Jyira groaned. The annoying person who was banging on the door wouldn’t go away. She pulled the covers over her head. The banging stopped. Thank God for that, Jyira thought. Go away and let me sleep.
"Come on Jyira! You really are lazy! It’s after dark," Willow’s bright perky voice said as she yanked back the bed covers.
"What’d you expect? I'm a vampire. I sleep during the day," Jyira grumbled, yanking the pillow over her head. Willow took it out of her hands and hit her with it several times. Jyira sat up, her gold hair tumbling around her in yard of sun coloured curls. She stared at Willow in disbelief. "What’s gotten into you? Why are you so happy?"
"Get up," Willow ordered. "There’s someone coming I want you to meet."
Jyira yawned, and Willow tried not to shudder at her sharp teeth. "Who?"
Willow shook her head, grinning that annoying grin. What was the matter with her today? "Get up and come and see." And then she left.
Jyira was confused. She didn’t feel like meeting new people now. Not after the painful memories of last night. Good and bad times with Angel, particularly the good, the romantic. Of course, sometimes vampire ideas of romance could be a little…different…to human ideas of it. She smiled to herself, remembering how sometimes he’d bring her the heart of his victims.
But she had to admit, she was a little curious about what Willow was up to. Something like a premonition was buzzing around inside her. Which was strange, since she’d never had premonitions usually. She thought that had been a witch thing. But it was there, telling her something was going to happen. Something…
And then it was gone. Just like that. She felt confused and almost frightened. What had it been trying to tell her? There must have been some reason it was here now. She suddenly decided she didn’t want to meet this person Willow said was coming.
What if it ended in disaster? It could be awful, complete destruction, pain and death. More misery for her.
Or, then again, it could be something wonderful. Someone who could take away all her pin and misery, make her happy again. Of course, there was only one person who could ever do that for her, she thought dryly, and the chances of it being him were slim to none.
Finally, she got out of bed and dressed. Remember what curiosity did to the cat, she thought heading downstairs to meet Willow.
She would never know if it were coincidence or if it had been planned. As she was walking across the mansion’s main entryway, the doorbell rang. She looked around for one of the staff, but no one was there.
She sighed with impatience and went to open it.
And nearly had a heart attack of surprise and shock.
Standing there in the gathering dark, truly his element, was one of the most handsome men she had ever met. Tall, dark and drop dead gorgeous, dressed in black from head to toe. The looks had changed a bit since she’d last seen him, but there was no mistaking those big dark eyes.
"*Angel?*" she breathed, barely afraid to whisper his name in case the illusion should shatter.
He was looking at her as if he’d seen a ghost. He was as shocked and surprised as she was. They just stood there, staring at each other for a few minutes. Then he pulled her to him and kissed her, long and deep. Fire ran down her nerves as she pressed herself against him, and he pulled her closer. So close so they could never be apart again. The pain of the previous century disappeared and as he held her to him, she felt as if she were whole again. She belonged with no one else but him. The feel of his face pressed against her hair was a bliss she felt she had never really appreciated. He pulled her back for a moment, studying her, his pale fingers brushing over her features as if to verify she were real.
"Jyira?" he breathed. "I…I don’t understand. I thought you were dead."
She just hugged him tightly. "I’m not dead. I’m here, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere."
His arms tightened around her. "I’m not going to let you," he whispered in her ear. She almost moaned in pleasure at the sensational feel of his lips brushing against her skin when he spoke.
They started to move into the mansion when something seemed to stop them. They both looked around for the obstruction. She felt ready to kill anything that tried to separate them again.
Then Angel snorted.
"What?" Jyira asked him.
"I have to be invited in," he reminded her, looking a little annoyed.
"Oh. I forgot." She smiled a little. "Come in."
They headed into the mansion entryway to find Willow waiting for them, sitting on the stairs, a very big smile on her face. They both looked at her. She grinned back at them. "I guess you guys remember each other, huh?"
"How did you…?" Angel trailed off and shook his head in bewilderment.
"Well, listening to Jyira talk, putting two and two together with what I already knew…it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out."
Jyira sighed. "I should have figured this out the other night."
Willow stood up. "I guess I’ll leave you guys alone to get reacquainted. I’m hungry." And she headed off into the next room.
"Oh God," Jyira muttered, shaking her head.
Angel looked at her. "What?"
Jyira sighed and looked at him. "Don’t ask."
* * *
Part 8
Jyira shut the door to her room, and sat next to Angel on the bed. He looked around. "Nice place," he said. "Who’s is it?"
"Thierry Descouedres’s."
Angel’s eyebrow raised. "The little wimp Maya was after?"
"He may be a wimp, but he’s a wimp with a large wallet," Jyira said. "When I woke up in the clearing I was alone and afraid and I guess I stumbled around in a daze. I didn’t know what was happening to me, and why I felt so bad." She shook her head, shuddering. His arm tightened around her shoulder, pulling her closer. Comfort she’d never really felt before. It meant more to her than anything in the world. Just to be sitting here with him. "A few other vampires asked me what was wrong, what happened to you and Darla. I said I didn’t know." Then she looked up at him. "By the way, what did happen to Darla?"
"She’s dead," Angel said unemotionally. "I staked her. Long story. Don’t ask."
Jyira’s eyebrow raised. "Oh. I thought you liked her."
"Never as much as you," he said, looking into her eyes. Jyira gazed back. There seemed to be something in the air between them…she wasn’t sure what. Some kind of shimmery light that was trying to link them together, bind them heart to heart as they were surely meant to be.
"Anyway, one or two of them must have been Circle Daybreak, so they took me back to their hide out and I stayed there ever since, I guess." She studied him for a while, wondering how he’d dealt with the blow of the curse. It had been a walking nightmare for her. *Everything* she’d done, haunting her, day and night. "So what about you?"
