The Whirlwind, Part Two - Return of the Native (Chapter 5)
By Mistress Ace (rosewood@inreach.com) & Prophecy
(prophecy_gurl@yahoo.com)
RATING: Strong NC-17
CONTENT: Language, violence, sex - consensual and non, incest, torture
DISTRIBUTION: Finnatics, Angelus/Darla list, Definition of Bliss. All others please ask.
DISCLAIMER: This story is not in any way intended to infringe on copyrights held by Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt, Mutant Enemy or AOL Time Warner.
AUTHORS' NOTES: This is a sequel to `Ave Maria' - which you can read at http://www.geocities.com/prophecy_gurl/fic/maria.html
SUMMARY: After dispatching the Slayer in Italy, Darla and Angelus discover the new girl is a little closer to home...
FEEDBACK: Send to both authors, please! We're dying to know what you guys make of this one!

The Whirlwind

Return of the Native - Chapter 5

Angelus awoke at dusk, his eyes slowly opening as the last rays of the sun faded from the horizon. They had only slept for a few hours, he'd spent most of the day proving to his lovely sire the difference between fucking and making love... Especially since they had done both, the deep scratches on his back were proof of that...

He stretched, taking a moment to admire her blond beauty. This was the sort of woman he'd dreamed of when he was mortal. Beautiful, sexually voracious and completely amoral...

"Leaving me alone again?" Darla asked drowsily. She was a very light sleeper - a survival instinct; it had saved her unlife more than once. His movements woke her, and for a moment she'd been perfectly contented. Only a moment, however. Then jealousy reared its ugly head.

Angelus nodded and gave her a slow smile. "I have an appointment tonight, love..."

She pouted and turned her back on him.

Angelus chuckled softly, he knew what game she was playing. After all she'd been his bedmate for the past seven years. "I'm only thinkin' of you, darlin'. The sooner I kill this one, the sooner we can leave Ireland behind..." He kissed her shoulder, barely scraping her skin with his still blunt teeth.

The wind was rising and rain pattered against the roof, a harbinger of a severe storm. Angelus didn't mind the wet but it would make hunting the girl a little harder... That is if she'd been able to get
herself loose. His tone dropped into one of cajoling, a teasing light shining in his eyes as he whispered into her shell-like ear. "Unless ye can convince me otherwise? Give me a reason tae stay?"

Darla turned back slowly. "Angelus, you're playing games again, my dear..." she pointed out, sitting up against the pillows. "You can't expect me to be more considerate of you if you're not going to play nicely with me..." One small hand reached out for his, "Stay with me, tonight? We can hunt in the tavern... you can carry on your games with the girl another night..."

A soft smile curling her full lips, Darla cooed warmly, "I have a fond memory of a young mortal, carousing and wenching in that tavern..."

Angelus returned that smile, his eyes flashing saffron in the dim light. "And I remember a golden-haired goddess who I followed into eternal night. Whose mouth is softer and sweeter than anything in the world and whose body I worship."

He kissed her, pulling her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. "The tavern it is then, luv... My cousin can wait a little longer. After all she waited 23 years for me tae grace her bed.
What's one more day?"

*********

"There's a storm a-brewing..." Colleen remarked as she picked herself up off the floor of the cottage and dusted her skirt down. She turned to face Colin again with a nod. "Okay, ye've made yer point... I'll stop holdin' back..." She took a swing at his stomach.Colin ducked out of the way, spinning on one heel and catching her fist before it hit him. He moved incredibly fast for such a large man. With a twist of his wrist, he changed their momentum and Colleen found herself flying across the room yet again. When she turned back, there was a challenging smile on his face, his voice dropped a full octave as he rumbled. "Is that tha best ye can do, lass?"

Colleen felt a slight shiver at his voice and bit her lip lightly. It had been a long time since she'd trained - or fought anything other than the few fledges she'd been combating since her calling. She
returned the smile slowly. "Let's both find out, shall we?"

