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Ophelia stared at the paper she held in her hand. On it was written the address and phone number for Angel Investigations. It was the only Angel she'd been able to find in the entire phone book and she was now praying that she'd get a lucky break.
She was now standing in front of a large building, staring up and wondering if she had the right address. She stared down at the paper in her hand again, then shrugged and entered the building. Finding the sign for Angel Investigations, she went to the door and opened it, looking around for someone inside. The office was dark, but she could see three figures sitting on the couch.
A woman stood up almost immediately. "Angel?" She called, reaching over and flipping on the light. Ophelia stared at the woman before her. She had short, light brown hair and looked worried.
"No, sorry." Ophelia stepped forward.
The man on the couch stood up next. "May I ask who you are?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. My name's Ophelia."
The man nodded. "I'm Wesley. This is Grace," he motioned to the woman who was now standing, "and this is Cordelia." He said, pointing to the woman still sitting on the couch.
"Hi." Ophelia smiled nervously.
Grace raised her eyebrows. "Can we help you with something?"
Ophelia sighed, then nodded. "Yeah. I assume by what you said when I first came in, you know Angel."
Grace's eyes grew wide. "Do you know what happened to him?"
"Yeah, I do. It's a long story and I'd like if you could hear me out before you judge me." Ophelia began.
Wesley nodded toward the couch. "Take a seat."
Angel roamed the streets of down town Los Angeles in the middle of the night. It was a great feeling to be alive and able to breathe the air. Hegira had taken over and she was having the time of her life. The real Angel, his soul and heart were deep within the body, struggling to get out. But the body itself wasn't ready to give up the demon. He'd never felt so alive and so free, not even when he'd become Angelus for the second and third times in his life. Angelus had never felt like this, Angelus had always had a passion for destruction and the will to kill whatever crossed his path. But tonight, Angel's body felt different. He felt free.
He'd been separated from whatever it was that held him back. His mind was floating, his eyes wide and taking in every tiny thing he saw and his ears were tuned to the quietest sounds of the night. What he was feeling was better than being a vampire, it was like being a god.
"Hey, watch it." A man muttered as Angel walked past him, brushing him with his shoulder.
Angel stopped walking, cocked his head to the side, then turned around. His blue eyes settled on the man that was standing there, waiting for his next move.
"Pardon me?" Angel asked.
"I said watch it." The man repeated, taking a step forward and closing the space between them. "Something wrong with that?"
Angel bit his lip, his fangs coming down over them and sliding onto his chin. The change was so subtle that the man didn't even notice. Angel's face remained the same, no ridges or disfigurations appearing, just the fangs. His tongue slipped over the teeth in a seductive way and the man stepped backward again, troubled by Angel's reaction.
"Nothing wrong with it." Angel grinned. "Nothing at all."
"What the hell is wrong with your mouth?" The man asked, scrunching up his face and staring at the fangs.
"Everything's fine." Angel said.
The man stared at him for a moment longer, then turned and began to walk away, shaking his head.
"Oh sir," Angel called, "you forgot something."
He turned back and groaned. "What?"
Angel was in front of him in a flash, one hand on his neck, pulling him into an alley at their side. His teeth were in his vein before the man could react and he was dead before he could even begin to comprehend what was happening to him.
Angel's fangs slid back into his mouth. "You forgot to die." He whispered, then dropped the body and turned down the street, whistling to himself and waiting for the next fool to try and hurt him.
"So, let me get this straight," Grace began, "it takes over his mind and makes him act like he's evil again and then it drives him insane?"
Ophelia nodded. "Hegira can only posses a body and mind for so long. After four or five days she'll lose control, but during that time she'll force Angel to the edge of sanity and probably push him over that edge."
"How?" Wesley asked. "If she's busy making him do things he normally wouldn't do, how does she have the time to make Angel go mad?"
"Do you know the definition of Hegira?" Ophelia asked. When they all shook their heads, she began to recite the definition she'd learned long ago. "Hegira was the flight of Muhammad from Mecca in six twenty two AD. The actual definition is a journey taken to escape danger."
