Angel closed the door of his room. He had already sent the others home just in case Darla did come tonight. Climbing into bed, he switched off the light and closed his eyes. However, he did not sleep.
A few minutes after midnight, he heard the door click open and soft footfalls on the carpet.
“There’s my boy,” whispered Darla as she pulled out the sleeping powder.
Angel felt her climb on top of him and heard her unscrew the lid.
“Now, just a bit of this and you’ll sleep well.”
As her hand drifted over his face, Angel’s eyes flew open and he grabbed her wrist.
“Hello, Darla.”
“Angel!” she gasped. “How – “
“I paid a visit to your resurrectors. Tell me, what exactly didn’t you understand about ‘dust to dust’?”
“Angel, let go of me!” she exclaimed.
“Not until you give me some answers. Why did they bring you back?” he demanded.
“Let go of me!”
“Why did they bring you back?”
Darla stopped struggling. “The apocalypse,” she murmured.
“What do you have anything to do with the apocalypse?”
“I don’t know!” she cried. “I’m just a small part in all of this. Wolfram and Hart are trying to influence you to fight on their side. You’re a major player, they say, but the Senior Partners don’t know which side you will be on. That’s all I know.”
Angel drew back, a bit shocked and extremely uneasy about what his old sire was telling him. Darla felt his grip loosen just enough and quickly made her escape. However, Angel was not that willing to let her go so easily and pursued her at once. She eventually led him to an underground convent. Angel came up behind her and grabbed hold of her arm. Darla spun, fury on her lips.
“You know where we are, don’t you, Angelus? A convent. You always did love convents.”
“I’m not Angelus anymore. My name is Angel.”
“You will always be Angelus!” she shrieked. “That demon is always there! My boy is still in there, and he wants out!”
Angel shook his head. “No.”
“What is all this for?” she exclaimed, pulling out a wooden cross and thrusting it in his face. “For redemption? God doesn’t want you! But I still do.” Darla pocketed the cross and ran towards a set of stairs, with Angel after her. By now, weak sunlight filtered through and Angel halted. Darla turned and glared at him.
“Can’t follow me, can you? You always were worthless,” she spat. And then she fled.
Although Angel knew her words held little weight, he was surprised to find that they still stung a little. Tired and irritated, he trudged towards the sewer entrance and headed back to the Hyperion.
“Angel, where have you been?” Cordelia asked anxiously.
“Where’s Wes and Gunn?” he muttered, plopping down on a cushioned chair and leaning his head back with a sigh.
“I had a vision. They waited for a few minutes, but you didn’t come back, so they took care of it themselves. What happened?”
“Darla came around midnight. You were right; Wolfram and Hart brought her back from the dead. I chased her all the way to an underground convent, but she still escaped,” he sighed wearily.
“What does she want from you?” Cordy settled next to him and placed her hand on his arm. Angel’s imaginary beating heart thumped faster as he gazed her beautiful face and soft, perfect dark hair. He usually preferred the blonde type, but he had to admit that Cordelia Chase was different.
“Apparently Wolfram and Hart are using her as a part of their plan to influence the outcome of the apocalypse.”
She stared at him blankly. “Huh?”
“Darla said that I’m a major player in the prophesied apocalypse but the firm isn’t sure which side I will be on when the time comes. Obviously, they want me to fight for it, not against it. Frankly, I don’t know either.”
“Of course you will fight against it!” she cried. “Who do they think you are? You’re Angel, the Dark Avenger – you help the helpless and save the needy!”
“Cordy,” Angel sighed. “There’s still the part of me, that demon that I struggle with every day who is constantly fighting to get out. Sometimes chance throws a hand in and you trip and everything you’ve worked for is lost.”
“Well, if we trip, then we’ll just have to take chance and our enemies down with us, now won’t we?” Cordelia grinned, patting his hand. She stood and made her way to the fridge. “Want coffee? Or blood? I just got a shipment from the butcher this morning.”
“Blood, please. Thanks, Cordy.”
She gave him a sidelong glance and a smile. “You’re Welcome.”
