chapter 1

Angel slumped at the bar of a dingy dive in downtown Los Angeles, his dark eyes shadowed by centuries of regret. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, lost in thoughts of a girl he had loved and left behind. The bar's low hum of conversation was a dull background noise, punctuated occasionally by the clink of glasses. His heightened senses caught the scent of trouble before he saw it—a group of three men leaving the bar with two young women, their predatory smirks setting off alarms in his mind.

Sliding seamlessly from maudlin to alert, Angel followed them out into the night. The narrow alleyway outside was bathed in the sickly yellow glow of a streetlamp, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with a life of their own. Angel quickened his pace, his trench coat billowing behind him like a shadow. The men led the girls deeper into the alley, and as they began to reveal their true, vampiric nature, Angel made his move. In a blur of motion, he engaged the vampires, the sound of fists meeting flesh and the hiss of dusted vampires filling the air. The frightened girls, one nursing a minor head wound, tried to thank their mysterious savior, but Angel's curt warning to stay away sent them scurrying. The scent of blood was a sharp reminder of his own monstrous nature. Without a backward glance, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.

Angel made his way to his new home, a basement apartment beneath a ground-floor office. The space was sparse, a stark contrast to the life he once led. Waiting for him was a man with an air of mystery and a face that hinted at secrets untold. Doyle introduced himself, explaining his half-human, half-demon heritage and his role as a messenger for "The Powers That Be." He recounted Angel's recent past, touching on the painful breakup with the Slayer and the move to L.A., a city ripe with both opportunity and danger.

Doyle's visions, sent by a higher power, would guide Angel to those in need, offering a path to redemption that was more than just saving lives—it was about saving souls. He handed Angel a scrap of paper with the name "Tina" scribbled on it. Angel's mission was clear: find Tina and help her. The why would become apparent in due course.

Angel found Tina during her shift at The Coffee Spot. She was cautious, her eyes darting around as if expecting trouble. Persuading her to meet him after work, he waited by his car, a sleek vehicle that hinted at a different life. Tina appeared, dressed elegantly for an evening out, but the pepper spray in her hand spoke volumes about her trust issues. She accused Angel of working for someone named Russell Winters, but he managed to calm her fears and offered her a lift to the "fabulous Hollywood party" she was headed to.

At the party, the opulence and glamour contrasted sharply with the life Angel was now living. He was surprised to run into Cordelia Chase, a familiar face from Sunnydale, who boasted about her success as an actress living in a Malibu condo. Tina, feeling uncomfortable, soon returned to Angel, stating that a man named Stacy had been hassling her. They left the party, only to be confronted by Stacy and his thugs in the parking garage. A fight ensued, and Angel's prowess was once again on display.

Meanwhile, Cordelia's reality was far from the glamorous life she portrayed. In her dingy apartment, she hung up her one good dress and rationed the food she had smuggled out from the party, trying to maintain a positive outlook despite a discouraging message from her talent agent. Her struggles mirrored the city's duality—dreams and harsh realities intertwined.

Back in his apartment, Angel spent the night researching Tina's friend Denise, who had disappeared after becoming involved with Russell. Morning brought a new revelation: Denise was likely murdered. Tina, however, found Doyle's note with her name and workplace and, convinced anew that Angel was part of some plot, fled in panic. Angel's attempt to stop her ended disastrously when sunlight scorched his hand, revealing his vampire nature. Terrified, Tina ran.

Desperate and alone, Tina returned to her apartment, where Russell Winters awaited. His charm quickly turned lethal as he revealed his true nature and killed her. Angel arrived too late to save her, finding her lifeless body and the telltale marks of a vampire bite on her neck. Determined to stop Russell, he extracted information from Stacy and enlisted a reluctant Doyle for help.

Cordelia, excited by a limousine ride to meet Russell, was impressed by his mansion's opulence. However, her sharp instincts and observations led her to the realization that Russell was a vampire. As he lunged for her, Angel made a dramatic entrance, fighting off Russell's guards and rescuing Cordelia in a hail of bullets. They barely escaped, with Doyle crashing their getaway car through the front gate.

The next day, Angel confronted Russell at his corporate stronghold, a top-floor conference room filled with Wolfram & Hart lawyers. Unmoved by Russell's assertion of power, Angel delivered justice swiftly, kicking Russell through a window into the sunlight where he disintegrated into dust. The bold move sent a clear message—there was a new force for good in L.A.

Back at home, Angel's solitude weighed heavily. He called Buffy, but hung up without speaking when he heard her voice. Cordelia, ever the optimist, proposed they form a team to help those in need until her stardom materialized. Doyle pointed out the countless people in L.A. who needed help, and Angel, standing atop a skyscraper and gazing at the sprawling city below, resolved to be their champion. "I'm game," he said, embracing his role in the City of Angels.