Zodiac Force

"That's not what I meant." Angel tried to clarify. "If she was caught again and was asked where we were, she'd tell a horrible lie. They'd be able to tell she was lying and who knows what they'd do to her to get her to tell the truth."

Claire cringed at the thought.

 

"She's going home," Angel said firmly. "Then I'm leaving."

Claire quickly wiped away a tear that rolled down her cheek.

 

"Please don't cry," Angel said softly. "I will come back."

Claire nodded stiffly, trying to control her tears.

 

"Well you'll be stalking me, so I don't think I have to worry about dying." Angel muttered to Advent.

Claire gripped Angel's hand. "You promise you'll come back?"

"Yes," Angel returned Claire's hold. "Alive too."

 

"I lost my innocence when I had my first vision. That was ten years ago," Angel informed Advent, her tone slightly bitter.

 

"I'd like to see you as a ten year old able to see the future after the death of your father. And then try handling losing your friends because they think you're a physco with freakish dreams. Oh, and add to that your mother's remarriage." Angel retorted to Advent's laugh.

Claire cringed, not knowing that Angel hated her life so much.

"And the only thing keeping you going," Angel added. "Is your new, younger half-sister. Because you want to guard her from the evils of the world and she ends up being taken by an evil you never imagined. And then you have to leave her to go fight that evil. Handle that."

 

"Then both of our lives suck right now." Angel responded just as coldly.

 

"Then stay here." Angel went inside, shutting the door behind herself and Claire. She stood in the kitchen with Claire and placed her hands on Claire's shoulders. "Stay safe."

"You really have to do this?" Claire managed to keep her voice steady.

"I do," Angel responded, smoothing Claire's blood-coated, blond hair. "I don't know why, but I just have to do this. It seems nothing in my life was just coincidence."

Claire held back another wave of tears. "I want to help."

"I won't have you in harm's way again," Angel shook her head. "Clean up before Mom gets home. Don't tell her anything about what's happened." Angel turned from Claire and grabbed her cell phone from the counter. "You can still call me," She reminded Claire, smiling. "If I'm not locked in moral combat, I'll answer."

"Don't joke about it," Claire choked out.

Angel's smile faded. "My father would joke in tense situations."

"Meant to be," Claire repeated Angel's previous words. "You'll come back."

"I'll see it if it's close." Angel put her cell phone in her pocket. "I'm not going to say good-bye," She looked Claire in the eyes. "Because it's not really good-bye."

Claire embraced Angel, holding her tightly. "I'll see you later," She whispered through her tears.

"Later," Angel agreed and wiggled free of Claire's hold. She left the house without looking back at Claire, knowing that would make it harder to leave. "Alright," She said to Advent when she was outside. "Let's get this over with."

 

"Hang on," Angel said firmly, not following. "I've got conditions."

 

"First off, keep your temper under control," Angel returned Advent's glare. "Second, if you don't want me here, go by yourself. Third, don't even think about asking for another kiss. Got it?"