Title: The Messenger and the Message
Author: Rebecca Michelle

Fan fiction based on the WB television series Angel. The characters of 
Angel, Doyle, Cordelia, and Wesley are the property of Joss Whedon's 
Mutant Enemy Productions, 20th Century Fox and/or the WB. The author's 
own original characters (Anna, Hamish, Angus, Fergus, Octavian, 
Christian, Duncan, and any others I may have missed) are the property 
of the author, Rebecca Michelle.

 
-------------------------------------------------------
"I'm just the messenger." - Doyle
"And I'm the message." - Angel "City of"

The day will dawn when the warrior is replaced by the
messenger who has lost his message.
The Hunter will cease to hunt and the hunted shall
arise without fear.
The messenger must once again prove his worth.
The Lost One must follow the Messenger.
The Messenger must call the Hunt.
The Hunter, The Slayer, and The Lost One, in unity must
face the tide of darkness lest it overtake the earth.
-------------------------------------------------------


Doyle lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. He watched
the sun as it inched its way to the windowsill. He
marked its progress as it inexorably rose to shine on
his prone form.

Cordelia lay next to him, asleep. After last night he
didn't know why she had let him stay. Before he had
died, where he was at this moment would have seemed
like heaven to him, but now it felt tainted somehow. He
remembered his promise, but knew it was one he could
never keep.

Cordelia stirred next to him. He rolled over and put
his feet on the floor slowly, so he wouldn't wake her.

He didn't think he could face her eyes sober.

How many days had passed, he thought. One day seemed to
flow into the next until he had lost count. He picked
up his shoes from where he had left them under the
coffee table and walked to the door, not wanting to
risk Cordelia's wrath if she found him leaving again.

Her joy at having him returned to the land of the
living had been surprisingly short-lived, surprising
for him anyway. He could pinpoint the moment happiness
had turned to anger. It was right after she had found
him coming out of the corner liquor store with a bag
full of bottles. She couldn't or wouldn't understand,
he didn't know which it was. She didn't know either. He
would have gone to Angel, but, as sure as he was that
Angel would understand, he was as equally sure that
Wesley would find some reason to be there. Being a
pompous prat, staring over his glasses disapprovingly.
If he had asked Angel to tell Wesley to leave, Angel
would have, he just couldn't bring himself to do it.
As he put on his shoes and walked down the sidewalk,
his eyes took on a faraway look, as he remembered that
last night at Angel's.

He was sitting at Angel's kitchen table when Wesley and
Angel returned.

"When do we get those marvelous eggs, Angel?"Wesley
asked.

"I'll make some now. Cordy, Doyle, do you want some?"

"Sure Angel that'd be great,"Cordelia replied.

Doyle shook his head."No thanks, man, not real hungry."

"He'd rather have a liquid meal."Wesley said under his
breath.

"You have a problem with that?" Doyle said loudly as he
got out of his chair.

Angel put his hand on Doyle's shoulder,"He didn't mean
anything by it Doyle. Sit down."

Doyle threw off Angel's hand and walked over to stand
in front of Wesley."If you have something to say, maybe
you should say it."

"Why are you asking me for answers when you seem to
have found them at the bottom of that bottle. It seems
to me if the demon..."

That's when Doyle punched him in the jaw.

"That demon had a name you sheepshagger, and I expect
you never to say it. You have a problem with me fine.
You keep her out of it."

Wesley sat there on the floor rubbing a thin trickle of
blood from his mouth.


He woke from his reverie when realized he was standing
in front of his building, he hadn't been here since
before he had died. He walked up the stairs, and went
into his apartment. As he closed the door behind him
his eyes went to a glass on the bar. He went over and
picked it up. It had a familiar shade of lipstick on
it. He inhaled deeply, sorted and classified all the
scents until he found the one that had been tickling
the back of his mind as soon as he entered.

Why had she come here, he thought. He began looking
through his drawers. When he found what he was looking
for he picked it up and put it in his pocket. He left
quickly, just because he hadn't been here before, he
knew this was the first place they always looked.

He found the Rover down the block from his apartment
where he had heard Cordelia tell Angel she and Wesley
had left it. They thought it unwise to leave it around
to remind him.

He unlocked the door and got in. He smiled at the sprig
of highland heather hanging from the rearview mirror.
He opened the glove compartment and found an oak box
that he had known would be there. It fit in the palm of
his hand, he lifted the lid and touched the rocky soul
within.

"How long ago were you born,"He said out loud,"yet you
always carry these reminders of the place of your
birth. The only place you would ever call home."

