Part 22
"Hang on just a bloody moment." Jumping to his feet, Spike stared his uncle straight in the face. "Who said anything about Djoser having to face The Trials? My Sire promised me that after we got to Germany, he would choose the most worthy Childe to be his Successor."
"Even if he were to choose Djoser." Damon's voice was calm. "It would never be accepted. Judelin would never recognize Djoser over Connor, even with Angelus' sanction. The only way he can legitimately challenge Connor is to defeat the Trials. Something that has never been accomplished, not even by a Pure Blood."
"And why do we care what that arse bandit thinks?" Spike dismissed Judelin with a wave of a hand. "We're Tremerens, not Ventrue benders."
The corner of Damon's mouth twitched. Spike's unshakable impertinence during an unstable time was not just amusing, but rather reassuring. "Judelin and his clan are the ruling vampires now. We need to accept that."
Ri-ight." Spike wrapped his arms around himself, a sign of uneasiness. He didn't like the direction of the conversation. "So to prove himself to the Ventrue High Poof, Djoser has to face The Trials, something that has never been done by any vampire. So why are you so sure that he can succeed?" He glanced apologetically at Djoser. "If he doesn't, then Connor gets named the Successor. Whose side are you on?"
"Your side, my nephews." In an unusual gesture of affection, Damon stepped close to Djoser and Spike, placing a gentle hand on each of them. "If Connor becomes High Master of our Clan, I see suffering for both of you. That Childe is warped, but Angelus won't see it. He makes excuses for him. You must save yourselves and perhaps our Clan." Looking at Djoser closely, he continued. "You need to do this. And I, your uncle, have faith that you can."
"I know what I'm capable of." Djoser stood up to stand face-to-face with Damon. "The Trials don't frighten me. I will beat them."
"And our Sire?" Spike asked, still troubled. "What does he say about this?"
Damon's hands dropped to his sides. "Angelus would never allow this. That is why we need to leave now and quickly."
"Your screw is becoming looser." Spike told his uncle. "You're going to leave here without our High Master's consent, and you're going to take one of his Blood-Childer? Never thought you had a death wish, mate."
Again Damon's mouth twitched. He knew Spike's disrespect was more a defensive reaction than an attack on him. "Actually, I must have a rather large death wish, mate." He forced a smile, trying to reassure Spike. "Because I want you to come with us, which translates to kidnapping' two of our High Master's Blood-Childer."
"Africa?" Spike's thoughts were a twisted mass of confusion. He had never expected such a plan to come out of Damon's mouth. "I'm to abandon my Sire, just leave without his permission. No!" He moved backward a few steps away from his uncle. "I can't do it. I promised Him. I won't do it."
"You would be supporting Djoser." Damon said softly. "We won't be gone long, a few months perhaps. And really, it isn't such a bad thing because it will give your Sire time alone to. . .to bond with your new brother."
"I'd like you to come." Djoser's request was simple and sincere.
Conflict churned in Spike. He didn't want to refuse his brother, but he remembered all too clearly the promise he had made to Angel that morning. "I understand your ambitions, Djoser, and although I don't think this whole Trials thing is necessary, I wish you only success. I want you to be our Clan's next Successor, but I won't leave our Sire. I won't desert Him."
"You worry about our Sire." Disappointed, Djoser walked toward the door to leave. "But how easily you've forgotten that He worries about us only when it's convenient for Him. You won't leave Him, even though. . . ." His eyes met his brother's. "He's left us without looking back on more than one occasion."
**
Running hard through a dark alley in LA, Connor relied more on his sense of smell than sight. Like a bloodhound he traced his way back to the motel where Daniel Holtz, the man he considered to be his father, was.
Getting closer to the motel, an awareness that all was not right hit him. Rounding the corner, he ran faster. The scent of Daniel Holtz was stronger, but there was another scent. A scent of blood. Approaching the motel he saw a dark figure lying on the ground, and he knew immediately that it was Holtz.
**
Sitting on top of the hotel lobby desk, Spike listened to the silence. His uncle had left, taking everyone with him, except one very mean, very strong minion. The vampire underling stood stoically, watching Spike closely. He had strict orders to keep the Heir Apparent in his sights at all times and not let him leave the lair.
"Don't suppose you feel like nipping over to the nearest pub, and. . . ?" Spike started to ask his bodyguard, but stopped when the other vampire said nothing, just crossed his arms across his muscular chest.
"Guess not." Spike sighed, swinging his legs to bang on the front desk pedestal. He liked the sound of the thumping. It was better than the silence.
Nervously he waited for Angel and Connor to return with a taciturn minion his only companion.
**
"Dad!" Connor ran to the body lying on the ground. "Dad!" Lifting Holtz' head, he stared down at the old and beaten face of the man he knew as father. "Dad! Wake up." Denying the obvious for a moment, he shook the body. "Dad, it's not time to sle. . . ." Breaking off, his eyes widened as he noticed the two puncture wounds on Holtz' neck.
Quickly looking around, Connor surveyed the area, looking for a clue to the perpetrator. His sharp senses picked up someone near by. Vampire heritage emerging, he jumped up with a growl and took off like a flash.
