What Was Lost is Now Found, Or is it?

Disclaimer: I own no BTVS characters. Angeles(The ending is pronounced with a 
long e sound), Josephine, their parents, Anthony, and the Collingtons are 
mine. If you want to use my story or characters go ahead, just remind the 
reader that they are my idea.
Summary: Angel's past comes back to him. Hopefully it will be enough to save 
his soul. Takes place after BBB. Xander and Cordy aren't together.


1779

    I awoke that morning and silently cursed to myself, as I do every 
morning. I hate the life I live. The only thing that is expected of me is to 
be beautiful. It's so dull.. Sure, being rich is nice, but that's all my 
family cares about, money. With money comes power. Power, money. Money, 
power. Its a malicious world.
    My servant, Melissa, arrives, as everyday, to make sure that I am awake. 
She reminds me that today is my  Birthday party. 19 years old today. Of 
course, everyone is invited. Strike that, I mean, all the rich people are 
invited. Another boring party. There is one every night. Mostly for no reason 
at all. They're all the same.

Later that day

    "Angeles! Hurry up! You don't want to be late." I had everything on, well 
my hair wasn't done. Melissa looked worried. She was afraid of my mother. Who 
wouldn't be? The wretch wanted everything to be perfect. If it wasn't, you 
were unacceptable. That's why I liked not being perfect.
    "I'm coming." I put my hair half up, and didn't care if mother liked it 
or not.
    We arrived at the party and everyone greeted us. Some people saying I've 
grown, or how pretty I was. They all lied. I looked the same as last night. 
Manner were everything to these people. I hoped never to be one. The worst 
compliment I got was when someone said I was turning out like Josephine. 
    Josephine, my stuck-up older sister. She was beautiful, I'll say that and 
that only. She was as dumb as a post, that is, unless it concerned the male 
species. She flirted with any rich boy she could. She thought, or knew, she 
could get anyone. She never stopped rubbing it in my face.
    My parents mingled and I smiled for everyone, though inside I wanted to 
run. Run away from this life and not come back. Though, that would be simple. 
Simple-minded. I know there must be something else I am destined for. I hope 
I don't die of boredom before it happens.
    My mother brought up a pair of adults. They were plump looking, but 
appeared to be nice people. Mother addressed, "Angeles, this is Mr. and Mrs. 
Collington. Mr. Collington works with your father."
"Yes. Your father is one to busy himself with work. I, however like to put a 
little fun into it. Though, I don't think the others enjoy it. It's to 
humorous for these king of people." He  winked at me. I couldn't help but 
smile. He seemed to be a kind man who didn't take money seriously. I didn't 
like that such a man existed.
"Harold! I'm sorry dear. He has to much humor." His wife seemed embarrassed. 
Probably because my mother gave him a glare that could melt ice.
"It's quite all right. This party could use it." I smiled at him. I knew what 
I had said was out of line. But I didn't care.
"Angeles!"
"I like her sweetheart, she's got spunk."
My mother, however didn't think what I said was cute. "Yes, well. She always 
tried to make us angry. I have no ides why she hates her life. Many people 
would kill for what she has, and yet she acts as if she would throw it away 
in a heartbeat. "
"I would."
"How dare you speak to me like that." She looked shocked. As if I had never 
said that before. I say it to her everyday.
"She's a child. They all act like that. Speaking of children, Angeles, I 
would like you to meet my son, Angelus."
"Angelus, get over here!" I thought it odd that someone of Harold 
Collington's status would be so outward with the way he spoke and presented 
himself in public. I liked this man's attitude.
"Hello Father, Mother." Angelus kissed his mother's cheek and gave me a 
lopsided grin. I was taken a back by his good looks. He was a tall dark and 
handsome man, as they say in those romance novels. I taught myself to read. I 
was uncommon, though.
"Angelus, this is one of the Warren's daughters, Angeles."
"Me lady. It is a pleasure." He dipped his head and kissed my hand. Manners, 
but something else inside me made it feel like more.
"Hello. The pleasure is mine." I acted civil around others. It drove my 
mother even more insane. She couldn't conceive how I could respect strangers 
and not her. Funny, That's what everyone seemed to do. Respect and kiss up to 
others, yet treat their families like shit.
    His eyes held something I had never seen before. It was a twinkle in 
which made him seem different. Different from all the rest. I wanted to look 
into those eyes forever. I seemed that's all I was doing. Even though, only 
seconds passed, but, of course, I knew this would not last, not with my 
sister here. She got one look at Angelus and came over to introduce herself. 
To make me feel second, again.
"Hello sir." She gave him a flirtatious smile. I wanted to gag.
"Hello me lady. My name is Angelus. Ma I ask you yours?"
"Certainly. Josephine Warren."