He closed the box, started the car and began the drive
to John Wayne airport, LAX was closer but he didn't
want to take the chance of them finding him there. He
fished one of the papers from his pocket, picked up her
cell phone and dialed.

"Oui,"the voice from the phone said.

"Hello.Do you speak English?"

"I speak English."

"Is this Arsene?"

"Oui. I mean, yes, I am Arsene. May I help you?"

"Alana told me to call you?"

"This is Monsieur Doyle, yes?"

"Yes."

"She said you might call, I was instructed to be at
your disposal, what can I do for you?"

"How soon can I get a ticket to Inverness from John
Wayne airport in San Diego?"

"If you leave a number, I'll call you back."

"I'm on her cell phone."

"I will call you as soon as I get the information you
requested monsieur."

He drove with the box on his lap waiting for the phone
to ring. He touched his pocket over and over reassuring
himself everything was still there.

He jumped when the phone rang, and picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Monsieur Doyle, I am terribly sorry there are no
direct or indirect flights from the airport you
requested. If you can drive to San Diego International
airport there is on in two hours. I took the liberty
and got you a seat on that flight. They are holding the
ticket at the gate. If you need more than one it would
be my pleasure to arrange it."

"I just need th' one. How much is it?"

"That is taken care of, Monsieur, as is a hotel upon
your arrival. If you need a car I can take care of that
as well."

"I won't know till I get there."

"I am wiring the usual amount to the hotel now. Do not
hesitate to call, I am at your disposal. Have a good
flight, Monsieur Doyle."

Doyle put the phone down and drove to the airport.


When Cordelia woke up, it was 9 o'clock. She looked
over to where she had put Doyle to bed last night but
he was gone.

"Doyle?" She called out tentatively. She got out of
bed, went to the kitchen and looked at the
refrigerator. The letter magnets that she had bought
for Dennis began to move. When they stopped they said
DOYLE GONE

"When?"

DAWN

"Shit."She said and she began to cry softly."Why am I
not enough for you anymore? Why?"

She picked up the phone and dialed Angel's number.

"Angel Investigations."

"Is he there Angel?"

"He's not here Cordelia. How? Nevermind."

"I fell asleep Angel."She cried into the phone."I was
so tired. I thought he had passed out. I practically
had to carry him to bed. I.. I thought it'd be okay. I
was so tired."

"Can you drive over here?"

"I need to take a shower but I'll be there as soon as I
can."

"It wasn't your fault, Cordelia."

"I was just so tired."

"Come on."

She hung up the phone and got in the shower.

As she got dressed and pulled on her shoes she forced
herself not to start crying again. She grabbed her
purse and left for Angel's.


Doyle arrived at the airport and parked the car in an
extended lot. He looked in the back and found her bag
and a hard leather briefcase. He picked up both of them
thinking he would attract less attention on a long
international flight if he looked the part. He went
into the terminal and walked up to the ticket counter.

"I'm here to pick up a ticket, Allen Doyle."

"One moment please. yes, here it is Mr.Doyle. Your
flight's leaving from gate 4. Preboarding will start in
half an hour. I hope you packed a heavy coat in that
bag it's cold up there this time of year."

Smiling she handed him the ticket."Have a nice flight
Mr.Doyle."

Doyle walked over and sat down in a chair so he could
watch the airport around him. When it was time he
boarded the flight on his way to where it had all
began.


"Angel."Cordelia called out when she arrived.

"I'm in here,"he said from his office."I sent Wesley to
Doyle's. I'm waiting for him to call back."

"Wesley?"

"I couldn't necessarily go, could I?"

"Sorry Angel, I know your just as worried as I am."

There was nothing for them to do except wait for Wesley
to call. When the phone rang Angel answered it.

"Angel it's Wesley. Apparently he was here, the
contents of his bedroom are strewn about the floor in a
most untidy fashion. On the way here I drove by several
of the establishments you had found him at before. They
were all closed at this hour."

"Thanks Wesley. You can come back."

"I'll be there promptly."

Angel hung up the phone and looked at Cordelia.

"He was there, but he's not there now."

"Where can he be, Angel? All the bars are closed."

"I can call Kate."

"Call her."

He picked up the phone and called Kate at the station.
"Kate it's Angel. I need your help."

"What is it you need?"

"I'm looking for Doyle."

"I can give his description to the beat officers, but
they'll ask questions."

"Could you look and see if he's checked into any
motels?"

"Hold on a sec. Let me call you back. Is this urgent,
Angel?"

