Set up.
Main Premise

Wolfram & Hart, the law firm has planted the ripping imprint of its boot on the pages of history since the beginning of time. Over the years it has had refinements, technological advances and more sophisticated approach to destruction of human freedom and demon superiority. But it is a primal force still despite the veneer it shows, Los Angeles is learning a harsh lesson; The weak reap the punishment for their heroes. The city of Angels is now in the hands of its devils and they no longer hide their horns.

The neon lit green sign that once said "Welcome to Los Angles." when you turned off the highway exit and entered the fabled city, now reads, "Welcome to hell" the sign has been defaced by vandals, Los Angeles has been crossed out and "Hell" spray painted over it in big bold red letters. Some could argue that the lowly vandals had been prophets, the sign holding truer than it had before. Within the city, it's vast structures loomed, it's shadows encompassed everyone and everything with its gloomy kisses.

Some hid in the shadows, some fled from its primordial embrace. But whether running or hiding, they were prey. Gazelle's grazing across a open plain of concrete and metal, with hunters behind each and every sharp turn and hiding in every alley, waiting and lurking. Demons are what plagued this now forsaken city, monsters of every ilk shape and size, creatures of indulgence and sin. Two souls were all they required, but they would take as many as they could in the meantime. The meat and blood were always sweeter on the living than the dead, they would justify, if indeed Demons had reason to ever justify their actions.

Ridged faces, horn crowned heads, darkened visages, flashing red eyes, gold eyes. Characteristics, some similar but not ever the same, even on those of the same linage. They varied about as much as human, some even had a complex understanding of things, others simple minded. Regardless of their mind set, or their looks, or their attire they had one common goal; destruction. The destruction of this once fair city and its tenants, and most sad it's heroes.

Speaking of heroes, and what‘s left of them, Angel and Spike continued to trudge down a dim street. The only light being cast down upon them was the street lamp which true to formula, flickered on and off. Both vampires were tired. And not in the ’oh, I'm feeling a bit sluggish today’ kind of way but rather the whole meaning of the word. They were both mentally and physically tired but unable to stop for a moment. They had to keep going, a pair of coaling demons were on their tail. Normally, they wouldn’t be afraid of coaling demons but this pair also came with about twenty other kinds of demons to their aid which left Angel and Spike second guessing their odds.

“Those gits are lucky they had back up, had half a mind to take out the stress of playing the running man on their mugs.” Spike said, randomly tossing his words out into the night air, his hand in the pocket of his duster, gripping the empty tattered package of cigarettes as if to gain a form of comfort from it, not being able to light up and all. Angel took no notice of his grandchilde’s words, or if he did, he didn't show it. He just kept walking forward, gaze holding steady to whatever lay out in front of them off in the distance. He was going over the options they had again and again in his head and each time, things were looking more and more bleak. What could they do? They tried to fight back and had lost not only the battle but members of the team. Friends and family. It was clear fighting didn't work but what did that leave? What he and Spike were doing right now, running? That option wasn't viable either, they were already running out of steam. Always on their toes and wits end.

Spike looked over at his sire and dead lungs let out a ragged sigh. The poof wasn't even listening to him, he hadn't been for awhile it seemed. Just kept that same blank stare on his face while they continued onward. Couldn't blame the guy though, the bleach blond vampire could relate. They were both just really, really tired of running. They needed a plan, somewhere to go. What that translated to Spike was Angel needed a plan, needed to have somewhere for them to go. “Hey, Mr. I’m-all-broody, you're not the only one being chased around the city like you gotta` bleeding sign over your head saying `kill me`, so quit with the silent treatment, yeah?." He paused, then further prodded Angel. "You come up with a place to go yet huh? Any ideas bouncing around that planet-sized dome of yours?”

“Spike, would you just shut it already.” Angel pushed out through gritted teeth while they turned a corner. This is all the younger vampire had done for the last day or so, bitch and moan but never offer any ideas out on how to get through this situation which left them still stranded up shit’s creek. Okay, truthfully there was one idea Angel was toying around with but hadn't acted on it for two reasons, one being the reaction of his crass counterpart. The other was not wanting to get her involved in all of this.