He looked away from her. He told her basic details, his detective agency in L.A., how helping others with problems made him feel slightly better about himself. He gave brief details about life in Sunnydale, and she could sense he was leaving something out. He didn’t want to hurt her.
"I always felt as if I were missing something," he finished, turning back to her, brushing a loose gold curl behind her ear. The touch against her skin sent shivers of pleasure through her. Surely there was something a little out of the ordinary here. Should a simple touch thrill her so much? "Now I know what is." He was even smiling a little. Apparently a rare treat from this side of him. He seemed so much quieter; the change in him was amazing. It was hard to believe this was the same demon she’d known all those years ago. She had the feeling he was as surprised at the change in her. She hadn’t exactly been Miss Good and Innocent. She had been loud and bad and a vicious killer as he had.
"And what’s that?"
The cute little smile again. "You, of course. I miss you. I thought about you a lot, you know."
"You did?"
He nodded. A flicker, something in his eyes for a moment, showed pain. She pulled him close, ready to *destroy* anyone that upset him. He had changed so much. He didn’t deserve to be so unhappy.
"Was there…" She paused delicately, not sure she wanted an answer to the question. "Has there…ever been…anyone else?"
She knew he could hear the pain in her voice from the way he turned away from her, his head hanging almost in shame. "There…there was someone," he admitted. "It’s over now, anyway." Studying Jyira now for the first time in over a century he noticed there was a definite resemblance to Buffy. They looked almost the same. Jyira’s eyes were darker, while Buffy’s had been sky blue; Jyira's were midnight blue. He vaguely wondered if they were related somehow. If he hadn’t changed Jyira, would she have been one of the unfortunate Slayer line? He looked at Jyira. He just couldn’t picture it. But it would have been interesting. How would their relationship have been then? Would they have even met?
"What about you?" He turned back to her. "Has there been anyone for you?"
Jyira met his eyes directly. He couldn’t quite interpret the look on her face. Misery and longing and desperation and dispair all mixed together. "No," she said softly. "No one." She sighed. "Angel you’re the only one for me."
He stared at her longingly, those wonderful blue eyes, that soft, sensuous mouth practically begging to be kissed, the gorgeous hair, cascading around her like molten gold, the porcelain skin, yearning for his fingers to caress… "So what have you been doing with yourself then?" he asked abruptly, tearing his eyes away from the dazzling beauty only inches away from him. And he knew she wanted him just as much. Jyira was a little surprised at the sudden change of subject. Why was he fighting this? There was something around them, trying to draw them together, something that said they belonged together. Did he even feel it? If he did, why was he blocking it? Did he want that other girl with the stupid name rather than her? She couldn’t bare it if he did. She would stake herself if that were true. Give herself up to the sun. The thought of life without him now she knew he was alive and all right was unbearable. She sighed, and told him about the Night World. Technically, she realised she wasn’t breaking any laws. The law said do not tell humans about the Night World. But Angel wasn't anymore human than she was. He probably knew the basic details anyway. She had seen him with Maya a few times. She told him about Circle Daybreak and the millennium prophecies. How they’d successfully averted the end of the world. His eyebrows raised at that, and he looked very impressed. He seemed as surprised at the change in her as she was in him. She also told him about Willow’s sudden discovery of her hidden…talents.
His eyebrows were almost in his hair. "Willow’s a *vampire*?" He stared at her in disbelief. "You’re kidding right?"
Jyira snorted. "I know. It seems to unbelievable. But I was there. I saw he with pointy teeth and shiny eyes. She was kicking the shit out of a guy twice her size. I dragged her out before anything could happen and we checked her family tree and she’s both Harman and Redfern blood in her."
"Which means?"
"She’s half witch, half vamp."
He was still shaking his head in disbelief. "I still can’t picture Willow as a vampire."
But there was something she had to know. He said he missed her, he thought about her. But that wasn’t enough. There was one more thing she wanted to know. And if he didn’t give her the answer she wanted… She took a deep breath. He was turning away from her again. She caught his arm. She couldn’t help herself. She just had to, *had* to know. "Angel wait," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. But she knew he could hear her. He turned back to look at her, those dark eyes almost burning with a hidden fire, rarely saw, in their depths. "Do you…you said you missed me and thought about me…but…do…do you still…still…do you love me or not?" There. It was out.
Angel stared at her. The sudden bluntness of the question surprised him. But the look in her eyes, the pleading desperation almost tore him apart. She had awakened feelings inside him that had been sleeping for so long. But if he gave into them, took her with the passion burning between them, the longing and lust they had for each other…
"I…" He trailed off. "Do you still love *me?*"
She blinked, confused. "I asked you first."
"I asked you."
"Yeah, but I asked first."
"I…" He shook his head. "This is ridiculous. I…" He stared at her for along time, her blue eyes burning with pain and brimming with tears, silently begging him to tell her yes, even if he didn’t mean it. If he said no, it would kill her. She would kill herself then and there. And he couldn’t bare the thought of living with the guilt of her death on his conscience. If she died, he would die with her too. But why should this have to happen? He loved her more than life itself. He would die for her in a second if necessary. And he knew without question she would do the same for him.
"Yes," he said finally. "Yes, I love you Jyira, I always have and always will. No one will ever replace you, not Buffy, not anyone."
She grabbed the front of his black coat and pulled him to her, kissing him hard, giving up to the heat and shimmering silver cord between them. He fell on top of her. They lay on the bed together, fingers running over every spare inch of the other’s flesh, she moaned at the feeling of his hands sliding up her top, removing her bra, caressing her breasts.
"Jyira?" he murmured in her ear. "You never answered me."
She looked at him. "What do you think Angel?"
"I know the answer," he breathed. "I just want to hear you say it."