Cordelia looked at her blankly. "So?"
"Hegira can only posses a pure hearted soul." Ophelia explained. "One who puts others before themselves, feels regret for every single thing they think they've done wrong, wants to save all the innocent and protects everyone they can."
Grace nodded. "That's Angel."
"And the person is so pure hearted that they want to save themselves and their loved ones from the cruelty of the demon." Ophelia sighed. "When she begins to push them toward insanity, they let her so that they can save their loved ones the pain of her wrath. They sacrifice themselves to madness in order to save others."
"Does it save them?" Wesley asked.
"Usually, no." Ophelia admitted. "For the most part Hegira will continue to torment the loved ones and when she leaves, the mind is also gone." She hung her head. "I'm sorry, but I had to try to get my uncle back."
Grace nodded. "I understand. Can you stop it?"
Ophelia glanced up again. "I know a way to stop it, I have a book, but I'm not sure I have the power to do so."
"I don't care." Grace said. "We're going to save him."
"But--" Ophelia protested.
"Get the book." Grace insisted. "I'm not letting Angel slip away. Not like this."
Angel struggled against the forces that held him down. He felt like he was in a deep, dark hole without any lights or any doors. He couldn't even see his own hand in front of his face and he knew that was probably because, at the moment, he had no hands. There was a demon in his body and he'd been stuffed in the cellar and left to rot.
"She doesn't love you." The female voice called out, breathing the words close by. "The demon girl, she's unfaithful. I'll bet you'd never have suspected what was really going on between her and Wesley."
"Shut up." Angel screamed, the words echoing in the deep recesses of his mind.
She laughed. "You think that I'm lying? I know Angel, I've seen them together. Grace and Wesley, lying in his bed, making love. They're so beautiful together. When she has his child, she'll be the most beautiful thing on the face of the earth. More beautiful than the Gods and the Powers that Be, themselves. They'll name her Angel, after you."
Angel tried not to listen, he knew the demon was lying to him. *Maybe she'll go away,* he thought, *maybe she'll leave them along if I just give in. If I let her take my mind then maybe she'll let Grace live.*
"I want you to be there when she's born. Maybe if you watch this child enter our world you'll understand how far away from it you really are." The demon chuckled again. "The slayer never really loved you either. You can pretend all you want, but right now she's lying in the arms of her human boyfriend. The one that can actually satisfy her and love her. Not like you. You're just a liability to both of them. Like a lost puppy they have to take care of. They're just passing you along, Grace will find another woman to take care of you."
Angel cried out in his mind, sinking deeper into his despair as the demon laughed, her voice encircling him and driving him mad.
"I'll try." Ophelia said. "But I don't think I have the power to invoke this spirit."
"You'll try it though." Grace said, looking over the young sorceresses shoulder. "Won't you?"
Ophelia nodded. "I promise you, I'll do my best."
Wesley entered the kitchen of Angel's apartment, carrying supplies in both his arms. "I couldn't find the hellbane herb, though I could swear Angel kept some in his room somewhere." Wesley frowned. "Although I did find a burgundy sweater that I've never seen Angel wear. It was scary."
"I found it!" Cordelia announced, coming into the room, carrying a bag of a orange powder.
"Good," Ophelia reached over and took it from her, opening the bag and spilling most of the contents out onto the table. "Now, I just have to pray that this works."
Hegira laughed to herself as Angel's mind writhed in pain within his body. He was nearly ready to hurl himself into insanity and she was busy enjoying life in a body again.
Angel's body turned down a street on his left and found himself facing the Wolfram and Hart building. Lindsey, Lilah and a man that looked like Lee were walking toward a limo with a blonde woman bouncing eagerly between them.
"Darla, calm down." Lilah ordered, placing her hand on the blonde woman's shoulder.
Darla. The name echoed inside Angel's mind and the demon Hegira smiled to herself. She knew how to use that against him.
"Hey there." Angel said, stepping up to them.
Lindsey whirled toward him. "Angel." He looked him up and down. "What a pleasure." He grinned. "Are you in there Hegira?"