"I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't. I'm afraid he may try
to hurt himself."

"I'll call a few contacts."

"Thanks Kate."

He out the phone on the hook, got up and began pacing.

"Kate's going to check some motels. She'll call back.
Did something happen last night?"

Cordelia wouldn't look at Angel.

"Cordelia, what happened?"

"I got so tired of seeing him like that Angel."

"What did you do?"

"I just wanted him to look at me. I tried talking to
him. It didn't work. I tried to kiss him but he just
kept drinking I didn't know what else to do."

Angel walked over to Cordelia and knelt in front of her
chair. He took her hand in his."What did you do
Cordelia?"He asked softly.

"I tried to seduce him. I stood there in my underwear
and he wouldn't even look at me. So I tried to...to get
him interested. He just kept drinking. I started
yelling at him but he just sat there, glass after
glass. If he ever slept I would have dumped it all down
the sink. But he didn't until there was nothing left.
Then he just passed out. I helped him to bed and went
to sleep. Why am I not enough for him, Angel?"

He put his arms around her and whispered in her ear,"He
has to get himself over this. I don't think we can help
him."

By the time Wesley returned Cordelia had fixed her face
and made coffee.

"Any news yet?" Wesley asked.

"Kate hasn't called back yet."

It was 10:45 when Kate came to the office.

"I know I said I'd call but I was out checking a few
leads on another case when my contact called. I know
where your friend is."

"Where?" Cordelia and Angel said in unison.

"Right about now he's somewhere over the ocean."

"What are you saying Kate?"Angel asked.

"He's on a plane to Scotland."

"Do you know where in Scotland?"

"Inverness."

"Damn her," Cordelia said.

"Excuse me?" Kate said confused.

"Not you,"Angel began,"Thanks a lot, Kate, I owe you
one."

Angel led Kate out of the office and to the
door."Thanks, Kate, we have to figure out what we're
going to do from here."

When Angel walked back into his office Wesley was
trying to calm Cordelia down as she yelled at him.

"Don't you talk to me, Wesley Wyndham Price, if it
wasn't for you Doyle could have stayed here with Angel.
If it wasn't for the fact that you had to make witty
comments to make him feel worse Angel would have been
with him instead of me. I'm only human. Angel may not
need sleep but I do. He should have been here!"

"Go lay down Cordelia, try and get some rest while I
try and think what to do. It's not your fault, and it's
not Wesley's fault either."

When Cordelia left they sat down, Angel behind his
desk, Wesley in the chair in front of it.

"How can he do this to her, Angel? How can he put her
through this?"

"Have you ever sent anyone with a soul to hell?"

"Of course not, what kind of question is that?"

"How can you understand what Doyle is going through?"

"And I suppose you do?"

"Buffy sent me to hell, remember. She knew Willow had
given me my soul back, but there was no other
alternative. She told me how that made her feel."

"Doyle didn't send her to hell, Cordelia did."

"Exactly."

"She was only doing what the girl wanted."

"Doyle doesn't blame Cordelia, he blames himself."

"Funny how one act of heroism can go so wrong."

"It's comments like that one that drove Doyle away.
This isn't helping us think of what to do."

"What can we do?"

"I think I am partly to blame for his leaving."

"You, Angel?"

"That night he hit you."

"I remember," Wesley said, rubbing his jaw, he had been
surprised that Doyle could hit so hard.

"When you and Cordelia were researching that demon he
came to me. He asked what hell was like."

"You told him?"

"I wasn't thinking, he asked and it just slipped out."

"What did you say to him?"

"There have been a countless number of, poets,
painters, and philosophers who have envisaged hell.
Dante's inferno, Sartre's 'Hell is other people'. But
it's not all fire and brimstone. It's pain. Physical
pain, and emotional torture. That place, it rummages
through your mind to find your worst fears, your
fondest wish, and then it turns them on you in the most
hideous ways."

"You told him that?"

"He asked, I wasn't thinking. It's been one demon after
another since Doyle came back to us. Despite what
Cordelia thinks even I need rest."

"I have been doing some research into why the demons
seem to be active lately. From what I have been able to
find out there is a mythical figure in the demon world.
Demons call it The Hunter. It is a sort of bogeyman for
demons, they are frightened with the Hunter for thier
entire lives."

"Eat all your entrails, junior, or the Hunter will get
you."

"Something like that. Apparently the Hunter is no
longer a factor. I have yet to find out why though."

"The Hunter is in Hell."

"Are you saying that...girl was the Hunter?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

"But that would mean..."

