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Over the course of the next few days, Ivory found herself going through the motions concerning everything. She was still in a sort of daze over all the revelations about herself, her family. Willow refused to let it slide the first two evenings, as she and Ivory had retreated to a closed down garage on the fringes of town to conduct their training sessions. But, on the third night, the Watcher had to admit that it wasn't doing her Slayer any good to be stuck in this cycle.
Thus the reason that Ivory found herself at the Bronze with her friends, seated at the couch in one corner of the room, each of them sipping various caffeinated beverages, and engaged in semi-meaningful conversation. However, Ivory's mind kept wandering back to the conversation she'd had with Willow concerning her father, a fact that didn't go unnoticed.
It was during one such wandering that Ivory became aware that Jesse was trying to ask her something. She snapped alert, focusing on her younger friend. "I'm sorry, what?" she asked, undoubtedly annoying him.
Jesse sighed. "Where is your mind these days?" he countered. "Is it really that hard to stay focused on the moment at hand?"
Ivory rubbed at her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said. "Really, you have my full attention... Now, what were you trying to say?"
"I was wondering why you're so popular with the guys around here so suddenly. Besides Kenyon, I've noticed at least three guys watching you in the past twenty minutes," Jesse replied.
Ivory was startled, to say the least. "What guys? Where?"
Jesse leaned back, stretching his arms across the top of the couch. "One's at the bar. Brawny blonde guy you were talking to at the roller rink the other night... Another's by the main entrance, black hair, tall, been standing there ever since he came in. And the third is up on the balcony; short, with red hair and dark eyes."
Ivory considered this a moment, then excused herself and went to the bar to meet Chase. She sidled up next to him, asking the bartender for a refill, then turned to her mysterious friend. "Is it just me, or are you making a habit of following me around?"
Chase laughed. "How does running into you while jogging classify as 'following you around'?" he joked.
Ivory smiled. "Point taken," she said, stirring the coffee that had been placed in front of her while sneaking a glance over at the entrance. However, she could see no one who seemed to be hovering there and quickly turned her attention back to Chase. "But you got to admit, it is kind of bizarre that you pop up at the same place I'm at alot."
"Call it coincidence," Chase replied with a smile, leaning closer. "Or perhaps, kismet," he whispered slyly.
Ivory wanted to look for her admirer on the balcony, but thought it would be rude to look away just now. "Who are you, Chase?" she asked curiously. "No matter how hard I try, I can't quite figure you out."
"Do you really want to?" he asked, leaning a little more closer. Ivory could feel his breath on her face, his lips were inches from hers. Slowly, as if something was pulling her to do so, Ivory leaned over and kissed him.
It was shy, tentative at first, then grew more passionate as both Ivory and Chase lost themselves in it. Ivory thought it could have gone on for hours; the whole world could blow up around them, and she wouldn't even notice. In fact, when Chase abruptly pulled away, it left her breathless and wanting more.
Chase reddened, getting his jacket and leaving money on the counter for the drinks he'd ordered. "I'm sorry," he stammered out. "Ivory... I have to go."
Ivory wasn't about to let him get away that easily though. "Chase!" she said out loud, expressing her confusion and need for answers.
He paused, looking at her. "I'm sorry... Look, this isn't a good idea. Don't ask me why. It's just... You don't want to get involved with me," he said cryptically, turning to walk away.
She was too stunned to stop him, just watching him flee the club and wondering what had just happened. Why would he leave so suddenly? Especially after what they had just shared.
Ivory spent a few minutes moping over it, then abruptly remembered to look for the third guy Jesse said had been watching her. She turned, leaning against the countertop and gazing upwards. It didn't take her long to single out her "admirer," as he was the only one watching her. Yet, there was something about him that made her feel uneasy.
Quickly, Ivory looked down and away, taking a quick sip of her coffee. At this point, Hannah strolled over, looking sympathetic. "Care to talk about it?" the young redhead asked.
"About what?" Ivory asked, not having a clue as to what Hannah was referring to.
"You and Chase, silly," Hannah replied. "After that serious liplock you guys had, I'm surprised he left like that... What'd he say to you?"
Ivory sighed, quickly filling her friend in. "I don't know what's up with him, Hannah."
"Well, maybe he'll have an explanation for it later. For now... let's concentrate on your other devotees. Have you seen them yet?"
Ivory remained silent. "The one by the door was gone before I could see him... The one on the balcony... Well, just look. You can single him out easily."