It took mere moments to catch up the running figure. Grabbing him by the shirt, Connor swung him into a tree.
"Hey!" The vampire hit the tree so hard, he saw stars. "Watch it, bub."
"You just fed, didn't you?" Hands around the vampire's neck, Connor pinned him against the tree. "DIDN'T YOU?"
"So what if I did?" Not realizing who Connor was, the vampire was foolishly belligerent. Putting up his hands, he tried to pull Connor's arms away but was shocked to find he was unable. "Who the devil are you?" Fear was slowly replacing his belligerence, as he continued to futilely tug at the hands that imprisoned him.
"Your master." Connor snarled out as he pulled the vampire away from the tree by the neck. "Now, who did you just feed from?"
"Well. . .it was. . . ." Stammering, the vampire stalled. Since the Ventrues' take-over of LA, a stricter code of conduct for vampires was in place. No feeding from humans. Inhaling Connor's scent, the vampire smelled someone who was both human and demon. A superior hybrid, an agent of Judelin, he erroneously concluded, looking for vampires who violated Ventrue law.
Sniffing the vampire's breath, Connor smelled the human blood. "You fed from a man!"
"He did at that." A tall figure emerged from the shadows. "He fed from your father. I saw him leaving the scene."
Both Connor and the vampire turned to look at the newcomer, a man who wore sunglasses in the dead of night.
"Who the hell are you?" Connor eyed the stranger suspiciously. He immediately knew the man was a vampire, but vampire or human, he trusted neither.
"A friend of your father's." Snow held up a folded piece of paper. "Your human father, and I have a letter from him to prove it."
"Listen. . .friend. . .sir." The captured vampire knew he was in serious trouble. "The man I. . .err. . .fed from. I had no idea he was. . . ."
"Oh he knew." Walking up to them, Snow continued his set up of the unfortunate vampire. "Angelus put him up to it."
The vampire stiffened at the name. Angelus was a name he knew well, but for the life of him, he could not figure out how Angelus was involved in this.
Connor felt the body he held become rigid. Misinterpreting the vampire's body language as an admission of guilt, he squeezed with his hands.
With his throat being crushed, the vampire could only gurgle out unintelligible sounds while flailing his arms. He only suffered for a few moments though, as Snow quickly buried a stake in him. It was too risky for the renegade vampire to let the other live.
As the body he held turned to dust, Connor lashed out at Snow. "Did I ask for your help? I wasn't ready for him die yet."
"He comes, you know. Angelus." Snow spoke in a calm voice, unperturbed by Connor's anger.
Snow's words startled Connor as he quickly looked around, half expecting to see the massive form of Angel walking toward him.
"So what if He comes?" Connor asked, still wary of Snow.
"Look at this." Snow handed Connor the letter from Holtz. A letter that the shrewd Holtz had drafted in case he didn't get a chance to talk with his Steven. Deep down he had known that his time was short. "You do recognize your human father's handwriting?"
Walking away from the tree into a clearing, Connor held the paper out in the light of the moon. It was indeed Holtz' writing.
Steven,
Although it pains me to admit it, I know now that a person cannot deny his blood, his heritage. Your fate lies with your vampire family. I have learned that it has been prophesized that you are to become the Messiah of your people, and I certainly cannot be a barrier to this great destiny of yours.
My only concern is that Angelus might not be so understanding. He has the power now and will not want to give it up. But don't let him stand in your way. Despite the fact that you are his biological son, he holds no loyalty toward his family when times get tough. History has already shown that.
Discover your true purpose, my son and become who it is you are meant to be. My only prayer is that I have prepared you well enough for whatever lies ahead. I trust that I have. Be brave.
Lovingly, your father.
"He gave me the letter to give to you." Snow lied. In reality he had stolen it out of Holtz' motel room.
"You're a vampire." Connor couldn't deny the evidence in his hand, but he still did not totally believe Snow. "My dad didn't like vampires. Why would he give you this letter?"
"I'm a vampire yes." Snow smiled slightly. "But I'm not just any old vampire, I'm your family. And I promised your human father that I would look after you, teach you our ways, and help you take your rightful place as High Master of the Tremere Clan."
**
"I'm guessing this can't be good." Nic stared down at the dead body of Daniel Holtz.
"It's worse." Kneeling down beside the corpse, Angel gently turned the head, so the puncture marks were clearly visible. "It was a vamp."
"Judelin has prohibited the killing of humans, so who would be this bold?" Nic asked, scanning the surrounding area. "And to pick Holtz of all people. That's an odd coincidence."
"I don't believe in coincidences." An expression of worry crossed Angel's face. A feeling of foreboding was welling up in his stomach. "Connor was here." He sniffed the air. "His scent is still strong, so he can't be far. I'll go find him, and you pay a visit to Judelin. And take him. . . ." He waved a hand toward Holtz. "With you."
"What?" Angel's command surprised Nic. "Why the hell do I want to go see him? And with a dead, human body when Judelin has decreed that mortals are off-limits? Are you trying to get me killed?"
"No." Angel spoke calmly. "But someone needs to go and quickly make an explanation to Judelin, or we'll be the first to be blamed for this death."