"Sod you Angel, "run Spike, don't kill him Spike, we don't have time Spike, shut up Spike." Quit ordering me around, you git. this isn't Wolfram & Hart and I'm no bloody intern or sidekick." Angel side-glanced at Spike, his large brow raising up on his broad forehead. "Listen Junior, I've been running for only god knows how long and the whole time I've humored you Spike. I've even tried to indulge you, wait around while you slow us down to loot and pillage each corpse we come across. Now you are going to finally shut it and let me think."

"Oh, right. Excuse me then, figured with such a large head you'd be able to multitask." Spike scoffed and Angel sneered back at him. "I don't see you coming up with any bright ideas, Spike" Angel chided, Spike's head turned, blue eyes focusing in on Angel in glare. "I've got ideas, mate. In fact, I am pretty sure we've had the same one for awhile now, we've both already come to the only conclusion and option left. So how about we just quit skittering around a proverbial bush and stop the nomadic trek around the city and call her already."

"Oh yeah, it's that simple for you, huh Spike? Let's call Buffy, who doesn't trust me and drag her from her life to come clean up our dirty work. I know Buffy's with the immortal and I'm not happy about that, but regardless -- she's happy. I don't want to ruin that." The Cockney blonde shrugged. "This saving the days business calls for sacrifices, Angel. Buffy knows that, you apparently don't got your lobes around it yet -- but she knows her gig. Put that massively bloated ego aside for a minute, climb down from the cross you've got yourself hung up on and look 'round -- this is big league evil, we're going to need all the help we can get here."

Angel gave Spike a grim expression. For the first time in Spike's entire unlife, he was probably right. Besides, it was best to do this now before they ended up killing one and other. "Let's find a phone." He announced solemnly.

They kept moving on their arbitrary path chosen, keeping their sights out for someplace still standing that might have a working phone. Wasn’t looking good though. A eardrum shattering scream pierced the thick air all around them. Angel spoke at the same time as Spike groaned. “Someone needs help.” -- “Of course they do.” Spike snidely retorted. The two vampires took off in the direction where the call of despair admitted. It wasn’t long before they came across a familiar scene of a couple being mauled to death on the street corner. Spike looked over to his older counterpart, placing a hand on the chest of Angel to stop him from running in, which was exactly what vampire had planned to do. "I don't mean to step on your cape Superman, but there are easier ways to do this." Spike removed his hand before calling out over to the demons. "Hey! You stupid sods, over here." The demons slowly stopped what they were doing and looked over towards the pair, Angel speaking as this was happening “What did that accomplish, Spi-” The world died on his lips when the demons began to charge them. “Crisis adverted, humans saved, we better start runnin', don't pull any muscles old man."

“No.” The bleach blond vampire looked over, watching his sire’s stance tighten up. ”What was that, mate?” Angel’s fists balled up. “I said no more running. I am sick of having to run and keep running. So no, we are going to fight.” Spike arched his brows in question for only a moment before a slow, wry grin pulled his lips upwards. He kept in pace with Angel whose face had morphed into a vampire visage, heading right into confrontation. “Let’s get in this then, could do with a bit of bloodshed.”

Slow, sluggish, the brutal violence ensuing shows just how beaten down Angel and Spike are. The demon's are lower level ones, barely of the third rung of hell. However, neither Vampire is graceful, nor clever in their tactics. Spike and Angel are spending more time on their back than either would wish, there's no witty puns, no jokes, no banter, but grim silence as they struggle to remain unalive.

The two vampires spilt up, two demons following Angel, two following Spike. Angel headed into an alley, using the close confines of it to keep anyone from getting behind him, Spike other hand, leapt up onto the hood of the car, then climbed over the windshield onto the roof. One demon crawled onto the hood after him, but Spike savagely swung his boot clad foot around, hitting the demon in the temple, the boot making a solid thunk against its skull as it connected, sending the demon spilling onto the pavement.