She advanced on him slowly, assessing the way he stood for any vulnerabilities - as Simon had taught her.

Colin noted her movements and dropped one shoulder slightly. He feinted to the left, then to the right and she followed him perfectly. It was almost like a dance, each of them advancing and
retreating smoothly without ever making contact. He was rapidly revising his opinions about an older Slayer. This girl... this woman was a formidable opponent.

If they could manage to defeat the demon that inhabited the body of her cousin, she might live to be one of the greatest Slayers in recorded history.

"This is gettin' ridiculous..." she remarked finally, amused at the way they moved together.

His blue eyes were twinkling, a smile revealing deep dimples in his cheeks. He was suppressing laughter as he threw a solid punch at her, one that she avoided easily. "Welcome tae the dance, luv. All Slayers learn it..."

"Luv?" she echoed him, returning the warm smile. She whirled suddenly, breaking rhythm and aiming a fast-moving elbow at his ribs.

He barely avoided the blow, again spinning away. His arm caught her shoulder and Colleen suddenly found her back pressed up against him as Colin pulled her in tight, his forearm across her throat. "Never let an opponent shake you, nae matter what they say... That's his weapon against ye, his voice, his face... He'll use yer memories o' him, he'll call ye by pet names and draw ye in. Remember, he's tha enemy."

They both knew he was not referring to some unknown opponent. This was his warning against her weakening, against her letting Angelus close to her again.

Her cheeks burned slightly, and she nodded as best she could with his arm across her throat. Her right leg curled around the back of his, and she jerked Colin's feet out from under him. She fell with him, realizing in the first split second that his grip on her throat wasn't going anywhere.

They laid there on the floor, the breath knocked out of both of them. Colin closed his eyes for just a moment, feeling her warm body against him. Wishing things were different, wishing she wasn't his
Slayer...

There was a brusque knock on the front door, the person on the other side didn't even wait for her to respond before they pushed open the door. "Colleen... Are ye home, love?"

"Connor!" she was on her feet in a heartbeat, still panting for breath... "Wh-what... How are ye?" She winced at the look in his eyes, and stood carefully in front of her Watcher, her expression
even.

"Long day? Good job th'storm didn't break out earlier?" she clenched her fists in her skirts, irritated at the quaver in her voice. He did not look happy...

Colin stood a little more slowly, maintaining his dignity as he watched his competent Slayer dissolve into a nervous young woman. This must be the fiancée.

In front of him stood a mountain of a man, the fellow topped him by several inches and resembled his sister in many ways. A raw-boned but pleasant enough face, if it had not been darkened by such an irritated scowl, dark hair, dark eyes that glared at him. Big hands clenched into fists and a voice that matched the body, a loud booming voice as the man strode into the small house. "Colleen, what tha devil is this? Who is this man? And why are ye unchaperoned wi' him?"

The Slayer took a moment to gather herself, calming her breathing. "Conner, me sweet... We need tae talk..."

"Answer my question, woman. Who is this man and what is he doin' in yer home?" Conner blocked the entire doorway, his head ducking a little due to the low lintel.

His eyes narrowed at the other man's tone, Colin had seen many fellows like this in his own town. Perhaps being called was not such a cruel thing if this was the man she was set to marry. "My name is Colin Francis Brody and I'm her cousin."

Dark eyes blazed at him as the other man stepped forward. "Colleen has nae livin' relatives. She tol' me tha hersel'. They all died seven years ago.."

"Colin's from County Cork, Conner... It was a truly pleasant surprise that we found each other..." she smiled prettily, hoping to beguile her way out of the confrontation. Connor always made her a little nervous, and she didn't want to appear weak. She prayed quietly that Kathleen hadn't noticed or mentioned the sheets she'd been washing this morning. "C'min and shut th' door - yer creatin' a draft..."

The two men assessed each other, moving like stray dogs growling over a bone. Colin was faintly amused by his own reaction, he'd only known the girl for one day and he was acting like she was his property...

