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That evening, Cordelia risked going out for an hour or so, long enough to run out to the apartment complex where Ivory and her father were staying. Taking care along the way to ensure she wasn't followed but knowing she'd have to get back soon lest Cinnamon or Riley grow suspicious of her absence, Cordelia merely slipped a sealed envelope underneath the Slayer's door. Then, the vampiress was away, disappearing back into the night...
Chase nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the envelope slide underneath the door, seated on Ivory's bed looking through one of her textbooks from school. Slowly, he set it aside, then stood and went to retrieve the letter, only half tuned into the sounds of the shower running in the bathroom behind him.
It had been a long day, Chase thought as he fingered the thin paper in his hands. Ivory had remained cool and aloof as she had that morning as the hours passed, and he was no closer to understanding what was going on in her head. When she had invited him over to help her study for a calculus test, Chase had readily jumped at the opportunity, hoping it may lead to them clearing the air. Little did he know that Ivory would not only be able to concentrate, but she would also be too wired to settle down for more than a minute. Thus the shower...
Sighing, Chase tore open the envelope, hoping that reading its contents may give him something else to focus on. When he saw it was from Cordelia, his eyes roamed it eagerly.
To Angel and Ivory, it read. At last, I was shown to where they're keeping Buffy. Chase was accurate when he said that much of her spirit has been chipped away. I can only hope that the post-rescue will help heal the wounds... In the meantime, I've discovered who all is required for the ritual. The three of you are prime candidates, as well as Leeloo, much to my amazement. I didn't think it was possible, but somehow, she IS a member of Angel's bloodline. If either Riley or Ethan sired her, I don't see how that could be... Unless Buffy created her, but that too isn't very likely. So I leave it to you two to puzzle it out, if that's at all possible. In the meantime, it will take time to draw a map from the south entrance to Buffy's location, considering I'm under almost constant supervision. When it's finished, I'll let you guys know. I'll be in touch. Love, Cordelia. P.S. I don't know if it means much and I don't know why I didn't think of it back when I met with you guys... but Leeloo appears awfully familiar to me, almost as if I've seen her somewhere before. Just another mystery to be unearthed, I guess...
Chase's breath caught in his throat at the neatly written words concerning Leeloo. He knew her exact origins, that much was true. But he hadn't thought that Ethan would make her a part of this, nor could he imagine telling Ivory or Angel the truth at this juncture. His mind reeling at the knowledge, he didn't notice when the shower shut off and Ivory emerged from the bathroom in a pink terrycloth robe moments later.
Once again, Chase was startled when she slipped up behind him, announcing her presence by saying, "Hey! What do you have there?"
Chase looked up at her with a surprised expression, the letter nearly slipping out of his hands. Taking a deep breath, he replied, "It's from Cordelia. Ivory, she's located your mother..."
The Slayer's eyes widened, her face a mask of dawning hope. "So we're going to be ready to move in?!"
Chase handed her the note, watching as she read it for herself. Once finished, Ivory turned to look at him, her expression difficult to read. "Wow," she said softly. "I can't believe it happened that quick... that it will all be over soon." She bit her lip, looking downwards. "Seems like all our preparing is about to pay off, huh?"
Chase watched her intently for a moment, then finally asked, "What are you thinking?"
Ivory glanced at him, her green eyes shining. "I want to be happy about it," she said gently. "About getting her back after all these years. She is my mother, after all. But... The more I try, the more often I come up empty. I can't figure out why. Why can't I feel anything?"
Chase stood, taking a step closer and enfolding Ivory in his arms. "It's understandable. You hardly know a thing about her, aside from what other people have told you. Anyone else in your shoes would have the same reaction. But, I'm positive, that once you see her in the flesh, once you've had time to get to know her, you'll be glad this happened." He paused, pulling away and cupping Ivory's face in his hands. "Your mother thinks the world of you. I can tell you from experience. And she has enough love to shower you in until you are able to offer some up in return."
Ivory hesitated, feeling warm inside over Chase's hugging her. With tears stinging her eyes, she whispered, "What if I'm a disappointment to her? I mean, considering that being Slayers made her and Stefanie's lives difficult... She couldn't have wanted that for me. And..." Ivory struggled to find the right words here. "Maybe I don't even want it for myself! Why me?! What makes me so damn special as to be given this position?!"
Chase remained silent as he thought this through. Finally, he said, "What sets you apart is that you have a lot of special and very wise people there to guide you along. That's something that Stefanie and I doubt even your mother can boast about... Cordelia, Angel, Willow, Steffi, Jenny... Ivory, between the five of them, they have..." Chase did the calculations in his head. "Well, close to five hundred years. How many other Slayers do you think had that many centuries of experience backing them?"
