Part 11
Germany, 1810
"You must be careful with the Ventrue Master, Angelus. He is quite insightful. Studies all people he deals with carefully. Tries to find their weaknesses, their strengths. It is most important that you keep your temper." Heinrich Joseph Nest, Master of the Tremere Clan, spun around to look at his favorite Childe.
"Sire, I remember all your instructions. I will not let you down. But why does the Ventrue Master concern you so? Our Clan is the more powerful. I need only to demonstrate our might. That should persuade him to our way of thinking." Arrogant and self-assured, Angelus was feeling his importance. He, not his brother Luc, had been chosen as emissary to the Ventrue Clan. The Ventures were the second most powerful Clan after the Tremeres, so the position of emissary to them was a prominent one.
Sighing, Heinrich Nest sat down on his throne. "You fail to understand Childe. Sending you is our show of power. You already have developed quite a reputation in the vampire community. So vicious. So cruel. You strike fear in the breast of human and demon alike. Your very presence sends a message, but...." The Master couldn't help but smile proudly at his Childe. "We must also show diplomacy when dealing with the Ventrues."
"Why?" Angelus watched his Sire with curiosity. He thought he smelled just a touch of fear in the Master.
"The Ventrue Master is shrewd. Nothing escapes him. So take care to always be in control. He knows...knows a lot. It is his age." Heinrich's thoughts turned inward, as he sank into his memories.
{His age?} "Surely he cannot be older than you Sire. After all, you are more than 400...."
"He is old Childe. Very old. And he has survived much in all the lifetimes he has existed. His experience makes him dangerous. He is a very old, very powerful vampire. Do not ever forget what he is when dealing with him. And never underestimate him."
**
Leaning up against the hotel counter, Angel made a conscious effort not to pace. The Ventrue Master was watching him with interest. Studying him. Trying to find flaws. "I WILL NOT put my William to death! And if you or any of your Clan so much as lays a finger on him, you will know my wrath."
"Angelus." Placating tone. "It is against our laws for anyone to harm a Blood-Childe except for the Father or Master of the Clan. I am a strong believer in the Bloodline and all the laws that protect us Bloodline vampires. I, nor any of my Clan, would ever raise a hand to your youngest. But...." The Ventrue Master stepped closer. "Are you truly willing to sacrifice your oldest and your brother, not to mention yourself, for William?"
"Ally with me. Help me. And I will help you and your Clan. In fact, I and my family will become part of your Clan. We will accept you as our Master." If Angel had a breath he would have been holding it, as he forced himself to keep eye contact with the Ventrue. Those hypnotic eyes devouring him, mesmerizing him.
Several long minutes passed as the Ventrue Master considered. "Your William is too much of a risk. I cannot endanger my people for such a lost cause. To order my Clan to protect a dying Childe, even though he is a Blood-Childe, would be poor judgment on my part."
"You still need me." Angel remembered his one trump card. "At peace with the Council for all these years, your Clan has become weak and soft. Even with the numbers your Clan has, you would not stand a chance against the trained fighters of the Council and Snow's minions."
"I am well aware of my weakness and my need for a warrior to retrain us. That is why I sent the message with your two Childer that I was willing to accept your proposal, but I guess...." The Ventrue's features relaxed in a slight smile. "the message was a little late in getting to you."
"You were willing to accept my proposal then? What is different now?"
"We did not know the true state of your son's health until a little later. My healers did some studies on William's blood and found out what Snow had done to him. But by that time, I already had sent your two Childer to L.A."
"You made a deal with Djoser who was acting as my agent. You accepted my proposal. That deal is binding."
"Desperate, are you not?" The older, wiser vampire couldn't help but put Angel in his place. More long moments passed, as the two men eyed each other appraisingly. "I will not help you with William, but give me Djoser and Nic."
"I will do no such thing!" Angel's eyes glowed gold as his temper began to get the best of him.
"Listen to me." The Ventrue was no longer interested in a show of power; he only wanted to persuade. "I will give them the same rank they hold in your Clan. They are Blood-Childer. They will be honored and have the protection of a Clan. In return, as skilled warriors they can teach us, lead us into battle against Snow and the Council. And when the Council and Snow are defeated, I SWEAR to you that one of my first priorities will be to see that one or both of them produces a Blood-Childe. The Tremeren Bloodline will continue, you have my word on that."
"And what makes you think they will not survive if they stay with me?"
"Perhaps they might with your uncanny skill at survival. But even you have to admit that the chances are slim. The four of you against the Council and Snow?...Give them to me Angelus, and if by chance you defy the odds like you have done all these years, then after Snow and the Council have been eliminated, you may come and reclaim them."
"Even with my son and my brother, what makes you think that you can defeat Snow? He, with the Council, effortlessly wiped out The Tremere Clan. Your Clan could suffer the same fate, and then they would go down with you. They are both Tremeren vampires, and they belong to me."
"When my people are once again ready for battle, I do not plan to just turn around and directly take on Snow and the Council."
"What is your plan then?" Angel couldn't help but be curious.
"I plan to take over the other Clans first. Unite all of us. And then how much of a chance will Elder Snow and the Council have? For many years now, I have tried to live peacefully with the humans. But now their insolence cannot be ignored. Killing our Blood-Childer. Destroying our Bloodlines. Bloodlines that date back to the beginning of time." The Ventrue's eyes radiated his emotion. "Think Angelus, we vampires could take our rightful positions. No more being subservient to the humans. But your dying Childe holds you back. You need to just accept that there is nothing that can be done for him. Put an end to his existence, and take your proper place with me. We could rule the world together."
**
"Gimme another fag, Nic." Lying in the back seat with his uncle driving, and his brother up in front, Spike was doing his best to be totally impossible.
"A WHAT?"
"He wants a cigarette." Living with his brother for more than a month now, Djoser was becoming quite adept at understanding Spike's wants and needs.
"I just gave you one. Don't you have any of your own?"
"No." Sitting up, Spike decided a wheedle was in order. "So why don't you stop somewhere so I can buy a pack?"
"What did the Watcher say? Your Father's order was for me to drive you and your brother straight to him. NO STOPS. So just suffer." Staring at the road in front of him, Nic muttered to himself. "Like I'm suffering."
"But I'm having nicotine withdrawal. And you know I'm ill. I haven't eaten!...So I would think that you could at least get me some smokes. Five minutes...."
"You know, that's why you're always in some kind of mess." Nic turned his head a moment to look at his nephew. "You don't think."