But the thought of those huge hands on her slender waist was irritating him in ways he'd never imagined before. His eyes narrowed again as he watched what was clearly going to be his enemy move toward Colleen. If the fellow laid one hand on her or said anything to her in a tone that was less than respectful, he was going to break him.

Conner looked him up and down, his lips curling upward. "Sae this is tha man Kathleen saw at the river wi' ye this mornin'... Is he tha reason ye were washin' blood out o' yer sheets?"

Colleen paled. She opened her mouth to retort, but no words were forthcoming. "I-... Connor, if that's what you're thinking..." she began, blinking stupidly. Her face was as red as her hair, and it was only sheer willpower that kept her from trembling. He'd NEVER spoken to her thus... She'd never given him reason to, she supposed."Sae it's tha truth?... I should hae known... Yer family has the reputation fer it." The bigger man's face was flushed bright red. "Yer cousin Liam was the greatest cocksman in the county. Tha apple never falls far from the tree...."

He raised his hand to strike her and found it stopped in mid-air. There was a hand on his wrist, holding him in place as Colin's voice rang out, "That's ENOUGH!"

"Colin, please..." Colleen's green eyes looked up at her Watcher, communicating so much in the glance. A plea that he let her deal with this - not to incriminate them further. "Conner, I'm tellin' ya
once an' fer all - Colin has ne'er disrespected me in anyway. An' if ye *dare* speak ill o'me family again..." The blush was long gone, her pale face was utterly serious, her mouth was grim.

NEVER had she been so utterly furious. Angry tears were threatening to spill down her cheeks, but she'd not let either of the menfolk see her in that state. A weeping woman was the last thing this situation needed.

Colin understood her concern, he was willing to back down for the sake of her reputation as long as Conner didn't raise a hand to her again. He loosened his hold on the other man's wrist and received a sharp backhand across his cheek for his troubles.

The Watcher staggered but didn't fall, he stared at the other man and spoke between gritted teeth. "Right... Tha's the way o' it wi' ye? Come for me..."

Conner lunged at him and Colin's fist was buried in his stomach, doubling him over.

Colleen saw red the second her Conner struck her Watcher. She was in there in a heartbeat and wrenched the two apart. Conner went flying into the door with the momentum of the force she used. "ENOUGH!" she yelled, stalking over to follow him. "How *dare* ya disrespect a guest in *my* home?!"

She glanced over her shoulder briefly to see if Colin was alright, groaning inwardly as the reality of her action hit her. Sweet Jesus she was gonna get it from the gossips now! "If ye're that bothered,
my darlin', then as of now, ye can consider yersel' a free man..."

Conner rose to his feet, shaking his head. How in the world had she thrown him that far? He weighed 18 stone, if he weighed a pound and she was built like a slender reed.

He saw nothing but red as rage overtook him. **How dare she! Time tae teach her a lesson...** He clenched his fists and swung at her, forgetting about the man who stood on the other side of her,
forgetting about anything but the insult to his manhood. She'd laid with another man, he didn't need the sheets to prove it, he'd read it in the flush of her skin.

The Slayer side-stepped the blow, grabbing her former fiancé's arm and twisting it up and against his back roughly, holding it there at just the point of pain. "Don' make me angry, Conner... Ya don' wanna see me angry..."

Conner sputtered, trying to find the words when he heard the other man speak. There was something in that voice, something more deadly than the glint of a knife in the moonlight. He knew when he heard it that this man would kill him as soon as look at him. All trace of County Cork had left him, here was crisp, King's English. "Listen and listen carefully, you great lummox. If I hear one word of this from your mouth, one word and you will regret the day your mother whelped
you..."

Colin's face was calm, his eyes frosty as he leaned forward. "As the lady said, you are released from your obligation. She is no longer yours..."

Colleen released her grip on his arm and gave him a little shove towards the door. "Now, get out..." Her fierce expression didn't waver until Conner was gone and she had kicked the door closed behind him.

