Dragons, Dolphins and Butterflies
by Vincent
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine but belong to Joss.
Author's Notes: Sequel to Lives are like Cigarettes.
Summary of the Prequels: After a fight against Jack the Ripper, aka The Outcast,
aka Lucius. Faith and the scoobies hadn't found a way to bring Buffy back in her body which
is squatted by a former Victorian girl, ex-victim of The Ripper: Catherine. IN the meantime,
Buffy, trapped in an eternal wind, has to fight The Ripper's soul who had came back into
the winds which is his home between incarnation.
Dedication: To Broody, Jamlley, Eliza Lover, Faithful Chickie, Piper, Elegy,
Amy, T. Pierce, Aly, Pamela and Sam. Thanks for your FB.
Feedback: Yes, please.
Faith sighed. The annoying demon was still in front of her with a resolve face that could make Willow jealous. She had pushed him away, gently, several times, hoping that he would finally vanish from her sight, absorbed by his ugly brown robe but he was still there and it was getting on her nerves. Why did he not hide like his peers? She saw his lips move and heard him say something in his irritating voice that reminded her of a mix between a frog and a hyena.
"Slayer! I warn you!"
"Yeah, I know! You’ve said it already. Must work your speeches, boy, they’re rather repetitive. So, unless you’ve a brilliant comment, why don’t you shut your fucking mouth up?"
Pushing him away for the tenth time, Faith continued her way in the library, knowing that the others were checking the other alleys. She was surrounded by books dedicated to Demonology. No book of this section would help her to find Buffy but other sections could. So, she passed this section and spotted a window where three precious books were carefully laying. That was what she had been looking for here. These three books were Latin translations of old Etruscan frescos and were full of Etruscan lore and magic. According to her sources, one of the chapters was entirely dedicated to eternal winds. As Buffy was prisoner in one of those, the more they knew about them…
"Faith!"
It was Dawn’s voice. Hearing the young girl, Faith turned towards Buffy’s sister and saw her approaching.
"Yep, Double M?"
"We’ve found them all. Andrea and Spike are gathering them in the box (then, noticing the window, she added). Are they…"
"Yes, I’ll take them and we get the hell out of this place. It gives me the wiggles…and it stinks like…."
Faith looked at the window again. The ugly demon was in front of the books. She had almost forgotten about him, too focused on her mission to even care about him. If the demon had been dangerous, she would have been more careful but it was well-known that this kind of demon hated violence as much as they loved knowledge. She hold his gaze and said:
"Are you fucking deaf? I said get out of my way!"
"No, I can’t let you take these books. They are unique. Why are you doing this, slayer? The Keepers of Knowledge aren’t evil. We have close bonds with the PTB. You shouldn’t steal these books from us. How…"
While the demon was telling her this, Faith spotted another book, laying on a desk on her left. Probably a new acquisition. It was a huge scroll simply called CURSES. Faith thought that it could be helpful for them, should the curse the slayers had received from Nefer-tem manifest itself. She grabbed it, then turned her attention to the demon and replied:
"How? You wanna know how? Simple, Frogna. See, that book? Know, listen. Want, take…Dawn (Faith threw the scroll to Dawn who caught it in her arms) …Have! Clear enough for you? Dawn, go back and put this book in the box too."
Dawn nodded silently then moved away in the alleys.
The demon was horrified. Still, he couldn’t let the slayer do that.
"What you’re doing…it’s…it’s…bad…"
Faith smirked. This remark was so lame. If this guy thought he was gonna convinced her with that kind of crap…
"Don’t care, Frogna! I asked you politely first and you refused to help us. So, we had to go for plan B. Now, move."
"I won’t! And if you kill me, the PTB won’t forgive you for such a blaspheme, slayer."
Faith had to admit that the guy had courage. She leaned down, stopped a few inches from the demon’s face, just close enough for him to feel her breath then, locking her eyes on his, she said:
"You don’t get out often, do you? Newsflash, Boy. I don’t give a shit about the PTB, I don’t owe them a damn thing but THEY owe me much. So, if they want to, they can try to catch me, I’ll stake them…but I’m not bad, buddy! I keep hunting vampires and demons in Sunnydale, trying to find HER when they’re not lurking around and I will find her. So, be relieved. I won’t kill you!"
The demon’s face showed evident signs of relief but it still didn’t want to move. It wondered what could be the person Faith was talking about. Perhaps, she was right and he should have listened to the external world news but it wasn’t the issue now. The slayer couldn’t have the books.
He opened his mouth to reply to Faith’s sentence but received her fist on his face before he could form any vowel. The punch made him fly across the alley to hit the opposite wall. Stunned, the demon stared at the dark slayer, taken aback by the hit.
"Said, I won’t kill you, Boy…didn’t say I won’t hurt you if you’re on my way. Now, stay there. We’ve almost finished."
Faith slammed the window, took the books out, and then, went away to join the rest of her team, hoping that these books would help them to find her girlfriend.
Willow couldn’t stop looking at the three women who were sleeping now. It was as if her eyes were glued on them, on their sweat and faces that were showing painful expressions. Her eyes were teary, as it was almost always the case when she was in charge of them. Every time she was in this room, the room that was formerly the bedroom of Joyce Summers, she wondered why life was so unfair, why the dark forces couldn’t let them breathe a little, couldn’t let them enjoy their existence for a short while.
Two weeks, it had only been two weeks since Lucius had been dusted. After that, they had thought that things would be easier as time wasn’t an issue anymore, they had dealt with the Ripper’s threat. They had thus begun to gather information concerning the eternal winds and the spell Lucius had used to trap the souls of his victims. Three days later, hell fell on them once more.
Elisabeth had been the first one to complain, quickly followed by Mary Jane. At first, they had believed that it was just a cold, flu or something like that but soon, too soon, the two women had been suffering from high fever and muscular problems. Soon, too soon, they had had to accept the truth: their bodies were rejecting the souls already, the physical degradation had just begun. Catherine, the woman whose soul was in Buffy’s body had help them taking care of her friends but, by the end of the first week, she had joined them in bed, suffering from the same symptoms. Her slayer strength had slowed down the disease but wasn’t strong enough to win this battle. And now, the three Victorian girls who were lost in a time, a place and bodies that weren’t theirs, were sleeping most part of the day, the fever was too high to allow them to stay conscious longer than a few minutes.
She had spoken about it with Naomi, the watcher who had helped them with The Ripper. According to her, as the link between The Ripper and his victims had been severed, the physical degradation had been accelerated…and, once again, time had become an issue. They had to find a solution to get Buffy back before….she couldn’t even think about it, didn’t want to as she didn’t want to think about what Naomi had told them a few days before. No, as Faith said, only positive thinking would help us to bring her back and, even if they hadn’t found anything yet, they would, soon.
Faith…the dark slayer had amazed her during the last weeks. She had first thought that she would collapse when the physical degradation began. On the contrary, Faith’s motivation had grown after that. She was currently holding the gang on her own shoulder. She yelled at them when she felt despair in them, comforted them when it was needed and made them work in order to make them feel useful. Everyday, she assumed her slaying duties and managed to bring new books or sources about the eternal winds, the souls, etc…and the scoobies quickly read them, searching for the detail that would help them find Buffy.
Buffy…where could she be?
Buffy was blown of by the wind but she didn’t feel in danger anymore. The wind had cool down, its force wasn’t the one of the storms that had raged for hours before this moment. She finally managed to regain control and moved to the place that she called here temporary home…
There was a whole area inside the eternal wind. Buffy was sure that externally, the wind could only be felt, not really seen as the winds usually were but, inside, it was as if a whole city could be built. There was no real landscape only a bare white area but, it was huge…and annoying, no colours other than white. How could someone even think about spending a century in such a place?
She suddenly felt the presence of her allies, the ones who were helping her in this fight…in this war. The other victims of Lucius: Esther and Alyson. She was proud of them. Even if she could sense that they were exhausted, they never complained and fought with a courage that she could only admire.
Two weeks before, when The Ripper had been back, after his defeat against her dear Faith (she took a moment to cherish the thought of her lover), they hadn’t let him the time to organise himself. They had made their move first and were pushing him away. Outside the protection of the wind, Lucius would be a normal soul and would derive to hell where he deserved to be. The funny thing about the wind is that it had no power on its inside. Its only goal is to capture the souls but he had no control on them and couldn’t control them if it wanted to. So, they had been very confident the first day. Lucius had a strong will but even him couldn’t do anything against three resolved souls. Then, it happened and the war really began at that moment.
While Lucius was retreating and would have probably been defeated quickly, the souls of the two girls whose bodies had been slaughtered by Lucius joined him, protected him and gave him their strengths. Buffy had tried to convince them that it was insane, they hadn’t listened. According to them, killing The Outcast would trap them here forever while serving him would free them a century later. The wind’s brainwashing had worked on them.
Now, Buffy and her new friends were controlling 2/3 of the territory, Lucius had 1/3. They fought every day, using the winds they had learned to control as weapon but nothing changed. And Lucius wasn’t a fool, he needed them to survive, to protect and feed him during the next century. So, instead of striking with all his forces, he used guerrilla tactics to weaken them. He also knew that their real bodies were degrading themselves. Time was on his side and they all knew that. Esther and Alyson knew that too but hadn’t given any sign of despair or betrayal. As long as their bodies were alive, hope would still be with them. She had promises them that they would go back to the world of the living and she intended to keep her word. Her Faith would find a solution, she was sure of it.
When Willow came back downstairs, she could hear two people yelling at each other. She sighed. Faith and Naomi were quarrelling again. It wasn’t the first time since the physical degradations had begun and it was certainly not the last time…Unfortunately.
They were in the living room with the others, all of them. Willow entered the room, saw the pleading looks Tara and Xander were giving her then listened.
"Faith! They aren’t a threat…you.."
"They had data that could help us, Iceberg. I shook them a little but they’re still there to tell the tale."
"It’s not the first time! You have plundered every place that held books in this part of California. No matter who detained the manuscripts, you stole them. This isn’t how it should work…"
"I agree. This isn’t how it should! But we haven’t the time to listen to morality or follow your fucking code of honour. So, forget the crap. You won’t convince me. I just do what I have to."
"What you have to…"
Willow closed her eyes. She knew what would follow, Naomi would remind Faith of what the real duties of a slayer were, then, Faith would ask her if she had seen any evil creature crossing Sunnydale lately...etc…etc…Willow had decided not to enter the discussion…with Tara, Xander and Anya.
In the last week, three factions had appeared in the now extended gang. Willow, Xander and their girlfriends were part of the "Harmonists", a nickname that had no link with their former High School nemesis, but was related to the fact that they tried to calm down the others when it was important to. They wanted Buffy back but knew that they didn’t need fights to achieve their goal.
The second faction was what they had called "The Brunettes". Faith, Andrea and Dawn were part of it…Spike also even if he didn’t fit with the nickname. Andrea and Dawn were acting exactly like Faith, positive thinking and research of data even if they needed to steal it. The "Harmonists" found nothing to complain about it but, they weren’t that objective.
The last faction was the "Watchers". At first, Naomi and Wesley were helping them, only arguing with Faith when they thought she had gone too far. Willow and the others had thought sometimes that listening to them wasn’t a bad idea as they were more objective than anyone else. Then, they still helped but came with something highly disturbing a few days before…and no one liked it.
Willow opened her eyes. She had noticed the word spell in Naomi’s voice and she knew she was speaking about it with Faith once more. Boy, this girl didn’t really know when to stop. She could see anger rose in Faith just by looking at her face.
"No…way…Iceberg."
"Faith, I know it’s hard to hear but…we haven’t found a single thing. The library of the Council is the biggest in the world and they have looked in every book and I frankly doubt that the ones you’ve just brought will help us either. You have to accept it, Faith. Buffy is gone, we can’t do anything against it."
Faith clenched her teeth but replied:
"There is still time and we haven’t checked everything. I won’t let you give B’s body to that bitch. Got it?"
"No, there is no more time. According to my calculations, the first girl would die in two days. As Catherine is in the slayer’s body, it would take longer. You can’t be that selfish, Faith. Let me do the spell."
"You…will…not…fix…her fucking soul in B’s body."
"Faith, you’re in denial…"
Naomi stopped. Faith was only two feet away now and was looking at her angrily. She knew that if she added a word right now, she would meet Faith’s punch. She had no doubts that she wouldn’t deliver a lethal hit but still, she didn’t want to experience that.
"The body is B’s, not Catherine’s. And don’t give me the bullshit with the waste of a living being. All you want is a slayer to control, even if it isn’t the real slayer’s soul. Now, listen to me, Iceberg Naomi the bitch, you want to perform the spell without my permission? Here is my answer: Over my dead body…Or yours."
"Faith…I understand your…"
"You understand nothing, Wes! I thought you were better than that."
"Faith!"
"Shut up, Wes!"
Wesley didn’t speak anymore. He knew that it would bring nothing. Then, Faith added:
"I don’t want to hear anything about this shit anymore. We’ll discuss it when the time will come, not before…"
Faith took her jacket that was on the sofa then moved to the front door.
"…but I don’t think I would have changed my mind. Now, I have to go. Some vamps to slay."
After having heard Faith slam the door, an awkward silence reined in the living room of the Summers House. Naomi was still presenting her back to the Scoobies and didn’t dare to face them. She knew hostile glares and perhaps extremely harsh remarks would welcome her. Still, she had to speak to them, to tell them what was her point.
She slowly turned her head to begin the conversation but didn’t have the time to say anything as she received a liquid on her face, a soda according to the taste. She closed her eyes to clean them then look at the person who had just thrown the soda on her. She wasn’t surprised to see Dawn standing in front of her, her empty glass still in her hand. Her eyes were full of anger and…disgust. Without saying a word, without even a gesture, she moved away and went downstairs, probably checking on the girls as it was her turn to watch them.
She had just the time to clean her face completely when she noticed that someone else was standing in front of her, someone with dark boots…Expecting everything from more soda to a punch on her jaw, she lifted her head up to meet Andrea’s eyes that matched the anger and the disgust she had seen in Faith’s and Dawn’s.
"Do you realize you’re a lucky bitch?" her voice was harsh and full of contained anger.
Naomi didn’t answer, she just looked at Andrea, proudly.
"If it had been me instead of Faith, I would have smashed your pretty face on the wall like the crapy worm you are…you should thank jail for still having your teeth."
"Jail?"
"Yep, jail. A place where you learn to keep your hands in your pockets when you so want to beat the hell out of a fucking trash like you. If you guys need me, I’ll be upstairs." And Andrea followed Dawn in the first floor.
Finishing her previous move, Naomi was facing the others and they didn’t seem glad at all. Only Wesley seemed to support her.
"OK, before you shoot or cut my face off, let me explain my point of view…Please!"
They didn’t say a word but didn’t move either. So, Naomi took it like a silent agreement and spoke:
"I don’t want you to lose Buffy, I don’t want you to lose your friend. I’m just realistic. The chances to find a way to bring Buffy’s soul back before the degradation is completed are very limited at best. I agree to wait until the last moment but I don’t want to come with the idea at that time. We all have at least to think about this possibility. I know I could seem cold to you but... "
Naomi made a stop, searching for her words. They hadn’t moved and were still listening. At least, they would think about it and that was a bonus.
"Look! If things continue in that way, we’ll lose both Buffy and Catherine…and don’t forget the other victims. I know you don’t like the Victorian girls and it’s quite normal, they stole your friend’s body but they are victims and might deserve a second chance, don’t you think? We have a spell that could fix the souls in their bodies so my thought is that if we cannot succeed in bringing the real souls back in their bodies, we should fix them. It’s harsh and unfair, I know, but refusing to do it is like murder to me. We have a chance to save three lives, even if they normally don’t belong here, and if we don’t, we’ll let them die. Could you live with such a weight on your mind? I couldn’t! I hope you would understand. Faith, Andrea and Dawn are too focused on their feelings for Buffy to be objective. You too but at least you’ve listened to me and that’s a proof that you can understand me."
An oppressive silence followed. Naomi couldn’t read what the others were thinking but she knew that her point of view was logical. Then she heard Spike’s reply.
"Rot!"
"Excuse-me?"
"They died a century ago, Buffy is still alive. Their time on this bloody planet is over, Buffy’s isn’t. They were innocent back then, they aren’t anymore! Even if they don’t remember it, they agreed to help Lucius when they were in the wind with him. So, my opinion is: if their current bodies die, let them rot with it."
Naomi smirked before answering:
"You’re in denial, Spike, like the 'brunettes'. Your feelings for Buffy are blinding you…or you would prefer to have a slayer out of your game. Who knows?"
Spike slowly approached the woman who didn’t move, even if she was a bit scared. Spike could see it.
"Oh yes, I’m a vampire, a monster…and it’s true. I am. But I care about Buffy and Lil’ bit. It kills me to say it but it’s true. I’m not in denial, Iceberg. Do you want to know why I follow Darkie’s lead?"
"Oh yes, I’m curious to hear it."
"I follow her lead because she has the 'Eyes of the Dragon'."
The Outcast was exhausted. Since he had come back into the wind, he hadn’t had a minute to relax. Damn slayer. No, damn slayers. If he had known…
The blond one, the one whose body hosted Catherine now, she was as insupportable as the dark hair one, the one who had probably killed the vampire he had become. It was fortunate for him that he had planned such a possibility and kept his soul in the orb. That and the fact that he didn’t want to take the risk of facing another Lucius a hundred years later.
To come back to the blond slayer, Lucius hadn’t expected that she would lead a rebellion against him inside the wind itself. If his two first victims hadn’t helped him, he would have been expelled from his haven and probably end in Hell. Now, they were continually fighting, her trying to expel him, him trying to remain in the wind.
Buffy knew that he couldn’t hurt them badly, he needed them, needed their energy, their protection to face the century to come. That gave her a huge advantage on him. But she also knew that their bodies were getting weaker and weaker, minute by minute. Should her allies die, she would be alone and hopeless. Time was running on his side. All he had to do is to hold his positions.
Buffy would probably try something. She had no other choices if she wanted to win…And Lucius wondered what would be her next plan.
"The 'Eyes of the Dragon'? What are you talking about?"
"Sounds like a series Z movie."
Spike glanced at Xander, angrily. The young man raised his hands and kept his mouth closed. It wasn’t laughing time. Then, the vampire looked at the female watcher again.