She smiled. A real smile first time in over a century. "Of course I love you. I’ve always loved you and always will."
He kissed her.
* * *
Part 9
Jyira woke later, a feeling of misery and pain stirring inside her. Angel lay on top of her, so close she could feel his heart beating against hers. Which was strange because vampires didn’t have pulses, and yet they still had heart beats. The room was dark, moon light was streaming in the window. She had forgotten to close the curtains and there was a strange white glow over the room. Yet the strange beauty of it surpassed her completely. What was wrong with her?
She slipped out of the bed and dressed quickly, pulling on jeans and Angel’s shirt. She couldn’t find her own and was too miserable and sick to bother looking for it. Leaving him asleep she left the room.
She stumbled around for a while, the pain getting worse and worse. What *was* this? Why was this happening to her? She’d never felt anything like this before. She staggered into the kitchen. Maybe this was some weird attack of hunger.
She groaned aloud. She could hear footsteps squeaking on the marble floor. Maggie was standing at the fridge. She looked up.
"Jyira? Are you okay? You look terrible."
Jyira didn’t hear her. Her eyes were focused on the blue veins flickering beneath the skin of her throat. The smell of the blood inside her was starting to wake the demon inside her she’d kept buried for long.
She opened her mouth, instead of words, groans of agony came out.
"God, you’re really sick. Should I get Thierry to call a healing woman or something?"
Before she could say anything else, Jyira vamped out, reached for her, her hands ice cold, her grip steel strong.
Her fangs sank into the other girl’s neck, life giving, warming, blood filling her, dowsing the pain. The blood made her feel warm and tingly all over. Jyira dropped the body, a smile on her monster’s mouth, her yellow vampire eyes glowing, her white fangs dripping with blood.
"Nothing’s wrong," she said, answering the dead girl’s question. "I feel great."
And she walked out the kitchen, in a hunting mood.
* * *
Part 10
The next morning Jyira strolled back into the mansion. She usually walked soft as a shadow, blending into the darkness, not wanting to be noticed. This morning, her heels clicked on the marble floor, her hips swayed, and an aura of power and darkness that had never been there before surrounded her. Thea saw the darkness instantly.
"Jyira? What happened to you?" Thea asked. "Are you all right?"
Jyira turned to her. Her face had changed. Her features, normally soft and gentle…were the same, yet there was something different about her. She wore dark lipstick, outlining her full mouth, giving her a sensual look. Her midnight blue eyes were glittering, her gold hair shining. She was dressed in a revealing tight black top and black leather trousers. High black boots with heels that made the nose. Her fingernails were long and black and talon like. Thea shuddered. She looked, in a word…evil.
Like the monstrous species of vampire that she was.
"I’m fine," Jyira said bluntly. "I don’t see what business of yours it is as to what’s happened to me."
Thea was surprised. She hadn’t even expected an answer. Jyira never said a word to anyone. She was so quiet, usually making an effort not to be noticed by anyone.
Jyira was still staring at her with that unearthly aura hanging about her. She was obviously waiting for an answer to her implied question. Thea was shocked. She floundered for something to say. Jyira crossed her arms. "I would like an answer sometime today you know," she said, her tone was pleasant, but there was a definite hint of malice there. For the first time since they’d met, Thea felt afraid of her. This wasn’t Jyira. This was someone else. Jyira’s lip had curled slightly. She had sensed the fear and was enjoying it. Jyira laughed abruptly. The sound was so chilling it send ice shivering up Thea’s spine. She'd never heard Jyira laugh before, and was now so glad she hadn’t. "So the dumb witch can’t even back up her points," Jyira said. "What a surprise. Witches are a waste of space anyway."
"If anyone’s a waste of space it’s you blood suckers," Blaise said, coming up behind her. She seemed as shocked as Blaise was at the change in Jyira.
Jyira snorted. "Did someone say something? I guess Miss No one Matter’s But Me thinks she’s All That, when she’s really all crap."
Blaise was silently fuming. She just stared at Jyira, unsure what to say. Since when did Jyira snap and insult people like this?
Jyira smiled her mean smile. "What’s the matter?" she said to Blaise. "Can’t handle a little competition?" With that she tossed back her gold curls and walked into the next room.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Poppy said. She’d heard the conversation, but didn’t dare get involved. She didn’t want to bring Jyira’s sudden wrath down on her.
"What’s gotten into her?" Quinn asked, peering around the door Poppy had just come through. "I thought she was nice."
"So did we," Thea said.
* * *
Jyira wandered around the mansion. She was hungry again. Which was really surprising, since she’d been out killing people all night. Any idiot foolish enough to cross her path had met an unfortunate end. She had never felt so good. The blood had give her a high better than any drug could have. The little wimpy girl with the short white-blond hair and her soulmate, Jyira couldn’t remember their names, were coming down the hall. With a fast motion, too fast for them to follow, she reached for him, draining him. The little wimpy girl shrieked. Annoyed now, Jyira reached for her, finishing her off, just to make her shut up.
"What the hell are you doing?" a voice said, startling her. "I thought you didn’t feed on humans anymore."
Jyira looked up from her victim into Angel’s dark smiling eyes. Something about him had changed. He now seemed so much more familiar to her. She wasn’t exactly sure how it had happened, but she knew instinctively this was the demon she had fallen in love with. He was looking at her, arms crossed, a little smile playing about his lips.
"Fuck that, I’m hungry," she said, answering his question.
He grinned. "Looks like I’m not the only one with a dark side."
The girl in Jyira’s arms groaned. She was still alive.
But not for long.
* * *
Part 11
Later in the morning, Rashel was wandering around the mansion. It had become an almost daily routine for her, walking the grounds, checking things out, making sure there was no trouble. She knew Thierry had staff and guards to do this, but she felt a lot better doing her own check as well.