"Five bloody minutes, just to buy a pack. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal is that trouble finds you anywhere, boy. I never saw anyone as unlucky as you. I'm not stopping anywhere! I'm not risking anything else happening to you. I'm already in hot water with the injury to your eye, so just sit there and behave until I can get you back with Angelus."
Sighing, Spike drummed his fingers on the car seat. Two hours in a car was boring enough, especially when his friggin' uncle insisted on playing some ungodly music on the radio, but he was scared, despite the fact that he was on his way to his Sire. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. He could feel it in his bones. Giles had known something. Something Angel had told him. And it didn't take a rocket scientist to know that it was something about him. Deeply troubled, the only way he knew how to ease his stress somewhat was to act out. "I NEED A BLOODY FAG! AND COULD YOU PUT SOMETHING ON THE RADIO THAT AT LEAST RESEMBLES MUSIC?" Shouting loudly, right in his uncle's ear just to annoy him.
"JESUS FUCKING CHRIST." Nic swerved the car a little as Spike's yelling had startled him. "YOU are the biggest pain-in-the-ass...I swear. Here...." Fumbling in his pocket for his last three cigarettes. "Take my last...no...give me back one." Nic held his hand out. "I deserve one for having to put up with you."
**
"Giles, give me another option and I'll take it. They want us dead. All of us. I'm desperate! What would you have me do?...Alright..." Angel resisted the urge to slam the phone down. "Tell Nic to bring my two Childer straight here to the Hyperion. He is to make no stops and take no detours." Hanging up the phone, expression a mixture of anger and sorrow, he tiredly whispered softly to the Ventrue. "They are on their way now." It was getting harder and harder to control his temper. Between the Ventrue Master and now Giles, he could feel everything spinning out of control. He was in the middle, and everyone was pulling him in different directions.
"You must be careful now with any human allies, Angelus." Words gently spoken. Words that brought back a memory of his own Sire. The same words his Sire had used to warn him against the Ventrue Master.
"And WHAT do you know about it?" Growling, Angel could no longer control his demon side. "After everything I've done for them. I've spent years saving and protecting their kind. And now when I need their help, they kick me in the teeth...Goddamn them!" Snapping, he began breaking and throwing anything within arm's reach. Indulging in his temper tantrum, he didn't notice the Ventrue Master's face. A face filled with weary sadness.
**
"So, you gonna go and buy me some smokes now?"
To finally get Spike to shut-up, Nic had promised that as soon as they checked in with Angel he would go out and buy him cigarettes. Getting out of the car, the older vampire sighed heavily as he headed for the hotel entrance. "YES! Just let me deliver you to your Father, and believe me, any excuse at all to get away from you."
"Buy me a couple of cartons. And make sure they're. . . ."
"I know. I know. You've only told me what brand you smoke 1/2 a dozen times n. . . ." Breaking off, the three vampires stopped in their tracks. In the hotel foyer sat the Ventrue Master, with his bodyguards standing on either side of him. Standing apart, but no less stately, was their Master. The hotel foyer looked like a hurricane had blown through.
"Guess negotiations aren't going too well." Nic observed in a whispered voice.
"Sire." Spike only saw his Father. Starting for Angel, he was held up by Nic grabbing the back of his coat.
"This is a formal meeting between two Masters. Do you know the proper etiquette?" Nic hissed in Spike's ear.
"No." Spike looked over his shoulder at his uncle. "Do you?"
"Of course I...." Thinking a moment. "Well actually I forgot." Nic turned to Djoser. "You go first."
Giving his uncle a glare of disgust, Djoser entered the foyer approaching the two Masters. Kneeling first in front of Angel, he took his Sire's hand and kissed it. He then repeated the process with the Ventrue Master.
"That's what I couldn't remember, which one you were suppose to greet first." Nic whispered, as he and Spike made their way into the hotel lobby.
Following Djoser's lead, Nic repeated the protocol. But Spike never even made it to the first step. Standing in front of his Sire, anger quickly replaced his relief. "Bloody liar! You promised that you would come back to me. And...."
Spike wasn't able to finish the rest of the sentence as he was grabbed swiftly by arms that held him tightly. "William, my Childe, I'm sorry. So very sorry."
"I...I...." Anger dissipated quickly as Spike felt Angel's strong, sure embrace. "Sire...I...." Pushing himself away slightly, he looked at his Father's face. Something was very wrong. His Sire was trembling.
"What...what happened to you?" Up close, Angel now got a good look at his son. "Giles mentioned that there was some kind of incident, but he didn't mention that you were injured."
"We were attacked by some of Snow's followers. He needs the services of a healer." Djoser looked first at Angel and then at the Ventrue. Held hostage for so many months, he had a small level of comfort with the Master vampire. "Send for your chief healer."
"It would do no good, Djoser." Showing no emotion, the Ventrue answered the younger vampire.
Head whipping around to look at Angel, Djoser was becoming agitated. He too could feel that something was not right. "You have come to no agreement then?" He questioned his Sire.
"We have Childe, but there is nothing my healers can do for him." The Ventrue took a step closer to Djoser.
"How do you know, until they exam him? SEND FOR YOUR HEALERS NOW! I insist!" Voice getting louder as Djoser became more disturbed.
"Hey it's ok." Standing in the circle of Angel's arms, Spike tried to calm his brother. "Don't want the services of his friggin' healers. They don't know their arses from a hole in the ground anyway."
"Sire?" Djoser turned pleading eyes to Angel. At that moment, he consciously knew that something was very wrong. Why wouldn't the Ventrue Master, know for his protective stand for all Blood-Childer, send for his healers?
"Djoser." Angel found that he was having a hard time looking his eldest Childe in the eye. "You and Nic will go with the Ventrue Master. You will consider him your Master until I return for you. You will help him defeat Snow and the Council."
"Sire! And where will you and William be?"
"I will be with William. He is not your concern anymore."
"BLEEDIN' POOF!" Spike was once again angry as he pushed himself away from Angel. "Didn't you learn anything from the last time you sent Djoser away? He needs to stay here with us, with you. You're letting that...." He threw a look of scorn at the Ventrue Master. "Pissant tell you what to do? The bloody Queen of the Nancy Boy vamps? The one who allies himself with humans because his people fight like a bunch of namby pamby Benders."
Everyone in the room stared at Spike, speechless. Amazed at his audacity, as he had not just insulted the Ventrue Master, but had managed to insult him in three different ways with his little speech. The only one not staring at him was Nic, who was finding the ceiling quite interesting, as he concentrated hard on keeping a straight face.
