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"I broke one's nose and stabbed him and he just laughed," she said with a shudder.

"It's a soulless corpse possessed by a demonic spirit," Giles said, "physical damage means little to them. Fire, sunlight, decapitation… those are the only real ways to cause them harm."

"What about crosses and a stake through the heart?" Harmony asked.

"Anything of faith, like holy water and crosses, can cause damage or ward off weaker demons, but aren't a cure all. A stake through the heart will kill most things, especially vampires. However, considering their strength and speed, it should only be used as a last resort," Giles explained.

"You did alright," Harmony told Angel.

"I'm not human," Angel reluctantly admitted. "I was once no different than they were."

Giles stiffened and took a close look at his 'rescuer'.

"What changed?" Harmony asked curiously.

"My soul was returned to me," Angel said quietly.

"And that's bad?" she asked.

"Imagine spending a century as a heartless monster, no better than the ones who attacked you and suddenly having your morals, your emotions, everything but your humanity restored to you," Angel said. "The Gypsies are crueler than any demon I've ever run across."

"But aren't you your soul?" Harmony asked confused.

Angel shrugged. "I don't know, I don't remember anything in the way of an afterlife, good or bad, I just remember being human, then a monster, then miserable. As far as I can tell I'm still a monster, just one who's horrified at everything he's done. You're supposed to be your soul and I certainly don't feel like Angelus, but I remember feeling like him, taking joy in pain and suffering." He sighed. "How much of us are our memories? How much is body? How much is soul?"

Giles found himself at a loss. "I don't think we have enough alcohol for this conversation," he decided.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/13635708/5/