Moonlight Dwelling

When you’re a vampire a blast from the past is to be expected. We first met in 52 right around the time when I first met Coraline. I certainly didn’t expect to see him again. He actually warned me about her. I was out walking when I came across Caritas a club I’d thought was trashed a few years back and never reopened.

Mick walked inside where he was greeted by a friendly green skinned demon in a very colorful suit.

“Hey there tall, dark, and gorgeous care for some O Pos?”

I don’t know why I’m always asked that.

“Yeah sure.”

Looking around he saw a familiar face so he walked up to the table to see if it was really him.

“Angel?”

He looked up and he looked just the same except he was wearing a long black coat and had company with him. He used to stop by the club where he sat in the corner nursing a drink for hours never really speaking to anyone.

“Mick right?”

“I obviously didn’t listen to your warning. So you’re a vampire too?”

“Yes.”

“That would explain why you’re still alive. I’d heard you were hanged by those people at the Hyperion.”

“Are you going to introduce or are we chopped liver?”

“This is Spike, Gunn, and Illyria.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Mick sat down and shortly after the green skinned demon brought over a tray with five drinks.

“This is Lorne.”

“Angel Cakes ixnay on the ornelay. I’m called the Host here.”

“Sorry I keep forgetting that you’re not him.”

Mick got a confused look on his face.

“I take it you’re not from here are you?”

“I was out taking a walk and came across this place. I thought the place was gone.”

“It is gone but this is a different reality where it isn’t gone and this isn’t the Lorne we knew back in our LA which is where you came from.”

“Angel Hair start at the beginning instead of the end.”

“Do you remember a few years back when the sun did a disappearing act?”

I wasn’t in LA at the time but I remembered hearing about it. Josef had convinced me to go off to Spain. He had a source at this law firm Wolfram & Hart.

Mick nodded.

“Shortly after that me and my team decided to take out the Brotherhood of the Black Thorn which the Senior Partners didn’t like.”

“Senior Partners?”

“We were asked to take over the law firm called Wolfram & Hart. They came after us and the last thing I remember I was getting ready to fight a dragon.”

“You fought a dragon?”

“No a spell was cast that sent the dragon and other demons to a hell dimension and the four of us to this parallel reality.”

This was a lot to wrap my head around.

“How was I able to come over? Am I stuck here now?”

“Only one way to find out Cream Puff just walk out the door.”

Mick got up to leave but turned around and said, “What happens when you leave?”

“We end up back in this soddin’ place,” said the vampire with very blonde hair that looked like he dunked his head into a bowl of peroxide.

Mick walked outside and turned around to find Caritas gone. He walked back through where the door was and found them still sitting at the table.

“I made it outside but this place wasn’t here or more accurately it was invisible.”

“We’re trapped here. I need more alcohol.”

“Sure thing Captain Peroxide.”

Lorne went off to get more drinks and then took the stage having the bartender bring over the drinks. He started singing.

“I’ve heard about this place but it’s quite different to actually see it complete with a singing green demon.”

“Mick too a drink and enjoyed the show. The guy was a pretty good singer. Angel explained how Lorne read people when they sang.

The thought to give it a try crossed my mind. Could there be a way to become mortal and would it be possible for me to end up with Beth?

“So who’s the girl?”

“What girl?”

“Come on we know there’s a girl. There’s always a girl. I have a girl I want to see when we finally get out of this bloody place.”

“Shut up Spike. She needs to finish baking and you won’t be the one to eat her.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

I got the feeling these two had a very long history. In a way they were almost like an old married couple.

“Her name’s Beth.”

“Human right?”

“How did you know?”

“Join the club mate. Is she a blonde?”

“Shut up Spike. Buffy doesn’t want you.”

Gunn had just sat there downing drink after drink until he was on the verge of passing out.

“Spike why don’t you do something useful for a change and take Gunn to the back room.”

“Come on Charlie Boy let’s go.”

“Are those two a couple?”

“No for some reason Spike just likes the guy. Maybe it has something to do with Gunn being the first person he touched after becoming a spook that haunted the place for a while.”

“Is he solid now?”

“Yes there was a flash of light and you know what it’s a long story.”

“I’m in no hurry you tell me your’s and I’ll tell you mine.”