"We'll be blamed, or you'll be blamed?" Nic couldn't help but say disagreeably. He wasn't relishing the idea of having to see Judelin a second time in a twenty four hour period.
"Take the car." Standing up, Angel handed Nic the car keys. "I'll get Connor, and we'll meet back at Hyperion before sunrise. Unless. . . ." He added, noticing the sour look on his brother's face. "You would rather go back to the lair and have Damon go instead."
"Oh, and go on babysitting detail?" Despite not wanting to see the Ventrue High Master, Nic didn't want to be thought of as less competent than Damon. "I'd rather kiss Judelin's feet than have to watch over my three nephews, or should I say the three stooges of the vampire world."
Angel's mouth twitched as he held back a grin. Nic and his William could be annoying as hell, but there were times when one couldn't help but be amused by how they called a spade a spade. Turning to leave, he began to walk away but not before giving his brother a wave. "See you back at the lair."
**
"It's your time." Snow whispered seductively to Connor. "The vampire world has been waiting for you."
Walking alongside Snow, Connor held Holtz' letter tight in his hand. "I didn't grow up in this world. I was taken to Quor-toth, a hell dimension, when I was a baby, so I'm still learning the ways of this universe and my people." He explained. "But I do know that I'm not of age yet."
"I will act as your Regent until then." Snow interrupted. "Don't worry, Childe." He draped a friendly arm around Connor's shoulders. "I promised Holtz that I would take care of you. Together we will take revenge against Angelus for your dad's death and rule the Tremere Clan."
"And why would you care about me and my problems?" Connor stopped walking to stare thoughtfully at Snow. "And better yet, why do I need you?"
"Like I told you." Snow's smile was snakelike. "Not only did I make a promise to your human father, but I'm your family, Childe. I too am a Bloodline descendant of the Old Master. I am your blood uncle."
"My uncle?" Connor frowned in confusion. "Angelus introduced me to two uncles back at the hotel; he never mentioned another."
"I was never recognized by. . .my family." Snow hissed bitterly. "It's a long story, but now is not the time. Your Sire comes, and we. . . ." He led Connor into a grove of trees, where a group of minions awaited him. "Need to be ready for him."
****
Thanks to Tremeregirl for her help!
Part 23
Worried about Holtz' murder and intent on finding Connor, Angel was taken by surprise by Snow and his minions. He was only able to throw a few punches before they zapped him with tasers and had him down on the ground.
"Connor!" Lying on the concrete while being beaten by fists and various other objects, Angel saw his Childe standing a few feet away. "Connor, run! Go back to the lair and. . .ahh!" A blow to the face with brass knuckles interrupted his shout of warning to his son. Blood ran into his eyes as he looked into the face of Elder Snow.
"The Great Angelus." Snow sneered at him as he brought back his arm to strike Angel again. Rising up, he turned to look at Connor. "So what do you think of your noble Sire now?"
Walking up to a barely conscious Angel, Connor kicked him hard in the face. "That's how I feel about Him."
**
Pulling into the Hyperion's parking garage, Nic blew out a sigh of relief. He had gone to Judelin's lair and was still alive to tell about it. "My fucking nephews all better be here and behaving themselves." He mumbled to himself as he got out of the car and stomped his way into the hotel. "Because if I have to go chasing out after any of them tonight, I'm going to. . . ." Stopping his rant, he entered the lobby to find Spike and a minion, who had to have been a professional wrestler in his human life, the only occupants.
"Nic!" Seeing his uncle, Spike jumped down from the front desk. "And my Sire?" He looked hopefully behind Nic.
"He hasn't gotten here yet?" Nic threw himself into a chair. "Must still be chasing after Connor. Guess the kid's giving him the real run around. Angelus must be slowing down in his old age. Where the hell is everyone?" He asked looking around the hotel. "And why is he. . . ?" He nodded at the minion. "Standing around doing nothing?"
"I was ordered to protect the Heir Apparent." The minion stated. "And that's what I'm doing."
"Damon assigned you your own minion?" Nic gave Spike a humorous look. He was glad to hear that his nephews didn't behave any better for his older brother. "What did you do to warrant that?"
"Didn't do a thing." Spike scowled at his uncle. "Damon left him here for my protection and. . . ."
"Wait a minute." Nic interrupted. "Damon left him here? Why? Don't tell me that Damon went somewhere."
"Went to Africa." Spike balanced himself on the arm of the chair where Nic sat. "You see, he. . . ."
"Africa! Why the fuck did he go to. . .son-of-a-fucking-bitch." Jumping up, Nic headed for Angel's office. He needed a drink, and Angel had mentioned earlier that there was a bottle of Seagram Seven around.
"They all went." Spike followed Nic. "Except for me and," he pointed to the minion who now stood outside the office door, "Hulk Hogan there. Anyway, Damon took Djoser to Africa, so Djoser could face The Trials, and. . .what the bloody hell are you looking for?" He finally asked as Nic who continued to tear through Angel's desk.
"I know that stingy assed Angelus hides it here somewhere." Nic was muttering to himself. "Found it!" He exclaimed triumphantly as he picked up the Seagram Seven from a hidden compartment in Angel's desk. Uncapping the bottle, he took a big swig. Medicine for his nerves.
