Angel
Angel broke the connection with Faith and ran up to Serafina's room and looked around for his daughter.
"Sera?"
Serafina appeared in cat form and then shifted.
"Da?"
"Sera, we've got to get you out of here."
Angel went to his daughter and lifted her up, then sat her down on the bed as he went about packing a bag for her.
"WES!" he called.
Wesley
Wesley got up from translating a particularily difficult demon written book and went upstairs.
"What is it, Angel? What's happened?" he asked the quickly packing vampire.
Serafina watched her father with wide eyes.
Angel
"Had a message from Faith. We've gotta get out of here. Glory's after all the kittens."
Angel threw the last item of clothing into Serafina's bag and then looked around for his coat. He grabbed it and shrugged it on.
"I don't know where we're going to go... there's only so much I can do in the dark."
Wesley
"I'll come with you," Wesley said firmly.
Serafina gasped.
"She's not here though...she left. Bad people, wanting her to smile."
She hissed and crooked her claws.
"If someone comes at you in the daylight, you'll need someone who can survive it," Wesley said.
Angel
"Thanks Wesley," Angel said quietly. He went to Serafina and picked her up.
"Go, pack what you need, we'll take the sewer access to the car."
Wesley
"Not a problem, Angel."
Wesley went and packed quickly, leaving his books out of the packing by sheer effort of will.
Serafina snuggled into Angel, eyes watchful and wary.
He hefted the back pack over his shoulder and went down to the sewer access to go to the car.
Cordelia watched open mouthed.
"What's going on, Wes?"
"Glory's after Serafina. Angel and I are going into hiding with her to keep her safe," Wesley explained briefly.
Angel
Angel hugged his daughter close to his chest as he went into his room and picked up a few things he might need, stuffing them into a bag then heading down through the sewers and into the car. He ran quickly and jumped in, lying down on the backseat to avoid any sun while he let Serafina sit by him, not wanting to let her from his sight.
Wesley
Wesley jogged to the car and opened the driver's seat, closing it behind him quickly as he placed his bag on the passenger seat.
"So, which direction are we going?"
He started the car.
"I told Cordelia we might be gone for some time."
Serafina sat there silently, instincts telling her the best thing to do was to be quiet and stay still.
Angel
"I'm not sure."
Angel rubbed his head tiredly.
"Somewhere where we can blend in..."
Angel hugged Serafina close to him, a hand stroking her hair.
Wesley
"I'll just get on a highway and we can drive," Wesley said.
"If we see anywhere...maybe we should head up to Boston. Or maybe San Francisco. A big city."
He pulled the car out of the parking lot and manoveured it onto the street.
Serafina started to purr, eyes little half slits of pleasure.
Angel
Angel nodded.
"Somewhere out of the city. I don't know where the others are going. But we could head to New York, I spose. Faith's there, so I know she'd help us out."
Wesley
"That is true. As are Giles, Priss, Sabre and Spike."
Wesley bit his lip slightly.
"And Drusilla."
Angel
"Well we'd be with those we know."
Angel thought for a second.
"We could get around Drusilla, I suppose."
He sighed.
"The most important thing is that we'd be with fighters there."
Wesley
"That's true. So, New York it is?"
"Fao's in New York," Serafina piped up. "Let's go see Fao. And Aunty Priss and Uncle Sabre."
Angel
Angel kissed her head.
"Yeah, New York."
He shook his head slightly.
"We can take a flight. Go to the airport, and I'll call Cordy and get her and Gunn to pick up the car later."
Wesley
"As you wish."
Wesley turned the car onto the route that would take them to the airport.
"I wonder why Glory has waited all this time to even make the first move..."
Angel
Angel shrugged and sat up, watching the fading rays of light.
"I don't know... Nyx has probably made it rather difficult for her."
Angel took Serafina and put her in his lap, then pulled out his cell phone.
"Cordy?"
"Angel, oh my god, I was so worried, are you all alright?"
"Cordy, I need you to do a favour. We're going to the airport, can you and Gunn come and pick the car up later?"
"Yes, of course, but where are you going?"
"I can't tell you, I'm not risking you guys again."