"Have you seen the Faith’s determination? You can feel it just by looking into her eyes."
Spike waited; taking his time to verify that everyone was nodding to him.
"I’ve only seen that look once before. It was in a statue, in China."
"A statue! To quote Faith, I’d say that it’s bullshit, Spike."
"It’s no bullshit, Iceberg. The statue represented a warrior who had fought the Mongols who had kidnapped his soul mate. He was alone against a whole troop and he beat them, he found her lover."
"It’s a legend, Spike, just a tale. And I still don’t see your point here."
"Don’t you know that legends have their part of truth? Hell, I’m a legend myself, aren’t I? Anyway! I asked a farmer what the text written below the statue meant, I don’t remember the guy’s name but it was clearly said that he had the "Eyes of the Dragon". Do you know a single thing about Dragons, Iceberg?"
"Dragons are present in lots of mythologies, Spike. I must say that I don’t know Asian myths that well."
"The dragon is one of the most important figures in China. They must be dino freaks guys, these Chinese. The farmer told me the story I’m gonna tell you now. It’s not difficult to understand, even the light brain, who liked series Z movies should understand."
"Hey!" Ignoring Xander’s reply, Spike continued:
"When the dragon loses its most precious possession, it begins to search it and nothing, no one can stop the dragon to find it back. It crushes, destroys anything, any one that stands in its way…If someone hurts someone who is loved by a dragon, it kills him in a second. Nothing, no one can calm its rage. The legend says that when someone reaches the same level of determination than its to find back his most precious possession, the dragon gives its strength to that someone and nothing, no one will stop him…or her in this case. Faith has the "Eyes of the Dragon" and she is ready to defy anyone, anything to have Buffy back. Even death itself if she has to. I strongly believe she’ll succeed and that’s why I follow her lead."
"I…I...this is."
"You don’t know any of us, Iceberg! So, before trying to shrink us, to convince us to agree with your opinion, start to understand what we are capable of…what Faith is capable of. Now, I think we have lost enough time so move your butts and go on research mode."
And to Spike’s satisfaction, they all obliged.
Faith looked at the Buffy Hazel she had in her hand. A single rose for a very important person. A single rose, as promised to her.
She had only met a neonate vampire during her patrol and that hadn’t pleased her. After her "conversation" with Naomi, she had needed some action that unfortunately she hadn’t had. Now, she was entering the last cemetery on her list. She quickly scanned the place. There was no sign of any neither demonic nor vampiric presence. The end of the night would be calm…that was too bad. But she was glad also. She didn’t want to see a vampire spoil this moment. When she was absolutely certain that she was alone, she walked to a grave and knelt in front of it, in front of the grave of Joyce Summers.
She had come to see Buffy’s mom every night since they had beaten the Outcast. She had needed it back then, had needed a person who could understand her, could guide her, even if she wasn’t really there. Mrs S. had always cared about her. She was the only choice she had.
The first night, the only words that had escaped her lips were "I’m sorry". She had been unable to add something. It was the first time she had come to her grave and felt guilty in front of the resting-place of such a great woman. Since Buffy and her had become a couple, the dark slayer had thought to come here more than once but had never found the courage to face her until that night.
The following night, she had felt neither ashamed, nor guilty, as if Joyce’s presence had had a calming effect on her. That night and the nights after, she had babbled about Buffy and how much she loved her, about the search of a way to bring her back. It was a kind of briefing Faith absolutely wanted to give to Joyce. It was also here that her determination had reached such a level.
Indeed, in Faith’s mind, there were no doubts. She’d find Buffy back. The hesitations, fears that had handicapped her the first days were gone, or rather kept in the depth of her head. She didn’t want to think about it, didn’t think about it. Her determination and faith in herself had grown here, thanks to Mrs S.
Faith showed the rose in the light of the moon and began to speak.
"Hey Mrs S. See, I’ve brought one of the roses I talked about. The ones someone made for B, at my request. I know, it’s been two days since I told you about them, but they don’t come from this state so, well, it takes time. They’re magnificent, aren’t they? The colour of B’s eyes. Each time I look at these flowers, it’s as if I can feel her. I know she’s waiting for me and I’ll find her."
She laid the rose on the grave and continued.
"Tonight has been a tough one. I found three other books that could help us. You know, the ancient type of books, all dirty, dusty and that smells like a rat. The guys are deciphering it and I hope they’ll find something. I had a fight with Iceberg too...sorry, Naomi...yeah, I know, you don’t like when I call her Iceberg but, hell, I don’t like the girl. She is like a snake, you know, beautiful in the outside but cold in the inside. She came back with her morals and all the fucking shit…Don’t be selfish, Faith…Buffy won’t come back, you have to accept it, Faith…and all the crap. She really got on my nerves…BUT…you’ll be proud of me...I didn’t knocked her out…I really wanted to but, I stayed the mistress of my nerves…B will be proud too…"
Faith stopped; she had heard something…someone was coming. Who was it? A friend, an enemy?
"Who the fuck is there?"
Andrea was sitting in the room where the three girls were laying, looking at Dawn whose head was on her lap. The relaxed breathing she could easily see in the moves of the young girl’s chest, confirmed that she was asleep. The younger Summers had been hard to calm down after the “Naomi affair”. Just by thinking about the correctly nicknamed Iceberg, Andrea felt her own anger rise. How could the watcher propose them to give up any chance to save Buffy?
Andrea’s hands were in fist position now. She didn’t know how she had been able to keep her hands down, how she had prevented herself to break every bone of the British bitch but she had…and part of her was very proud of it. A month before she would have cut the girl’s ears in order to make her look like Mr Spock the second the proposal would have left her mouth.
Thinking of it, she wondered why she had remained that calm back then. The answer wasn’t difficult to find but she had never thought that Laura’s teachings would be that useful. Now that she thought about it, she noticed that since the Egyptian girl had come in her life, only a month before, she had changed. At first, she had thought that keeping the woman with her would be fun, they were both a little broken emotionally, they needed something or someone to erase the bad things in their minds. Besides, Laura needed to learn how life could be fun to live.
Laura had taught her how to calm down. Her meditation exercises she forced herself to practice every day were keeping her focused, preventing her to lose herself in anger, keeping her internal rage under control. In fact, thinking about it made her realise that they completed each other. Laura was the good girl, raised in a cocoon with a strict education that gave her a self balance that Andrea envied sometimes. On the other had, she was the wild child, the street girl who knew how to have short time fun but had a lack of education and…Well, no real self balance.
She could teach Laura how to enjoy life while she could learn from the other girl how not to let her feelings guide her but, on the contrary, control them. Yes, they completed each other, she was the friend she needed. Friend? It was the first time she really thought about Laura in that way but, yes, it was true, she was her friend. She had taken an important place in her life, even more important that Eona’s. The native American was nice and all but, Andrea had never considered her as a friend like she was with Laura right now. She cared about her, was worried about her. How had her appointment gone? Did the demon she was going to speak to have any useful information. She swore that if the demon hurt her…
Dawn mumbled in her sleep, taking Andrea out of her reverie. The brunette slayer smiled a little, seeing the younger girl sleeping, she was so damn cute. She gently took her head in her hands, moved a little before taking Dawn in her arms and going towards her bedroom. The three women wouldn’t move before a long time, Dawn didn’t need to guard them any longer.
When she reached Dawn’s bedroom, she carefully put her in her bed, paying attention to not waking her. She liked Dawn, loved her like a sister, loved her as much as Faith and Buffy. Faith and Buffy, she was beginning to accept their love, the fact that they were girlfriends. It still hurt but she was accepting it. In fact, the love she had for Buffy was transforming itself in a sisterhood love, yes, she thought more and more about doing sisterly things with Buffy, Dawn and Faith. Before her return to Sunnydale, the thoughts she had about Buffy were related to vengeance or sex…people evolved, feelings also. Still, she didn’t know how she would react when the two of them would be together again, when they would act like girlfriends with smoochies and groping and…Yep, it still hurt but less than before.
She looked at her watch. It was patrolling time. Normally, she would have had to patrol this night but Faith had been quicker and she didn’t blame her after what Naomi told her, she had needed fresh air and slayer action to calm down…No, she would blame her so, she would patrol the next two nights instead of reading books. Like Faith, she didn’t like it at all. She felt so useless with a book in her hands. Still, they had to find a way to bring Buffy back and, presently, nothing would please her more.
With a last look at Dawn, Andrea left the room and began moving downstairs, to the living room. Then, her mobile rang, showing Laura’s number. Could she have some news?
“I repeat, who the fuck is there and you’d better answer. I’m not in the mood.”
“Faith! It’s just me.”
Faith recognized the voice instantly and relaxed while Willow was approaching her. The red head had her eyes on Joyce’s grave and signed herself in front of it. Faith looked also to the grave and they spent the next minute contemplating it. Faith broke the silence and asked.
“So, Dawn told you.”
“This morning! She said that you come to her mum’s grave every night to brief her. So, I thought that I might take my chance and see you here.”
“Well, here am I. Wanna sit?”
Willow nodded and sat next to Faith. They were still facing the grave as if they would like Joyce to attend the talk.
“So, what do you want to talk about? Not Naomi I hope.”
“No, don’t worry. We aren’t even thinking about her proposal…she has some point though but…anyway…Faith, I need your help.”
The dark slayer could hear Willow’s voice breaking while she was saying the last words. She put her hand on the witch’s shoulder and replied: “What for, Will?”
“I…I’m lost. I…I know I’m gonna hurt you but, sometimes I wondered if we’d find her…I…I don’t want to lose her again, Faith. She is my best friend, the one I can talk to but…”
“We’ll find her!”
“I know you’re sure of it, Faith. So are Andrea, Dawn and even Spike but, I’m not as strong willed as you are…Sometimes I doubt and it’s killing me inside because I feel like I’m betraying Buffy…I need you to give me some of your strength, Faith. I need you to give me some of your determination…I need you to give me hope that doesn’t disappear twice a week.”
Faith saw Willow bow her head, ashamed, tears were falling from her cheeks now.
“Will, look at me.” The dark slayer waited until the witch obeyed before continuing.
“I won’t bullshit you, I haven’t had a prophetic dream, I haven’t consult a seer or talked to Queen C, I haven’t a damn thing to prove you that she’ll be back. All I can say to you is that I know we’ll make it, I know we’ll find her and get her back. It’s more that an intuition, it’s in my guts, my blood, call it slayer bond or whatever you want, I just know it. Sometimes, I even feel her, as she was looking at me, guiding me. I don’t need anything else to convince me, Will, I just know…so, I can’t give you the strength you want if you don’t believe in it. And you’re wrong, you’re strong…You are the one who brought her back from death.”
“It was different, Faith. I had plenty of spells or rituals that could help me at that time. All I had to do is to choose the good one…so, it was easy to keep faith in it. Now, we have nothing, really. Lots of books but nothing in them, not a single clue and that’s what I find difficult to bear…to have nothing to…”
Faith interrupted Willow.
“We have a goal, Will. Finding Buffy. If we keep this goal in mind, we’ll find a little something that would lead us to a bigger something that would lead us to B. We won’t succeed in bringing her back if you give up, Will. I need you to trust me, to believe in me, in her. I know it’s a huge request but…”
“I trust you, Faith. You know that.”
The smile Willow had at that time proved that she meant it and it meant a lot to Faith too.
“Then, what are you complaining for?” said the dark slayer with a wink that made Willow smirk before replying:
“You know, for a non talkative girl, you’re very good at comforting people.”
“Don’t tell anyone else, it’s bad for the tough girl image.”
Willow smiled a little. She felt better. Faith had comforted her. It was amazing how she could improve someone determination just by being the example to follow. Willow wondered how she could seem so full of energy too. Since Buffy’s disappearance, the dark slayer had barely eaten, had almost never slept too. She had marks in her face that highlighted this fact but she didn’t seem tired at all, on the contrary, every new day, energy seemed to shine out of her body and Willow knew it was because of her determination…The “Eyes of the Dragon” as Spike called it. Willow took a deep breath before saying something that brought her a new perspective further to what Faith had just told her.
“I…I might have a little something then. It has nothing to do with bringing Buffy back but…Tara and I have found a way to slow the physical degradation down.”
“Really? That’s wicked! How long?”
“We could add a whole week to Naomi’s calculations. It’s a freezing spell that would place the girls into some kind of lethargy, slowing down the atomic functions of their bodies.”
“See, that’s a little something!”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t help us with the ‘Bringing Buffy Back’ thing.”
“Not sure!”
Both women jumped when they heard Andrea’s voice. Faith’s sister smirked witnessing it but regained her seriousness quickly to add.
“I might have a little something too…”
There was no night, no day into the wind. Just the white, everywhere. Rest was something to have when you were feeling the need and in the current situation, it was something really delicate. Who knew what the Outcast could try if he surprised them asleep?
Asleep? Was it the correct designation? They weren’t closing their eyes, were standing up when they rested, in fact, they weren’t really moving in this place. Everything was ruled by winds you have to learn to control to really go from one place to another.
Buffy could hear her companion taking their rest. She knew also that the Outcast forces were doing the same. The last battle had been exhausting and she knew that their opponents would launch an attack as soon as they would feel better. It was their game, to harass them, prevent them to have some strength back. They knew that it was a question of time before their bodies would die.
Thinking about her body automatically reminded her Faith, her lover. She missed the contacts they usually exchanged, missed the feeling of her presence near her body. It had been days since she had last felt it but she understood it. Her girlfriend was probably too busy looking for a way to bring her back. Her conviction that Faith would find her was still intact. It was as if her mind knew something that her brain couldn’t spot, just feel. It was unexplainable but still, Buffy loved the feeling, loved the conviction it gave her.
She quickly regained her composure. Even if she so loved thinking about her Faith, it wasn’t neither the time, nor the place. They were in the middle of a war and she intended to gain it before Faith’s arrival…And she might have an idea about how to defeat Lucius…Once and for all.
Willow was following the “twins” through the alleys of the cemetery. She could notice that Faith was impatient. When Andrea had told her that she had a “little something”, hope had been back in her. Could Faith be right? Could the little news she had given to Faith effectively lead them to a way to find Buffy? Then, when they had asked what was this little something, Andrea had just said that they first had to meet someone. Of course, Faith had tried to convince her to speak first but she didn’t succeed in it.
“I suppose, we’ll meet the mysterious L.”
“Yes, Sis, we are.” Andrea stopped then, she seemed lost in her thoughts. She turned her head towards Faith and said:
“Faith! I…”
Faith noticed that her sister had used her full name, proof that she was dead serious.
“…please, don’t freak out when you’ll see her.”
“So, it’s a she? I don’t why I would freak out but...I promise.”
Andrea seemed a bit relieved when she replied: “Thanks! We’re almost there.”
They moved again and were walking to the back of the cemetery, a place where there was normally no grave. It was a place full of vegetation, where it was difficult to walk. They soon arrived at a clearing and stopped suddenly.
A woman was kneeing in front of two graves. They couldn’t see her face as she was presenting her back to them. She seemed in deep concentration, probably praying in memory of the deceased. The three women stayed silent a moment, they didn’t dare to move to interrupt the prayers the girl was reciting. Then, the girl stood up and faced them.
Willow couldn’t prevent herself to gasp. The woman in front of them was the exact copy of Narahi’ti, Nefer-tem’s wife. The only exception was a lock of golden hair that contrasted with her normally dark ones. It could only meant that they were meeting Laura, Narahi’ti’s daughter. The red witch had never met her, only heard of her trough Buffy and Faith’s tales of what had happened in the museum that day.
Willow wasn’t the only one to be taken aback. Faith herself wasn’t expecting that. She looked to her right where Andrea had been but her sister had already moved to place herself between Faith and the girl, as if she was ready to protect her from Faith who seemed a bit upset.
“What is she doing here, Andrea?”
“I told you, she’s my friend.”
“Andrea, she is the daughter of old enemies. She can…”
“She faced her father to save the world, Faith. If she hadn’t been there, we’ll be transformed in fucking ants now. Our damn day would consist in three activities, sleeping, eating and working and sometimes, a little fuck, but just to reproduce the specie. Don’t you think she has earned a little chance?”
Andrea was surprised by the harshness of her tone and Faith seemed to share her surprise. Still, Faith finally bowed her head, smiled at her sister and said:
“You’re right, sis. She earned it. Sorry!”
Andrea smiled back then looked at Willow to reassure her.
“L? Your speech.”
“Hi and OK.” The Egyptian girl seemed a bit confused and shy which helped the others to relax. Faith knew that they owed her big deal and regretted her previous reaction. After all, Laura had nothing to gain in facing her own father that day. She then remembered that she had undergone a ritual that had transformed her from a 8 years old child to the young woman who was facing them now. She had probably had difficulties to deal with her new life.
“You…you won’t find anything useful in books. There is none on this subject. My father had a huge library. You can easily realise the amount of books he had gathered during the millenniums. I’ve met the librarian today. He liked me when I was a kid and now, that I haven’t access to the library anymore, I asked his help. When I was finished, he said that this knowledge has been lost a long time ago and couldn’t be find in books.”
“Great! Books are useless! And that’s your fucking news?”
“No, if you let me finish without cutting me, you’ll see that there is more, rude girl.”
Woah. The girl could bite. Faith could easily notice who had taught her to give nicknames to people when they’re upsetting the lecturer…Only, with Andrea, she would have received something less gentle than “rude girl”.
“What we have to do, is find someone to help us. Someone who has this knowledge.”
“But, you’ve just said that it had been lost ages ago.”
“Yes, Willow, on Earth, it has been lost but some beings don’t live here anymore.”
Willow and Faith remained speechless for a few seconds. Not on Earth? What could it mean? The witch was the first to speak.
"Are you suggesting that we have to go to another dimension or something?"
Laura smiled before answering, it was the typical reaction she was expecting from a girl like Willow.
"Or something, yes. Do you know who the Pythie was?"
Willow smiled too. Laura was playing in the same register than hers and she liked it, to reply to questions she had the answers of. It changed from the last weeks. So, she answered Laura while Faith was listening to them, a little bit frustrated. Nonetheless, she knew that it was important for their goal, to find her B.
"She was an oracle who lived in Delphi, in Greece before the Roman invasion."
"Exactly! She was and still is the most powerful living oracle. If someone knows a way to find and help Buffy, it’s her."