“You first Mick so who’s the girl?”

“Beth but her boyfriend was just killed so it’s not like I can tell her how I feel. To make matters worse she wanted me to turn him. I know how I felt when Coraline turned me on our wedding night.”

“That’s rough mate.”

“Spike!”

“What I just came back for another drink so carry on ladies.”

“I was turned in a alley by a hooker.”

“If you don’t mind my asking I smell something different about you.”

“I was cursed with a soul.”

“Cursed?”

“I killed the favorite daughter of this Gypsy clan so they restored my soul.”

Mick was puzzled because as far as he knew he seemed to have his soul. Angel looked at Mick.

“There’s something different about you too. Are you able to go out during the day without bursting into flames?”

He smelled daylight on him. He didn’t share this with any humans but his wicked sense of smell picked up on lots of things like who the person had sex with and whether it was a blonde or a redhead.

“It isn’t good for me. I nearly died not too long ago when I got stuck in the desert.”

Angel had heard about vampires that had their souls intact with the ability to go out in the sun but he thought it was an old wives tale or perhaps a story about whoever happened to have the Ring of Amarra that he’d destroyed years ago. He had sensed that he had a lot in common with this vampire Mick along with some major differences.

“I just wish I could find a cure so I can be mortal again.”

“There is a way. I was mortal for a day which allowed me to be with Buffy.”

At that point Angel told Mick all about his relationship with Buffy from seeing her for the first time in LA right as she was being called to the curse being lifted when he had that perfect moment of happiness to moving to LA and the day that only he remembered where he had what he wanted most in the world.

“Why did you give it up you had it all?”

“I’ve done so much evil that I can’t just go off and have the girl and the white picket fence. I couldn’t fight and I’d be endangering Buffy if I went out with her so I gave it back.”

“So how did it happen?

“It was by accident. We were after a demon called a Mohra. During the fight I got some of its blood on me and next thing I knew I found myself human and able to go out in the daylight.”

“Do you know where I can find one of those demons?”

Mick and Angel kept talking finding themselves to have quite a bit in common like both of them being Private Investigators although Mick had the license unlike Angel who just helped the lost souls in the night. Mick asked if there was anything he could do for Angel and his friends who were trapped in this reality instead of being back in their own.

“If you could track down Willow Rosenburg I’m pretty sure she could release us from the spell. I think she’s in Africa but if you contact a Rupert Giles in Italy he’ll know where to find her.”

“I’m a PI so I should be able to track her down. My friend Josef has connections so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

The two vampires shook hands and Mick stepped back outside. It was night so Mick went back to his place. He called Josef to help him to track down a number for Rupert Giles. He didn’t mention the part about a cure but told him the rest. He said he’d get back to Mick as soon as he had anything.

Since there wasn’t anything else to do I decided to stock up on blood and do a workout. I thought about asking Beth to help me but decided that would be a bad idea. She needed some time and space to deal with Josh’s death and would come to me when she was ready.

After getting back from the morgue Mick worked out and then took a shower before turning in. He woke up to Josef knocking on his freezer.

“Why do you keep doing that? Can’t you just call and leave a message? I’m starting to wonder about you Josef. Do you have a crush on me or something?”

Josef threw Mick a towel which he wrapped around his waist.

“Oh you know I enjoy these little moments. I found the guy. He can be reached at this number.”

Josef handed Mick a card with a number on it. Mick took a quick shower and got dressed. Josef was sitting down having helped himself to a glass of blood.

“So are you going to call him?”

“Why are you so interested?”

“I’ve heard about this guy.”

“So?”

“He hunts demons and vampires.”

Josef’s been around for four centuries so I was pretty surprised to find out that he didn’t know about the other type of vampires that are soulless and unable to step out into the light of day.

After telling Josef about the other type of vampires out there he relaxed a little while Mick made the call.

“Hello Watcher’s Council how may I help you?”

“I need to speak to Rupert Giles in regards to Willow Rosenburg.”

“Um momento siro.”

“Giles there’s someone calling about Willow.”

Giles picked up the phone while Andrew walked away nattering on about Hot Pockets.

“Rupert Giles speaking.”

“Mr. Giles my name is Mick St John and I’m trying to locate a Willow Rosenburg. I was told you’d know how to contact her.”

