To Keep Safe: Turned Into a Threat
by Quortoth
“Keep in mind,” stated Angel as they walked through the forest, “Anyone in that market will be willing to capture you and sell you as a slave.”
“I think we’ve got the idea,” said Spike, “1. Don’t let your guard down and 2. Don’t vamp out. I think we can grasp it.”
“Spike. We don’t need this screwed up,” said Angel.
“We all have our weapons?” questioned Emma, Angel raised his sword. Spike swung his axe. Conner had a sword and Wesley not only had a gun but the but the gadgets up his sleeves. “See, we are prepared for anything.”
“Comets come from one of the suns,” said Spike, “We’ll just slice and dice the buggers.”
“Whatever works for you Spike,” said Angel.
“What are we going to do with Lorne when we find him?” asked Conner.
“We’re going take him back to L.A.,” said Angel.
“Okay,” said Conner like he was brushing it off, walking in front of the group, “Will we be able to use him at the hotel?”
“Yes Conner, Lorne’s one of us,” said Angel.
“Fighting the good fight,” said Conner, then he spoke under his breath, “A bunch of bad guys dressed as good.”
“What?” asked Angel, “We all just heard what you said.”
“I didn’t,” said Wesley, he was kind of happy he didn’t.
Angel stepped in front of Conner, “Are we supposed to stop saving people Conner, because why?”
“I didn’t say that,” said Conner.
“What did you mean?” asked Angel.
“I didn’t mean nothing,” replied Conner.
“Conner, you chose to come here. You’re a grown man, you want to go back, you want to go wait at the car?” asked Angel.
“I didn’t mean much,” said Conner being more persistent.
“Conner boy,” started Spike, “I suggest you don’t talk or mention something your little daddy won’t want to hear. If he’s not brooding, his pissed.”
Conner looked from Spike to Angel, “Sorry,” he said disrespectfully.
They were all quiet. Conner looked Angel in the eyes angrily, more or less just looking at him disrespectfully.
“It’s fine son, lets go,” said Angel.
Emma looked around, “What walks on all fours, breaths like it’s angry and is very close?”
“I’ve got a good joke for that,” said Spike.
“Not the time Spike,” growled Angel.
“I hear it too,” said Conner looking around.
Suddenly an orange and yellow creature, much like a cat jumped out of the brush around them. It was closest to Emma. Emma rolled out of the way onto all fours and up straight, she tracked the blades in her shirt sleeves.
One jumped at Angel. Angel jumped up inhumanly and over the demon landing behind it. There were more. The demon leapt at Emma and she jumped up and slammed her blades went into the demon. It roared, making sound like an angry cat. Emma rolled up back onto her feet.
Another jumped at Conner and he jumped up and kicked the demon in the head then landed spun around and went to slash it. Put it stopped him with it’s claws and it jumped at over him and pushed him down. Conner rolled out from under it.
Wesley was thrown into a tree, he grabbed out his gun from his suite and started shooting at the beast. There was something bad happening though.
The demons would just heal. And be right back up.
Spike ran to a tree, jumped off of it and kicked down the demon then punched it in the face. It roared at him and jumped towards him.
“RUN!!” yelled Angel.
They all started to run for it. Emma and Conner in one direction. Bad part, Wesley, Spike, and Angel were running in the opposite directions. The demons followed them.
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Emma and Conner ran inhumanly quickly through the forest. The demons kept up behind them. One jumped out of nowhere onto Conner. Emma turned around at the wrong time.
She tripped and hit her head on a tree root on the side of a hill. Uncontrollably she rolled down the steep hill, twigs scratched her face. She fell into a stream hitting her head on one of the shiny red rocks at the bottom of the stream. Knocking her unconscious.
Conner at the top of the hill kicked the demon off of him before it could bite. He kicked it in the head, spun around and kicked him again.
Emma woke up after a moment, she gasped, looked around her. Her forehead was bleeding. It healed slowly, she felt the rocks the water. She was wet, “What the?” she swallowed looking around, she looked up at the top of the hill, heard Conner fighting.
The demon tried to jump on him, Conner ducked out of the way flipped forward and pounced on the creature grabbing it by the head and braking it’s neck.
The demon didn’t get back up, Conner’s small wounds healed, “Emma?” he asked as he cuts sealed, he looked around. Smelled her blood on the tree trunk. He went towards it, “Emma?!”
Conner jumped off the side of the hill and over the steep area falling over the creek. He smelled her blood in the water, “EMMA!!?”
He walked out into the clearing, he could smell her all over the area. Wondered where she was. Conner turned around suddenly and Emma hit him in the face inhumanly fast. Hard enough to knock him to the ground unconscious.
She looked at him in the leaves.
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Angel, Spike, and Wesley were getting far. They ran and ran, suddenly in the midst of a clearing, they weren’t being chased anymore. They looked around.
“Where’s Emma?” asked Spike.
“They must have ran in different directions,” said Angel.
“We have to go find them, those things are strong,” stated Spike.
Spike went back towards where they’d come from. Suddenly a large net shot up out of the ground catching Wes, Angel, and Spike.
“See what you did,” said Angel.
“Bugger that, my child is out there, in a dimension she doesn’t know anything about.”
A group of humans came out of the trees, they went towards their new captives. “Hey, fellow humans. How about you let us go,” said Spike.
“Get them down,” said one of them, “Take them back to the village.”
“We don’t mean any harm,” said Wesley.
“Get that one to shut up,” said the human.
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Emma was walking through the forest alone, she was healed now. Very suspicious of her surroundings. She turned around suddenly to the sound of feet. A demon came out of the woods, “Boys,” he clapped his hands, “Get the cow.”
She looked around to see that there were those demons. She ejected the blades from her sleeves. Demons were surrounding her. One of them jumped at her. Emma back flipped over the demon, another came towards her, she quickly stabbed it in the head.
Another jumped onto her, she went down to the ground. She slashed it’s throat trying to get back up. Another jumped onto her and she kicked it off then flipped back up onto her feet. She spun around and sliced it’s head off.
She was thrown down again and the blades went back into her sleeves. She punched the demon, she was about ready to get really angry. She punched it off of her, suddenly one bit her in the side.
Emma moaned in pain loudly. Things got blurry, there was a burning sensation going through her bones. The demons were pulling away. She rolled onto her stomach, but she felt so dizzy and queasy, sleepy. Emma closed her eyes and became unconscious.
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Spike, Wesley and Angel were pulled by a wagon through the forest. “You know Angel, if something bad happens to Emma-”
“Emma can take care of herself,” said Angel.
“She doesn’t know anything about this dimension, and she’s with Conner,” said Spike.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” demanded Angel, “Conner’s a nice young man.”
“Oh, a nice young boy that won’t listen to daddy’s precious orders now?” questioned Spike.
“Can you two not fight for a while?” demanded Wesley, “We’ve been captured no doubt by a group of rebels, either a different clan or something.”
“I have complete right to fight, I’m worried,” said Spike.
“We’re all a little worried right now, Spike,” growled Angel.
They pulled into a village, Wesley definitely didn’t recognize it, “Tell me, is there a Sasha here?”