"OK, OK. I follow you, "L"….do you mind if I call you L too, I haven’t found another name for you yet so, I’m borrowing my sister’s."
"NO, shoot F."
Faith grinned a little. She began to understand why this girl had become a friend of Andrea so quickly. She was cute, intelligent, funny and had temper…she wondered briefly where the relationship between the two girls would go but quickly went back to the subject.
"Well, now, I know who you would like to ask questions to but, I still don’t get where she is now and how we’re gonna find your PT?"
"When Romans conquered Greece, she stayed a while but soon realised that her time on Earth was finished. At that moment, the Pythie decided to leave Delphi and disappeared from the world of the living. But she didn’t want to let the helpless without a guide. So, she vanished in a pocket realm where she listens to the few who still know her and answers the requests of those she judges worthy."
"What the fuck is a pocket realm?"
"Here is the best description I can give you. It’s a kind of secret place that exists between dimensions."
"And how do we go there?"
"Concentration, prayer and meditation, nothing else is needed. We cannot go to see the Pythie. She is the one that allows people in her realm. She is the one who brings them there. It is as if your mind wander to her realm while you body is still on Earth."
"Remind me of something and it isn’t something good. But we haven’t the choice. So, all I have to do is sit, pray and hope she’ll grant me a fucking interview, am I wrong?"
"No, you got it."
Faith thought about it a little. Concentration wasn’t something she was used to but she would do and would succeed if anything for her B.
"Ok, let’s go then." And in front of three astonished girls, Faith sat, crossed her legs and closed her eyes.
"Faith, not here. Let’s go back home to…"
Without even opening her eyes, Faith replied: "No, Will. No time to lose. You, go home and do your freezing spell or whatever you called it. And explain all of this to the others."
"But, sis. You’re in the middle of a cemetery. We don’t know how long it would take for you to see the Pythie…Vamps won’t waste an opportunity to taste a slayer."
"Then, bodyguard me! Now, go way or stay here but shut the fuck up. I need silence."
Laura approached Faith and said: "Just a word, Faith. You can only meet the Pythie once in a lifetime and ask her one question. So, don’t waste it."
"I won’t, trust me. Now, get the hell out of here!"
Andrea, Willow and Laura exchanged a look then, without any other word, Willow turned around and walked away.
Seeing it, Andrea looked to Laura again. The Egyptian girl just nodded, understanding the silent request of her friend and ran to join Willow.
"Willow, wait, I’m coming with you!"
Andrea saw the two girls disappeared in the woods, looked back at her sister who seemed so calm now and said before sitting.
"I hope you know what you’re doing, sis…And I won’t let anyone hurt you while you’d be gone."
Buffy let her senses wander the place as she always did before a battle. It was amazing how quickly she had got used to her new environment. Of course, living in a world where the white colour was so bright that you couldn’t see anything helped a lot when you have to focus on your other senses. But it wasn’t only that. She could also feel the emotions of the others, and that was a big plus. No secrets, no hidden grief or thought. Everything was open to the others and that strengthen the trust you could have on your companions.
She was also capable of sensing the winds and that was important too because it was the only way to move. She could even create a wind and use it as a weapon against the Outcast and his allies. Thinking about the Outcast helped Buffy to refocus on the present situation.
Elisabeth and Alyson were at her side, the latter, on her left, the former on her right. They were both ready and determinate and Buffy knew that their help would be precious. They had faith (Buffy smirked, she used that word a lot lately…God she missed her lover) in Buffy’s plan. Today, they would vanquish Lucius and sent him into hell where he would finally pay for his crimes.
Lucius! She could feel him too. He was in the other side of the battlefield. She could sense him in all his arrogance. He was so self-confident, so proud of what he had become…just by sensing him, Buffy felt tainted, dirty but soon, he would lose his confidence, soon, he would beg for his soul and Buffy would be too glad to refute it to him. Yes, today would see Lucius defeated and rightfully condemned.
"Get ready, girls…the party is about to begin."
Willow and Laura were running towards the Summers House now. It was approximately 5 A.M. but they weren’t tired at all. For the first time since a long while, Willow felt good. Hope was back in her. They had a clue, they had a contact that could help them, they would find Buffy, she hadn’t any doubt anymore.
Laura could see a smile on Willow’s face. The little witch had seemed so lost when the girl had seen her a quarter before but now, she had another woman by her side and it felt good, so good to be the one who had helped bringing hope in her and she knew that she would see it in other eyes when they would enter the house. Suddenly, she heard a noise on her left and looked in that direction. Four vamps were moving out of a van where Laura knew, something horrible had happened. They quickly spotted the two women and walked into their direction with cruel smiles on their faces. The Egyptian girl looked at Willow who had noticed them too, she saw her close her eyes and beginning chanting a spell. Laura was aware that the witch had given up magic because she had a kind of addiction to hit. She couldn’t let her embrace the dark arts now, she had to stop her from doing it.
"Willow, don’t!"
"We have no slayer here. I have to."
"No, you don’t! I can handle it alone. You don’t need to do magic."
Willow was surprised by what Laura had just told her. How could she be able to stop them alone. Was she crazy or had she some hidden power. After all, she was Narahi’ti’s daughter…could she have inherited…She hadn’t the time to think about it further. The girl had already moved to meet the vampires, a move that surprised them too. Hesitant, they slowly approached Laura.
"Well, well, well. What are you doing out so late, my dear pussycat?"
"Look into my eyes, boys…see how dark they are?"
The vampires looked at Laura’s eyes. They didn’t know what to think about her. Was she a crazy lunatic? The vampire that had already talked to Laura, probably the leader of the pack replied:
"I see them…and soon, I’ll see life go away from them."
"You sure? See how gilded they have become? Now, you’re trapped, you can’t escape their luminescence, you can’t look away and you are beginning to feel their heat in your bodies as they are becoming brighter and brighter…like two little suns…you’re burning inside, consuming yourselves till you become ashes, dust…and now, I can say GAME OVER…"
Willow’s jaw was open. Laura could use the Sight of Râ too. She had witnessed the whole scene, had seen the vampires combust and transformed into ashes. Her eyes were glued on Laura who slowly turned her head towards her, a huge smile on her lips.
"I’ve always wanted to say it…I’ve won..yeepeee."
The girl literally jumped because of her joy, like a little girl who had just won a gift while visiting a circus or something. It was at that moment that the little 8 years old girl, she had been not so long ago, showed herself in this woman body…part of Laura’s mind was still young and fresh…Yes, fresh…refreshing, that’s exactly the image Willow had on her now…a refreshing girl with power and knowledge. A valuable ally in their war against evil.
Faith, eyes closed, continued her prayer to the Pythie, asking for her help, asking for her guidance, explaining to her the love she had for Buffy, how important she was for her. Explaining the unfairness of what she was experiencing and letting her know what she wanted her life with Buffy be.
She had begun almost two hours before and now, she was feeling the first rays of the sun on her face. Even if she had her eyes closed, the light was so intense that she was annoyed by it, loosing her concentration. She couldn’t prevent herself from opening her eyes. By doing it, Faith expected to see the graves of Laura’s parents. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to sit there…maybe…
Faith stopped, taken aback. She wasn’t in the cemetery anymore. She had made it. She was in a place that looked like Heaven to her. A long beach was on her left, a beach with palm trees, a coral blue sea and golden sand. There was a little river that arrived there. At the place where the river and the sea met, there was a temple. The temple was cut in half because of the river. In the middle of the temple, she could see a bridge that was also the only entry of the place. Shrugging, she climbed into it and entered the temple.
The bridge was transparent and Faith could see the water right below her. Sometimes, she could see dolphins jumping and almost touching the bridge. This scene seemed to improve the heavenly feeling the dark slayer was experiencing. The left side of the temple hadn’t any visible entry at Faith’s floor but seemed to be reachable in higher altitude. Faith deduced that it was probably the private part of the temple, where the Pythie lived. She walked to her right to the only entry visible and entered a path surrounded by sculptures of dolphins that, she remembered, were the symbols of the Pythie. She finally entered a huge room that was typically ancient Greek.
In the middle of the place, she saw a woman, wearing a long white robe. She was kneeing in front of hole wherein Faith could hear water dropping, water that was probably coming from the river. The woman raised her head and saluted Faith.
"Welcome to my realm, slayer. I heard your prayers. Ask your question and I’ll transmit it to the stars."
"Don’t like to waste, time huh? I like it. The question is simple. How could I bring my B back?"
The woman looked into Faith’s eye and answered in a comforting voice.
"To answer your question is simple too but you won’t like it."
Faith answered, anger and uncertainty were noticeable in her voice.
"What the fuck are you trying to say. Don’t tell me it’s not possible. I don’t buy it. There must be a way."
"Some events are meant to happen, Faith. You can’t change them."
"Liar! I know there is a way." Faith moved towards the Pythie but soon met an invisible wall, probably identical to the one Buffy had hit while fighting Nefer-tem.
"You have your answer, slayer. Now, go back to your world and let me in peace. I wish you a long life, Faith."
"Oh no, Ariel! You won’t get rid of me that easily. I won’t move till you tell me how to save B," and saying it, Faith crossed her arms and leaned against a pillar.
"You’re challenging my authority in my own realm? How dare you?"
"You can threaten me as long as you want, Ariel, I won’t move my butt from here."
"You’re a fool, Faith. I brought you here. I can easily thrown you out."
"Then what are you waiting for. Wanna kick my ass? Do it."
"Violence won’t be necessary. All I have to do is wave my hand and…"
To Faith’s satisfaction, the Pythie’s face betrayed her surprise. How could the slayer still be here while her gesture should have sent her back to her body? It was impossible, no one had ever done it before…the only possible explanation was that Faith’s will was stronger than her own magic which was impossible…still…The dark slayer was still there and, as the Pythie wasn’t a warrior, she couldn’t see how to expel her from her realm.
Naomi was waiting in the terminal of the airport of Los Angeles. She was as nervous as a student who would pass the final exams. The flight from London had just landed and she silently wished that she wouldn’t have to wait too long for the passenger she had come to pick up. Fortunately, she only had to wait a few seconds before seeing Giles coming with his bag. The older watcher smiled a little when he joined his pupil then, they moved out of the place, walking towards the car the woman had rent in Sunnydale. Naomi took the wheels and waited that Giles had clicked his belt before igniting the engine. Once they were on the road to Sunnydale, the senior watcher asked:
“Any news?”
“No! The freezing spell seems to work. We haven’t noticed any new signs of degradation. The witches have done a pretty good work in finding this spell. Still, we’ve only gained a week.”
“Lots of things can happen in a week, Naomi.”
“I know, Rupert! But if nothing changes, we’ll face the same dilemma than before.”
“Yes, I…we’ll talk about this if needed. For now, let’s concentrate on research.”
Naomi just nodded. She knew that for Giles too, it was a hot topic. He loved Buffy like his daughter and couldn’t stay objective about it.
“Faith?”
“She is still in the cemetery. Andrea and Spike are playing the bodyguards. When one of them is patrolling, the other sits down next to her just in case…”
“It’s been more than two days, Naomi.”
“51 hours, Rupert. Physically, she’s fine but her mind is somewhere else…according to Laura, she is with the Pythie now.”
“And, do you believe her?”
“Strangely enough, yes. She has a great occult knowledge and has the power of Râ with her but, she is still a little girl, a bit naïve and innocent in a way. I’m certain she is telling the truth and Wesley shares my point of view.”
“Good. I hope she’ll find something…we haven’t many options anymore.”
The rest of the journey was very silent and uncomfortable as both watchers were lost in unpleasant thoughts.
“Good morning, Ariel! Had nice dreams?”
The Pythie mumbled something. She crossed the temple to go to the bathroom to take a shower. She hoped that a little fresh water on her face would completely wake her up. It was at the exact moment she began to put her night robe off that she heard Faith say:
“I can see you, Ariel…As I told you yesterday, you have a pretty wicked butt.”
Grrr. This girl was such a pain in the as…neck. Two days, she had been there for only two days but the Pythie would give anything to get rid of her. At first, after having been surprised by Faith’s determination to stay here, she had thought that the slayer would quickly give up and return to Sunnydale…man, she had been so wrong…and the girl so annoying.
She followed her everywhere except to her private quarters that where protected by spells. Still, she had the ability to ruin any “consultations” by making dirty comments on guests. She had also the habit of making her feel uncomfortable like she had just done in the bathroom. She had always thought that it was impossible to see inside the bathroom from where Faith was standing, confined behind the invisible wall. But the brunette did manage to see her, she didn’t know how but she gave her some physical details that she couldn’t have invented so, she could see her…
The first day, she had thought that at least, the dark haired girl would let her sleep, her bedroom was far from the temple’s main room after all. She hadn’t guessed that Faith would have sang the whole night without interruption. She hadn’t slept that night…hadn’t slept the previous night too. This girl could be so annoying when she wanted to. And the worse was that she didn’t look tired at ALL. She hadn’t slept either but it wasn’t noticeable. She was as full of energy, of innuendoes, of everything that makes her such an annoyance as she was when she had entered her realm. If the Pythie had known it, she wouldn’t have invited her in.
The Pythie gave up her idea to shower, put her night robe on and moved out of the room.
“Changed your mind, Ariel?”
“Stop calling me, Ariel! I’m not a mermaid. It’s not because I live with dolphins that…Look! Do you see any flipper?” And saying it she showed her legs to the dark slayer.
“Nope! Only legs. Should show them more often. Men would become hard just by…”
“Could you stop doing that, please!”
“Stop doing what? Should be more clearer, Ariel.”
“Rhaaa, enough! Stop calling me Ariel, stop the singing...get out of my life, please!”
“Not before you told me how to bring B back. Wanna make a deal, Ariel whose ass is a man’s dream.”
“I said ENOUGH! How many times should I tell you that my answer won’t change! You asked your request, I answered it. My job is done, now, get the hell out of here.”
“What answer?”
“Huh? What…what do you mean?”
“You haven’t given me your fucking answer yet. All you said to me was that I won’t like the answer and after that, you told me a crap about events that should happen no matter how hard we try to prevent them or solve them. But you never told me that it was impossible to bring her back. Now, Ariel…you wanna me out, just fine with me. Just tell me it is impossible…You’re the Pyhtie, you cannot lie, I know it. So…”
The woman bowed her head and Faith knew she had her. If there had been no way to find Buffy’s soul and bring it back, she would have answered directly, without hesitation.
“I’m right, am I not?”
The Pythie raised her head and nodded.
“There might be a way. I’m not sure. Many have tried it, none succeeded.”
“Don’t care! Just tell me what to do.”
Buffy dodged the wave of winds the Outcast had just thrown. She didn’t know since when the battle had begun, probably days. She could feel that her allies were exhausted but it was part of the plan, they all knew it. Since the Outcast’s first strike, they had manly dodge the attacks or they had allowed themselves to be hit by the winds, following their lead without trying to block it. And it seemed to pay.
Indeed, by scanning the enemies lines, she could feel that The Outcast’s allies were more exhausted than hers. It required much more energy to control winds and used them as weapons than avoiding them. Even the Outcast seemed to have lost lots of power in this battle.
Buffy let her senses search for Esther and Alyson. They had managed to stay close to her as planned. Everything was getting well. Buffy grinned, wondering what would be the Outcast reaction when he would understand she had played with him. Then, she sent a telepathic message to her allies.
“Get ready girls, in a few minutes, we’ll make our move.”
Willow was glad that Giles was there. The last two days had been a complete nightmare. Of course, the watchers had been happy that the witches had found the freezing spell but they were also very disappointed that they hadn’t warned them about their discoveries before performing it. It was understandable, as Wesley had explained to them during a long and boring lecture.
After that, the gap between the Scoobies and the watchers had grown. The British had been very inquisitive about what they were doing as if they had been hiding something which hadn’t pleased the gang at all. The fact that neither Dawn, nor Andrea, nor Spike had accepted to talk to them hadn’t helped either. Now that Giles was there, maybe the situation would evolve for the good. She hoped.
The only good event of the last two days had been Laura. The girl had a gift to make everyone happy. She didn’t know if it was due to the drama that had occurred recently, but the Egyptian woman seemed so enthusiastic that just by seeing her, you could regain faith in what you were doing. Her good mood was so communicative…especially when she was with Andrea. In fact, even if she was kinda childish sometimes, a huge self-balance emanated from her and this balance seemed to greatly influence Faith’s sister. The funny thing was that sometimes, Laura let herself influenced by Andrea in doing “funny” stuff as the brunette called it.
Laura even succeeded in making the watchers laugh twice which was a kind of miracle in the current situation.
Anyway, now with Giles back, Willow was sure things would smoothen a little.
“Faith? Faith, please, answer me.”
Dawn was shaking Faith now. She was tired of waiting her return, worried about her. Andrea who was sitting there too grabbed the younger girl and hugged her while caressing her hair and whispering kind words.
“She can’t hear you, D. But she’s alright. Don’t need to worry. This oracle must be pretty hard to domesticate. But, you know sis, she can be very stubborn sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
Andrea smirked but didn’t answer. There was no need. Faith was stubborn, it was part of the Faith’s package and she wouldn’t change anything of it. Besides, she too could be very obstinate…most of the time. Andrea winked at Dawn, put her hand on the younger girl’s shoulder and said:
“She’ll be back, Dawn and your sister too. Do you really think that someone would be stupid enough to prevent Faith from finding B?”
“I guess not!”
“They better not!”
Faith’s voice surprised the two other brunettes. Without even thinking, Dawn had jumped in Faith’s arms, hugging her fiercely. The dark slayer returned the hug without hesitation then, pulled Dawn away and winked at her sister who just nodded.
“So, how was the Pythie? Anything new? Did you see Buffy?”
“A good looking bitch! Hell, yes! And unfortunately no but I will soon.”
“She didn’t make it easy, did she?”
“No, sis. But, let’s say that I managed to piss her off so much that she was finally too glad to tell me what I came for.”
“And? You know how to save Buffy?”
“Yes, Double M! I know how…” and saying it, Faith hugged the younger girl. She needed to comfort Buffy’s sister but, at the same time, she could hide her worried look…A look that Andrea didn’t miss. Noticing it, Faith’s eyes pleaded her not to ask the questions she surely had. Seeing Andrea’s nod, she gently pulled the girl away.
“Dawn? Do you know where sis parked her bike?”
“Yes, I came with her here.”
