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Author: Amber
E-mail: Email
Cordelia bopped along to the music that reverberated from her headphones as she flipped through her magazine. She crossed her legs that rested on the table and sighed. Cordy had spent a restless day trying to get their office partially organized, but to no avail. She was too frustrated and impatient to continue anymore. Their had business had been slow and now she was tight on cash again. Gunn walked in the door, battle-ax in hand. Cordelia pulled off her earphones and looked over at Gunn. “The purpose of the ax is what?” Cordy asked, uncrossing her legs and sitting up.
“Ya know in case some big ugly feels like rearing its ugly head, then getting it chopped off,” Gunn replied sitting next to her.
“Ok, EW.” Cordelia made a disgusted face.
“Where’s Wes?” Gunn leaned back and stretched his arms behind his head.
“He went to get tea.” Cordelia paused and her eyes went blank.
“What?” Gunn sat up, on full alert.
“Vision!” was all Cordelia could say as she collapsed into Gunn’s arms.
Cordelia felt dizzy and nauseous as she tried to fight off the vision. Her head was spinning as she sat up slowly.
“What did you see?” Gunn asked trying to help her to sit up.
Cordy groaned and rested her forehead on his shoulder as she tried to ignore the pounding in her head. “Teenage girl in the alley on 5th. Dark hair, large blue eyes.”
Gunn nodded and stood up, grabbing his ax and heading up the stairs to Angel’s room. He pounded on the door. “Yo Angel we got work to do,” He cried pounding on the door again. Suddenly the door opened and Angel walked out, duster in hand, just as Gunn was about to knock on the door again.
“Where?” the vampire asked, slipping on his long, dark coat.
“5th,” Gunn stated following Angel down the steps. “Let’s go.” Both Angel and Gunn walked out of the hotel into the night.
* * *
Megan screamed again as the vampire slammed her shoulder against the brick wall harder. “You’re a seer aren’t you, little girl?” the hostile vampire snarled, slamming her back again.
Tears sprang to Megan’s eyes as she shook her head fearfully, wishing she could find an escape route.
“Then you get to be my midnight snack.” The vampire grabbed her hair and pulled it hard exposing her neck. He slowly lowered his fangs to her neck, his very sharp teeth brushing over her neck. Megan whimpered pitifully.
“Stop,” said a voice behind the large vampire. The bulky vampire turned to face the newcomer who would dare trespass on his free meal. The vampire smacked the small girl across the face, causing her to crumple to the ground.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” said a black man standing beside the vampire in the dark coat.
“What are you going to do about it?” the bulky vamp stepped forward.
“One word: stake,” the dark skinned one said taking a wooden stake from his pocket.
Angel rushed the muscular vampire but was knocked back by his fist. Ok, this wasn’t your average pushover vampire. Good thing he didn’t have to breathe or he would be winded. Being dead did have it’s advantages. Angel stood up and charged again popping the cork of a vial of holy water and splashing it all over the opposite vampire. The vampire snarled and began to run out of the alley realizing he was at the disadvantage. Gunn was about to go after him but Angel stopped him. “Don’t,” he said in a low voice. “We have other things to take care of.” Angel pointed to the unconscious girl on the ground. Angel bent down and scooped up the small girl cradling her to his chest as he walked back to his black convertible.
* * *
Megan opened her eyes just a crack and saw a handsome face above her and realized she wasn’t in the alley anymore. The room she was in was warm and she was lying on a bed most likely. She opened up her eyes all the way and stared at the strange man above her. “Don’t panic,” he said in a low, calm voice. “We’re here to help.” Suddenly a young woman with short, brown hair filled her vision.
“Hi, Cordelia Chase, official helper of the helpless,” Cordy said thrusting her hand forward. Megan took it and shook it weakly.
“Cordelia,” the man said coming back into view. “We don’t want to frighten her.” He gave the young woman a stern look and then turned back to Megan. “I’m Angel and you are?”
“Megan,” she replied softly, with a light touch of a British accent. Angel nodded and helped her sit up. She looked down at his arm and spotted a deep blue bruise. “You’re hurt.”
“It’ll heal.” He covered the bruise up with his sleeve.
“And fast,” Cordelia added pointing to a blue spot on the girl’s arm. “You got hurt too.”
Megan nodded and rubbed the spot gently. “The man in the alley…he wasn’t human…he was a…”
“Vampire,” Angel finished for her. “Now what was this thing about you being a seer?”