No one answered. One of the people left the side of the cart and went into one of the passing small homes. Like tents. The cart stopped, “Now what next will we happen upon in our daring adventures?” questioned Spike sarcastically.
“Now what is this?” demanded Sasha coming out of that home, “Wesley, well, untie them. They mean us no harm.”
“Thank You Sasha,” said Wesley.
“Sasha, isn’t that a woman’s name?” questioned Spike.
“Shut up Spike,” said Angel.
They were freed from the net. “Thank You Sasha.”
The gang got off the cart, “Why what brings you back to us Wesley?”
“We’re looking for a friend of ours, but as it seems during the chase, we lost two more of our clan,” answered Wesley.
“A chase?” questioned Sasha.
“Yes, did you not send out those demons?” asked Wesley.
“Don’t you remember, Wesley, we do not train the beasts,” said Sasha.
“Then what would they be up to?” questioned Wesley.
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Emma opened her eyes slowly the sun bright in them. People moving all around her. Her arms hurt and her legs. She didn’t like the way she was being hung. Hung?
She looked around, she was shackled at the feet and the wrist around a pole of wood. Demons walking all around her, talking amongst themselves. Something cold around her neck, some kind of ring.
“Cow wakes, we will give you new home cow,” said the demon, “You’ll have great cow home, they teach you your place.”
Emma wasn’t wearing her weapons anymore they’d taken them. She had to get free. Emma suddenly broke the shackles off her legs and stood there. She grabbed the wooden pole and swung onto the top of it and pulled the shackles off landing on the ground in a crouches position.
A series of shocks went through her body and she went down on the ground. Other demons were coming to aid the one shocking her. She then suddenly stood back up, the voltage traveling through her meant nothing.
“Shock not work?” demanded the demon, “Back down cow.”
“I’M NOT YOUR COW!!” roared Emma.
A demon came at her on the left. She smoothly dodged his sword swipe, she kneed him in the chest quickly grabbed him by the head and broke his neck. She threw her fists out hitting two demons in the heads. Some more demons came at her.
Emma then punched one in the face and easily kicked him down slamming the bottom of her shoe against his chest. Emma ducked a blow from another and jumped up twirled around and kicked it’s head off. Emma landed grabbed the thing around her neck took it off and held it. She flipped forward and pounced on one killing him.
She quickly twirled around hitting two them with her fists, not facing them back kicked one. Emma quickly put that collar thing on the demon and grabbed the magical rock from his hand and he started getting shocked repeatedly.
“Shock it out of you!” she smiled.
Suddenly smiling, Emma ducked a behind blow back kicked the perp. Swung around and punched him. She grabbed him and threw him across the way about 20ft.
The demon was kind of dead now. She broke the neck of her captor and quickly threw down the magic stone. She pulled her blade set up quickly off his wrists.
Dodged under a demon, did a one hand front flip and jumped up landed on her feet where she grabbed a demon and snapped it’s neck and threw it at another. She looked at the crowd of demons. They were pulling back. Emma eyed them all then ran down an alley way.
Emma had no idea where she was. Find someone that knew the place would be smart, find someone that meant a lot to these people. That shouldn’t be too hard.
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“If you truly want a woman you must, give her flowers, be nice, take her to dinner. Don’t go up to her and say you’re going to feel her essence. And just no touching till she’s ready,” encouraged the Groosulagg [however that’s spelled.] to a young demon.
He was back. He was in a throne room of sorts. The windows opened wide, nice breeze coming through the room. Groo had that good ole’ mysterious medieval warrior thing going on, look wise. A sword at his belt in a sheath. The leather of the Pylian fashion on again.
Groo felt that he belonged in Pylea after Cordelia went to be with Angel. He felt he had to try and with all his might introduce human beings as part of the society, not the livestock.
Suddenly Emma jumped in through one of the windows, she saw Groo quickly. The young demon next to her, young man of his clan pulled out his sword and went to fight Emma seeing immediately that her presence in that room wasn’t right.
She dodged the swipe effortlessly, kicked him in the crotch and snapped his arm back pulling the sword from his grasp and slicing his throat. She dropped him to the ground.
Groo looked at her, “Can I help you?”
Emma looked at him suspiciously, “Where is this?” she questioned, “This isn’t Quortoth?”
“It’s Pylea,” he looked down calmly, “You killed my friend.”
She walked towards him, her stance like her fathers, threatening at the same time, “Kill a lot of people’s friends.” Emma sniffed the air, “You’re part demon.” she looked at him suspiciously again, “Reese send you here?”
“No,” said Groo, he unsheathed his sword, “But since you have told me nothing that can prove you are not evil, I must slay you in proficient battle.”
Suddenly Emma kicked the sword from his hand side swiped his face and grabbed his arm before he could think fast enough, she pulled his arm behind him and said quickly, “BAD MOVE!!” she then said, “Try harder.”
He was going to struggle away. Emma put her hands on his shoulders and quickly flipped herself over him landing in front of him. Groo went to punch her, she ducked the blow. Jumped up and kicked him in the face, once, twice. She slammed her shoes against his chest and he hit the wall behind him.
Before he could see her do it, the blades in her sleeves were ejected. She jumped up, spun around and cut the side of his face. Kind of like for fun. Spun around and again kicked him in the face then sliced his chest and slammed the left blade into the right side of his shoulder.
He yelled in pain, nothing wrong with him grasping that. He looked up at her from the floor the blade in his chest. She pulled it out, “You’re faulty,” she laughed.
“How?” he said referring to her strength.
“It’s secret,” she said grabbed him by his leather vest that had been cut in the front, “You come with me,” she smiling, then she quickly tossed him out the window she entered and leapt out after him.
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They were all in a hut of the village. Angel, Wesley, and Spike anyway with Sasha. “We’ve sent out our best group of warriors to locate your friends.”
Spike sat in a chair in thought. Wesley stood against a wall of the room. Angel sat in a chair at the wooden table in the middle of the room.
“What about Lorne?” questioned Angel.
“Even though we do not care much for the finding of, Pylian beasts. We have many men looking for him,” said Sasha.
Spike stood up and walked out of the hut, “I’m being hanging around.”
“Don’t go far Spike,” said Angel.
“Just don’t bother me right now,” answered Spike.
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Spike walked out into the village, people playing all around. Spike walked around the village. He walked to the end of the village. No one around, alone. Spike sat down on a large rock, there were several at the bottom of the tree he was sitting under.
He looked around, “You know this would be a good time to have someone like the first around. Someone to be talky to, when someone wants to get a bit talky without himself being the listener.”
He took a breath, cleared his throat, even though that wasn’t really needed with him, “Well self, I’ve never been more scared for Emma.” He laughed, “Yup self, I’m scared.”
Spike looked down, he put his hands on his knees, “Girl out there, doesn’t belong here. Out there all alone, scary. I never thought I could care so much about somebody, besides Buffy. Coma made me feel it more. Buggering feelings, bleeding things make you talk to yourself. Make you care too much, enough. But I don’t think that anymore. I did…Now I have a child.”
The sun shined down upon him through the leaves, “Sun a shining but the day isn’t out, at least not for me anyway.” He smoothed back his hair, looked in his coat pocket, no flask. “I could use a drink right now self, we get to pub. Incase we don’t get back to the Lovely city of Angels, self, I’m going to buy you a beer.”