Then she sat down on the edge of her bed and buried her face in her hands. "Men..." she breathed.

Collin felt the rage within him fade a little. He had nothing but admiration for her, this lovely young woman had survived a brutal rape, lost her fiancée and managed to throw him out of her home all
in one day. He ran a hand through his hair and graced her with a small smile. "We are a rather difficult lot aren't we, lass?"She looked up at him, a little sheepish. Hadn't intended him to hear
that little aside... "I just-" her voice choked on a sob, and she clapped a hand to her mouth, eye wide in horror. "I-I should go patrol... b'fore th- storm gets too fi-fi-fierce..." Her eyes were
brimming with tears, and it wasn't just her voice that was shaking. She cursed under her breath at the weakness.

Colin opened the door and looked into the darkness. The wind was whipping the trees and the rain was driving down. He shook his head. "Yer not goin' out tonight, Colleen... It's tae soon after his
attack."

He turned toward her, raising a hand to still her protest. "The best thing we can do tonight is a revocation spell tae keep him out o' yer home... Tomorrow, we'll go huntin' him in tha' daylight. The lair can't be tae far away from here."

Colleen wiped away her tears with the backs of her hands. "Fine..." she agreed grudgingly, getting up to add some more turf to the fire. She sat on her heels, staring into the flames for a while.

"Colin?" she said finally.

"Yes, Colleen?" His tone is soft, almost caressingly so.

Her eyes fluttered closed for the span of a heartbeat, drinking in the gentleness. She turned her head to look up at him, a warm smile in her eyes, playing across her lips. "Thank you. F-for before. With Conner."

Colin walked over to her side and gently laid one finger under her chin. For a moment he considered leaning over and finding out what those rosy lips taste like but the memory of his Watcher's duty
stopped him. "You are most welcome, lovely Colleen... most welcome."

She stood and closed the distance, hesitantly, stepping forward to hug him. The last two days had been hellish - marked with brutality, anger, and more tears than she'd ever thought she'd shed. The
kindness Colin had shown was in marked contrast - and for that instant, she needed the gentleness more than anything. If only to prove to herself that such a thing still existed.

After the briefest moment, she pulled back, stammering an apology.

Colin held up his hand, placing it on her lips, stopping the words before they could come. "Hush..."

His mouth followed his hand, touching her, just a brush of his lips against hers. Nothing more...

A shiver ran down her spine, and a quivering hand *almost* touched his face. "Thank you..." she breathed. If they'd not been so close her words would have died in the air...

**********

Darla sipped her mug of ale, a nostalgic smirk on her lips. This whole evening was very reminiscent of night she'd turned Liam O'Shea into her beloved Angelus. He'd been drinking, wenching and fighting then, too... And she'd enjoyed the voyeuristic thrill of watching him at work for the very first time.

This time, he was even more vicious and infinitely more subtle. No one in this tavern had any idea what was going on... That their doom was in their midst. He was the devil incarnate, such delicious evil all wrapped up within such a stunning package.... His darkness a work of art... And she was proud of her masterpiece... Proud as a sire could be.

Angelus prowled the crowd, placing a friendly hand on a shoulder here, testing the heartbeat and finding the smell of the man lacking. This victim was unwell and his blood would taste sour, curdling on his tongue. What he was looking for tonight was something fiery, laced heavily with Irish Whisky and perhaps a tinge of lust.

His eyes tracked around the room, coming to rest on a rather pert barmaid. Here was something tasty... Young, tender and as he perused the swell of her bosom above her gown, imminently edible...

His sire chuckled, following his gaze. She'd have bet anything that girl would not make it through the night. Then the little barmaid only returned Angelus' smile, she almost guffawed, shaking her
head... lambs to the slaughter...

"What c'n I getcha, sir?" the pretty young brunette asked, leaning across Angelus to gather emptied tankards.

