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How to Treat Your
Lover
by Tami
Chapter 24
Chapter 24-B: Step 2 – Understanding (Part
7)
Los Angeles, Hyperion Hotel
Angel and Cordelia were leaning against the desk, looking at video footage of Darla’s trashed apartment.
“What happened? Did someone break in?” Cordelia asked aloud as she looked over Angel’s shoulder.
Gunn was sitting on the sofa in the lobby, eating a sandwich when he answered with his mouth full. “Well, us.”
“You guys did this? That was real mature!” Cordelia said accusingly.
“No!” Wesley corrected her. “This is the way we found it. There was no evidence of a forced entry.”
“Well, not before we got there anyway,” Gunn amended around a bite of his sandwich.
“It appears she did this herself,” Wesley surmised.
Angel looked awestruck at the tiny video monitor. “She smashed all the mirrors.”
“Why?” Cordelia asked, confused.
Angel looked up at his team. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Angel, I don’t think anything is obvious,” Wesley said.
“The weight of her soul, she’s feeling it,” Angel said adamantly.
Wesley shook his head doubtfully. “We don’t know that for certain.”
“It makes sense,” Angel growled. “She was a vampire, now she has a soul.”
Cordelia looked at Angel curiously. “That makes sense? So why don’t you go around smashing mirrors?”
“Because I don’t have to look at myself in them,” Angel replied just as the phone rang. Cordelia went to answer it as he went on, “Look, if she’s in trouble we have to find her.”
“Angel . . .” Wesley said, placating his boss.
“She needs help,” Angel stressed.
“That might very well be,” Wesley concurred. “It might also be what somebody would like you to think.”
On the other side of the room, Cordelia put her hand over the receiver and called out, “Angel . . .”
“Cordy, just take a message,” Angel said absentmindedly and continued his conversation with Wesley, “So, you think this is a setup.”
“We mustn’t rule it out,” Wesley replied.
“Angel!” Cordelia yelled louder.
Angel turned and glared at her. “Cordy, please, I’m talking.”
With a smirk, Cordelia went back to the call and said aloud, “Hi Darla. He can’t talk right now. He’ll call you back once he’s found it--” By that time, Angel rushed over to Cordelia and reached for the phone just as she said, “Yeah, bye-bye.”
Angel grabbed the phone just as Cordelia was about to hang it up, “Darla?”
“My boy, my darling boy,” Darla breathed on the other end.
“Where are you?” he asked concerned.
“I have question. Where was I?” she countered. “I don't remember anything. It’s a great big nothing. Could it be there is no hell?”
“There is a hell,” Angel assured her. “There’s a few of them. I’ve been to one.”
“I told him no one could understand, but I was wrong wasn’t I?” she said despondently. “My boy knows.”
Angel closed his eyes when she called him her boy. She may be human now, but if his relationship with Spike was anything to go by, it was that the soul never let you forget. He was still as much hers as Spike was his. His demon would never let him forget that. She was the one who made him. He may have created Spike, shaped him and now mated with him. And, as much as he would love to deny that this version of Darla was different, Darla was much a part of him as he was of Spike and Drusilla. She was family and still had Aurelian blood in her veins.
“Yeah, I know,” he said softly.
“You said you’d give me everything. Do you remember that?” Darla breathed, her voice playing havoc on his demon. “I believed it then. I still do.”
“I'll do whatever I can,” he answered solemnly.
“It’s been four centuries since I’ve had to be afraid of anything, and now I’m sick with it,” Darla said piteously.
“I know,” he concurred.
“Angel . . .” she breathed his name like a prayer.
Angel’s enhanced hearing picked up the door opening on her end and Lindsey’s voice asking, “Darla. What are you doing?”
“Help me!” Darla pleaded quietly so that only Angel could hear her.
Angel was tormented by her plea. He felt helpless as he listened to the commotion on the other end of the line. He could hear her erratic breathing over the line and then Lindsey’s wary voice saying, “Just put down the phone.”
He prayed she didn’t listen, that the stubborn woman she once was wouldn’t concede.
“Darla,” Angel inquired softly.