Following her sister’s intention, Andrea took the keys in her pocket and threw it to Dawn.
“Catch it, D.”
Dawn caught the keys and looked at Andrea, surprised before saying with a harsher tone.
“No, I’m staying. I’m no fool, I know you two want to be alone. I’m not going anywhere. If it has something to do with Buffy, I have to know.”
“OK, OK, Double M. You wanna know? Here is the story.”
Faith had just finished telling what she intended to do to the other brunettes. She looked at their faces and saw confusion and worry appear on their features. She knew that they would react like that but she was also certain that they would understand. She noticed that Andrea was clenching her teeth and looked everywhere but at her, behaviour Faith knew too well. She had used the same trick so many times, the ‘never look to someone you care about when you’re worried about him/her’ kind of attitude. Dawn’s eyes seemed to be empty, proof that she was in deep thinking process too. Finally, Andrea managed to look into her sister’s eyes.
"You’d need my bike, I presume?"
"I don’t have a jeep hidden in my pocket so, yes, if you don’t mind."
Andrea took her keys and handed them to Faith but instead of just giving them to her sister, she grabbed her hand and pulled her into a hug. This gesture surprised Faith but touched her at the same time. If having a sister felt so good, she would have found a demon earlier and fuck the emotional issues.
Andrea broke the hug and quickly wiped tears from her eyes before saying:
"So, what are you waiting for? Come one, you have stuff to do."
A small grin appeared on Faith’s face. She would have reacted the same way in Andrea’s position. She then turned towards Dawn who was still lost in deep thoughts but came back to Earth when she heard the dark slayer approaching her.
"Faith… I can’t…"
Faith silenced her with a finger in the younger girl’s mouth, before putting her arm around Buffy’s sister’s shoulders.
"No! Don’t think about it. Positive thinking, remember? I’ll be back…We’ll be back. No worry, OK?"
Dawn closed her eyes then opened them and just nodded.
"Actually, I’d need your help too, Double M."
"My help? What for?"
"It’s important, Dawn! A kind of undercover mission. I want you to keep an eye on the girls. Don’t leave the watchers alone with them. I don’t trust them. Don’t let them do their fucking spell."
Dawn’s eyes narrowed, showing her determination, when she answered Faith.
"I will!"
"Good, now, gotta go. Where is the bike, Sis?"
"Next to the entry, on the left."
"Thanks! See you, guys!"
"Faith, wait! What about the Gang? Don’t you think they should know before…"
"Tell them…later. I don’t want them trying to stop me. Be brave, Dawn. I’m counting on you."
Dawn shivered when Faith said that and continued while she saw the older brunette run away. ‘Be brave,’ it was the exact same things Buffy had said to her before sacrificing her life for her…but Buffy had been back, right? So, this shiver, was it a bad or a good sign?
In the meantime, Faith was already out of the cemetery. She quickly spotted the bike and sat on it, igniting the engine before leaving the place. What she hadn’t had the time to see was the dark vehicle that changed its course to follow her.
At the exact moment she felt The Outcast weakening, Buffy launched the final strike. She gathered all her strength in a stormy wind that she threw directly to Lucius. Usually, when they launched such a powerful wind towards their masters, the Outcast’s allies protected him with their own bodies (or it was what Buffy had guessed through the feelings she had received). Now, it was different, they were too exhausted to react on time and that was what Buffy had expected when she had built up her plan.
The wind hit Lucius and threw him away. In a single blow, Buffy had managed to halve the distance that was separating the Outcast from the limit of the eternal wind. Lucius hadn’t been able to stop or dodge it. His failure was also the result of hours of intense battle.
Lucius didn’t have the time to react. As soon as he had regained his balance, Esther had made her move. Taking advantage of one of the natural breezes that blew inside the eternal wind, she had approached their enemy and threw another terrific wind to him. Once again, he couldn’t dodge it and was taken away. He was now only a few feet away from the limit. The two traitorous souls were now aware of the dangerous situation their master was into and moved to protect him. Unfortunately for them, Buffy blocked their road, soon joined by Esther who hadn’t waited to see if her attack had successfully hit Lucius.
Lucius was disconcerted by what was happening. Of course, he had noticed that the slayer’s forces had mainly dodge their attacks since the beginning of the battle. He had understood that they were trying to spare their strength but he hadn’t expected them to strike as they were doing now. In fact, he had been too focused on the battle to think about such a possibility. Now, he was paying the price of his arrogance. But they hadn’t had him yet. He still could change the fate of this battle.
He regained composure, ready to gain the field he had lost back but felt suddenly another presence in front of him. The last ally of the slayer, Alyson. He had forgotten her. Trying to dodge the wind she was throwing to him, he jumped to his left but couldn’t avoid all of its strength. He felt himself trapped in the external part of the eternal wind. Slowly leaving its proximity and deriving in the labyrinth where the souls were directed towards Heaven or Hell…this time, he was really doomed.
They had lost Faith…they had lost her. If they had moved out of the Summers House a couple of seconds sooner, they would have stopped her before she drove away. Now, they were obliged to track her in the desert. Who knew where she was or what she was doing now? Willow cursed internally. Why the hell should bike being more designed for desert driving?
She looked then at Angel who was behind the wheels and remembered the events that had led them here.
An hour before, the vampire with a soul had come into the Summers House, looking for Faith. As they explained to him that she wasn’t there, he became really worried and they forced him to explain what happened which he did, quickly.
It seemed that Cordelia had had another vision that involved Faith. She had seen her in the desert, doing some kind of ritual that included blood. Her vision hadn’t ended well. The last scene had showed Faith’s body crashing in the depth of a black hole. She had also heard the words "Life Trappers" in her vision and they had quickly checked the terms in their library. The life trappers were demons and their goal was to create false and deadly rituals that finally led the victims in their master’s realm, a hell of eternal sufferings. In fact, the watchers already knew them. Understanding the gravity of the situation if Faith had already decided to perform such a ritual, they had quickly decided to find her as soon as possible. They had seen her leave the graveyard but hadn’t managed to stop her or even warn her of their presence, the hooter of the car was indeed broken.
And now, they had lost her and Willow was fidgeting in a car that seemed too small to contain all of them. All of them seemed worried. Tara, Wesley, Giles and Angel’s faces were betraying it…Willow didn’t feel well…a bad feeling was taking possession of her body. She then remembered the books Angel had talked about. The ones that explained what the Life Trappers are and decided to read them.
Andrea and Dawn were back in the Summers House and were surprised to see it almost empty. With the exception of the three Sleeping Beauties, only Naomi and Spike were present, waiting for them in the living room. As soon as they entered the room, Naomi jumped on them…almost literally.
"How could you let her do that?"
"Wowowo, Iceberg! We don’t know what you’re talking about so, let’s wait for the talking scene and go back to the flash back part."
Both Dawn and Spike smirked when they heard Andrea’s reply. Naomi didn’t seem to like it but, finally agreed and told them Angel’s arrival and the story he had told them. She said also that she had agreed to stay behind to watch the girls but also because she surely wasn’t the one who could convince Faith not to accomplish the ritual.
"I’ve just had the others on the phone. They have lost her. How could you let her do that?"
"Easy, Iceberg. She told us what she intended to do, explained the risks and said that nothing would make her change her mind."
"And you just accepted it? I thought you cared about her, Andrea. I should have known better, you’re just a demon after all."
Naomi didn’t see the hit coming. She saw Andrea’s fist moving to her jaw but felt relieved when she noticed that Spike had moved to prevent the girl from knocking her out…but she hadn’t expected to receive Dawn’s fist on her face. The hit made her fall to the ground. She quickly managed to stand up just to see Andrea and Spike looking with amazement at the younger brunette whose eyes were still showing pure anger.
"How dare you to doubt Andrea’s feelings for Faith? You are the cold stone one, not her. All that matters to you is your little person and the mighty Council. Even with Giles as leader, some disgusting habits remain. I’m telling you, Naomi. I don’t want to hear a single other word coming out of your mouth or I’ll seal it. We let Faith go cause she promised to come back with my sister in time. We trust her, something you couldn’t even know the meaning of. And you want to know why? Because you have to have a heart and a conscience to understand it."
They remained silent for a long minute. Andrea and Spike looking at Dawn with a respectful look while Naomi didn’t know what to say, completely taken aback by Dawn’s speech, Dawn who cut the silence suddenly.
"I’ll be upstairs with the girls." And she moved away, followed by Andrea who didn’t look at Naomi at all. Spike silently followed but stopped and locked his eyes on Naomi’s.
"A tip, keep your big mouth closed! Lil’bit seems fragile and all but when she’s pissed off, she can be really bad…even worse than her sister."
He didn’t wait for a reply and followed the brunettes in the stairs. He didn’t catch the exchange between them though, when Dawn said to Andrea:
"I hope that they won’t stop her."
"Don’t worry, D, they won’t!"
"How could you be so sure?"
Andrea smiled and replied: "I just know. Trust me!"
The car was heading towards the spark Tara had spotted a few minutes before. The spark had since grown and it was pretty clear now that they were driving to a camp fire…and all of them were hoping that it was Faith’s camp. The two witches had consulted the book Angel had given them an hour before. They had just finished the reading of the chapter dedicated to the "Life Trappers", stopping sometimes to tell the others what was in it.
When Angel had first talked about them, Willow hadn’t thought that these demons had created so many false rituals to capture the essence of their victims. They did though. And the worse thing is that they succeeded in making people believe these rituals were effective. When the red witch had looked at the amount of false rituals they had invented, it was amazing. So many trap for those who would do anything for power, money or…as it was Faith’s case…love. God, she so hoped this fire was Faith’s.
They could see the surroundings of the fire now and it seemed to prove that it was indeed the place Faith had chosen for the ritual. A bike identical to Andrea’s was parked near it and they could finally see someone sitting not far from it. Angel stopped the car and they all rushed towards the woman who was indeed Faith.
They were running towards her but stopped, horrified by what they saw. Faith was sitting in the middle of a red circle…in the middle of a blood circle made out of her own blood. Her wrists were cut open and the purple liquid was falling from them, making a red pool in front of the dark slayer who remained speechless and hadn’t moved since their arrival. Finally, Angel was the first one to shake his lethargy and moved. It was at that time that Faith spoke.
"Freeze, Soul Boy. If you move a step further, I stake you. I swear that if anybody tries to stop me, I’ll beat the crap out of him."
No one dared to move now. Faith’s voice had been calm but cold too and they all knew that she had meant every word that had left her lips. Clearing his throat, Giles said:
"Faith! I know it’s a difficult time for you and you know that I feel the same as you do. I love Buffy like my own child. But, the thing you’re trying to do now won’t lead you anywhere. See, Cordelia had a vision and in this vision, you died a horrible death. She heard the words "Life Trappers" in her vision and …"
"Stop the crap, G-man. I know about these sons of satanic bitches!"
"You…you know? How?"
"Ari…Pythie told me that this ritual could be one of their fucking traps but she wasn’t sure of it. According to her, it’s a fifty/fifty deal. So, I’m taking my chance."
Angel was the next one to speak.
"Faith! Cordelia had a vision, it means that you’re probably heading to the bad fifty part of your deal. Stop it, please. The chances of success are pretty grim. We’ll…"
Faith’s face remained free of emotion, she was still deeply concentrated.
"I thought you more than anyone would understand, Angel. Yes, I know my chances are not as high as if I was playing Russian roulette but the trick is that here I have a fucking chance to have B back…my only chance to have her back. The Oracle told me that there wasn’t any other way to find her. It’s this ritual or nothing! And I said you not to move your undead ass."
Angel stopped. He had tried to get closer but apparently failed. He didn’t say anything else. What would he have done in her place? Choosing to be careful, knowing that there was almost no chance of success…or trying the only chance that existed even if it could be lethal? The question was purely rhetorical…in Faith’s place, he would do the exact same thing.
The others were confronted to the same dilemma. On the one hand, they all knew that Faith wouldn’t change her mind and understood perfectly the dark slayer’s choice, but on the other hand, they couldn’t let her sacrifice her life for nothing. Cordelia’s vision was enough to convince the watchers that it was indeed a trap.
Suddenly, the earth began shaking. An earthquake? Now? Was it a coincidence? The two witches could feel that it had nothing accidental. They were struggling to maintain their balance. Faith didn’t move, she didn’t even seem to notice the earthquake. The next wave created a fissure that cut Faith from the others, as if the Earth itself wanted that no one stopped the ritual. Then, a huge hole appeared on Faith’s left. A dark hole with no visible light.
Stunned, they then saw horrified that Faith was standing up, her brown eyes wide open, showing an expression that could be compared to the one a child would have in front of the new toy he so wanted to have.
"Faith! No!"
Faith turned her head towards the red witch, a huge smile on her face.
"I can feel her, Will. She’s in there (pointing her index towards the hole). She’s in there."
Slowly, step by step, Faith walked to the hole, keeping this huge smile on her face, a smile of hope. Giles was more than horrified. He had no doubt that Faith would jump into the hole to search Buffy. They could prevent her from doing that. He looked at Tara and asked:
"Tara. You should stop her! We can’t move because of the fissure. You’re the only one that can stop her." Giles then quickly locked his gaze in Willow’s, trying to show her that he didn’t want her to try to do spells again. The young girl just nodded, showing him that she had understood.
Tara focused her mind on the spell she intended to use. This spell would knock Faith out, it was the only one she could use effectively in those circumstances.
"Oh Morpheus. I invoke your powers. Make my wish come true to spare an innocent being…Oh Morpheus, allow me to use your powers on dreams and sleep. Oh Morpheus, make this girl’s eyelids close and let her fall into your arms."
Tara blinked. Something was wrong. She couldn’t feel any connexion to the magical essence of all things. She felt as if all her magical skills had suddenly vanished with this connexion. She wasn’t a witch anymore, just a human being. It was a strange impression but it couldn’t mean only one thing. Something or someone was preventing her from doing spells.
"I can’t, Giles. Something …"
"I know, Tara. I felt it too…I don’t know what it is but it’s too strong for us. We…We can’t do anything for Faith."
Both witches could hear the tone of despair that had escaped Giles lips with his last statement. Wesley didn’t seem to know what to do either, he even stopped Angel from jumping above the fissure, a move the former watcher knew his associate couldn’t perform without falling into the depth of the planet.
They all saw Faith standing near the hole now. They saw her look at them with a sad smile, then she waved her hand.
"I’ll be back…with her." And saying it, she jumped into the hole without hearing the protests or the screams of her friends.
Buffy was exhausted but, damn, it was worth it. The Outcast had just completely vanished from the wind. She could feel him being taken away from their prison. He couldn’t avoid the PTB’s justice anymore and would pay for his crimes. Her allies shared her feelings. It had been a hard fight but, hell, no exhaustion could spoil the moment. Then, she felt it. A wave of energy, a feeling that overwhelmed her…
"Faith!"
Faith was falling into the dark hole. She couldn’t see anything, couldn’t hear anything but it didn’t scare her. All her senses were focused on the overwhelming feeling she was experiencing…the Buffy feeling. She didn’t care about anything anymore, didn’t even notice she was approaching the bottom of the hole and barely flinched when her body crashed on it with the crack of her bones breaking.
"Faith!"
Willow let herself fall to her knees, sobbing. Faith had just jumped into the hole and she hadn’t been able to stop her. She quickly felt the strong arms of her girlfriend pulling her into a hug but it didn’t comfort her at all. She cried during long minutes, knowing that the others were also lost into their own grief. When she recovered enough energy to speak, she asked Tara:
"Tara, can…can you feel her? Please, tell me she’s still alive!"
"I don’t know, honey…I don’t know! Somehow, something is preventing me of using magic here. I hope so, though. If someone is capable of surviving this mess, it’s Faith."
Willow buried her head in Tara’s shoulder. She didn’t want to stand up, didn’t want to leave her girlfriend, needed to stay in contact with her to weaken the pain she was having. She knew that she should follow Faith’s advice and thinking positive but, after Cordelia’s vision, she couldn’t avoid the negative ones. She then felt another presence and she didn’t have to turn her head to guess who it was.
"Giles?"
The older watcher replied with a voice that betrayed his emotion: "Yes, Willow?"
"Do…do you think that she…"
Willow didn’t add anything, she knew that Giles had understood her question and waited for the watcher’s answer. It took a few seconds for Giles to reply and Willow didn’t want to look at him, afraid of what she would see in his eyes. Willow could easily imagine him taking his spectacles in his hand to wash them with his handkerchief before putting them back on his nose.
"You know Willow, Faith is, well she is Faith. Stubborn, irritating…deeply in love with Buffy. And you know what the tale says: ‘there is nothing impossible for the one who’s guided by love’. We have to trust her…what other choice have we?"
Yes, what other choice had they? Slowly, Willow reluctantly pushed Tara to stand up, saw Wesley on the phone while Angel, head bowed headed towards his car…they had no choice except waiting and, with such a desperate mood, it wouldn’t be a happy time.
They were sensing her feelings and Buffy knew it, they couldn’t have missed the joy that had overwhelmed Buffy when she had felt her girlfriend’s presence. Faith had seemed so close at that moment. Now, she had completely disappeared. What had happened? Where did she go? Was she really closer than before?
She had no proof of it but Buffy was sure that Faith was very close, the feeling had been so different from the ones she had had when the dark slayer had been near her body. It had been intoxicating the last time, leaving Buffy completely in need to feel it again. It was as if Faith had just entered her body, giving her all her warmth, all the fire that defined her love for Buffy then, she had been taken away leaving Buffy empty and cold, starving for the Faith feeling again.
They were waiting for an explanation, so, Buffy told them the only thing that crossed her mind at that moment, the only thing she wanted to believe in, the only thing she, somehow, knew was true:
"Faith is here! Soon, we’ll be out of here."
Giles stopped in front of the house and sighed. The others had to be waiting for him, for the news he had received from the Spirit Guides. They had been very gentle with him this time but he would have preferred to see them ignore him instead of having the information he had asked…He wondered if the kindness of the Spirit Guides wasn’t related to a cruel sadistic joy they had seemed to have when they had answered him.