“Ooh a seer!” she heard Cordelia coo. “Can you see the future too? ‘Cause I can and well I wanted to know if you can and if so does yours involve head aches? I get bad ones.”
“No.” The girl shook her head, the movement causing her head to pound.
“No?” Angel raised an eyebrow looking at her quizzically.
“I can’t see the future, I see the past and no head aches.” Megan brushed her hair out of her face and shrugged. “Not that I’ve experienced.” Angel nodded and stood up.
“Where do you live?” Angel asked stretching.
“I…I can’t go home. It’d put my family in danger.
They’re out looking for me. The vampire he was one of them,” Megan explained fearfully.
Angel and Cordelia looked at each other before Angel finally spoke. “Who’s they?”
“Wolfram and Hart.” Megan twisted her hands together nervously.
Angel’s expression turned grim. “Then it is best you stay. I have a lot of rooms to choose from upstairs. Cordelia if you would.”
“Oh, alright.” Cordy helped the girl up from the couch. “This way,” she said leading Megan up the stairs.
“Megan,” Angel called to her. She turned to regard him. “It’ll be ok.” Angel smiled wanly hoping it comforted her somewhat.
* * *
“Why would Wolfram and Hart be after her?” Wesley, the British Watcher has-been asked.
“A tool maybe I’m not sure.” Angel shrugged as he scratched his chin. “A tool for what?” Angel began to pace, starting to think. “I bet I can find out though.” Angel grabbed his duster. “Keep an eye on the girl. She’s British I think; you guys speak the same lingo. You can discuss some…British stuff I guess.” Angel slipped on his duster and walked out the door.
The Host walked around the karoke bar and greeted all of his regular customers and the newcomers. The Host was an Anagogic Demon with bright green skin and two red horns who ran a bar named Caritas, which was Latin for peace. He didn’t really have a name just a good singing voice and a talent to see a person’s (or demon’s) true self and give them a push in the right direction when they sang for him. Angel walked into the bar looking for The Host, when he spotted the demon he walked up to him. “Hey babe,” The Host greeted him. “What’s happenin’? Not much around here that’s for sure.”
“I need your help,” Angel said leading the green demon to a corner of the bar.
“For my help you gotta sing.” The Host started going through some songs. “What about some more Barry? Or maybe you want to try some Garth Brookes.” Angel grimaced.
“Do I really have to sing?”
“For my help yes but her’s no.” The Host pointed to the stage where a young woman about 19 or so was singing. She had red hair that fell in wavy curls over her shoulders and bright green eyes. She wore a black tank top and black leather pants with enough bracelets on her wrists for the whole population of LA.
“Daughter?” Angel asked raising a suspicious eyebrow. “’Cause she doesn’t look anything like you. A lot prettier.”
The Host rolled his eyes and shook his head. “No Mr. Gloom-and-Doom, she’s my niece. She has her daddy’s talents and her mommy’s looks.”
Angel looked extremely puzzled. “A human mother? You can actually get human women?”
“Hey, hey!” The Host waved his hands in front of him. “No hitting below the belt. Yes, women think we’re attractive. The whole danger element thing gets ‘em every time.” The demon grinned straightening out his tie.
Angel snorted. The girl finished her song and with the assistance of whoops and hollers exited the stage. The Host waved to her and she walked over, brushing her hair over her shoulder. “Hi uncle,” she said her eyes lighting up. “And hi…”
“Angel,” the vampire filled in.
“Hi Angel, I’m Naomi.” She offered her hand and he shook it firmly. Angel just began to notice she had actual claws, for self-defense no less. “So what’s up?” she asked turning back to her uncle.
“Angel boy here needs some path finding,” The Host told her. He leaned closer and whispered into her ear, “He’s too shy to sing anymore.” Naomi giggled and nodded. She stared intently into his eyes for a few seconds.
“It’s about the girl…Megan?” Angel nodded and Naomi clapped her hands together. “Those awful lawyers are after her to help with their cause of getting rid of you. Kinda tap into your head sort of thing.”
“But she reads the past not the future,” Angel stated crossing his arms and listening closely to this young demon-girl.
Naomi nodded and continued, “They want to know your past secrets so they know your weaknesses.” Angel frowned. “Protect the girl, it’ll pay off in the end.” Angel stood up to his full height and nodded.
“Thanks,” he said quietly and walked out of the karoke bar.
“Did I say something wrong?” Naomi asked looking up at her uncle.
“Nah, Hun. He’s a brooder. He’ll go home a brood now,” The Host replied, putting his arm around Naomi’s shoulder and leading her to an open bar stool.