“Hang up the phone,” he heard Lindsey say and then Darla’s, “It’s okay.”
Angel gripped the receiver tighter. “Darla? Darla!” He listened helplessly to the whole thing.
“It’s okay, all right?” Lindsey assured her. “Just put the phone down.”
“Mr. McDonald is everything okay in there?” an unknown voice asked.
“Yes, we’re fine,” Lindsey replied.
“Mr. Manners said that you might need some help with her,” the unidentified voice said.
“No, leave,” Lindsey ordered.
“I have to go to him, Lindsey,” Darla said insistently.
“Don’t say that,” Lindsey said. “Don’t say it.”
Angel could not only hear the whole conversation over the phone, he could also hear Darla’s heart beating faster. He strained to hear every little thump-thump. He understood that she was scared, stuck in a human body with a human soul after nearly 400 years. He knew what it was like to feel its burden weighing down on him. He would have never wished its torment on anyone. To be able to remember every torture you inflicted was unbearable in the beginning.
“He’s the only one. He can help me,” Darla was saying.
“No. I can help you too,” Lindsey countered.
“No. No you can’t. You don’t have it in you. I’m sorry,” Darla said sorrowfully.
“Why don’t we all take a walk down to Mr. Manners’ office,” the unidentified voice suggested diplomatically.
“I can handle this, all right? Go!” Lindsey ordered again.
“She’s not leaving the building,” the person stated.
“I said go!” Lindsey shouted just as Darla hit him with the receiver.
“Darla,” Angel called out. He heard the struggle and then a gunshot. “Darla!”
He slammed the phone down and went into the lobby to get his coat. Angel didn’t know what the hell Lindsey McDonald was up to, but he sure as hell was going to find out and then, he was going to torture him very slowly. He doubted his soul would care about that since Lindsey had apparently sold his soul already for that shiny, new fifth floor office.
“You want me to come with you?” Gunn asked when he saw Angel.
“No. This is something I have to do on my own,” Angel said as Cordelia handed over his car keys without question. He looked gratefully at her for her silence. “Thanks.”
“Angel . . .” Wesley said, disapprovingly.
“I know, Wesley.” Angel cut him off before he could start. “I could be walking into a trap. I get that.”
“I’m not convinced you do,” Wesley said doubtfully.
“Look, she asked for my help. I can’t turn my back,” Angel said angrily as he walked to the door.
“No, you shouldn’t. Not for one moment,” he agreed. “You know better than anyone what she was.”
“What we were,” Angel corrected. “I also know what she’s going through, and unlike me, maybe she won’t have to go through it alone.”
“You’re not alone,” Cordelia said with a concerned expression.
Angel just looked at her with hurt.
Wesley failed to notice the wounded expression as he continued to make his argument. “You may be right. She may be experiencing all of this exactly as you did. But Angel, you yourself wandered for a hundred years without ever seeking redemption.”
“That’s right. I sought her,” Angel growled and stalked out of the hotel.
**************************
Sunnydale, Restfield Cemetery
Spike had been out prowling the town the minute the sun went down. He spent all day trapped in the mansion like a caged animal. He didn’t know how humans could stand the dull hours. If he was with someone in the mansion, Drusilla or Angel, he’d have something constructive to do. As it was, he was lonely, bored and restless.
He tried to slip into Angel’s mind earlier to see what he was up to, but as usual of late, all he saw was the darkness that went with his Sire’s mood. He felt something akin to worry for him and anger toward that law firm that was currently driving Angel nuts, but nothing else. Even Angelus was silent for the moment, which was a surprise. The demon was normally full of arrogance inside Angel.
Spike had gone back to the bar earlier and discovered Riley Finn there again. The commando was talking with another vampire trull when he should have been at the hospital with Buffy.
He neared the graveyard where he heard the sound of fighting. Spike grinned and ran toward it. Finally, there was something to break the monotony and take his mind off Angel for a moment.
In the graveyard, Giles had a dark haired female vampire in a chokehold from behind while Willow was trying to attack it from the front. The vampire shoved Willow away and twisted out of Giles’ grip.