"William! Watch your mouth!" Angel was truly humiliated. First he had lost control in front of the Ventrue Master, and now William. He and his family were making quite a notable impression on the sagacious vampire.
"I will not. You can't have Djoser." Spike tossed this out to the Master, not at all intimidated by the vampire's age and position. "He's suppose to stay with his Father. Isn't that the rule...law, whatever?"
To his credit, the Ventrue Master showed no loss of temper over Spike's insults, remaining impassive. "I am his Father now. He will have a high position in my Clan. He will be honored, respected, and mostly importantly he will be safe."
Studying the Ventrue, a frightening realization was beginning to make itself clear to Djoser. "We could all join your Clan. Why am I being separated from my Sire and my brother?"
"Your Sire refuses to leave your brother, and your brother...." The Ventrue turned to look at Spike with his hypnotic gaze and addressed him. "Childe, my healers found a second poison in you. I am sorry, but there is nothing that can be done for you."
"Bugger." Spike muttered as he looked down at the floor. He understood now why Djoser and Nic were being sent with the Ventrues.
Djoser too understood, but he didn't agree. Turning to Angel, he objected "Sire, don't send me away! I can. . . ."
But Angel, already feeling torn about sending Djoser and Nic away, didn't want to hear anymore arguments. It was just someone else pulling at him. "It's already been decided, boy! The agreement has been made. You and Nic will go with the Ventrues. You will work with them to defeat Snow and the Council while I search for a cure for William."
Djoser's rational side told him that the plan was logical, but his emotional side was still not ready to accept it. Falling on his knees in front of Angel, he pleaded. "Sire, I made a promise to William. A promise that I wouldn't leave him again. Don't make me go!"
"Djoser." Realizing his son's pain, Angel softened. Holding out his hand, he helped the younger vampire to his feet. "Childe, do as I say. With the Ventrues, find a way to defeat Snow and the Council. That's the best way you can help me and your brother."
"Yeah, Mate." Clamping on to his Sire's arm, digging in his fingers, Spike sadly realized that his brother needed to leave him. Being with him was only a death sentence. "Stomp on those Motherfuckers, and give Snow an extra good one from me."
"Come on Djoser. Let's go." Nic, knowing there was no arguing against an agreement made by the powerful Ventrue Master and his dominant brother, took a hold of his nephew's arm to lead him away. Looking over at Angel and Spike, he gave them a farewell salute. "Thanks a lot Angelus. It's one thing for me to do my duty for you, my brother, but now sending me to the Ventures...you have no idea how thrilled I am to be going with them." The last part he mumbled sarcastically to himself. "And William." His eyes met his nephew's. "Take care of yourself. Guess I won't be getting you those cigarettes after all."
****
Part 12
"William." Watching his Childe closely, Angel stayed near to him. "Come. I know you haven't slept much. Let's take a shower and go to bed."
Since the Ventrue Master had left with his brother and uncle, Spike had been sitting on the hotel lobby's floor smoking cigarettes he had found in Angel's coat pocket. Not bothering to answer, he flicked more cigarette ash on the floor. This time the ash came close to some papers that had been scattered around the room. Seeing that, Spike tried again. Tried to see if he could set the papers on fire.
Angel observing what his son was up to, swept the papers up from the floor. "William did you eat the blood I left for you in Sunnydale? When was the last time you ate?"
"Ate last night." Spike rationalized to himself that eating Buffalo wings counted.
"And you finished all the blood I left?" Angel probed some more.
Shrugging his shoulders, Spike hung his head between his knees. He had been going over and over in his head what had just transpired with the Ventrue Master. Putting all the pieces together, he knew what needed to be done. "You should be with him, you know."
Sighing, Angel stacked the papers on the hotel counter. "If I could split myself in two Childe...but I can't. The Ventrue Master swore to me that Djoser and Nic would be protected like his own. And they have each other. William. . . ." Studying his Childe, Angel was not happy with what he saw. Lack of sleep, nourishment, and emotional and physical stress was taking its toll on Spike. Injured eyed more swollen, good eye red-rimmed and puffy from fatigue and tears that he was desperately trying to hold back. "Did Giles leave any instructions on how to care for your eye? It doesn't look very good."
"Gave me a bag with some herbs and shit in it. Said it was the ingredients for my cure. Maybe there's something in there." Spike waved his hand at the bag sitting by the entrance. It had been dropped there, when he had first arrived. Watching Angel go and retrieve the bag, Spike could see the outdoors through the hotel entrance. It was daytime. The sun was shining. An idea began forming in his head. An idea on how he could make things right again. Make it right for his Father and his brother.
"Childe, did he give you any verbal instructions? Because there are no written directions here at all."
"No. Just told us to get the hell out of Sunnydale." Angel had dumped out the contents of the bag on the hotel counter, and was standing with his back to Spike. Eyeing his Sire's back, Spike calculated his chances of making it out the front door before his Father could stop him. "Was bloody rude about it too. After all we did for him and his Slayer." Keeping up inane chatter to keep Angel from suspecting anything. Sliding up to a standing position, he measured the distance to the door.
"When this is all said and done, I think I should have another talk with Gi. . . ." Turning around to face his son, Angel was caught off guard as Spike brought a planter down on his head. The excitement of the moment gave Spike the extra boost of energy that he needed to bring a knee up to a groin and fist to a side of the jaw. Grabbing a heavy tome that lay on the counter, he slammed it across the side of Angel's head.
"Sorry about such a disrespectful good-by Father, but did you expect any different from me?" Small parting humor, as Spike bounced the heavy book one more time on Angel's head. Thinking that he had incapacitated his Sire enough for him to make his escape, the suicidal vampire turned to run out the hotel's front entrance. He made it across the lobby, but before he could make it out the door, he was brought down from behind.
'Damn! I miscalculated the Big Poof again!' was his last thought before he felt the sting of fangs in the back of his neck. A fog began settling in his brain as he was 'pushed' into unconsciousness. The fog turned to blackness as Angel used his power to take control.
**
Waking up on his own for once, two thoughts occurred to Spike; no horrible nightmare except of course if you count the sound of Jeopardy on the telly, and what was on his wrist? Raising his head, he took stock of himself. Naked, on top of his Sire who was comfortably half lying with his feet up on an ottoman watching the television. They were shackled together by the wrists.
"A little overkill, no?" Holding up his right wrist.