* * *
Megan gazed out the balcony window and pulled her knees closer to her chest. She shivered not from cold but from fear. Fear for her family and for her life. Suddenly Angel walked into the room carrying blankets and a cup of hot cocoa. Megan stood up abruptly. Angel smiled gently and spoke softly,” It’s OK, it’s just me.” The vampire set the cup of cocoa down on a small table that was near a still made bed. “You planning on sleeping tonight?” Megan shrugged, unsure of what to say. Angel set the blankets on the bed and walked over to the balcony, closing the curtain. “You really should get some rest and if you need anything Wesley, Cordelia and I are downstairs.” Megan watched him walk out the door more curious than ever about this dark stranger. How he seemed to glide rather than walk and how he could sneak up on her so easily. Megan pushed the blankets that Angel brought to the side and let the hot cocoa go cold.
Angel sat at his desk taping a pen on the counter and wondering if this whole Megan thing was trick. Naomi would have told him that though. He sighed and sat back folding his arms behind his head and staring up at the ceiling. He had to tell her he was a vampire eventually. For right now, he decided, it was best she didn’t know. She was frightened enough already. Angel stood up and moved to his room, taking his shirt off and putting a pair of sweats on. He crawled under the covers and drifted off to sleep.
Megan crept down the stairs silently and saw the office was empty. Cordelia and Wesley had gone home and all the lights were off. She moved back upstairs and saw Angel’s door was open a crack. She peeked in and saw the dark stranger was slumbering. Megan pushed the door open quietly and tiptoed in. She held her breath as she moved to prevent any sound. The small girl lowered her hands to ethier side of head so they didn’t touch his head but were close to it. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she prepared to venture into Angel’s past.
Megan opened her eyes and saw four vampires laughing and rejoicing at a kill. She knew their names. Drusilla, Spike, Darla, and Angelus. Megan shivered and heard their joyful shouts that came like a million whispers to her ears. Suddenly the scene changed and she saw Angelus corner a woman. A gypsy woman. Jenny Calendar. Angelus grabbed her and twisted her head a little to far to the right, snapping her neck. Her vision began to dim and then it was raining. Megan felt pain rip through her body and started screaming. The pain rippled through her body and she saw Angel on the ground screaming as well. His soul was being torn away from him. Her whole body shook as hot tears spilled down her cheeks.
Angel’s eyes snapped open as he heard Megan screaming and felt her tears fall on his face. Her eyes were open but she was staring at nothing. He grabbed both her hands and yanked them away from his head and Megan fell to the ground shaking and crying.
Megan couldn’t breath as she shook the white hot pain still there but receding quickly. She brushed away her tears and looked up at Angel fearfully. “What are you?” she whispered rubbing her arms.
“I think you know,” Angel said throwing his covered back and walking toward Megan. The girl cringed as Angel towered over her. She looked like a frightened puppy. He offered his hand to help her up. She took it still shaking from shock and surprise. Angel pulled her up and walked her back to her room. He suspected she had been beaten as child since she was so timid and scared. Angel gazed at her curiously. “Was there a reason you were prying inside my head?”
“I…I…I wanted to know about you,” Megan replied sitting on her bed.
“You could have just asked.”
Megan looked away. “You wouldn’t have told me.”
“I’m telling you now. I’m a vampire, yes and I have a soul. Is that what you wanted?” Angel crossed his arms over his bare chest.
Megan nodded and whispered, ”I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright,” Angel turned and walked out of her room.v “Please don’t go,” Megan called after him. Angel turned. “I’m scared.”
“I’ll be right down the hall. You know the room.” Angel shut her door and walked back to his room.
Angel couldn’t shake the creepy sensation he had. How far did she pry? What did she see? The vampire crawled back under his covers and shut his eyes as his mind drifted off.
Megan snuggled underneath her covers. She was so scared now. She had gone too far in Angel’s mind. Megan turned on her side and stared at the closed door. What if Angel didn't want her here anymore? Where would she go? So many questions entered her mind. And then thoughts of her past came. Her father had abused her when she was little. He would get so wasted and take out his anger on Megan and her brother and her mother. One day, Megan’s mother told her to gather a couple things and load them into the car. Megan did as she was told and her mother, brother and Megan left that day. That was the last time she ever saw her father and she hoped to keep it that way. It had been 5 years of just living with her mom. Her brother was now 20 and still living at home while attending a nearby university. Things seemed perfect until Wolfram and Hart came along and started hunting her. Megan always knew she was different but wasn’t sure until she saw her mother’s past accidentally. Then she learned to control her power. Then she saw her first vampire. She had barely escaped the attack. She saw numerous demons after that all working for the evil law firm. Megan shut her eyes tightly and pushed away the memories as she fell fast asleep.
