demonbelthazor | [Private

Belthazor was getting ready to make a quick trip home to the Underworld. He had gotten a pass to make the visit just to be on the safe side. Though he didn't particularly want to go there, it was necessary to get what he needed.

He consulted the notes he'd been taking, for the more immediate task and other plans. The books he bought from Aziraphale would indeed end up a holiday gift for Phoebe, but he'd poured through them first. His skill at sorcery was not as powerful as Phoebe's or Piper's or Tara's, but hopefully it would do. He'd also given Phoebe four of the roses he'd purchased -- one for each month he'd know her, he said -- and tucked the other two away to dry along with other things he'd gathered.

While he wanted to make the trip quickly and unnoticed, he knew Raynor would sense him and want to see him. He grimaced, imagining the questions. "Have you found the Charmed Ones yet? How is your training with Angelus progressing?" He would have to lie, of course, and Raynor had the ability to read thoughts, so if he slipped or gave him any reason to believe he was less than truthful, Raynor would try to force his way into his mind and find out that he was (a) in love, (b) in love with a Charmed One, (c) he had not killed said Charmed Ones because he was in love with one of them, and, of course, (d) the vampire Raynor had entrusted Belthazor to had had a soul forced into him and was now a brooding would-be champion for good. He'd never be allowed to return to the school. He'd probably be killed. And someone like Tarkin or Vornac would be sent to the school to murder Phoebe, Piper, and Paige. And likely their older sister and grandmother in San Francisco as well.

He steeled himself to hide his thoughts. He had to make this trip to gather a few things he needed. Roses he had found in town. He could also easily obtain lavender, vanilla, even garnets and moonstone, maybe, with the excuse they were part of a present for Phoebe. But some of the other things he needed were rarer. Maybe if that magic shop in town was still open, but even then, whatever he bought could be noticed. Blank was watching every move he made in the library or the bookstore.

Marty Blank, who would be on the top of the list of people Angelus would want revenge on. Angela Chase. Parker. He'd confirmed their involvement last night, eavesdropping on their conversation at Caritas. He'd suspected it, and now he knew for certain. Then there were Aziraphale and Crowley. How Angelus would deal with them, he wasn't sure. Crowley had already proven himself much stronger than Belthazor could deal with when he kicked his ass the night Angelus was resouled. But Bel had been willing to put that behind him when Crowley had offered to guide him (though Crowley's interest in Phoebe was a little disquieting). He was too proud to let himself be humiliated another time by Crowley, and learning from the older demon how to control his temper and strengthen his power was a wise decision. He'd also sought out advice from Aziraphale about his relationship with Phoebe because of the angel's own involvement with a demon. Aziraphale seemed to think that everything was part of some greater Plan and that Bel's choices -- choices he really didn't want to be forced to make -- were what would be important.

And, of course, there were Veronica and Tara. He felt some regret about what fate Angelus would give them. Veronica was close to Phoebe and Piper, but she'd been the one to point the finger at Angelus as the one responsible for Kitty's death. And Tara had done the spell to give Angel back his soul. He felt the most conflict over her. Even knowing his nature, she'd always been kind to him. He'd even defended Tara against some annoying girl in Ethics the previous day. But Angelus would torture her, rape her, make her suffer for the spell she had cast.

He'd also learned last night that the new teacher, the one who had replaced Drusilla, was a gypsy, apparently from the same tribe that had cursed Angelus in the first place. Jenny Calendar. Bel was sure Angelus would do something special for her.

Buffy had tried to warn him that Angelus would also kill Phoebe in order to make sure there were no witches who could resoul him, but he was confident this wouldn't happen. He could probably protect Piper as well. As long as they didn't have access to the spell and items needed to restore Angel's soul, they weren't a threat. Plus Angelus would owe him. He wasn't fool enough to think either of the Halliwell sisters would be safe to be alone with Angelus, but he could keep them safe. And Angelus wouldn't be fool enough to turn such a powerful ~~servant~~ ~~boytoy~~ ally against him.

He was worried, however, about the effect his actions would have on Phoebe. They knew they were on opposite sides, and he was pretty sure some of the students thought she was a fool for loving him. Sometimes he wondered that himself. But if they only realized she was one of the few things holding him back, stopping him from going on a murderous rampage and taking out the ones who had restored Angel's soul. When she was with him his human side was stronger, and he felt guilt and doubt and remorse. She, like Tara, believed in the goodness in him, goodness he didn't think he had. But she thought so, and she tried to nurture it.

But if she knew the things he was planning, it could shatter her. She'd met Angel, and while she didn't trust him, she certainly didn't want him to become the soulless killer he once was. And she wanted to protect people, Veronica and Tara in particular, from Angelus.

Part of him wanted her to stop him, like Aziraphale said Crowley wanted the angel to thwart his own plans. But he had to try. He'd sworn to Angelus he would. Then again, he'd sworn fealty to the Underworld and had been told by Raynor to destroy the Charmed Ones, and he was avoiding that task, something Angel had tried to point out. Then again, Angel loved threatening him at any opportunity, even when it was Echolls who'd gotten into his face. He couldn't wait for Angelus to come back so he could get the ~~sex~~ ~~praise~~ respect he deserved.

Bel looked around the room a last time to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. He had the strange urge to go down to the beach and brood for awhile before heading for the Underworld. Shrugging off the feeling, he shimmered home.