Part 2:
"The challenge is to the death. In the end there's a new Master, and a whole lot of dust."
"So if you don't submit your name.?"
"They'll send others after me. It won't matter how long it takes, they won' t stop until I'm gone. If any of my house assists me, they'll be destroyed as well."
"Shit," Gunn replied, summing it up nicely for everyone.
"So what do we do?" Gunn finally asked.
"Angel becomes the new Master."
All eyes now turned toward Illyria, who had spoken for the first time since the visitor had arrived.
She shrugged at the shocked expressions of the two humans and continued. "There is no other acceptable alternative."
"She's right," Angel agreed. "Unless the Powers intervene, we don't have another choice."
"Angel, you seem to be forgetting one thing," Wesley said gently, pushing his glasses up. "There's no assurance that you'll win," he continued, at Angel's questioning look.
Angel shrugged dismissively. "If I compete, I'll win."
Wesley exchanged a worried glance with Gunn, then drew breath to respond, only to be cut off by Spike.
"He's right, mate, though it pains me to admit it. Angel fights to win, he wins, that's the way it is."
"That's the way it's always been, Spike, but you can't know that."
"He wins," Spike reiterated firmly, pointedly not looking in the older vampire's direction.
No one spoke for a minute, digesting this pronouncement. Finally Gunn stirred.
"Ok, let's say he does this. What happens? I mean how does it work? He shows up at this meeting next week, throws his hat in the ring, they fight, he wins" - he stressed those words, rolling his eyes at Spike as he did so - "and what, he's head of the Aurelius clan? What happens to us and to Angel Investigations?"
"Maybe we can make something good come of it," Angel replied after a moment' s hesitation. "Maybe we can turn it to our advantage somehow. Who knows, maybe this is part of the Powers plan for me, for us. God knows they've had a hand in just about every other thing that's happened to me since I got my soul," he added somewhat bitterly.
"Worrying about what happens after is a waste of energy," Illyria answered. "Our focus should be the coming challenge. This is a ritual event, is it not?" she asked. "What is the procedure?"
Both Angel and Spike remained silent, until Wesley found himself forced to respond.
"Members of each House attend, as I understand it. What does that mean in your case, Angel?"
"To the vampire community, those living under my roof, and under my protection, are of my House. That means all of you," he added, glancing at each in turn.
"So we're what, your Minions?" Gunn asked, frowning.
"Course you ain't a Minion, Charlie-boy," Spike answered reassuringly. "Minions are vampires, and you ain't a vampire, least not last time I looked," he smirked. "You're a Pet."
"A Pet?" Gunn asked, his voice low and edged with something that bordered between confusion and anger.
"I am no Pet," Illyria interrupted. "I am a God. I strode the earth while you were no more than maggots in the mud beneath my feet."
Spike rolled his eyes. "Blah blah blah, God, earth, maggots, mud, yeah, we know, your highness - give it a rest. Fact is, to other vampires, Angel is a Master, and all of us are part of his House, and everyone attached to a Master's house who is not a vampire is by definition a Pet, so just deal with it and let's move on, ok?"
Illyria scowled but remained silent.
Gunn looked speculatively at Spike. "He called you Master, too."
"Too right he did, mate, and don't you forget it," Spike responded heatedly. "I controlled my own territory, and a Hellmouth at that. Makes me a Master in my own right, the youngest one of our line, too," he added, glaring at the vampire sitting beside him, who rolled his eyes in a parody of the blonde's actions of a moment before. "A good thirteen years younger than you, Angelus, when you became one - and don't forget who helped you with that one, either. That's right, me, Spike, Right Hand to the bloody Scourge of Europe," he ended, poking the older vampire in the chest as he did.
"Fine, fine, you're a 'Master'," Angel agreed, highlighting the term with air-quotes. "Can we stay on topic, here?"
"Yes, please, could we?" Wesley added. "So we all attend this meeting then? How long does it last?"
"Four or Five days, probably. The first two days will be spent resolving the issue of who will compete, then it will probably take two or three days more for the competition itself, depending on how many combatants there are."
"You said the eligible candidates submit their names. All Grand-Childer who apply are not automatically accepted?" Illyria cocked her head in his direction, waiting patiently.
"Not necessarily. Certainly none but the formally acknowledged Childer of Childer are eligible, but among them, some are, well, less eligible."
"Well, it would be surprising if the other Aurelians didn't have a problem with their Master having a soul, now wouldn't it?" Wesley asked reasonably.
"To say the least," Angel agreed wryly.
"And yet the opportunity has been presented to you, it appears. Why?"
Angel shrugged. "Lineage is blood, and blood is everything among a vampire clan. My lineage and bloodline is clear. Darla was his Most-Favored Childe, and I was both her Most Favored and her chosen Mate."
"So back to Blue's question, dude; why the two days to resolve legitimacy?" Gunn asked.
"It's more a question of eligibility than legitimacy," Angel said after some hesitation.
"Jardin takes issue with your family loyalty, I take it?" Spike quirked an eyebrow derisively. "Dusting Penn was one thing - No one in the clan would question a Sire's right to dust a Childe, but Darla? Bad news dusting a Sire, mate."
"But when she came back, they were together again."
Wesley stumbled and stopped, unable to complete that line of logic. It appeared he didn't need to, though, as the facial expressions of the others around the table indicated their understanding.
"That's why they're allowing it. But they want a show of faith, something to prove that family. blood. still means something to me."
"Ah."
Gunn narrowed his gaze at Wesley's response. "Ah? I take it this is another Watcher bit of info you have?"
Wesley nodded, but directed his next words to Angel.
"I take it they want you to take part in some traditional vampire ritual as a prelude to formally accepting your candidacy?"
Angel nodded.
"Which one?"
Angel hesitated before responding. "They want me to renew a claim."
"Renew a claim?" Wesley looked both surprised and worried. "But, as Spike said, Penn is gone, and we don't know where Dru is. Do we?" he added, directing that last to Spike.
Spike frowned but didn't answer, keeping his gaze firmly on the other vampire.
"No, I don't know where Dru is, at least not specifically. She's south of here, somewhere," Angel added, waving his hand in that general direction. Spike scowled at those words, but remained silent.
"So what Claim do you renew?" Gunn asked, confused.
"Most Favored Childe," Wesley replied quietly. "That's it, isn't it?"
Angel nodded reluctantly.
"Most Favored Childe," Gunn repeated, looking back and forth between Angel and Wesley. "You've got a Most Favored Childe? First time I've heard of that. Who is it?"
"William the Bloody," Wesley answered.