The door opened and Wesley and Gunn stumbled in, covered in demon slime and fluorescent blood.
“Oh, Angel, you’re back,” Wesley muttered, exhausted.
“What happened to you?”
“Ankho demons. A nest of them. They’re not very large, but they have a nasty tendency to come up from behind and strangle their victims, like a boa constrictor. Except a lot more ugly and evil. What happened to you?”
“Darla.”
“Oh, God.”
Cordelia walked in then with a cup of coffee and a glass of blood in her hands. “Yeah, that charming little bloodsucker is back. And now the world is going to end.” Angel glared at her as she handed him his dinner. “Sorry,” she muttered.
Wesley fell onto a couch. “Is there something that I need to know?”
“Long story. Tell you tomorrow.”
“Make it a bedtime story,” Gunn intoned.
“Too tired.”
“Fine.”
Cordelia shook her head at the wearied group. “You guys are pathetic. You’re all acting like a bunch of babies!”
They all gave her dirty, exhausted looks.
“You try fighting off 6 Ankho demons who love to eat human flesh,” Wesley retorted.
“Yeah, and try running on fumes while trying to save the world, gain redemption, fight demons both internal and external, and deal with your sire who never stays dead, evil law firms who have it out for you at all times, and teammates who are whining about a simple infestation. Top that!” Angel growled.
Cordy stood thoughtfully. “Fine. Angel, teach me how to fight.”
“What?”
“Teach me how to fight. I’m tired of staying behind and playing housewife and then having you guys come home and be all gripy and irritated. So, teach me. Lessons every day for an hour,” she demanded.
“Um – “
“Great! I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m going home.”
The three men stared after her retreating back. Wesley smiled grimly at Angel. “Good luck.”
“I won’t do it anymore!” Darla shouted.
“You have to,” replied Lindsay.
“No, I don’t! I am a 400-year-old vampire. I created him! I won’t do it!”
“We brought you back. You must do as you are ordered.”
“I didn’t ask to be brought back, now did I? This soul is torturing me. And this…this…thing beating in my chest...it is a curse! I hate it!” she screamed, breathing heavily. She felt dizzy and weak, and her anger was made even greater. “What is wrong with me?” she whispered. “I feel so weak…what is happening?”
Lindsay looked away, refusing to answer.
Darla’s voice rose again to a screech. “What is happening to me?”
He did not reply.
She approached him, her whole stance threatening. “I swear to God, Lindsay, if you don’t tell me what is going on, I will rip your throat out,” she hissed.
He swallowed and turned back to face her. “Your test results came back,” he said quietly. “When you first were human, 400 years ago, you were dying of syphilis. When the master turned you into a vampire, he cured you of that. Now that you’re human again….” he trailed off, still not meeting her eyes.
“What are you saying? I’m…I’m dying?” Darla choked out.
“Yes.”
She stared at Lindsay, horrified. She backed away slowly and then turned and ran out the door. Stumbling across the street, she fell to her knees and sobbed.
“This can’t be happening,” she cried. “I can’t die. I shouldn’t be able to die!”
“Cordy, what are you doing?’ Angel sighed as he reluctantly descended the basement stairs.
Rearranging another flower vase, she replied, “I thought I’d bring some color and cheer down here! Don’t worry, they’re fake. Leave anything that’s actually alive around here and it’ll die instantly in this dreary pit.” Cordelia turned and caught Angel glaring at her in defense of his space.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“Anyways, let’s get started. First, I’m going to show you how to perform a basic roundhouse kick.”
“Basic? Isn’t that, well, not basic?”
“We don’t have time for level zero.”
“There’s a level zero?”
“Cor….”
“Sorry.”
“Now. Do as I do. Plant your left foot here…no, a little over more…good. Up on your toes, lean forward a little…wait, too far!”
Cordy yelped as she crashed onto the floor. “What are we doing, combat skills or ballet?” she grumbled. Angel helped her to her feet and waited as she brushed herself off.
“All right, let’s try it again. Plant your foot, up on your toes, lean just a little…good. Bring your arms in…okay, now swing around with your other leg out and kick!”
