poor woman looked like she had been on a three day drinking binge. "What's wrong with her?"
"We gave her some Trilite. I guess we over did it." Her older brother shrugged.
"Trilite!? Are you joking? How much?" Tammy stared back at her brothers as though they had seriously lost their minds.
"Don't get all snappy at us! This girl isn't as weak as she looks." Tammy saw proof in the form of a fist size bruise on his upper cheek. "When the oils during the massage didn't work we thought we'd jump it up a notch."
"You're insane. Trilite isn't jumping it up a notch, it can kill her. We have no idea what she is, or how much of it she is. All I do know is if she dies it isn't going to be pretty." Rubbing her forehead, Tammy took a look over her shoulder at Raine, the oldest living clan member, who was standing before the flames in a trance. "She's going to be that way for another hour. Follow me. We need to get Miss Chase coherent before the Elders get a look at her." Tammy led the way as her brother's half drug, half carried Cordelia behind.
~Part: 8~
"I said help her walk around, not practically drag her by her hair." Tammy stood hands on hips glaring at her brothers as though they had lost their minds.
"What do you want us to do? She won't walk." Her older brother griped.
"Gee I wonder why." Pulling out a crimson velvet bag, Tammy pulled at the cord keeping the bag closed. "Here put this crystal in her right hand and make sure she doesn't drop it. The bloodstone should draw out most of the Trilite, or at least I hope it does."
"Are you sure that we want her coherent for this?" Tammy also had the same thought, but one never knew how the Elders would handle.
"Well we sure don't want her dead." Tammy sneered. "Are you scared of a girl?" Both of her brothers bristled at the insult. It was miraculous that after twenty years they could still be provoked into doing what she wanted.
~~~*~~~
The fire continued to burn around him, as he listened to the murmured words coming from the old woman's mouth. Escape wasn't an option this time. He had tried his restraints, and found that they wouldn't budge. Even if he were to break through then what? There were too many humans, gypsy but human all the same surrounding the fire that it was without doubt that someone would get hurt.
He hadn't heard Conner's cries in some time. He didn't even know if his son was still in the building. To add to his distress there had been no sign of Cordelia. He hoped she was still back at the retreat, out of harms way. She had to know by now that something was wrong, hopefully she had contacted Wesley by this time. But the chances of that were slim.
"Angelus do you know who stands before you?" The other voices ceased as the old crone before him spoke.
"The Romany tribe." Angel licked at his dry lips, as he struggled to raise his head.
"Yes. The tribe who had been proud to bring you pain and suffering over the last eighty-six years. The same tribe that out precious Janna once belonged, until you snuffed her life without a second thought." The voice was now laced with anger, making Angel cringe at the painful memory.
Angel knew that Angelus had been thrilled that it had been his hands to take the life of one of Romany. A woman who belonged to the same tribe that had lessened his godliness to some sniveling freak. Once Jenny's lifeless body hit the floor, Angelus had stood above the body, angry that it was over so soon. It had been his intention to make her suffer for hours, days. To know the smidgen of anguish that he had to endure since the cursing.
"Nothing to say?" The low cackle brought him back to the present. "You're not going to defend yourself? Tell us that it was Angelus not you that brought this pain upon us once again?"
"No."
"Good. But we know the truth don't we?" The words were confusing. The voice held so much hatred, but the words weren't blaming. "We begin."
The crowed started murmuring. Angel felt all hope disappear. So this was it. This was how his existence ended. Funny he had thought he'd go out with a bang, not some chained puppy. But he supposed it was oddly fitting, to die as defenseless as his victims had.
"Wait." Angel wheezed, the smoke irritating his dead lungs. "My son. Please I need to know...he needs his Mother."
"Darla wasn't fit it pee on." The crass words were barked.
"Not Darla. Though she gave birth to Conner, it's been Cordelia who has raised him. Please my son needs her." Angel used any strength he had to look up at the woman standing outside the flames.
"He will be taken care of." The older woman's eyes softened. Angel knew this was the only promise he would extract from the woman.
A large pillow was brought to her, as four other members gathered by her side. All held an orb in their hands. Angel let his head drop, as he fought the tears swimming in his eyes. Silently he said goodbye to the ones he loved. To his small family at the hotel, who had filled his life with stability. To old friends on the Hellmouth that had made him learn that he wanted to follow the path of redemption. Mostly he prayed that Conner would grow to know how much he was loved by his father. He was thankful that he had been able to tell Cordelia of his feelings, that he loved her and would've done anything to make things work out between them.
"ANGEL!" The cry echoed off the walls. His gut squeezing painfully at the sound of Cordelia's hysterical cry. Lifting his head up as much as he could, his vision blurring slightly as he tried to focus on Cordelia. She stood about twenty feet from the circle of fire, her eyes wide in fright as she assessed the situation.
"Cordelia no, stay where you are." His voice cracked as he read her mind. "I don't want you to see this." Her head shook denying his request, clearly looking at him as though he had lost his mind. "I mean it Cordy, please? I don't want for you to see this."
