天使 closed the door of his room. He had already sent the others 首页 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 分钟 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.
天使 felt her climb on 最佳, 返回页首 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 你 understand about ‘dust to dust’?”
“Angel, let go of me!” she exclaimed.
“Not until 你 give me some answers. Why did they bring 你 back?” he demanded.
“Let go of me!”
“Why did they bring 你 back?”
Darla stopped struggling. “The apocalypse,” she murmured.
“What do 你 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 你 to fight on their side. You’re a major player, they say, but the Senior Partners don’t know which side 你 will be on. That’s all I know.”
天使 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, 天使 was not that willing to let her go so easily and pursued her at once. She eventually led him to an underground convent. 天使 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. 你 always did 爱情 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!”
天使 shook his head. “No.”
“What is all this for?” she exclaimed, pulling out a wooden 交叉, 十字架 and thrusting it in his face. “For redemption? God doesn’t want you! But I still do.” Darla pocketed the 交叉, 十字架 and ran towards a set of stairs, with 天使 after her. 由 now, weak sunlight filtered through and 天使 halted. Darla turned and glared at him.
“Can’t follow me, can you? 你 always were worthless,” she spat. And then she fled.
Although 天使 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 你 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 你 didn’t come back, so they took care of it themselves. What happened?”
“Darla came around midnight. 你 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 下一个 to him and placed her hand on his arm. Angel’s imaginary beating 心 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 说 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 你 will fight against it!” she cried. “Who do they think 你 are? You’re Angel, the Dark Avenger – 你 help the helpless and save the needy!”
“Cordy,” 天使 sighed. “There’s still the part of me, that demon that I struggle with every 日 who is constantly fighting to get out. Sometimes chance throws a hand in and 你 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? 或者 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 蟒蛇, 宝儿 constrictor. Except a lot 更多 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.” 天使 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 你 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 表演 like a bunch of babies!”
They all gave her dirty, exhausted looks.
“You try fighting off 6 Ankho demons who 爱情 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 你 at all times, and teammates who are whining about a simple infestation. 最佳, 返回页首 that!” 天使 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 你 guys come 首页 and be all gripy and irritated. So, teach me. Lessons every 日 for an hour,” she demanded.
“Um – “
“Great! I’ll see 你 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 你 back. 你 must do as 你 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 你 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 说 quietly. “When 你 first were human, 400 years ago, 你 were dying of syphilis. When the master turned 你 into a vampire, he cured 你 of that. Now that you’re human again….” he trailed off, still not meeting her eyes.
“What are 你 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 你 doing?’ 天使 sighed as he reluctantly descended the basement stairs.
Rearranging another 花 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 天使 glaring at her in defense of his space.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“Anyways, let’s get started. First, I’m going to 显示 你 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 前锋, 期待 a little…wait, too far!”
Cordy yelped as she crashed onto the floor. “What are we doing, combat skills 或者 ballet?” she grumbled. 天使 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 摇摆, 秋千 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. 天使 caught her just before she hit the floor.
“That was good! 你 almost had it!” he praised.
Cordy looked up at him. “Really? 你 think so?” she asked, her eyes shining.
“Yeah. 你 just need to work on your balance is all. Now, I’m going to 显示 你 how to properly defend yourself when someone attacks 你 from the front. Hold your stance like this. Arms up a little more…always protect your face. That’s the position 你 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 你 will defend yourself. Ready?”
“Can I pretend you’re the evil version of you? It’s easier.”
“Fine. Ready?”
“Ready.”
天使 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 你 okay?” she asked worriedly.
He grinned at her. “Yeah, I’m fine. 你 can’t hurt me.” He turned away a little and grimaced, rubbing his nose.
Ow, he winced inwardly.
“Are 你 sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, Cordy, I’m fine. What I want 你 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.”
天使 sighed. “Okay, I’ll just have to be your punching bag, then. Come at me.”
They sparred for a few minutes, with 天使 dodging most of Cordelia’s attacks. At last, she tried out a roundhouse kick and caught 天使 square in the stomach. He doubled over and fell to the floor.
“I did it again!” she complained. “Sorry!”
“Don’t worry,” 天使 struggled to speak. “I already told you. 你 can’t hurt me.”
Suddenly the phone upstairs rang. “I’ll get it!” Cordelia called, running upstairs and leaving 天使 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 分钟 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.