Everyone else was sitting in the lounge and the alcove, with the new vampires, Jyira and Angel. For some reason, Rashel didn’t like Angel at all. Something about him was…frightening. Especially the possessive way he seemed to almost hang over Jyira. And Jyira…she had changed dramatically. The quiet, solitary, almost lonely girl had been replaced by someone cruel, snappy and…a complete bitch. And she somehow had the feeling that Angel was responsible. How, she didn’t know. But something was definitely going on between them.
And then she stopped, breath suddenly gone.
She had walked into the kitchen, and lying there on the floor, with large teeth marks in their necks, were Gillian and David, dead eyes were staring up at her in shock and terror. Rashel knelt down to feel for a pulse, just in case, but there was none to be found. She noticed Gillian had two sets of teeth marks in either side of her neck. She sat back on her heels.
She’d never seen vampire bites like that before, and some instinct deep inside her told her that their new vampires were not to be trusted.
Something had to be done about them.
And fast before anyone else suffered at their hands.
* * *
Willow sat in a room with the Circle Daybreak members, and Jyira and Angel. Something about them was…different. They were all over each other, snuggled together in a dark corner, the blinds in the room had been drawn, as direct sunlight was deadly to Angel.
Hannah was trying to talk to him, explaining who the Circle Daybreak members were and what they were doing. She seemed convinced that this was the place for him and Jyira.
"Well, we saved the world, and we think that was pretty impressive," Hannah was saying.
"It’s more fun to try to destroy the world than save it," Angel said, not taking his eyes from Jyira's mouth.
"Yeah, but you fucked it up when you tried," Jyira pointed out.
"How did you know?"
"Willow told me."
Angel turned one of his best glares on Willow, who just looked back at him, expression rather blank. He didn’t scare her anymore. Angel shrugged, and turned his attention back to Jyira. They were making out again.
"God, do you guys ever come up for air?" Poppy snorted.
"We don’t need air," Jyira replied. And they stared all over again.
The Daybreakers exchanged glances. What was wrong with these two? Okay, every soulmate couple in the room was as much in love as Jyira and Angel were, but if they wanted private time together to be sloppy and mushy they didn’t make everyone else watch.
"I thought you were with the good guys, Angel," Thea said, almost cringing, not wanting another barrage of insults from either him or Jyira.
"Where’s the fun in being good? Been there, done that, no more, thanks." His fingers were running over Jyira’s face and chest, caressing her so gently. She sighed, and gazed up at him with a dreamy smile.
"That’s more like the Angel I know," she said, smiling. More smoochies.
"I think I’m going to be sick," Blaise murmured. She stood up and walked out of the room. There was an uncomfortable silence.
"And I think the Night World have the right idea," Angel said. He stood up, pulling Jyira to her feet as well. He glanced around the room, an expression of disgust on his face. "You people are idiots. You really think your God’s gift to the human race? How completely pathetic. You really think you can banish every single demon, vampire and who the hell knows what out there? There are things out in the big bad world that you people have never even heard of and could never deal with."
Jyira wrapped her arms around his waist. "He has a point, you know," she said, leaning against him as his arms wrapped around her shoulders. "You guys have no idea what our race is like for starters."
"You’re all idealistic idiots," Angel snorted. "Personally, I agree with Night World. We should be ruling you shitheads. Most of you aren’t even fit to live. Come on Jyira, let’s go find some people worth killing."
And with that he led her out the room.
The group sat there in silence for several minutes.
"Who is that guy?" Mary-Lynette asked. She'd arrived that morning, as had Jez. The two of them had been informed on Circle Daybreak’s new member, Jyira, of course, and that her long lost lover had come to visit.
Rashel burst into the room then. "We’ve got problems," she said.
"We know, they just left," Ash said dryly.
"I mean major problems. Gillian and David are dead. So is Maggie."
"*What*?" Delos shot up from his seat, his yellow eyes blazing in shock and fury.
"I just found them in the kitchen. And I think our new friends have something to do with it," Rashel said.
"I’ll that bastard!" Delos’s eyes were going even more golden and his fangs were showing. He started to run out the room, but before he could get to the door, Quinn and Morgead had jumped up after him and were physically restraining him.
"No," Thierry was saying. "We can’t kill either of them. We don’t even know it’s them."
"Who else would it be?" Delos raged.
"Just because someone’s dead it doesn’t mean Angel did it," Willow piped up.
"It could have been Jyira," Thea said.
"Thierry’s right," Hannah said. "We don’t know enough about them, they’re different from the vampires we know how to fight, they could be ten times stronger, or have powers we’ve never even heard of."
"Are you going to behave now? Can we let you go?" Morgead asked Delos.
Delos seemed to be having some inner battle with himself. Finally, the golden fire in his eyes died down and his teeth retracted. "Fine," he hissed, and yanked free. He turned his back on them and walked over to the window, gripping the sill, his shoulders heaving.
Eric looked over at Willow. "And you say Mr. Tall Dark and Creepy is one of the *good* guys?"
Willow frowned. "I thought he was," she said, puzzled. "He’s usually nice. Okay, he can be a bit moody and sullen sometimes, but he always helps out when he’s asked for help. The only time he’s been nasty like this before is when…" She paused, suddenly realising what had happened. "Ooh. Oh. Shit. We’ve got a huge problem."
"You think?" said Jez. "It’s just as well our gang isn’t in effect any more. Morgead would hate the competition Angel’d give him."
"Oh shut up," Morgead muttered, annoyed. "And who the hell thought of calling him "Angel"? He’s not angelic in the least."
Most people looked at Willow, who shrugged defensively. "Don’t ask me, I’m not the expert."
"You were saying this has happened before?" Thierry reminded.
