~ Everything fades. Colors become shadows. Sounds mute into vibrations. A heartbeat is a humming bird flitting from life to death. Boom… Nothingness… Boom… This is an Untold History involving the character of Angel. These events take place prior to Angel’s meeting with Buffy the Slayer, perhaps in the early eighties. In the RPG scenario the Director would role-play Angel, the adversary demon Baron, and the background characters. The player character would role-play the angel. This is how I, an angel from above, met him, the Angel of the earth. How can I explain him to you? It’d be better for you to see a photograph. He is absolutely beautiful. Sure, maybe the glowering brow and stone-faced expression leave something to be desired, but, really, he has the face of an angel. Which is funny because he is a vampire. I, on the other hand, am the true angel. And wouldn’t you know it: there is nothing angelic about my face. Isn’t it ironic? Do you think that we all tend to place too much emphasis on appearance? But I’m new at this game, I didn’t know anything about humans or vampires or anything until a short time ago. You must understand; I haven’t been here long. Yesterday I woke up in the park. I stayed there for the entire day, both too enraptured and too terrified to move. No one seemed to notice me, not the joggers running around the track, and not the children romping on the playground. Then, when the sun grew dim and the park emptied out I didn’t know what to do. Really, I had no idea of where else to go. But I supposed I was sent there for a reason and I cockily assumed that the reason would present itself. And I was right, because he came. I noticed him from the moment I spied him coming down the path. Because I’m an angel I have the power to read aura’s, I knew that there was the stuff inside of him from which darkness could be forged. But he didn’t seem to take any notice of me; he walked right past me, his head down, his hands rammed into his pockets. Not knowing what to do, I simply stood up and followed him until he spun around. I must admit I was surprised when I saw him in full. Like I mentioned earlier, he’s gorgeous, in the complete human sense of the word. For some reason I never imagined that a dark one could be attractive. Still, despite my surprise, I managed to inform him that I was here to destroy him. Those black irises that passed for eyes narrowed as he sized me up. When he took a step towards me I felt a shiver of fear course up my spine. “I’m no trouble to anyone,” he said. His voice was sullen. “Don’t waste your time on me, angel.” So he did know what I was. “You may not be causing trouble right now,” I admitted, “but neither can you avoid trouble for long.” It took all of my courage to remain firm in my place. I could feel, almost see, the darkness emanating from those black eyes. In height and weight the vampire more then out-matched me, and by the way he stood I could sense the latent physical prowess. This one was strong. Perhaps an immediate confrontation had been the wrong idea… The wind picked up strength. I don’t know what he was thinking; his pale face was as still as stone, but his fingers, long and slender, drummed in the air as he flexed them. Finally he said, “Do what you will. Destroy me, I won’t try to stop you. But be careful; I’m not the only evil thing in this town, just the only one with a soul.” Turning, taking a few steps off of the path and through the sculpted hedges, he was gone. That kind can melt into the night shadows. But my kind can disperse them. I don’t waste any time, I run after him. If he is telling the truth about himself or if he is lying, he is deserving of my attention. Especially since I have absolutely nothing else to do. By the time I get to the street the corner is empty… He went to the left, I am sure of it Walking fast, I glance into the shadows of the buildings. The vampire could be hiding, waiting to leap out and strike me down. No, not hiding. Ahead…the darkness grows larger, deeper. The hair on my neck rises. Something strong, something more evil than this particular bloodsucker was before me. Still, I keep following. Abruptly, without pausing in his tread, my quarry turns and, with a speed born of unnatural agility, he is in front of me, almost face to face. “Who are you,” I ask him? “Angel.” I laugh at the irony. “Listen,” he said, “go save some human soul from the peril of eating too much junk food. Leave the demon to me.” Calmly, I gaze at the hell-thing. I am surprised to see that his eyes are wide with an expression I can only ascribe to sincerity. “Vampire,” I said, “You do have a soul” I can feel it emanating from him like heat waves from the sun; “this I now see. But if there are any demons to be slain around here…” Barely a flicker of warning sounded in my mind…something was coming behind me… Suddenly Angel moved; leaping around me to land squarely in front of the sword - that had appeared quite suddenly at my back. But as I started to turn I felt pain reverberate through my jaw as a heavy fist shot out of one of the dark shadows and connected with my face. Backwards I went, stumbling into Angel. Before me stepped a female demon. “Oh, Angel and an angel,” the demoness licked her lips. This is going to be delicious.” “Leave her alone,” I heard Angel call out. From