"She's a lot older than she looks."

"If that's the case we may all be in some very serious
trouble. Wait here, I need to show you something."

Wesley got up and went onto the outer office where he
had left the books he had been reading. He found the
one he wanted and back into Angel's office. He placed
the book on Angel's desk, opened it the section he
wanted and sat back down.

Angel began to read aloud. "The day will dawn when the
warrior is replaced by the messenger who has lost his
message.

The Hunter will cease to Hunt and the hunted shall arise
without fear.

The messenger must once again prove his worth.

The Lost One must follow the Messenger.

The Messenger must call the Hunt.

The Hunter, The Slayer, and The Lost One, in unity must
face the tide of darkness lest it overtake the earth."

"We know who the Slayer and the Hunter are but who is
the Messenger?"

"Do you have any idea who the Lost One is?"

Wesley leaned forward and turned to the front of the
book and pointed to a section halfway down the
page."This should explain a bit more."

Once again Angel read aloud,"He is with life, yet he
lacks it.

He has a heart yet it does not beat.

He has blood but it is not his own.

He is the one who was lost and then found."

He paused and then said,"I am the lost one. Doyle is
the messenger, he gave his visions to Cordelia."

"The Messenger who has lost his message."

"How am I suppose to follow him without immolating
myself?"

"You could charter a private plane."

"That costs money I don't have." He stopped and opened
the top drawer of his desk and pulled out Anna's book.
He turnd it sideways and the note fell out, he unfolded
it and held a slip of paper in his hand.

"Maybe I do have it after all."

Wesley extended his hand,"May I?"

He looked at the paper and his eyes widened in
shock."This, is it genuine?"

"I'm assuming so."

"Why did she give you an international banking draft
for 55,000 pounds."

"She left it for Doyle."

"You realize all you have to do is take this to a bank
and they will give you cash."

"I do."

Angel left by means of the underground tunnels on his
way to a bank. Wesley called around and hired a plane
to take Angel to Scotland.

By the time Angel returned Wesley had everything
arranged. He and Cordelia had finally called a truce of
sorts.

"Don't think I'm going to let you go without me Angel!"
Cordelia said challengingly, a spark of her former self
returning.

"You have to stay here with Wesley."

"You just try and leave me here."

"Cordelia, Wesley will need your visions. ou have to
stay. I will bring him back."

"I wanted to be the one to bring him back."

He understood at that moment more than Cordelia herself
did. She had wanted to be the one to bring Doyle back,
instead someone else had come and done it after she and
Angel had given it up as impossible.

Angel didn't respond to that, instead he turned to
Wesley.

"Is it done?"

"Yes, the way I have arraanged it you will leave just
before dawn tomorrow, there is a short layover for
refueling at Heathrow, you won't be disturbed. you
should arrive in Inverness shortly after sunset."

"I suppose I should get ready then."

As Angel turned to leave the office the phone rang, he
walked over and pick it up.

"Angel Investigations."

"Angel, man, it's me, Doyle. I just wanted t' call you
and tell you I'm okay. Tell Cordy not to worry too
much."

"What are you doing Doyle?"

"What I have to do. I don't know if it'll work or not
but I have to try. I'll try and call again."

Doyle hung up the phone, picked up his bags and began
walking to the airport entrance. He only got halfway
when a hand grabbed his arm and a man pointed to the
wall away from the entrance.Doyle walked with him, not
knowing what else to do.

"You're Allen Francis Doyle?"The man asked.

"What's it t' you?"

"I'm here t' help, name's Hamish MacCrae."

"I'm Doyle."

Hamish reached into his coat and pulled out a large
envelope. He handed it to Doyle and said,"Nae anymore."

"What do you mean not anymore?"

"It' nae safe for Allen Doyle. Your name is Lochlain
MacCrae, my Irish cousin."

"I don't understand."

"You will. You'll need the ID in there t' check int'
th' hotel. I'll try and explain everything on th' way."

Doyle followed Hamish to the parking lot where his hummer was parked.

"Nice wheels."

"Anna provides well. Put your bags in
the back and climb in."

After they had gotten in and Hamish drove away he
continued," This thing was her idea, said it be easy
driven in th' hills wit' this. Sorry I was abrupt back
there but if we knew you were coming it'd be safer and
wiser t' assume they know as well."

"You say they so ominously, that can't be good."

"It's isnae good at all. Anna made many enemies in her
life. They know she cares for you, now that she is na
longer with us, that makes you a target."

Doyle heard the pain in his voice. "A target for who."

