Corvinus Aurelius-Part 1

[jasonsnene]

Title: Corvinus Aurelius (1 of 4)

Author: jasonsnene

Rating: PG (this part)

Pairing: Angel/Selene/Michael

Disclaimer: Not mine…alas.

Warnings: None, this part.
Banner by katsa_db_lover

Summary: Selene and Michael are looking for a way to end the war that has broken out in their Coven. They seek out the leader of the Aurelius Clan for assistance.

A/N: So I totally couldn't wait for the Underworld Crossover on strip_off_angel and *had* to plan something great for one of my all time fav movies. I hope this qualifies! I'm planning to post this in 4 parts, one each Friday in February. 

Previous Part

 

Part 1:

 

Night fell too quickly now for Angel. He treasured the light and the fact that it trapped him here at the hotel where he could hide away from the darkness and all the memories. He thought back on Doyle’s words, some of the first his first Seer had ever spoken to him. 

 

Because now I’m going to tell you what happens next. You see this vampire, he thinks he’s helping. Fighting the demons. Staying away from the human’s so as not to be tempted. Doing penance in his little - cell. But he’s cut off. From every thing. From the people he’s trying to help.

 

 

He’d tried it Doyle’s way. He’d connected and formed a new life with friends he counted on. Every human member of his team was dead now. He still fought, though. Every night he dragged himself out into the darkness and killed the demons. But he couldn’t go there again. He couldn’t let himself care again when humans were so fragile. 

 

Spike was still here, annoying him as usual. Angel would never admit that he was relieved to have the other vampire around, especially not to Spike. They’d both taken a solid beating the night the portal had opened and demons and dragons had poured their way into his city.

 

But they’d survived, unlike the others. Illyria had made it as well. She’d disappeared into the night not long after the battle. Angel couldn’t say he was upset about it. She was just another reminder that the humans around him could be so easily taken.

 

He’d returned to the place they’d once called home though, just to keep that tiny bit of a connection alive. He could still smell them sometimes: Cordelia’s perfume, Wesley’s tea and books, Fred’s shampoo, and that combination of clean smelling soap and gun oil that always brought Gunn to mind.

 

The Hyperion was much as they’d left it before the move to Wolfram and Hart. He still had the occasional guest drop by but most of them avoided him now. He let them, happily. Oz was an exception. The wolf often stopped by to “hang out” as he put it while on break from his band. He was here now, having slept the day away after doing a round of clubs the night before.

 

Spike and Oz usually annoyed him into coming out with them.  It surprised him that the two had formed a friendship of sorts but their mutual love of music had created a bridge for them. They hadn’t convinced him to go out the previous night though. He was, as Spike oh so eloquently described it, brooding.

 

They had returned home at the last possible second, the dawn light streaking the sky. Angel had been back at the hotel for hours, his patrol route covered quickly. He had still been awake though and they’re loud laughter and thudding footsteps had been painful for him to hear. He wasn’t going to have a life like that again.

 

After giving Spike and Oz a little time to settle into sleep, Angel had risen for the day, sleep no longer an option. He read the day away and now, as the day darkened into night, he prepared himself for another round of patrols while listening for the sounds of Spike and Oz stirring for the day. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to be here when they woke up or not.

 

His concentration was so intent on the other occupants of the hotel that he almost missed the buzz to his senses that indicated something else was close. He realized moments later that a very old vampire was approaching, someone older than even him. And something else, something that Angel had never felt before in his 200+ years, something extremely powerful. This could not be good.

 

Weapons in hand, Angel walked slowly from the office and wasn’t surprised to see two beings entering the hotel lobby. He kept part of his concentration trained on the upstairs portion of the hotel, hoping that the rush of power hadn’t drifted far enough to wake up Oz and Spike.

 

Two sets of eyes drifted to him. The woman was obviously the vampire. Angel could feel her power and strength and knew she would be a formidable opponent. The man with her was the something different. Angel kept his sword at his side and stepped further out into the lobby. 

They were both aware of him he knew. The woman was looking around the lobby and Angel realized that she was experienced. She wasn’t checking out the antiques or admiring the fixtures; she was checking for exits and looking for possible threats.

 

The man just eyed him warily, his gaze drawn to the sword in Angel’s hand. Angel felt a stronger brush of power and it seemed that this strange man was fighting to control himself. The woman brushed her hand across his arm and he calmed.

 

Finally, Angel couldn’t take anymore waiting. “Who are you and what are you doing in my hotel?”

 

The woman stepped forward. “I am Selene, a member of the Vampire Coven. I am seeking the leader of the Order of Aurelius.”

