Chapter 7
Author: Ellen
Rating: NC-17 (overall story)
Spoilers: Up Through "She"
Summary: A retelling of the episode "She" as it might have happened in the Power of Three universe.
Disclaimer: We don't own any of these characters, or the basic plot of the episode "She," written by David Greenwalt and Marti Noxon, from which this story is adapted. Angel, Doyle, Cordelia, Wesley et al. are the property of Joss Whedon's Mutant Enemy Productions, 20th Century Fox and/or The WB.
Thoughts between Angel, Doyle and Cordelia are marked //like this.//
Cordelia pulled a hand mirror from her purse and scowled fiercely into it. Watching her from the couch, I laughed.
//Who needs a game face, darlin'? Your frown is terrifyin' enough,// I teased her.
Without looking at me, she continued grimacing into the mirror. //It looks so easy when vampires do it.//
I felt Angel, from downstairs, touch Cordelia's mind lightly. //If you're so determined to try this, you might as well go ahead, here in the safety of the office.//
//Should have known I wouldn't have to worry about waking you up,// she responded.
//Just you thinking about drawing power from me was enough.//
//Enough to wake you, you mean?//
//Enough to start doing it.//
Quietly, I put in, //Just the thought starts to draw some power. I felt it yesterday, too.//
//Maybe,// Cordelia wondered through the link. //I don't need to try hard. Maybe I just need to think it?//
As the picture formed in her mind of her own face twisting into vampire form, I saw her face actually begin to change.
//Oh, man, this is too weird. I don't know if I can handle this,// I thought to the two of them uneasily, as I watched Cordelia's features ripple slightly, her brow grow heavier and her eyes begin to change color.
//Doyle,// Angel warned me from downstairs. //It could save her life.//
I could sense him, lying quietly on his bed with his fingers steepled together like he was meditating. How could he be so calm?
//Yeah, I know but...//
//I know. You wouldn't let your demon save your own life. But you'll have to let mine and maybe yours, give her a fighting chance. The next guys who grab her may not be willing to let go.//
//Both of you, quiet down. You're distracting me,// Cordelia hissed.
//Good. Get angry. The angrier you get, the more I feel you pulling power from me. It helps the change. So, what would you have liked to do to Xander when you saw him kissing Willow?//
All of a sudden, Cordelia's face transformed completely into an ugly mask of vampire rage. //You bastard! How dare you taunt me with that?//
//It worked, didn't it?// Angel could see Cordelia's face through my horrified eyes.
//It worked so well I'd like to stake you for it!// In her fury, I felt her pulling hard on Angel through the link, drawing power from him. After only a few moments, I felt him block her.
//You have to stop now, Cordelia, or you'll drain me.//
//It would serve you right for bringing that up!// she snarled but I felt the anger in her beginning to ebb. //You know exactly how I felt.//
//I'd know exactly how you're feeling now, even without the link,// he sent back quietly. //Now, let's find out if you have the weaknesses of a vampire too.//
Cordelia's lips lifted slightly, showing what seemed to be fangs. //Weaknesses? Weaknesses? I've never felt stronger in my life.//
//I know. It's like the first night climbing out of the grave. I remember.// As Angel's memories leaked through the bond among us, I felt Cordelia pick up something, at the same moment I did.
//Your name,// she sent and with her face still in vampire form, the tone had a cruel triumph in it. //Your real name.//
//Yes. Because you are as much my childe now as though I had turned you.//
//My God...// I found myself shaking as I watched and Angel sent me a quick, warm thought of reassurance.
//It's all right, Doyle. This is normal for a new vampire and Cordelia is just like a new vampire right now. I know how to handle this.//
The face I saw on Cordelia and the sudden viciousness which tinged the lust in her mental voice, terrified me.
//Liam. Your true name was Liam. And I am coming down there to taste some of you, right now.//
//Not now.// Angel's response was immediate, icy and commanding. I had to admire his control of the situation. I knew he had dealt with something similar before, with new vampires he'd turned but this was Cordelia. I wouldn't have been able to...
Gently, Angel brushed against my mind, warning me without words to quiet my thoughts.