"I don't happen to think so." Angel hit the mute button on the remote. "Wait until you see what I have for you when we go out tonight."
"Out? We're going out? Don't wanna go out." Letting his head drop down on the bare chest beneath him. "Just want. . . ." My brother to be alright. "So where we going? Dancing?" Spike could help but be sarcastic as he held up his manacled wrist again.
"Well. . . ." Angel acted like he was considering. "People do dance there, so I guess if you wanted to. . . ." He trailed off as he lightly drew an imaginary line down the side of his Childe's face.
"I don't know how you can be so bloody flippant. You just adopted your firstborn out to some bleeding Old Man who's going to be declaring war on that fucker Snow and the Council. You should be with him! Djoser is special." Spike couldn't stop the tears anymore. "You're going to lose him if you're not careful, and over what? A flawed Childe who's dying anyways? You're a bloody fool!"
"Djoser is safe for now. The Ventrues need him badly, and Nic is there with him. He has a better chance of surviving than we do." Wrapping his unshackled arm around Spike, Angel held him in a hard embrace. "William, my Childe. My precious Childe. I won't leave you again. Never again. And understand me when I tell you that I plan on finding a cure for you, and then I will go and reclaim both Djoser and Nic."
"So. . .you know a mystical healer who's close by? You heard the Ventrue. They found a second poison. Why can't you just accept the fact that maybe it's my time to die? Stake me. Then I will at least die with honor. Staked by my Sire. And you can go and do what's right for you, for Djoser, and for any other Tremeren vampires who might still exist out there."
Raising his head to look Angel in the face, Spike was taken aback by the look in his Sire's eyes. Angel had that crazed, determined look in his eyes. The eyes of his demon side. Eyes that said that he would have his way, and that he would stomp on anyone who tried to deny him.
No words came out of Angel's mouth, as his only answer to his son was to run a sharp nail across his breast, opening a wound, letting the blood flow. "Eat Childe. You will not die. Not today, not tomorrow, not for many years to come. Eat, and then I will take you to someone who can help us. Someone I know here in LA."
But Spike was not tempted as he turned his head in refusal. Asinine Poof. Won't kill me, won't let me kill myself, so I guess I'll just starve myself.
"William!" The Master vampire was not happy at his son's defiance.
"Not hungry." Clumsily separating himself from Angel. "Not going to eat today. Not going to eat tomorrow. Going let myself wither away to a skeleton, and then my skin will turn black just like Victor's did."
"How do you know about how Victor died?" Narrowing his eyes at Spike, Angel was contemplating how he could force his Childe to eat.
"Heard the whole sorry tale from Alex." Sitting back on the couch because that was the furthest he could go with the chain on his wrist. "You're not doing me any favors, you know. Victor died a slow horrible death because his Sire wouldn't stake him. And you're going to curse me to the same type of death. Bloody Idiot! JUST STAKE ME. It's something you know you should do. Something you should have done a long time ago because you knew back then. Knew that I wasn't fit to exist."
**
Germany, 1857
Slamming the newest addition to his household against the wall, Angelus was livid. Rage at the young vampire he was beating. Rage at himself for feeling something for this pathetic creature. This creature who had sprung from his loins. The dark vampire could hardly believe it. That he, the Pure Blood-Childe of Heinrich Nest, could have created such a disappointment. Such a disgrace!
Picking up the small, broken body of his youngest Blood-Childe, Angelus snarled in his face. "You are an embarrassment to me, and I deem you unfit to continue your existence. You will be disposed of." Holding his undersized son by the front of his torn shirt, Angelus started for the front door. It was morning hours, and the sun shone brightly. "It will be quick though. I will grant you that. Because you do after all carry my blood in your veins. It is your right to die mercifully."
But surprisingly enough, the fledgling, hearing that he was about to die, still had some fight in him. Screaming and clawing, trying to grab on to something so he couldn't be thrown out the door. "Please Father. Wot 'ave I done, then, eh? Dinnah kill me. Just tell me wot I did, and I won't do it no more." Slender fingers now digging into Angelus' chest, trying to hold on. Blue eyes desperate, shimmering with tears.
Reaching the door, all Angelus had to do was to open it, and with his superior strength throw his Childe into the sunlight. But when the moment came, he found he could not go through with it. He could bring himself to destroy this wretched Childe. So deplorable, but yet so beautiful. A moment's hesitation, and the young vampire named William was slammed hard against the wall.
Growling with fury, fury at himself for being weak and fury at his Childe for making him weak, the Master of the household threw the smaller vampire over a hall table. "DON'T MOVE!" He couldn't kill him, but he would show this dismal excuse for a vampire his position. Tearing William's trousers off, Angelus positioned himself and with one savage thrust, he ripped into the boy's body. Hands gripping the back of a neck, holding a face down into the table, while the rest of his body punished and brutalized.
Fingers gouging the finish of the table, William almost bit his tongue off trying not to scream. He could feel himself tearing and bleeding as the thick cock inside him continued its assault.
A few more strokes before Angelus buried himself into the body beneath him. Grinding pubic bone into tender flesh, while he emptied himself completely. Hissing softly to himself as physical pleasure warred with dissipating rage. "Boy, for now I will allow you to live. Your tight body pleases me, but your status here in the household will be only slightly above that of a minion. And you are to address me as Master. I never want to hear the words Father or Sire on your lips again when you address me. Is that understood
. . .Sklave?"
**
"Is this really necessary?" Dragging his feet as he walked behind his Sire, Spike felt like a complete fool. He was fettered to his Sire by waist shackles. "You know, if we're attacked by any of Snow's boys, we'll be at a disadvantage being chained together like this."
"If we're attacked, I can separate us quickly." Turning to Spike, Angel opened his coat slightly to reveal the sharp ax he was carrying. "But I'm not taking any chances. It seems that as soon as I turn my back on you, something happens. You'll stay here by my side until you're cured, and it's safe for you again."
"Yeah, well after this I'm going to have to leave this city, cos I'm soon to be the laughing stock of LA." Spike grumbled to himself as he followed Angel into the nightclub. "Wot is this place anyway?"
"A Karaoke bar." Eyes scanning the crowd, as Angel looked for the Host.
Sighing, Spike looked around. A typical demon nightclub, except for the awful caterwauling coming from the stage. "So what powerful mystic healer hangs out in this dump?"
"An Anagogic Demon." Spying the Host, Angel pushed his way through the crowd.