"Ah, Angeles's sister?"
"Yes." Joe looked so upset to be refereed to as MY sister. I wish I could 
have that look on her face in a painting forever. 
    I saw a twinkle in Harold's eyes, much like Angelus's, but not as deep. I 
knew he was going to speak. And speak he did.
"Looks like the lady doesn't like to be referred to as a sister, Angelus. 
Show some manners. Call the pretty girl by her name. " Though it was a 
chastising, I could tell he was amused by Joe's look.       
"Sorry Josephine."
"You're forgiven." She smiled again. If I stayed any longer I would vomit. I 
realized that my thoughts were wrong. Angelus was just like all the men. 
Charmed by Josephine and amused by me. That twinkle was nothing more than the 
lighting in the room. I had to leave If I stayed I'd only feel depressed.
"If you'll excuse me. I think I see my friend over there." I gave a nod and 
left. though I knew that Josephine knew that I was leaving because of her and 
because the only friend I had was Anthony, and he was not of status to be 
invited. I could see her smiling behind me. I didn't have to look because she 
always did it when she took the attention that I was getting. I hated her. I 
wish that My family would leave me to be alone.
    I walked out onto the balcony. A few men were discussing work, money, 
power. I just couldn't believe that this was a life I was destined for. I was 
second to my sister. Not to mention that I was unloved. Sometimes I wish I 
could be a peasant. You don't have to live up to anyone's standards, just 
your own.
    I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn't here the footsteps 
approaching me from behind. I felt the hand on my shoulder. I whirled around 
and grabbed the arm, twisting it behind the man's back. The man looked so 
surprised. But no as much as I was that I did and could do such a thing. It 
was at that moment that I realized it was Angelus. I sighed in relief and let 
go. He stared at me, rubbing his arm. 
"Do you do that to everyone?" I turned the color of blood. I was so 
mortified. To my surprise he smiled.
"I guess it is a good thing you can. I won't have to worry about a man 
robbing you." I smiled. He was so sweet and handsome. He worried about me? He 
didn't even know me. That's not important. What is that he was here talking 
to me and not my sister.
"So I see you were not charmed by my sister?" He looked at me as if I were 
joking.
"She's just like the rest of them," he sighed, "Quick to jump on the first 
male they see. They smile at whatever we say, unless offending and bat their 
eyes. But you....You seem different. My father enjoys your company. That 
doesn't happen often."
"Different? How?"
"You don't seem to care that much. You don't care about your status. I've 
seen you around. Never caring what other's think. You do what you want, not 
what others want. You can't people like that. Most think it is uncivilized. 
Not you. You seem dignified. You gave up on the fight with your sister. Most 
women try to snatch the man. That's how females seem to compete, with each 
other, for men." He smiled a smile that melted my insides, but I answered his 
confusion with the truth.
"Unlike these females, I have better thing to do than fight over men."
"Oh, like what?" he seemed amused at my tone. Though my answer was not 
amusing.
"Like coming out here and sulking on how I give up easily to her, how my life 
sucks, and how my family is embarrassed of me." I sigh and I look out to the 
stars. "They can't conceive on how someone would hate this life. They think 
everyone wants it. I don't. My mother hates me for it. Hates that someone 
born into this life would throw it away. Away for something so simple, like a 
horseback ride." 
    His hand clasps over my shoulder for comfort. Its the only comfort I've 
felt for a long time. It made me feel strong for once. It made me feel wanted.
"I don't know why I don't like the life I was raised for. But how could 
someone enjoy this? Getting up putting on a fancy dress, and hoping that this 
day someone will like what they see and ask for your hand in marriage? No one 
marries for love anymore. Just for riches and looks."
    Angelus seemed to appear as though he understood everything I said. Like 
he felt the same way.  I didn't know if the feelings that I had about him 
were true. Was he like the others? Just trying to get a girl or was he 
different. Did he really understand? 
"A horseback ride you say?" I was a little confused when he first spoke, but 
then I remembered what I said before, the example I used. Than, he smiled 
that smile. Only this time it was a little devilish. He was planning 
something. The first thought I had was rich men planning things can't be good.
    He took my hand and lead me back through the party hall. I was a little 
worried that someone might be suspicious of us leaving together. Maybe the 
thought came from knowing how theses people thought, or maybe it came from my 
own suspicion. I knew I was being paranoid, but this was the18th century. 
People loved gossip about people who were above them, meaning, me.


 Part 2 Coming Soon!






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