//I will do what I want,// Cordelia flared.
//No, you will do what I say.// There was no doubt in Angel's mental voice, no hesitation. //You are mine. Now we are going to find out if you can use the strengths of a human at the same time that you use the strengths of a vampire.//
//What strengths of a human?// Cordelia spat back contemptuously.
//Is there a patch of sunshine on the floor near you?//
//There is.//
//Approach it cautiously. Touch just the edges of the sunlight with your hand. If it begins to burn, you may pull back.//
She rose obediently, although her thoughts were still rebellious.
//Part of me knows that you won't hurt me,// she sent. //Another part of me thinks you will – and wants that. What's happening to me?//
//You're experiencing what it feels like to be a vampire. Find out now whether the sun burns you or not.//
Cautiously, she raised her hand into the shaft of sunlight falling from the window onto the floor.
I waited, bracing myself for her pain. It never came.
More confidently now, she moved her hand forward farther, then her arm. With a fierce cry of triumph, she moved fully into the sunlight and stood there, still in vampire face.
//I'm not burning! I'm not burning!//
//Excellent. You are still human enough not to burn. That's very good.// Angel's mental approval had a tone which Cordelia would normally have despised as condescending but somehow, things had changed between the two of them in the past few minutes. All that I felt from her was pleasure at his approval.
//Yesss!// she crowed to both of us through the link. //I'm a vampire in the sunshine! I can do anything!//
//That's enough for now, Cordelia. You're going to return to your human form now.//
//Why?// she asked sullenly.
//Because what you're feeling right now is too powerful to play with very long. It may save your life but I'm not taking any chances with your soul.// Although loving, his tone was stern. No room for compromise there.
Still, Cordelia hesitated and I felt her torn between an instinct to obey him without question and the part of her that was still Cordelia Chase, who never obeyed any command without question.
The decision was made for her then by a sound. Someone was coming to the door.
Cordelia whirled, still vamped and looking ready for battle. Then, she and I both recognized Wesley and heard his stifled gasp, at the same moment. Immediately, she began to transform back into fully human form.
Unfortunately, not quite soon enough.
It was lucky for Cordelia that she was still standing in the shaft of sunlight. Sunshine was gleaming on her hair and on her skin and she had never looked more beautiful than she did at that moment, with her face restored to its human loveliness. Wesley, well-prepared for once, pulled a stake out of his pocket, moving toward her and then stopped. I saw the confusion on his face.
"Yes, Wesley. Sunshine. I'm human, go sit down."
He gawped at her, a picture of total confusion and misery. "Cordelia?" he whispered uncertainly.
His voice was rough with some kind of emotion and I felt jealousy stirring within me as I looked at the two of them.
"Here, got a cross?" She reached out a hand toward him and he flinched away.
"A cross, Wesley," she repeated gently. "I'll prove to you that I'm still human. What you saw was just an illusion. Do you have one?"
I could feel her affection for him and although I knew, bone-deep within me, that there was nothing sexual in it, I still hated the fact that she cared for him.
The wretch didn't want to stake her. He still felt something for her. And I didn't want to share, not even that little bit.
I wasn't nearly as good as Angel was at this. In fact, I was lost.
//Over two hundred years of experience helps,// he whispered in my mind. //I'm on my way up. Now be quiet and let Cordelia handle this. She's doing just fine.//
Awkwardly, his eyes still riveted to her face, Wesley pulled out a cross from one of his pockets. It took him so long to get it out that if Cordelia had truly been a vampire bent on making him her breakfast, she'd be ready for lunch by now.
Cordelia waited, without moving from the shaft of sunshine. Finally, he extended it toward her, his fingers shaking slightly.
Her fingers closed lightly around the cross. Then she turned her hand, palm-up, in full sunlight, to show him the cross resting lightly on her skin. "See? No smokee, no vampee. Feel better now?"
Suddenly, he lunged toward her and I jumped protectively to my feet. He ignored me completely and grabbed Cordelia in a violent hug.
"Cordelia. I thought we'd lost you."