"A huh?" Spike tried to remember if he had ever crossed paths with such a demon.
Half listening to the demon who was screeching off-key, while laughing and joking with a diverse group of demons, the Host was in his element. "And so, I just happened to be telling that blabber-mouth Francois about Ramon, and. . . ."
"You need to do something for me." Reaching the table, Angel made his demand while giving the rest of the demons at the table a look of 'get the hell away from here.'
And the demons, knowing Angel and his reputation, and seeing his ill-humor scattered quickly.
Heaving a melodramatic sigh, the Host signaled for another drink. "Did anyone ever tell you what a killjoy you are? Can bring down a party in seconds. Is that a god given talent, or did you have to work at it a bit? Because I would guess that you might have had to practice it. . .oh maybe a 1/2 hour or so?"
"You need to read his aura. You need to tell me how to save him." Ignoring the Host's banter, Angel pulled an uncooperative Spike up to the psychic demon.
"What kind of powerful mystic healer is he?" Spike couldn't help but be belligerent as he stared at the green demon.
"Cute. . . ." The Host gave Spike the once over. "What's with the chains? Always did read you as a bondage type." Giving Angel a wink as he took a fresh drink from an employee. "So what's the big emergency?"
"This is William. He's my Blood-Childe. He's. . . ."
"Blood-Childe!" The Host almost spat his drink. "You mean I've been in the company of royalty all this time, and I wasn't even aware? A Bloodline vampire." The Host was impressed. "I never suspected. Never read it on you."
Angel continued, ignoring the interruption. "He's been poisoned. He's dying. . . ."
"He's dying too! First Darla and now your Childe. . .Man, you and your family are better than any soap opera on TV." Shaking his head, the Host looked Spike over again. "Speaking of Darla, I do see a family resemblance between her and Billy here."
"HEY!" Spike's sulkiness turned to anger. "I DO NOT LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THAT BITCH! Take that back, or I twist your horns off. I look like my mum, my human mum. Tell him. . . ." Elbowing Angel in the ribs. "Tell him how I look like my mum."
Knowing that he better back Spike on this issue to avoid a tantrum, Angel never missed a beat as he lied through his teeth. "He looks like his mother. Now get that. . . ." He looked up at the stage where the demon was still warbling. "Thing who calls himself a demon off the stage. William here will sing, and you can. . . ."
"If you think I'm going to go up and sing, guess again. . .Bloody Poofster." Muttering the last part because Spike had caught on that Angel had answered too quickly. Answered without even thinking. His Sire didn't remember what his mum had looked like.
"Kids." The Host gave Angel a sympathetic look. "No respect for their parents anymore
. . .but I think I have a solution." The Host stood up. "Take those silly chains off, and Billy and I will have a nice quiet chat in the corner there, while you try and. . .unbend slightly over by the bar."
"The chains aren't coming off. Whatever you have to say to William will be said in my presence, so. . . ."
"Boy, talk about your over protective parent. You need to lighten up a little. You'll give yourself a coronary." The Host signaled to a passing waiter. "Give our friend here a drink on the house. Listen. . . ." Turning back to Angel. "You want me to read your Childe's aura, then we're going to do it my way."
**
"Normally I won't do a reading without the person singing a little tune for me, but in your case I'll make an exception. I suffered through your Father. I don't want to listen to Junior too." Together at a small table in a corner, the Host sat with a morose Spike. Across the room, Angel stood over at the bar watching the two like a hawk. "Now I'm going to make this fast because I'm sensing that your I-got-up-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-bed-today Sire will be stamping over here within minutes." The Host leaned closer to Spike. "You need to change your attitude. You've lost your fight, your will to live, and that can't happen."
"Wot's it to you? I'm dying, and there's nothing that can be done for me. And my idiot Sire won't stake me. Meanwhile, my brother is left to fend for himself."
"An apocalypse is coming." The Host was serious as he took a sip of his drink. "A big one. And how it finally plays out depends on Angel-Cakes over there."
"An apocalypse is always coming." Spike heaved a huge sigh. "I'm dying, so why should I care?"
"Because you do." The Host stared on the vampire. "You always have. A few years ago, you teamed with a Slayer to stop one. . .You're like me. You like this world. Like the way it is. Music, television, booze." Holding up his sea breeze. "Listen to me, I'll put it simply. You're so important to Angel Daddy that if you were to die, he would go mad and help the dark forces to bring the world to an end. You live and well. . .he stays sane and happy; the world doesn't end, and we all continue on our merry way."
"And again I say, like I give a shit. I'm dying, and what the hell do I care if the world ends or. . . ."
"But you care about your brother, don't you? Do you want to know what an insane Angel does to your brother?"
Now the Host had Spike's full attention. "My brother? My brother is destined to rule at the right hand of my Father."
"Not if Daddy is insane. You know what he's like insane, when he's trying to suck the world into hell. Just remember him like that, but magnify his insanity one hundred times over. And you do remember that when his goal is to end the world, he tends to lose all paternal feelings."
Looking down at the table, Spike thought of Djoser. "My brother has been watching over me now for more than a century. I'll do anything for him. Just tell me what I have to do."
"You need to live." Words quietly spoken.
"Alright, so you've read his aura. Now tell me what I need to do. Go and do a trial again. What?" The Host had been right. It had only taken Angel five minutes before his patience ran out.
"Look for a cure." The Host had gotten up, and catching sight of some new friends coming through the door, was looking to leave the vampires.
"WAIT A MINUTE!" Angel had him by the lapels of his jacket. "What the hell kind of guidance is that? I NEED a name. Someone who can give me a cure for William."
"You already have people who can help you with a cure. That one employee of yours
. . .tall, cute, although kind of a tight-ass. . .what's his name. . .Wally. . . ."
"Wesley? I fired him."
"Well, unfire him. I'm guessing. . . ."
"DON'T GUESS! I don't know whether Wesley can come up with a cure for my Childe, or if he can come up with one in time. I want something NOW!"
"There's no fire here, you know. Your Childe isn't dying immediately." The Host pulled Angel's hands off his jacket. "Think of him like a human diabetic. Needs his insulin, or in his case, his daily dose of Sire's blood. Needs to take care of himself, but if he does overdo it, then he just needs an extra dose of. . .Sire's blood. If he follows those guidelines, he can live indefinitely, which gives you ample time to find a cure."
"THAT'S YOUR ANSWER!" Face and eyes flickering, Angel grabbed the Host by the front of the jacket. "I'm not liking it very much, so why don't you try tuning in again, and see if you can't come up with something bet. . . ."