"They started coming almost as soon as she.. you know.
They come t' defile th' place she held most sacred.
Anyone close t' her walks around wit' a target on their
back. A few of us had t' leave our posts, we've decided
to make a last stand of sorts here."

"We?"

"We call ourselves th' huntsmen, it seemed only
appropriate. We're her army, if you can call a few
hundred of us scattered around the world an army. Two
of us were on th' plane wit' you, they didnae make
themselves known t' you in case someone or something
was watching you. They'll see if anyone followed us and
take care of it. Here we are."

He pulled into a space, turned the truck off."I'll get
your bags."

He opened the door and went and got the bags while
Doyle got out.

"These are Anna's bags."

"Yea, I just grabbed em t' fit in."

Doyle checked in, took the package they gave him and
Hamish showed him to his room.

"Take a couple hours t' rest. Do you have any clothes
of your own?"

"No."Doyle said embarrassed.

"After you've rested come t' my room, it's next door on
th' left. Christian's about your size, we'll get
something from him."

"Why are you doing this?"

"It's what she would've wanted us t' do."

Hamish left and Doyle closed the door behind him. He
walked over, sat on the bed and kicked his shoes off.

He opened the package and gasped. He slowly began to
count the money that he found inside. After he had
counted it at least three times he put it under the
mattress and undressed. He lay there in his boxers
thinking he would never be able to sleep without a
drink, but he did almost as soon as his head touched
the pillow.

Hamish walked into his room next door and was greeted
by a crossbow and a claymore.

"Bloody hell lads, put those away, it's me."

"Sorry Hamish."the taller one said.

Hamish turned to him,"Go watch the lad's door Fergus."

Fergus saluted fist to heart and left.

"He's nae much t' look at."

"Anna thought him enough, Duncan."

There was a knock on the door and they both reached for
weapons.

"It's Octavian, Hamish. I'm coming in."

The door opened and Octavian stuck his head in and then
the rest of him followed.

"We have a problem."He said.

"What sorta problem?"

"The vampire Angel is on his way."

"That's just bloody great. Did he leave th' girl t'
mind th' store?"

"The girl and the fairy."

"Brilliant, that's brilliant."

Hamish paced the room cursing under his breath in
Gaelic.


Cordelia stood in the office looking lost. It felt so
empty without Angel and Doyle. Wesley walked over and
put his arm around her. For the first time she was glad
he was there.

"What are we going to do now Wesley?"

"What we have to, Cordelia. What we have to."


Doyle woke up to the sound of banging doors and loud
male laughter. He got out of bed and stuck his head out
the door. A very tall, very large red-haired man smiled
at him from where he stood across the hall.

"Hamish the lad's awake." he bellowed.

The door next to his opened and Hamish walked out.

"Fergus ya ginger bastard ya wanta wake the whole
bloody place."

"No but I know what goes first on a geezer like you."

"Go get Christian, and try nae to be so loud."

Fergus walked a few doors down and promptly began
banging on a door.

"Come on ya bleedin fairy. Open up." He yelled.

Hamish shook his head and looked at Doyle. "I hope we
didnae wake you. All of us t'gether we tend t' make
enough noise t' wake th' dead."

"No problem."

"Ya slept okay then?"

"Well enough."

Hamish nodded his head in the direction of Fergus who
was walking back with another bleary-eyed man. He was
about Doyle's height and build with dark hair and dark
eyes.

"Go get some clothes for th' lad, Chris."

"Christ Hamish, Fergus tells me t' come out, you tell
me t' go back in. I wish you'd bloody well make up your
minds." Christian said as he turned around and walked
back to his room.

"Donae worry he'll bring ya somethin and unlike Fergus
here he actually bathes regularly."

Hamish turned back in his room and left the door open
for Fergus to follow.

As he walked by he leaned down to Doyle and said,"I
took a bath last week," before following Hamish inside
and closing the door.

Doyle stood there for a second unsure if he should wait
or go back inside, before he made up his mind Christian
came out of his room carrying a bundle of clothes and
handed them to Doyle.

"These should fit well enough, good thing for you I
decided to come."

"You were thinkin about nae coming Christian." A voice
said from behind him.

"What are you doing sneaking up on people Angus."

Doyle found himself looking at a brown haired man who
was almost as large as Fergus. Angus laughed and
knocked on Hamish's door.

"I'm comin in nobody put a sword through me."He yelled.
and walked in.

"Are they all so, so big?"

"Only the highlanders."

"You aren't?"