"Give me some." Spike held his hand for the whiskey. "Don't be hogging it all."
Handing the bottle to Spike, Nic wiped his mouth with his hand. "Ok, Damon took Djoser to Africa to face The Trials. What the hell for?"
"So Djoser could legally challenge Little Poof to be the High Poof's Successor or some such rot." Spike said between gulps of Seagram Seven.
"Oh for Christ's sake!" Nic fell back into Angel's desk chair. "We've got the Ventrues ready to take out our asses, and the two of them are worried about who's going to be the Crowned Prince around here. You know." He gave Spike a thoughtful look. "Is it just me, or do you think that this whole High Master, Successor shit is kind of outdated? We're in the twenty first century. Democracy is the thing now, right? We should be voting on who becomes our High Master and who becomes our Successor."
"Got no argument from me on that." Spike agreed, handing the bottle back to Nic.
The two sat quietly for a few minutes as they continued to pass the whiskey back and forth.
"Wonder if Angelus has his cell phone with him and if it's turned on." Nic finally broke the silence. "It might be wise of us to break the news to him about Damon and Djoser going to Africa while he's some distance away."
"Save us the trouble of having to buy more furniture." Spike agreed. "Phone's right there." He nodded at the telephone that sat on Angel's desk.
"So I'm the one who's going to make the call." Nic gave Spike a dirty look as Spike just grabbed the whiskey bottle again, not even bothering to answer.
**
Regaining consciousness, Angel's first perceptions were a raw, throbbing pain behind his right shoulder and the sound of a screw gun. Opening his eyes, he found himself imprisoned in a metal casket. Thick, steel cables were wrapped around his body, holding him motionless.
"Connor." Angel spoke his son's name softly, as Connor continued to tighten the screws on the metal cables. "Look at me. Why are you doing this?"
Not bothering to stop what he was doing, Connor's eyes met Angel's for just a moment. "I'm completing my destiny by getting rid of you and avenging my father. You had him murdered."
Angel couldn't help but jerk in surprise. How could Connor have linked him to Holtz' murder? "I had nothing to do with your. . .your foster father's murder. And as far as your destiny, you need me, your Sire, to fulfill. . . ." He broke off as another face came into his view. The face of Elder Snow.
"He doesn't need you, Angelus." Snow couldn't keep the glee out of his voice. It was so gratifying to see the Great Angelus in such a humbling position. "He has me now."
"Connor!" Angel began futilely struggling against his bonds. "Whatever he told you was lies. He's not your friend." Panic, anger, and guilt were all racing through Angel. Guilt because he had failed another Childe. "Someday you'll learn the truth about me, and you'll hate yourself. Don't. It's not your fault. I don't blame you. I love you! Never forget that."
"Don't listen to him." Snow whispered as he picked up the lid of the coffin. "He's the Prince of Lies."
Helping Snow with the lid, Connor could feel tears burning in his eyes. He hated his Father, so why did he have this terrible pain in his chest?
"Connor?" Angel continued to talk to his son. "Connor, never forget that I'm your Father and that I love you. Connor?" He pleaded for an answer as the lid of the coffin was lowered, closing him in even more. "Con. . . ."
"This is what your father would have wanted." Snow reassured Connor. "The man who was your true father."
**
"Ugh." Head resting on Angel's desk, Spike woke from a light, restless sleep. "Nic." He mumbled to his uncle, who was sleeping sitting up on the other side of the desk. "Wake the fuck up. It's morning, and my Sire's still not here."
"Oh, Christ." Nic opened one bleary eye.
"Come on!" Spike stumbled around the desk to shake his uncle. "He's not here, and. . . !"
"Jesus, kid." Opening both eyes, Nic found himself being violently shaken . "Angelus probably just got caught by daybreak. He's no doubt holed up somewhere, hopefully teaching your new brother a lesson in obedience."
"So why didn't he ring us?" Nightmarish thoughts and feelings were rising up in Spike, making him feel like he was suffocating.
"Because he probably forgot his cell phone. . . ."
"He's been very conscientious about taking his cell phone with him now." Spike interrupted as a claustrophobic sensation swept over him. Puzzled, he looked around wildly, not understanding what he was feeling. "And even if he didn't have it, he would have found a phone, and. . . ." Breaking off, he found himself rushing out of the office into the hotel lobby. He needed space.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Nic followed Spike out of Angel's office with a perplexed look on his face.
"I don't know." Spike began breathing hard. For some unknown reason, he felt like he needed air. "Something is wrong, really wrong. We've got to find my Sire!"
"Alright, alright." Nic raised his hands up, palms outward, an attempt to calm his nephew. "I'll. . .we'll. . . ." Rubbing his eyes, he tried to get his brain to work. Not easy after too much whiskey and just a few hours of sleep. "I suppose we could use the tunnels and make our way back to. . . ."
The entrance of an armed Connor through the front door and Snow and his minions through the back sewer entrance stopped any further planning. Instinctively stepping closer together, Nic and Spike said nothing as they backed away.
Smirking, Connor walked up to them. Holding up his right hand, he showed them his trophy, a square of flesh.
"Fucking hell!" Eyes widening, Spike swore as he recognized the tattoo on the piece of skin. "Fucking hell, you bloody bastard, I'll. . . !"