The second demon grabbed Spike's legs, yanking hard. He collapsed, his back colliding hard with the metal roof, with a resounding metallic thud, the demon yanked Spike off the roof of the car, slamming him up against the door. "Bugger", was all Spike could manage as the demon slammed him into the car again. The demon grabbed Spike's jacket, rearing his arm to punch, but as he came around, Spike ducked in a timely manner, letting the demon's fist go through the window. Twisting away, Spike grabbed the demon by the back of his neck, slamming his head into the roof, the same resounding metallic thud being heard again, also the demon's face leaving quite an impressive dent.

Inside the alley, Angel bobbed and weaved various blows from the demon. There wasn't much floating like a butterfly, but plenty of stinging like a bee. The demons were hard headed and Angel, acted accordingly unleashed combos of body blows to their soft torsos. One attempted to grab Angel, but adroitly spun away, snap kicking the demon. The second one threw a heavy fist, but Angel blocked it with a lateral movement of his forearm. Cringing on contact, he dropped low, shoulder ramming the demon to pin him up against the wall, then swiftly snapping its neck. The demon only managed a gurgled roar in its final breathe.

The second demon advanced on Angel from behind, wrapping his arms around him in a mighty bear hug. Angel kicked his legs out forward, kicking off the brick wall, momentum sending the two soaring backwards. The demon took the blunt of the collision with the brick wall, but Angel took some of it too. The spasm in the demon's back and solar plexus made him drop Angel, turning around Angel grabbed the demon's head, his thumbs plunging into it's eyes, gouging them out. Green fluid mixed with chunks of eviscerated eyeball leaked free, Angel slammed the demon's head down against his knee, then threw it aside. "Pansy." He stalked out of the alley.

Spike's dispatched one demon, the second one who grabbed his legs, is now slumped over the trunk and Spike is continuously slamming trunk door down on its back, with each violent collision its body convulsed violently. Angel stepped behind Spike, "I think he's dead." Spike slammed the trunk door down one last time, "Not dead enough for my taste." Spike, slammed it down one last then turned to Angel, who was glancing around. The demons were dead, both Spike and Angel looked physically taxed, slumped shoulders, busted faces. Hopeless expressions -- "Let's find a phone." Angel struts ahead, Spike follows.

------

"What do you mean Buffy's busy? I have to go through the proper channels to get in touch with her? But you're her ---" Then Spike grabs the phone from Angel. "Let me handle this, I know how to deal with idiots.” Spike gives Angel a pointed look before he puts the phone to his ear and barks into it. "LISTEN YOU STUPID GIT, I DIDN'T DIE IN SUNNYDALE TO DIE HERE WITH ANGEL, YOU GET THAT BLOODY BINT ON THE PHONE, OR SO HELP ME I'LL TREK HALF-WAY-ACROSS THE WORLD AND HAVE YOU GUTS FOR GARTERS -- Oh, Dawn.. I'm sorry, Niblet, I thought you were someone annoying."

"Dawn, it's so nice to hear your pleasantly squeaky voice. That's right, I'm alive and well -- or at least as well as I can be considering who I'm stuck with. No, Angel's not evil, well, he's still boring tho'. Oh, you're in college? That's great, Niblet. Better not have some hormonal little sod pawing at your knickers, or I'll.." Angel interjects "Spike, we're really don't have time for this." The blonds’ eyes roll and he muffled the phone with a hand. "Listen Mate, I know it's like having a stake in your back that scoobies like me more than you now. So, just sit back and let me handle this."

