The moon is not quite obscured by the trees from my spot in the cemetery, little slivers of light playing through the branches like escaping fire through bones
( ... )
I know know why I've decided to walk through the cemetary. It's not a good place to be, especially in Sunnydale. Perhaps I'm looking for something to fight. Something to take my mind off everything that has happened.
I have my stake out, posed and ready to use if I have to. My eyes scan my surroundings and when I'm almost out, I decide there's nothing there. No demons or vampires to fight.
I slide the stake back into my pocket and continue on my way. My head is lost in its own thoughts when I hear that voice. It sends a shiver down my spine and when I look to the side, I see Angel standing there.
Freezing, I stare at him for a moment. "A-Angel?" I stutter out, taking a step away from him. He doesn't look all to happy to see me.
This man...no, he was less than that to me, this...subhuman before me had stolen my son. The one good thing in the world that I was going to be able to have that was mine.
...and he took him from me and gave him to a madman.
Considering...he's lucky I haven't ripped his throat out yet.
"Answer fast Price, you're lucky I haven't killed you yet."
When he asks his question, why I'm there, my hand goes inside my jacket pocket. With my fingers curled around the wooden stake, I look to him. "Why is it so important for you to know?" I ask him, ready to defend myself if he attacks.
I take a step away from him but keep my eyes on him. After what happened in the hospital, I don't trust him.
"It's important," I growl, "Because it seems to me that these days wherever you are, is wherever I am losing something I don't want lost."
I circle around Wesley. It's taking everything in me to not kill him where he stands. The promise I made was true. I didn't kill humans, but for him...there might be an exception.
"Why Sunnydale, Pryce? Of all places...you know what this place means to me...you take my son and then you come here? Why?"
When he reminds me of what I've done, I suck in a deep breath. I know what happened to Connor is my fault and I've never said otherwise. And I don't expect Angel to ever forgive me.
When he starts to circle around me, I watch him carefully, my hand still on the stake in my pocket. I won't hesitate to dust him if he tries anything. Maybe I don't have the speed of a vampire but I'll try.
"This place means something to you?" I ask in a dangerously low voice. "Does it mean something to you because this is the place where you became Angelus again? Because this is the place you stalked Buffy and killed her friends? You don't own Sunnydale, Angel, and if I chose to be here, then I will."
The words concerning Angelus do sting, and I'm not going to pretend they don't. That was a dark chapter in my life. One I do not like to refer back to very often, and the reason I left Sunnydale to come to LA...
...and he knows that.
So much for pleasantries, we both had leapt immediately to the most painful jabs we could.
When he steps closer to be, I resist the urge to step away. I have to stand my ground. I’m tired of being bullied by all of them for a mistake I made. Any one of them would’ve made the same mistake and placing all the blame on me wasn’t fair.
“Do what, Angel? What are you going to do? Beat me to a bloody pulp? Having a soul prevents you from killing humans so I’m not afraid of dying at your hands. Not anymore.” I pull out one of my weapons and continue to stare at him. “Want to fight? Want to pay me back for what I did? Then go right ahead but I won’t go down with a fight and regardless of what you may think, I’m far from weak.”
"How misinformed you are Wesley...a soul makes me not want to kill people, it doesn't prevent me from doing it, or have you forgotten, those with souls kill each other all the time. I choose not to. That doesn't meant there aren't exceptions. I want you to think about that."
I make a move as if I'm preparing to lash out at him, then pause. I wanted to spill his blood, soul or not...vengance would be worth it. However...
...Buffy.
I had things to do. A promise to keep.
And killing Wesley would do nothing to recover my son, but the time spent doing so may make me lose her, and I couldn't lose both.
Not again.
I stand down.
"But...today is not your day to day, it seems," I say taking steps backward.
How nice of him to allow me to live. Snorting at him, I step away from him. “I’ll be sure to send you a fruit basket for sparing my life,” I snark before zipping up my coat. There seems to be a cool breeze blowing through the cemetery now. “Maybe from now on, you can leave me alone. It would seem we’re both here now. We’ll have to learn how to live together.”
I turn on my heel and start to walk away but I stop. Turning around, I look at Angel and say, “I didn’t mean for what happened. It was a mistake. Anyone would’ve done it.”
I caught up with Angel just in time. My plan... must be carried out tonight, and it seems that there must be a little change.
Looking like the Slayer again, I approach Angel, looking concerned. "Angel," I whisper in her voice. I know what it does to him. Exactly what I want it to, takes him exactly where I want him.
"Angel, it looks like Andrew's not going to be able to make our meeting," I say with a Buffy-like pout. "He's been... held up." I can't help but laugh, but of course it comes out as a girlish giggle.