Cordelia mirrored her mentor’s actions almost perfectly until she kicked her leg out. She almost made it, but suddenly became unbalanced and toppled over again. Angel caught her just before she hit the floor.
“That was good! You almost had it!” he praised.
Cordy looked up at him. “Really? You think so?” she asked, her eyes shining.
“Yeah. You just need to work on your balance is all. Now, I’m going to show you how to properly defend yourself when someone attacks you from the front. Hold your stance like this. Arms up a little more…always protect your face. That’s the position you should always be in when starting out. Now punch, straight out – lock your wrist. Good. All right, try it on me.”
“What?”
“Pretend I’m the enemy. I’m going to come at you, and you will defend yourself. Ready?”
“Can I pretend you’re the evil version of you? It’s easier.”
“Fine. Ready?”
“Ready.”
Angel lunged at her and she immediately punched him in the face, sending him flying backwards and into a pile of boxes.
“Angel! Oh, no! I’m so sorry!” Cordelia exclaimed, rushing towards him. He crawled out from underneath the pile and brushed himself off.
“Are you okay?” she asked worriedly.
He grinned at her. “Yeah, I’m fine. You can’t hurt me.” He turned away a little and grimaced, rubbing his nose.
Ow, he winced inwardly.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, Cordy, I’m fine. What I want you to do now is to try your technique out on my punching bag over there.”
“But it’s just a bag. There’s nothing dangerous about it.”
Angel sighed. “Okay, I’ll just have to be your punching bag, then. Come at me.”
They sparred for a few minutes, with Angel dodging most of Cordelia’s attacks. At last, she tried out a roundhouse kick and caught Angel square in the stomach. He doubled over and fell to the floor.
“I did it again!” she complained. “Sorry!”
“Don’t worry,” Angel struggled to speak. “I already told you. You can’t hurt me.”
Suddenly the phone upstairs rang. “I’ll get it!” Cordelia called, running upstairs and leaving Angel on the floor. He tried to sit up but the wind was still knocked out of him, and he fell back, groaning.
“Oof. I guess she can hurt me a little. Ow…”
A few minutes after midnight, he heard the door click open and soft footfalls on the carpet.
“There’s my boy,” whispered Darla as she pulled out the sleeping powder.
Angel felt her climb on top of him and heard her unscrew the lid.
“Now, just a bit of this and you’ll sleep well.”
As her hand drifted over his face, Angel’s eyes flew open and he grabbed her wrist.
“Hello, Darla.”
“Angel!” she gasped. “How – “
“I paid a visit to your resurrectors. Tell me, what exactly didn’t you understand about ‘dust to dust’?”
“Angel, let go of me!” she exclaimed.
“Not until you give me some answers. Why did they bring you back?” he demanded.
“Let go of me!”
“Why did they bring you back?”
Darla stopped struggling. “The apocalypse,” she murmured.
“What do you have anything to do with the apocalypse?”
“I don’t know!” she cried. “I’m just a small part in all of this. Wolfram and Hart are trying to influence you to fight on their side. You’re a major player, they say, but the Senior Partners don’t know which side you will be on. That’s all I know.”
Angel drew back, a bit shocked and extremely uneasy about what his old sire was telling him. Darla felt his grip loosen just enough and quickly made her escape. However, Angel was not that willing to let her go so easily and pursued her at once. She eventually led him to an underground convent. Angel came up behind her and grabbed hold of her arm. Darla spun, fury on her lips.
“You know where we are, don’t you, Angelus? A convent. You always did love convents.”
“I’m not Angelus anymore. My name is Angel.”
“You will always be Angelus!” she shrieked. “That demon is always there! My boy is still in there, and he wants out!”
Angel shook his head. “No.”
“What is all this for?” she exclaimed, pulling out a wooden cross and thrusting it in his face. “For redemption? God doesn’t want you! But I still do.” Darla pocketed the cross and ran towards a set of stairs, with Angel after her. By now, weak sunlight filtered through and Angel halted. Darla turned and glared at him.