Another female vampire, this one blonde, threw Xander to the ground as the first one threw Giles over her shoulder. The blonde vampire grabbed Xander's shirt and pulled him upright.
Willow got to her feet, holding a stake. She rushed at the brunette vampire, but the vampire grabbed her, lifted her over her head and threw her to the ground again.
Xander rushed the blonde vampire from behind. She grabbed him in a headlock and punched him in the face.
Giles rushed the brunette vampire and tried to lift her over his shoulder but she punched him in the back and then kneed him in the chest.
The blonde vampire still had Xander in a headlock, punching him.
Spike went over to a tomb, leaned against the side of it and lit a cigarette as he watched the fighting between the Scoobies and the two vampires. This was definitely better than the Sylvester Stallone marathon on Showtime. He thought about lending a hand, but then he wasn’t here to protect Buffy’s merry band of do-gooders.
Back in the fighting, Giles reeled to his feet, disoriented, the brunette vampire punched him in the face, which from Spike’s standpoint looked comical, and he chuckled.
“A little help would be nice, Spike,” Giles called out as he fought the vampire.
“You’re doing just fine, Watcher. Just be sure to duck a lot. Female vampires tend to aim for the head a lot. I think it’s a throwback from their human life. They see a man and all that anger at their last boyfriend dumping them just comes out,” Spike chuckled as he took and a drag and blew out a haze of smoke.
Just then, Xander broke free of the blonde vampire and she punched him in the face with her hands clasped together.
“See, like that!” Spike pointed out. “You have to duck that sort of thing, whelp.”
Willow got to her feet again as the two female vampires were fighting Giles and Xander. She picked up her stake and ran forward. The brunette vampire threw Giles over her shoulder and as she straightened up, Willow ran up behind her and staked her. Giles took the opportunity to grab for his own stake.
The blonde vampire shoved Xander to the ground and tried to get on top of him, but he rolled up, planted his feet on her stomach and shoved her backward. He stood up and lunged at her, but she deflected him and threw him against the crypt next to Spike. Xander staggered to his feet and glared at Spike.
“Why are you just standing there? Help!” Xander said angrily.
By way of ‘helping’, Spike said, “Duck,” just before the vampire put her hand on Xander’s neck and shoved him back against the crypt. Giles lunged forward, shoved the vampire out of the way and raised his stake as if to stab Xander.
Xander squeaked when he blinked and saw Giles aiming at him. “Human chest! Human chest!”
Giles stopped just short of staking Xander. “Right. Sorry!”
“You guys are like watching the Stooges bumbling around,” Spike commented dryly.
The blonde vamp got up and shoved Willow away as she approached. Willow fell to the ground again. The vampire went after Giles and Xander who were still standing by the crypt and shoved them up against it with one hand on each of their chests. They stared at her in alarm. Willow ran up behind the vampire and staked her.
“Good job, Red. I knew you could do it,” Spike smirked.
Giles and Xander glared at Spike as they gasped for air and Willow began to grin.
“My God, what a rough night,” Giles said.
Willow giggled and grabbed Xander. “I just did two of ’em! Yay on me!”
Xander grinned at her and frowned when Spike spoke up. “It was rather entertaining watching you three flail around, better than anything on the telly.”
“That was pretty cool,” Willow said, “except the part where I was all terrified and . . . and now my knees are all dizzy.”
Giles stopped walking as he spotted an object on the ground and picked it up. It turned out to be his glasses.
“Not so much a big success night for me,” Xander said as they resumed walking while Giles cleaned his glasses with his shirt. Xander continued on, “But, I think I should get points just for showing up . . . unlike some Riley Finn who shall remain unnamed.”
The group continued to talk amongst themselves as they walked away from Spike. The blonde vampire shrugged and walked in the opposite direction. God, he needed a decent brawl.
**************************
Sunnydale Memorial Hospital
Dr. Kriegel checked on Joyce’s paperwork as she dressed and joined him in the hallway. He turned to face her and said, “Well, I guess we’re all set then.” He handed Buffy a piece of paper with instructions and three pill bottles. “You’ve got my home phone number, pager number, and here, these are the medications I talked to you about: the sedative, painkillers and so forth.