"Come off it. No one likes you, Spike... no one ever has. Though I can tell I am wasting words by the stupid look on your face and that you are only hearing what you want to hear as usual. Always in your own little world where you're the king, and never in the wrong." Spike looked at him for a moment before snapping out of it, un-muffling the phone. "Oi, Dawn? Sorry love, Angel was throwing more of his bloated self-serving opinions at me. So, you've got Buffy's cellphone number." Spike grins at Angel, "Mind giving me that. 'Ey Angel, maybe you should get a pen, see I don't have to go through the proper channels. I've got the sister connection." Angel offered only a scowl, no words as he looked around the area for a writing utensil and paper.

After getting down the number, an after thought occurred to Spike while saying good-bye. “Do me a favor Niblet, don't mention me to your big sis'. Thanks, stay safe bit.” Spike hung up the phone and turned to hand it to Angel along with the number, who was watching him with a look. “What? Stop staring at me you bloody ponce.” A sigh escaped the older vampire. “You know, she is going to find out you’re alive eventually.” Spike snorted in reply. “Don’t be daft, I know that. I'd just like her to hear it from me, and not over the bloody phone.”

Angel just looked him over a moment longer before dialing.

Current.

The number of good guys left is staggering when Angel and company finally retreated from a losing battle. Gunn was in critical condition when he was admitted to the local hospital under an alias. They wanted to stay with him but there was no way. The fight was still coming for them and they had to keep on their feet. Days later they returned to the Hyperion and after a brief and heated argument, they call Buffy to let her know what is going on. Inform her of all the going on’s with the Black Thorn as well as the vast influx of demons heading towards Los Angeles. They ask for her help.

Buffy agrees to nothing but tells them she is going to gather all of the dismissed gang and have a meeting to discuss matters.

Evil.

The Circle of the Black Thorn has been dealt a wound. Technically it was a mere scratch but they were beings that had not met such resistance in decades upon decades. Angel had forced them to play their hand and they had every intention of doing so. They put out a notice to the demon world that they would be looking to fill their ranks if applicants could complete one task. Rid the higher beings of the two soulled vampires and the company of people they kept. It didn’t take long for word to get around and for substantial amounts of demons to start immigrating into the Los Angeles area. It turned the city to irreversible chaos, so much demonic activity going on to ignore. They were taking over, stripping every corner looking for the prize that could be hidden inside.

That wasn’t the only thing the Black Thorn did. They needed someone to oversee the destruction of the realm, sending down a lower member of their council to command the community of evil. After all, killing Angel and his friends was only a tiny mission in the large war order. They had also reformed Lindsey Mcdonald and set upon him the task of rebuilding what remained of Wolfram and Hart, having full control and means to do so. Only being subject to orders by the lower council member sent down to Earth.

Character Notice.

Wesley: When Whistler showed up at the scene, Wesley was dead in every sense of the word. Still and cold; prone amongst the ruin of the battle he had taken apart in. The balance demon had been sent on mission by The Powers to Be to revive Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, bringing him back to the world of the living in attempts to re-tip the scale of good and evil. Evil was by far ahead and this wouldn’t even be close to enough but it was something.

Drusilla: Drusilla was not one for ambition personally. She was content to play with her dollys, talk to the stars, and inflict pain on victims in the most wicked ways. However, this beautiful and deadly creature is one of the few Vampire's of such advanced age still ranging free, now with a new ambitious stud to replace her lost Spike. The two of them round out to be quite a pair as they insert themselves into the deadly mix of Los Angeles, they're looking to be quite a deadly tandem.

Doyle: When Doyle was destroyed sacrificing himself, he wasn’t entirely destroyed. His essence was scattered around in both the upper plans as well as earth. Years later, under orders of the Black Thorn, W&H collected the bits and pieced him back together, driving Doyle back into existence, though not as the demon he once was. His memories anew were filled with an alternate life and motive. He remembers nothing of who he use to be or what happened except for a gleaming memory of Angel killing him. He knows that and now his allegiance to the Black Thorn. He now acts as a buffer between Lindsey, who is rebuilding the base of W&H and the elder members of the council. He also is in charge of the witch hunt for Angel and Spike.

Cordelia: We don't have any pressing storylines arcs to connect her to. But we are open to your ideas on how she could return.