Hannah gazed up, scanning the length of the balcony with her eyes. Her brow furrowed a moment later. "Where? I don't see anyone," she said earnestly.
A quick glance by Ivory proved that Hannah was right; Guy #3 had disappeared as well. Instead, the Slayer glanced around the bottom level of the club, catching a glimpse of him just before he left with one of the female patrons. Standing, Ivory said, "I gotta go. There's going to be trouble."
Hannah took a step closer. "Of a vampire kind?" she whispered. When Ivory nodded, her younger friend said, "Can I tag along?"
Ivory turned, painfully aware that the girl who had just left could be dying as she stood here. "Hannah, no!" she hissed. "You don't want to be around for it!" With that, Ivory turned back and sprinted from the dance club, taking a moment to get her bearings once outside.
She stepped to one side of the entrance, closing her eyes and trying to sense the vampire who had just left as Willow had taught her to do. She picked up on its trail quickly, hurrying off in the direction it had taken.
Ivory had just entered the correct alley when she stopped short, seeing no sign of her quarry or his prey. She stepped into the dark passageway cautiously, all of her senses on high alert for a surprise attack. As she walked, she removed a stake from her purse, ready to strike at the first opportunity.
After a moment, Ivory stopped, staring down at the girl she had come to save. With a soft groan, she kneeled and checked for the girl's pulse, only to find she was already dead.
Distracted by this task, Ivory wasn't aware of the vampire approaching from behind until he was nearly on top of her. She spun on her heel, staightening and attemping to subdue him with a strong uppercut. However, he proved to be quicker, as he caught her fist before it connected with his jaw.
Ivory countered by throwing another punch with her free hand, this time catching him off guard. She then did a quick sweeping kick to knock his legs out from under him, prepared to stake him once he was down.
Except, it didn't quite work out that way. Ivory was caught by surprise when he leaped out of the way of her kick, then got her in the face with a well-placed hit of his own, sending her sprawling.
He was hovering over her a second later, her collar held tightly in his fist. "See you've still got a lot to learn, Slayer," he mocked. "Except I won't give you the opportunity to go back to your Watcher to learn more."
Ivory fought the waves of panic that threatened to overtake her. "Who are you?" she asked defiantly. "And why were you watching me in the club?"
"Because I saw you do in a friend of mine the other night. The one you found in the roller rink, to be precise. He was the greedy type, always had to have more than one meal, which was why he went after you. It cost him... and now it will cost you, dearie." With that, the redheaded vampire bared his fangs, leaning in for the fatal bite.
Ivory turned her head to the side, waiting for the stinging pain that came with it, but was surprised when a deep masculine voice called out, "Enough!" She was even more shocked when the vamp released her, getting to his feet and going back the way they'd come.
Looking around for the cause of her assailant's fear, Ivory was surprised to find another vampire, this one tall and lanky with black hair, approaching from the far end of the alley. Before she could say anything, her would-be savior got in the first word. "I think you know enough to leave now before the situation gets ugly, Nick," the dark-haired vampire said.
The other, Nick, scoffed at this. "Well, if it isn't the great Angelus. Never thought I'd see you in Sunnydale again. Or, never thought I'd see you again, period... When's the last time our path's crossed?"
Angel glared at the other vampire. "New Jersey, 1948," he answered. "You had just opened that hotel where all the guests would provide free meals to you and your friends... The business must have gone belly-up or else you wouldn't be here in Sunnydale."
Nick actually half-smiled. "You know me too well, man," he replied. "It's a shame you're not on our side anymore. I could have used a partner like you." He paused, reaching the entranceway to the alley. "Well, it's been real. Catch you later."
Ivory watched Nick leave, then stood and turned to look at the vampire behind her. He had reverted to his human visage, stepping forward as if to touch her. In fear, she took a step back, halting him in his tracks.
Angel bit his lip. "Forgive me, Ivory, for being so forward," he said. "Just, are you okay? Did he hurt you?"
Ivory paused, studying his face for a few moments, then slowly lowered the stake she held in her upraised hand. Taking a step forward, piecing together what Willow had told her and what she'd heard in the vamps' conversation just now, she asked, "Dad...?"
Angel nodded, watching her intently to gauge her reaction. And was surprised when his daughter outright fainted, making him hurry forward to catch her before she hit the ground. He was unsure what to do for a moment, then abruptly scooped her up in his arms, intending to take her back to Stefanie's house.
And once they got there, they could hopefully have their first father-daughter talk uninterrupted...