“Can’t follow me, can you? You always were worthless,” she spat. And then she fled.
Although Angel knew her words held little weight, he was surprised to find that they still stung a little. Tired and irritated, he trudged towards the sewer entrance and headed back to the Hyperion.
“Angel, where have you been?” Cordelia asked anxiously.
“Where’s Wes and Gunn?” he muttered, plopping down on a cushioned chair and leaning his head back with a sigh.
“I had a vision. They waited for a few minutes, but you didn’t come back, so they took care of it themselves. What happened?”
“Darla came around midnight. You were right; Wolfram and Hart brought her back from the dead. I chased her all the way to an underground convent, but she still escaped,” he sighed wearily.
“What does she want from you?” Cordy settled next to him and placed her hand on his arm. Angel’s imaginary beating heart thumped faster as he gazed her beautiful face and soft, perfect dark hair. He usually preferred the blonde type, but he had to admit that Cordelia Chase was different.
“Apparently Wolfram and Hart are using her as a part of their plan to influence the outcome of the apocalypse.”
She stared at him blankly. “Huh?”
“Darla said that I’m a major player in the prophesied apocalypse but the firm isn’t sure which side I will be on when the time comes. Obviously, they want me to fight for it, not against it. Frankly, I don’t know either.”
“Of course you will fight against it!” she cried. “Who do they think you are? You’re Angel, the Dark Avenger – you help the helpless and save the needy!”
“Cordy,” Angel sighed. “There’s still the part of me, that demon that I struggle with every day who is constantly fighting to get out. Sometimes chance throws a hand in and you trip and everything you’ve worked for is lost.”
“Well, if we trip, then we’ll just have to take chance and our enemies down with us, now won’t we?” Cordelia grinned, patting his hand. She stood and made her way to the fridge. “Want coffee? Or blood? I just got a shipment from the butcher this morning.”
“Blood, please. Thanks, Cordy.”
She gave him a sidelong glance and a smile. “You’re Welcome.”
The door opened and Wesley and Gunn stumbled in, covered in demon slime and fluorescent blood.
“Oh, Angel, you’re back,” Wesley muttered, exhausted.
“What happened to you?”
“Ankho demons. A nest of them. They’re not very large, but they have a nasty tendency to come up from behind and strangle their victims, like a boa constrictor. Except a lot more ugly and evil. What happened to you?”
“Darla.”
“Oh, God.”
Cordelia walked in then with a cup of coffee and a glass of blood in her hands. “Yeah, that charming little bloodsucker is back. And now the world is going to end.” Angel glared at her as she handed him his dinner. “Sorry,” she muttered.
Wesley fell onto a couch. “Is there something that I need to know?”
“Long story. Tell you tomorrow.”
“Make it a bedtime story,” Gunn intoned.
“Too tired.”
“Fine.”
Cordelia shook her head at the wearied group. “You guys are pathetic. You’re all acting like a bunch of babies!”
They all gave her dirty, exhausted looks.
“You try fighting off 6 Ankho demons who love to eat human flesh,” Wesley retorted.
“Yeah, and try running on fumes while trying to save the world, gain redemption, fight demons both internal and external, and deal with your sire who never stays dead, evil law firms who have it out for you at all times, and teammates who are whining about a simple infestation. Top that!” Angel growled.
Cordy stood thoughtfully. “Fine. Angel, teach me how to fight.”
“What?”
“Teach me how to fight. I’m tired of staying behind and playing housewife and then having you guys come home and be all gripy and irritated. So, teach me. Lessons every day for an hour,” she demanded.
“Um – “
“Great! I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m going home.”
The three men stared after her retreating back. Wesley smiled grimly at Angel. “Good luck.”
“I won’t do it anymore!” Darla shouted.
“You have to,” replied Lindsay.
“No, I don’t! I am a 400-year-old vampire. I created him! I won’t do it!”
“We brought you back. You must do as you are ordered.”
“I didn’t ask to be brought back, now did I? This soul is torturing me. And this…this…thing beating in my chest...it is a curse! I hate it!” she screamed, breathing heavily. She felt dizzy and weak, and her anger was made even greater. “What is wrong with me?” she whispered. “I feel so weak…what is happening?”