"But Angel - "
"Thank you Cordy." He hung up.
Wesley
Wesley pulled into the airport and parked the car near an entrance. Getting out, he fed coins into the meter, hoping it would be enough until Gunn and Cordy came to get it.
He grabbed his bag from the front seat.
"Want me to carry Serafina's bag?" he asked Angel.
Angel
"Thanks."
Angel slung his own bag over his shoulder and lifted Serafina from the car, locking it after him.
"Ok, Sera, public, no shifting, as usual," he said softly.
Wesley
Wesley grabbed Serafina's bag and locked the car doors.
"I'll be good," Serafina said softly.
Her nostrils widened almost imperceptibly as she scented the air for danger.
Wesley started towards the entrance.
"Let's arrange a flight as quickly as possible."
Angel
Angel nodded and they went in to arrange just that. The quickest flight they could get would leave within half an hour. They had no luggage, just pieces that would be hand luggage, so Angel led them to the gates to wait.
Wesley
Serafina stared around with wonder. She hadn't been out of the hotel much.
Wesley got out a notebook he had been making notes in and started to read through them, correcting occasionally with a pen.
"When we get to New York, where should we stay? Wherever Faith is?" he asked Angel, pen pausing over the scratched paper.
Angel
"That might work, she's staying at the mansion. But I know Andrew and Anya either have their own place now, or they will soon..."
Angel was thoughtful for a moment.
"Maybe the mansion is safer for us..."
Wesley
"More fighters in one place...and they've dealt with Glory before."
Wesley tapped his pen thoughtfully against his chin.
"If they have enough room, that might be good."
Angel
"If not, we can always find a hotel close by or something."
Angel rubbed his head.
"I don't know, I'm making this up as we go along."
He stood as their flight was called.
"Come on."
He lifted Serafina up again and hitched her against his hip.
Wesley
Wesley shouldered his bag and lifted Serafina's in one hand as he walked after Angel.
Serafina held onto Angel tightly, and laid her head against his shoulder.
They made their way through to the gate and got on the plane easily, the stewardess cooing over Serafina and flirting with both Angel and Wesley as she let them onto the plane.
Wesley stowed his and Serafina's bags in the overhead locker.
"Which seat do you prefer?"
Angel
Angel shrugged. "Any will do."
He put Serafina in the middle seat.
"You go window, I wanna be able to get up easily if I need to fight."
Wesley
"That's probably the best idea," Welsey agreed as he moved over to the window seat and sat down.
Serafina bounced slightly in her chair.
Angel and Faith
The flight was fairly quick, but boring and soon they were off the plane again.
Angel took Serafina's hand securely in his, then decided to carry her again. He lifted her to his hip and tucked his coat around her. He didn't feel the cold, but she did.
Faith was waiting for them at the gates, dangling a set of car keys from her fingers, after having received a message from Angel to come pick them up.
"Hey," she greeted. "We ready? Got a car."
Wesley
"Hello, Faith," Wesley said pleasantly.
Serafina hissed, eyes flashing golden.
"Serafina, be polite. Faith's a friend."
She subsided sulkily, eyes still gleaming with glints of feral amber in the brown.
"I think we're ready to go."
Faith
"Not gonna hurt you, Serafina, but I will protect you." Faith took Angel's bag from him and led them out to the car.
Wesley
Serafina gave Faith an evil glare, then settled to ignoring her.
"Mmph."
"I'm terribly sorry, I don't know what's got into her today," Wesley apologised to Faith as they put the bags in the boot.
Faith and Angel
"She's knows I'm a Slayer, it's ok."
Faith waited till everyone was in the car, then slid into the drivers seat and drove them to the mansion.
"Sera, be good, Faith is going to help us. She's a friend," Angel said.
"You have any trouble?" Faith asked.
"No, all smooth so far."
"That's good. Nothing much is going down at the school, but at least there I can keep an eye on you."
"You keep an eye on me?" Angel said, amused.
"Hey, it happens."
They pulled up and Faith parked the car, then hopped out. Angel lifted Serafina from the car and grabbed his bag.
