TITLE: Interlude into Innocence (1/1)
AUTHOR: Winter
EMAIL ADDRESS: winter242@hotmail.com (I finally got a new e-mail address!)
DISTRIBUTION: Just ask.
SPOILERS: A little of "Surprise," but mostly "Innocence"
RATING: PG-13?
SUMMARY: Angelus' POV during select scenes from "Innocence"
DISCLAIMER: All Buffy related things are owned by Joss
Whedon, etc, etc. I own nothing except the idea for this story.
FEEDBACK: Highly appreciated.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my first fic since I've been back, and I'm really out
of practice. Hope you still like it, though.

Interlude into Innocence (1/1)

Pain. It was all I felt. Hot, burning, intense, searing pain.
All-consuming pain. And then nothing. Peace. Calm. I was back in
control. I was *back.*

I grinned in delight and thanked the Devils for freeing me from that
agonizing soul. 80 years...80 years of being subdued and bound, caged like
a...well...nevermind.

The smell of fresh blood suddenly assaulted my senses, and I could barely
control my hunger. 80 years.

"Hey. You okay?" my meal asked in perfect serenity, never knowing the
terror of the moments to come, "you want me to call 911?"

"No," I told her, getting up off the ground, "the pain is gone."

I grinned.

"You sure?" she asked persistently.

"Yeah," I replied, letting my true visage slip into place. Before she could
say another word, I whirled around and sank my fangs into her neck, reveling
in the taste of the warm blood gushing into my mouth. I gulped it down like
a starving man, never before having realized the sweetness of fresh blood.
As I let the dead body drop to the ground, the corners of my mouth turned
down in bitter distaste as I recalled the 80 years of starvation or packaged
blood.

Never again. I was free, and it felt damn good.

"Oh yeah," I muttered to the body of the dead hooker, lying feebly on the
ground, "I feel just fine."

I inhaled the scent of Sunnydale, and sensed something I hadn't felt in a
long time: raw power, ready for the taking. *My* taking. Of course there
was the problem of the Slayer to deal with first, though she wouldn't be a
problem for long.

Images of that night swarmed into my head, and I shook them out violently.
I never did understand why the wimp constantly trailed after the Slayer.
Not when there were so many better things to be had...

Thoughts of a fire-haired beauty flooded my mind. There was so much to be
done in this town. But first things first.

***

As I approached the factory, I could hear the sounds of my children talking.
I heard Spike asking about soul-boy, and decided that was my cue.

"Well," I started, in the tones I had used so often with them in years past,
"he moves to New York and tries to fulfill that Broadway dream. It's tough
sledding, but one day he's working in the chorus when the big star twists
her ankle."

I saw a flash of recognition pass through Spike's eyes at the tone in my
voice, but it was quickly chased out by the supposed impracticality of that
possibility,

"You don't give up, do you?" he asked, more irritated than usual.

As I approached him, I could barely conceal my laughter as I continued, "As
long as there's injustice in the world, as long as scum like you is
walking..." I couldn't resist, "well, rolling around in the streets...I'll
be around. Look over your shoulder. I'll be there." I forcibly pushed my
amusement back down as I remained straight-faced.

I watched as Spike's newest employee approached me, and I couldn't help but
feel a surge of pride. It was my childe who came up with this plan. Mine.

As Spike tried to figure out why exactly I wasn't burning to ashes, I
noticed a look of realization cross Dru's face. I was about to confirm her
thoughts when the Judge stole the words right out of my mouth, "This
one...cannot be hurt. He is clean. There is no humanity in him."

Not one to be left out of the conversation, I interrupted, "I couldn't have
said it better myself."

"Angel," Dru breathed wistfully.

"Yeah, baby," I announced, "I'm back."

***

The next few hours were spent reminiscing about the old times and the new.
It felt good to be back among my own. But I couldn't keep my thoughts off
of the Slayer. Well, the slayer's little friend to be more precise.