Lindsay looked away, refusing to answer.
Darla’s voice rose again to a screech. “What is happening to me?”
He did not reply.
She approached him, her whole stance threatening. “I swear to God, Lindsay, if you don’t tell me what is going on, I will rip your throat out,” she hissed.
He swallowed and turned back to face her. “Your test results came back,” he said quietly. “When you first were human, 400 years ago, you were dying of syphilis. When the master turned you into a vampire, he cured you of that. Now that you’re human again….” he trailed off, still not meeting her eyes.
“What are you saying? I’m…I’m dying?” Darla choked out.
“Yes.”
She stared at Lindsay, horrified. She backed away slowly and then turned and ran out the door. Stumbling across the street, she fell to her knees and sobbed.
“This can’t be happening,” she cried. “I can’t die. I shouldn’t be able to die!”
“Cordy, what are you doing?’ Angel sighed as he reluctantly descended the basement stairs.
Rearranging another flower vase, she replied, “I thought I’d bring some color and cheer down here! Don’t worry, they’re fake. Leave anything that’s actually alive around here and it’ll die instantly in this dreary pit.” Cordelia turned and caught Angel glaring at her in defense of his space.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“Anyways, let’s get started. First, I’m going to show you how to perform a basic roundhouse kick.”
“Basic? Isn’t that, well, not basic?”
“We don’t have time for level zero.”
“There’s a level zero?”
“Cor….”
“Sorry.”
“Now. Do as I do. Plant your left foot here…no, a little over more…good. Up on your toes, lean forward a little…wait, too far!”
Cordy yelped as she crashed onto the floor. “What are we doing, combat skills or ballet?” she grumbled. Angel helped her to her feet and waited as she brushed herself off.
“All right, let’s try it again. Plant your foot, up on your toes, lean just a little…good. Bring your arms in…okay, now swing around with your other leg out and kick!”
Cordelia mirrored her mentor’s actions almost perfectly until she kicked her leg out. She almost made it, but suddenly became unbalanced and toppled over again. Angel caught her just before she hit the floor.
“That was good! You almost had it!” he praised.
Cordy looked up at him. “Really? You think so?” she asked, her eyes shining.
“Yeah. You just need to work on your balance is all. Now, I’m going to show you how to properly defend yourself when someone attacks you from the front. Hold your stance like this. Arms up a little more…always protect your face. That’s the position you should always be in when starting out. Now punch, straight out – lock your wrist. Good. All right, try it on me.”
“What?”
“Pretend I’m the enemy. I’m going to come at you, and you will defend yourself. Ready?”
“Can I pretend you’re the evil version of you? It’s easier.”
“Fine. Ready?”
“Ready.”
Angel lunged at her and she immediately punched him in the face, sending him flying backwards and into a pile of boxes.
“Angel! Oh, no! I’m so sorry!” Cordelia exclaimed, rushing towards him. He crawled out from underneath the pile and brushed himself off.
“Are you okay?” she asked worriedly.
He grinned at her. “Yeah, I’m fine. You can’t hurt me.” He turned away a little and grimaced, rubbing his nose.
Ow, he winced inwardly.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, Cordy, I’m fine. What I want you to do now is to try your technique out on my punching bag over there.”
“But it’s just a bag. There’s nothing dangerous about it.”
Angel sighed. “Okay, I’ll just have to be your punching bag, then. Come at me.”
They sparred for a few minutes, with Angel dodging most of Cordelia’s attacks. At last, she tried out a roundhouse kick and caught Angel square in the stomach. He doubled over and fell to the floor.
“I did it again!” she complained. “Sorry!”
“Don’t worry,” Angel struggled to speak. “I already told you. You can’t hurt me.”
Suddenly the phone upstairs rang. “I’ll get it!” Cordelia called, running upstairs and leaving Angel on the floor. He tried to sit up but the wind was still knocked out of him, and he fell back, groaning.
“Oof. I guess she can hurt me a little. Ow…”