Spike folded himself, “Angel wouldn’t understand, doesn’t care. Doesn’t see the full view of things, doesn’t fear for his own child, not like I do mines.”
“You should be afraid,” said Conner stepping into the clearing.
Spike looked up to him, “You been listening that whole time, you better not say anything about it boy.”
“Something’s wrong,” said Conner.
“What?” asked Spike standing up.
“We ran from those things, into a clearing. Emma fell down and hit her head on a tree trunk, then she fell down a hill and hit her head on a red kind of stone.” He sighed, “I wish I had helped her.”
“You got more to tell?” asked Spike.
“Yeah, I went down there, smelling her blood. She comes at me out of nowhere and knocks me out, I’m still hurting from it, she used major strength.”
“Did she look different?” asked Spike, “Anything make you feel that she had, in other words, vamped out.”
“No,” said Conner, “She wasn’t. When we do that we feel it, between each other.”
“Can you take me back to that place?” asked Spike.
“Yes,” said Conner.
Spike looked around, “We don’t need to say anything to Angel or Percy, at least not right now. Take me.”
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Emma was walking the forest with Groo. “You’ve healed my wounds,” said Groo, “What are you?”
“Stop making chit chat,” growled Emma, “You’re making me crazy.”
“What is your name, where do you hail?” questioned Groo.
Emma out of nowhere slammed Groo against a tree, “You keep asking your questions, you keep talking. I will show you evil. I will cut your tongue out, or worse. If I were you, I’d get real scared about what I was doing.”
“I have one question,” said Groo, he was a little afraid of what she would do. This light weight, iron gripping his throat with her forearm. The strength of 10 men, more. Really didn’t want to find out, “My question, may we stop for water? A little rest?”
Emma looked at him for a long moment, “Sure.”
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Lorne walked the forest, “Now, where do I find a friend in a lonely place like this?”
He just walked around. Lorne started to whistle a little tune, like turned on a alarm for any nearby Pylians, he didn’t feel any around.
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Emma and Groo found a stream. When they came to it, Emma turned towards him indicating that he may rest now. Groo was grateful, thirsty in the day.
Groo sat down next to the stream, “I am quite thankful.”
She ignored him, looking down at the stream. She was surprised by the way she looked, longer hair, going down to her ribs over her chest, still parted in the middle like she remembered it. Silky, wavy, even though that water was dirty slightly and she hadn’t washed it in a little while.
Her nails were black as she looked at them, looked like the nails of a nail biter, but not. “I’m taller,” said Emma to herself.
“Hmmm?” questioned Groo.
Emma stood up straight, “Wasn’t talking to you. You will learn your place,” she smiled, “Cow.”
“Why are you such a harsh being?” asked Groo.
She looked at him the way Spike would, “In all of my 14 years, you have to be the bravest hostage.”
“Thank You,” smiled Groo.
“Not a compliment,” said Emma, “I am a taker of lives, and when I’m done with you, yours will be took.” Groo just looked at her, he was going to drink some water but, he just kind of looked at her.
She turned from him to look at the trees. She sat down next to the stream. Groo got himself a drink, whipped his hot face. Emma wasn’t hot, she didn’t perspire or anything like normal person.
They were quiet.
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Quortoth: Emma was in a town in Quortoth. It was hot, really, really hot. Heat didn’t kill in Quortoth. Emma didn’t feel it much. She was fighting a group of demons. 14 yrs. Old didn’t look any different then she did now.
Her costume was made of black and brown animal skin and was a tank top sort of and pants with boots going up her shins. She wore gauntlets too going up her arm most of the way to right before her shoulders and a sword strapped to her back.
“10...” she said, she kicked one off it’s feet, “9...” punched one in the face so hard he flew onto the ground, “8...7” She back flipped and kicked two of them in the heads killing them. “6,5,4” She blocked one’s punch shot a blade out of her sleeve and stabbed the demon in the crotch. Pulled her arm back quickly elbowing one in the face, “3, 2, 1!!!!” She grabbed another through him down and on that one started punching him a punch a second. Blood got on her hands from his head.
Emma stood up blood on her face. She wiped it off and smile. Sniffed the air then took off down the way of the hell village.
She walked down an alley way. They had them in that dimension. The sky was red today above, and the dirt walls of the buildings around her where tall over head. She sniffed the air.
“Goanna hide are we?” she stopped next to a door, then she kicked it down. Scare the ones she was after,
“COME ON MAKE MY JOB MORE FUN!”
She smiled wider then looked around and sniffed the air. Emma kicked in another door started running down the alley and jumped onto the roof punching the girl that had been up there. She then twirled around and kicked her across the head. The girl took off and tried to run.
Emma ran at the girl, “GONNA RUN, GONNA RUN!!”
The girl was terrified, “HELP!” she screamed trying to get away from Emma.
“I KNOW WHERE YOU’RE LITTLE FRIENDS ARE TOO!!” yelled Emma smiling at her, running at her. Going to catch up, holding back her speed just to suspend the slayer.
Emma’s eyes went yellow and she ran past the girl hit her in the face and the girl fell to the ground. Emma punched her across the face then again. She hung over the girl. Emma then jumped up and smashed in the girl’s rib cage. Emma then ran off happily jumping up and spinning around she leapt off the side of the buildings.
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Six little girls huddled so quiet in a closet like area. So quiet. They listened for there mother to come back, tell them it was okay. They head foots steps, someone was there.
One want to ask if it was mommy but the child’s mouth was clamped over by a hand from her older sister. Emma was out there.
“Lucky mother was, getting 6 little future slayers,” sighed Emma, she then smiled, “You know,” suddenly she flipped the table in the room over into a wall. The table much broken from the throw, “You know I can smell slayers.”
Emma laughed, “Fear. Like an animal.” She threw a chair and went next to the close, set her hands on the door, wooden, makeshift hinges. Held her head against the door, “I hear well too.” She moved her hands on the door, they heard her hands on the door.
They were holding to each other in there, trembling. A couple of them crying. They were trying to be so quiet. Heard Emma on the other side, made them hold each other tighter. The littlest one wanted to scream, scream and cry for mommy.
“Happy me, goanna get a slayer, goanna get a slayer or two,” she said in a sing song manner. She sat her hands on the door softly, just loud enough to make a couple jump. She tightened her grip on the door then suddenly and viciously pulled the door off, “Lookie, lookie what I found.”
The Littlest one started crying. One darted off for the door Emma grabbed her and threw her down killing her. Emma swiped her hand around and knocked one in the face killing her. Emma looked at two of them. The oldest put down the toddler one and grabbed a sword and went to chop Emma up.
Emma punched her through the stomach another one tried to bite her and she grabbed her and quickly rung the girls neck. Emma got another one and broke her neck. Emma soaked the blood on her hand into her skin. Emma’s eyes went back to normal as she stepped towards the toddler.
The Toddler looked cute, but so sad. She had tears going down her cheeks. Her nose and big blue eyes were all read, she looked like Emma didn’t when she was little like that.
“Time for you to play,” said Emma drawing her sword emotionless.