Angelus subtly raised his hand, letting one finger trail across her covered breast, noting the flare of interest in her dark eyes. "I would like tae have ye, lass... But a whisky will do fer now..." He
smiled at her, turning on the charm that had landed him many a warm, willing meal.

"Comin' right up..." she winked, and smiled as she headed back to the bar with an armful of empties and a swish of her skirts.The vampire watched her go, a self-satisfied smirk on his well-formed
lips. Dessert had been arranged for, time to find the full meal. His eyes scanned the crowd and settled on a rather beefy farmer type. He was a big, raw-boned brunette, with wide shoulders and a rather glum look on his face. Angelus could smell the sorrow and disappointment lacing the man's blood. And smiled, a disheartened man was easy prey...

Darla watched her boy for a few more minutes, before focusing her attention on getting her own supper.

The barmaid returned with Angelus' whiskey, and noticed his focus on the tall, slumped man. "Puir Conner got his heart broken taeday..." she supplied. "Ye a friend? family?"

Angelus hid a smile behind his hand, as usual he was right. That emotion should add a bite to the blood, making the thought of finishing his night with this beguiling young thing seem all the
better. "A broken heart, eh?... Drink could just be tha cure he needs. Send him a whiskey wi' my compliments, love."

"Generous an' all..." her soft brown eyes drank him in properly this time. Obviously a man o' some means. "Will do... although I think his pride'll take more 'an drink to heal..." she started back to the
bar after sharing the tidbit.

Angelus waited, his body still as he watched his prey. The man looked up in surprise when the drink was placed in front of him and his eyes narrowed just a little as he surveyed his benefactor.

But with a shrug and the glass raised in a silent toast, Connor took a deep draught, emptying the glass in one swallow. Angelus almost winced at the waste of such a fine whiskey but knew it would add a piquant flavor to his meal.

The little brunette rubbed the tall man's shoulder, offering pretty smiles and kind words - lost in the general hubbub of the tavern. She respectfully headed away when she saw the stranger heading over.

Angelus pulled out the chair across from Conner and sat down. A warm, friendly smile was on his face, one that didn't quite reach his eyes as he asked, "Why the glum look, my friend?"

Conner looked up at the other man with a 'why are you talking to me?' expression on his face. Still, the man had sent him over a drink. "Faithless trollop... why else?" he shrugged, obviously
intending the conversation to end there.

His companion nodded slowly, taking in a deep breath and tasting the air around him. Sorrow, yes but mixed with self-righteous anger and jealousy. A right powerful combination that, one that Angelus truly enjoyed. Women were usually his targets when he wanted a light repast but for a full-bodied meal, there was nothing like a scorned lover, especially a man.

The vampire leaned forward as he fixed a commiserating look upon his face. "Faithless, eh... Aren't all women basically that way? They are all daughters of Eve, after all..."

"I been takin' care o' her fer months... We were due ta *marry* in a few weeks... Then this mornin' me sister catches her with this Cork fellow.. washin' the blood outta her sheets!" he growled. Conner was surprised how good it felt to rant a little. Wench had humiliated him utterly... But his shame would fade... Hers would last. That was a comfort.

Angelus fought the urge to chuckle, he could smell the faint familiar scent on the man. This was Colleen's affianced, the man whom he had cuckolded the night before. **This was just too rich. Ah, the joys o' livin' in a small town.**

How fitting would it be to leave this man's body on her doorstep as a calling card? Suddenly things were looking up... But what was that he'd just said about a fellow from Cork? Had someone already moved in on his cousin? Angelus leaned forward, a slight tinge of saffron shimmering in his steady gaze. "A fellow from Cork, ye say?"

"Aye... right protective o' her, as if she were the pristine virgin Mary hersel'... An' her! Threw me out intae the storm fer smackin' him one..." his voice was a low slurring growl from anger and the
liquor.