“Right, no problem,” Buffy replied.
“Now, if this is going to be too much for you, we can make your mom perfectly comfortable here,” Dr. Kriegel said to see if she was having second thoughts on the enormous task ahead of her.
“No. No, no, I-I got this,” Buffy said. “We really, really appreciate --”
Buffy was cut off from saying anything more when Joyce commented, “You look just like your father when he cries.”
Buffy smiled apologetically to the doctor. “I-I told you she’s been --”
“I know,” Dr. Kriegel said in understanding. Then, he addressed Joyce, “Joyce?” When she continued to stare dazedly at Buffy, he called her name again until she looked at him. “We’re all done here. Why don’t you take your girls home now?”
“Yes. Yes, thank you. Thank you for all your help, doctor,” she said amicably.
Dr. Kriegel nodded. “I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
When he walked off, Joyce made an out-of-character comment. “Oh, let’s get the hell out of here.”
**************************
Los Angeles, Wolfram & Hart Parking Garage
As Lindsey walked to his car, he took out his cell phone and dialed a number. He stood beside his car, listening to the phone ring, waiting for an answer when Angel surprised him from behind by wrapping a cable around his neck.
“Where is she?” Angel growled.
“I was . . .” Lindsey choked as he held up the phone to show Angel what he was doing.
Angel tightened the makeshift noose, pulling up so that Lindsey’s feet barely touched the ground. He was sick and tired of these games and for all he knew, this little weasel killed Darla before she had a chance at a new life.
“No, you get just enough breath to tell me where she is,” Angel stated flatly. “My advice? Don't waste it.”
Just then, Cordelia’s voice came over the phone that Lindsey held up. “Angel Investigations, we help the helpless.” Angel stared at the phone and Cordelia chirped, “How can we help you?” He eased up on his grip and allowed Lindsey to drop back to his feet. “Hello? Hello?”
Lindsey closed the phone and said indignantly, “I was trying to call you. They’re going to kill her. You got to stop it. Hey, she needs you. Please.”
Angel pulled up on the noose again. “You’re a liar. Why should I believe you?”
“It’s true!” Lindsey yelled defensively.
Angel eased up on the noose again. “Where?”
“In an abandoned bank on Figaro and Ninth,” Lindsey replied in a ragged voice. “Wolfram and Hart own the property. I’m pretty sure that’s where they’re going to take her.”
Angel yanked up on the noose again. “You think you’re pretty sure?”
“I’m not exactly in the loop on this!” Lindsey replied angrily. Angel eased up again and Lindsey went on to explain, “All right, that’s where they do this sort of stuff. It’ll be underground where the vaults used to be.”
Angel pulled up again, forcing Lindsey back to the tip of his toes. “If this is a trick, just know that I’ll be coming back for you.” Angel let go of the cable and Lindsey dropped against the trunk of his car. “Hell, I just might be coming back for you anyway,” Angel said derisively before he walked away, leaving Lindsey to pick himself up.
**************************
Summers’ Residence
After Spike was finished mocking the Scoobies, he prowled through Sunnydale in search of that aforementioned brawl. He was cutting through the park when he felt a brush against his mind.
What are you doing? Spike asked.
Watching Angel self-destruct, Angelus replied. You?
Why? What’s going on? Spike asked.
He’s currently strangling Lindsey, Angelus said.
Why’s he strangling the McDonald bloke? Spike asked.
Trying to find out where they took Darla. It’s been havoc down here. Who am I to stand in the way? There’s only so much you can do with a protégé, Angelus said.
All the fun happens when I’m gone. I’m stuck up here babysitting the Scoobies and a Slayer and watching her boy toy hit up vampire trulls and he’s down there having a grand ol’ time, Spike complained.
It’s not like that, Spike. She called him from Lindsey’s office and asked for help. A fight broke out on her end and then he heard gunshots. He’s been on this mission to save her ever since, Angelus explained.
Uh-huh, he left me up here to baby-sit his Slayer while he’s chasing Darla’s ass, Spike grumbled.