She forced Angel's mouth to smile. "Of course. You're Lindsey McDonald. You're the one who invoked me."
Lee looked Angel's body up and down. "This is it? This is what we payed for?"
"Shut up Lee." Lilah muttered, then glanced at Angel. "How far along are you? Is he gone yet?"
Angel shook his head. "He's still debating what to do. He wants to stay, but he wants to save the demon girl so badly. He loves her a lot."
"I know." Lindsey replied. "I hate it."
Angel smirked. "Jealous are we?"
"I still don't see the scary part." Lee murmured. "This is all that we paid for."
Angel's hands were around the neck of Lee Mercer before the other vampire could react. "Do you want to feel the pain?" Angel hissed, bringing his mouth close to Lee's ear. "Do you want to feel the raw pain that I can provide you with?" One of Angel's hands slid down to Lee's chest and his pointer finger slowly began to press down on his breast bone. Lee cringed, feeling the pressure on his internal organs beneath the protective bone.
"Don't mess with him, uh, her." Darla murmured. "Whoever it is, it's still my Angel inside."
Lee squired in the grip of the vampire. "You've made your point Hegira. Let me go."
Angel leaned down. "Make me." He growled.
Lee glared at him, then melted into his demon face and threw Angel's hands off his chest. "I can do more than make you." He replied. Lee was on top of Angel in a second, pushing him down on the ground and beginning to pummel his face.
Angel retaliated quickly, his hand slamming viscously across Lee's face, splitting the skin of his nose and causing blood to spurt onto the sidewalk. Lee rolled off Angel and cupped his nose, trying to stop the flow of blood that leaked from it.
"You're such a bastard." Lee hissed, his voice muffled because of his hands and his broken nose.
Angel stood up, smiling happily and waiting for the slight bruises and marks on his face to fade. Then he turned to look at the others.
"I'm going to his friends right now." The demon spoke. "I'll hurt them as much as I can and when I'm gone, there will be nothing left of the Angel they knew."
Darla smiled. "Good boy. Good luck."
"I'll remember you." Angel promised, then turned and walked away, fading into the distance.
Lindsey glanced down and grabbed Lee's shoulder. "Get up Lee." He ordered, pulling the other man to his feet. "I can't believe you did that."
"Did what?" Lee asked. "He's such a jerk, I hate him."
"Well, he's not too fond of you either." Lilah retorted. "Just get into the limo."
Lee stepped into the long car as he grumbled, followed by Darla and Lilah. Lindsey stood by the door a moment longer, watching Angel's back fade in the black night.
"What I'd give to have known that guy as Angelus." He murmured before ducking his head and climbing into the back seat of the limousine.
Angel stepped up to the door that read 'Angel Investigations' and paused for a moment. There were lights on inside and voices murmured continually. He could hear Wesley, Grace and Cordelia, along with another female voice that he couldn't place. He decided she was probably another lost soul that he'd never be able the help, then turned the door knob and pushed inward, entering the office.
"Angel!" Grace gasped, seeing him enter the office. "Uh, what are you doing back so soon? We thought you'd be out all night."
"So did I." He replied. "But I just had to see you. I love you so much Grace, it's too bad I'm going to have to kill you."
Her face hardened, hearing the demon speaking through Angel. "I'm not going to let you kill anyone, especially Angel. You stupid little, drive the pure ones insane, plan isn't going to work."
Angel just nodded the comment off. "Who's this?" He asked, pointing to Ophelia.
Cordelia stepped forward. "She's just another client."
Ophelia nodded, squeezing her mouth shut and staring at the ground.
"What's your name?" Angel asked.
"It's Ophelia." Wesley jumped in. She nodded again, then collected her things and scurried from the office, slamming the door behind her.
Angel watched the door for a moment longer, then turned back to the three remaining occupants of the office. "Now," he murmured, letting his fangs come out again, "what to do with you three. What to do . . ."