It took every ounce of control for Angelus to remain in his seat, to not go rushing into the night to track down Colleen and whatever that man was to her. But he'd promised his sire that we would remain with her tonight, that he would leave the Slayer for another night...The Slayer... With a man in her home. It was like a candle had been lit within his head. There was a Watcher in town...

"How're ye two doin' fer drinks?" the brunette barmaid brought over another round with a wink.

"An one fer yersel', Mollie..." Conner looked up and smiled at her as she headed away. "Me Colleen wasnae even half as lovely as young Mollie... Faithless bitch..." he took a gulp of his ale.

Angelus' lips lifted again, the smile so much more predatory. He found himself disliking this man intensely, how could Colleen have been so foolish to have aligned herself with him. He was hardly worth the effort to kill.

Perhaps his taking his cousin's virtue would turn out to not be such a tragedy for her after all. Especially since it had rid her of this lummox.

"All hoity-toity with her red head and fierce temper... S'good tae be rid o' the shrew..." he nodded once and took another gulp of his ale. "I'll ruin her..."

Angelus sat back in his chair, sipping his whiskey slowly. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted Darla with another young man, her head thrown back as peals of delighted laughter echoed around the room. Satisfied that his sire had found her own meal, Angelus raised a one single eyebrow. "And how dae ye plan on doin' that, me boyo?"

"Few well placed words... Everyone'll have nae doubts... her cousin was a whorin' scoundrel, sae its nae doubt me *sweet* Colleen's a tart... I shouldae listened t'Katleen..." he blew out a breath,
draining the tankard down.

"Her cousin, now... Who would that be?" Angelus itched to drag him outside. It might have been worth it to let the man humiliate Colleen, after all it would serve to weaken the Slayer. But she *was* his cousin, or had been when he was still among the living. A small part of him, the part that wailed silently every time he added a new name to his list of victims, that small part still loved her.

The tavern was starting to clear out as the men braved the elements to return to their homes. All he had to do was draw the man out with a few more minutes of conversation, delay him just a few minutes so there would be no witnesses to his feeding. There was a rather familiar alley out there that just screamed for this man's blood to be spilt in it.

"I shouldnae speak ill o' the dead - an' this boy's been dead longer'an most... Died b'fore the big massacre in these parts near on ten years ago... But he had th'reputation o'being...well... whorin'
layabout is the term used most often. But Colleen'd NE'ER hear ill o' him, either..." he made a face and got to his feet. Angelus rose with him, one hand under his elbow to steady him. "Seems
ye've had a bit much tae drink, my friend. Yer a tad bit unsteady." He caught the barmaid's attention with a lift of his chin. "Since yer drinkin' tae mourn the loss of yer lass, wouldn't ye rather be a lot unsteady?"

Conner grunted and sat down again. Stranger had a point.

"Same again, boys?" the brunette wiped her hands on her apron, approaching to the left of Angelus and leaning across him again to get their empties.

Angelus felt her breasts brush more strongly up against him and took a moment to enjoy her scent. She was ready, willing and very, very warm. Once he'd killed this braggart, he fully intended on taking her up on that unspoken offer. Who knows, he might be full enough to allow her to live, a reward for being *so* friendly.

"Aye, love, another round for me and my heart-broken friend here. Unlucky in love are we, fair one..." His eyes drank in her shape, lingering on her hips and imagining himself atop her. Definitely
dessert...

"Puir boys..." she patted Conner's shoulder lightly and stroked the back of Angelus' neck. "I'll fetch s'more liquid comfort for ye both..."

Conner sighed heavily. It occurred to him that although he was certain he'd never met this new drinking partner in his life, that the man's face was familiar. "Have we met, stranger?"

Angelus watched the barmaid walk away, admiring her moves and shifting a little in his seat. Being a whorin' layabout had its appeal. His focus returned to his companion and he smiled, revealing
very white, very even teeth. "I used tae live here in Galway town. Been gone many's tha year."

"P'rhaps I knew ye once, then..." he remarked, looking around at the emptying tavern. A glorious little blonde was leaving with Big Paddy - lucky swine. "I'm Conner Dougherty..." He held out his hand to shake.