the corner of my eyes I saw him fighting the demon with the sword. The female demon laughed. “Like hell.” Oh, let the light come quickly and burn pure and true, I prayed. . “You’ve no time to summon magic.” She jumped at me, swinging her fists into the air. “You might be right,” I reply, and I lunge at her, my hands curved into claws. But she is as fast as I am and her own hands rise in defense, parrying my attempt to draw a vise against her neck. She sends another punch into my face. Feigning an attack with my right hand I bring my left to bear against her jaw. Spinning off balance, she stumbled back. “Oh,” she cocks her head at me, tastes the blood in her mouth. “Surprise, this angel bites too.” Jumping, her leg kicks out and connects with my stomach. Reeling, I manage to grab that leg and twist it, pulling her to the ground. But when she swings her hand up at me again it is wielding a knife that slashes into my thigh. Pain sends me staggering. She will take the advantage now…but then I see the vampire flash before me. Angel stands in front of me, blocking the demoness’ path. Apparently he finished the other demon off and has come to aid me. “You’ve always wanted me, haven’t you, Angel?” The demoness leaped up and her knife flew into Angel’s arm, despite this he managed to loop his leg around her ankle and brought her squarely round, into his arms. “Angel,” I shout out, because I see two more figures coming down the block, and I am picking up disturbing aura’s from both of them. “Run,” he said. I ducked into the shadows. “What’s going on here?” Two demons ran up the city block. They glanced at the dead demon, then back at Angel, who clutched the female demon. “Come on,” the female demon said, “attack him.” She struggled in Angel’s hold. “Easy and she’ll live,” Angel spoke to the male demons. The male demons started circling Angel in slow, measured steps. “Okay,” Angel twisted the neck of the female demon. She crumpled to the floor. “Your choice.” They lunged at him. Angel stood between both of them, whirling to attack one and parry against the other. The vampire was amazing, but the demons were strong and there were two of them, for every blow that Angel made they inflicted two upon him. The demons didn’t see me. If I could shine the light now…but a part of me didn’t want to take the chance, not while Angel was in melee combat with them. I didn’t want to be responsible for destroying a vampire with a soul. Yet I also knew that I could not physically challenge the demons, I was not strong enough to exchange blows with them. So I remained hidden, watching. I repressed a cry of delight as Angel finally managed to send one of them sprawling; it’s head smashed into the concrete with a sickening thump. But the advantage did not last long, for the remaining demon seemed, upon the death of its companion, to fly into a frenzy of movement. Again and again the thing hit Angel, until it was Angels’ back that hit the floor. The thing jumped on top of him, and I stepped forward, all thoughts of propriety driven from my mind. The light began to shine from my eyes. “Damn it,” the demon rolled off of the vampire, leaping round to face me. “Work with me” the demon said to Angel, “we will kill the angel. My light grew brighter, whiter. The demon moved, clawing for me. And I realized that the thing did have the time and the strength to attack me. But it was jerked to a stop; Angel had followed it into the torturous light. Holding the demon tight, he checked its advance and positioned its body to provide some shield from the light. “No,” the demon screamed. He hissed; his arms flailed. I could feel incredible heat coming from the demon and from the vampire too, as their bodies sizzled and burned in the pure, celestial glow. “Run,” I shouted Angel. “Finish it,” Angel replied through gritted teeth. And finally, they fell. The demon whispered something I could not hear and then he shuddered, his body going lax. My eyes resumed their normal state. I knelt beside Angel. I couldn’t heal him; I only have the power to heal humans. But I helped him to his feet and then we stood there, in the street, awkwardly facing each other. “I’m sorry,” I finally said, “but I didn’t know else to do.” “It’s all right.” He grimaced and leaned against the wall. I wished I could help him. I couldn’t stand to see anything in pain, even undead vampires. “Are there more of those around?” I gestured to the dead demons. “Plenty,” he agreed. Using his hands to propel himself off of the wall he added softly, “Be careful, little angel.” Turning, he started to walk away, down the street. “Wait,” I called after him. He stopped but did not face me. “How did you…become the way you are?” I couldn’t actually believe I had met someone like him. I didn’t know that things weren’t always black and white, that sometimes evil could be working for the benefit of good. “It’s a long story,” he murmured. “Well, can I walk you home? Maybe you could tell it to me?” He shook his head. “I don’t, I’m not good with people.” “I’m not a person,” I reminded him. “And I’m new here and I don’t know what to do…” He half-turned. “That’s why we should stay away from each other.” And he left, going into the shadows. But I knew that, one-day, when I was fighting some particularly nasty evil thing, I might see him again.