"We're going to need someone else to help us out. And ooh, look! We've got someone right here." I point delicately at the Watcher, who's retreating. I bring myself closer to Angel, stand on tiptoe to whisper into his ear.
"The old high school," I whisper into his ear, still on the tips of my toes. There's no breath coming from my mouth, but neither is there any from his, so we're even. "Remember it?"
Where Buffy went, some years ago. You love Buffy. You know the place.
"They're building a new school on top of it, a better school. And there's something underneath that needs to be opened. A little door."
I point towards Wesley. "I need him there. I need him instead of Andrew, who flaked. We need to get him to the school. After that, I'll show you the way."
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I have my stake out, posed and ready to use if I have to. My eyes scan my surroundings and when I'm almost out, I decide there's nothing there. No demons or vampires to fight.
I slide the stake back into my pocket and continue on my way. My head is lost in its own thoughts when I hear that voice. It sends a shiver down my spine and when I look to the side, I see Angel standing there.
Freezing, I stare at him for a moment. "A-Angel?" I stutter out, taking a step away from him. He doesn't look all to happy to see me.
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This man...no, he was less than that to me, this...subhuman before me had stolen my son. The one good thing in the world that I was going to be able to have that was mine.
...and he took him from me and gave him to a madman.
Considering...he's lucky I haven't ripped his throat out yet.
"Answer fast Price, you're lucky I haven't killed you yet."
Reply
I take a step away from him but keep my eyes on him. After what happened in the hospital, I don't trust him.
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I circle around Wesley. It's taking everything in me to not kill him where he stands. The promise I made was true. I didn't kill humans, but for him...there might be an exception.
"Why Sunnydale, Pryce? Of all places...you know what this place means to me...you take my son and then you come here? Why?"
Reply
When he starts to circle around me, I watch him carefully, my hand still on the stake in my pocket. I won't hesitate to dust him if he tries anything. Maybe I don't have the speed of a vampire but I'll try.
"This place means something to you?" I ask in a dangerously low voice. "Does it mean something to you because this is the place where you became Angelus again? Because this is the place you stalked Buffy and killed her friends? You don't own Sunnydale, Angel, and if I chose to be here, then I will."
Reply
...and he knows that.
So much for pleasantries, we both had leapt immediately to the most painful jabs we could.
No more time for nonsense.
I take a step forward.
"So are we going to do this...or what?"
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“Do what, Angel? What are you going to do? Beat me to a bloody pulp? Having a soul prevents you from killing humans so I’m not afraid of dying at your hands. Not anymore.” I pull out one of my weapons and continue to stare at him. “Want to fight? Want to pay me back for what I did? Then go right ahead but I won’t go down with a fight and regardless of what you may think, I’m far from weak.”
Reply
"How misinformed you are Wesley...a soul makes me not want to kill people, it doesn't prevent me from doing it, or have you forgotten, those with souls kill each other all the time. I choose not to. That doesn't meant there aren't exceptions. I want you to think about that."
I make a move as if I'm preparing to lash out at him, then pause. I wanted to spill his blood, soul or not...vengance would be worth it. However...
...Buffy.
I had things to do. A promise to keep.
And killing Wesley would do nothing to recover my son, but the time spent doing so may make me lose her, and I couldn't lose both.
Not again.
I stand down.
"But...today is not your day to day, it seems," I say taking steps backward.
Reply
I turn on my heel and start to walk away but I stop. Turning around, I look at Angel and say, “I didn’t mean for what happened. It was a mistake. Anyone would’ve done it.”
Reply
Looking like the Slayer again, I approach Angel, looking concerned. "Angel," I whisper in her voice. I know what it does to him. Exactly what I want it to, takes him exactly where I want him.
"Angel, it looks like Andrew's not going to be able to make our meeting," I say with a Buffy-like pout. "He's been... held up." I can't help but laugh, but of course it comes out as a girlish giggle.
"We're going to need someone else to help us out. And ooh, look! We've got someone right here." I point delicately at the Watcher, who's retreating. I bring myself closer to Angel, stand on tiptoe to whisper into his ear.
"Wouldn't you like to see him bleed?"
Reply
Buffy.
I turn on my heel to face her. She always knew what I needed, what would save me, what would heal me.
I glance at the walking Wesley in the distance and then back at my Slayer.
My beautiful Slayer.
"What...what do I do?"
Reply
Where Buffy went, some years ago. You love Buffy. You know the place.
"They're building a new school on top of it, a better school. And there's something underneath that needs to be opened. A little door."
I point towards Wesley. "I need him there. I need him instead of Andrew, who flaked. We need to get him to the school. After that, I'll show you the way."
I smile. The way down.
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