Angelus chuckled. You know, you’re cute when you’re jealous.
I am not jealous, Spike objected.
Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you as well as I do, baby boy, Angelus said.
Spike moaned softly at the private endearment.
There’s too much going on down here with the Wolfram & Hart/Darla situation. Angel didn’t want to have to worry about you too. These lawyers are dangerous Spike.
When did you become the voice of reason? Spike asked.
One of us has to be and Angel’s a bit busy right now so that leaves me. Are you disappointed? Angelus inquired.
No, just wondering why you aren’t your usual, melodramatic self, Spike replied.
Can’t be too predictable, can I? It gets boring, kind of like being stuck inside his head! Fucking soul! Why can’t you give him perfect happiness, Spike!?
Maybe because I know that you’re a sadistic fuck firsthand and don’t look upon your last emergence with great fondness? Spike replied nonchalantly.
You and Angel aren’t going to let me forget about that are you? Angelus asked with an aggravated sigh.
Let’s see, you treated me and Dru like shit and tried to send the world to hell in a hand basket, ring any bells? Spike growled.
Angelus growled and rattled the bars of his cage.
Are you throwing a tantrum? Spike chuckled.
I’m the Scourge of Europe. I do not throw tantrums. You, on the other hand, baby boy . . .
Hey! All of my outbursts are reasonable and strategically timed to get me what I want, Spike said defensively.
When I get out of here, I’ll give you what you want, until then I’ll have to get Angel to do it, Angelus commented lasciviously.
Until then, I’ll enjoy the non-homicidal version of you, Spike grinned.
He may not be homicidal, but I’m still here, deep in, and by the look of things from here, Wolfram & Hart is making him darker and darker without any help from me. God, I love watching this, Angelus said with a satisfied smirk. Oh, we’re on the move again. Sorry, boyo, got to go save the day!
Spike scoffed at the sarcasm in Angelus’ voice. He shook his head to clear it and looked at his surroundings, finding himself at Buffy’s house. He went around behind the house and entered through the cellar door. Just as he got to the stairs that lead to the kitchen from the basement, he heard a scuffle upstairs.
Inside the house, Buffy crept around the ground floor looking for the Queller demon that had attacked her mother. She crept into the kitchen and grabbed a knife from the cutlery rack on the counter beside the sink. She circled the island and neared the door to the basement when it suddenly opened.
She jumped back in alarm, raised the knife for an attack just as Spike emerged from the basement, and gave her a wary look. Buffy sighed as Spike stepped into the room and closed the basement door.
“Spike?” Buffy sighed in relief.
“Yeah. Listen, uh, did you hear a noise up here?” he asked concerned.
“What the hell are you doing in my house?” Buffy asked annoyed.
“It’s in my job description, goes in there somewhere along the lines of keeping your ass alive on the Hellmouth. One of Angel’s fool ideas,” Spike replied just as annoyed.
“You can go back and tell Angel I don’t need a babysitter, I’m fine on my own without some bleached brain moron as my shadow!” Buffy said indignantly.
“I’ll be sure to relay the message along with you being an ungrateful bitch. Cordy was more pleasant to be around than you are,” Spike said snidely.
“I’m sure she’s wonderful to be around with that sunny disposition. She’s a secretary; she doesn’t have to fight evil every day. Now, get out of my way, I have a demon to track down and kill,” Buffy said as she glared at him.
Just then, the Queller attacked from the left and jumped onto Spike’s chest, knocking him to the floor. He shouted as he landed on his back and the demon started to choke him.
“I’m a vampire. I don’t breathe!” Spike growled as he struggled with the demon.
Buffy grimaced as she saw the demon clearly now. It was disgusting and the high-pitched shriek it yelled as it fought with Spike made her ears ring. She raised her knife looking for an opening. Spike’s flailing foot kicked Buffy’s hand and the knife clattered to the floor. She winced in pain, shook her hand and made an exasperated face as she watched Spike fight the demon.