* * *
“Lindsey!” Lilah Morgan said staring at her co-worker. “We lost the girl.”
“I know!” he replied brushing his hair out of his face and pacing around his office. “We’ll get her back.”
“How?” Lilah glared at him. “Angel took her.”
“Duh, Lilah.” Lindsey went to his phone. “We’re lawyers. We can bend him a bit.” Lindsey picked up the phone and punched a few numbers. “Yes, get me the client. We have a job for him to do.”
* * *
“She tapped into your mind?” Wesley leaned over Angel’s desk his hands flat on the counter top.
Angel nodded and stood up. Wesley followed him out into the lobby of the abandoned hotel. “I don’t think she meant to hurt me or anything. She was just being curious.” Angel sat down on the couch in front of the hotel counter. The vampire turned and saw Megan walking down the steps.
“You’re talking about me,” she said looking at Angel with an almost angry look.
“You must be Megan,” Wesley said coming out from behind the counter. “I’m Wesley Wyndam Price.” Wesley offered his hand. Megan only stared at it.
“How come everyone has a last name except Angel?” Megan asked looking up at the British man.
“He’s too good for a last name,” Gunn said walking in the front doors. “Kinda like Cher.”
Megan looked over at him. “Who are you?”
“Charles Gunn. I just go by Gunn. Two N’s,” The young black man said walking toward her.
Megan rubbed her arms, her hair still wet from the shower she took earlier. “Does Cordelia have any clothes I can borrow?” Angel nodded and walked behind the hotel counter. He handed her a pair of jeans and a zip up top with a hood. Megan ran upstairs to put it on.
“You think Cordelia’s gonna like that?” Gunn asked raising his eyebrow. Angel shrugged sitting back down. Suddenly Angel heard a scream and the shatter of glass. The vampire bolted up the stairs and kicked open the door to Megan room. He looked around and saw the balcony curtains flapping in the breeze, the glass sliding door shattered. Megan’s dirty clothes lying on the bed. Angel pounded his fist against the doorjamb. Wesley and Gunn came up behind Angel. “They took her.” Gunn sank back.
“We have to go talk to Naomi.” Angel said walking down to the basement and climbing into the sewer entrance.
Angel knocked on the door hurriedly. They had found a back entrance to the club in a dark secluded alley that the sewers had led them to. Naomi answered the door only in a bathrobe and gasped in surprise. “Angel? And his handsome friends?” Naomi looked over her shoulder. “My uncle is up yet but if you come back later I’m sure-“
“We came to see you,” Angel said interrupting her.
“Oh…well then come in.” Naomi waited for them all to enter and closed the door.
“We have the most unfortunate news,” Wesley said looking around the place.
“Ooh an English accent. That’s so sexy.” Naomi winked at him and Wesley blushed pretending to be fixated on a spot on his shirt. Naomi grinned and looked back at Angel. “What’s the problem?”
“Megan she’s gone. I’m guessing Wolfram and Hart took her. Or something that works for them. I need to know where they took her.” Angel looked down at the she-demon his eyes pleading.
“Alright,” Naomi said sighing.
* * *
Megan wasn’t sure how far she had been carried or how much time had passed, she only knew that the demon that had grabbed her had slimy hands and a bad stench. Megan gagged trying to breathe but not inhale the creature’s foul odor. Suddenly the demon released her and she flopped to the ground with a thud. “Ow!” she cried at the demon. The demon only shrugged and walked away. She was in a damp basement like place with a concrete floor. Her surroundings looked vaguely familiar but her head was pounding so hard from the demon banging her around so much she couldn’t think. Megan rubbed her head and looked up at a man that stood over her. He had a dark business suit on with a maroon colored tie.
“Stand seer,” he commanded. Megan stood up shakily and tried her best to keep the fear from her eyes as she glared at the man. The well-dressed man grinned. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced, I’m Lindsey and you must be Megan.” Megan only nodded feebly. “Now, we’ve found out you “explored” Angel’s mind.”
“How?” Megan asked trying to keep her voice steady.
Lindsey shrugged. “We have our ways. Anyhow, I wanted to know what you saw.”
“Never!” Megan hissed at him.