"Huh?" Willow looked blank for a moment, then her brain caught up. "Oh yeah. Well to cut a long story short they both killed someone they shouldn’t have, a gypsy girl whose clan took vengeance on them, cursing them both with human souls, doomed to remember all the people they’d hurt throughout their time as vampires. And if they achieve a moment of happiness, then it all goes to hell. Demons come out again."
"And how do you get the moment of happiness?" Hannah asked.
Willow stared at her. Was she really that blind or stupid? "You didn’t see the way they were all over each other?"
"So you mean they…?" Hannah trailed off.
"Had sex last night?" Willow supplied bluntly. "Probably. You should have seen them when they first saw each other again. They’re crazy about each other."
"Are they soulmates?" Poppy asked.
"Huh?" Willow was confused. "What’s that?"
"Never mind," Rashel cut in. "You said this had happened before. How do we stop them before they do something everyone’ll regret? They’ve killed three people already that we know of. Probably more."
"Well, I had to curse Angel again after the first time it happened, and it took him several months to recover," Willow said. "But I don’t have the spell with me now."
"If we found it, could you do it?" Hannah asked.
Willow shrugged again. "I guess. But do we really have to? This side of Angel is much more fun."
"What about Jyira?" Thierry asked. "Has the same thing happened to her?"
"Looks like it," Willow said.
"Can we curse her too?" Rashel asked.
"I suppose. But why do we have to make them suffer again? Is there another solution?"
"Well for now the best thing to do would be to leave them alone until we know more about their kind and how to deal with them besides killing them, maybe we can find a way to make them human again or something," Thierry said.
"That’s insane," Rashel said, appalled. "If we let them loose the world could end. You heard him before."
"We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it," Thierry said calmly. "Any suggestions Willow?"
"Don’t piss them off," Willow said, smiling a little. "I can bet that anyone who does will be very, very sorry."
* * *
Part 12
Willow sighed. The good feelings she’d had about brining Angel and Jyira back together again had dwindled rapidly as the body count was increasing. Mainly Thierry’s dumb staff, at least not any of the major important people. Of course, they weren’t *all* Jyira and Angel’s fault, there were the few when she’d gotten a little hungry…
Of course, no one seemed to expect her the killer type. She smiled an innocent sweet smile. Being small and cute certainly had its advantages sometimes.
She thought of the alternate universe Anya had created last year, and her vampire doppelganger. She had been a real bitch. If *I* went home like that…She snickered to herself, thinking of everyone’s reaction.
"What’s so funny?" a deep voice behind her said. Close behind her. Willow spun round to find Angel standing close…too close to her neck. She hadn’t head him.
Willow stood her ground, refusing to give him the satisfaction of backing up. "You…startled me," she said, hating the little tremor to her voice.
He chuckled a little. He’d scared her and he knew it. And he was enjoying her fright. "I did?"
She didn’t answer. She’d told herself before he didn’t frighten her anymore. Now, he was standing close, she was starting to think again. "Where’s Jyira?" she asked, noticing he was alone.
He nodded to the stairs. "Sleeping. She sleeps during the day, like a good vampire."
"Why? So she’s fresh for killing people in the evening?" Willow snorted.
Angel’s lip curled into a real smile. "You got it." He glanced at his watch. "She’ll be up in a about half an hour." He folded his arms. "She also told me you have vampire genes. And there are a few bodies around here that neither Jyira or me are responsible for."
"I got a little hungry," Willow said defensively. "So sue me."
"Not such a little wimp after all, are you?"
Willow was insulted. "You’re not the only one round here with a darker half, you know."
He tilted his head, studying her. "And do we get to see your darker half?"
Willow backed away, not liking where this conversation was going.
"I thought you weren’t afraid of me." She could hear the hidden snicker in Angel’s tone. Morgead was right. Who the hell ever thought of calling *him* Angel? She agreed with Jyira’s statement that he was more like the devil in flesh.
She stopped backing up. "I’m not afraid," she said.
"Have you fed yet?" he asked, changing the subject…or was he? Willow couldn’t tell.
"No, why?"
He held out a hand to her. "Why don’t you come with me then? Let me show you the joys of being a vampire."
Like he showed Jyira and ended up getting her cursed, Willow thought.
Angel’s face darkened suddenly, anger burning in his dark eyes. "That wasn’t my fault. It was Darla’s. Anyway, she paid for it."
Willow shuddered, hating the idea that he could read her thoughts. But mind reading or mind control was a trick of her species, Jez had taught her how to do that, except when she stared into Angel’s eyes and tried to get into his mind, she seemed to come up against black obsidian walls. He smiled a little. "Nice try," he said. "But sensible vampires learn to shield their thoughts. Come on, enjoy yourself for once. Live a little."
Willow found herself unable to take her eyes from that handsome face, the encouraging, inviting smile, smile, those intense eyes…
"What about Jyira?"
"What about her?"
"She won’t be…mad?" Willow had seen Angel’s demon in action before. She dreaded to think what Jyira was like. If she was anything like he was…
Angel waved a dismissive hand. "She won’t care. She’ll be out in a while herself. She’ll probably come and find us."
Willow hesitated a moment longer, then took the hand he offered her. "What the hell," she said, leading him out the door. "Let’s go have some fun."
* * *
Part 13
Poppy, Jez and Thea walked down the crowed streets of the Strip, enjoying the glitz and glamour and the party atmosphere, and the people. They’d felt a desperate need to get out of the house, and away from the dead bodies piling up. Personally, Jez thought Thierry’s idea of leaving Jyira and Angel alone and letting them do what they wanted was ridiculous. As Rashel had said, it could be disastrous.
"Where’s your cousin?" Poppy asked. "How come she didn’t come out with us?"
Jez shrugged. "I knocked on her door, but she wasn’t there. Or maybe she’s already out or something. I couldn’t find her."