Ophelia stepped out into the street, then glanced back and forth before sitting on the front steps. Her hands were shaking from the close call they'd had inside the office. Ophelia and Grace had successfully managed to invoke the spirits and powers needed to defeat Hegira. Now, all Ophelia had to do was speak and she'd also be inside Angel's mind. When she opened her mouth, she'd hear all the demon was saying to Angel and they would both hear her. Maybe she'd be able to save him.
Ophelia sighed, then took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"I'm looking at her right now." The demon screamed at him. "I'm seeing her in Wesley's arms. They're so much in love Angel, so perfect and beautiful together."
Angel sobbed, wanting everything to be over. He wanted to just die and have the tormenting stop.
"They're kissing now, holding each other tightly, their arms wrapped around each other." Another laugh escaped the mouth of the demon as she spoke to Angel inside his mind. "There's no way you could have missed this vampire, it's painfully obvious. She's so in love with him."
"Shut up!" Angel yelled. He wanted nothing more than to confront Grace and Wesley, to see if what the demon was saying was true.
"No!" Another voice suddenly echoed inside of Angel's mind and his head whirled with wonder.
"Who's there?" He yelled into the darkness.
"Angel, I'm here to help you." She said. "My name's Ophelia and I know Grace."
Angel's heart flared with hope. "Is she alive? Is she all right?"
"She's fine." Ophelia replied. "She's doing so well, but she's very worried about you. Right now the demon has taken your body inside the office." A worried sigh breathed around him. "I'm not sure what's going on, but I've been sent to stop Hegira. To make you listen to me."
"No." The demon shouted. "No, she's lying. It's all part of the illusion. She's part of me, trying to make you think Grace is still happy with you. Then the pain will be all that much more horrible."
Angel tried to clear his mind. "Ophelia, how do you know Grace?"
"I'm the one who brought this demon into you." She said. "I tried to save my uncle Lee from Wolfram and Hart by getting inside their building but it failed."
"See!" Hegira screamed. "She wants you dead just as much as I do."
"No." Ophelia said. "I don't want anyone dead. Especially not someone like Angel. I went to Grace and the others, I told them what I did and now while they battle Hegira in your body, I've been sent to battle her in your mind."
"Why should I believe you?" Angel asked.
"You shouldn't." The demon replied. "She's lying. She wants you to die."
"You should believe me because it's true." Ophelia said, ignoring the demon's words. "You know in your heart that Grace loves you more than anything in this world. She's working her ass off to find a way to make things right between you and all she wants to be with you." Ophelia sighed. "All I can do is try to make you see the truth Angel. But that truth is already inside of you. You know Grace and you know what's happening. You just have to accept it now, accept what's happening and accept that you can beat this demon."
"Don't listen to her Angel." Hegira hissed. "Grace and Wesley are happy together."
"There is no Grace and Wesley." Ophelia said, laughing. "All there is, is Grace and Angel. She loves you."
Angel felt tears running down his human face. "She loves me."
"Oh come on," Angel said, stepping forward, "I won't hurt you." Grace, Wesley and Cordelia had scattered a moment ago, hiding in various places around the office. Now Angel was on a mission.
"All I want to do is have a little fun." He sang, kicking the wall and the chairs as he went by. As he kicked a chair, he heard the unmistakable sound of a cry as the leg of the chair hit a human being. Angel reached down and grabbed an arm, hauling the person up to a standing position.
Grace stood before him, a bruise already forming on her jaw from being hit with the chair. She stared defiantly into his blue eyes.
"That's right babe, look into the eyes of the one you love." Angel sneered, tightening his grip on her arm.
"The one I love isn't in those eyes." She retorted. "He's in there." She pointed at Angel's chest, then yanked her arm from his grasp. "You can't scare me anymore Hegira. I know Ophelia's in there and I know she's beating you."
Angel stood still for a moment, his eyes wide. Then, almost too quick for Grace to catch, the colour flickered. They turned brown for a moment, then back to blue. In the second they had changed colour, tears had begun to pour down his face and the words, "she loves me," came from his mouth.
"No." He said, more fiercely when his eyes had gone back to blue. "There's no one inside this body but me and Angel. And we're having a blast. Do you want to know what I told him?"