Ivory looked thoughtful, nodding her head slowly. "Maybe... Maybe with that, I do stand a chance," she whispered.
Chase replied, in a firm voice, "You will live through this battle and many others, Ivory. And you and your mother will form a strong connection when this is all finished with." When she moved to cut in, he stopped her. "I don't think it. I know it! Ivory, you... You're the strongest, most ingenious person I've ever met. You can do anything you set your mind to. And I believe, if you take time to think about it, you'll realize I'm right!"
Ivory bit her lip, then looked up at him with curious eyes. "Thank you," she said after a long moment. Leaning forward, she added, "I don't know how you do it, Chase, but you always seem to have an answer... You bring out the best in me, and you inspire me in so many ways. I hope that when this is over, we won't lose touch. I need a friend like you in my life."
Chase's hopes were soaring until the last sentence; it disappointed him greatly to know she still only viewed him as a friend. Nevertheless, he kept his smile, nodding once. "We won't," he promised. "I'll always be there for you, Ivory. Believe that..."
Leeloo sat in the driver's seat of a "rented" winnebago, parked in the lot of a local Phoenix shopping mall, and watched the sun rise at the horizon. She inhaled a deep breath of the fresh desert air, feeling grateful that her status as half vampire allowed her to witness this spectacle unharmed. She thought that she could have stayed there for hours, but that her companions (safely hidden in the heavily curtained area behind her) on this trip were even now complaining that she get this show on the road.
Sighing, Leeloo started the ignition and shifted into drive (Riley had taught her the specifics of driving some months before) and was soon on her way to the nearest highway. During the drive home, her mind remained partially focused on her honey, wondering if he would be as glad to see her as she would him. Sighing, Leeloo murmured, "Why do I even bother mulling it over? It's not as if Riley is madly in love with me, what with the cheating and everything..."
Her dark brown eyes focused on the road but not really seeing it, Leeloo found herself musing over life in the caverns and wondering why she was even bothering to return there. Maybe if she just pulled over somewhere, exited the vehicle, and started walking... It wasn't as if any of her companions could stop her; by the time night fell, she'd be long gone, perhaps even on her way to the home that should have been. And it would certainly be an improvement over seeing Riley every day, watching the way he made eyes at other females when he thought she wasn't looking.
What stopped her from doing just that was the thought of her mother, locked away in the caverns like a criminal. As long as she was there, Leeloo knew she couldn't just up and leave. Clenching the steering wheel in anger, her face morphing slightly into a vampiric visage, she silently cursed Riley for having that hold over her.
Leeloo relaxed slightly when Lyle, one of the humans they had picked up, carefully made his way out to the front through the curtain, closing it securely behind him. Then, he settled into the passenger, appearing content just to gaze out at the bright sunny day for a few moments.
Finally, sneaking a glance at her, Lyle asked, "Are you always this quiet? Here it is, your friends are talking up a storm back there, and you're as silent as can be."
Leeloo's teeth clenched slightly. "What does it matter if I am?" she retorted, staring at him briefly with her deep-set brown eyes. "If it's conversation you're searching for, it's waiting behind those curtains."
He shrugged, grabbing a cigarette from a pack in his shirt pocket. "I take it you're the lone wolf of this group then... Do you mind if I smoke?"
Leeloo let out a deep breath. "Go ahead. It's not as if it will kill me," she said with a weary sigh.
Lyle gave her a strange look, even as he lit up with a dark blue bic lighter. "And now you're on to brooding," he commented lightly. "So, what's the deal with you? I mean, you're obviously not like your friends. Sunlight and all..."
Leeloo bit her lip, wrestling with herself over how much she should tell him. Finally, she settled with, "I'm different. I've always been different." A pause, then, "I was born this way... Still have the aversion to holy items and I hate garlic. There's the occasional but mild bloodlust; I can exist on normal food... But sunlight's never been a problem."
Lyle considered this, looking thoughtful and taking a few puffs on his cigarette. "Don't tell me they conducted genetic experiments on you while you were still growing in your mom's womb. That's freaky!" he blurted out, much to her annoyance.
When Leeloo looked back at him, it was with a snarl, her demonic visage activated. "Drop it!" she warned, her tone as gruff as she could muster.
Lyle was quiet for a while, then said softly, "I'm sorry... Sore subject, huh?"
Leeloo nodded hesitantly. "If you know what's good for you, don't inquire into my background, especially my family! Just suffice it to say, if I had a choice, I would have wished myself born to two different parents entirely!"
Lyle wondered over this, but wisely remained silent. As he continued to smoke, he stared at Leeloo, curious more than ever as to just what her story was...