The Queller turned away from fighting Spike and saw Buffy. It squealed and attacked her as she moved towards it. They slammed against a wall, and Buffy lost her balance and fell to the floor with the demon on top of her. She punched it and threw it away from her. She scrambled backward into the hallway toward the foyer as the demon slithered after her.
In the kitchen, Spike rolled to his feet, reached down and grabbed the knife off the floor. He whirled around and dashed into the hallway to see the demon sliding across the floor towards her.
“Buffy!” Spike yelled. When he got her attention he threw the knife to her.
She caught it just as the Queller knocked her down again and climbed on top of her. Buffy shivered in disgust and blindly stabbed the knife into its back, making it shriek. She continued to stab it until it stopped squealing and fell against her dead. Buffy gasped and grimaced. She rolled the demon off of her and lay back with a sigh.
“How ungrateful are you now, Slayer?” Spike smirked as he swaggered down the hall.
He held out his hand, Buffy accepted it and he pulled her to her feet. Just as she rose, the door burst open and Riley barged in followed by the commando team he was leading to track the demon. The vampire and Slayer turned to see more commandos barging in the back door, yelling random orders to each other.
Riley noticed their linked hands and Spike gave him a sour look, but refused to let go of her.
“Are you okay?” Riley asked addressing Buffy.
Buffy frowned at him and ran upstairs to check on her mother and sister.
Spike eyed Riley from top to bottom. “You just missed a real nice time,” he said cryptically.
Riley looked down and saw the Queller lying dead with the knife in its back. When he looked up again, Spike was gone.
**************************
Los Angeles, Underground Garage of the Bank on Figaro and Ninth
Darla was lying on the ground in front of her three abductors with guns pointed at her, when Angel pulled up in his convertible and jumped put over the windshield. One of them grabbed Darla as Angel kicked the gun out of the first guy’s hand. In the melee, Darla was thrown against a wall, while Angel made quick work of the three men, throwing the last one into the back of the van.
He walked over to where Darla was slumped against the wall and crouched down in front of her. He picked her up and put her in the car, before getting in the proper way, by climbing in the driver’s side and driving off.
**************************
Los Angeles, Hyperion Hotel
Angel rushed into the hotel lobby, carrying an unconscious Darla. He laid her on the couch and pulled up an ottoman to sit beside her. Hearing him come in, Wesley and Cordelia came out to the lobby to see what he was up to. They cautiously moved closer to the couch and looked over the back of it to see Darla.
Angel briefly glanced up at his co-workers and then back down at the blonde woman. “She’s going to be okay,” he said distractedly.
“Maybe we should get her a doctor,” Cordelia suggested.
Angel was considering that option when Darla’s eyes fluttered open and she moaned in pain.
“No. No doctors,” she protested weakly. She turned her head, saw Angel and smiled. “Angelus,” she breathed.
That got Cordelia’s hackles up. “Uhm, I know you’re concussion girl and all, but around here it’s Angel . . . just Angel, okay?”
Angel shuddered involuntarily when he heard his full name pass Darla’s lips. He glanced up at Wesley and Cordelia, both of whom were not pleased with the name. “Guys, do you mind? Just give us a minute?”
“Yes, of course,” Wesley said succinctly.
“No problem,” Gunn swerved on his heel and followed Wesley.
Cordelia followed, glaring daggers at Darla and Angel.
When the trio was gone, Darla focused on Angel. “I thought I was dead.”
“You’re not dead,” Angel assured her.
Darla closed her eyes, absorbing the sound of his voice. “I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
Angel gave her a small smile. “I know what you mean.”
Darla put her hand on his in a light caress. “I’m so lucky,” she said tiredly, “to have someone who understands . . . who knows. It’s something you never had, is it?”
Angel thought about Spike. His boy understood his demon and was starting to reconcile the soul, but he didn’t completely understand what having a soul did to Angel. How he struggled with it on a minute-by-minute basis.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Angel replied.
Darla pulled her self up into a sitting position. “No. No, but there is so much that is.”
“It’s going to be okay,” Angel said softly.
Darla smiled at him. “I knew you’d help me. Now if I could only get to you. Funny. That’s why they brought me back . . . to get to you. Now I find I need you, just as I’ve always needed you. You’ll make the pain stop, won’t you?”