“I’ll give you a second chance. What did you see, Megan?” Lindsey moved closer to her. Megan only stayed silent and stepped back glaring at him angrily. “Very well have it your way.” The lawyer made a signal and Megan felt strong arms clamp around her and a hand holding a cloth smother her face. She tried desperately to hold her breath but she was being squeezed and her lungs were pleading for air. Megan gasped and breathed in the noxious fumes that emitted from the cloth. Her world began to dim as she tried to yell for Angel, then everything went black.
By the time Angel had gathered all the weapons he needed the sun had set. He had to hurry though. According to Naomi he had little time. Cordelia had agreed to stay at the office, not that she wanted to go on the mission anyway. Angel walked into the hotel lobby sword in hand and signaled for Gunn and Wesley to follow, who both had weapons. The threesome walked into the night ready to make sure justice was served.
Megan awoke in her bed, moonlight pouring through her window. It was all a dream. Megan sat up and swung her feet over the side of her bed. Rubbing her eyes, Megan ventured out into the hall and headed toward her mother’s room. She opened the door and went in and stopped in her tracks. Shocked by what she saw. A vampire bent over her mother draining her blood as she shrieked. Something rose within Megan. She wasn’t sure if it was anger or adrenaline but whatever it was it drove her forward. Megan jumped on the vampire kicking, punching and biting. Though she wasn’t very strong it was enough for the vampire to be distracted and forget about his meal. Megan’s mother dropped to the floor and Megan drove her fists harder into the beast. The vampire whirled around and threw the girl to the ground. He stormed toward her ready to kill her then suddenly Gunn crashed into the room through the window. He lifted his ax and swung wildly at the vampire. “Invite Angel in!” Gunn shouted. Megan didn’t understand at first then she got it.
“I invite you in!” Megan shouted as loud as she possibly could.
Suddenly the invisible barrier that was holding Angel back fell away and Angel and Wesley raced up the stairs. Angel entered the room and saw Megan and an older woman who could only be her mother huddled together behind the bed and Gunn battling with an unusually strong vampire. Angel grabbed the vampire by the back of the neck whirling him around and slamming him against a wall. The vamp roared loudly. Angel noticed it was the same vampire from the alley. “How’d you get in here?” Angel growled at him. The vampire in front of him grinned and began to shrink before becoming a perfect replica of Megan.
“Oh mommy, I missed you so much,” the fake Megan said with an evil laugh. The vampire/evil Megan pointed at an exotic necklace he was wearing. “Freeja’s Strand.” Angel knew the tale of Freeja’s Strand. It allowed the wearer to take on any human form as long as physical contact had been made. Angel punched the Megan imposter across the mouth and ripped the necklace off its neck. The evil Megan grew to its the original vampire form. Angel tucked the strand in his pocket and grinned.
“That’s better,” Angel said circling the bulked up vamp. The vampire snarled at him and lunged forward as Angel brought forth a stake plunging it deep into the demon’s heart. The vampire looked down at his chest and cursed quietly before he became dust. Angel turned and saw Megan cradling her mother’s head in her lap. “We better get her to a hospital,” Angel said gently picking up the older woman.
Megan waited anxiously for news from the doctor. She shifted and fidgeted in her seat as Gunn munched away on a candy bar. Sighing, Megan rested her chin on her hand and glanced up at Angel. “How long is it going to take?” Megan asked twirling a strand of hair around her finger. Angel only shrugged smiling gently into her light blue eyes. A doctor in a crisp white jacket walked down the hall toward the little group. Wesley, Angel, Gunn and Megan stood to receive the news.
Laying a comforting hand on Megan’s shoulder he spoke softly, “Your mother will be fine. She lost a lot of blood and is a bit drowsy but other than that she’s fine.”
“Can I see her now?” Megan looked up at him her eyes begging and pleading.
“Yes.” The doctor smiled as Megan scampered down the hall. He turned to Angel. “Do you wish to visit Mrs. Clareton also?”
So Megan did have a last name. “No I’ll just be on my way. Her brother’s coming down to pick her up.” The doctor nodded, smiled, and then turned away. Angel walked down the hall and peered in the window to Mrs. Clareton’s room and saw Megan sitting beside her bed holding the woman’s hand and talking non-stop. Angel smiled to himself and was glad he at least made someone’s life a little better. Angel kept walking toward the exit and once outside Gunn walked up beside him.
“So um Angel do you know if that Naomi chic has a sister?” Gunn asked throwing his candy wrapper in a nearby Dumpster and Angel also tossed in Freeja’s Strand. Angel only rolled his eyes and kept walking. “What?!” Gunn asked following after him.
The End