Wesley, Varian, Spike, Faolan and the Mavericks
Serafina looked around excitedly. She could smell Faolan...and lots of other new people too.
Wesley got his bag and Serafina's from the boot, looking at the mansion.
"It's quite imposing in its way, isn't it?"
Varian stared down from kher place on the rooftop, and kher wings mantled slightly. Strangers. A waft of smoke curled upwards from arched nostrils.
Spike appeared at the door and leaned against the frame.
"Hello, peaches. Watcher the second. So, you brought the new sprog?"
"Spike, be nice," Demetria scolded him.
"But so much more fun to be wicked, Demetria dear," Octavian said, laughing from his place near Varian.
Sera! Faolan raced out between Spike's legs, kitten shaped for the moment.
"Fao!" Serafina squirmed to be let down, arms already reaching for her brother.
Mordred appeared soon after. "Hello, Angel. Wesley. Welcome to Mutant High."
Angel and Faith
Angel gave a slight smile as he put Serafina on the ground.
"Thank you. Have you heard anything else about Glory?"
"So we're going right into business, are we?" Faith sighed, taking Angel's bag from him and hoisted it over her shoulder.
Mordred and Faolan
Serafina and Faolan flew into each other's arms, giggling and laughing as they chattered in Egyptian.
"Haven't heard anything after Logan sent the message, but that's not to say she isn't doing something."
Mordred shrugged and walked over to Angel.
"Got something for you."
Angel and Faith
Angel looked surprised.
"You do? What is it?"
Faith grinned. "I'll take this stuff inside. To your rooms. Which... I don't know where they are. I have a spare in my room..."
Mordred and Spike
"This."
Mordred produced one of the Gems of Amarra he, Gwen and the other Mavericks had lifted from Dru and her lair.
"Dru's...been a rather busy girl, and we decided it might be best if she and her Childer didn't have any Gems. Oh that, and the fact that she pissed me off."
He grinned slightly.
"We'll find somewhere for you to sleep. We always do manage to."
"The prof got blood for me from the bloodbank, but there's enough there for you until I can arrange to up the amount," Spike said.
Angel and Faith
Angel looked at the gem and took it, slipping the ring onto his finger.
"Thank you," he said quietly to both Spike and Mordred.
"Ooh, Angel, would've thought that was too camp for you," Faith said, grinning cheekily.
Angel shook his head at her.
"I know, I know, has a special use. I did read my Slayer's handbook."
"Did you?"
"Skimmed. Anyways, shall we?"
Mordred, Vortigern, Faolan and Varian
"Yeah, come on in and take a look around. We're crowded, but that's half the attraction of living here. I'll give you a short tour."
Mordred showed Angel and Wesley through the door.
"Fao, inside now."
Faolan opened his mouth to complain, caught his father's look and took Serafina's hand.
"Come on, I'll show you my room. Var!"
Varian landed in a rattle of scales and wings.
You called?
"Come play!"
Sure. Why not?
Varian shifted, gave Angel and Wesley a considering look before the three human shaped for now children ran inside ahead of the adults.
"Varian's...hard to explain. Mostly we're all mutants here...got a few half alien/mutants, and a few humans."
Mordred opened a door and Vortigern looked up startled.
"Garage. Vort does most of his painting here as well, so...watch the paintings."
Vortigern waved a paint daubed hand, torso decorated in stripes and hand prints of colour before Mordred closed the door again. They walked on.
"Cafeteria. There's usually food here, so just...help yourself. Drinks in the fridge, and the blood's in that little barfridge near the big one."
Mordred pointed out various classrooms.
"Rec room."
Various groups of teenagers hung out, arguing flirting and generally being teens.
"I think...yeah, this room's free. And so's this one. They've got a conjoining bathroom...but would that be ok for you and Wes? Serafina's welcome to sleep in Faolan's room."
Angel, Faith and Gwen
"How close is Faolan's room? I'd really like to have Serafina close by at all times. We've already had one kidnapping attempt," Angel said, sighing.
Faith went put Angel's bag inside his room.
"S'alright big guy, I'm here to protect you." She smiled winningly.