"Sire." Spike was pulling at Angel's coat. "I'm hungry. Don't suppose you could give me something to eat, could you?"
****
Part 13
"William! You said you were hungry and wanted to eat. What the hell. . . ." Angel, in his impatience, hadn't even waited until they made it to the car. Pulling Spike with him into an alley, he had torn open his shirt. He knew his blood was the only answer they had for now.
But Spike, instead of latching on to his Sire's chest, fell to his knees. Working on a trousers' zipper, he looked up at Angel, giving him a brash grin. "I'm planning to eat." Pulling out a cock that was already starting to harden. Using a hand to stroke and caress first, then using lips and tongue to apply pressure to all the right spots.
Head thrown back against the brick wall behind him, Angel's hands found the back of Spike's head as he drove himself in deeper, hips pumping, hands pushing. Shaft growing harder as his Childe's talented tongue ran over and around the head, stopping a moment at the sensitive spot. "OH CHRIST!" Brain shutting down as all focus was on that one area of his body.
Suppressing his gag reflex, Spike let his Sire's cock push in farther. He could tell that Angel was close. Deep-throating until he felt his Sire tremble, and the cock in his mouth began to pulse. Pulling his mouth back quickly, he bit down on the head just as cum began squirting out.
Blood and seed of his Sire. An ambrosial nectar that he fed upon, despite the knot in his stomach.
**
The new year, February, 2001.
Roles reversed as this time, it was Angel who couldn't sit still as he wore a path in the hotel floor, while Spike sat quietly on the counter watching him pace back and forth.
"Wesley's out of the hospital now, but he still refuses to talk to me." Time had passed with Angel trying to communicate with his ex-employees, but they refused to see or talk to him.
"Really holding a grudge against you for firing them. Wot you do to them? Literally throw them out on their ears?" Lighting up a cigarette, Spike looked over at the clock. Almost time for 'Passions.'
Angel halted his pacing for a moment to look at his Childe. A Childe who now had been feeding regularly on Sire's blood. Wounds that Snow had inflicted on him finally close to healing. Injured eye, still slightly black and blue, but open, not swollen shut. "I think that Giles must have talked to them. Told them about my meeting with the Ventrues. They're scared and suspicious."
"But we're obviously not with the Ventrues. And the humans wouldn't necessarily know that you sent Djoser and Nic with them. So why would they be suspicious?"
"Years ago our two Clans were close to joining together. For a time I acted as emissary for the Old Master, so I know how it almost came to pass. Together, we would have been an unbeatable force, and the Council knew that. They were scared, really scared. Since then, you just have to whisper Tremere and Ventrue in the same sentence and the Council gets anxious. Giles and Wesley know the history. Just the fact that I met with the Ventures would make them nervous and apprehensive."
"Oh." Spike was fascinated, despite himself. Consciously stopping the questions that almost fell out of his mouth, he faked a yawn. He didn't want his Sire to know that their history was of any interest to him.
Resuming his pacing, Angel was trying to decide if he should continue to try and work on Wesley, or if he should try and find someone else to help them.
"Angelus." She had come in up through the sewers and had noiselessly made her way to the hotel lobby.
"Darla." Arms fold across his chest, Angel's body language signaled to her that she was not welcome. "You've never been stupid, so I am curious why you would come here after. . . ."
"All anyone can talk about is the supposed alliance between you and the Ventrues. And how the Ventures are gearing up for a war. How they plan to take over the other Clans and then go and defeat the Council." Approaching Angel cautiously, the vampiress continued. "So what holds you back here?"
"Why are you here, Darla?" Face stern, Angel didn't want to hear it. Darla always had had her ambitions for him.
"It's this Childe, isn't it?" For the first time Darla looked over at Spike, acknowledging his presence.
A low growl rumbled in Angel's throat. "You've got five seconds to get out of here."
"He's ill and dying. But I can help him, and then we could join the Ventrues and . . . ." Taking a risk, Darla walked right up to Angel, brushing her body against his. "And take our rightful places again."
In a movement so quick it even took the vampiress by surprise, Angel had his hand wrapped around her throat. "You want to help my Childe? How? By impaling him again?"
"He had already been condemned to death by the Master. My requesting his impalement gave you time to save him. Think about it. If they would have staked him, he wouldn't be sitting here today." Darla always had been good at twisting a situation so that she came out looking better.
"Don't try to manipulate me!" He hissed at her, as his hand tightened.
"I can get a cure for him." Pulling herself away from Angel's grip, Darla finally showed her hand. "There are connections. . .connections between Wolfram and Hart and the Council. Between Wolfram and Hart and Snow. In fact, if you were to dig deep enough, you'd probably find that Wolfram and Hart has been the financial backer of Snow. Nowadays pure strength just won't do it; one needs money."
Pulling back his attack, Angel couldn't help but be interested. "You know this? You know this for a fact?"
"Got the information straight from Lindsey. You know he'll do anything for me." A smug smile. "And if I ask really pretty, I'm sure he can find out what we need to cure . . . . " Turning once again to look at Spike. "your Precious Childe."
"And why would you help him?" Angel remained impassive. A fact which was unnerving Darla a little. She couldn't read him, which gave him the upper hand. In the past, she had always been the one in control.
"He was condemned because of his humanness, but . . . ." She now addressed Spike. "You've changed, haven't you boy? You're no longer an embarrassment. Killed two Slayers, gained a reputation for torturing with spikes. . .in fact that's how you're known now. . .Spike."
"His name is William." Angel growled out.
Eyes rolling, Spike couldn't help but snort.{The Poof still fantasizes about how he named me at birth.} "I may have changed, but have you?" Sliding down from the counter, he stood leaning up against it. "You always were such a jealous bitch. Hated Djoser too, and no one ever said that Djoser was flawed."
"I never . . . . " The vampiress looked over at Angel who was looking even more menacing over what his Childe had just asserted. "Djoser is a progeny of my bloodline. He's special and so like his Father, vicious and cruel. How can I hate someone who is so much like my favoriteChilde?"
Said so convincingly that Spike even had to reconsider. Maybe he didn't remember those conversations correctly. After all he had been so young and hadn't really understood everything. Wistfully wishing that his brother were here to ask him.
"You would do that then? You would convince Lindsey to get the information regarding the poisons, and whatever info he could get on any possible cures?" Grabbing his Sire by the shoulders, Angel's eyes burned into hers.