Angelus took his hand briefly, noting the direction of his gaze and stifling a laugh. "Angelus..." He offered nothing more, he'd lost his last name the night Darla found him in that alley. A single name was good enough for him.

"Here ye both go..." The barmaid came around on Conner's side first, handing him his drink and leaning across the table to hand him his drink, her eyes laughing . "Enjoy..." she smirked.

"That we will... thanks, Mollie," Conner patted the girl's rear as she headed away from them.

The vampire picked up his glass and started to drink when he noted a glint of something in it's depths. He could taste a hint of metal in the amber liquid and had to suppress a smile. The girl gave him a saucy look and her hips swiveled in a very attractive manner.

Angelus knew that when he reached the bottom of his drink, he would find a key. A key that would unlock a realm of possibilities for him... He would definitely let this one live...

When he'd finished that drink - finally, in a maudlin silence, Conner got up. Time to go... Sunrise would come early.

"I'll say g'night then, Angelus," he leaned heavily on the table to pull his jacket on.

Angelus rose smoothly to his feet, pocketing the key and fixing the girl with a slow smile. He nodded to Conner, indicating his willingness to see the man home but letting her know silently that he had every intention of returning and taking her up on the invitation.

Placing his arm around Conner's shoulders, Angelus offered with an ever-widening smile. "Let me walk ye home, Conner Doughtery. We can commiserate on the evils of women together..."

The young barmaid smiled as she watched the two men leave and set about clearing the remaining tables so she would be ready to keep her appointment with the stranger when he returned...

The two men staggered out together into the cold night air. The wind had died down and the rain stopped, leaving a sheen of water on the cobblestones. They walked side by side in companionable silence until the mouth of the darkened alley had been reached.

Angelus removed his arm from Conner's shoulder and drew himself up to his full height. All traces of drunkenness left his tone as he gave the other man a push toward the darkness. "End of tha line, Conner Doughtery."

Conner stumbled, tripping into the alley with the unsteadiness of a drunk and the force of Angelus' shove. He blinked idiotically. "What?"

The vampire leaned against the wall, oblivious to the cold brick. He studied his fingernails for a moment before raising his head to fix his victim with a glare. "Ye insulted tha wrong woman, boyo. Time tae pay tha piper."

Struggling to his feet, Conner made a face at Angelus. "Go home an' sleep it off.." He started out of the alley.The big man suddenly found himself slammed up against the wall, his feet dangling in mid-air. His amiable companion for the past hour was glaring up at him, his brown eyes shining in the darkness, glowing with an odd yellow light. The voice had grown deeper as the hand on
his shirtfront tightened. "Colleen O'Shea is me cousin, ya right bastard! Ye ha' shamed her in public and I'll no stand fer it."

Angelus had to stifle a loud bark of laughter as his victim's eyes widened in shock. It was clear that Conner had never been physically bested since he'd reached his full growth. The man was in for several more shocks before he was done with him.

"C-Colleen tol' me she HAD nae family..." he choked out, kicking his legs, clawing at the man's grip. This whole family seemed to be insanely strong!

"Oh but she does... Ye mentioned him earlier, remember?" Angelus still kept his human face, it was interesting to him that he was able to frighten this man without resorting to his demon visage. He moved closer, his mouth very close to the pulse beat in that strong neck. "Seems tae me ye insulted him as well, if I recall."

"They're all dead! She told me!" he tried to squirm away. His eyes were wide - if his little Colleen could throw him around like a toy, and she was only a woman... what could this freakishly strong male cousin of hers do?

"Does tha name Liam ring a bell with ye? Seems I heard ye callin' him a whorin' layabout..." He could smell the man's fear, it was so strong that it made his teeth ache. It would be so easy to just snap the man's neck, to reduce him to nothing but a rag doll in his hands, but this was so much more fun...