“MOMMY!!” screamed the little girl.
Emma looked nervous for a split second, “MUMMY’S GONE!!”
She just looked down at the trembling little girl. The threat of all that was slayer suddenly felt sympathy, she just had to look at that little girl she could stop looking at her. Emma put her sword away, she knelt down in front of her, looked at the little girl, “My mummy’s gone.”
Emma was going to cry. This was going to make her cry. This child wanted her mother, the way Emma had want her mother went she first came to Quortoth and few years after. She could remember what if felt exactly not having her momma to take care of her.
She quickly stood up and turned around. Reese stood at the door. He aimed something that would shoot stakes and shot it towards the little girl. Emma winced from the sound behind her, she walked passed Reese. He followed her.
“You were doing good this time,” said Reese putting the weapon away in his animal hide coat.
“I can do better,” hissed Emma just looking forward.
“If only the little ones didn’t weaken you,” said Reese.
“They don’t.”
He stood in front of her, “What did I see there?”
Emma looked at him, “I’ve killed children.”
“You know you shouldn’t let them make you weak,” said Reese.
“Why don’t you shut up, I’ll do better next time,” she sneered.
Reese smacked her then threw her down, “Why don’t you wipe your face from the tears next time?”
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Emma looked straight forward, watching the leaves like she was listening to something. Then she stared at Groo, she hurt inside. Felt really bad, like she sunk down at the floor and can’t get un-sunk. Very sad.
Things were quiet around them but things were loud in Emma’s head, loud quiet. Like the bugs making noises were going to drive her up all of the many trees. The quiet and it’s loudness made her want to scream, it hurt her head.
Emma smiled, “You ever been torture?”
“You wish to torture me, for what can I give you if you do?” questioned Groo plainly.
“Told you to stop asking questions,” said Emma standing up, walking towards him threateningly.
Suddenly Emma heard the sound of walking. Emma looked around quickly her eyes slits, “Hmmm…someone is following us. I thought my senses were tricking me,” Emma smiled, “I will hide, you keep, shhh…” she put a finger to her lips.
Emma jumped into the tree high above them. There was the sound of whistling, Groo took a drink from the stream and stood up.
Lorne walked into the clearing, he saw Groo, he was struck suddenly by the feeling of relief, “Why, is that you?” questioned Lorne, “Groo?”
Groo stood up, “Lorne, how long has it been?”
“Well, a walk around the corner and about 3 years,” said Lorne.
Groo gave him a firm hug. He pulled away, patted him on the shoulders, “I’d run now,” said Groo.
“Run?” asked Lorne.
Emma kneed Lorne in the back and Lorne went backwards, down on his knees. She put her right leg over his right shoulder and her left arm around his neck in a sort of headlock. She held her right fist against his head, his neck was hurting from the quickness and that it was being forced to turn a little. Emma whispered in his ear, “Scream for me.” Place her left kneed into his back.
“Emma?” questioned Lorne in pain, he could recognize her voice anywhere. Something about the way he was, was causing him great pain.
She cocked her head to the side, “How do you know my name?” she growled looking down at him.
Groo stood in front of him, “Don’t hurt Lorne. He won’t harm you.”
Lorne afraid she was going to brake his neck. Emma suddenly let go of him and slammed him into the trunk of the tree in front of them.
“Why Sassy what’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?” questioned Lorne.
Emma looked to Groo quickly and punched him in the face, he was knocked the ground, hit the stream, “I’ve already defeated you cow,” she hissed, vaguely entertain by the situation. Groo just looked up at her, she looked to Lorne. “Have we met? Have I killed your family?” she walked towards him threateningly.
“Unfortunately, not that family part. I saw you at Angel’s, angel pipes,” said Lorne, he backed up against the tree becoming very aware of his presence.
She smiled, licked her top teeth then spoke, “You reek of fear.”
“I’ve got my reasons,” said Lorne wide eyed.
“You smell, bad,” said Emma, she referring to the year of no bathing he’d experienced. She ignored the smell, been to Quortoth, smelled worse. “No one following you?”
“Shouldn’t be, where’s Angel?” asked Lorne worried she was going to put him in a head lock again.
“Who?” asked Emma, “You mean Angelus?”
“Oh good lord, he’s turned?” asked Lorne.
Emma slammed her hand against his throat and picked him up off of his feet, “Something’s wrong here demon. I’ve never met the heathen Angelus.”
“Why that’s not right, something wrong?” questioned Lorne.
“Everything. Is wrong,” she hissed, she looked from him to Groo, “Please scream now.”
“You never been to the City of Angel’s?” asked Lorne, her hand around his throat making it hard to speak, he didn’t like his feet dangling off the ground either. “Los Angeles?”
Emma just looked into his eyes, hers wide. He did reek of fear, made Emma happy, made her nervous though in a way.
“Lorne will not hurt you, Emma,” said Groo.
“NO ONE CAN HURT ME!!” she roared looking at him.
“Uh, memory serves me correct when you get angry you go part vampire,” said Lorne, “If I were you sweetie, I wouldn’t do that here. Okay.”
“Why?” hissed Emma, “I could do it now.”
He put his hands up like he was going to now try to protect himself, “Honey, Emma. You’ll turn into a demon and be unable to control yourself, a lot of killing.”
Emma laughed at this idea, does she have to worry about the ‘ a lot of killing’ part . “Well,” started Lorne again, “I don’t know if you’ll become a demon but I wouldn’t try it.”
She let go of him, “You are my hostage now.”
“I know about the Reese situation,” said Lorne, sounded like the thing he should say.
Emma looked at him wide eyed her eyes filled with hate, then she looked from him off to the distance, “I thought I gotten away. But he’ll be angry with me,” she looked up, “Lets find humans my hostages. Lots of humans.”
“Why?” questioned Groo.
“You’re coming, really,” she emphasized ‘really’. “- getting close to having your tongue cut out, Mate,” she threatened.
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Spike and Conner had been walking the clearing for some time following the sent. Walking the forest. Trying to locate there missing girl. Spike and Conner got to the place where Emma’s was kidnapped, Spike knelt down and found her blood on the ground, he looked at it, “Definitely hers,” said Conner.
“I smell it too,” said Spike looking up at him.
“Sorry,” said Conner looking from him, “I’m not used to not, having to tell people where blood is.”
“No need to apologize, did it all the time when I’d go out on patrol with Emma when she first got here,” answered Spike standing up.
Conner smelled the air, “I smell her all over here. Don’t think she wants to be found.”
“Or something unfortunately, dragged her like a toy,” said Spike, Conner looked at him kind of hurt, yet annoyed, “Just saying Conner. Got to think about the worst so we can explore the, bleeding possibilities.”
“Those rocks weren’t there anymore,” answered Conner.
“Someone probably finds red rocks pretty, valuable. Collects them,” said Spike, “Seen them all over the streams back around Lorne’s place.”
Conner looked down at the ground, like he had a grudge against it, “She likes to play with people’s feelings doesn’t she?” asked Conner.
Spike looked at him, “No.”
“Well not her, people in general,” he replied, “I don’t mean she plays with feelings. I don’t know what I meant.”
