"No," he says, looking down at his feet in shame. "I couldn't. I wanted to, but I...couldn't. If I had the ability to stake her, I would've done so a long time ago. And she knows it, too. She did this to you, because of me. Because she's jealous. In her mind, you took me away from her. She didn't kill you, because she knew I'd want you back. Like borrowing a toy and returning it broke, but not beyond repair." Angel chuckles here, bitterly, looking back up. "Funny thing is? In her mind, she was doing me a favor by not killing you, because in this twisted sort of way I can't even begin to explain, a part of her is still loyal to me and that was her way of showing it. Have the Master seize you to extract her vengeance because I pay you more attention than I do her, but let you live."

The vampire steps away then, running a hand through his hair. He stares at the mirror, but sees nothing of himself and only Cordelia in the background. "There are rules here that I'm bound to. The hierarchy amongst us vampires. I'm her sire. I'm responsible for her actions. Couldn't be more right on the nail, could it? What happened to you was my fault. I thought being here would keep you safe from that, but..."

Where's he going with this? He doesn't know. He's angry at himself, angry at Drusilla and the Master and this place and the hamsters - did he mention himself? Angel wants to just turn around now and go to her, hug her, tell her it's all going to be alright, but he's suddenly afraid that if he does, she'll break due to the fact that she was targeted and tortured because of him.