"William!" Grabbing Spike, Nic held him back as he watched Snow and his minions approach them.
"Angelus is dead." Snow stated matter-of-factly. "And. . . ."
"And I am the new High Master." Connor finished Snow's statement.
"Impossible." Nic had to use all his strength to hold Spike back. "You're not of age."
"I'll be acting as his Regent." Expression hidden by sunglasses, Snow smiled.
Finally calming slightly, Spike stopped struggling in his uncle's arms. "Ri-ight. Since when does a one-eyed minion get to act as regent for the underage High Master? Not in this reality."
Growling softly, Snow took another step closer. Spike's insult had pricked his composure. "Disrespectful Childe. I'll have you know that I'm your better, boy."
"Better?" Pulling himself away from Nic, Spike had gained some semblance of control, even though he still gave Connor a hateful glare. "I'm from the Bloodline, mate, and you. . .you're just a. . . ."
"Blood-Childe." Nic interrupted with a whisper. Memories of Alex's warning along with old rumors flashed in his brain. The pieces of the puzzle fell together. "From the Old Master."
"Never recognized because the Old Fool didn't want to upset his Consort at the time because she had just given him a new Pure Blood son." Snow snarled out bitterly. "And He got everything, and I got nothing. . .until now."
"What the bloody hell is he talking about?" Spike turned to Nic, who had wrapped his arms around him again.
"Murdering the High Master. . . ." Nic gave Connor a long, hard look. "One's Sire is a serious crime."
"He deserved it!" Connor yelled. "He killed my father. He. . . ."
"Angelus was your Father, twit!" Spike spat out at Connor. "Don't know what kind of High Master you're going to be when you don't know your arse from a hole in the ground."
"Shut up!" Connor raised his arm in threatening manner at Spike. "As your Master, I command you to shut up."
"Fuck you!" Spike twisted his body, trying to pull away from Nic. "The day I obey a command from you is the day hell freezes over. . .bloody plonker."
Now totally enraged with Spike, Connor turned to Snow's minions. "Kill him."
"He's your brother and a Blood-Childe of Angelus." Nic quickly protested. "You just can't kill him."
Not knowing how to counter Nic, Connor looked at Snow for guidance.
"You have a point." Snow said, pretending to consider Nic's argument. "But I believe. . . ." He now addressed Connor. "That your brother is a serious threat to you and your position, so I agree, he should be eliminated."
"Over my undead body." Nic growled as he shoved Spike behind him.
"Oh, that can be arranged." Snow motioned his minions toward the two. "You're no use to us anyway."
Faces shifting, Spike and Nic raised their fists. They would go down fighting. Damon's minion who had been standing off to the side, unnoticed, loyally threw them two swords. His action distracted Connor and Snow for just a split second.
"Get him!" Snow ordered his minions, pointing at the muscular vampire.
Grabbing up the swords, Nic went for Snow, while an enraged Spike attacked Connor. "I may be going down, but you, little brother, are going down with me."
Bending backward, Connor evaded Spike's sword thrusts. "You don't scare me, brother." He sneered.
Spike lunged again, but Connor ducked sideways, and then hurtled himself at Spike. The two fell to the floor, fighting for control of the sword.
"Why doesn't this surprise me?" A voice entering the Hyperion interrupted the brawl. "Tremerens fighting each other." Judelin stepped down into the hotel lobby, his eyes staring at Connor and Spike. "Brother against brother."
The arrival of the Ventrue Master halted the violence. "Where's Angelus?" He asked, eyeing the occupants of the room contemptuously.
"He's dead." Standing up, Connor fearlessly faced Judelin. "And now I claim the position of High Master."
"He murdered my Sire." Spike pointed an accusing finger first at Connor and then at Snow. "They need to be punished."
"Angelus is dead?" Judelin couldn't keep the shock out of his voice. He and Angelus had been enemies for more than two hundred years, but the old Ventrue Master found it hard to accept that one he had hated, feared, yet admired was dust.
Connor didn't bother to answer; he just threw the square of flesh to Judelin.
"They committed a crime, right?" Eyes watering at the sight of Angel's skin, Spike looked at the Ventrue Master hopefully. "So twink here. . . ." He gave Connor a shove in the back. "Can't be High Master?"
Staring at the square of flesh in his hand, Judelin was silent. After a few long moments of consideration, he spoke softly. "Angelus is dead, then by our law, his Pure Blood son. . . ." He looked up at Connor. "Will succeed him."
"That's fucked!" Spike spat out. "I'm also Angelus' son. What if I were to challenge. . . ?"
"Don't question it, boy. You're not a Pure Blood." Judelin now spoke harshly. Five minutes with the Tremerens and he was already tired of them. "Accept your position."
"My position?" Tears of rage and sorrow were welling in Spike's eyes, as he angrily lashed out. "My position as dust because they. . . ." He pointed again at Connor and Snow. "Want to kill me."
"He threatens our new High Master." Snow quickly intervened. "And as you know. . . ." He reminded Judelin. "This new Pure Blood Childe has been prophesized to be the savior of our people."