"And so am I." Gwen appeared behind them.
"Gwen, hi," Angel said, turning around.
"Howdy do."
Mordred
Mordred smiled and went over to kiss her.
"There you are, love. I was wondering where you'd got to..."
He looked back at Angel.
"Well, I have Faolan's room next to mine, but it's in the next corridor over. We can set a cot up in your room or Wes's if you'd prefer."
Gwen and Angel
Gwen took his hand.
"Went for a drive."
Angel nodded. "That might be better. I'd really prefer to have her somewhere close by."
Mordred
"I understand completely. Now. This is the stuff we show to the parents and so forth..."
Mordred walked down the corridor slightly and pressed a button. Part of the wall slid away.
"Down here is the Danger Room, an interacive training facility, the Medlabs, the Jet...all that way neat top secret agent style stuff."
He grinned slightly.
"Want to come down and take a look?"
Angel
Angel nodded.
"May as well. Have we had any news on what Glory's exact plan is going to be?"
Mordred
"Not really."
Mordred shrugged as they started down in the lift.
"I just got a short e-mail from Logan, saying he was leaving Japan and that Glory was after the kittens. But there's been a few thoughts as to why."
Mordred's face set into hard lines.
"One. A ritual or ceremony. That's what she wanted Dawn for. Two. It's just a mindf*ck tactic. Three. She wants them to train."
Angel and Faith
"Well, the last people that tried to get Serafina were wanting her for a ritual, right Wesley?"
Angel sighed and scowled slightly.
"But we stopped that... obviously. Have we any idea how to kill Glory? Any weaknesses?"
"None that I saw, and that was awhile ago... she's taken her time to make a move," Faith commented.
Wesley and Mordred
"She is a Hell god," Wesley commented. "Last time Giles managed to banish her...I'll talk to Spike, he was there and probably saw how he managed to do it."
Mordred slid a cigarette into his mouth with a nervous movement and lit it.
"She's attacked us twice already. Not fun."
The elevator doors slid open and Mordred stepped out.
"Dr McCoy, you down here?"
"Mr Lewllyn, I have asked you time and time again not to smoke in the...ah, hello." Hank blinked and cleaned his glasses as he saw the visitors.
Angel and Gwen
Angel nodded a greeting. "Hi, I'm Angel."
Gwen took the cigarette from Mordred's mouth and took a drag, then handed it back to him.
Wesley and Mordred
"Dr McCoy..."
"Wesley Wyndham-Pryce," Wesley introduced himself. "I believe yo wrote a paper last year on the DNA that causes mutations? It was fascinating."
"Yes, I did." Hank blinked slightly.
"You drew some very interesting conclusions but I feel that..."
The two descended into a babble of technical jargon for a bit.
"Right..." Mordred coughed slightly.
"Shall we continue this discussion later?" Hank suggested.
"I would be delighted."
"Danger Room. We've got a normal gym set up too but the Danger Room is harder."
Mordred led them to it.
"Gwen, you want to show them how it's done?"
Gwen, Angel and Faith
Gwen nodded and pressed a button to download a training program. As the things appeared around her, she started to fight them, Faith eventually joining in for the hell of it.
"Yeah, that's basically it..." Gwen said, taking a deep breath, once it was over.
Angel nodded.
"I think he liked it. He's slightly less scowly," Faith commented.
Mordred and Wesley
Mordred grinned.
"I know I kinda like it. It's a fantastic training device."
He hit the wrong key and groaned slightly as Spike's 'Stake the Great Mousse Detective' stress relieving game loaded.
Wesley smothered a laugh as the teen frantically turned it off.
"That was uh...Spike's game."
Angel and Gwen
Angel nodded. "Anything else we need to see? How's the security of this place?"
"Pretty easy, I mean, I think I could break into this place in under two minutes... uh, but that wasn't really what you were asking, so let's go on pretending Gwen didn't just start talking." Gwen smiled sheepishly.
Mordred
"Logan had it tighter, him and Nyx. Logan was one of the most paranoid people I've ever met. Scott's slack," Mordred said.