"I don't care." Grace replied.
"I told him that you were in love with Wesley. I told him that you were having his child and that you were going to name her Angel." Angel smiled. "Isn't that funny."
Grace's fist slammed into his jaw a moment later and Angel stumbled backward. "What the hell was that for?"
"For killing him." She replied, then launched herself at him again.
Angel caught her easily, grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her up against the wall. "Now, this is what I call fun." He mumbled, then bent his head down to her neck. In an instant, Wesley and Cordelia were behind him, but Angel sensed them before they were there. He turned and threw them both backward. Cordelia hit the wall and fell to the floor unconscious. Wesley slammed against the desk, then rolled over and fell onto the floor on the other side. He didn't get up.
Angel bent his head again, his fangs trailing over Grace's skin.
"Angel, you have to listen to me." Ophelia said frantically in his mind. "I can see them through the window and Hegira's going to use your body to turn Grace into a vampire. You have to fight this."
"I'll fight it." Angel promised her.
"I don't know how much longer I'll be able to stay in here." Ophelia said. "I don't think I have much longer before I'll be kicked out. But you know that she loves you, don't you?"
"She doesn't love you." Hegira hissed.
"She loves you." Ophelia replied, fighting for Angel's life.
"She doesn't." Hegira insisted. "And even if she did, she'll be dead before you have to chance to save her."
"You're not going to kill her." Angel whispered.
As Grace struggled, Angel paused, letting go of her for a moment.
"You're not going to kill her." He whispered, surprising Grace. She tried to step backward, but found herself still pressed against the wall of the office.
Angel's head shook, the colour of his eyes flickering from blue to brown, then back again. "I won't let you win." He hissed, grasping his head in both of his hands and falling to the ground.
Once he was kneeling, a loud scream erupted from his mouth, followed by a string of curses in a female voice. Then he fell against the floor, his breathing shallow and his eyes closed.
Grace knelt beside him, lightly pushing back his eyelids. Both of his eyes were brown.
Angel woke up slowly, his eyes opening and closing a few times before they focused on the scene before him. Grace was sitting in a chair in the corner, reading a book and Wesley was near the door, holding a bowl of water.
"I brought more water for him." Wesley said.
Grace looked up and smiled. "Thanks Wes." She took the bowl from him and nodded. She picked up a cloth near his bedside, then took the bowl to his night table and set it down. The first Angel noticed was that in their eyes, there was nothing more than friendship.
"Angel!" Grace said in surprise, finding his eyes open.
"Hi." He murmured in a hoarse voice. "Are you okay?" He asked, immediately noticing the bruise that was spread over her jaw.
She nodded. "It's okay. Doesn't hurt anymore."
"How long have I been out?"
Grace shrugged. "Since last night some time. About thirteen hours."
Angel cringed, then looked at Wesley. "Are you and Cordelia okay?"
Wesley nodded. "We're both fine. I have a bit of a headache and Cordelia's a little angry, but we'll survive."
"Good," Angel said, then struggled to sit up. Grace helped him and soon he was sitting on the edge of his bed. "I'm really sorry." He said.
Grace shook her head. "Don't be silly Angel. It wasn't your fault, you couldn't control your own body."
Wesley sighed, then smiled slightly and stepped out of the room.
"No, you're right about that." He said. "I couldn't control my body. But I could have controlled my mind and I almost let that demon convince me that something was going on between you and Wesley." Angel looked down at the floor. "I should have had more faith."
Grace lightly touched Angel's face. "I had hoped you would have more faith than that. Don't you trust me?"
"She was just so convincing." He murmured. "I was so scared."
Grace smiled. "Don't be. You know I love you and that's all there is to it." She leaned down and kissed him lightly. "You don't have anything to worry about." Then Grace turned and left Angel alone, sitting on his bed.
He smiled after her. That was what he'd been waiting to hear since the demon had taken over his body. Even hearing Ophelia say it, couldn't make it true. But coming from Grace, Angel understood that everything would be all right again. All he had to do was wait.
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