Between Apocalypses: Chapter One
by rockangelz25
Willow looked around, surveying the damage. Apparently Wolfram and Hart had their own ways of clearing away post-battle debris--the dead demons were slowly disappearing.

Gunn lay on the ground, eyes closed, blood still coming out of his wound. Angel was having trouble standing, as was Spike. Fred--or whatever her new name was--leaned against a wall. She also had a chest wound. Willow moved to her first.

"It will be fine," Fred--it--told her, snapping her eyes open. "It isn't mortal. It will heal." Willow tried not to gasp. The new eyes were icy blue, another physical change.

She knew that Angel and Spike would be fine, eventually. They had the quick vampire healing that had to be useful.

"We'd probably better go," she said uncomfortably. Powerful witch and friend of the Slayer or not, dark alleyways that had just held an apocalyptic battle still made her nervous.

What was left of Angel, Inc. (along with Willow) walked slowly into the Hyperion. No one new had bothered renting out the old hotel (which wasn't a big surprise), and Willow unlocked the doors.

Illyria walked in, already feeling stronger. Angel and Spike came in much more slowly, Angel limping behind the younger vamp. Willow followed them, anxiously looked around outside, and closed the door.

"What the hell happened?" she asked. "Where's everyone else?"

"Gunn's dead, and so's Wes," Angel told her.

"Okay, but, what about the green guy? And, what about Cordy?" Illyria looked at her.

"Do you mean Lorne and Cordelia?"

"Yeah, and what's with your hair, and your eyes--Fred, you've changed."

"Don't you know?" Spike wheezed a little, then stood upright.

"This is Illyria, Red. Big scary demon, but we've pretty much defanged her. Lorne wimped out and ran off, and Cordy is..." At that, Spike trailed off, looking at Angel. "You want to tell her, mate, or should I?"

"Cordelia's dead, Willow." Angel looked at the witch.

"Oh." She thought about that for a moment. "I'm sorry," she said softly.

Cordelia had tormented her from elementary school on up, been a snobby bitch until she became attracted to Xander, but still... She'd known Cordelia since elementary school. She was safe and familiar, not exactly a friend, but something pretty darn close. And to think that she was dead...

Most of the original Scoobies were gone. Oz ran off somewhere after he found out about Tara, Giles kept abandoning them, even some of the older Scoobies were gone--Anya and Tara. And now Cordy... Oh, goddess, when does it end?

"So, um... What happened to Fred?"

"She died when Illyria possessed her." Illyria curiously looked at Willow, cocking her head to one side.

"Okay. So, um, we need to find everyone else. Can you teleport, Illyria?"

"You do not find this strange?"

"No, well, not really."

"Yes. I can teleport."

"Can you take others with you?"

"Yes. I can take Angel or Spike, but not both."

"Okay. Um, I guess I'll take Angel."

Illyria looked warily at Spike. "Do not talk. Where will we go?"

"To Cleveland."

"What's in Cleveland, Red?" Spike asked as they started to group together.

"The Hellmouth."

"Oh, not again," she heard him groan while she teleported away with Angel.

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