"Of course." Her arms winding around a strong neck, Darla smiled. "You are now the Master of our Clan, and I. . .I have always tried to be a loyal subject."
**
Spike turned up the volume on the telly as loud as he could stand it. "Don't want to have to hear Mr. and Mrs. Poofster shagging." He muttered to himself as his vampiric hearing couldn't help but catch an occasional groan. "Think I'm gonna heave."
Angel and Darla were upstairs in one of the bedrooms, while Spike had stayed downstairs with only the TV to keep him company. He didn't completely trust his GrandSire but for once, he was going to leave the decisions in his Father's hands, because of what his brother had once told him, 'Listen to our Sire. He knows what's best for us.'
"You bloody well better know what you're talking about Djoser." He spoke to a brother who was not there. Sighing to himself when the phone rang. He considered not answering it but then reconsidered. Maybe if it was something so direly important, he would have an excuse to interrupt the two lovebirds upstairs.
"Yeah." Picking up the phone.
"Spike? It's Willow. Is Angel there?"
"Yeah. . .kind of busy now, but if it's world ending important, I could go and disturb him." He couldn't keep the hopefulness out of his voice.
"Well . . . ." Willow considered a moment. "It's important, but there's nothing he or you or anyone can do about it. I guess you could give him the message when it's convenient."
Moments passed as Willow tried to hold back her tears and find the right words. Spike impatiently shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "You gonna tell me what it is Red, or just sit there and breathe in my ear?"
"Yes. . .of course. . .I. . .I just. . .didn't know. . .just wanted to let Angel. . .and. . .and you know. . . ."
"Spit it out Red. My program's starting." Cigarette now in his mouth, Spike was searching for a light.
"Joyce. . .Buffy's mother. . .you know . . . . " Willow had to stop, as she choked up with tears. "Just wanted to let. . .you guys know that she died."
"The Slayer's mum died?" Surprise and shock made Spike forget that he had been looking for a match or a lighter.
"The service just ended. Didn't call sooner. . .well. . .we were so. . . . " More tears as Willow gave in to her grief briefly. "It was outside, so you or Angel wouldn't have been able to attend anyway."
"Yeah Red." Memories of Joyce flashed through his head. One of the few people who had ever treated him kindly. Treated him as a person, not a freak. "Thanks for calling." Hanging up the phone, Spike pondered on whether he should go and tell Angel the news. But when another moan reached his ears he decided against it. Decided instead to go and pay his respects to Buffy and the deceased. He'd take a quick run to Sunnydale, give the Slayer his sympathies, and then come back. By then his Sire and GrandSire should be done doing the horizontal mambo, and he could give Angel the news.
**
Her clothes off, her legs spread open to him, he pushed himself in brutally not caring if she was ready or not. He didn't care about her pleasure, only his own. Pumping hard, he sank his fangs into a breast. Drinking her blood. Sire's blood. Relishing in the power it gave him.
Wrapping her legs around Angel, Darla squeezed, not minding his roughness. It had been a long time. Too long. But now her Childe would be hers again. Running her hands down his back she enjoyed the feel of him. The feel of him inside of her, on top of her, around her.
Ramming into her, savoring her blood, Angel was enjoying the intercourse. Pure gratification for himself. He could simply enjoy the taking because the woman beneath him meant nothing to him anymore.
**
"Take it all the way." Applying gentle pressure to the woman's head, the vampire wanted her to take all of him. Resisting the urge to push himself in further, he held up a moment. Didn't want to hurt her. Tangling his fingers in the human's hair, he massaged her scalp lightly while pushing up with his hips. Throwing his head back, he was close. Could feel his balls tightening, could feel. . .someone coming through the patio doors.
"Djoser! What the hell. . .NO DON'T STOP!" The entrance of another vampire had caused the woman break off what she was doing, and caused Nic to be hanging in limbo, on the edge
"I'll wait until you're done but hurry up." Djoser was unmoved by the scene.
"Christ!" Nic could feel himself softening. How the hell did his idiotic nephew expect him to perform when the stupid brat stood there watching? "Djoser. . .could you go out on the balcony or at least turn your back. . .oh fuck!" Pulling the woman off his now flaccid cock, he began calling his nephew every obscenity he could think of. "Take a break sweetheart." He winked at the human. "Just let me get rid of my. . . ." He never finished his sentence as Djoser, walking behind the woman, swiftly knocked her unconscious with a blow to the head.
"What the fuck did you just do? I was planning to get to know that woman. . .inside and out, and. . . ."
"We can't afford to have anyone know what we're doing." Looking down at the unconscious woman. "Do you think you impregnated her?"
"Do you take me for a dope?" Pulling on his pants, the vampire looked over at some condoms on the nightstand. "Give that asshole Ventrue one of our Blood-Childer? He'd claim the Childe as his, you know. Use the old argument that possession is nine tenths of the law. . .So how'd you sneak up here?" The Venture Master was no fool. Still very wary of the two Tremeren vampires, he had kept them separated. Although housed in luxury and given young women and men for sex and or feeding, Djoser and Nic were in fact prisoners of the powerful Master. He had not exactly been honest when he had promised Angel that 'they would be treated like his own.'
"While the Ventrue Master has been using us for his own purposes, I have been making my own plans. And now we need to leave. We need to leave NOW."
Pulling a shirt over his head, Nic could feel warning shocks spark inside him. "What's going on? What did you do Djoser?"
His nephew's black eyes never blinked. "I've committed treason against the Ventrue Master. I've just helped the Toreador Clan take one of his Blood-Childer captive."
**
Standing outside on the balcony in the rain, Angel was shrugging on his shirt, thinking about his Childer, thinking about the future. He had almost forgotten about the woman in the next room. Stepping to the balcony railing because he thought he saw his car driving down the street, and stubbing his toe. "Jesus Christ!"
"Don't fight it my love." A smug Darla stood in the open door, wrapped in a sheet. Just let it happen. It'll only hurt for a minute."
Puzzled for only a moment, before Angel understood. Throwing his head back, he began laughing hysterically. It felt good. He had had too few opportunities to laugh in the last year. "Sure of yourself, aren't you Darla?" He couldn't help but sneer a little. "But if you really want to know, you weren't that good."
"Not good?" She let out a short laugh of disbelief. "Well, I don't accept that. You cannot tell me that wasn't perfect. Not only have I been around for four hundred years, but I used to do this professionally. And that was perfect." Grabbing Angel's arm, she tried to drag her Childe back to bed. "We'll go again."