 

Angel wasn’t often surprised but this was a shock, even to him. “Who and what is he?”

 

Selene’s eyes changed to blue. “He is not of your concern. Where is the Master? We were told we could find him here.”

 

Before he could answer, Angel heard the rush of footsteps from upstairs and Oz was running along the balcony. “Angel, there’s a…” Oz froze near the top of the stairs. Angel had never seen the wolf look terrified before. 

 

Another brush of power from the man and Angel felt an answering burst behind him from Oz. Interesting. The man was some sort of Lycan then. Angel stepped back towards the stairs as Oz let out a pitiful whine. As Angel anticipated, the noises from Oz brought the sound of more footsteps and Spike soon appeared next to the wolf. 

 

He snarled and shifted to his true face. Spike was not one for subtlety. “Wot the fuck, Peaches?”

 

“Not sure yet, Spike. Stay with Oz.” Angel turned back towards Selene. “The Master isn’t here. You should go.”

 

Selene ignored him. “We were told this is where he is. It’s imperative that I speak with him right away.” Her attention was drawn to Spike when he snorted. Her gun was out and pointed at him before the sound was finished. “You think this is funny, brother?”

 

“Oi! I’m not your brother, luv! Sends shivers down me spine, that thought does. Cause really, have you seen yourself in that outfit? It’s enough to make a fella crazy.” Spike pretended to wipe a bit of drool away and leered at Selene.

 

Angel hadn’t paid much attention to her outfit but now that Spike mentioned it, she did draw the attention in her full leather body suit. It was, well in a word, hot. Not that Angel would ever use slang like that to describe her. Ever. He’d keep those thoughts to himself. 

 

“Spike, enough. Selene, the Master you are seeking was killed nearly 10 years ago by a slayer. I’m sorry we aren’t able to help you.” 

 

Selen slowly lowered her weapon and returned her attention to Angel. “Impossible. I would have heard of such a thing happening.”

 

“How? How would you have heard of the death of the Master of a banished clan who was half a world away?” Angel let his impatience show in his tone. He didn’t enjoy visits from powerful vampires and was ready for this one to be gone.

 

Selene didn’t really have an answer to that. It was true that the details they had on the Order of Aurelius were sketchy in places, but they had kept up on the clan and it members after the banishment, primarily for their own safety.

 

“Where is his next in line? There were others. Where are they?”

 

Spike spoke from the stairs. “Listen, pet. The Order of Aurelius is no more. So you and weird boy there just run along. I’ve got plans tonight that don’t involve sitting around listening to you nather on. Got it?”

 

“No you listen, brother. I came here for information and I intend to leave with it.” She lifted her gun and pointed it at Oz. “This gun is loaded with bullets containing silver nitrate. One shot will be all it takes to kill him.”

 

Angel let his true face shift out. “You do not come into my home and threaten my people. I suggest you lower your weapons. NOW.” 

 

Before Selene could comply, there was a strange whooshing sound from overhead. Angel and Spike both stilled for a moment before bursting into action. “Go. Run. Get out of here!” Selene was stunned as the vampires and werewolf started moving, completely ignoring her presence and the gun trained on them. 

 

Then she realized what the sound was. A helicopter, silenced but not quiet enough that their sensitive hearing couldn’t pick up on it. Selene decided to gamble and grabbed Michael’s arm. They followed the others into the bowels of the hotel.

 

Angel realized right away that Selene had followed but there wasn’t much they could do about it. The few idiots that remained at Wolfram & Hart periodically tried to catch them unaware.   It was the risk they took staying at the hotel. But Angel refused to hide and this was the price they paid. He frequently had wards placed around the hotel though and a few other nasty surprises lay in store for the unfortunate few who were sent in to sweep the hotel.

 

When they reached the entrance to the tunnel, Angel watched Spike then Oz slip through. He turned back to Selene. “If you go through here, I put myself and my family at risk. Do you understand that?”

 

She nodded. “They will not come to harm from us as long as we are not threatened.”

 

Angel knew it was the best answer she could give and gestured for her to go through. She entered and the man followed. Angel closed the door and sealed it behind them, setting an alarm on the entrance. They would know immediately if someone followed.

 

They all stood inside for a moment, looking around at each other. Spike finally broke the silence. “Bloody hell, Peaches. Did ya have to bring them along?”

 

Angel turned to Spike. “Do you want them to get a hold of whatever he is?”

 

“Good point.”

 

“I thought so. Now, let’s get further away from here. If they pick up on the power that he’s leaking, they’ll search even harder. They’ll want to find out what he is.”