"I have heard the prophecy." Judelin said abruptly. It was that prophecy which had the old and powerful vampire slightly fearful of Connor. "And you. . . .?" He asked Connor. "You ally yourself with. . .him?" He glared at Snow. "A traitor to our kind."
"Yes." Connor didn't hesitate in answering.
"I claim the right to act as his Regent, until he becomes of age." Snow continued. "As the Childe's eldest uncle."
"Is that so?" Judelin narrowed his eyes at Snow. He was aware of who Snow really was. "And Damon and Djoser, where are they?" .
"They went to Germany." Nic spoke up quickly. "The rest of us were to join them."
"Then I suggest the two of you. . . ." Judelin looked first at Spike and then at Nic. "Join them. I will grant you forty eight hours to leave LA." His mesmerizing eyes then turned to Connor and Snow. "They are under my protection for that time, so you will allow their departure ." Turning to go, he made one last order. "After that, I want the new Tremeren High Master and his Regent to present themselves to me."
****
Author's Notes: I had to really twist canon timeline to fit my au timeline. Warning! Spoilers for ATS S4 and BTVS S7.
Part 24
Pulling out of the Hyperion's garage with a screech, Nic looked over at Spike with worry. Tears were running down his nephew's face while Angel's patch of skin was held tightly in his hands. "Our best bet is to take the first flight we can to London. We're not too far behind Damon and Djoser, so maybe we can still catch them there." He tried to smile reassuringly. "If Djoser, no when Djoser defeats the Trials we can return here and overthrow Connor and Snow."
"No." Spike whispered. "We can't leave LA."
Even though he heaved a loud sigh, Nic spoke quietly and with patience. "William, you heard the Ventrue Master. We have forty eight hours to leave. To stay would be suicide. But like I said." He attempted to inject a tone of optimism in his voice. "Defeating the Trials will legitimize Djoser, and when we oust Connor, Judelin will have no choice but to recognize Djoser as the Tremerens' lawful High Master."
"He's not dead." Still whispering, Spike acted like he hadn't heard anything Nic had said. "He's not dead. We have to find him."
"Not dead?" Nic frowned in puzzlement. "What the hell are you. . .oh fuck!" He suddenly realized who Spike was talking about.
"He's trapped somewhere, and we. . .we've got to find him!" Hysteria was evident in Spike's tone as he could feel Angel's horror through the blood bond that bound them.
Stepping hard on the brake, Nic brought the car to an abrupt halt. "Christ, you can feel him can't you?" He slammed his hands on the steering wheel, thinking hard. "Alright, alright, but we can't fucking stay here with both the Ventrues and now our own people against us. Sunnydale." The solution just popped in his brain. "We'll go to Sunnydale."
"Fuck Sunnyhell." Unable to think rationally, Spike just wanted to start searching for Angel. "He's somewhere here in LA, not Sunnyhell. Turn around so we can start. . . ."
"Start what?" Nic gave Spike a stop-being-such-a stup look. "Search a city of more than four thousand square miles, while we fight Connor and his minions and run from the Ventrues? I believe the Slayer made a promise to Djoser that she would help and give sanctuary to any of us if the occasion arose. We'll stay in Sunnydale under the protection of the Slayer, and from there we'll conduct the search."
"How the bloody hell do we search for my Sire here in LA from Sunnydale?" Unconvinced, Spike's hand started to move to the car door. He'd jump out of the car if he had to, but Nic caught the movement.
"Don't even fucking think about it." He snarled as he grabbed Spike and pulled him away from the car's handle. "We get other people to do the searching. . .idiot. That way we can keep our asses hidden."
"You still have contacts here in LA?" Arguing made Spike forget his misery for the moment.
"Of course." Nic lied as he hit the gas pedal. "Human contacts." He said softly to himself.
**
His vampiric sense told him that it was daytime. He hadn't even spent twenty four hours in his watery prison, so there weren't any great hunger pains yet, but Angel could smell his own desperation and fear. Trying to keep any kind of hope, he pictured his brother Damon torturing the information of his whereabouts out of Snow.
"They'll find me. They'll find me." He repeated over and over to himself. "They won't be long. A couple of days, and. . . ." He smiled grimly. "I'll be out of here, and then I'm going to do something I should have done sooner." His hands, immobilized at his sides, itched as they longed to have Connor in them. "That boy will get a beating he'll never forget."
**
Sunnydale CA
Arriving back from the airport after dropping off Giles and Willow, Buffy sat down on the couch with a sigh. Looking around at Xander, Anya, and Dawn, she asked the question that everyone was thinking. "Will she be alright?"
"Well, if she's still evil, at least she'll now be in England." Anya said with her usual candor.
"An!" Xander raised his voice in protest.
"What?" As usual Anya never quite understood why everyone was offended when she just spoke the truth. "It's only fair, you know. We stopped Willow from destroying the world, so if she tries it again, let someone else stop her. England's got the Watcher's Council with all those Watchers; let them do something for a change."
Buffy couldn't help but smile slightly at Anya. "Maybe you're right because I'm sure tired of saving the world."
"Willow will be okay." Dawn chimed in with confidence. She was still on a high from battling the earth monsters the other day. "She won't turn evil again. Giles will see to that."