Conner didn't actually process his attacker's words, his liquor- fogged mind was still stuck on one basic concept. "H-How are ye both so strong?" he managed, although breathing was becoming an issue.

Angelus bit back a snarl, wondering how in the world he knew that Colleen was so strong. Had there been a fight? Had this fellow's manhood been so insulted by her indiscretion that he felt compelled
to raise his hand to her? **How dare he! She's mine!**

The voice was like a purring in the darkness, so deadly and so smooth. Had Conner been sober, he would have recognized the sound of doom, "And how would ye know that, me fine lad? Didya raise a hand tae her? Didya feel tha need to assuage yer injured dignity by strikin' her?"

Not sure which way to answer the question, Conner was saved from his dilemma by the blackness entering his vision due to lack of air caused by the vice-like grip on his throat.

Angelus cursed aloud as the man went limp. He threw him down the alley, watching with satisfaction as the big body hit the other wall with a gratifying thud. Glancing up at the moon, he determined that he still had plenty of time to make this last.

He crossed his arms and leaned up against the wall, waiting patiently for his victim to awaken. The torment was far from over, very far indeed.

Sputtering and cursing under his breath, consciousness finally returned to Conner. His head was pounding and he felt like he'd been kicked by a horse. Where-? Oh, the backstreet by the tavern...Must have been kicked ou- The thought died half-born as his eyes fell upon the man that claimed to be related to his Colleen. He cursed again.

"Nice mouth ye have on ye... Glad ye never had a chance tae put in on my cousin." Angelus pushed off from the wall, his arms still crossed as he watched the other man try to rise. He reached out, lightning- quick with one hand and grabbed the back of his victim's neck,
careful not to squeeze too hard. "I must say tha I'm disappointed in her taste. Had I been still among tha breathin' she would ne'er has chosen tha likes of ye."

"N-not among the breathing?" What? Now Conner knew this HAD to be a liquor-induced weird dream. Perhaps this whole mess with his Colleen was a bad dream, too... And he'd wake up and everything would be alright...?

Angelus tilted the other man's head back and smiled down at him. "This is nae a dream, lad." He shrugged, "A nightmare, perhaps. But nae a dream..."

His face shifted, the ridges on his forehead rose quickly and his fangs descended. Saffron eyes glowed in the dim light as he licked his lips, tasting the fear that rose off this big man in waves. "When I walked in the light o' day, my name was nae Angelus....It was Liam, Liam O'Shea."

Conner gaped and struggled against the grip of the demon, babbling a stream of prayers and curses all mixed together.

Angelus watched with disdain as the man's mouth continued to work. He leaned forward, his mouth only inches away from Conner's throat before he chuckled. "And those sheets yer sister saw? They were stained with her virgin's blood but tha fellow from Cork was nae tha one that cuckolded ye..."

Drawing back for one last look into those terrified eyes, Angelus smirked. "She was sweet, my Colleen. All warm flesh and exquisitely tight, I thought I'd licked up every drop o' her virgin's blood. Pity I left some on tha sheets... But if I hadn't, yer sister would nae had tales tae tell ye and ye would nae hae been in the tavern tonight..."

He ran a fingernail down Conner's jugular vein, cutting the skin in the process. "Sae it was good fer me tha I made such a mess... And bad fer ye... Time tae die, Conner Doughtery... Time tae die..."

Angelus pulled the larger man to his feet, lifting him with one hand as his mouth found his neck. Fangs pierced the skin and he took perverse pleasure in tearing the flesh open. He drank loudly and long, enjoying the terror that sang in the blood. The man tasted of fear, hatred and rage, rage at Colleen for betraying him, for putting him in this position, for causing his death.

When the body feel away from him, slumping to the ground, Angelus felt a moment of sheer satisfaction. Not only had he fed well, but he'd removed one of the obstacles from his goal. There was no chance that Colleen would take this man to her bed... Once he'd disposed of the Watcher, he would make good his threat to be the last lover she ever had...

PART 6