"I'm from Glasgow, go on and get dressed."


Wesley was true to his word, Angel arrived as the sun
was sinking below the horizon. He picked up his bag and
left the airport. He had decided to start checking
hotels nearby and work out from there.

By the time Doyle had showered and changed it had been
dark for a little less than an hour. He left his room
and decided to take a walk outside. He walked around
the hotel twice before he was stopped by a shadowy
figure in front of him. Before he could make a move
Angus and Christian flowed from the shadows behind him
to stand between whoever or whatever it was.

"You'll be havin t' go through us t' get t' th' lad,
vampire." Angus said softly.

It took Doyle to register what Angus had said.

"The name's Angel. I'm a friend."

"I know who ya say ya are vampire. Until I'm convinced
ya mean th' wee lad nae harm, I donae plan on lettin ya
near him."

Angel walked into the light streaming from a window.

"It's him Angus."

"I'm nae blind Christian."

They both put their swords away, and moved behind Doyle
one to either side.

"Angel what are you doing here?"

"Looking for you, is this your hotel?"

"Yea why don't we go up t' my room."

He started walking back to the hotel entrance. On the
way he looked at Angus."Wee lad?"

Angus laughed,"Ya are what ya are."


When they got to Doyle's door Angus patted his sword
where it rested against his back under his coat."We'll
be in shoutin distance lad." He nodded to Angel."On
your head be it if any harm comes t' him."

Angel and Doyle went into his room and with the door
safely locked behind him Angel rounded on Doyle."What
have you gotten into!"


Anna walked on the cold, hard ground, her bare feet
cracked and bleeding. She heard the screams again.

Everything around her was twisted. What once had been
beautiful was now repulsive. Where once the land was
bountiful, putrescence leaked from the earth. This was
almost more than she could bear, to see the home she
loved changed so. There was another chorus of screams
in the distance and she continued on. She arrived in a
clearing to see them, the two she loved most in the
world. Two nightmare men, one for each of them with
flailing knives in hand, their handiwork only half
complete. She looked at what knelt at their feet. Alex
and Doyle staring accusingly back at her, only their
eyes recognizable.

"You did this." Alex screamed in pain.

"Because of you we are here." Doyle shouted in hatred.
Anna screamed in torment and defiance. They had not
broken her yet, but they were close.


Unbeknownst to Anna there were others who shared her
pain. When her soul had cried out others took up her
cry. They were bound closely to her, ties that even
death could not break. After they had screamed out all
the breath they had, for the first time in even the
oldest one's memory, they felt fear.


In the aftermath of those haunted screams, Doyle and
Angel were stunned."What in the hell was that?" Angel
breathed.

With his words their paralysis was broken. They rushed
out the door and into the room next to it. They were
taken aback at what they saw.

The warriors who were as strong as the mountains of the
highlands lay crumpled on the floor as if a cruel
puppetmaster had cut their strings.

Hamish looked up at Doyle."It's Anna. Whatever ya came
here t' do, cousin,"he paused to take a shaky breath,"
ya should do it soon."

It took a moment for them to recover. Doyle took that
moment to study them one by one.

Hamish, who Doyle assumed was their leader, was only
slightly taller than Angel. He had long blond hair,
tied at the nape of his neck with a leather cord, and
grey eyes.

Fergus was taller than everyone in the room. He had
unruly red hair, curls going this way and that, and
green eyes.

Angus bore a striking resemblance to Hamish the only difference being the brown color of his hair. Duncan was a little taller than Christian.
They shared the same black hair and dark brown eyes.
The only difference was where all of the others were
fair Duncan had an olive complexion.

Octavian was the one who stood out. He was of a height
with Angus but he was much thinner. His hair was bone
white, his eyes were a pale crystalline blue, but it
was his pale silvery skin that marked him not human.
Angel also took that moment to study them, but he was a
warrior. He looked at them with a warrior's eyes. He
knew that one on one the scales were fairly even, but
together he wouldn't stand a chance.

Hamish got up and one by one the others followed his
example.

"What's the plan, wee man?" He asked Doyle.

"If he has a plan. It might not be wise to assume
so."Octavian commented to noone in particular.

Doyle found himself suddenly the object of their
scrutiny. "Well, I had planned on going into the
highlands."

"Why?" Fergus asked.

"T' find th' mountain Anna told me about, th' one where
she had been changed."

Their eyes lit up with a hope they had abandoned. It
was Hamish who spoke."Can you bring her back, cousin?"

"I can try. I have something that might work."

"That's enough for me. I'll follow you."