"You think she’s all right?" Thea asked, as they walked into a Circle Daybreak club. Ever since the Night World clubs had been banned, Circle Daybreak had opened their own chain for Daybreak members to go relax and have fun, where there were no twisting shadows and evil vampires dragging humans down there for the fun of killing them.
For the few Daybreakers who liked a little bit of darkness, there were one or two Gothic themed ones, like the one they were passing. There were sounds of a fight and people screaming coming from inside.
The three exchanged glances.
"I think we should check that out," Jez said. As a vampire hunter, with her Wild Power blue fire, she was pretty sure anyone who recognised her wouldn’t be stupid enough to challenge her. And there was Poppy’s vampire speed and strength, and Thea’s magic. And they could always get reinforcements if that became necessary.
Jez shoved her way through the door, and the crowd of weird looking people. And there, on one of the dance podiums, a ferocious expression on her face, was Willow, happily kicking the crap out of some other girl.
She wasn’t the only one causing problems. Angel seemed to be in the middle of a fight he was clearly winning. There were bouncers pulling at Willow, but she just laughed and threw two at once over the high edge of the podium she was standing on. Willow grinned, her eyes glinting in the dark lightning.
The interior of this club had been changed and redecorated, not obeying Thierry’s rules. The darkness was supposed to be kept to a minimum, someone had taken over and changed, And now they were back to the old Black Iris atmosphere, flashing strobe lightning, making it hard to see, even for vampires, and there were so many people.
And now Willow was actually jumping down from the high podium, landing neatly like a cat on two feet, and smashing her way through the crowd towards Angel, happily beating up half a dozen people. And he was laughing. *Laughing.* And so was Willow. They were *enjoying* this. And now Willow was kissing Angel.
"If Jyira finds out about this she’s going to be pissed," Poppy muttered. "I’d hate to see her in a bad mood." She and Jez elbowed their way through the crowd, trying to get to Willow and Angel, but the people crowding in front of them made it impossible.
"Shit," Jez muttered angrily, running into someone else and smashing her fist into the facer of a guy who tried to grab her. "Where the fuck are they?"
There was a flash of orange coloured energy, and suddenly there was a space cleared. "They’re not here. They’ve gone."
People were lying around on the floor, dazed and shaking their heads is confusion after Thea’s energy blast to clear a little space.
"Damn," Jyira’s voice said from behind Jez. She appeared as silently as a shadow. And she looked rather annoyed. "Looks like I missed all the fun."
"Yeah, you missed your boyfriend making out with Willow," Poppy added.
Jyira’s eyebrow raised. "Angel and Willow? That doesn’t make any sense. He’s twice her size. He could crush her with a single blow."
"She was beating up guys as big as Angel," Thea said. "And she was having no problems. What’s wrong with her, and with him?"
Jyira snorted. "Ignore them. Angel’s just doing what he does best – kill people. And it looks like he's teaching Willow the joys of life as a vampire." There was a smile playing on her lips. She didn’t sound as if she disapproved.
"And you’re not mad?" Poppy said.
Jyira shrugged. "Willow brought Angel back to me. I’m okay with giving her a little leeway with him. Anybody else tries to kiss him – like your cousin Blaise," Jyira directed a glare at Thea. "She was flirting with him this afternoon. Don’t think I didn’t notice that. I’ll kill her. And you won’t stop me." Her face had darkened, her lighthearted mood had gone completely and she was deadly serious.
"Why can’t you tell them to like – behave or something?" Poppy asked.
Jyira shook her golden head. "It won’t work. Anyway, Angel’s had to behave for what, almost a century now? Give him a few days, he’ll calm down." Jyira turned and walked out of the club into the night. Poppy, Thea and Jez exchanged glances. They didn’t believe her.
* * *
Part 14
Willow leaned over the metal railing that led between the MGM Grand Hotel and the New York New York Hotel. She watched the roller coaster going round, heard the screams from the terrified tourists. A slight smile curved her lips. The lights twinkling were attractive and almost other worldly. She had to admit, she was having a really good time with Angel. He was leaning next to her, arm draped casually around her shoulder.
"What you want to do now?" he asked.
Willow shrugged. "I’m not sure. I’m kind of full right now. I think I sort of killed one too many people."
"You can never kill too many people."
Willow sighed and leaned against him, in a complative mood. She was wondering what her friends had home would think if they could see her and Angel now.
"You okay?" Angel asked, pulling her closer.
She nodded. "I’m just debating whether or not I should tell Buffy I’m a vampire. Well, she is still my best friend, but should she know."
Angel’s head tilted. "It’s been too long since I last saw her. Maybe we should go say hi."
Willow was a little suspicious at the smile curving his lips. He was up to something. That sly, calculating look told her more than words could have.
"And then there’s Tara," she continued, pretending she had no idea what he was thinking. "I was never really sure how she felt about vamps. Buffy shouldn’t have too much of problem with it. She didn’t have one with you."
Angel snorted in disgust.
Willow elbowed him. "You know what I mean."
Angel sighed. "I know. What the hell was I thinking? Who’s Tara, by the way?"
Willow paused, then shrugged. "My girlfriend," she said.
Angel’s eyebrows were almost in his hair. Willow laughed at the look on his face. Then he smiled. "Why not? We can bring her over and have a threesome." He was snickering.
Men, Willow thought, shaking her head. But the idea was a little tempting. "Maybe," she said. "I’ll think about it."
"Maybe we should bring Jyira too, then we can really have fun."
Willow stared at him. "You’re twisted."
Angel looked at her. "What’s your point?"
* * *
The drive back to Sunnydale in Angel’s car took a little over an hour. He had the top of the little black convertible down, the night sky and the stars whizzing by, the feel of wind on Willow’s face, felt wonderful. But something was puzzling her. Where the hell did a two hundred and forty-eight year old vampire who’d never taken Driver’s Ed learn how to drive a car?
