Cordelia sat next to Wesley on the couch while Angel leaned against the doorframe that led to his office. The trio carefully eyed the mysterious woman. She was standing next to a bookshelf examining the antique texts with apparent interest. Angel and the others were still not sure what her deal was. She had shown up unexpectedly, admitting to not being human, and practically demanded their help in completing some kind of strange task of hers.

*Taking someone before their time? What is that supposed to mean?* Cordelia thought angrily, she was so not in the mood for this. She had been certain that this had been a potential, paying customer, but *No, she just ends up being a demon type thing. And one that Angel won't even get rid of. What's the point of working for a soulful vampire if he won't even kill the big bad for you…even if she does have a decent fashion sense?* Cordelia leaned back against the cushions and fixed the young woman with a steely glare.

"Quite a collection you've got here, Demon." The woman admired quietly.

"He's got a name, you know." Cordelia said indignantly. *Demon? Like you're one to talk.* She thought, piqued. There was something about this lady that really bothered her. She wasn't quite sure what it was, but maybe it had to do with the whole non-human thing.

"Aye, I know." Was all the other said. A small smile played on her lips as she noticed Angel flinch slightly at her words, though she offered nothing more. Wesley, seeing the tension that was beginning to creep up between the two women, decided to get the ball rolling.

"You say you've got a mission?" His English accent accentuating a little at the last word.

"'Bout time we got down to business." She remained standing, but leaned against the far wall that was opposite from the others, awaiting the questions that she knew were just about to arise.

"Hold on, before we get all chummy with Miss. Unknown here, I believe we're entitled to a few answers." Cordelia broke in. The woman raised an eyebrow and spread her arms.

"Ask away." But before Cordelia could say anything, Angel beat her to it.

"Who are you?"

The woman's eyes twinkled in silent laughter, as though he had just told a joke, but she was the only one who had understood the punch line.

"The name's Nia." She offered with a mocking bow.

Angel looked at her in disbelief. "Legend?" He whispered. A few seconds of silence followed his quiet statement.

"Huh?" Cordelia asked finally, confusing registering on her face as a sudden fear seemed to grip Angel. "Who's a legend?"

"No Cordelia." Wesley tried to explain patiently. "Nia is a name that was used in Ancient Ireland. It means legend."

"Oh." Was all she said, until Wesley's words finally sunk in. "You're Irish?" She looked up, her eyes wide. "Like Irish as in Angel? As in…" She let her voice trail off as Nia interrupted, her words taking on a serious turn.

"Yes, I'm from Ireland, which is part of the reason why I'm here right now actually."

"I don't think understand." Wesley said quietly. "How can the fact that you're Irish have anything to do with us?"

Nia drew herself up so that she was standing straight and looked at Wesley, slightly amused. "You're research boy around here right?"

"Uh. I suppose. In a sense." Wesley replied, a little uncomfortable.

"Well, what have your dusty books told you of the /Bean-sidhe/?"

The ex-watcher looked a little miffed. "I beg your pardon?" Nia rolled her eyes, and leaned back against the wall, not offering any type of explanation.

"The /Bean-sidhe/." Angel repeated slowly and both Wesley and Cordelia turned to him quizzically.

"So she said." Cordelia stated matter-of-fact, "The question is, what are they."

"I believe it's Old Gaelic," Wesley added helpfully, standing up. "Though I never learned the language myself, I'm sure I've got a book with the English translations around here somewhere." He began walking towards Angel's office, but the taller man blocked his view. "Uh, Angel, I don't mean to be rude, but could you please move out of the way?"

"Bean-Sidhe." The vampire merely stated yet again, staring over the Englishman's shoulder and straight at Nia, who only smirked back.

"We heard you the first time." Cordelia said exasperatedly. Angel's odd behaviour was seriously starting to get on her nerves.

"Yes I believe she's right Angel. I've got the name of the demons, now if only you'd be so kind as to step aside, I could use my books to find out who they are." Angel was still not moving and Wesley was beginning to become annoyed. "Angel please…"

"They're not demons."

"What?" Both Wesley and Cordelia stared at him as though he had grown a second head.

"They're not demons" Angel repeated, walking away from Wesley, and taking a few steps in Nia's directions. "Not really anyway. The Bean-sidhe. The fairy women." He glanced over his shoulder at Wesley who was still looking a bit baffled at his explanation. "They're native to Ireland, though the common name for them are Banshees."

Nia once again pushed herself off of the wall and began clapping slowly. "Finally. That whole dramatic pause thing was getting old, fast."

"Alright, just hang on one second." Cordelia stated, quickly getting to her feet to stand next to Angel. "Banshees? As in the whole big, ugly, stringy-hair, seriously in need of a make-over banshees?" She used her hands for emphasis.

"Wow, aren't you a bright one?" Nia sneered. "Although you are way off base." She sized Cordelia up, "guess it's nothing new for you though."

Cordelia gaped at her in disbelief. "Excuse me?" She stepped forward, an unstated threat in the air, but Wesley quickly put an arm around her waist and dragged her back. "Let me go. Did you hear what she said?" Cordelia struggled against him.

"Cordelia please, calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down Wesley. She's the one who's being a major…" The last word was muffled as Wesley placed a hand over her mouth to keep her mute. With a grimace, she threw it off and slipped out of his grasp, but remained quiet.

"Tsk tsk dear." Nia shook her head in mock disapproval. "Now what would your father say if he heard you talk like that? Wait a minute, I guess he'd be too preoccupied. You know stamping license plates and all. That is what they do in prison these days isn't it?"

Cordelia's eyes widened. She was too stunned to say anything, but Wesley intervened while Angel hung back, simply staring at the stranger in disbelief.

"Alright, I've had enough of this. What gives you the right to come in here and insult us like this? You don't even know us."

Nia pointed a finger at Wesley's chest, ire replacing the scornful tone of her voice. "Oh I know you all right, and frankly you make me sick."

Wesley stepped back, shocked.

Nia let her arm drop and looked up at Angel. She laughed, though it was devoid of humour. "You have this fancy office, with your business cards and your logo," She pointed towards the front door. "You say that you fight evil and rid the world of inhuman monsters. You say you stand for truth and justice… and love." Her eyes met Angel's briefly before she continued on, walking towards and stopping in front of Cordelia. "Yet you're nothing but a bunch of hypocrites." She said the words with such disgust that Cordelia cringed slightly, before taking a deep breath and looking her straight in the eye.

"What the hell gives you the right to say any of those horrible things?" She asked, her voice low and full of spite.

Nia's eyes took on an unearthly glow as her next words came out slowly and viciously, "Doyle's death."

Part 4
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