Willow Rosenberg. I was never quite sure what it was about her that
intrigued me. It was just everything. There was so much hidden fire
beneath that innocent exterior, and I wasn't the only one to notice it. I
snickered at the memory of Angel first visiting Willow in her room. Just
for information on that Ford, character, too. Right. How easy it would
have been to just take her right there…but I always made it a point to not
dwell on lost opportunities. After all, it was more fun creating new ones.

And I would certainly create a new opportunity for this. Willow was not
about to escape me now. Angel may have kept me from her before, but I was
in control now. And there were so many possibilities.

I could turn her and mold her into the perfect childe. A vision of grace
and power, beauty and death. And she would belong to me. Only me. I could
feel the excitement rush through me just from thinking about the wonderful
years of eternity we would spend together. And it would start tonight.

I decided to make a stop at Angel's apartment for a quick change before I
headed to the library, and to Willow.

***

As I emerged from the closet, I was surprised to see the Slayer standing in
front of the bed. This definitely wasn't what I was expecting, but it
definitely wouldn't hurt to have a go at her.

She called to me, and I replied coolly, wondering to myself how much it
would take to break her. Probably not much. She began rambling on about
how much she was freaking out and I smiled to myself. This would be *too*
easy.

"I, I don't understand," Buffy said to me in the most pathetic tone I had
ever heard, "Was it-me? Was I not good?"

I had to pause a moment to keep from bursting out in laughter. It didn't
work. "You were great, really," I told her. On a second thought, I added,
"I thought you were a pro."

"How can you say this to me?" she looked like a wounded animal. She would
be a lot more than wounded when I was through with her.

"Lighten up. It was a good time. It doesn't mean we have to make a big
deal."

"It *is* a big deal!" she protested.

"What? Bells ringing, fireworks, a dulcet choir of pretty little birdies?"
I laughed. "Come on, Buffy. It's not like I've never been there before."

I reached up my hand to stroke her face, needing to pack a punch of sorts to
my words. She jerked her head back, and I relished in the feel of her pain.

"Don't touch me," she said.

"I should have known you wouldn't be able to handle it." I was wasting my
time here. After all, I had more important matters to attend to. Like a
certain computer hacker, for instance.

"Angel!" she called to her lover again. I sighed in barely restrained
exasperation and turned back to her. "I love you," she told me. Or what
she thought was me.

I grinned at her obvious stupidity and said, "Love you, too. I'll call
you." 'And once I have Willow by my side, you'll be sure to see a lot more
of me,' I thought to myself.

And then I turned and walked out the door.

***

As I entered the school building, I could hear soft voices talking quietly
from the hallway leading to the library. Obviously Willow and Xander.

I approached quietly and caught the last of their conversation. "Yeah.
Where's an army when you need one?" Willow was saying. Her beauty caught me
off guard for a moment as I just stood and watched her. She was absolutely
radiant. But there was a strange look of sadness in her eyes. One that
wasn't there recently. I began wondering what could have possibly happened.
But it didn't matter. Soon, Willow would be sharing all of her secrets
with me, for the rest of our lives.

As Xander began muttering something about having a plan, I reached out to
flip off the light switch, leaving the entire hallway in darkness. This
would be easier than I thought.

"What's going on?" Willow asked.

"Let's get to the library," Xander suggested to her.

Not yet.

I decided to make myself known. "Willow. Xander," I called out to them.

"Angel," Xander announced, distaste present in his voice. Well, the feeling
was mutual.

"Thank God you're okay," Willow exclaimed. I smiled. I was better than
okay. "Did you see Buffy?" she asked.

"Yeah," I replied casually. We wouldn't want anyone getting suspicious.
"What's up with the lights?"

"I don't know," Xander said, "but listen. I think I have an idea--"

"Forget about that," I interrupted him. I didn't have time for his
stupidity. I wanted Willow, and I was going to have her, *now.* "I...I got
something to show you," I amended hastily after seeing the look on Xander's
face.