He pushed the front door and entered the place before going directly to the living room where they were all gathered. He quickly scanned the room and noticed the split Willow and Naomi had already talked about. On the left side of the room, the "brunettes", Dawn, Andrea, Spike and now Laura who wasn’t there when they had come back from the desert, she needed to get away from the bad vibrations as she had told him looking directly at Naomi. On the right side of the room, the two other watchers and in the middle, the others who tried to remain as objective as possible. Xander who had stormed out when he had heard that he wouldn’t accompany them to the desert seemed calmer now. Willow, Tara and Anya were sitting in the sofa and Angel was pacing. No one spoke but the pleading gazes he had received when he had entered the room were clearer than crystal. And as his own gaze didn’t belong to the optimistic party, they quickly deduced what they had told him. Still, he had to say it.
"They answered me…they said that the only thing Faith would meet in doing this ritual is death. I’m…I’m sorry!"
Giles had all the pain in the world to hide his tears. He loved Faith almost as much as Buffy and when he had witnessed the love the two slayers were sharing, he had really thought that together, they would win every battle their destinies would place on their road. He had been so wrong. So wrong.
"So, what are we going to…" Naomi was cut by a knife that flew in her direction to end in the wall, a few inches to her left. All heads turned towards the sender, Andrea, whose features remained calm.
"If I hear you talk about your spell again, I won’t miss you, Iceberg. Got it?"
"Andrea, please, we are in a situation…"
"I don’t want to hear it, Wes. Faith said that we have to wait for her to return and we will and you’d better not to try something silly or you’d regret it."
"Faith is gone, Andrea! You have to accept it."
"She is not, Iceberg. I would know if she were gone. I’m her, remember? Spike?"
"What Demonia?"
"Wanna slay a little?"
"Count me in!"
Giles saw Andrea and Spike moving to the exit. He couldn’t blame them. He didn’t want to see the other watchers perform the ritual even if his logic was telling him that it was the most reasonable thing to do. Logics didn’t mix with feelings and it was good. He wondered what his reaction would be like when the time would come to make a decision. He caught a glimpse of Andrea nodding to someone before leaving. He turned his head towards the person she had nodded to and saw Dawn and he couldn’t prevent a gasp.
In Dawn’s eyes he could see the same determination as in Andrea’s. It was as if Faith had given them all her will before leaving. Andrea wouldn’t be the only one the watchers would have to convince, Buffy’s sister didn’t seem ready to accept the proposal either.
"Well, I guess that now that Andrea is gone, we should be able to discuss the matter between grown ups."
"Don’t count on it, Iceberg. For now, no one will enter the room without being accompanied by either Andrea, Spike, Laura or me."
"Dawnie!"
"Sorry Willow. I love you guys and you know it but…I made a promise to Faith and I intend to keep my word. I trust you guys, it’s the watchers I don’t trust. Sorry Giles, it wasn’t directed to you! And as neither Andrea, nor Laura, nor Spike, nor me would speak to the British this week, I know for sure that they won’t be influenced by them by a way or another. Laura?"
The Egyptian girl nodded and followed Dawn to the stairs. Giles had seen tears in Dawn’s eyes. The young girl had hurt her friends, she knew it but her sense of duty seemed as high as the slayer’s ones and Giles felt a fatherly pride in seeing her defend her opinions like this. Still, the situation wouldn’t improve soon in this house. What would happen a week later?
Slowly, as if her brain needed time to reconnect with her body, Faith was waking up. It was strange though. She felt no pain, she seemed just a little bit dizzy but felt no pain at all. How could you crash on the ground after a fall from high altitude without feeling any kind of pain? Slowly, then, she checked her body and found out that there was nothing broken. She was free to do any move she wanted. How could it be possible? Knowing that thinking about a subject you have no clue about wouldn’t help her, she decided to stand up and analysed her surroundings.
She was in a kind of grotto. Torches were lighting the place. She was in the right corner, lying on a wooden bench. The first thing she noticed were the butterflies that were flying towards the only exit that she could see. A very sweet music played with a harp hit her ears. She didn’t like harps that much, too sickly for her taste.
Just before the exit, there was a sofa where a woman was laying. The woman was looking at her with a smile that showed her white teeth. If a toothpaste publicist could see her, he would directly hire her for a commercial, there was no doubt in Faith’s head.
The girl had long blond hair and wasn’t wearing many clothes. She had just a white low-cut dress that showed two arrogant and firms breasts. It was rather short, showing very attracting legs. The light of the torches added mystery to the girl. This girl offered an open invitation to her charms probably to impress her guests, to play with them and let them with a naïve smile on their lips. Every signal in Faith’s head shouted ‘Danger’ when she looked at the woman.
She walked in her direction, preventing herself to show any sign of nervousness. She stopped in front of her and asked:
"Where is she?"
The woman grinned then replied:
"You know, Faith! You’re a very unpredictable person. Generally, when people are in your position, they ask questions like "Who are you?" or "Where am I?". You, the only thing that seems to matter is ‘Where is my girlfriend?’."
"Well, they have their priorities, I have mine."
"Yes, I noticed. And you are very determinate too. In millenniums of existence, you’re only the second one I’ve seen who manages to succeed in doing the ritual. You’ve passed all the tests."
"Tests?"
"Convincing the Pythie to tell you the ritual was the first test. Then, we sent a vision to Miss Chase so, your friends would have to convince you to give it up but you didn’t listen to them. Then, the last test was the fall and the approach of death. Only the more determinate ones could enter here. Welcome in my realm, Faith."
"So you’re…"
"Yes, I have had many names through history, both male and female. Hela, Thanathos, Gehde, …etc…but usually, people just call me…"
"Death!… I know."
"So, you know who I am? Undoubtedly, the Pythie cannot hold her tongue."
"Well, let’s just say that she was kinda in a hurry to see me move my ass out of her temple. So, you’re really the big D?"
The blond woman smirked and replied:
"What were you expecting? A skeleton? An old man wearing a jedi robe and a scythe? Please, that’s so cliché!"
"Maybe! Look, it’s not that I’m complaining about the welcome party but what’s the deal now?"
A chair appeared from nowhere and Death showed it to Faith asking her to sit down.
"Faith! Listen carefully. If I was the careful and coward kind of girl, I’d have let you rotten where you crashed! You’re a very big issue you know."
"Let me guess, big D. Some of the Higher Powers don’t like seeing me messing with their unholy business?"
Death smiled before answering: "Something like that! Seriously, Faith, you’ve pissed off some very powerful entities that would be too happy if you’d die."
"What is keeping them for doing that? I thought they had great powers. I’m not afraid of these bastards. They can try to kill me, I know how to watch my back."
"I know you don’t fear them but as you’ve said, they are very mighty. Fortunately, some of them like you. Yes, don’t look so surprised, it’s true. See, some of the PTB think that it’s about time to adapt ourselves instead of following rules that are millenniums old. They see you as the living example of their point of view."
It was Faith’s turn to smirk. "That’s good to hear. So, you’re gonna help me or not?"
"You know I will otherwise you wouldn’t be here. I want them to change, I want new representations of myself to replace the clichés I talked about earlier. I want to be represented as I am, wearing up-to-date fashion, using new technologies. Geez, I’m just a guide, why do they keep wanting that humanity sees me as a cold blood killer?"
Faith crossed her arms on her chest looking bored: "Finished yet?"
"Yeah, yeah! I’m finished."
"Good! So, where is she?"
"You know, I’m beginning to understand why the Pythie so wanted you out."
"Sorry, we’ll get smooth and all later if you want as long as it didn’t involved gossips, hair brushes…etc…, now, I just don’t have time for it."
Both women grinned before Death continued.
"See the gallery behind me? There are only two exits, the first one leads to Heaven, the second one, well, I think you can guess where it leads to. The souls enter by this entry and, according to their deeds during their lives, they are attracted to one of these exits. Buffy is trapped in a circling wind somewhere in this labyrinth."
Faith looked at the entry once more. So, this was it. She had to enter the labyrinth, find Buffy and come back. It didn’t seem that difficult. The entry was large and Faith could see lights coming from torches lighting the place. It would be like entering the donjon or the secret entries of an old castle, something she was already used to. The only difference would be that instead of facing demons, this time, she would only have butterflies as companions, butterflies that hadn’t stopped entering the labyrinth while they had been talking. Which reminded Faith of a question she had had when she had awakened.
"So, big D. Before continuing, could you explain…"
Faith stopped. No, it couldn’t be. Her eyes widened while she was realizing it…Finally, her eyes still wide open, she turned her head towards Death and asked her:
"Don’t tell me my girlfriend has become a butterfly?"
Willow was climbing the stairs leading to the first floor of the Summers House. She was tired, lost, sad, she was feeling so many different feelings, all bad. The whole Scooby Gang had the same feelings. Xander hadn’t tried to lighten the mood as he usually did, Anya didn’t talked about money, she hadn’t wanted to which was a proof that she was also feeling real bad, even Tara didn’t know what to do.
And Giles? What about him? It was as if he was in a kind of other dimension or something. He hadn’t tried to engage the conversation with anyone since he had came back from his speech with the Spirit Guides. He was just sitting, lost in his thoughts, in a world far away from Sunnydale. Willow knew that he was thinking that he had lost Buffy once more, knew that the former watchers was also very sad about Faith who he had begun to accept as his daughter too.
Faith! It was strange. A few months ago, Willow wouldn’t have felt anything for Faith, except hatred and rejection…now, all had changed. She was in awe in font of what the brunette had become. A woman ready to give everything up for the sake of those she loved. She could clearly see now what Buffy was seeing in her, the gentlewoman hidden behind tough attitudes and rude expressions. Was Faith still alive? Part of her believed it but wasn’t it a subjective thought, more dictated by her heart than by her mind…Giles had said it: "The only thing she’ll meet would be death"…Faith knew it, knew that the chances weren’t high at all, still she tried her luck. God, the girl had balls.
Now, the situation was tensed. The core members of the Scooby Gang were confronted to a kind of cold war between the "Brunettes" and the "Watchers". Willow had been surprised that the leader of the brunette, Faith’s replacement hadn’t been Andrea or Spike but Dawn. She would never have never guessed that. Little Dawnie, leader of a rebellion, little Dawnie who didn’t want to let the Scoobies alone with the sleeping girls. She understood her reaction though. The Gang hadn’t rejected Naomi and Wesley as the "Brunettes" had done. It was true that the watchers could influence them but Dawn knew them better, they would never do something to Buffy. She had to speak to Dawn, to solve the problem, to regain her trust.
Slowly, she walked towards the room where the Victorian girls were sleeping, the room that had been Joyce’s. God, everything would have been much more easy if Buffy’s mother had been there with them. Willow missed, the whole gang missed her. She finally arrived in front of the room’s door, knocked and, hearing no answer, she entered and found no one.
The pieces of furniture! That was all she could see in the place. The beds were empty; Dawn and Laura were gone, the only thing that was left was an open window, probably the way they had taken to move out of the house. And suddenly, Window remembered the gaze Dawn and Andrea had exchanged, understood why Andrea had asked Spike to patrol with her, something she had never done before…they didn’t go on patrol, they came back by the window to pick the girls up…and Dawn had known it. Willow was hurt by the young girl behaviour, hurt not to have her complete trust. Then, she noticed the letter that was on the bed, a letter with her name written on it. She took it, recognised Dawn’s writing and began the reading.
Willow,
As you have probably guessed, I’m gone with the girls…and it hurts you and knowing it hurts me too. I love you all guys and you’re probably mad at me but it’s something I had to do. I don’t trust the watchers, I firmly believe that they could do anything to have a slayer back even if Giles is one of their leaders. I don’t want to lose Buffy again and, with them around, her body is not safe in the house so I moved out to Spike’s crypt with Laura and Andrea.
I didn’t warn you and I apologise. It’s just that you’ve taken the role of a mediator and I want you to keep this role. I need some people that I could trust next to the watchers and at the same time, I need them to think the Gang watches them. I know it could sound like I’m using you and in a way, it’s true.
You know, I’ve always thought that Buffy was exaggerating the troubles she had to make some decisions. I’m not anymore. Hiding this to you and leaving you without saying anything is killing me inside and I can’t think about what Buffy felt when she had to fight Angel or Faith…my respect for my sister is bigger than ever and, I repeat myself, I don’t want to lose her.
So, you, Xander, Anya, Giles and Tara are always welcome to see them but I don’t want to see any watcher near the crypt.
Love,
Dawnie
Willow could see the spots in the paper, tears. Dawn had cried when she had written this. She wondered where Dawn had received this wisdom. There was a discreet war between the watchers and the brunettes and every war needed its mediators…unconsciously, the Gang had chosen this role and Dawn had accepted it. It wasn’t a question of trust as she had first thought. No, Dawn was relying on them for the events to come and Willow wouldn’t disappoint her. She slowly turned towards the door and faced Angel.
"Angel, er…"
"They left a quarter ago if you want to know."
"You…you knew?"
"Yes, I knew. When you’re in such a situation, you can’t let the conflicting sides in the same place. One of them had to move out. When Giles was out, I…I told it to Dawn and I knew she would do that just by looking in her eyes. She’s as tough as her sister."
"What are we gonna do now? Should I told it to the watchers?"
"Yes, you have a role to fulfil, the whole gang has a role to fulfil. Being mediators means that you can’t hide things to neither side. It isn’t an easy role, Willow especially with Giles who doesn’t seem to take things in charge."
"Yes, I’ve noticed. He is like in the Twilight Zone. Sometimes, he seems to be there and listening then, he zoned out as if it wasn’t interested by the whole situation."
"You have to speak to him, Willow. He is grieving for Buffy and Faith. You have to convince him that it’s not over yet."
"I know!"
Death was laughing. How could she laugh at her question? Faith so wanted to strangle her right now but, could she kill Death? Finally, the woman stopped, wiped the tears from her eyes and answered Faith’s question.
"You should have seen your face when you asked me your question, it was hilarious. Sorry, but I don’t laugh that often here. I have to stay serious for my job and all. A laughing death, it’s not something very professional when you’re dealing with souls."
"Cut the crap Big D, is she or is she not?"
"She is! As you’ve guessed, souls take a butterfly aspect when they come here. So, yes, as long as Buffy wouldn’t be in her real body, she’ll be a butterfly."
"Oh Fuck! Great! And how do I communicate with butterflies? Asking them if they flew with B lately?"
"Actually, you wouldn’t be able to communicate with them. Nothing can prevent dead souls to fly to their fates."
"But B isn’t dead, right?"
"Yes, she’s not!"
"So, I’d be able to speak to her!"
"Yes, you would!"
"OK, so no answer means not B, an answer means I’ve found my girl. Good, anything to add before I enter the lion’s mouth?"
"Yes. First of all, do not waste too much time. Time moves slowly here than on Earth."
"Any other good news?"
"Well, yes. Once you enter the labyrinth, you cannot exit it. That’s the rule. As you, Buffy and two other girls aren’t dead…yet. (Death saw Faith winced when she said that). I can let you in and out but as I said previously, I’m just a guide, I have no control on what’s inside the labyrinth and I doubt that its guardian would share my point of view."
"The guardian? There is a fucking guardian now? Of course, there is a guardian, otherwise it’ll be too easy Faith…blablabla"
"As long as you go forward, her won’t be a problem but as soon as you’d come back…"
"I’ll have to kick his ass, break his teeth to be free. I get the picture. Anything else?"
Death just shook her head. Then, Faith stood up and, after a last look at the woman, entered the labyrinth.
It hit her like a storm, overwhelming all her body. But, God, she would accept being hit that much anytime. She was back. Faith was back and Buffy could feel her. She was close, so close…She was coming…for her. Her love was coming and once outside…they would finally live.
The first thing Faith noticed when she entered the labyrinth was the silence that ruled the place. There was no soft and silly harp music anymore, her feet didn’t produce noise anymore even when she tried to move loudly. She had looked one last time towards the entry she had just left and could see Death watching her. She gave her a weak smile before continuing.
The silence was oppressing but Faith wasn’t focused on it. She focused all her senses towards the so welcomed feeling she had found back when she had entered. The Buffy feeling. Once again, she could feel her and, this time, she was determinate to never lose it again. At each bifurcation, she let the feeling take complete control of her senses and, at each bifurcation, the way to follow had seemed so clear…it was as if the feeling was her map, her map of this labyrinth.
The butterflies were everywhere, flying silently to their fate. Their presence made Faith feel humble and so small in this world. After all, they were all going to end in there, in this labyrinth, on their way to Heaven or Hell. Realising that it wasn’t really the time to think about this kind of crap, Faith continued to follow the Buffy feeling, certain that, soon, she’d find her…in a butterfly form.
That was the creepier! Her B was a butterfly now. Of course, it’d be temporary. Of course, she loved her more than anything. Of course, once the soul would regain Buffy’s body, she’d have her girlfriend back but, Hell, she had expected to kiss, to hug Buffy when she’d find her, to grope her a bit also, after all, they had been kinda busy at it when Buffy’s soul had been removed…now, what would she tell her: ‘Hi B, I was flying by and thought we could share a leaf for dinner?’ That sounded so lame. What would she say to her? She so wanted to make Buffy feel how much she had missed her, now that she couldn’t make physical contact with her without actually breaking her, the only way left was talking and…SHE KINDA SUCKED WITH WORDS…
She chastised herself. Once again, she seemed to be too focused on her fear and actually seemed to miss the whole point of this shit…she’d have her B back, no matter the form, no matter the things, the ordeals they would have to face, they would be together!
And with this positive thinking, she continued to follow the feeling…Positive thinking, Faith grinned at herself, for once, she was following her own advice and damn, it felt good.
Buffy knew that her companions were feeling her, trying to discover what she was thinking about, why she was so sure that Faith was coming. They could try, she wouldn’t prevent them of doing it, she was too glad, too happy about letting herself completely overwhelmed by the Faith feeling.
Every single minute, she felt her more intensively. She was approaching and soon, she’d meet her, soon, she’d hold her, soon, she’d kiss her and every trouble they had experienced since she had been taken away from her body would only be a sad story. Soon, very soon…
The wind could feel the two slayers too thanks to the connection it had with Buffy. It wasn’t happy at all with it but, should the dark slayer find her girlfriend, it knew that it couldn’t do anything to prevent her from liberating the trapped souls.
Since the expulsion of The Outcast, the eternal wind had lost everything. Who would have guessed that the souls would have rebelled against Lucius? Of course, it had always been warned by The Outcast about such an event but it had always thought about it as a theoretical possibility. It had never believed that this theory could one day become a reality.
