Cordelia shifted in her chair with a warm smile on her face. "When was the last time we got together and went out like this?"

Xander shook his head. "I dunno for sure. I think it was sometime before you got your stitches."

Cordelia's smile disappeared from her face. "Listen Xander, you really hurt me and I can say that without a doubt you ruined my life."

Xander lowered his head and looked down at his milkshake.

"Then like something out of an old romance book or something last night you came to my house and said all those things about you being a dirtbag and all. That got me thinking all through out today about whether or not to forgive you."

Xander looked up at Cordelia. Something she said didn't seem to fit in place. It wasn't coming to Xander but he knew it was there. His memory was screaming about it. Xander's mind felt like some rusty gear that was slowly starting to turn. For a moment it flashed by and Xander had it but then a voice broke his train of thought.

"What is wrong with you?" Xander shook his head and said "What?"

Cordelia sighed and rolled her eyes. "I've been trying to get your attention for the past minute but all you can seem to do is stare at my forehead."

Xander felt his face start to turn red and his ears warm up.

"Don't become a lobster, space boy. It's not like I caught you making out with Willow again."

Xander picked up his milkshake and brought the cup to his lips. The melted ice cream ran through his mouth making it's way down his throat. The cream felt thick yet liquid like at the same time.

"Can you keep your focus on me where it belongs for more than a few moments?"

Xander pushed back his chair and said "You came up with the idea to go out with me. So don't blame me that you couldn't find someone with a longer attention span."

Cordelia reached out and put her hands on Xander's. "If you would just listen to me for a moment I can tell you what I've been building up to."

Xander pulled his chair back towards the table with his feet "Okay, why am I here?"

Cordelia closed her eyes and lowered her head a little. One by one the words came out. "I....want....to....go....back....out....with....you."

Xander blinked his eyes rapidly. With so effort he was able to mumbled out "Us...out....again?"

Cordelia smiled a little smile and said "Yeah...I know what you must be thinking. 'What is this some girl with mental problems to make the mistake of coming back to a lowly, no life, friendless loser like me.' I can't believe I'm doing this either but you gotta to admit that there is something special about you."

Xander heard a coughing sound behind him. He turned his head around and a few feet from him hew saw the man dressed in black. Only now he was decked out in a plain white t-shirt, jeans, and sandals. The man looked Xander dead in the eyes.

"Please forgive me sir."

Xander pushed his chair back and stood up to face him. "What the hell is going on?!" Xander demanded. He raised his fists near the man's face.

The man shook his head as if not knowing what else to do. "I'm sorry?" The man looked very confused.

Something in Xander snapped, he found his fist impacting with the man's face. He pulled his arm back ready to give another swing but the man had fallen to the ground already. His hands were held over his nose, he wriggled his legs around and yelled out in pain. Xander bent down, reached out, grabbed the man's neck and began squeeze as hard as he could. The man's face changed from flesh color to a dark red then blue and then black. The mouth on the man opened to a size that seemed impossible. Moments later a black liquid started to gush out. It engulfed the man's face before spilling onto the floor.

Xander jumped back taking several steps away. By now the man's body seemed to be melting into the same black substance itself. Within seconds there was just a small pool of black, tar looking like stuff on the floor.

Xander looked over at Cordelia who was holding her head up with both her hands. She looked bored out of her mind. "Xander, are you done yet? I'm kind of eager to go home and get some sleep."

"Cordy...I just killed a man who then turned into some kind tar stuff. Don't you 'kind of' find that strange."

Cordelia closed her eyes a moment and frowned. She shook her head responding to the question "Xander...I'm tired and I have school tomorrow. Can we go now or what?"

Right then a monotone voice behind Xander said "I have your bill sir. Will there be anything else?"

Xander jumped up in surprise. He turned to face the man belonging to the voice. He was a waiter from the establishment and held a small leather book. Xander pointed towards the pool of black muck on the floor and stammered out "Wha....oh.....uh....uh...what about this...him...uh...."

The waiter glanced at the black substance for a moment before returning his attention to Xander and saying "Oh...don't worry about that sir....I'll have it cleaned up in no time."

*****

Willow twisted and turned violently in Angel's bed. Her hair was damp with sweat, cheeks flushed a bright red color and between the sudden movements she made in her sleep she mumbled out intelligible nonsense.

Angel soaked a cloth into the bowl of cool water on the nightstand and applied it to Willow's forehead. The hacker's body was burning up in a terrible fever. Angel stood up and walked over to the elderly man who was observing Willow with dread. "She is burning up. I think we should take her to a hospital."

The old man looked at Angel and in a sad voice said, "A hospital is not going to do her any good. I've seen this happen many times before, far too many times..." The old man's head dropped down and he let out a broken down sigh.

Angel looked back at Willow who had gone into another fit of violently kicking and thrashing around. The cloth on her forehead fell off from the sudden movement and landed on the floor. Angel turned back to the old man and said "You've seen what before? Who are you?"

The old man chuckled a little and said "I've lived for so long that I don't even know what my name is anymore."