天使 felt her climb on 最佳, 返回页首 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 你 understand about ‘dust to dust’?”
“Angel, let go of me!” she exclaimed.
“Not until 你 give me some answers. Why did they bring 你 back?” he demanded.
“Let go of me!”
“Why did they bring 你 back?”
Darla stopped struggling. “The apocalypse,” she murmured.
“What do 你 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 你 to fight on their side. You’re a major player, they say, but the Senior Partners don’t know which side 你 will be on. That’s all I know.”
天使 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, 天使 was not that willing to let her go so easily and pursued her at once. She eventually led him to an underground convent. 天使 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. 你 always did 爱情 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!”
天使 shook his head. “No.”
“What is all this for?” she exclaimed, pulling out a wooden 交叉, 十字架 and thrusting it in his face. “For redemption? God doesn’t want you! But I still do.” Darla pocketed the 交叉, 十字架 and ran towards a set of stairs, with 天使 after her. 由 now, weak sunlight filtered through and 天使 halted. Darla turned and glared at him.
“Can’t follow me, can you? 你 always were worthless,” she spat. And then she fled.
Although 天使 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 你 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 你 didn’t come back, so they took care of it themselves. What happened?”
“Darla came around midnight. 你 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 下一个 to him and placed her hand on his arm. Angel’s imaginary beating 心 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 说 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 你 will fight against it!” she cried. “Who do they think 你 are? You’re Angel, the Dark Avenger – 你 help the helpless and save the needy!”
“Cordy,” 天使 sighed. “There’s still the part of me, that demon that I struggle with every 日 who is constantly fighting to get out. Sometimes chance throws a hand in and 你 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? 或者 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 蟒蛇, 宝儿 constrictor. Except a lot 更多 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.” 天使 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 你 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 表演 like a bunch of babies!”
They all gave her dirty, exhausted looks.
“You try fighting off 6 Ankho demons who 爱情 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 你 at all times, and teammates who are whining about a simple infestation. 最佳, 返回页首 that!” 天使 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 你 guys come 首页 and be all gripy and irritated. So, teach me. Lessons every 日 for an hour,” she demanded.
“Um – “
“Great! I’ll see 你 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 你 back. 你 must do as 你 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 你 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 说 quietly. “When 你 first were human, 400 years ago, 你 were dying of syphilis. When the master turned 你 into a vampire, he cured 你 of that. Now that you’re human again….” he trailed off, still not meeting her eyes.
“What are 你 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 你 doing?’ 天使 sighed as he reluctantly descended the basement stairs.
Rearranging another 花 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 天使 glaring at her in defense of his space.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“Anyways, let’s get started. First, I’m going to 显示 你 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 前锋, 期待 a little…wait, too far!”
Cordy yelped as she crashed onto the floor. “What are we doing, combat skills 或者 ballet?” she grumbled. 天使 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 摇摆, 秋千 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. 天使 caught her just before she hit the floor.
“That was good! 你 almost had it!” he praised.
Cordy looked up at him. “Really? 你 think so?” she asked, her eyes shining.
“Yeah. 你 just need to work on your balance is all. Now, I’m going to 显示 你 how to properly defend yourself when someone attacks 你 from the front. Hold your stance like this. Arms up a little more…always protect your face. That’s the position 你 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 你 will defend yourself. Ready?”
“Can I pretend you’re the evil version of you? It’s easier.”
“Fine. Ready?”
“Ready.”
天使 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 你 okay?” she asked worriedly.
He grinned at her. “Yeah, I’m fine. 你 can’t hurt me.” He turned away a little and grimaced, rubbing his nose.
Ow, he winced inwardly.
“Are 你 sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, Cordy, I’m fine. What I want 你 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.”
天使 sighed. “Okay, I’ll just have to be your punching bag, then. Come at me.”
They sparred for a few minutes, with 天使 dodging most of Cordelia’s attacks. At last, she tried out a roundhouse kick and caught 天使 square in the stomach. He doubled over and fell to the floor.
“I did it again!” she complained. “Sorry!”
“Don’t worry,” 天使 struggled to speak. “I already told you. 你 can’t hurt me.”
Suddenly the phone upstairs rang. “I’ll get it!” Cordelia called, running upstairs and leaving 天使 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…”