"You just tend to adapt as you go along," he said, answering her question. Willow was annoyed at him reading her mind again, but shrugged, and sat back, relaxing and enjoying the ride.
About half an hour later, the familiar sights of Sunnydale were coming before Willow’s eyes. She kept her mouth shut, not saying anything as they headed past the university, the ruins of the blown-up high school. Angel hadn’t made any comments yet. He was staring straight ahead, his eyes on the road. He seemed unusually subdued, and almost serious. Willow wondered what he was thinking about.
He was heading away from the main town, turning onto familiar, suburban streets that Willow knew like the back of her hand. It wasn’t long before they were turning onto Buffy’s driveway. The lights were all off, the bedroom window by the tree at the side of the house was open.
"It doesn’t look like anyone’s in," Willow said. She was a little disappointed.
Angel shook his head. "She's in there."
"How do you know?"
"I just know."
He parked and slid out of the car. Willow hesitated for a moment, then followed him to the front door. She could see light from inside, and hear music too. Mrs. Summer’s car wasn't on the driveway. She mustn’t be home. A stroke of luck for them. She dreaded to think of having to come up with an explanation for this midnight visit.
Without bothering to knock Angel shoved the front door open, breaking the lock. Willow followed him inside.
The music was coming from the downstairs living room. She darted in front of Angel and pushed open the door open. Buffy and her idiot boyfriend Riley were sitting entwined on the couch, locked in a makeout session.
For a brief moment, Buffy’s eyes suddenly flew open and her mouth dropped at the sight of Willow and Angel standing in the doorway. Willow had to try not to snicker at the look on their faces. "We’re not interrupting are we?" she asked innocently.
Buffy blinked rapidly, looking from her to Angel, her eyes remaining on Angel, who looked completely revolted. "What are you *doing* here?"
"I think you guys had better leave," Riley added, disengaging himself and starting to get to his feet.
Angel leaned against the doorframe, blocking the exit way as Willow stepped farther into the room. "Why? We only just got here." Then he glanced over at Buffy. "And what the hell are you thinking? I always thought you had at least *some* brains." He threw another sickened glance at Riley.
"So did I," Willow agreed. "Come on Buffy, you can do better than this." She tilted her head and folded her arms, smiling at the look of confusion and disbelief.
Buffy just stared at her. "Willow? What’s wrong? Are you drunk or high or something?"
Even Angel laughed at that. "Willow? High? Your fucking kidding right?" He seemed to find the idea of Willow getting high very funny. So did Willow for that matter. Okay, she’d done some strange things in this past year, but would never sink to *that*. Buffy should know better.
Buffy was staring at him. "Angel? What happened to you?"
"Use the little brains you have and figure it out."
She looked over at Willow. Willow looked back. "Not me," she said. "I didn’t set him loose. Jyira did."
"Who the hell is Jyira?"
"The female vampire with a soul I was telling you about?" Willow considered for a moment. "Well, I guess she doesn’t have a soul anymore either. But hey, I don’t mind. I like this side of them better." She leaned against Angel, wrapping her arms around his waste, smiling at him as his arm went around her shoulders.
"Willow? What the hell happened to you? Since when were you two a couple?"
"Willow’s finally getting some sense knocked into her," Angel said, smiling at Willow. Willow couldn’t help kissing him. He was a very good kisser.
"I just figured maybe I should try guys of my own species," Willow said.
Buffy was confused. "A, I thought you didn’t even like guys anymore. And B, what the hell are you talking about, your own species?"
"Did I not tell you?" Willow said innocently. "I guess I’ll have to show you instead." And then her eyes went silvery green, her canine teeth grew to long, delicate points, with a shimmer like pearls. Willow smiled faintly at the sudden fear in her best friend’s eyes.
"What…what *are* you?" she whispered.
"A vampire?" Willow ventured. It must seem pretty obvious. What else had pointy teeth and shiny eyes and drank blood for a living?
"You can’t be a vampire!"
"Sure she can," Angel put in. "She’s just a new species is all."
"Old species, actually, we date back to caveman times," Willow corrected.
"Yeah I know," Angel said. "I slept with Maya a few times, she’s the one who started everything. And she’s not bad, either."
Without warning, Willow suddenly shoved Angel out the way, and knocked the steak out of a surprised Riley’s hand. He stood there like an idiot, too shocked to fight or even try to run as she grabbed him, sinking her new fangs into his neck and quickly draining him. She was really developing quite a talent for this. She tossed the body to the floor.
Buffy looked like a stricken kitten as she stood there, completely bewildered and looking as if she was way out of her league. She looked over at Angel. "Did you do this?" she whispered.
"Change Willow? Nah. It’s in her family genes. She's the only one of her family with the brains and talent to wake it up and know how to live with it." He seemed quite proud and impressed.
Willow looked over at Buffy. "You’re not even angry that I just killed your stupid boyfriend?"
"I – " Buffy looked at Willow. There *was* anger there – anger and hurt and surprise and confusion. She really didn’t have a clue what was happening. And why.
"You’re not even going to *try* to fight me?" Willow pouted, disappointed. She was tingling with new blood and ready for some action.
"Willow, vampire or not, you should know I couldn’t kill you." Buffy was actually *shaking.*
Willow was trying not to laugh. And she could tell Angel was too. All the while they’d been talking, he had slipped silently behind Buffy, there was no escape for her now.
"Come on Buff, three years? Four at this game? You would have thought you’d learned something by now," Angel said into her ear, grabbing her hair and yanking back her head painfully. "Did I ever really thank you for sending me to hell? Pretending to fool Faith doesn’t count. Well maybe someday I’ll see you there." And with those words he ripped her still beating heart from her chest.