"I'll follow you." Fergus said solemnly.

"I'll follow you." Angus said in the same tone.

Duncan and Octavian spoke those words until only
Christian remained silent.

"Bollocks,"he said," I'll follow you, who else would
keep these barbarians out of trouble."

"You have th' money Arsene sent?"Hamish asked.

"I have it."

"Probably stuffed under the mattress." Angus said.

The confirming look on Doyle's face set them to
laughing. Which caused Christian to comment on
highlanders and their sense of humour. That only made
them laugh more. Hamish cut off the laughter with a
gesture."There is much that needs done. Dawn will come
soon enough. I expect it to find us in Dalmore."


Dawn did indeed find them in Dalmore. They sat in a
small house planning for their trip through the
highlands.

"We'll leave as soon after sunset as you can manage,
vampire." Hamish said.

"I donae like t' be travelin at night." Was Fergus'
answer.

"If you'rs afraid for your life stay home wit' th'
little girls." Angus said laughing.

Octavian, as always, was the only one who didn't join
in the good natured ribbing."Do you think we can make
the highland house by dawn, Hamish?"

"Barely, if we donae run int' trouble."

"Do you expect trouble?" Angel asked.

"I always expect trouble."

"And he usually finds it."Angus told Angel."Do you know
how t' use a sword?"

"I'm fairly capable."

"What about you cousin?"

Doyle shook his head."Never had the opportunity, this
is after all the 21st century."

"We're set in our ways. There are things out there that
modern weapons have no effect on. When the trouble
starts we make a circle, you be inside it."

"Give th' lad a sword just in case. I wouldnae want him
t' need one and nae have one." Fergus said.

Hamish looked at Fergus,"Make sure we have enough
mounts and supplies. The rest of you get some rest."

Doyle, Christian and Angel walked back to the room they
were sharing. Duncan nodded to them as they passed.

"He doesn't say much does he?"Doyle asked Christian.

"He's th' quiet type, but when he does you should
listen." He answered seriously.


As the sun sank behind the trees they were riding into
the highlands. Fergus guided his horse next to Angel's
and clapped on the back hard enough to make him sway in
the saddle."How do ya like our hills, vampire?"

"It's beautiful."


They passed that first night without incident and slept
the day away in th highland house. Riding out the next
night Doyle looked around himself in awe. The fog had
come in and it caressed the landscape like a lover. It
slinked across the moon cutting off its light. Every
sound echoed in his ears. The soft clip-clop of the
horses' hooves on the ground, their rhythmic breathing
lulled him into a false sense of security.

"No wonder she loved it so." He said softly. he didn't
realize anyone had heard him until Hamish answered,
just as softly."It will haunt you for the rest of your
life."

They rode on for several minutes. The darkness becoming
absolute.

"Stop. Now." Duncan said.

It was more who had spoken than the words themselves,
they all stopped instantly.

"What is it?" Hamish asked.

"It's the nightmare riders, they're flanking."

"Bollocks." Christian said.

"Circle formation now. Doyle in the middle." Hamish
ordered as he rode to the front of the circle. The
others took up their places around Doyle.

"What are the nightmare riders?" Angel asked Angus who
rode a little ahead of him.

"I' afraid you'rs about t' find out."

Hamish turned to Duncan."How many?"

"I heard four calls."

"Bollocks."Christian said again.

"What does four calls mean?"Doyle asked nervously from
inside the circle.

"They travel in groups of four..."Christian said from
behind Angel.

"Then if Duncan heard four calls we outnumber them two
to one."

"Let him finish, vampire." Octavian said from where he
rode behind Doyle.

"They travel in groups of four but only the leader of
the group makes the call."

"Four calls means four leaders. Four leaders means four
groups of four. We're th' ones outnumbered," Fergus
said from the other side of Hamish.

"Listen up vampire."Hamish said," They'll attack what
they think is the weakest point in the circle the
hardest. You've never fought the nightmare riders,
they'll pick you out first. Whatever you do donae let
them break the circle."

"Set yourselves lads." Fergus called out.

Seven cloaks were thrown back and seven swords were
drawn from their scabbards.

"They come." Duncan said.

Between one heartbeat and the next the nightmare riders
were upon them. They came in silence,the riders nor
their horses made no sound. The wind that buffeted the
others touched the riders not at all.