“Who told you this?”

Mick told Giles about meeting with Angel who was trapped in another reality with his friends along with Angel’s belief that Willow could bring them back without all hell breaking loose. Giles had heard about Angel’s fight but never found out what happened to them so he just assumed they didn’t make it and the witches in Devon took care of the loose ends.

Giles gave Mick a number where Willow could be reached. He’d forgotten to ask the man Mick how Wesley and Charles were along with that Texan girl Fred. He didn’t want them trapped in another dimension even though he wasn’t a big fan of Angel or Spike. Although he had to admit that the two vampires had done a lot of good. He already knew that Cordelia died about a year about going into a mystical coma.

Mick was able to reach Willow and she agreed to meet him in LA. She asked him what his address was and just seconds later she stepped into his living room from this swirly bendy round thing.

“Sorry I should have warned you that I was going to open a portal.”

I was stunned to meet a witch with actual magic. Angel had told me she was powerful but I had no idea she could just step from Africa to LA in seconds through a portal. I decided to see if I could find Caritas again and bring Willow with me even though I had no idea what she was going to need or do.

“So do you need any supplies before I take you to Caritas?”

“Cordy mentioned a magick show but I can’t remember the name.”

Spying the computer Willow went over to it and search for a local magick shop.

“Found one let’s go.”

Mick drove her to the magick show and waited outside while she got whatever she needed for the spell. She came out with a bag and got into the car. He drove over to the area where he’d found Caritas and parked hoping that he’d be able to enter again.

“It was around here but it wasn’t always visible.”

“If it’s here I’ll find it.”

I walked down the sidewalk and saw the door I’d just gone through the day before. I waved Willow over and we stepped through. The green demon was singing and Angel was sitting at the same table as the day before.

“Angel,” said Willow as she walked over to his table.

He turned around and a rare smile appeared on his face. She hugged him even though she knew he wasn’t a hugger but it was so good to see him after so long since everyone thought he was dead.

“Sorry but it’s really good to see you. We thought you were dead.”

“It’s good to see you too Willow. So do you think you can fix this?”

“I think so. So who else is here with you?”

“Hey Red.”

“Spike you’re looking good for someone who went poof.”

“Here to help us Red?”

“Yep uh where are the others? Wes? Fred? Gunn?”

Spike and Angel shared a look before looking at Willow.

“What?”

“Willow about Fred about Wes.”

“Fred is that you? You certainly look different.”

“My name is Illyria Fred was in this shell before I occupied it but I can lie to you if you wish.” She transformed into Fred.

“Blue can you just turn back to your regular self.”

Willow teared up as Angel filled her in on what had happened to Fred and Wesley. Spike handed her a napkin to wipe away her tears.

“Thanks.”

After she took a minute to compose herself.

“I know a spell that should work. I need a space cleared so I can prepare a circle. Also where is Gunn?”

“Gunn is here?”

“Oh it’s great to see you.”

Willow hugged Gunn. Willow got out a piece of chalk and drew a circle and a pentagram along with other symbols. She placed candles around the circle and had Spike, Angel, Gunn, and Illyria stand at each of the corners while she stood in the center.

Mick sat back and watched as Willow started chanting in Latin. There was a bright flash and the four around the circle were gone.

“Did the spell work?”

“Only one way to find out.”

Willow and Mick walked outside and saw no one but on the plus side there wasn’t a dragon along with other oogly booglies as Dawnie called them either.

“I thought I’d find them out here but maybe they ended up where they were when the first spell was cast.”

“Willow do you know of a way to find a Mohra demon?”

“Why do you need a Mohra demon?”

“I want to become mortal again. Angel told me about this demon that can cure me.”

“Cure There’s a cure and Angel told you about this? Why wouldn’t he use it so he could be with Buffy?”

“Guilty conscience.”

“Yes he does excel at the brooding thing.”

“So so you think you could help me?”

“Giles might be able to help.”

“That would be great.”

He handed her a card and she took off the way she arrived through this portal that was just a round swirly thing. He wondered if she’d find a way to help him become mortal again. She had power and lots of it from what Mick had seen. She told him to call her when I finally heard from Angel. She was pretty sure her spell worked so Mick was sure to hear something.

By Barbara Desmond