The spell prevented the prisoner to escape by themselves but not to expel others, and particularly their master, the wind’s master. Now, without the mystical energy of Lucius, the eternal wind was eternal only by name. It was doomed, soon, the smaller winds that formed it would split and it would disappear. There was no chance for it, it wasn’t even capable of moving, just circling around in the same corridor.
The wind just wished it could avenge itself, do something to prevent the slayers to meet, only it couldn’t, it had increased the force of the winds that were surrounding the prisoner but it would only prevent them from repeating what they had done to Lucius, expel someone. Besides, the slayer knew that escaping a place they didn’t know anything about wasn’t a solution. Instead, she had always thought that her lover would come and save her and the events were proving she had been right.
The other souls, those that had already lost their bodies couldn’t help him either. Lucius departure had crash all their vitality, they were just lost souls now and wouldn’t move before the dark slayer would free them. At that moment, they would probably been led to Heaven by their instincts.
If the wind could breathe, it would probably sigh. There was nothing he could do except waiting for the dark slayer…And dying.
Naomi and Wesley were walking towards the crypt, furious. When Willow had told her about Dawn’s letter, she had thought they would explode. Then, they decided to go to the crypt and try to awake some sense into the brunette’s brains…these were the exact words they had used. They were now in the graveyard, heading towards Spike’s nest.
Angel hadn’t followed them. He had left the town but had promised that he, Cordelia, Gunn or Fred would watch the place where Faith had vanished, just in case a miracle occurred. Giles too was missing. He had preferred to stay in the house, still lost in contemplation. Willow had wished she could slap him, to wake him up and force him to take the leadership. He was the best choice for this position as he knew how the watchers worked and had the Gang’s trust. Still, she hadn’t had the time to do it and had promised herself that she would shake him a little bit when they would go back home.
They could see the crypt now and, once Naomi and Wesley had made another step, the door opened revealing Dawn and Andrea. The younger brunette moved towards them while Faith’s sister watched the watcher’s moves, ready to strike should they do something to Dawn.
"I knew you’d come!"
At that moment, Willow thought that Dawn looked a lot like Buffy. She had crossed her arms while saying it in a very Buffy way, had made a small smile to them but had never lost the watchers, her eyes had always been glued to them, as her sister would have done in her place.
"Dawn! Stop this masquerade, please! This is stupid…"
"I don’t think so, Wesley! I think my reasons were pretty clear! I have nothing to add. They’re here and they’ll stay here till Faith’s return."
"She won’t return, Dawn! You have to cope with it. She’s gone, just like your sister is. The sooner you’ll accept that, the better."
"Huuuuuuuh! Wrong answer, Iceberg! You don’t know Buffy or Faith. You don’t know what they’ve been through, what they’ve faced. This shit is nothing for them. They’ll be back and at that time, I’ll be glad not to live in your shoes."
"Really! And when your three hostages will die, who will be glad? You? What you’re doing is murder, Dawn, even if you’re guided by love and blind trust, your stubbornness will kill them!"
"Blind trust? Maybe! But I believe in them, I’ll always believe in them…You, on the opposite, have you ever trust someone?"
"What?"
"I doubt of it! I rather think that except yourself, you trust no one so, do you really think we’ll follow the opinion of someone who couldn’t understand us? Couldn’t understand the meaning of trust? Move your ass out of here and go back to England. We-don’t-need-you!"
"Wesley! They know you, say something."
"Dawn, I know what trusting someone is. I guess you’d need some time but Naomi is right…there is nothing we can do for Buffy, we’ve searched everywhere and it was fruitless. There is nothing we can do for Faith either. The Spirit Guides have spoken…she is dead now. There is no hope. We have the possibility to give these women a new life and I think that’s what Buffy would have wished."
Dawn gazed at him, coldly.
"You’ve helped Angel, Wesley and I know you’re a good man…but I still remember what you did to Faith and Buffy when you were here. You’re a watcher first and it’s the reason why I don’t trust you. Besides, you should know that my sister and Faith have beaten the odds more than once, even when they had no chances to win."
"Yes, but this time…"
"What Welsey? This time is different? Why? Because you’d miss a chance to have a slayer under control?"
"But that’s not the point."
"Is it, Iceberg?"
Naomi sighed heavily then turned towards the Gang.
"I know that we’re not the best friends in the world but can’t you speak to her. It’s wrong and I’m sure you know that. Willow?"
"Sorry Naomi! But for now, we stand with Dawn. There is still time…the freezing spell will protect the girls for 4 more days…I suggest we wait till that time. Isn’t it your motto, wait and see?"
"Willow, Willow! You know that if they’re too weak, the spell won’t work. We have to act as quickly as possible."
Seeing that Willow didn’t want to add anything, Naomi looked at Dawn again.
"Dawn! If you don’t want to see that you’re wrong…"
"What Iceberg, you’d attack us. Let’s go, we’re waiting for you. Do you really think you can face a vampire, a slayer, the owner of the sight of Râ and the sister of a slayer?"
"I can ask for back up, you know. Some watchers have great magical powers."
"And do you think my friends would let you do it?"
"Probably not…but when I said back up, I wasn’t speaking of three or four guys, you know?"
"Try it, bitch…it won’t work!"
"And why?"
"Because magic is not allowed here!"
They all turned their head towards Tara who had just spoken.
"It...I can feel it. It’s the same sensation I had in the desert when I tried to stop Faith. Something is shutting all magical energy in this area."
"See? It won’t work!"
Wesley, interested, asked then:
"How are you doing that?"
"I’m doing that!" and saying it, Laura exited the crypt, leaving the only Spike inside.
"You?"
Willow was impressed by the confidence that was radiating around Laura at that moment. She wasn’t the lost child they had all liked to meet now, she was the daughter of Nefer-tem, the keeper of balance.
"I’m not a witch, I haven’t the physical aptitudes of my mother or the powers of my father but I know some tricks. This is one of them. I banished magic from this place. The only exception I made is the freezing spell. I guess you can understand why. Faith asked for time, she’ll have it."
"So, you…you prevented me from helping Faith?"
"Yes, I followed you during your search and I cut the energy when I saw you chanting your spell. Faith wanted to jump…she asked Andrea and Dawn to prevent anything or anyone to stop her so…I…I followed her wish."
"How did you know she wanted it? You’re just a…"
"I told her, Iceberg. Mobile phone, do you know what it is or should I print it in your empty brain…Literally?"
Dawn and Laura smirked when they heard Andrea’s comment. The Scoobies grinned also and the watchers remained speechless.
Wesley slowly raised his head and asked to Laura:
"Is it how your father taught you to behave to keep balance?"
"There is no balance in here, Wesley. It had been lost when The Outcast left his prison. Besides, look where balance had led him. I discovered lately that sometimes a little misbalance isn’t a bad thing."
Andrea smiled to the sentence. It was her who had taught it to Laura…then Dawn cleared her throat and said:
"Talking time is over. Get back home. See you in four days."
Dawn turned and moved towards the crypt without looking behind. Andrea and Laura waited till she had entered the place to follow her. At any time during Dawn’s retreat, they had lost contact with the watchers. Yes, Willow would definitely have to talk to Giles.
Buffy was only feelings now. She wasn’t even conscious of her surroundings anymore. She was there! Faith was there. Her excitement was in its paroxysm. She couldn’t just feel her girlfriend but it was as if she was her. The feeling was so intense…the joy she was having now was probably one of the most magnificent feeling she had ever had.
Faith also was completely lost in the Buffy feeling. She could feel her joy and shared it on the same level. Finally, after so many weeks of research, false hope, true evil bastards, a cold Iceberg, Death and whatever other problem, they would finally be together again…in a way. But the butterfly thing would be solved.
She slowly walked towards the wind that was raising clouds of dusts in the corridor. There were no butterflies here except those trapped inside this wind, five butterflies…and one of them had magnificent blond wings and superb hazel spots on them. It was beautiful and even without the feeling, Faith wouldn’t have had problems in recognising Buffy in this butterfly…Yes, this time they were finally together.
Faith moved forward, struggling to keep her balance in spite of the wind’s rage. She knew that it couldn’t prevent her for getting Buffy and its other victims out of this place. It wasn’t strong enough to beat her. Still, while she was approaching the centre of the wind, she noticed that it was surrounded by a kind of white dust and that the souls were inside this dust. She noticed also that the butterflies had a hard time staying in the same place in there. How would she take them out without hurting them…she cursed herself for having not ask Death if the souls could be injured in this place. As dead souls, it would be logical to think no but what if they could get hurt, what if she hurt Buffy and she could never be the same again?
On the one hand, she worried about this situation, but, on the other hand, knowing Buffy, she was certain that she had already acclimated herself to her new environment. She had to follow her trust. If she couldn’t get to Buffy directly, she could open the gate and let Buffy cross it. So, she cupped her hand and dive into the white and dusty wind.
Buffy had just told the others that Faith was here. She had a hard time keeping her mind clear. The Faith feeling was so strong now…She was a few feet away. What was she waiting for? Buffy was getting impatient now. After so many days waiting for this moment, she didn’t want to delay it again even if her mind was telling her that Faith needed to find a way to take them out first.
Suddenly, a big shadow appeared in this more white than white world. Buffy hadn’t seen any darkness in this world until that moment, and it felt damn good. It was strange though, for a slayer who had fought the forces of darkness for so long, she actually missed it. For someone who had used to prefer day time rather than night time, she had just noticed that too much bright wasn’t to her taste too…
Then, she saw it, the wind was torn apart by something, something huge. What was it? Did Faith rent a truck or something to lead them out? But it wasn’t a truck, it wasn’t even a vehicle. Surprised, she felt two cupped hand coming to her direction, hands she would have recognised everywhere, hands she so wanted to squeeze now…Faith’s hands.
Without even thinking about anything else, she used her control of the winds to move into these hands, enjoying once more the feeling of being so close to her girlfriend, the feeling of actually touching her. And it was only when she felt the four other four coming in Faith’s hands too that she really noticed how huge they were.
"Since when Faith has become a giant?" were her last thought while they were taken away by the dark slayer.
Another night had passed in Spike’s crypt and, even if they were in there for a few hours only, this place was already getting on Andrea’s nerves. It was so vampiry, so undead…
"What are you thinking about, Demonia?"
Andrea smirked, she should beat the crap out of Spike just because he had called her like that but the truth was that she liked the nickname he had given her. It was both wicked sexy and showed that she wasn’t the one one could mess up with. Still, she wasn’t gonna say it to him.
"What do you want Chip Boy?"
"Well, as host of our little gang, I intended to be gentle and have a little genuine interest for you, pet. Seems, I shouldn’t bother."
"Got it by yourself?"
"Bloody Hell, what’s up with you, slayer? Feel alone?"
What was that for a question? And what was that tone in his voice? Did he just suggest what Andrea thought he was suggesting? Then, she noticed the bottle in his hand.
"You’re drunk, Spike."
"Well, yeah! I feel alone too, I miss Goldilocks as much as you do."
"Then find someone to keep you company. But stay away from me."
"You weren’t that shy a few weeks ago?"
Andrea glared at Spike, shooting furious looks to the vampire. She finally answered with venom in her voice.
"It was then, this is now, Chip Boy. I’ve changed."
"OH, yeah. Like you could change. This is in your blood, slayer. As it is in every slayer’s blood. It’s…"
Spike didn’t have the time to continue. He felt himself lift in the air and thrown away by the door’s crypt.
Andrea saw Spike levitating and being moved away. Then, she saw Laura coming to her.
"Spikie Walker was bothering you, wasn’t he?"
Surprised, Andrea quickly regained composure and asked to her friend.
"I thought you were limited in the magic department? This is the kind of tricks you said you couldn’t do."
"Sorry, A. But I said that I knew some tricks…A few of them. Didn’t say I was limited to the ones you saw me perform."
"Like to keep your little secrets, aren’t you girlfriend?"
Laura smiled before answering. "It’s a part of the mystery that surrounds me."
"Modest much?"
"Inquisitive much?"
Andrea grinned. The girl could definitely bite back. It was amazing how her confidence had grown during the previous weeks. She wasn’t the shy girl who had to learn how to live anymore. And Andrea felt a little pride in it, a pride that could be compared to the one a teacher could feel in front of his most prodigious student. She put her hand in her hair to remove them behind her ear and said:
"Well, thanks anyway. Chip Boy could be really a pain in the ass when he’s drunk."
Laura smiled too. "You’re welcome. You seem a bit broody. Wanna patrol."
"You read my mind, L. Let’s go."
"Giles! Stop being a vegetable and move your ass."
"Excuse me, Willow?"
Willow winced. It wasn’t the subtlest way to take Giles out of his "lethargy" but she hadn’t the time to be subtle. In less than three days, the deadline they had agreed to follow would end and Willow absolutely wanted to have Giles back, life and kicking.
"I said that it’s fucking time (ooops, Faithism here) for you to deal with your pain. Have you only listened to what I’ve said?"
"Yes, yes, Willow. I know what the situation is."
"Then, why are you keeping yourself out of it?"
"Because…because I don’t know what to do? Happy now?"
"Oh, I see. I’ll tell you something, Mr the British Patient, when you left us, you said that it was time that we behave like grown ups, right? But when I see you now, I just see a child hiding in a corner and afraid to face his responsibilities."
"What? How…"
"What, you’re about to say that you don’t want to betray your vows as a watcher because your heart say to believe in Faith? Screw this (Faithism 2), Giles. You have to make a decision and now would be a good time."
Giles wanted to slap Willow but not because of her insolence but because she was right. The little witch had a point, yes, he was acting like a child…
"I…agree!"
"About damn time! So, you’re going to speak to Naomi? You know she called the Council and asked the back up she had talked about."
"Yes, I remember. Naomi is still young but she had gained lots of influence in the new Council. I may be one of the new leaders, I don’t know if I can change her mind. Besides, I’m not the most objective one in here."
"I don’t ask you to change her mind. I don’t believe in these kinds of miracles but, please, try to calm her down. Knowing the "brunettes", if she come with her army to the crypt, well, it’ll be a massacre."
"I’ll try."
"That’s all I want. Welcome back, Giles."
Giles saw Willow turn and move to the stairs.
"Willow?" He waited that the witch turned her head to add. "Thanks and never talk to me like this again."
Willow gave him a weak smile before replying: "We’ll see!"
When Buffy saw Faith, it was like a volcano of joy had imploded in herself and it was clear that Faith shared this feeling. But then, she had the confirmation that Faith’s size was gigantic now then, looking at her fellow prisoner she could feel at her side, she noticed that they were butterflies, flying with the enthusiasm given to them by their new freedom. Could she be? She looked lower and couldn’t see any legs, nor could she see anything organic that linked her to the ground. She was flying! Oh God, she was a butterfly!
Faith couldn’t prevent a grin. She could hear Buffy thoughts, that was amazing. She had hear and felt her joy, her excitement when they had seen each other then, her concern when, while flying towards her, she had noticed the other butterflies then, finally, the realisation of her new form. It was so…well, cute but she would deny it if questioned about that matter.
"You know B, I always thought you were my angel but I’ve never asked you to let wings grow on your back, especially with this transformation thing."
"Very funny, Fairy. Very funny!"
"Yeah, I thought you’d like. (Then, her face recovering more serious features). Oh God, B, you couldn’t know how much I missed you."
Faith could sense that the feeling of joy was back, Buffy wasn’t concerned about her appearance anymore.
"I missed you too, Fairy. I wish I could hug you, kiss you right now but…size and fragility issues here."
"We’ll solve that, baby. I promised. Once out of here, we’ll bring you back to your hot body and we’ll catch up with the things we were doing when the wind stole your soul."
Faith had anticipated the feelings she received from Buffy at that time. She could easily imagine what her girlfriend’s face would show if she had been in her body. A wonderful and so Buffy blush, followed by a look that would betray both her anticipation and her wicked lust.
At the same time, Buffy knew what Faith was doing, her behaviour couldn’t let her any doubt. She just wished she wasn’t a butterfly at that time. But she was, and she decided to change the conversation. Remembering the others, she turned (flew) towards them.
"Faith, let me introduce you to my new friends. The blue butterfly to your right is Alyson and the white with red spots is Esther… and where are the others?"
"Those whose bodies are dead? Probably on their way to Heaven."
"Where are we, Fairy?"
"Oh, yeah. OK, in a kind of purgatory. A labyrinth where souls in a butterfly form follow their instinct to go to Heaven of Hell, depends on their previous lives? Am I clear?"
"I think so. Oh God, Don’t tell me you’re dead!"
"Relax, B. I made a deal with Death herself. She’s wicked sexy you know."
"What? Death, sexy?"
Faith smiled, she liked jealous Buffy.
"Don’t worry, B. She is no match for you. You’re my girl and I would never change it."
"You’d better. I might be a butterfly but I’m sure I can still kick your ass."
Things were back to normal again, well sortof and both slayer enjoyed it with all their hearts.
"So, what’s the program now?"
"We go back to where I came from, then to the living world. Suits you?"
"With you around, everywhere would suit me."
Faith waved her hand, silently asking the butterflies to follow her and made a step back. It was at that moment that they heard the growl.
"OK, what was this growl?"
"Probably the guardian!"
"Oh Great!"
"A guardian?" these were the first words pronounced by Esther since they had been released from the wind.
"Yeah, Red spots, there is always a guardian to spoil your work as there is always…"
"…a ritual involving a sister to sacrifice or an apocalypse ordered just before summer time…"
"…or something to prevent B and I to have sex…"
"Er…I think the apocalypse thing was enough, Fairy."
"Sure but, you see, I’m frustrated B. I planed everything from the hug and the kiss and the groping phase we would share when I’d find you and then, bam! They changed you into a cute but not handy butterfly and that’s pissing me off…I need us to get out of here and quickly but I guess some slaying would be a good way to calm me down."
"Slaying, calming you down? That’d be new."
"OK, to change my mind a little, if you prefer."
"Just checking. It’d be a pity if it didn’t make you horny anymore!"
"B!"
"What?"
Faith grinned. Oh, it was good to have her B back…kinda. She looked at her girlfriend who was flying around excited. She was sure that it was her way to grin.
"Nothing! Now, could we just focus on the thing that’s coming?"
"Sure! It doesn’t seem in a hurry though."