“You put your foot in your mouth a lot you know that,” said Spike.
Conner looked at him confused. He looked down, “I don’t mean to say stuff like that, something always happens though. She scares me, makes me worried, or she makes me happy, sad, mad even.”
“We’re lost,” sighed Spike.
“No we’re not, the camp is that way,” said Conner pointing off to where they’d come from.
“No, I mean, there’s no way we can really find her. Don’t have any idea where she went just that her view of you is a little daft,” said Spike.
“See, that makes me angry,” said Conner, “And sad.”
“Too bad,” said Spike, “You love her, get used to it. We don’t exactly live in a stable place, cutting to the chase, we don’t have a stable anything, and things happen to screw us over all the time. We just need to deal.”
“I do,” said Conner.
“Stop fretting then,” said Spike. Spike sighed, he didn’t quite believe what he was saying, “Lets head back, I got a feeling it’s going to get night, don’t know this place well and all.”
“Think she could of doubled back?” asked Conner.
“She’s smart that way, It’s a possibility,” replied Spike.
---------------------------
“Where’s Spike?” questioned Angel going back into the hut.
“You were unable to find him?” asked Wesley.
“You know what Wes. I think the peroxide is going to his brain. He left the camp is what I’m thinking,” said Angel, “And it’ll be night soon.”
“We will send out someone else,” said Sasha standing next to Wesley.
“No, you don’t have to, whatever this is. Spike’s earned it for himself,” stated Angel.
“What if he was taken?” questioned Wesley.
“Well, Spike’s not a child,” replied Angel, “He can take care of himself. Always saying he’s not as stupid as he looks.”
“You’ll leave your man out there?” questioned Sasha.
“Oh, he just hangs out around us,” said Angel.
“Now you know that’s not true, truth come to be told. Angel, Spike is a help, or at least he tries,” said Wesley.
“Him. Going out there, looking for Emma. Let him keep up his search,” said Angel, “She’s probably with Conner right now back at the car, or Lorne’s parents, something like that. Safe.”
There were screams outside, in the village. Sasha went out the door, followed by Angel and Wesley, quickly behind. There was a major problem. Angel quickly saw Groo and Lorne, relief settled inside him. Groo wasn’t looking to good, tired. There was blood on his mouth.
Emma was surrounded by guards, spears pointed at her throat. She didn’t seem to be fazed by it, just stood there looking at them cockily.
“That’s one of my people,” said Angel, “Groo?”
Groo didn’t say anything. Lorne spoke, “Angel!”
“Lorne, Emma you found him,” said Angel going towards Emma and them, “Let them go, everything is all right. Emma where’s Conner.”
“She cut Groo’s tongue out!” said Lorne in an outrage.
Angel looked at her suspiciously. “Wouldn’t stop yappin,” said Emma cocking her head to the side.
A couple of the men helped Lorne and Groo, “Help Lorne and Groo,” said Angel. Wesley was surprised by the situation as well.
“Did she really cut your tongue out?” asked Wesley to Groo.
Groo showed him, Wesley winced looking at what used to be a tongue and looked away. He looked at Emma, “Sasha, lets get Groo and Lorne in the hut.”
Emma just looked at Angel. Everyone was quiet.
“You match the description perfectly, the vampire with soul, Angel,” she said. “Reese has told me much about you. You‘re the man every watcher has to know about,” Emma looked around the guards, she spoke after a moment, “I like to hurt people, did you know that? Knew my name, did you know that though?”
“Tie her up,” ordered Sasha.
“Don’t touch her,” Angel said quickly, “She’s probably just playing with you. Letting you feel like you’ve got the higher ground.”
He was very alert about the situation Angel was, anything could happen. Emma just looked at him, she looked an evil kind of innocent. “Higher ground,” stated Emma.
“You’re not evil,” said Angel.
“Look Mum, no hands,” laughed Emma, she put her hands behind her back and front flipped over the crowd of guards.
She back kicked one guard, ducked a spear stab then she head butted the stabber jumped up and kicked down two of them. She quickly landed and started using her hands. Quickly, another stab came at her, she ducked out of the way with ease, went to grab the spear from him he held onto it so he could force her against something and strangle her.
Didn’t even get close to falling through with that plan, she held onto the spear tightly and stomped him in the chest.
Took that spear pushed it through one’s chest pulled it out. Turned around, slammed it up into the chin of another braking his neck. Threw down the spear. Angel then trying to stop this nonsense, he tried to kick her off her feet. He was behind her, she jumped up and flipped over him.
Angel looked back to her quickly and she kicked him in the crotch effortlessly and punched him in the face. Angel went down hard, his face showing his pain. Emma laughed, “Try to stop me, Angel. I CAN’T, BE STOPPED!!”
Sasha came at her, she jabbed her elbow into his face. Spun around and kicked him in the head quickly killing him. Wesley pulled out his hand gun and shot her in the arm. Emma grabbed her arm, not having ever remembered being shot before.
“Don’t make her go vamp,” groaned Angel standing up, he looked to Wesley, “Stay back from this battle.”
“Just kind of earned himself a place in it,” growled Emma going towards Wesley threateningly.
Wesley shot at her head, she ducked out of the way with great ease and smoothness. The bullet dropped out of her arm as she dodged the next one. Kicked the gun from his hand, he grabbed his wrist in pain. Emma was going to kick him in the head with the bottom of her boot, it‘d kill him if she did.
Quickly Angel was up by the time she’d kicked the gun from Wes’ hand, stepped towards him. She raised her left leg to do the final blow, this all happening faster then he could control.
“WESLEY MOVE!!” was what went through Angel’s mind.
Angel had to stop her. He didn’t have time to think about how he’d stop her from kicking him in the head as he practically down on his knees, holding his broken wrist.
He grabbed her up like he was going to carry her with all the vampire speed he could manage at that moment and threw her over his head. She went behind him and landed in a crouched position. Angel quickly turned towards her. She was standing up straight.
One of the guards went at her with a sword, swipe, she ducked. Elbowed the guard in the side of the face. Turned around suddenly and slammed her hand into another’s head and he flew up into the air and across the way, “I AM STRONG!!” she yelled.
“Reese tortures you,” said Angel standing up, “Reese is dead Emma.”
“I could kill you at any second,” said Emma, “You a vampire.”
“Wes get out of here,” said Angel worried only for the human’s safety. He was worried about her, just not really about her safety.
Angel was going to do it, he knew that he’d attack her immediately before going at someone else, and Wes still had another hand to take a gun and shoot her with. The transition hurt but only enraged him, it was quick too.
His eyes went red and his skin green. His ears shaped themselves differently, he burned inside. Felt wild. He was the demon, a Vantal. [I read on Wikipedia that’s what they called vamps in Pylea.] He leapt at her viciously.
Emma flipped out of the way just in time rolling forward and back onto her feet. The humans weren’t going to join in now to fight.
Angel landed again, he jumped up and went at her, going to scratch her up. Emma ducked, stood up quickly and punched him in the back. Grabbed him by his shirt and slammed him into a stump across the way. He came back at her and went to bite her leg. Emma jumped up and kicked him down. He went back at her, she punched him in the face, punched her again, the horns on his head scraped her hands with every blow, he wasn’t done though and just wanted to come back for more.