Pulling Darla against him, Angel held her in an embrace, but the embrace was painful as he squeezed her hard. "We're done. I may at sometime decide to bed you again, but it will be when I decide."
"When you decide? You seem to forget who I am. . .your Sire. Now Childe. . . ."
"And you seem to forget who I am. I am now the High Master. The Master of the Clan. I can order your death. Now. . .if you want to continue to exist, you'll bring me that information you promised."
"And if I don't?" She tried to pull away, but Angel refused to let her go, gripping her harder, close to breaking a few ribs.
"Then I will kill you."
**
Singing to the radio, Spike had to admit that he was enjoying himself just a little. Screeching around the corner, he thought about the paradox of being back with his Sire. Happy to be back with Angel, but still, at times it was hard to be so under his control again. Spike had lived for more than a century on his own and now as his Father's Blood-Childe, Angel guarded him closely. Lost in these thoughts, it took a few miles for him to realize that the top was down on his Sire's car, and it was raining!
"Bugger all." He muttered to himself as he pulled over to the curb. Surveying the wet upholstery as he put the top up, he was pretty sure it would dry out by the time he got back to LA.
Next stop a petrol station. Along with Angel's car keys, Spike had also 'borrowed' the money in his wallet. Wondering if they also sold flowers at the petrol station, although he was pretty sure they didn't, so he'd have to stop somewhere to buy flowers. Starting up the car again, he continued on his way. Spike's intention was to just go to Sunnydale to give his sympathies to Buffy and Dawn. He had no idea that he'd soon be embroiled in their fight against a goddess whose quest to go back home would cause the walls between the dimensions to break down. Once again, he would be fighting alongside the Slayer to prevent 'hell on earth.'
**
"You sure you feel up to this?" Helping Wesley out of the car, Gunn got him settled in the wheelchair. "You know me and Cordy could have just come and . . . ."
"And what? We don't even know why The Powers That Be sent us here." Wincing in pain, Wesley settled himself into the wheelchair.
"You don't think it has anything to do with Angel?" Head still pounding from her recent vision, Cordelia dug around her purse for another aspirin. Her latest vision had them all puzzled. It directed them to the Caritas. There was a sense of urgency in the vision but no danger. Dwelling on such a mystery was causing her headache to worsen, making her wish even more that she was laying on her couch at home with her feet up and an ice pack on her forehead. "If part of this deal is that I'm going to have to sing, I swear, I'm going to throw up on the stage."
"Well, tell us again about your vision. . . ."
"Wesley how many times do I have to tell you about it? Is your pain medicine starting to affect your brain?" The three co-workers/friends were edgy as events from the year before had not made the new year look promising. Fired and estranged from Angel. Wesley shot by a renegade zombie cop. Visions becoming more and more painful for Cordelia. A new business started but on shaky ground.
"I know. It's just that . . . . " Wesley didn't voice what he knew they were all thinking. That the odd vision that Cordelia had was somehow connected with Angel. Anger, resentment, fear. All emotions that arose in them when his name was mentioned. But Angel was not a person one could just walk away from without looking back. He still loomed larger than life in all of their thoughts.
And to complicate matters further, Giles had called them with the news about a possible alliance between Angel and the Ventrues. The three had then refused to see Angel or take any of his calls, while they tried to investigate that possibility. It seemed that perhaps their worst fear was being realized; they were now, not only on the opposite side of the fence from Angel but would be soon fighting enemies.
"Well, now what?" Gunn asked impatiently as the three entered the demon nightclub. "Do we just start knockin' heads together until we find the one that knows why we were sent here?"
"Real subtle Gunn." Rolling her eyes, Cordelia looked for a waiter who could give her something to wash the aspirin down.
"My guess is that he's the one who probably has an answer for us." Wesley spotted the Host who was now making his way over to them.
"Oh man, we are going to have to sing then. . . I need to get another life." Cordelia muttered the last part to herself.
"Hey kids, so where's the Big Guy?" The Host was as effusive as always.
Three sets of eyes met, while the three groaned softly in unison.
"We have no idea where Angel. . .where that back-stabbing traitor is. Haven't seen him since before Christmas." Finally getting a glass of water, Cordelia was washing down the aspirin.
"Since before Christmas? But I told him to get help from. . .you." The smile left the Host's face.
Again the three humans exchanged looks. "Well, Angel has been trying to communicate with us, but we haven't been taking his calls. Word is that he's allied with the Ventrues. And the Ventrues are now the Council's number one enemy." Wesley watched the demon closely for his reaction, hoping to learn something.
"Well. . .I guess they came to a small understanding but hot off the presses, I just heard that that small understanding is about to explode into a HUGE misunderstanding." Grinning broadly, Lorne always did love juicy gossip, but the three faces that stared back at him did not have looks of encouragement. Sighing, he wondered to himself if everyone connected with Angel was just as humorless as the vampire. "Listen kids, it really is quite important that you get in touch with Angel. He needs your help."
"Mr. Big-Bad-I-Don't-Need-Anyone-And-You're-All-Fired-Vampire needs our help? Hah, that's a laugh." Cordelia was now holding the water glass with ice up to her forehead. The blessed coolness gave her some relief.
"It's already been prophesized that there's going to be an apocalypse. Angel's role in it is still unknown, although we know he plays a big part in it. Which side he'll be on is up for grabs. Wolfram and Hart know that. And they're trying to push him over. . .well you kiddies have probably figured out what side they want him on. One sure way to get him fighting for the dark side would be to kill his Childe."
"His Childe? Doesn't Angel have a lot of Childer? So which one we talking about here?" Gunn was remembering Drusilla, and also the stories that Wesley told him about Djoser, Ramose, Spike, and Lucien.
"Blood-Childe." Lorne enunciated the word in Gunn's face. "His youngest Blood-Childe. His favorite. . . ."
"Spike." Wesley finished the Host's sentence as his mind was putting all the pieces of information that the Anagogic demon just gave them. "He's the key to whether Angel turns to his dark side. And Giles mentioned to me that Snow poisoned him with a second unknown toxin, so now the cure that we had come up with is no. . ." Wesley now understood why The Powers That Be sent them to Caritas, to the Host. "We'll go see Angel right now." Determination was in his voice as he looked up at Lorne.
"WHAT?!" Gunn and Cordelia were both stunned.
"We need to help Angel. We need to help him save Spike. Not for his sake or Spike's sake, but for all of our sakes."
****