The two other butterflies watched and listened to the conversation between the two slayers, amazed by the conversation they had just witnessed. The two girlfriends were discussing and teasing each other as if they weren’t in this labyrinth. Then, a second growl was heard and the two butterflies feared to know what was coming.
"So, Fairy, what do you think it is?"
"Don’t give a shit, B! As soon as it showed its ugly face, game over!"
Suddenly, a head appeared in the corner of the next gallery, the one that was the only way out for the captives.
"I think we got a puppy to slay, B."
"Er, yeah but a big puppy with three heads…a huge puppy with three big heads."
"Oh, you know what they say, the bigger their mouths are, the smaller…"
"Fairy!"
"What again?"
"Snakes as a tail too. Does it look familiar to you too?"
"Oh, so we’re facing King Puppy! What’s its name again?"
"Cerberus!"
"Doesn’t it be supposed to guard Hell only?"
"Well, seems like it got a promotion!"
"OK, Promoted King Puppy or not, I’m still going to kick its ass! Besides, I don’t like to see it sit and get a peep." Then, she moved forward and talked to the beast only. "Wanna try to taste my bones, Lassie. Come on, big fellah."
Buffy watched as Faith was slowly circling around Cerberus. The beast didn’t move but its three heads were following every move the dark slayer was doing, probably judging the best way to react. Faith could definitely see that Buffy was in full slayer mode now, waiting for the best moment to strike; a moment that Buffy was ready to offer her.
"Hey! Big Fat Sucker!"
Cerberus turned its head toward the butterfly that had just insult him, forgetting Faith for a split second. It was all that the brunette needed, she jumped to the three heads dog and hit it with all her strength…but the beast didn’t move as if it hadn’t felt anything. Faith, surprised by the inefficiency of her hit, lost also her concentration for a second and didn’t see the third head of the monster move, then, the head touched Faith and threw her a few feet away, next to the butterflies. Faith hit the ground with a loud sound.
"Faith!"
"I’m alright, B. No biggie! Geez, this thing is strong."
"Strong? Understatement here! This thing is far stronger than you. God, I wish I wasn’t a butterfly! I wish I could help you!"
The monster didn’t move, it was as if it was playing with its preys, waiting for them to act first.
"Any suggestions, B?"
"Well, we can wait and see if the harp can make him fall asleep. No, no real suggestion, Fairy?"
"Harp? Which harp, B?"
"You don’t hear it? Well, I can! It’s not that near but I can hear it."
"I bet it’s coming from the puppy’s direction?"
"Yes! How come that you can’t hear it?"
"I’m not a butterfly, B! But that’s a good thing. There was a harp playing where I entered the labyrinth. We just have to follow it to find the exit. Sounds like butterflies have a better ear than humans."
"Yep! Probably…but your ears are cute, you know?"
Faith grinned again. She wasn’t feeling any pain for the hit she had just received. "Thanks B. Now, listen. I’m gonna distract King Puppy and you will follow the music without waiting for me. I’ll join you."
Buffy wanted to say something but was cut by Faith who had guessed what she would say.
"No, objection, B. Don’t worry! Now that I found you again, I don’t plan to die. It’s about time that we stay in the same dimension, isn’t it?"
"OK? Fairy but be…"
"Now, girls." And without letting Buffy end her sentence, Faith ran to Cerberus, dodged its claws and dived between its leg, taking advantage of the wet ground. She glided under the monster and, once she reached the other side of the beast, quickly stood up to follow the butterflies that had followed Faith’s instructions and were now flying to the music’s direction. Without looking at her opponent, Faith ran and joined them.
"So, B? Liked my stunt?"
"You’re the best, Fairy and you know it."
"Naomi, can we have a talk?"
The young girl looked at the senior watcher who had just come into the kitchen where she was preparing tea.
"Sure! What do you want to discuss about?"
Giles took his glasses in his hands and began to clean them with his handkerchief.
"The ultimatum is over in 20 hours. What are you going to do if nothing changes?"
"If you’re afraid to see me act before the end of the deadline, do not worry. I’ll keep my word! The guys will be here in the beginning of the afternoon just in case."
Giles put his spectacles back on his nose before replying: "So, you’re planning to use them!"
"Look, Mr Giles. I know that it has to be difficult for you to live this situation but I don’t believe in miracles. If imposing a deadline is the only way for Dawn and the Scoobies to feel like they had done everything to save their friends, fine with me, I'll give it to them. But if they still refuse to see that fixing the souls are the only way to solve the problem, I won’t let their stubbornness kill these unfortunates."
"Yes, I understand your point but…"
"There is no buts, Mr Giles. The world needs a real slayer. Faith is dead in another dimension she reached when she tried to enter the underworld, her energy is lost and can’t be given to a follower. So, the only way to have a full time slayer now is to use Buffy’s body, even if it seems unfair! We can’t let this body die, we need it even if it’s not Buffy’s mind that controls it."
"Naomi,…"
"You won’t make me change my mind, Rupert. I respect you, I respect the slayers entourage for what they have done during so many years but they’re wrong here, you should see it and you know that sometimes, a watcher has to follow the voice of reason, even if his heart says no."
Giles didn’t add a word. There was no need to. Naomi had taken her decision. Nothing but a miracle could now stop the confrontation between the watchers and the brunettes and Giles hoped it wouldn’t turn as bad as he was thinking it would.
Buffy was flying towards the music, guiding Faith in the corridors of this labyrinth. In fact, all she could think about was to follow the music and she knew that the other butterflies were in the same state. Flying was exhausting but flying quickly was even worse, as already said, she couldn’t think about anything but following the harp’s tone. It was close now, though, soon, they’ll reach the exit.
Faith was running two feet behind Buffy. Sometimes, she glanced behind her to see Cerberus running and decreasing the gap between it and them. Something was strange here. The monster was playing with them again. Faith was sure it would attack them when they would see the exit, just to show them that it could take them whenever it wanted. She just wished she could take one of the butterflies they were frequently overtaking now. They were numerous, proof that they were close to…Suddenly, Faith realised something, something she should have noticed earlier if she had been more attentive to it. And with this realisation, came a flashback, something someone could call a kind of divine inspiration. She remembered the conversation she had with Death, the sound of the harp and the mention of her being the second one to reach this place through the ritual…and all was crystal clear in her mind. She suddenly stopped running.
"STOP!"
The butterflies stopped, turning towards the dark slayer. Buffy flied back to Faith and asked:
"What is it, Fairy. We have to hurry, it’s coming!"
"The other butterflies, B. Look at them. Don’t you see something wrong?"
"Well, they’re flying just like I d…THEY’RE FLYING IN THE SAME DIRECTION!"
"Yep! You get it."
"So, we’re not going to the exit…or entry…but we’re heading straight to Heaven…or Hell like they do."
"A trap! A fucking trap. I should have seen it earlier. When I was looking for you, I thought about taking the opposite direction to find back the entry."
"I suppose it’s the reason why Cerberus is increasing the pressure! To prevent us to think too much and force us to follow the music."
"But I’ll show him that the slayers aren’t that dumb. Stay here, B. I’m gonna have a little talk with King Puppy."
"Faith, don’t! It’ll hurt you again…There has to be another solution."
Faith turned her head towards the butterfly that was her girlfriend’s soul and gave it a soft kiss.
"Just trust me! I know what I’m doing."
She gave her a last wink then walked towards the beast, placing her life at risk just because of an intuition.
Buffy watched Faith slowly walking to Cerberus, her hands weren’t even in fighting position, her walk was detached as if she didn’t want to fight. Buffy was petrified and scared, wondering if her girlfriend had become insane. She saw with horror the beast waiting for Faith, waiting for the right moment to strike, jump and devour the dark slayer. Once more, she wished she wasn’t a butterfly. Then, Faith stopped walking.
Focusing her attention to the beast, she could see it drool as if Faith was its new appetizer, as if it expected to eat her, savouring every pieces of her. Just thinking about it made Buffy sick. She couldn’t let her girlfriend be devoured by the monster but what could she do? Even Faith was defenceless against it, what could a butterfly do that a slayer couldn’t? Nothing but flying, unfortunately.
Suddenly, Cerberus began to run towards Faith and to Buffy’s horror, the brunette chose that moment to turn around to face them. Buffy couldn’t prevent a scream when she saw her girlfriend bow her head and salute as if she was a comedian who had just performed a show. In Buffy’s mind, there was no doubt anymore, Faith had gone crazy. Part of the blond slayer wanted to close her eyes, she didn’t want to see what would happen next but it was as if her eyes were glued to the scene. Cerberus was still charging, it as only a few feet away from Faith who was still saluting. Then, the beast jumped.
It had just jumped and, strangely, it seemed as if it was jumping above Faith, as if it was a game. The situation was strange and Buffy would have sworn she was in an episode of the Twilight Zone…the prey was giving herself to the beast that didn’t want to crunch her. At the exact moment, Buffy thought her heart would break when she saw Faith stand up, putting herself right in the middle of the trajectory the monster was following. The most disturbing thing was that the brunette was smiling as if she knew something Buffy couldn’t understand. Still, Buffy would have cried of rage, impuissance and fear if she could. The connection was near now and the monster was showing all its fangs, probably enjoying its future snack.
5 seconds before connection, it was as if time had slowed down, Buffy was watching the scene and it was taking an eternity. She so wanted to turn her head, to avoid the scene but couldn’t. And Faith didn’t move, she had her back facing a charging beast, no, THE beast and she didn’t move. 4 seconds, 3, 2, 1…and then, everything became even weirder…the monster dissolved when it touched the dark slayer.
And a dissolution was the right word. First, its image became vague, then, one could see through it then, it simply disappeared like a hologram. Still smiling, and visibly satisfied by her performance Faith slowly walked to the butterflies and particularly her girlfriend.
“Liked the show, B?”
“What the hell…”
“An illusion, B! Just a fucking illusion!”
“But…it hurt you, it…how…”
“It hurts when you believe in it but it’s harmless when you know the trick. King Puppy must be watching the residents of Hell, I even bet it has never showed its ass here. Am I wrong?”
Buffy quickly turned around. The last sentence wasn’t directed to her but to someone that seemed to be behind her…it was logical though. Someone had to play the harp they were following the sound. But once she was facing the corridor they intended to take 5 minutes before, she saw no one.
“Lost your tongue or you have lost your ability to speak, sucker? Even if time goes quicker here, it’s been a while since the Antiquity and stalactites aren’t famous for their talking prowess …answer me, Orpheus?”
Buffy followed Faith’s speech, well speechless. Orpheus? The guy of the legend, the one who had been trapped in Hell after failing to take her wife’s soul away from the land of the dead. Then, a male voice pierced the silence.
“You’re a very smart girl, Faith! And yes, Cerberus never leaves Hell. How did you…?”
A man appeared from nowhere, facing them. He was wearing a Greek white toga, like the ones the ancient Greeks had worn so many centuries ago and, in his hands, he had a magnificent golden harp.
“Well, when I was discussing with Big D, I heard your harp and it reminded me of a legend my first watcher told me once. Your legend, the legend of the wicked man who could fascinate human beings thanks to his harp because he could create illusions thanks to the damn instrument. And when Big D told me that I was the second person to reach this place, I kinda thought it could be you. So, when I discovered that the harp thing was a trick, it clicked in my head.”
“All these risks because of an intuition?”
“Well, I didn’t have that much choice, did I?”
“Who said that brunettes weren’t smart chicks?”
“Er…it’s blond chicks, B and you know it’s fucking bullshit.”
“I know! I just wanted to say how impressed I was. You’re marvellous you know that?”
Faith blushed a little before answering: “Thanks for the compliment B but, once you had all the cards in your hands…piece of cake.”
“Tatata…my girlfriend is fantastic! No contradiction allowed!”
Faith smirked and looked at the golden butterfly, her eyes betraying all her love for the blond slayer and at that moment, for a split second, Buffy forgot who she was, what form she had, she was just lost in the moment, once of the most beautiful moments of her life. Then, Faith turned her head towards Orpheus.
“So, O. What are we gonna do now. Will you let us go home or should I kick your Greek statue ass?”
“I can’t let you go. Sorry, since I’ve become the guardian of the place, I’ve sworn to let no one escape this labyrinth. Sorry, Faith.”
“And what are you gonna do now that your silly illusions are ineffective?”
“Wonder what lame answer he will give us.”
“My harp isn’t that simple you know. It can be used as a bow too. See, I take three arrows in my bag, put them on my harp and once I will pinch the right note, it will launch the weapons to you, Faith. The first one will go high to prevent you from jumping, the second one will go mid-level so, if you stay still, you’ll die too and the third one will go lower to prevent you from crawling. No possible escape.”
“Oh God!”
“You’re the one that anchors them in life, Faith. You dead, these souls will follow me to Heaven without trouble.”
“You really think you can beat me with your ‘weapon’, O? You’ve never faced a slayer, have you?”
“No but I’m sure to win. Adios, Faith.”
The harpist played a note and the arrows were launched. Faith hadn’t waited that moment. Knowing that she couldn’t reach her enemy before the launch, she hit a stalagmite on her left, throwing it towards Orpheus at ground level, then, she dived, following the stalagmite way. She felt the mid-level arrow skim her back but was satisfied to notice that, as she had planed, the lower level arrow had hit the piece of rock and thus, couldn’t reach her anymore. Taking advantage of Orpheus stupefaction, she grabbed his harp and squeezed, destroying the instrument. Then, continuing her move, she punched him on the face, throwing him against the wall and knocking him down.
Faith turned her head, a bit worried. What if an arrow had touched Buffy? But she felt rapidly relieved when she saw the three flying butterflies.
“So, what are you waiting for? We have an exit to find.”
She waited for the butterflies to come to her, gave a sweet kiss to Buffy when she passed near her then waved her hand instructing the others to follow her.
Buffy looked at Faith with pride and honour, or it would be what one could have seen in her eyes if she had been human. Faith was amazing, hot and intelligent. She wondered what she had done to earn such a girlfriend. She was lucky and knew it…And she wasn’t going to complain, on the opposite, once she would be back in human form, she would show her how much she loved her.
Naomi had just stormed out of the Summers House, saying that it was time. As soon as she had left the house, the whole Scooby Gang, Giles and Wesley had followed her, wondering why she had decided to go that early. There were two hours left before the ultimatum ended. Giles was the first to reach her, followed by Wesley.
“Naomi! It’s too early? You agreed to…”
“I know! They still have two hours but the back-up is already there and I want to be with them now.”
“Er…I agree with Mr Giles, Naomi! Exposing our men could worsen the situation. Andrea and the others could take it as a declaration of war.”
“That’s possible…but I want them to know that we’re not going to change our mind, that if we had to, we’re ready to fight.”
“Naomi, that will only increase the pressure! It’s not wise.”
“There are times when wisdom isn’t an option, Rupert!”
“What?”
“Action prevails now.”
The Scoobies didn’t know what to do. They didn’t want to see a carnage in front of them and if things continued to turn wrong as it was the case, it will be a massacre. But Naomi’s decision to go to the graveyard that early had completely taken them aback. Slowly approaching Willow, Xander asked the red head:
“What are we gonna do? We can’t let Naomi start the battle. You know the “Brunettes”, they won’t like to see an army camping next to their door.”
“Naomi seems determinate. We can’t make her change her mind…Gosh, if only Faith could come back now!”
They were arriving at the graveyard and were suddenly surrounded by men in armour. What the hell was going on. Giles was the first to react, recognizing the armoured men.
“The Knight of Byzantium? You called the Knight of Byzantium as back-up? Have you lost your mind?”
Naomi grinned. “You charged me to contact them and asked them to join the Council…And you know I succeeded in my mission. Now that Glory is gone, they didn’t have a purpose anymore. I gave it to them and I’ll use them for the charge you intended to give them, to be the Council’s army…Aren’t they supposed to act in such a situation?”
Giles didn’t know what to add. She was right. The bitch was playing with the new Council rules. Giles was speechless and barely saw the captain soldier that was coming to them.
“Rupert, Wesley. Let me introduce you to Captain Lisbok who is in charge of the operations. No move from the crypt?”
“No, they’re watching us but they haven’t moved yet.”
“Good, Oh, Captain, one last point. Have you prepared the circle?”
“Yes, as you have asked us to do, Madam.”
“Good, so you know what to do.”
“Yes Madam!”
The captain made a gesture and soldiers suddenly grabbed Giles and the Scoobies to lead them to a circle built with stones, not far from the entry of the graveyard.
“Naomi, what…”
“It’s for your own good, Rupert. I don’t want to see one of you gets hurt while trying to help your friends. I know that friendship and love could lead a man to act…unwisely.”
The Scoobies tried to escape but the soldiers were far too numerous and better trained. They pushed them inside the circle and, once the soldiers moved out of it, it was as if a bubble appeared from nowhere. A containing field was trapping them.
“Naomi, you ambitious bitch!”
“Wow, Rupert, such words in a gentleman’s mouth!”
“You don’t care about Faith or Buffy, all you want is your slayer, all you want is to reach the top of the Council by a bright action…to bring a slayer back in the Council hands…You’re not a watcher, Naomi, you behave like a politician.”
“I’m hurt, Rupert! But I’m sure you’ll see how wrong you are later. Once you’ll be calmer.”
“Oh no, bitch! He’s not! None of us will. Giles is right, everything you told us about, the hurt it caused you to envisage such a decision, …etc…they were lies. Your ‘right thing to do’ attitude, a lie too. All that matters to you is yourself and power. I just…I just don’t understand how you could have played with us that long…we should have seen who you really are.”
Naomi locked her gaze in Willow’s who had just said the previous words but said nothing. Instead, she winked to the red head and moved away, followed by the captain.
The only one that remained in front of the circle was Wesley. The former watcher didn’t know what to do. He was sure now that Naomi was indeed an opportunistic bitch but what could he do to prevent the massacre? What could he do to help his friends trapped in the field? Freeing them right now wouldn’t be wise, on the opposite, it will only make the massacre start earlier. He had to think, find a solution before the end of the ultimatum…and if he didn’t, well, it was a good day to die as the native American used to say.
“Hey Big D? Have you met my girl?”
Death smiled when she saw Faith and the butterflies coming. The dark slayer had made it and, strangely enough, she had never doubted she would. She also noticed immediately the golden butterfly that was on Faith’s right shoulder.
“Heard about her but I’ve never had this pleasure.” She waved her hand and said: "It’s an honour to meet you, Buffy."