Angel opened his palms and said, "Yeah, well I've lived a lot longer than you have and I remember my name just fine."

The old man grinned and said, "I know who you are. At least who you use to be. One of the cruelest vampires to ever walk the Earth."

Angel narrowed his eyes, peered at the man with a cold stare. "How do you know who I am...and who I was>"

The man shrugged his shoulders and said, "When you have lived on this planet as long as I have, you learn quite a bit."

Angel grabbed the man by his trench coat, letting out a snarl, Angel said, "Just tell me what's wrong with Willow!!"

The man nodded his head. "Yes, yes of course...I apologize. I shouldn't play games like that, not when a friend of yours is in such trouble."

Angel let the man down and stepped back. "Okay, let's hear it."

The man moved over to a chair and sat down. "I'll tell you what you want to know. I'm not sure you will believe what I have to tell you though. It's a very strange story."

Angel slowly waved his hands around and said "Sunnydale is a very strange town. So please just tell your story."

The man nodded in agreement and in a whisper said "Yes, indeed it is." He rubbed his eyes for a moment then said, "I was born in the year sixteen hundred and fifty-three. My name is....or rather was Joseph DuHughes. I was a French noble who had all that a man could want from this world. Until I was unlucky enough to encounter a group who sought to destroy all that I had..."

*****

Joseph opened the door to the bedroom, crept silently up to the woman staring out the window and jumped upon her. Wrapping one arm around her waist and placing the other over her mouth to prevent any screaming. He dragged her over to the large bed and pushed her down onto to it face flat.

"You can't hide from me any longer you miserable wench!" he bellowed out.

The woman calming rolled over onto her back and said "I swear Joseph, one day your going to play one of these little games with the wrong person."

Joseph and Monique started giggling and hugged each other tightly.

"I just wanted to say goodbye before I left to meet with Charles."

Monique tapped Joseph on the nose and said "You could have just said good-bye and be on your way you silly thing."

Jospeh kissed Monique, jumped up off the bed and said "Yes but I wanted you to remember this moment in case we never see each other again."

They both burst out laughing and Joseph left the room.

Joseph, his wife Monique and their daughter Joan lived in manor in the country. Though large and glamorous it was nothing compared to what many of the more powerful nobles lived in. Joseph took his horse from the stables and rode off down the country road to Charles's house. Charles was a friend and business partner. Joseph was going into town to meet with some merchants and make a deal for some spices imported from the middle east.

The surrounding country side slowly changed from great open fields and grand manors that were so peaceful they may have come from a painting to huts and buildings teaming with the daily life of the inhabitants. Before he knew it, he was outside Charles's office. He gave the horse to one of Charles's assistants and walked on in.

Entering Charles's office he found the man sitting behind the desk with two people sitting on the opposite side. One was a man dressed in a black robe and the other was a woman in a very expensive looking blue dress.

Charles looked up at Jospeh and said "Ah good Joseph, you made it here just in time. Michael and his sister Annie just arrived here not an even a moment ago."

Joseph walked over to the desk and took a seat at the side. "I'm just lucky I guess." He glanced over at Michael and Annie who were looking at him intently.

Charles leaned forward and said "Well, let's go strait to business then. What do you have to offer us?"

Michael smiled and opened his palms. "Whatever you want, We have access to most of the spices that come from the holy land. We can get it shipped in through Genoa to and here at a much lower price then most others can promise."

The group talked for about an hour over such matters as what spices where desired and the cost before coming to a decision.

"Well, everyone, think everything should work out just fine." Charles said before shaking Michael's hand.

Joseph reached out his hand. Michael shook it, smiling an odd smile and saying "Yes, I believe everything is going to work out just fine."

At that moment the door burst open and in came Gunter, one of the stable boys from Joseph's home. "Sir, Ludmila sent me to get you! Your wife has fallen ill...badly."

Joseph broke the arm shake with Michael and rushed out to his horse.

Having nearly driven his horse to the point of collapse, Joseph had arrived home and hurried up to the second floor. Ludmila, the maid of the house stood outside in the hall looking in into his bedroom. She faced Joseph, the concern made her old face look sadder than normal.

"How is she?!" Joseph yelled out as he grabbed Ludmila by the shoulders.

She looked up at him and said "She is terribly ill. Just all of a sudden she broke down sick. But...but..uh a doctor is in there now taking care of her."

Joseph rushed past her and ran into his bedroom. In his bed lay Monique who's normal pale white face had turned a bright shade of red. Light from the candles in the room reflected off her sweat drenched forehead. The doctor stood by her. His battered old spice filled mask covering his head to prevent himself from becoming ill as well. The mask, the black robes he wore and his tallness gave him and fearsome appearance. He took a knife and made a cut along Monique's arm. He held a cup up to the wound and let the blood drain into it.

The sound of something dropping to the floor broke Joseph's gaze and he turned back to see Ludmila laying on the floor. Above her stood Michael and Annie still adorned in the clothes they wore at the office. Joseph was about to ask them what they were doing here when a scream from Monique brought his attention back to his wife. She was a dark red now but as if she were a dream she just faded away into nothingness.