* * *
Jyira tossed the body aside and sighed. She was bored. Killing people was starting to lose its appeal without Angel there. He had his ways of making it fun. Speaking of Angel, she had absolutely no idea where the hell he’d gotten himself too. It would be dawn soon. He didn’t have a sunlight amulet like she did. "Uh…Jyira?"
Jyira looked up to see Thierry approaching her. She studied him, wondering how he’d managed to stand immortality for so long. And he can’t have been happy, what with all the misery Maya had caused him. She’d had no idea what Angel had seen in her, and hadn’t been happy about sharing him with her. Willow, she could make an exception. Willow had obviously gone to some trouble to bring him back to her. And it was nice to know she cared enough to do that. Jyira wondered vaguely if Willow had known something like this would happen, but had been willing to take the risk. She smiled slightly. She couldn’t recall anybody that bothered about making her happy than Angel. So, she was willing to overlook Willow kissing him a few times. But sleeping with him…that was another subject. Maybe she wouldn’t object – if she were there too. Her lip curled slightly, she’d done that before. She’d had to share Angel with Darla for a while. "What?" she said as Thierry came closer to her.
"Look, Jyira, I realise you and Angel aren’t exactly yourselves at the moment, but the rest of us here would – "
"Yeah, I know, stop killing everyone," Jyira said with a faint smile. "We aren’t the only ones, Willow does it too." Her lip curled again. "I shudder to think what Angel’s been teaching her."
"No one has any idea where Angel and Willow actually are right now," Thierry told her.
"Oh God," Jyira snorted. She waved dismissively. "Ignore him. He’ll calm down in a few days." Then she looked him directly in the eye. "How do you do it?"
"Do what?" Thierry asked, confused.
"Immortality. How did you manage for so long when you were so unhappy?"
Thierry turned away from her a little, his dark eyes going pensive again. "I always had Hannah to look for. I had to try to save her before Maya got there, or get to her before Maya got her needle working." He shook his head. "I think somewhere deep down I always felt that she’d beat me. But I had to try." Then he smiled. "But we won in the end."
"Yes, I heard about that." She paused. "I wonder if Angel even knows about that. Maya seemed to have a thing for him for a while."
"You really love him, don’t you?"
Jyira smiled a real smile herself. Then her expression became soft and dreamy, and she looked more like the old Jyira he knew better, the quiet, nice girl. "I don’t know if I’d cope if I lost him now. All that time without him…and now I have him and I know he loves me…" She trailed off and sighed. Thierry could understand. There was nothing like the wonderful feelings of rediscovering a long lost lover. To know that you meant more to them than anything and they’d die for you. Evil or not, the pair were obviously crazy about each other. Soulmates? He wondered. It seemed like it. Jyira certainly sounded as if she'd been hit by the connection, knowing she’d never be the same without him. "Why?" she asked suddenly suspicious.
"It’s just…" He trailed off and sighed himself, then decided he’d probably be better off being honest with her. "There were talks of what to do with the two of you, your demons were causing a lot of bother."
"You mean they want to curse us again," Jyira said. She wasn't stupid. She knew what they were planning. "You can’t do that to us!" she cried. "Separate us like that! We love each other but we can’t be together! You people are supposed to be the good guys! You can’t be that cruel!"
Thierry shook his head. "I wouldn’t let that happen to you, Jyira. I can see, I think anyone can see what the two of you mean to each other. But there are a few exceptions – "
"Like Rashel?" Jyira interrupted.
Thierry sighed. "Yes, like Rashel, who can’t seem to see past the fact that you’ve killed three of our members." He looked at her. Jyira returned his gaze steadily. "I don’t want to have to force you to leave," Thierry continued. "But if we can’t come up with something else, then we’ll have no choice but to curse you both again."
And he turned and walked away. Jyira sat in silence, unsure what to do. She was so wrapped un in her own thoughts she didn’t notice anyone else come in the room until Angel was behind her, his arms round her waist, his lips on her throat. She smiled. "Where have you two been?"
"We went to see some old friends," Angel answered. "I brought you something back."
"What?" Jyira asked, almost dreading to think what it could be.
Willow’s eyebrows were in her hair. "Oh Angel you didn’t…"
"Didn’t what?" Angel said. He smiled at Jyira, holding a hand behind his back, and presenting her with a human heart.
Jyira smiled. "Oh Angel," she cooed.
He kissed her. "I thought you’d like it."
"Who’s is it?"
"Current Slayer’s," he said. "’Bout time I got her off my back."
Jyira looked over at Willow. "I thought she was your friend. And you don’t mind Angel ripping her heart out?"
Willow shrugged. "*Was* my best friend," she corrected. "Vampires don’t have Slayers for friends."
Angel smiled at Jyira. "She’s learning real fast, isn’t she?"
Jyira kissed him. "She learns from the master like I did." More smoochies. "It’s been a while since you brought me a heart. That’s so romantic."
Willow shook her head in disgust. "I can’t believe you think a human heart is romantic. I have my limits. It’s gross!"
Jyira stroked Angel’s cheek with a long, pail finger and talon like black nails. "It’s cute," she said, looking at Angel, who was smiling at her. Willow snorted. "You guys are making me sick." And she walked away, leaving them engrossed and entrance with each other. As she walked away, she found herself missing Tara. It had been a difficult decision for her, but she’d eventually decided she would tell her the truth, and then bring her over and they could be together forever. And as it turned out, most couples who did that ended up together in the end after all. Look at Hannah and Thierry. Jyira and Angel. Seeing how much in love they were had made her feel good and happy about bringing them back together. Her doubts about being responsible for bringing back two demons had been squashed. It wasn’t her fault they’d ended up in bed together.
The rest of Circle Daybreak would just have to learn to deal with them.
* * *
To Be Continued...