“Well, it is for me too…only if saying it won’t tempt you to invite me here too soon.”
Faith and Death chuckled and grinned. Death could definitely see why Faith was so in love with her.
“As long as if I’m allowed to visit you when I want too, you don’t have to worry.”
“Visit? Does Death have vacations?”
“Of course I do. We’re syndicated and all, you know. It’s a necessity even for a divine being.”
“So, who replace you when you…”
“Usually, one of the three judges of Hell. They seem serious, cruel, broody and all but once you know them outside of their job, they’re very enjoyable companions and friends.”
“Oh! Well, if you want to come, it’s OK with me. Faith?”
Faith raised her head. She had been listening to the conversation, amused. She could feel that the others were amused too. They seem to be good girls. Not very talkative and rather shy but, hell, they weren’t in a situation that encouraged dialog.
“Oh, sorry. Is the social chat over? I don’t want to seem rude but, people are waiting for us.”
“Oh yes the Gang!”
“So, this way?” Faith asked Death a direction she was showing with her index.
“Yes, you’ll have to climb the fissure. We don’t have lifts here.”
Faith sighed, as if it hadn’t been that complicated already.
“Not a problem. Big D and B is right. Want some days off, our door is open.”
“Thanks, it means a lot you know?”
Faith just nodded, gave Death a warm smile then moved away.
Cordelia cursed Angel once more. What was she doing in the middle of the desert, not far from Sunnydale, sitting in a jeep that wasn’t comfortable at all, waiting for Faith and Buffy who were probably dead at that moment? Still part of her wished a miracle.
Angel, Gunn and herself had watched the place night and day since Faith had been swallowed by the earth. They wanted to be present should the slayers come back…even if the probabilities weren’t high. Even if she would never admit it to the others, she liked the slayers a lot. Buffy who, even if her fashion taste was far from perfect, had always managed to follow her destiny, to save the others even when they didn’t earn it. And Faith, the dark slayer who had managed to beat her dark side and found redemption and love with her fellow slayer.
These two were so in love that sometimes, Cordelia had felt jealous of their happiness.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake, an earthquake…God, what did it have to happen during her guard? It always happened during her guard. It was becoming so clichéd.
When the earth stopped shaking, she slowly approached the new fissure that had appeared. She was only a few feet away when she saw a hand coming from the fissure. Then, a second hand joined the first one, followed by a whole body…And Cordelia gasped in recognising Faith. She looked tired and was dirty but, she was alive. Cordelia didn’t know how but she knew that she was alive. She noticed the three butterflies flying around the dark slayer.
“Er…Faith…Butterflies? Where are the crows?”
"How many are they according to you, Andrea?"
"Don’t know, D. Fifty, sixty. Too many for us, that’s sure!"
Dawn looked a last time outside. The Knights of Byzantium were encircling the crypt, the Scoobies were still prisoners of the strange circle, Naomi and the head of the knights were probably discussing about the upcoming siege and Wesley was pacing, visibly not satisfied by the turn of the events. And still no sign of Faith or Buffy.
"Laura? Could you do a spell or something?"
"Sorry Dawn. I can burn some things, prevent the utilisation of magic or lift someone out but, I’m not powerful enough to beat an army."
"Shit! So, that’s it?"
"We’ll keep them away from the girls as long as we can but, unless a miracle come…"
Dawn turned her head away from Laura. The Egyptian girl was right. Andrea hadn’t said it but the younger girl could clearly see that she shared Laura’s point of view about the current situation.
"When does the ultimatum end?"
Andrea quickly looked at her watch and answered. "Five minutes."
"Spike, are you sure that we can’t move the girls through the tunnels?"
"Certain little bit. They are too weak to be transported."
"So, that’s really it, isn’t it?"
Andrea didn’t reply, she didn’t even look at Dawn. In less than five minutes, the knights would charge, she had no doubt about it, Iceberg wouldn’t want to waste a second.
Suddenly, a music troubled the awkward silence that had followed the conversation. All heads turned towards Andrea, it was the music of her mobile phone. Who could call her at that moment? The brunette slayer put her hand in her pocket to grab the phone.
"It’s probably Eona! I haven’t spoken to her for days. She surely wants to know the situation."
The mobile in her hand, she checked whose mobile was trying to reach her and gasped. As gasping wasn’t a habit for her, the three others gazed at her with questioning looks but Andrea said nothing. She accepted the conversation after a huge sigh, then spoke to her contact with a voice full of emotion.
"You…you’re late."
"I know! It was kinda desert down there. No cars, no trains…so, the trip back kinda sucked by being really long."
Andrea smirked before asking: "Did…did you find her?"
"Yeah, she’s with me. We’re in Queen C’s car but it will take at least 20 minutes to join the crypt. Do you think you can hold?"
Dawn, Laura and Spike quickly guessed whom Andrea was speaking to and hope was back in their mind. They stayed silent and listened to the conversation.
"Well, it won’t be easy, sis!"
"I’m listening."
Cordelia was listening to the conversation too. She was driving the jeep while Faith was sitting next to her and the bu…souls behind. The seer had been surprised to discover that Buffy and the others had been transformed to butterflies…but she had seen so much strange things in her life. Of course, it was strange to speak to "animals" but, well, it was just a question of habit.
The dark slayer was speaking to her sister and relayed the information to Buffy who was "sitting" in her shoulder now. The situation didn’t seem good with an army ready to strike and their friends, prisoners of a field. Then, Buffy said:
"Ask her if the Gang is far from one of the tunnels exits?"
Faith did so before answering: "She is asking Spike! Yeah, ..mmh. Wait a minute, sis. .." Faith turned her head to look at Buffy. "Not far but there are knights patrolling and no bush to hide behind. They doubt that they could go, free them and come back without trouble…wait a minute…Andrea, you’re still there?"
Cordelia would have sworn that a silent conversation had just happened between the slayers. She heard Faith ask Andrea to find a ritual in one of the books they had taken with them in the crypt, a ritual used by Willow once. She heard her say that Dawn should know about it. Then, Faith spoke a bit to Spike, asking him to wait at the exit next to the Scoobies. At the same time, she felt Buffy coming to her ear, asking for her mobile, saying that Faith would need it. She wanted to know why but didn’t have the time to formulate her question. Faith had finished her talk and extended her hand to have it. Yes, she was definitely sure that somehow, the two slayers had found a way to help the others, without even speaking to each other…
"Naomi, I hope that at least, you’ll try to speak to them."
"Yes, Wesley, don’t worry, I will. But now, if you would excuse us, we have just a few minutes to prepare the assault if they still refuse the ritual."
"God, Naomi. Don’t forget that they are not our enemies. They’re just…"
"They’re playing with lives, Wesley. It’s as if they have hostages."
"Captain! The people in there are just hurt and…"
"I know the situation, Mr Pryce. I know it’s difficult for you but I have my orders. If they refuse the ritual…"
"Yes, I got it but, Naomi, what if Faith comes back during the assault?"
"She won’t Wesley. She’s dead. But if I see her, I’ll let her a chance, I promise."
At that moment, Naomi spotted something and cut the conversation. Wesley looked in the same direction and saw Andrea coming with a white handkerchief attached to a bone. Even if Wesley was curious to know what Andrea had to say, he knew that the "brunettes" hadn’t change their mind. They weren’t that type of "girls". So, he decided to analyse the conversation.
Even if Naomi had said that she would let a chance to Faith, should she suddenly come, he knew that she didn’t believe it possible, that she had just said it to get rid of him. But the important thing was that the Captain had heard her say it…if only he could free one of the witch and ask her to create an illusion of Faith…No, they will only gain time, nothing else…He sighed heavily. It seemed that a heroic death was his only option. He knew that Giles and the Gang would prefer to fight too. So, he would free them by knocking one of the four clerks that were generating the field…A heroic death for all of them. He took a piece of wood and was on his way when his mobile rang. He quickly checked it, saw that it was Cordelia and answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Wes. Guess who is talking…"
"So, Andrea! Ready to give us the girls for the ritual?"
Andrea studied Naomi and the Captain who have been the only ones to come speak to her. She had feared that Wesley would have come with them but was relieved to see that he hadn’t…it would have ruined their plans. Still, they were far from having succeeded in it and she could see that the knights were ready to strike should she do something stupid. And there was still the possibility that they found out that Laura had lift the spell she had cast to prevent anyone to use magic.
"Andrea?"
"Sorry, Iceberg! Wasn’t expecting to see so many people. I’m touched."
"You shouldn’t be. They’re trained to fight the supernatural, Andrea. Never forget it."
"Oh, I don’t, don’t worry! I just feel as if I was a public enemy or something."
Andrea was speaking to them but her eyes were following Wesley as often as she could without becoming suspicious. The former watcher was going towards the field with something in his hand.
"Well! If it was me, you’d be considered as a public enemy. Now, what’s you’re answer? Would you let us take the girls?"
Wesley was now just behind a kind of monk. Andrea could see him raised his arm then hit the guy.
At that moment, everything happened very quickly, Andrea saw Wesley grab Tara by the hand and lead her towards rocs. Soon, someone shouted, alerting the whole graveyard that something was going wrong. Naomi and the Captain turned their heads to try to understand what was going on. Andrea took advantage of this mess to make her way back to the crypt. Just before entering, she could see that the Scoobies had been lead back to the field, unharmed but what pleased her was that both Wesley and Tara had reached the rocs…and the hidden exit without trouble. Then, she entered the crypt.
Wesley was pushing Tara inside the tunnels. She was worried about Willow and the others but knew that if Wesley had taken such a risk to free her, it had to be very important. They quickly met Spike and Dawn who had a spell book in her hands.
"Dawnie what…"
"We haven’t the time, Tara. Remember the shield Willow created when we were in the gas station, encircling by the knights?"
"Vaguely. I wasn’t really myself back then."
"Don’t care, witch. You know the basics, don’t you?"
Tara looked at the vampire and nodded.
"OK, so, as soon as we reach the crypt, you’ll launch it."
"Bu...but I’m…I’m not as strong as Willow was…It won’t hold long."
Dawn smiled at her and replied: "It doesn’t have to hold long. Trust me!"
"What the hell was that about! Go and follow them in the tunnels."
Naomi was in rage. They had played with her. Andrea had just come out to distract them and Wesley, the traitor…
"The tunnel could be a trap. Besides, we still have the best game. We’ve prevented the others to move, they’re still contained in the field and we know where the others are."
Naomi locked her gaze in the Captain’s eyes. "Do you know who they have freed? A witch! Do you know what that means? This!"
The captain followed the direction pointed by Naomi’s finger and saw that a magical shield had just been cast to protect the crypt. He bowed his head then shouted:
"Clerks!"
The jeep was now in the streets of Sunnydale. They were now in Rodello Drive that was the shortest way to the graveyard. They would soon pass in front of the Summers House and both slayers were looking at it…their home…then, Buffy said:
"Fairy, look what’s there!"
"Are you thinking about what I’m thinking, B?"
"Looks like, Girlfriend!"
As soon as Tara had launched the spell, Dawn had moved to the front door to see what was happening. Soon, three monks had come and were chanting something.
"Clerks. They won’t be long to destroy the shield."
Dawn turned her head to look at Tara who had just spoken. Andrea and Laura quickly looked through a window to see the clerks too. After a few seconds, the younger Summers and the witch moved inside to watch the girls but neither Andrea, not Laura had moved from the window. Then, Andrea heard Laura chuckled.
"What’s so funny?"
"Wanna know what the disadvantage of being a clerk is?"
Intrigued, Andrea replied: "Er…yes."
"They’re wearing robes." And, in saying it, Laura’s eyes became golden…and the clerks’ robes were in flames.
"The bitch!"
"The clerks are just slightly burned, Madam. They can continue their work at a distance. It will just take longer to destroy the shield."
"They’re gaining time, captain. The question is why?"
"They’re desperate, Madam. That’s all."
"Probably! How many time?"
"Less than five minutes!"
"Then, they’ll see that no one can fool me and stay unpunished."
"Willow? Do you think the shield will hold?"
Willow had tears in her eyes. She was worried about Tara and felt powerless in front of the situation.
"No, it’s just a question of minutes. Why did Wesley take her and didn’t try to free us too? Any idea, Giles?"
"I…no. Unfortunately no!"
"They’re gaining time!"
Three heads turned towards Anya who had just said these words.
"An?"
"If they really wanted to fight, Wesley would have freed us, would have provided us weapons and we would have all died trying to defend our friends…but he doesn’t so, my conclusion is that they’re gaining time."
"It makes sense. But why?"
They didn’t have the time to answer Giles’ question because suddenly, a huge clamour resounded in the graveyard. Willow was the first to understand.
"Oh no! They’ve destroyed the shield."
"Yes! Captain!"
The captain raised his hand and said: "Company. At my command…"
At that exact moment, they all heard a horn on their left. Naomi, frustrated by the delay and all these unforeseen events saw the knights turn their head to their left, waiting, ready to fight whatever it could be.
"No, it’s another of their tricks, it’s…"
"Vrrrrrrrrrrr"
Hearing a motor, Naomi looked to her right and saw a motorbike flying over the external wall of the graveyard. The knights hadn’t the time to react, completely taken aback by the newcomer who arrived, gliding to where the female watcher was, hitting the captain who was too surprised to make a move. Then, the helmeted driver took Naomi by the collar, pinned her down on the ground and, with her other hand, she pointed a small crossbow towards Lisbok who was trying to stand up.
"Don’t move, Sardine! I just want to chat with Iceberg."
"This…this voice. No, it’s impossible." Naomi’s features were betraying her fear at that moment.
Still blocking the watcher with her knee, Faith removed her helmet.
"Told you I’ll be back, bitch! Told you that if you went against my will, you’d pay…but, I haven’t the time right now."
She turned towards the captain. "You know who I am? (he nodded). Good! So, you know what I was looking for? (again, a nod). I’ve found her, I’ve found them. All I ask is 10 minutes inside and this shit will be over. Deal?"
"Deal! The watcher said herself that we had to let you a chance, should you show up."
"Bet she didn’t believed I’d come back." Faith literally threw Naomi to the Captain. "Keep an eye on this trash…and, by the way, freeing my friends seems a good idea to me, don’t you think?"
"Good idea!"
Faith turned to the right side of the graveyard and shouted.
"C!"
"Coming!"
Inside the crypt, there had been a huge hugging moment. Joy and happiness had been back the moment Faith had showed up. Now, they were looking at the dark slayer approaching in the middle of soldiers who were looking at her with a mix of respect and fear. Cordelia was on her right and three butterflies were accompanied them. Finally, Faith entered the crypt. Took briefly Dawn in her arms, touched her sister’s arm and asked her:
"How are they?"
"Weak! They’re in the back."
Faith quickly moved there and saw the three women laying on the ground, pale, very pale.
"Tara? Could you wake them up?"
"I’ll try but, we need the souls if…"
"They’re flying around their souls, boys!"
"What? You mean, the butterflies…" Dawn quickly spotted the golden one who was heading towards her.
"Hey, Dawnie!"
"B…Buffy?"
"No time for emotion now, girls. B, Alyson, Esther, move your butt…whatever here."
Buffy and the two other butterflies joined Faith. The three Victorian women slowly opened their eyes. They were indeed very weak. Thanks to her slayer powers, Catherine seemed the strongest of the three.
"F…Faith?"
"Yes, Catherine. I’m here."
"Oh, so, I’m… not a …bitch anymore?"
Faith felt a bit ashamed but didn’t hesitate to reply.
"Yes, I was the bitch, not you. Sorry but…"
"Did…did you find her?"
"And the other two too. They’re here. Catherine…er…"
"Let’s do it! I screwed …my life up. Let me have a …decent death."
"I was definitely the bitch, Catherine. Thanks, I’ll never forget it. B?"
Faith made a step backward, letting as much space as possible to the butterflies. She notices that the Gang had joined them now, as have Lisbok. Then, she saw the butterflies diving towards their bodies, there was a bright light then, nothing…just silence. No more butterflies, just unconscious bodies. There was no word, no sound for several seconds then, Buffy’s body moved and Faith felt her feet move forward as if they had their own will. She saw Buffy stand up, look around then lock her gaze in the dark slayer’s eyes…and it was all Faith needed as confirmation that her girlfriend was back.
"B!"
She took Buffy in her arms and just held her. The blond slayer was enjoying every second of this hug. She was finally back, could finally touch, smell and really see her lover…then, she heard the sobs, felt the tears on her shoulder and kissed Faith. She wasn’t worried about Faith crying. Her girlfriend had managed to hold her doubts, her fears for so long, managed to lock them in a part of her mind to prevent herself from thinking about it. She needed to let them go. It was just human.
"Shhhh! Cry baby. I’m back now. It’s over! Shhhhh!"
They all witnessed the exchange, the Gang, the watchers, Captain Lisbok, the two former butterflies who had woken up in the meantime. And no ones dared to intervene. Then, slowly, they saw the two slayers knee. A few seconds later, they saw Buffy install a sleeping Faith’s head on her lap, without stopping stroking her hair. The little slayer looked at everyone, smiled and said:
"She’s so exhausted. She hasn’t sleep for days and had barely eaten."
There was love in her words. Everyone could feel it. Then, Buffy turned towards her sister and said:
"So, Dawnie. When are you going to hug me?"
The younger Summers didn’t lose time and quickly joined her sister but remained careful, she didn’t want to trouble Faith’s sleep. A few tears appeared in her eyes but these were from joy. Buffy raised her head once more and looked at Andrea this time.
"Andrea? Thanks for everything!"
"Well, it was no…"
"It was! You’re family. Don’t forget that."
"OK. I won’t."
Buffy saw Andrea turn her head, probably to hide her emotion. She noticed the comforting hand Laura had put in her "sister-in-law"’s shoulder too.
"I think, we should let them alone for a while."
They all nodded to Giles and went out. The witches were the last one to leave and before closing the door, Tara had a last look to the slayers and gasped.
"What’s wrong, honey?"
"Nothing, Willow; Nothing. Take my hand, will you?"
"Sure! Why?"
"Look!"
Willow looked at the slayers and it was her time to gasp. Tara was showing her their aura…and they were identical. There was no difference at all.
"What does it mean?"
"Pure love, Willow. Pure love. Whatever doubts or fear they had about their relationship; it’s gone now."
"Oh…Pure love!"
...continued in Death is our Lawyer...