"And we really can't afford to be. You know, the government has this whole covert ops where they experiment on mutants?"
Gwen and Faith
"Scott's a wankbot," Gwen put in.
"Well, Spike and I are working on it," Faith replied. "But we've got a good group of fighters here now."
Mordred
"That's true." Mordred grinned. "Though, Dawn...my god." He waved a hand slightly. "Even Chelsea can hit harder then Dawn does. Anyway, I'll start getting your rooms sorted."
Faith and Angel
"Clearly Slayer powers don't run in the family then?" Faith grinned. "Not that Dawn actually exists..."
Angel shook his head. "Don't tell her that."
"Yeah, she gets all teary... told her that a few years ago... when I tried to kill her."
"Which was wrong," Angel put in.
"Yeaaaaaaah."
"Anyway, our rooms?" Angel said, tactfully changing the subject.
Mordred and Wesley
"Can't kill her, can I?" Mordred asked wistfully as he led them back up to the main part of the school.
"I believe that would be inadvisible," Wesley said carefully.
"Oh, we managed to work around the whole blood opens portal to a hell dimension thing," Mordred said cheerfully.
Faith and Angel
"Yeah, we didn't know that back when I tried. I cut into her. Nothing really happened, coz Buffy stepped in. Well, actually, don't get me started because that memory isn't actually real," Faith said.
"It is strange, yes," Angel replied.
"Yeah, no way Buffy could beat me. Pssh."
"I meant that Dawn doesn't exist," Angel clarified.
"Oh, yeah that too."
Mordred
"If she didn't really exist, things would be a hell of a lot easier." Mordred frowned slightly. "Can we smother her and just tell Scott she ran away?"
Faith, Angel and Gwen
"Yes." Faith nodded.
Angel looked at her.
She sighed. "No. Killing is wrong."
"Good girl."
"Gee, thanks Dad."
Gwen giggled. "Killing is fun."
"See, that's what I say..."
"Faith..."
"Sorry."
Mordred
"Killing can be fun." Mordred smiled wolfishly. "And sometimes it's just one of those things that you have to do..." His arm reached out and curled around Gwen's waist.
Now I feel like killing Kate all over again...
Gwen and Faith
Gwen grinned and leaned into him.
"Yeah, and doing what we did after she was gone was pretty fun too."
"Well, Angel and his morals." Faith rolled her eyes good naturedly as Angel shook his head.
"Killing is fun, to make someone scream... I sound sadistic... but uh... I like having people under my control... don't I, Mordred?" Gwen said, smiling sweetly.
"So don't wanna know..." Faith replied.
Mordred and Wesley
"Bad. Wicked. Girl," Mordred purred, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Wesley coughed slightly and the tips of his ears went a little bit red.
"I do love you, mo cariad."
Angel, Gwen and Faith
Angel wished he could ignore the scent of arousal which was coming off them in large waves. He cleared his throat.
"I love you too," Gwen whispered, then licked at his neck. "If I'm bad... don't you think I ought to be punished?"
"Ok, really, don't wanna know," Faith said, closing her eyes.
Mordred
"Maybe." Mordred kissed her pulsepoint, then looked up. "Hey, we're married. Well, maybe not technically here in America since I'm only 17, but we did have a wedding ceremony. And I thought you'd done everything, Faith. You so shoud have been here for the Truth and Dare. Tavvie was illuminating."
He grinned at the Slayer.
Faith and Gwen
"I just don't really want to know what you and Gwen do in your spare time..." Faith gave a mock shudder. "And yeah, Dev and Oz told me about that game. And uh... yes, I've heard about Tav, and seen him too. Ooh, Gwen's going after younger men?"
Gwen ran her hands lazily over Mordred's back. "Yeah... not like you can talk. How old was Zac?"
"Point well taken. Oh, and congrats."
"Spank you."
"Uh... no thanks."
"Wasn't an offer."
"Good."
Mordred and Wesley
Mordred's hand cupped Gwen's bottom lightly.
"Hands off my wife. Mine."
He nuzzled her throat lovingly and the elevator door opened.
Wesley couldn't get out fast enough.