"Let's hope so." Buffy looked at her younger sister with envy. Her sister was still young and positive while she felt old beyond her years. "Because I could go for some nice quiet time with just your run-of-the-mill vamps. No goddesses, or super beings," she stopped herself from saying, or high powered witches, "trying to end the world."
"I second the motion for peace and quiet." Xander raised his hand. "Or we'll never get the new high school finished."
"Ugh." Dawn expressed her feeling for the new high school in one word.
"Well that's settled." Buffy said brightly. "Peace and quiet it is." A pounding on the door stopped any further discussion. "That better be the pizza guy." She muttered as she got up to answer the front door.
"Hey, Slayer." Nic greeted her as he held tight to a now babbling Spike. "I need your assistance, so you better have remembered the promise you made to Djoser about giving us help and sanctuary."
Her heart dropping to her feet, Buffy could only ask. "You need help finding peace and quiet. . .right?"
**
Los Angeles, CA., January 2002, Two months later
Studying a map of the waters around southern California, Wesley put his finger on one of the grids. "Today, I think I'll try this one."
Sighing, he looked over at his closet where metal bars had been installed converting it into a small prison cell. A minion of Snow who he had tortured the whereabouts of Angel had long turned to dust. For a split second he wished the vampire was back. At least then there would be someone to talk to.
Throwing some tools in a duffle bag, he readied himself to continue his search. A search that had begun two months ago with a call from Sunnydale. A search for the missing Angel.
**
Sunnydale, CA., January 2002
Down in Buffy's basement, Nic was lying on a narrow cot, pillow over his head trying to shut out the pounding and thumping that came from the upstairs. Squinting his eyes at his wrist watch, he saw it was the ungodly hour of 7:30 in the morning.
"Jesus fucking Christ! Don't these people ever sleep?" He finally lifted his head to ask Spike, who was sitting up on his cot, chains shackling him to the basement wall.
"Getting Bit off to school, I suspect." Spike got up from the cot. "Unlock these bloody things." He yanked at his restraints.
"Forget it!" Nic buried his head in his pillow again. "I'm not going to be wrestling around with you if you have one of your little spells."
"Don't have them that much anymore." Spike sighed, staring up at the ceiling. The blood bond with Angel had weakened with time, so his crazy spells had become sporadic. "I want to go upstairs; Willow makes a mean breakfast."
"Vampires do not eat human breakfast, and they don't get up at this indecent hour." Nic said with emphasis. "Christ, hanging out with the Slayer and company has got you acting even more human. Angelus is not going to be happy about that."
"Pfft." Spike made a sound of disbelief, trying to keep his tone flippant. It helped the pain he felt whenever he thought of his missing Sire. "Like He can point any fingers. He's shagged a Slayer, helped a couple of Watchers, and kept human pets. . .now come on, undo these." He rattled his manacles.
"Alright, but you better not bother me until sundown." Nic grumbled as he groped under his cot for the key to Spike's chains. "And since you're going to be up, you can give Wesley a call. See if he knows anything more."
"If he knew something, he'd give us a ring." Spike pointed out the obvious as he shook off his chains.
"Just fucking do it." Nic covered his head with his pillow. "And tell those humans upstairs that they should take the fucking lead out of their feet."
**
At the beginning Angel had drifted in and out of consciousness, but now as time had past, he was drifting in and out of reality. Madness was taking over him. Hunger, desperation, fear, and the inability to move were wearing at the powerful vampire. His thinking was becoming more and more muddled as starvation began to erode his brain function.
**
"Hey." Entering the kitchen, Spike was greeted by Buffy, who was packing lunches for her and Dawn. "Looking for breakfast?" It was now no surprise anymore when Spike came to eat with them.
"Yeah, I've got a taste for some of Red's pancakes." Spike looked around for Willow, but besides Buffy, there were only Xander and Dawn in the kitchen.
"She's out running errands." Dawn licked her finger as she watched the pancake she was making bubble in the frying pan. "But I'm making pancakes, want me to make you one?"
"Err." Spike stalled a moment as he went and investigated Dawn's pancakes. He had tried her cooking before, and they hadn't been pleasant experiences. "What are those chunks?" He asked pointing to brown and yellow lumps which were sizzling along with the pancake batter.
"Peanut butter and banana." Dawn flipped the pancake onto its other side.
"I'll pass." Spike said with disappointment as he rubbed his stomach. "Isn't it a little early for chores? Red could have made breakfast first before. . . ."
"She's out getting blood from the butcher for you and Nic." Buffy interrupted.
"Oh." The wind was taken out of Spike's sails; there were no complaints he could make about Willow getting blood for them. "Right then. . .so is this all the cereal we have?" He held up a box of cocoa puffs. "Chocolate and blood don't taste good together, you know."
"Thank you for that piece of information." Xander said as he finished up his bowl of cocoa puffs. "And by the way, you have two legs and two arms. Make your own breakfast or go out and buy the cereal you want. You think we're all here to wait on you?"
Biting back an expletive retort, Spike counted to ten. He and Nic were 'guests' of the Slayer, and to remain her guests, they needed to play nice with her and her friends.
"So." Dawn plopped her pancake on a plate as she tactfully changed the subject. "Any news from LA?"