He backed up from her then snarling leapt at her again and went for her neck. Emma was slammed on the ground. He started feasting on her throat. She punched him in the head, punched him again, again, again. He wasn’t dusting. He bit her arm.
She put her legs between him and her and threw him off. She stood up surprised, she was afraid, holding her bleeding arm. Blood going down her shirt from her large throat wound.
Emma pulled away from him and took off running out of the village. Angel was going to chase after her but smelled the blood of other’s in the air. Nothing as tasty but something weaker and easier to get. He looked around, he turned towards Wesley, his own self bleeding heavily from the blows.
The demon inside Angel made him want to run at Wesley. Angel ran at Wesley. Wes picked up his gun and started shooting Angel in the chest, shoot him enough to keep him immobile. Angel moaned in pain on the ground, his voice like that of a weak hurt puppy, with a demonic accent.
---------------------------
Emma ran into the forest. She ran up to a tree and put her hands against it, she had to rest for a moment. Things were wrong in her head, everything was going fast. Moving too fast in her head, she was going to cry.
She pulled back her shirt neck and looked the throat wound, it started to heal. She was crying, “I’m sorry, sorry, so sorry.” She looked at her arm as it healed, laying her head against the tree trunk, her head spinning, the healing wounds burned.
She sunk down onto her knees crying, “I tried.” Sobs.
She screamed suddenly. Then stood up, “I tried,” she yelled out into the distance, “I played the game,” she went back down on her knees, breathing, holding the ground, “He changed the game. He changed it!!”
Emma sobbed looking at the ground, she hit the ground knocking around the dirt, “I hate this place. I don’t want to be here.” She stood up, she yelled to the sky: “Where’s the people that I can just kill!!?”
Thought that killing would make the pain go away. That’s the way she’d been taught her whole life, the killing will make it all better. She saw it that way, ached for the death. Made her crazy.
Suddenly she turned around in such away it made Spike jump a bit as he stood there. He’d stepped back, “Something’s wrong,” she said to herself.
“You alright Emma?” questioned Spike.
Conner stood there, receiving the evil eye. Emma just looked at him angrily, he made her angry too, just being there, “Everyone knows,” she said to herself.
“You need to come with us,” said Spike, he thought it was the best thing.
“No,” said Emma, just looking at Conner, smelling him. He smelled nice to her, but she didn’t care, used him to fuel her anger, “Not going to be weak, going to be strong. Not going to change the game again.”
Emma started backing away. Conner then appeared behind her. She quickly turned around to punch him in the head but he blocked the blow and Emma jumped up and kicked him across the face. Conner ducked. Conner grabbed her and she flipped him but Conner went down too.
He flipped back up. Emma was up also. Spike went towards her and she just suddenly kicked him down, not as hard as she would of if he was a normal enemy, but hard enough for it to take a moment before he’d come back.
Conner was going to punch her, knocking her out would’ve helped for a little bit. Emma ducked, punched him in the stomach then kicked him in the face. Spike was back, she quickly kicked him off his feet. Conner stood.
He went to punch her. Emma started laughing and she grabbed Conner’s hand flung it behind his back quickly and snapped it, then broke his fingers. Emma kicked him in the shin he started going down. Emma quickly twirled around and kicked him in the chest throwing him to the ground.
Spike was back up, “Count down from 10,” she smile. Spike went at her, she didn’t want to hurt him, but had to defend herself, “10,” punched Spike in the face. Hurt him enough he won’t follow you. “9,” punched him in the stomach, “8,” suddenly back kicked Conner.
Conner went down but he’d be back in no time. “7, 6,” kicked Spike across the face, he spat blood. Punched him again. “5,” punched him with the opposite fist, left. Spike backed up from her falling backwards. She went down and used her arm to knock Conner off his feet. She spun around then kicked him again in the face, he went down moving the dirt.
He was bleeding from the mouth, stood back up though quickly. “4,” she ducked a punch grabbed him by the hair and kneed him in the face and pushed him down, “3,” kicked him in the stomach and he flipped around to his back.
Conner flipped back up and punched her in the face, she had blood go down her top lip from the blow. “2!” He punched her again, was going to try and knock her out, he went to punch her again, she ducked the blow grabbed his arm snapped it. “1!!!” Emma grabbed him by the head from behind and broke his neck.
Blackness for Conner. He went down onto the leafy ground. Emma turned to Spike who was getting up, “Don’t follow me,” she growled.
She quickly turned and ran out of the clearing. Conner looked up at the leaves wide eyed, but that wasn’t looking up. That was just being dead with your eyes opened.
Spike went to Conner, he wiped his face, “Conner,” he said, he knelt down next to him, “CONNER!!” he demanded that he wake up, “Hey Conner boy time to heal and get better!!” He shook Conner, “HEY, wake up.”
Suddenly Conner took in a gasp of air and blinked. He sat up, “Thought she oft you,” said Spike.
“We lost her,” said Conner, “I lost her,” he was sad, he was ashamed of himself, when you wake up from the dead your hit by a lot of feelings. “I have to go after her.”
“Not now, I’m not in good shape for an excursion,” he said, he tasted blood in his mouth, “And you just died.” Conner stood up. Spike asked him a favor, “Think you can help and heal me?”
“Sure,” said Conner.
Spike started to heal, “Thanks, we need to see what damage she did back at camp.”
---------------------------
When they arrived back at the camp, Conner healed Wesley’s broken wrist and anyone else’s injury, few made it, either dead or not. Wesley soon as they did that lead Spike and Conner into the hut were Angel lay, unconscious, vamped out.
“Bloody Hell,” was the first thing Spike said when he saw him. “That Angel?”
“Yes,” sighed Wesley.
“Wasn’t kidding,” said Spike.
“If me or Emma were to…” he looked back from Angel to Wesley, “Would we look like him?”
“Not sure,” said Wesley.
Angel’s body reverted, he lay there unconscious on the table. Conner looked at Angel and the bullets in Angel’s chest dropped out of him. His battered face and body went back to the normal. Angel opened his eyes, he sat up.
“You okay mate?” questioned Spike.
“Where’s Emma?” questioned Angel, “Did she kill anyone.”
“Me,” sighed Conner, he looked down, “I came back though.”
Angel stood up from the table, “We need to figure out the problem and quick.”
“So we’re not looking for Lorne?” asked Conner, confused.
“Lorne has been found, and Groo,” said Wes, “We just need to find Emma.”
“How did you find them, and who’s Groo?” questioned Spike.
“In gist,” said Angel, “Groo’s an old friend. Emma took them hostage, cut out Groo’s tongue.”
“Emma hit her head,” said Spike, “I think these kind of red rocks are connected.”
“We should ask Lorne about the red rocks then,” said Wesley.
“I’m going out to find Emma,” said Conner.
“No you’re not Conner, you’re staying here,” said Angel.
“What?!” questioned Conner, “No, not at all. I can’t just do that, she’s out there alone!”
“You’re not stupid Conner,” said Angel, “She killed you.”
“She won’t know I’m tracking her,” said Conner, “Thinks, I’m dead.”