"MONIQUE!!!"

Joseph looked to the doctor for an explanation but he himself seemed to fade into nothingness. Joseph ran over to his bed and fell down onto it. He started crying for only god knows how long before a hand touched his shoulder and he turned. Before him was Michael, who held up his other hand. It seemed to explode in red fire and right before Joseph fell asleep. He heard the words "You need some help."

*****

Joseph, the old man, wiped tears away from beneath his eyes and looked up at Angel. "I don't remember anything else except being woke up by police three days later. I was drenched in blood and everyone in the house was brutally murdered. That is except my wife and daughter who were never found. I spent the next fifty years in prison. I don't know how they did it but they put some kind of curse on me. I think it was to make me suffer. After reaching the age of seventy I seemed to stop aging. I think maybe they wanted to make me suffer. That's what they do...cause suffering and serve themselves. They made it so that I would never know peace. So now I have dedicated my life to finding them and putting an end to their efforts."

Angel held his emotions at check and said "So you have spent that last three hundred or so years following them right?"

Joseph nodded all knowingly. "I've followed them across Europe, Asia, Africa and now the Americas. It's not hard to find where they have been. You just have to follow the path of broken lives."

Angel looked back at Willow who was breathing heavily in her sleep now. He looked at Joseph "Well that was an interesting story but I don't quite see how it will help Willow."

Joseph looked down at the ground and in a grim voice said "I'm sorry but the only way we can help her is by finding these....things and killing them."

Angel folded his arms over his chest and said "OK, lets find them and kill them but I want to get Willow to a hospital first."

Joseph looked up at Angel's bed and said "I don't think that will be possible at the moment." Angel turned around and saw his bed, without Willow. He ran over to the bed and threw the sheets off. Angel howled in fury as he pounded the mattress. "NO!!!"

*****

Xander walked up the front steps of his house. Opening the door he heard the sound of Cordelia's car driving down the street followed him inside. The house was almost completely dark inside. The only light came from the kitchen where a microwave displayed the time. It being two thirty-seven in the morning and Xander's father having banished him to his room should have been enough reason for him to sneak to his room. Instead though he decided to get something to drink before bed.

Going into the kitchen, saw the merger opinions of drink in the fridge and so decided to get a glass of water. He walked out the kitchen and headed towards the stairway. The sound of talking made his stop. He looked over his shoulder afraid to see his father ready to beat him to a pulp. No one, the floor was just as empty as before. Xander stayed perfectly still and listened carefully. There was a steady conversation coming from the basement.

Quietly walking to the basement door Xander leaned up against it. Putting his ear to the surface he could hear his father talking.

"You want me to recycle this! What am I going to do with this...uh... ...uh...uh....work for some."

From within the basement Xander could hear a second voice he didn't recognize.

"Break it down! Mix it! Build it!"

"I already remade it! I don't see the point in doing so again."

"He is still out there! We must lure him in with a trap. Besides, you make new one."

"New one?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"His friend. The little redhead girl."

Xander snapped back in alarm. Little redhead girl had to be a reference to Willow. Xander pressed his ear back against the door and listened in.

"You....have her?"

"Just picked her back up recently."

Xander thought back to earlier in the day when he had tried to call Willow but she didn't pick up.

"When are you bringing her over?"

"Soon. I have to leave for a meeting first."

Hearing the sound of footsteps Xander ran to the stairway and made his way to the second floor. Kneeling down at the top of the stairs he waited for the man to come out of the basement. A minute went by and nothing. Then another minute and another and another. Almost an hour went by before the basement door opened. Only it was Xander's father who emerged.

Racing down the hall to his room. Xander kicked off his shoes and undressed in a hurry. Jumping under the covers he closed his eyes to make appear he was asleep. A few seconds later he heard the sound of his father's footsteps. One clumsy step after another pounding on the hallway floor. The sound came closer and closer to the doorway of Xander's room.

Instead of walking right by though. Xander's father stopped in the hallway just outside Xander's room and looked on in at Xander. The sound of a click was followed by the lights turning on. Xander turned and twisted in bed and blinked opened his eyes like he had just been sleeping.

Xander pretended to yawn and doing his best to sound sleepy said "Dad??" Xander's father was dressed only in long johns. He sat down next to Xander placing a hand on Xander's shoulder.

"Son...I think I may have been a little to harsh on you earlier today."

Xander opened his mouth to agree but his father leaned close to him and Held his fist near Xander's face. "Shut up boy. I'm trying to bond with you here. You see....I realize your life has no direction so I think it's time you learn the family business. Would you like that? Yes. Good! After school tomorrow you come strait home and get ready for some work."

Xander's father stood and stumbled out to the hallway and turned off the lights before going down to his room. Alone and under the covers Xander stared into the darkness in his room. He wanted to call Willow, warn her about what he heard however he found himself feeling sleepy. The last thought he had before drifting away to slumber was that he had to get out of bed to find Willow but his legs just didn't seem able to move. It was there that he slipped away into the dreamworld.