"Wesley's still searching, but the ocean's a big place, and he's only one man." Sitting down on a kitchen stool, Spike folded his hands on top of the counter. He refused to look any of the humans in the eye. His Sire, buried in the ocean, and here he sat, not doing a damn thing about it.
"I'm sorry Spike." Buffy was sincere in her sympathy. "I wish we could find someone to help Wesley, but Cordelia's missing, and she was our only other contact in LA."
"Wesley will find him. . .sooner or later." Spike squeezed his hands tighter together. "It's just that He's. . .suffering." His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Ah yeah, we kind of got the picture." Xander waved his spoon in Spike's direction. "When you have one of your crazy spells, you sort of give us a visual, complete with dialogue, about what Angel's going through."
"But he'll be alright after he's rescued?" Dawn had finished her pancake and was setting her dirty dishes in the sink. "He'll just need some blood and rest and then he'll be fine, cause he's a vampire and vampires can't die of starvation, right?"
"He'll be bloody peachy, pet." Spike said with false cheerfulness. He wasn't about to mention the fact that although starvation couldn't kill a vampire, it could strongly affect them mentally and emotionally.
"Wesley will find him." Buffy said trying to keep a confident spirit. She too hated to think about Angel suffering. "With any luck, it will be soon and then you. . . ." She looked at Spike. "Can go back to LA, and we can get back to normal around here."
Further discussion was halted as the front door opened with a bang, and Willow's voice shouted out to them."Buffy. Xander."
Grabbing the lunch bags, Buffy started for the living room, calling back. "We're here, Will. What's. . . ?" She broke off in surprise at the sight of Willow holding a guilty looking Andrew by the back of the collar.
"Look who I found at the butcher shop. . .buying mass amounts of blood." Willow gave Andrew a slight shove forward.
"So much for things getting back to normal around here." Xander said with a sigh, rolling his eyes up to the heavens.
**
"It was definitely solid and. . . ." Wesley mumbled to himself as he made his way wearily to his apartment. "Metallic. Could it be?" Eyes closed, he whispered the last question as he reached his apartment door. Inserting a key into the lock, he gave the door a push with his shoulder.
"Hey, big boy." He was greeted by Lilah, who had found a seat on his desk. "Keeping late hours, aren't you Wes?" She glanced meaningfully at the tools in Wesley's hands. "But I guess after working so long with Angel, you're finding some occupational habits hard to break."
"Some more than others." Wesley answered noncommittally.
"Speaking of Angel." Lilah slid off the desk to stand in front of Wesley. "Have you tried talking to him lately? Who knows, maybe by now he's forgotten and forgiven."
Wesley gave a short laugh, grabbing Lilah by the wrists as her hands had moved to his chest. He knew what she was fishing for. "I have no idea where Angel is or what happened to him. . .and I really don't care."
"Wow." Lilah pulled her wrists out of Wesley's grip and took a step backward. "That was cold. . .but come on, Wes. Doesn't it bother you just a little bit that Angel's disappeared?"
"Not at all." Wesley lied convincingly. "That part of my life is dead. Angel and his family don't concern me now."
Staring at Wesley intensely, Lilah tried to read him but failed. "No, I guess they don't." Leaning in she gave him a passionate kiss goodbye. "Bye for now, lover."
Watching her leave, Wesley let out a big breath while he took notice of the time. Too early to ring Nic. Heading for the kitchen, he decided that a little sustenance and a shower wouldn't hurt. He had barely poured himself a cup of tea, when his front door was kicked in.
"Battle plan changed, Lilah?" He asked, expecting the lawyer who was both enemy and lover to have returned with reinforcements.
"Invite me in mortal." But instead of Lilah, the Ventrue High Master stood outside his door. Two of his human servants stepped in quickly, their guns trained on him.
"I don't have a choice, do I?" Wesley stalled a moment as he measured the distance to a kitchen drawer where he kept a 9mm berretta.
"Do anything foolish, and they. . .," Judelin gestured toward his humans, "will shoot you down in a heartbeat, and I will have my first taste of living human blood in. . . ."
"Come in." Wesley cut the vampire off rudely.
"Thank you." Judelin stepped through the door gracefully. "I've heard rumors and gossip that you made a trip to Sunnydale last December to meet with two vampires, and that these same two vampires are now making their home there."
"Spike and Nic are there under the Slayer's protection." Wesley said quickly, emphasizing the words Slayer's protection.
"Why are they still here in California?" Judelin asked, his amazing eyes staring holes through Wesley. "I had ordered them to leave this area."
"They had nowhere else to go, and the Slayer. . . ." Wesley had the horrible feeling that the Ventrue Master could read his mind. "The Slayer had an understanding with. . .with Angel that she would give sanctuary to him or any of his family whenever it would be needed." He could feel himself breaking out in a nervous sweat while desperately trying to look calm and emotionless. 'Please God.' He offered up a prayer. 'Don't let the Ventrue know about Angel.'
Like Lilah before, Judelin studied Wesley intently for a few long moments. "Give them this message from me. If I catch either one of them outside of Sunnydale and the sanctuary of the Slayer, then I will claim them as mine."
And with a swish of his long coat, the Ventrue Master was gone.
****