“If any of us should be tracking her, it’s me,” said Spike, “Being her father and all.”
“No one is leaving here,” said Angel, “Not unless they’re in a group.”
“I’m going to find my daughter,” said Spike.
“I’ll go out there, she can’t kill me,” answered Conner.
“I’m coming with you,” said Spike.
Conner stood up to him, “No, you’re not. I don’t think she’s afraid to kill you. We get her back to normal and she finds out she killed you, not going to help.”
“Oh, you’re going to run me?” asked Spike, “Listen this, I’m your elder and you’re going to listen to me, I’m going, we’re going to find her.”
“No,” said Conner, he looked at Spike threateningly, “Last fight we were in,” growled Conner, “I was holding back, because you’re Emma dad, but if you try to stay here and screw it up. You’ll spend the next eternity in a box.”
Everyone was quiet. “Don’t go Conner,” said Angel as he son went to the door, “What if Emma can kill you and that just wasn’t her lucky punch?”
“Then we’ll she if se has one,” said Conner.
“At least Conner. Wait till it’s day,” said Angel.
“The sun is going down,” said Wesley, “That would be logical, you’ll be better at tracking her.”
Conner just looked at them, “Fine,” he growled folding his arms over his chest, “Find out about those stones.”
---------------------------
Emma walked around in the darkness. No where to go. Confused about where she was, worried about what she’d run into. Worried about her father, “I hit him,” she said to herself, “I beat him up.” Emma looked up, “I played the game and killed that other one.”
Suddenly Emma hit herself in the head and went down on her knees, “Where’s that bleeding noise coming from, heart beat,” she sneered. No one around to hear her. She laid down in the leaves, saw the full moon above. Tears filled her eyes, “I can’t rest. Someone is scared inside me.”
Emma sat up, the ground was cool against her skin, she felt dirty but it didn’t really apply. Tears went down her cheeks. “It’s not fun anymore,” she sobbed, “It hurts.” She sat there, brought her knees up to her chest, rested her head on her knees, then she stood up.
“Got to keep walking,” said Emma, “Find something, someone.”
Suddenly Emma thumbed her leg on something hard and metal. Emma stopped, “Bloody Hell.” She just thumped her leg on a set of bushes. Emma sniffed the air, “Dad was here. And others.”
She wiped her face of the tears, she smelled herself. She’d been there. Emma touched the bush, there was something there, underneath. Pulled back the branches, wasn’t a bush at all.
Before her she saw Angel’s car. She touched the car, cold and smooth. She put her hand on the seats, leather. She liked it, all soft. There was a blanket in there. Emma stepped up into the back and with the blanket she laid down.
This little place she was at felt nice. Emma wanted to cry some more. She put the soft blanket, black one, made it like a pillow. Didn’t need to cover up, wasn’t cold. She felt sleep fall on her slowly.
So tired, her muscles ached. She let the tears go down her cheeks, side ways onto the blanket. Went to sleep slowly.
---------------------------
Conner didn’t like trying to sleep on a bed of hay. Blankets on some hay, soft but not soft. Kind of like thorns but it was better than nothing. He was sleeping in a hut. The others were sleeping in there too. Conner heard Lorne outside the hut humming.
It was a nice hum, didn’t know what song it was, but it kept him awake. Conner couldn’t take it anymore. He sat up and went out the hut. Lorne looked towards him, the place was quiet, “Oh, hello kid.”
No reply. Conner just looked at him, “Why are you humming?”
“Whoa, let me ask the questions Conner,” said Lorne, “You’re aura is like getting a hang over here.”
“Hang over?” asked Conner.
“Never mind,” said Lorne. “What I’m saying is, you’re really a mess right now.”
Conner just looked at him for along moment, then spoke: “I was killed by the woman I love.”
“Well, that would be a little nerve racking,” said Lorne, “I’m glad I’m not you sugar cat.” Lorne just looked at Conner. He felt he might of said something wrong, he felt a little obligated, “You can tell me the tale, sing like a song bird kid.”
“I don’t want to sing,” said Conner.
“No, I don’t mean you need to sing. Have no fear there, if I didn’t have self control, I’d be throwing up right now,” said Lorne.
“Do you need a doctor?” asked Conner.
“No, though, good work with Groo’s tongue,” replied Lorne.
“It was nothing,” said Conner.
“Well the man is going to talk again,” said Lorne. He sighed, “Well, lets just get to the problem at hand.”
“Emma’s gone,” said Conner looking down. He was sad like when he was sad when she wasn’t around.
“Feels like forever doesn’t it,” stated Lorne, “Lets take a walk.”
Lorne put his arm around Conner, Conner looked at him, “You smell better.”
“Why thank you,” said Lorne, “And you?” Conner lifted his arm up to put his nose under his arm pit. “No, no, no, no need, not what I meant at all.”
They walked around in the village. Conner felt a little uncomfortable with Lorne’s arm around him. Lorne could help him maybe, he just wondered.
“You’re afraid that Emma is gone,” said Lorne, “That’s obvious. You also are afraid that you’re not for her.”
“What do you mean?” asked Conner.
“She makes you feel like less of a person. You’re unsure of yourself my friend. Here lets sit down,” said Lorne they sat down on a bench in the middle of the quiet village. Night above them, torches around for the extra light.
“Okay,” sighed Conner, Lorne took his arm off of him.
“She’s been making you feel, for lack of words, ‘stupid’ for quite sometime. And the whole killing you situation, not helping either,” said Lorne. “I do feel that you love her, deeply. That you look to love for help getting away from the feeling that you’re stupid. You feel that you’re locked in the ladies’ bathroom and want to get out.”
“No, I don’t,” said Conner thinking he really meant the ladies’ bathroom.
“No, that’s metaphorical. All I’m saying is that you don’t know where you’re going to be taken. Heck Swizzle cat, everyone doesn’t know where they belong. But. You don’t like the life that you’re in now,” said Lorne.
Conner felt bad hearing all this. He looked forward, confused, “Why are you telling me this.” He looked at Lorne, “I love Emma.”
“Yes you do, yes you do. You don’t know though where your life is going to take you and it’s frankly; killing you on the inside Conner,” said Lorne. “Things keep on happening. You don’t feel like you can do anything. You don’t like the fact that Emma is innocent.” Conner looked at him listening to every word.
“Your girl is new to everything. You teach her something new, she learns how to do it better than you. Then you start feeling the stupidity mouse nibble at your toes,” said Lorne. “Only you can fix it. Emma can’t, she can’t help being curious. You can’t help her being curious. And I think somewhere inside that tortured mind of yours your not sure she loves you.”
“She does,” said Conner.
“You know she does, but your mind wont believe your mouth, her mouth. Let me do something here to help you for the mean while,” said Lorne.
“What?” asked Conner.
Suddenly Lorne punched him in the face. Conner about fell off the bench, Conner looked at him angrily, “What the hell was that for?!”
Lorne stood up, “Just a little magic of mines,” he rubbed his fist, “Owe. And don’t worry that’s metaphorical, now tell me you don’t feel better sunshine,” he looked at his fist. “Got to go get me some ice for this.”
The green demon walked away from him in the night saying, “Oh God I need a sea breeze right now.”