Faith, Gwen and Angel
Faith grinned. "Don't swing that way."
"Oh I could make you, if I wanted to," Gwen replied. "I'm just that hot."
Angel coughed and quickly followed Wesley.
"Nah, you're not my type, Gwen..." Faith grinned.
Displaced, Mordred and Wesley
"Gwen's everybody's type," Mordred said wickedly.
"But she's mine, so you can't have her."
"OCTAVIAN! You, ARGH!"
Octavian pelted past, gave them a quick wave and a grin, before turning up the speed.
Jonothon flattened himself against the wall as a swearing Sergei ran after his erstwhile bandmate.
"Life's always interesting around here..." Wesley commented dryly.
Tell me about it mate.
"Come back here, mudlack! I SWEAR, I am not going to hurrrt you DAT badly!"
Gwen, Faith and Angel
"That's right... so look but no touch, Faith," Gwen grinned.
"Don't wanna touch."
"Oh you do."
Faith shook her head.
Angel watched the chase scene in front of him. "Guess we'll never be bored."
Mordred, Loki and Wesley
"Nah. Insane maybe by the time you get out of here." Mordred grinned.
"Another vampire. Fantastic."
"Shut up, Loki," Mordred shot back easily.
Loki glared and stomped past.
"That was Loki, former Angel of Death, exiled angel, damned soul, and now gaurdian angel to what I have to swear are some of the stupidest men alive."
"How fascinating..." Wesley murmured, looking after the angel.
Mordred snorted softly.
"Fascinating? All he does is bitch and moan about how he never should have listened to Bartleby, and how he's going to comne back and kill us all when he can."
Faith and Gwen
Faith nodded. "That's so comforting. Hey... where's that really unfriendly girl?"
"Kate? She did another runner," Gwen replied, without batting an eyelid.
Mordred
"Thank God," Mordred said with loathing.
"C'mon, I'll find a cot for you to set up for Serafina."
He passed Kate's room with nary a bat of his baby blues.
Angel and Faith
Angel followed behind him, looking around for Serafina, wanting her in close range at all times.
Faith looked suspiciously at Gwen and Mordred, but shrugged it off and followed behind.
Mordred and Faolan
A black wolf cub streaked down the hallway, followed by a kitten and then a small dragon.
Mordred reached out and picked up Faolan.
"And there are the brats. What have I told you about running in the halls?"
"Don't?" Faolan looked at his father with limpid eyes and pouted slightly.
Angel
Serafina shifted back into human form and Angel lifted her up. "Having fun?" he asked quietly. "This our room?"
Mordred, Vortigern, Varian and Jono
"Yes!" Serafina nodded hard, hair bouncing. "Varian's fun to play Tag with."
Glad. Going now. I want to fly. The dragon hybrid walked towards a door, claws ticking over the wooden floors.
"Yeah, here they are."
Vort! Cot?
Should be one in the storeroom cupboard.
Ta.
Mordred moved across to the storeroom and opened it.
"Yeah, there's a cot here."
He teleported into Angel's room with the wooden frame in his arms.
Need a hand? Jonothon asked.
"If you can go get some bedding that would be good..."
Aright then, mate. Jonothon headed off purposefully.
Mordred started to set Serafina's bed up.
Angel
Angel went into the room and set Serafina down on his bed, kissing her head lightly.
"Thanks," he said.
Mordred and Jono
"Not a problem, mate," Mordred said easily as he finished setting up the bed.
Jonothon came in and handed the linen to Mordred. 'Ere.
"Thanks."
Jonothon left again.
Mordred put the sheets on, then stood.
"Well, enjoy your stay, I guess."
He smiled at Angel, then left.
Angel, Faith and Gwen
Angel nodded and sat down on his bed.
"You tired, Sera?" he asked.
She yawned in reply.
Angel smiled slightly and rummaged through her bag and pulled out her pj's and dressed her in them, then lifted her up and put her into the cot, tucking her in safely. He kissed her head. "Night, Sera."
"Night, Da."
Angel went to his own bed and lay on top of it, closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.
Faith closed the door and left, heading back to her own room, while Gwen followed Mordred.