Inell's Fanfiction Archive

Darla's eyes roamed over him, still finding enjoyment in just looking at him. He was still so damn handsome, and so completely aware of it. She sighed, knowing that this was not going to be a happy reunion. He had been pushing her for weeks, following Willow around and trying to interfere in her their relationship. It was going to stop.

"Isn't it a bit late to out sulking in the shadows?" she asked, moving towards him.

He froze, turning to face her, his eyes unreadable, "Darla."

"It's been a long time, Angelus," she laughed, "you say my name as though you're surprised to see me. Now, now, m'boy, you should know me better than that."

"What do you want?" Angel asked his sire, his voice low.

"A very loaded question, indeed, my Angelus," she said, moving to sit on a tombstone. She smoothed the pleats in her skirt, looking up and noticing him watching her movement, his nostrils flaring in a way that was entirely too familiar. She felt a wave of lust wash over her but she quickly pushed it away. "Shall we play twenty questions until you guess the right answer?"

"Still playing games, I see," he muttered, tearing his eyes away from her bare legs. He hated everything that she stood for, but he could not deny the attraction that still existed between them. They had had too many years together for them to be forgotten easily. He had managed to block the memories rather well over the past eighty years or so, only to have them all come back vividly with just one word from his beautiful sire.

"You used to enjoy my games," she said, smiling in remembrance.

"I also used to murder and torture innocent people," he said dryly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her, "neither is an experience that I remember fondly."

"That damn soul," she cursed, rolling her eyes. "I miss you, my Angelus."

"I am not your anything," he said, flinching at the name of the monster that he had once been.

She smiled, shaking her head slightly, "My dear boy, you will always be mine. Soul or no soul, you belong to me. You hate that, don't you? Hate that, even now, buried in past guilt and hatred for what you once were, you want to be in my life."

"No," he denied, looking away from her penetrating blue eyes.

"Lover, I'm not a foolish child. Despite that annoying soul, you miss me. You ache for things to be as they once were," she said, smiling.

"Never," he said, glaring at her.

"Such a harsh word," she remarked as she slid off of the tombstone. "It frightens you, doesn't it? The power that I have over you. I bet it makes that nasty old soul cower in shame."

"Don't touch me," he warned, not able to move away from her.

She laughed, "My boy, you are mine. I can do anything with you that I wish. Don't worry your pretty little souled head, though. I did not seek you out to seduce you."

"Then why?" he asked, knowing the answer. "I've been here since you arrived, yet this is our first meeting."

Darla smiled as she lifted her hand, her fingernails gently brushing against his cheek, "Still so pretty. I miss you, my Angelus."

"No games, Darla," he warned, his eyes closing slightly as he leaned into her touch.

"No games?" she sighed, moving her hand to his neck, her eyes flashing yellow as she dug into his neck painfully. "Fine. No games. Leave Willow alone. She's mine. I will not have you following her around, scaring her, making her nervous. I have managed to keep Father from finding out about your efforts to 'save' her so far, but if he does learn that you are frightening her, not even my love for you will save you."

"I will not let you ruin her," Angel said, not letting Darla's threats affect him. He wasn't scared of her or the master.

"Darling, she is not yours," Darla reminded, loosening her grip as she smiled innocently. "You have given her the warnings. Your soul can rest easy. If you continue to interfere in things that do not involve you, well, I seem to have forgotten just how loud you can scream, lover."

"You don't scare me, Darla," he said simply. "I will not let you destroy her."

Darla laughed, "My boy, I don't plan on destroying her at all. I've chosen her. She's my mate, silly boy."

Angel shook his head, "As I was your mate? You see what you turned me into. Do you wish the same thing for Willow?"

Darla snorted, letting go of him, "Sorry, babe. You can't blame me for this sniveling, pathetic, weak version of what you once were. I never told you to feed on that gypsy girl. In fact, if you'll remember, I warned you to stay clear of them. I will never allow that same fate to fall upon my Willow."

"I won't stand by and let her become like you," he warned.

Darla's eyes flashed, "Do not make threats, my boy. You won't enjoy the consequences."

"I swore that I would protect her," he said, not backing down.

"You are scaring her. I don't like my mate being frightened," Darla said, staring into his eyes. "Leave her alone, Angel. This is your only warning."

With those words, Darla brushed her lips against his before she turned and left, not looking back once. She had no fear that he would try to harm her. As she had told him, he was hers. Would always be hers. And she did miss him. But Willow was her life now. And she would kill him with only the slightest hesitation if he ever hurt her lover. He needed to accept that Willow was hers just as he was.