demonbelthazor | [PRIVATE Narrative -- NFB]

Not visible to anyone.

Belthazor returned to his room late Thursday night. Phoebe was asleep, resting as per doctor's orders, both kittens snuggled up next to her. He quietly undressed and climbed into the bed, careful not to wake her. She made a sleepy noise of contentment as he spooned his body against hers, bracing his head on one arm as he drew his free hand along her side. Her skin was still hot to the touch, but she seemed to be sleeping well to his relief.

He felt like an entirely different person when he was with Phoebe. And he was. When she was near, his soul was stronger. It contained the demon and let him express emotions he'd been raised to suppress. But it didn't change what he was. He was still a demon. He served the Source, he served Raynor, and he served Angelus. And the currently situation was making the demon in him strain to be released.

He hadn't even considered resouling Angelus as an option until Jonathan brought it up. And after talking to Tara and her revelation that Angelus/Angel would play a pivotal role in an apocalypse, and that if Angelus died, the world could end, he began to suspect that that indeed was the plan. The white hats didn't want to kill Angelus because they needed Angel. And to get Angel, they had to stuff his soul back into Angelus.

Tara had said she wouldn't do it. Phoebe wouldn't. That left Piper out of the witches he thought powerful enough to cast the spell. He'd have to keep an eye on her. In the meantime, he was fulfilling the wishes of Angelus by punishing Veronica Mars for uncovering the evidence against him. The girl had a fear of fire -- that much had been obvious from her freak-out in detention the day he conjured a fireball in front of her. He had to be creative, however, about threatening her so he could slip it by the casual observer. First the "flame rose," then the "fire mums," accompanied by DVDs of "The Towering Inferno," "Backdraft," and "Ladder 49." He couldn't wait to taste her fear.

Phoebe wouldn't be happy. She considered Angelus a friend, but he had killed Kitty, also a friend. And she would not want Cole to hurt Veronica or anyone else involved. He would do his best to shield her, but he also knew his duty. He had to do everything in his power to help Angelus, and if they somehow managed to resoul him, he would work just as hard to rip it right back out.

He had to emulate Angelus now. Be like him. Control his temper. Not let any feelings get in the way of what needed to be done. Already he'd started to crush what affection he had for Tara to prepare himself for what had to be done. Witch. Threat. She had to die. And maybe Piper, too.

But not Phoebe. Please.

At least here, now, he could have a few moments of peace. He put his arm around Phoebe and snuggled close to her, then drifted off to sleep.