House of the Fallen Angel's: Epilogue
by Mooncalf
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer and related characters are owned by Joss Whedon, WB and Mutant Enemy. I can only take credit for the new main characters I have created and various other vampire minions which may wander into my stories. I created them, so they are mine. Don't sue as this is just pure fanfic.

*****Epilogue*****

Tuesday night, Buffy, Xander and Willow were at the Bronze. Xander was dancing by himself while Willow and Buffy chatted at a table.

‘So, now it’s all over…Spikes gone, Dru’s run away with her tail between her legs and Xander’s permanently in love with Esme, so he won’t be chasing you anymore…what are we gonna do with our evenings?’ Willow asked.

‘Oh, I don’t know…I’m sure there’s still some evil somewhere that needs its ass kicked. Besides, You’ve still got Eve to teach you stuff about witchcraft and Oz to keep you company…and I’ve got my slaying, and a whole host of dating opportunities now that I’m not with Angel anymore.’ She looked around the Bronze quickly. ‘Where is Angel?’ Willow shrugged.

**********

In an alley outside the Bronze Angel and Esme were having a heated argument.

‘So what, do you think that just because you take a stake for him its true love?’

‘I don’t care if it’s true love or not, it’s real enough now!’ Esme was furious, how dare he try and control her love life, it had nothing to do with him anymore. ‘What do you want? Do you want me to get out of town and stop destroying your perfect little life, here in Sunnydale? Would you prefer it if Spike had killed me?’

‘No, that’s not what I want. I just don’t want you getting too personally involved with Xander.’

‘What’s the matter Angel, jealous?’

‘What’s to be jealous of, he’s just a kid!’

‘Yeah, so was Elspeth, but that never stopped you!’ As soon as she spoke Esme realised she’d gone too far. All the anger faded from Angel’s face and was replaced with sadness, guilt and regret.

‘Don’t bring up your sister.’ He whispered, not looking her in the eye. Then he turned on his heel and ran out of the alley, away from the Bronze.

‘Angel! Wait! I’m sorry, please come back!’ When he didn’t answer she watched him run until he was out of sight. She sighed and headed slowly for the Bronze. She asked herself.

**********

Eli was also heading for the Bronze, but on the way he was practising his wizardry skills. It had been his lifetime ambition to become a wizard of pure thought…no spells, no wands, no magic powder, just pure thought…but so far he was nothing more than a stage one wizard, a wizard of incantation. He was stuck using potions and mixing disgusting ingredients to cast spells, but he was working his way towards stage two…becoming a wizard of the hand. He carried with him a lighted candle; as he walked he chanted to himself.

‘Right hand do, left hand undo. Right hand do, left hand undo.’ He stopped and set the candle down on the ground. He took a couple of steps back from it and closed his eyes to concentrate. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. ‘Right, this is it.’

He concentrated hard on the flickering flame and waved his left hand over it. The flame went out, leaving only a thin trail of smoke in the air. Eli smiled broadly. Again he concentrated and waved his right hand over the candle. The flame appeared again, burning brightly as it did before. Excitedly Eli began waving his hands back and forth, lighting and extinguishing the flame. He decided not to go to the Bronze, instead he picked up his candle and headed home. Along the way he experimented with a streetlight. He managed to switch it off…but he couldn’t switch it back on again. He ran the rest of the way home to tell Eve about his discovery.

**********

Angel had stopped running and began to walk thoughtfully down the street. He kicked a stone and it bounced off a wall. He was thinking deeply about his past with Esme, and all that he’d done to her then and the future he could have had with Buffy, if he hadn’t been the way he is. He was so involved with these thoughts that for once in his life he failed to hear someone approaching him, until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Expecting it to be Esme he turned round.

‘Es, I…Dru?’ Dru was standing in front of him grinning madly…not unusual, considering she was as mad as a March hare. ‘What do you want?’

‘I’ve brought someone to meet you, my Angel.’

‘I’m not your Angel anymore, I never was.’

‘Oh, that’s right, I forgot…you’re torn between the slayer and the crossbreed. Even though neither of them wants you.’ She put on her game face. ‘Well, we have a surprise for you, don’t we Ether?’

‘Who the hell is Ether?’ He regretted his question when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around again and came face to face with a large man, who seemed to be a little pissed off. The smaller, and less dangerous Zeph stood beside him, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

‘He’s my new friend Angel; he came into town yesterday and saved Zeph and I from boredom…and mourning. He’s going to pick up where Spike left off. Unless you want to come back to our side…?’ She ran her hand down the back of his neck and he turned to face her again. Behind him Ether took hold of his arms, he struggled but the grip was tightened when Zeph took hold of him.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ He asked her heatedly, losing patience with her silly games.

‘Getting revenge for Spike.’ She smiled sweetly and produced a vial from behind he back. ‘Fancy a drink, my Angel?’ She offered the vial to him.

‘No, Dru. Just get the hell away from me!’ He struggled, but Ether held him firmly.

‘Don’t make me use force Angel.’ She growled threateningly, stepping closer to him.

‘I said NO!’

‘Just drink it!’ She flew into a rage and slapped his face. Her long fingernails drew blood from his cheek. She touched the blood with her finger, and then brought her finger to her lips to taste it. ‘Just as I thought. You’re still the same Angelus, the same old demon that I know and love…it’s in your blood Angel, all that evil is pumping through your veins. Now, DRINK!’

Ether took a tight hold on Angel while Zeph steadied his head and pulled open his mouth. Dru stepped forward and poured a liquid that looked like blood down his throat. Angel coughed and spluttered as he fought, but it was too late…he’d swallowed it. He began to feel a sudden pain across his stomach and a tightness in his chest. Ether released him and he fell to his knees, clutching his throat. Dru stepped back from him and laughed. He groaned. He knew what was happening…he was losing his soul. He didn’t know how, but he knew it was happening…again.


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