NM--Chapter 8
Chapter 8
“What’s going on, Angel?” Faith asked.
“Someone stole the prophecies.” He was already trying to come up with another plan.
“What does that mean?” Cameron stood up for the first time.
Keen shut his laptop off. It was time to gather the forces and talk options. “It means that we can’t know for sure what the upcoming events have to do with you.”
“And if someone besides Dru stole them, then there’s another player out there we don’t know about.” Angel put his hand to his mouth and rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb and finger.
“We can beat up the local snitches. See if someone knows anything,” Faith offered.
“You do love your violence,” House said.
She looked back at him over her shoulder. “It’s kind of my job.”
Chase knelt down in front of Cuddy and took her hands. “And it’s my job to love you.”
Cuddy’s face flushed and House scoffed. “What happened to Blondie? Did all of that conditioner finally soak up your last brain cell?”
Chase bounded up and stood in front of House, his shoulders squared. “Is it such a big leap to think someone could love a goddess like her?”
House leaned away from him and looked at the others. “Again I say: what the hell?”
Cuddy looked down at the floor. “I think this is my fault.”
Cameron stepped forward. She didn’t notice that it had made Angel flinch. She asked, “How is this your fault?”
Her black curls bounced as she shook her head. “I was lonely. I didn’t think it would actually work.”
Angel looked from the blushing Cuddy to the near floating Chase. “Please tell me you didn’t,” he said to her.
“Didn’t what?” Cameron asked. She was hoping she would wake up soon.
Keen sat down on the arm of the couch. “She cast a love spell.”
House’s eyebrows raised. “You cast a spell on Chase?”
She waved her hands in front of her. She wished a hole would open and swallow her. “I didn’t mean for it to be Chase. It was supposed to find…my true love.”
They all stood in silence. Except for Chase. “And I will love you truly until I have no breath.”
House looked over at Angel. “You’d still rather hurt me than this walking Lifetime movie of the week?”
Angel’s forehead wrinkled. “Yes.” Then he glanced over at Cuddy and Chase. “We don’t have time to fix this now. The way he is, he’s going to get hurt. Maybe you should take him home.”
Cuddy’s eyes widened and she rushed to Angel so that only he could hear. “Please don’t leave me with him.”
Angel shrugged. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to do. He’ll get hysterical now if we separate you.”
She sighed. “Is there anything I can do to help from my home?”
He smiled. “Just get him out of here. And be careful.”
“Go home to mama. Oh, the games you will play,” House said as Cuddy grabbed Chase’s arm. He blindly followed her to the door.
Cuddy’s eyes slid over to House and she gritted her teeth. “House, I swear I’ll finally fire you if you say another word.”
They watched them leave and then turned back to each other. “Okay, people, we need another plan fast,” Angel said.
“When Kate gets back, maybe we can use her contacts to see what they know.” Keen said, moving towards the window to see when Kate and Wilson got back.
“Maybe I could track Drusilla down and see if she’ll tell me anything,” Angel said.
Faith shook her head. “She’s crazy, Angel. But she’s not stupid. And no amount of beating you give her won’t make her confess.”
Angel’s brow furrowed. “You’re right. She’d probably enjoy it.”
House twirled his cane. “This chick sounds freaky. Can I meet her?”
Wilson and Kate came into the apartment. “Trust me, House. You don’t want to meet this one. She’s not like the other ladies of the night you like to be with.”
Kate stepped up. “Angel, what do you need?”
“You have contacts?”
“I know of someone. He’s a seer. He was the one that told me something was going to happen tonight.”
Faith picked up her axe. “Let’s go.”
…………………………………..
Cuddy sat on her couch with her elbows on her knees and her chin on her fists. She watched Chase pace about the room as he swore oaths and recited poetry in her name. She had never thought that the spell would actually work. It was more of a sign of hope or a cosmic plea for help. As she looked at Chase, she was trying to decide if she was disappointed that his affection was only because of a spell. He was young, but he was intelligent and probably virile. No one would mind if she just never changed him back…No, she chastised herself. She wanted something real. With someone mature.
“My love is like a red, red rose,” Chase started. He paused, not being able to remember the rest of the sonnet. His blond hair flopped as his head swiveled to look at Cuddy. “Can I sculpt you?”
Cuddy blinked at him. “Okay, let’s just get some wine to drink first.” He grinned and she went into the kitchen. “Stay here,” she told him.
“My soul will die the minutes you are gone and I will be reborn when you return,” he said, his hands to his chest.
She hurried into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of pills in the cabinet. She crushed three sleeping pills into a glass of wine and then made a glass for herself. When she came back out, she handed him the glass.
About to back away from him, he pulled her closer. He took a large gulp of the wine, almost drinking half of it. “Thank you for this glass, but I find you much more intoxicating,” he said. He bent down and kissed her.
She thought about pulling away, but she was already there and she found the affection soothing. Her hand raised to his head, her fingers rubbing his surprisingly soft strands. As she contemplated letting her tongue slip past her lips, she felt him sway. She turned her head to look at him. Chase looked at her once before closing his eyes and slumping to the floor.
She grabbed his glass before it broke and set both glasses on the coffee table. Then, with all her strength, she pulled him into her bedroom. She took a belt from her closet and tied his hands to the bedpost. On the floor next to him, she left a note that said: You passed out from your immense love of me. I will be back as soon as possible to celebrate our love. Lisa.
She went into the hall, took her keys from the table and rushed out of her apartment. As the door shut behind her, she stood there, her hand on the knob, wondering what she should do next. Figuring that the group at House’s would already be gone looking for answers, she tried to decide what would be the best way to help. She wasn’t fond of Cameron, but she didn’t want her to die either. Then the thought rushed to her head. “Cameras,” she whispered.
The hotel camera would show who broke into Wilson’s room.
…………………………………..
The group got out of Angel’s convertible. They stood outside of a nice restaurant.
House looked at the building top to bottom. “Wow,” he said. “Why didn’t you take Cameron here?” He leaned over to Cameron who was next to him. “You should be pissed.”
Cameron rolled her eyes. Wilson said, “I didn’t take her here because I didn’t think she’d appreciate watching a green demon during dinner.”
“Thanks for that,” Cameron said.
Angel shifted his weight. “A green demon? A green seeing demon that owns a restaurant?”
“What is it, Angel?” Cameron asked. She was hoping it wasn’t going to be more fighting. She was already exhausted.
“It’s Lorne.” He jogged towards the door leaving the others to follow him. Pulling the door open, the slow jazz music swirled around him. It was dark and sensual in the large room, but his vampire eyes needed no time to adjust. He heard a soft voice singing from the stage in front. He walked further into the room, ignoring the hostess.
Lorne stopped mid-note and nearly dropped his microphone. “Angel?”
TBC