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After listening to the amazing story of how Cordelia had become a good vampire, all Ivory could do was sit in comtemplative silence a moment. "Okay!" she said at last. "Let me get this straight... Stefanie used to be a Slayer and a vampire, and when Cordelia fed on her, something in Steffi's blood caused the demon to be forced out. Is that about right?!"
Cordelia nodded. "And returned my soul in the process. I don't know. It was like... I essentially became the same kind of creature that Stefanie was at that moment. A vampire, but without a demon in occupancy." She paused. "I know most people would argue that one half can't exist without the other, but I'm living proof that it can. I'm still immortal and I still have the occasional blood craving, but that's all."
Ivory leaned back, sighing loudly. "This situation just keeps getting more and more complicated as I go along," she muttered to herself, shaking her head.
When it appeared that Ivory would remain silent, Angel took the opportunity to pick up the conversation. "You mentioned you were having a bad week," he said to Cordelia. "Mind telling what happened?"
Cordelia groaned, sinking slightly into her seat. "All I wanted was to have a straight, peaceful journey from France to America... So I hired this frenchman, who I picked up at a bar, to sail my yacht during the day while I'd rest below deck. Next thing I know, I'm stranded at a port in Cuba and my pilot has disappeared with all the money I had paid him! That'll teach me to write out a check next time, or pay in installments."
Cordelia paused, rubbing at her eyes. "Anyway, I couldn't find someone else to pilot me the rest of the way, so it was either sail at night or I'd never get here. It was hell trying to find ports to rest at during the daytime, I'll tell you! Then, I make it to California at last, dock in Sunnydale Harbor, and hide out underground for another twelve hours... in the sewer with lots of rats!"
Angel fought an amused smile. *This is Cordy,* he thought. *Always striving to look good and stay out of icky situations.* Out loud, he said, "So how'd you happen to come here to the warehouse?"
Cordelia calmed slightly. "I saw Ivory come in here, thought she was on the hunt for a vampire or two. I figured I'd be safe observing from the skylight, so I went to the roof to see her in action. Little did I know that I'd be the intended target!"
Angel paused, then said, "Next time, Cordy, I'd try a more direct approach. Sneaking around can only get you into trouble."
"Don't I know it!" Cordelia explained, averting her eyes to look at Ivory. A brief pause, then, "Man, you've sure grown over the last fifteen years! The last time I saw you, you couldn't have been more than two feet tall."
"Two feet, six inches," Angel corrected softly, winning a slight chuckle from his daughter.
"So I can safely assume that you knew my real mom too?" Ivory asked Cordelia after a moment.
Cordelia nodded again. "Yes. Very well... I used to go to high school with her long before I was changed, and I was sort of an unwilling member of her team. I can't count the number of times she saved my life those first few years! In between the invisible girl, teenage Frankenstein, and demon snake boy, it's a wonder I lasted as long as I did... At least, until Lorenzo found me."
"Lorenzo?" Ivory questioned.
"The vampire who turned me," Cordelia answered. "And who was indirectly responsible for Buffy and Stefanie being turned as well... Your foster mother was the one who killed him. Her last big conquest as the Slayer. You should be very proud of her."
Ivory remained silent a moment, then said, "How is it that Stefanie became human again? And why just her? I mean, whatever did it for her should have worked for you and Dad too, right?"
Angel leaned forward with a sigh. "Not necessarily... Buffy had bought Stefanie a pendant for her birthday. This pendant was later revealed to have mystical qualities, in that it would keep the wearer safe from anything metaphysical. It somehow stripped Steffi of both her vampire and Slayer status, but we later found out that it would work for her only. As long as she wears it on a semi-regular basis, she'll remain human well into old age."
Ivory closed her eyes momentarily, overwhelmed by all this. "So, that's everything, huh? No other big surprises gonna spring out at me?"
Angel shook his head, giving a short laugh. "I assure you that you now know all of our sordid secrets," he joked. "As you can see, your mother had quite a diverse team... It helped her through a lot of challenges."
Ivory paused a moment longer, then raised her green eyes to meet his brown ones. "I wish I could have known her," the Slayer said softly. "From the way everyone talks, she must have been quite remarkable."
Angel nodded. "She was," he confirmed. "And a tough act to follow, but somehow, I think you'll prove to outshine her in many ways."
Ivory bit her lip. "Well, let's find out, shall we?" she stated, getting to her feet. "Willow mentioned that I could use some more training. So, let's do it. One on one, you and me."
Angel smiled, standing and taking a step closer. "Ready whenever you are," he replied. Ivory quickly went into fight mode, going at him with a series of ruthless punches and kicks, roundhouses and parries. Cordelia watched for a little bit, then quietly retreated to one of the spare bedrooms for the night.
They were evenly matched for a while, then Ivory managed to sneak in a rough punch to the stomach. Angel staggered back under the force of it, holding up a hand to tell her to call it quits. Taking a deep breath, straightening himself, her father said, "Well, you certainly win points in my book for your fighting technique... You are truly amazing, Ivory. I don't know how you do it."
"Instinct," she replied. "Pure instinct. And possibly the right genes from you and mom added to it."
"I'll say," Angel told her with a tiny smile, throwing a glance at the nearby window. "Well, I shouldn't keep you up too much later... I know you have school tomorrow."
Ivory was caught slightly off guard at this. "How come? It's only--" She glanced at her watch. "--Two o'clock in the morning," she finished weakly. "Okay, you win! Where do I sleep?"
Angel stepped forward and put one hand to her back, showing her to a room that was adjoining to his. Ivory changed quickly, then allowed her father to tuck her in and kiss her goodnight, watching in silence as he walked from the room.
Ivory lay there in the darkness a moment, then turned onto her side, burrowing her head into the soft pillow. She knew she may not stand much chance against Nick, or perhaps most other vampires, right now but maybe that was well on its way to changing. And perhaps, with the guidance of Willow, Stefanie, her father, and now Cordelia, she would truly prove to be the world's greatest Slayer yet...