They hit Angel first just as Hamish had warned him. He
knew without that warning the circle would have broken
with him. Doyle watched the battle rage around him. He
remembered what Hamish had said, that they attacked the
weakest the hardest. He was surprised to see Duncan and
Octavian had only one attacker each. while Fergus, whom
he thought second only to Hamish,had three the same as
Christian. Angus had two while Angel had five. Hamish
decapitated his lone attacker and bellowed as he
spurred his mount forward."Close the circle."

Automatically the circle around Doyle became tighter.
Fergus and Angus taking up the space where Hamish had
been. Hamish rode over to hit the riders attacking
Angel from the rear. Doyle looked over and saw
Christian loose his blade in one of the riders as it
fell dead from its horse. Doyle sprang forward, sword
suddenly in his hand. and cut the upswung arm of the
rider who was about to kill Christian. Instinct took
over, as soon as that cut had been made he reversed the
arc of his blade and removed the head from the rider's
body. As the next one attacked he parried the
downstroke and swung at the riders stomach blade
slicing cloth and flesh alike. He seized upon the
riders hesitation and drove his sword into its heart.

The battle was over almost as soon as it had begun but
for Doyle it had seemed like days. He looked at the
carnage around him, the circle had not broken.

Christian dismounted quickly and retrieved his sword.

"Thanks." Was all he said.

The others looked at Doyle, respect in their eyes.
Doyle was not the only one who won their respect that
night. When they reached the cave at the base of the
mountain Duncan walked over to Angel and held out his
hand. When Angel tried to shake it Duncan clutched his
forearm."You can be th' weakest link in my circle,
Angel."

Fergus called over from where he was building a
fire."Can ya cook Angel?"

"Yea."

He threw a pan at him,"Then it's your turn."

After they had eaten, they sat in the back of the cave,
too close to the end of their journey for any of them
to sleep.

"You did well, Angel."Hamish said and the others voiced
their agreement.

Angel let go of a tension that he had not realized was
there. He knew they did not mean only the dinner.

"Will they come back?"

Hamish shook his head."If they had had a larger force
they would have come at us in smaller groups using hit
n run techniques to wear us down. Then attacked in
force. They didnae have th' numbers so they tried to
overwhelm us in that first onslaught."

"The riders will give you more respect next time,
Angel."Octavian said.

Angel looked over at Doyle and smiled when he saw he
was fast asleep.


The sun sank behind the mountains as they began their
journey up. It was neither the steepest or the tallest
in the highlands so they were soon at the top.

"That's th' marker cousin." Hamish said pointing to a
knee high stone imbedded in the ground.

One by one, starting with Hamish, the highlanders
walked over to the marker touched fingertips to lips
and then the writing on the top of the stone. Each one
whispering in Gaelic. Octavian walked over and his
gesture was the same but he spoke in a language Angel
had never heard before.

Christian was the last to go over to the stone, he
whispered in English. "Blood for blood, Life for life,
Soul for soul. Linked from second birth to last death.
If ever this vow I break let me never again know peace
or joy."

"It's your turn now,cousin. We'll go down about halfway
and wait."

Hamish said. They all began walking back the way they
had come. Angel stood next to Doyle."Do you want me to
stay?"

"He has t' do this alone." Hamish said.


Alone, Doyle reached into his pocket and took out the
summoning spell Anna had given him what seemed a
lifetime ago.

He knelt down and looked at the stone upon it were four
names. From top to bottom he read them. Kiara MacCrae
of the clan MacCrae, Caelan MacGregor of the clan
MacGregor, Lachlain MacLean of the clan MacLean and
Alessandro the Roman. He touched her name and read the
spell.


"In this world or the next,
the call must be heard.
On this plane or another,
the call will be answered.
Only in need can the call be made.
I, Allen Francis Doyle, make the call.
Powers of this world and of all worlds,
bring to me the one I summon.
Powers take heed.
At this place of power I call forth Kiara MacCrae of
the clan MacCrae."


He waited. He heard a bird cry in the distance, coming
closer. Out of the fog came an albatross, the bringer
of souls, from the time he saw it until the time it
disappeared back into the fog it never moved its wings.
He broke his gaze from the spot where the bird had
vanished and there she was.

She knelt on the ground and looked at him."This isnae
real. I deny you. This isnae real."

Doyle got up, walked over to her and put a hand on her
bare shoulder."You're home." He whispered."You're
home."



Cordelia sat behind Angel's desk, tears forming in the
corners of her eyes. She held the book open in front of
her. Her tears were not for herself, which in itself
was a miracle.

She read and reread the chapter about Anna and Doyle.

For the first time in her life she looked beyond
herself and her own pain. Her eyes had opened, she
finally understood.