As he held her tight, I could feel, through her senses, the surreptitious touch of his fingers on her wrist, checking for a pulse. He found it. But he kept on hugging her.
Okay, now I was jealous. Seriously. I heard Angel admonish me, //Shhh, Doyle, it's all right. Don't interfere.//
//Easy fer you to say,// I sent back bitterly. //You've got her under your control now, so you're not too worried but what about me?//
//Can you still doubt how much she loves you?//
"Easy, Wesley," Cordelia was saying indulgently. "You're making poor Doyle all jealous. You can let go now, everything is fine."
He released her with obvious reluctance. "What was that – that illusion?"
"Just like the lady says," I finally spoke, unable to keep quiet any longer. "It was an illusion, that's all."
//Ease down now,// Cordelia warned me through the link. //Don't give him a hard time right now.//
She smiled at Wesley, one of her most delectable smiles and as the jealousy hit me in the gut again, she sent to me, //Down, boy,// with a little laugh. //We'll talk later.//
//That, my darlin', is a promise,// I sent back.
"Now, Wesley," she was saying out loud at the same time. "An actress shouldn't have to give away all of her secrets."
"That wasn't any kind of acting I've ever seen."
She shrugged lightly. "Call it a new method of self-defense then. I'll explain... someday."
"Someday soon, I hope," Wesley said forlornly. "This is beginning to remind me quite a bit of Sunnydale. Everyone seems to know something that I don't."
"Welcome to our reality, Wesley," I said.
I moved forward, toward Cordelia. Wesley and I were still eyeing each other uneasily when Angel finally arrived upstairs.
"Ah, Angel." Wesley drew himself up as though to face a firing squad. "My apologies for the incident yesterday. It was an anomaly, really. I'm very rarely taken hostage. But, since it seems that you don't really need me here, I understand if I am fired."
"You're not fired, Wesley."
"The three of you obviously have something very peculiar going on among you and you don't want me to know about it. I can respect that, I think. But I... did you just say that I am not fired?"
"That's what I said. You're welcome to stay on, Wesley, if you can put up with our peculiarities."
Wesley hesitated. Angel went on smoothly, "You know me well enough by now, Wes. You've researched me very thoroughly, I'm well aware of that. So it's your choice. Stay or go."
I sent, //He can go, fine with me.//
Angel responded, //You've got to learn to take the long view, Doyle.//
//And what the hell does that mean?//
//You'll learn. I'll teach you.//
Wesley looked from my face, to Angel's, to Cordelia's and it was clear that he was aware that something was happening between us. I wasn't sure whether it was poverty that made the choice for him, or sheer curiosity.
"I am your faithful servant, Angel," he said at last.
Then, to complete a perfectly disgusting morning, who do you think showed up at the door? None other than Jheira. I was seriously beginning to regret getting out of bed.
Cordelia turned toward her and I could feel her glee at having someone new to receive her displeasure.
"Oh! Look who's here," she announced, with sarcastic delight. "Can I get you something? Knife to our throat so you can run away?"
After an uncomfortable moment of silence, Angel gestured for Jheira to follow him into the back office. They went in there and closed the door, muffling their voices from Wesley. Of course, Cordelia and I had no trouble following the conversation.
Wesley still looked shaken. Cordelia took pity on him.
"Sorry to give you such a start, there, Wes. I'm sure Angel won't mind if you take a little time to go out and get some lunch. Take your time."
He looked at her suspiciously, then glanced at me with even more suspicion but he nodded. "I'll be back within the hour."
"Take it easy!" She waved brightly at him as he headed out the door.
Cordelia and I could both hear Angel's conversation with Jheira reaching a fairly abrupt end. The door to the back office opened and Jheira stalked out, with the stiffness of one who has just been reprimanded. The ridges at the back of her neck were glowing red.
//We both know what that means,// Cordelia thought at me and I saw her lick her lips, where the fangs had been. //We have about an hour.//
For the first time that morning, I smiled. //Yeah. Let's not waste it talking.//
In perfect harmony, Cordelia and I swept into the back office, to claim our lover once more for our own.
The End