Conner sat there still wondering what the punch was about. He rubbed his jaw, nothing bleeding. Demon hits hard though not as hard as a vamp.
---------------------------
Emma woke up when the suns began to look down upon the leather of Angel’s car. She sat up looked at herself still not used to it, her hair was so long. She stood up and covered the car back up.
She wanted to take a bath right now. Emma felt nothing at the moment. Just lonely. Looking around her, nothing to stop her. No one around her to tell her what to do. She no longer felt 14, physically yes, except for her emotions.
Felt older, 17 maybe, younger, older. She didn’t really pay attention to how old she felt just older. Emma walked deep into the part of the forest she’d never been to.
Emma decided she’d walk awhile. That stream her and Gunn had been at when they found Lorne, she saw it. “No point in walking around all the time.”
She went to the knee deep stream. Looked into the water again. She put her hand in the water and it just flowed around her hand the way water does. Emma pulled a knife out of her boot. Looked at the clean blade, she liked her older self’s choice in weapons immensely.
Sat the knife down on the side of the stream. Filled the palms of her hand with water and washed her face off, not really washing but it worked. Emma took her shoes, pants, and shirt off. She got into the water not completely naked but it worked for her.
Laid down in it, looking up at the sky. The water was clean, cold, Emma didn’t care it was cold. She felt like she was being watch but could pick anything up, she looked around for the person that watched.
Emma thought she heard a rustling sound in the bushes. She pulled herself up from the water looking around, she stood on a rock. Looked for watchers. Listened.
“Wind,” she said to herself.
There was a breeze. In nothing but her black underwear, bra, she knelt down and looked at her reflection in the water. Her hair was long and dangled down in tangles. Emma combed her hair out with her fingers, parted it effortlessly and just looked at it in the stream.
She took her knife that she’d sat down next to the stream and holding a handful of hair she cut it. Grabbed some more and cut it, the way she would back in Quortoth. In no time all her hair had been cut. No longer did it fall over her chest.
Her hair fell just on her shoulders, the black streaks were still there but nothing that wouldn’t go away in the matter of months and more hair cuts. Though she kind of like the streaks. She like her hair.
“Emma, William, Summers,” she said to herself, “You’re…17yrs. Old and live in the city of Los Angeles, no doubt the one in California,” she brushed her hands through her hair, it was going to dry well, then she looked down closely to the water, “You missy. You, are a, killer.”
She smelled the smell of Conner in her nostrils. She stood up straight quickly. She grabbed her pants and pulled them on. She grabbed for her shirt and pulled it on over her head quickly.
Grabbed her weapons and put them in there proper places quickly. Conner didn’t come out.
“How long have you been watching me?” she asked.
Conner stepped out finally, “I saw you in the stream, laying there. I was worried.”
“Worry?” she hissed, “Who are you? What do you want, and why are you not, very, very, dead?”
“I’m Conner,” he replied, he walked towards her, she backed up. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“No, you’re not. Cause I kicked your ass in battle last time,” sneered Emma, “Didn’t hurt me a bit,” she looked around, “Lonely.”
“No, I’m not going to hurt you. I love you,” said Conner.
“Are you daft?” questioned Emma, she felt a little nervous, she didn’t want to hear that.
“No, something changed you,” he took another step towards her.
“Come another step closer, I’ll-”
“I love you,” said Conner.
“SHUT UP!!” she yelled.
“I, love, you,” he repeated going closer to him.
“SHUT UP!!!” she demanded, she was becoming nervous.
“When I was in Quortoth,” he said quickly, “I had hardly anyone say that they loved me. I came form there.”
Emma went at him she quickly punched him in the face, “JUST SHUT UP!!”
Conner’s nose bled and then the blood went back into his nose, “See, like you.”
“STOP LYING!!” she hit him again, then again, he just healed.
“You made me who I am,” said Conner.
Emma punched him again, again, again, again. Conner went down on his knees. Looked up at her, dizzy from the blows. Demon like, so hard, “SHUT YOUR THROAT!!” she roared at him. Her eyes went red and she grew fangs, her ears pointed, she punched him again.
Conner fell back on the ground, he looked up at her healing, “Something happened and you don’t remember me, you hit your head.”
“I’m crazy, I’m Emma, William, Summers,” she stated, she grabbed him up by the shirt and slammed him against the tree, “I, AM, a killer.”
“Not anymore,” said Conner, “You’re not evil.”
“I am evil!” she hissed.
Conner’s eyes went red, his canine teeth turned to fangs, he grabbed her left hand and forced it to touch his chest where his heart was. Emma just looked at him trembling, she wanted to pull away, she felt that connection thing going. “Stop,” she cried, “Stop. You lie.”
“No, I don’t,” he spoke, his eyes turned back, “You can’t kill anymore.”
“I can,” she looked into his eyes trembling, “I can, and I can well.”
“Reese is dead,” said Conner.
“No he’s not,” she spat, “NO, HE’S NOT DEAD!!” Her eyes turned back filling with tears, “He’s in my head all the time.” She shook her head, “Got to play the game.”
Conner grabbed her by the shoulders, “We’re not going to play a game, we’re going to make you better.”
Emma punched him the stomach quickly and took off running from him. She ran through the trees the wind blowing through her hair as she ran, faster than anything normal. Conner kept up right behind her, taking it in long strides.
He ran and pushed her down. They started rolling down a hill. Emma hit the bottom, She was unharmed. Conner landed next to her. She went to get up and run but he pulled on her arm and brought her down to him, “Don’t run.”
She tried to pull away and he rolled on top of her. Emma looked him in the eyes, Conner looked her in the eyes. Their breathing was fast paced. They started calming down, “You’re Emma,” he said, “You help save people. You’re 17, and I love you.” His words like a quiet breath to her.
Didn’t know who he was, she felt slightly, intoxicated for some reason. Conner started looking at her lips. There breath passing slowly through their lungs. Emma touch his throat, lightly with her hand, touch his jaw line. Became caught in his eyes like he was with hers and her lips.
She closed her eyes. He closed her eyes, nothing but her smell to lead him to her lips. Conner leaned in and kissed her lightly. He pulled away a little, their lips still touching and kissed her again. He loved the softness of her lips as they touched again.
He felt her grip on his shoulders. Conner had one of his hands in her hair and the other one on her shoulder. Emma rolled him onto his back, she pulled away, not far, not far at all. Her face, to his hardly an inch, “Why?” she asked, “Why am I so, drawn-”
Conner leaned up and brushed her lips with his, then kissed her. Her hair drying, felt silky in his hand. Emma pulled away suddenly and sat and got off of him. Conner sat up on his elbows.
“If you aren’t lying, you will prove that to me,” said Emma firmly.
He just looked at her, he wanted to kiss her some more, more and more. “Alright,” said Conner. “Come back with me. I will give you back your memories.”
---------------------------
Yorvik stood in the throne room, “I am quite disappointed, cows, demons alike.”
Angel, Spike, Wesley, Lorne, and Groo were tied up in the throne room behind Yorvik, “I don’t like the ones that betray or the ones they betray with.”
The team had been gagged. Uh oh.
To Be Continued….
Next Episode: Season Finale...
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