“It takes time,” Angel said.
“It takes moments,” Darla told him. She shook her hair back exposing her throat and urged, “Do it . . . now.”
Angel licked his lips as he stared at her throat. He hadn’t drunk familial blood since he left Spike in Sunnydale and here was Darla offering hot, familial blood. As he considered what to do with the offering, he heard Angelus in the back of his mind repeating that he had Spike waiting for him in Sunnydale and if he ever turned Darla, his boy would not forgive him. On the other hand, if he wanted to kill her, go ahead. That thought hit him like a ton of bricks. He jumped up and back backs away from her.
“What?” Angel said, addressing both Angelus and Darla.
Darla got up and followed him, grabbing him by the front of his shirt. “Make me what I was again!”
“Darla . . .” Angel shook his head. He couldn’t believe anyone would want this. He never wanted this. It’s what he was. Spike was his only real accomplishment. The way he turned out, the wrongs he’d committed toward his childer and his victims. No one should want to be a vampire.
“You said you’d help me!” Darla cried, tears trickling down her cheeks.
“I will,” Angel assured her. “I want to . . . but, not like this.”
God, not like this, I can’t turn her.
You know you want to. All that hot family blood pumping away in her veins. Come on, Angel, have a taste, Angelus taunted.
I thought you said Spike would never forgive me?
He won’t forgive you, but then, he’s a childe what does he know? If you do turn her, she’ll act like the same Darla that I remember, but her renewed demon will be weaker than yours. You can fuck her, dominate her as I always wanted to do but never could because she was my Sire. But, if you make her our childe . . . mmm, the possibilities, Angelus taunted.
I can’t do this! I can’t make another vampire and not feel her death, the loss of her soul weighing on my conscience, Angel agonized.
Then, don’t turn her and save her soul. She was on her deathbed before, she’s on it again, Angelus said.
What’s that supposed to mean? Angel asked angrily.
You’re telling me you can’t smell the stench of death around her? Angelus asked.
All I smell is her fear, her worry; it’s starting to get intoxicating, Angel answered.
“Turn me back.” Darla’s begging pulled Angel out of his internal conversation with Angelus. “God, I can’t bear this pounding in my chest for another instant!”
“It’s a gift,” Angel said quietly. “Too feel that heart beat . . . to know, really and for once, that you’re alive. You’re human again, Darla. Do you know what that means?”
“Of course I do,” she cried. “It means pain and suffering . . . and disease and death. Look, I released you from this world once I gave you eternal life. Now it’s time for you to return the favor.”
Angel took a step back in shock and looked at her in horror. “Favor? Is that what you think? You think you did me a favor?” His eyes hardened in anger as he stared at her. “You damned me.”
After a moment of feeling his eyes bore into her, Darla cried, “Fine. Fine then if it’s such a punishment take out your revenge, pay me back!” When Angel just looked at her, silent, she gripped his shirt and begged, “Please.”
Angel swallowed and shook his head in denial ever so slightly. “I can’t.”
Darla jerked away from him and ran toward the entrance of the hotel bathed in the dawn sunlight. Angel followed her as much as he dared until he got just out of reach of the sun’s deadly rays.
“Darla, wait!” he called behind her.
She stopped just as she was about to go out the door and spun around to face him.
“No!” Darla yelled angrily. “Don’t look for me again!”
With that, she turned and rushed out the door. Angel watched her leave, making no move to stop her.
**************************
Sunnydale, Crawford Street Mansion
Spike had slipped out of Buffy’s house after Riley had shown up seconds too late. He’d trudged home, wondering what Angel was up to. Angelus hadn’t made another appearance either. So, whatever was going on down in L.A. was more entertaining than his existence.
He shut the door, went into the living room and fell heavily on the couch. He lay there and felt burning tendrils throughout his body. It was the claims tugging him towards his mate; a mate who didn’t require his presence, because it was supposedly too dangerous. Instead, Spike ignored the tugging and rolled over on his side, falling into a restless sleep. |
