Where Darkness Leads

Chapter 1

Angel sat on a stool at the counter over an empty plate of a rare hamburger and an order of fries with a small decaffeinated coffee at his side. He continued to pick what was left of his fries when the waitress stood in front of him.

"Would you like your check now?" she asked politely.

"Yeah, he said. "How much do I owe you?"

She laid a slip in front of him. He glanced at it and pulled out a few dollars from his coat pocket. Angel knew he never needed much to eat in the way of regular food but it felt good to him to add some normalcy to his life. Normalcy that he really wanted and needed.

"I'm going to be leaving now, Frank," the waitress called into the kitchen untying her apron strings.

"Okay, good night."

"Night," she called back pushing open the front door to the diner.

Angel finished with wiping a napkin on his hands after the door had slammed shut again. Frank entered back from the kitchen carrying a tall black thermos. He was a short thin man with his black hair pushed back from wearing a hairnet. He went around walking behind the front of the counter and placed the thermos in front of Angel.

"I want to thank...." Angel said looking into his eyes.

"Thank me," Frank replied giving a small wave of his hand. "Don't bother."

"You live in Sunnydale long enough you get used to the weird stuff. Nothing phases me anymore. Not even vampires."

He took the white rag that hanged on his shoulder and started wiping off the counter taking Angel's plate.

"See you around," he said leaving carrying the thermos by his side.

"You too."

Angel stepped down the block putting the black thermos of meat blood in his inside coat pocket.

From a nearby alley way he heard a whimper of a scream. He walked down to see the waitress from the diner pined up against the wall by a man. She was trying to struggle but his grip was too hard for her to break free and run.

"I don't think that is how you treat a lady," he said walking forward as he stood behind the man. He turned to reveal his vamped face and bright white fangs.

"And who is going to stop me, you?" he said to his face.

"Me," Angel said confidently.

"Well give it your best shot," he replied.

"Don't go far," he said, looking back at the waitress. "I am not finished with you yet."

He turned around and pounced on Angel. Angel quickly kicked him in the stomach hitting the far wall. Angel changed into his face when the two started to charge each other. Before he reached him Angel sidestepped hitting his fist into the others stomach. The other vampire reached up with his fist squarely hitting Angel in the jaw.

As Angel fell back a few steps in front of him he whipped his leg up hitting him in the chest. The vampire fell back in a load of empty boxes sitting against the opposite wall.

"I know you," he said, wrestling to get back up. "Of course, why didn't I recognize you Angelus."

"That is not who I am anymore," he said, staring with indignation.

"Let's see about that."

When he had straightened up and ran preparing for another attack Angel whipped out a stake from his inside coat pocket. He grabbed his arm in a short spin where he plunged the stake turning him into a cloud of dust.