He was almost relieved when two rather large males flanked Cordelia's sides, both taking a firm hold of her. Now if she'd just turn her head away, he'd feel better. He meant what he'd said, he didn't want her to witness whatever the gypsy's had in mind for him. The memories she should carry through the rest of her life shouldn't be the ones of his death, but of the special times they had shared. He remembered how hard it had been on her after Doyle's death, and didn't want to cause her a smidgen of that pain.
The chanting grew louder as the orbs in the sitting gypsy's hands started to pulsate with light. Angel could feel something starting to shift inside and all around him. Cordelia must have sensed it as well because she became frantic lashing out at the men at her side.
As the pressure grew, Angel growled out, not able to hold onto his human mask. Making one last ditch effort to break out of his chains, Angel looked back in Cordelia's direction, sick to see that she was brushing off her captors and heading toward him.
The flames grew, blocking out his view, but he knew his seer and nothing would stop her if she thought she had a chance to free him of this fate. "CORDY NO!" As his words died on his tongue there was a blinding flash that threw him backwards, knocking him out instantly.
Cordelia was preparing to throw herself through the flames when a force tossed her in the air and ten feet back. Landing on top of some woman with a grunt, she tried to roll of the dazed female beneath her. Staggering to her feet, her head swung toward where she had last seen Angel, only to see a billowing cloud of smoke.
"Angel? ANGEL!?" Pushing her way through the crowd, the grayish cloud started to vanish. Her eyes anxiously searched for any sign of Angel. Suddenly a large cheer went up, as Angel's form could be seen lying on the floor, blood pouring from a large gash on his hairline. He slowly rolled onto his stomach, pushing himself unassisted into a kneeling position.
Not waiting another second, Cordelia raced to him throwing herself into his waiting arms. They held onto one another wordlessly as tears fell from both their eyes. "Shh, I'm okay see." Lifting her face from the crook of his neck, he placed kisses randomly on her lips cheeks and forehead.
"I think there's a little guy who'd like to see his parents." Angel's hold tightened around Cordelia as a voice interrupted them.
Dr Seliva stood a few feet away, Conner cradled in her arms. "You! You're behind this!" Cordelia's voice was full of venom as she wiggled her way out of Angel's arms and advanced on the doctor. Gently taking Conner from the other woman, Cordelia backed away, not letting her eyes leave the woman. "I knew we should have checked your credentials better."
Angel took his son from Cordelia, there were no words to explain the happiness of being able to hold his son again.
"We couldn't let things continue on as they were." Dr Saliva shrugged.
"What? Kidnap Conner and Angel." Narrowing her hazel eyes, Cordelia had never felt such anger before. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you but you're so fired."
A whisper of a smile teased the doctor's lips. "Kind of expected that. But let me explain. I'm sure you already know that we are just a few members of the Romany tribe." A big duh was on Cordelia's lips. "So I wont even insult you by going over our relationship with Angelus-."
"Angel." Cordelia corrected.
"Fine, Angel. Right before Janna's death she contacted me. We talked about the curse. Though we both agreed the original concept was understandable, our ancestors wanted to make Angel suffer. They never thought he'd actually start fighting for the innocent. Janna also said that she believed that Angel would always suffer, that he'd always make himself remember, with or without the clause. She begged me to talk to my father, who was head elder at the time, into taking away the happiness clause. That with Angel working so closely with humans sooner or later there was going to be that one moment..."
"That was four years ago!" Angel rested his hand on Cordelia's back, signaling her to let the woman speak.
"My father was very ill, and after his death there was alot on my shoulders. As you can see I still very young, and this position wasn't supposed to be mine for many years. But when Conner came, and can I tell you what a shock that was, I knew Janna was right. To stop from having Angelus appear again, and keep Angel fighting for the Powers, the clause had to go."
"But why go to all this trouble?" Angel finally spoke up, his gut feeling was that the doctor was speaking the truth. But his past experiences with gypsies wasn't all that shiny.
"I'm sure you would've just jumped into the circle of fire had we asked." Dr Saliva notched a brow. "And honestly we hadn't planed on Miss Chase coming."
"But once you knew I came you could've left Conner with me, he could've been hurt here."
"Honestly we didn't know that. I'm sure you can imagine that not every clan member was happy about my decision, in fact there were several that made death threats against Angelus, I mean Angel and Conner. I wanted to have him here, if anything happened we would've released Angel immediately so he could protect his child."
"Not that I'm saying that I don't believe all this-." Angel started off slowly until Cordelia interrupted. "I am."
"BUT why? Gypsies in general aren't really know for their forgiving nature."
"Basically more use to us with a soul than you are as Angelus." Dr Saliva answered honestly. "Nothing has been forgiven, Janna's death is still fresh in all our hearts. But we have seen the destruction your happiness can cause, and didn't want a repeat."
"So my soul...?"
"Is permanent. Don't disappoint us."
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