"Show us?" Willow asked innocently.

'Yes,' I wanted to tell her. 'Show you. Only you.'

"Yeah," I responded. But first, to get Xander out of the way, "Xander, go
get the others."

"Okay," Xander replied without a second thought. That wouldn't leave me
much time here with Willow, but at least it worked to give us a few moments
alone. And that was all I needed.

After Xander had run off, I continued, "And Willow, come here."

"What is it, Angel?" she asked coming tentatively closer. She obviously
sensed something was wrong. My brilliant queen. But as long as she didn't
figure out *what* it was, I was in the clear.

"It's amazing," I told her. A whole new world, just for the two of us.
Soon. I saw the expression on her face, and it was one of interest and
trust. I could hear her heart pounding in her chest, and I longed to feel
that chest pressed against mine.

I almost had her when that damn computer teacher called out for Willow to
get away from me.

"What are you talking about?" Willow asked her, confused, "it's Ang--"

I didn't let her continue. After seeing the cross in her hand, I knew the
gig was up. I stepped forward, closing the distance between Willow and
myself and grabbed her before she could get away. I was so close!

Just then Xander came running from the other hall, and called out, "Don't do
that!"

Angrily, I replied, "Oh, I think I do that."

"Angel..." my Willow managed to choke out despite the tight grasp I had on
her throat. I hated hurting her, but I wasn't about to let her go.

"He's not Angel anymore. Are you?" Jenny asked me.

"Wrong," I snarled back at her, "I *am* Angel...at last!"

I could feel Willow suddenly tense even more as the meaning of my words sunk
in. I began to back out suddenly while I still had the chance, while I
still had my treasure in my arms. "I got a message for Buffy," I announced,
hoping to keep them distracted as I made my exit with Willow.

"Then why don't you give it to me yourself?" the one voice I didn't want to
hear spoke up from behind me.

Damn! I couldn't keep the anger from my voice. This wasn't supposed to
happen this way. Bitch! I whirled around to face the Slayer and told her,
"Well, it's not really the kind of message you can tell. It sort of
involves finding the bodies of all your friends." Like Giles' stupid
girlfriend and Xander.

My anger got the better of me and my grip on Willow instinctively tightened.
I heard her yell out in pain and I automatically wished I could have taken
that back. I brought myself under control and began thinking of ways I
could get out of there with Willow. Unfortunately, there weren't many
options.

"This can't be you," Buffy argued, still in denial. What would it take to
get through to that idiot?

"Gee, we already covered that subject," I replied.

"Angel, there must be some part of you inside that still remembers who you
are."

"Dream on, schoolgirl." I decided there was no way Willow and I were both
getting out of there. My plans for the night were ruined, and I was not
happy. "Your boyfriend is dead. And you're all gonna join him," I told
them, thinking to myself how they would all pay, first, and pay dearly.

"Leave Willow alone, and deal with me," Buffy announced. Like I wanted to
deal with her! The nerve of that slut, thinking all I cared about was
*her.* Well, the less she knew about my real intentions, the better.

"But she's so cute and helpless. Really a turn-on," I pinched Willow's
cheek. I felt her heartbeat accelerate in barely contained fear, and I
wanted to carry her out of there right then and claim her for myself.

Suddenly I felt a burning sensation behind me, and I was forced to drop
Willow to get away from it. Xander. That damn fool and his cross. I
swore. My plan was falling to pieces, but I wasn't about to let the Slayer
get the better of me. I grabbed her as I passed by and told her, "Things
are about to get *very* interesting." Giving her a quick kiss, which I had
to admit was more effective than a blow across the face, I raced out of the
building and back to the factory.

I hadn't gotten Willow that night, but I'll be saved before I let her escape
me again. She *would* be mine.

And with that thought in my mind, I waltzed through the doors of the
factory, more determined than ever to end the miserable little lives of the
Slayer and her groupies.

END

***