Old Game
by Vincent
Rating: PG-13
The car was parked just in front of the City Hall. The driver seemed to wait for someone and frequently looked at her watch, it was 11.05 AM. She sighed heavily, certain that the person she was waiting for wouldn’t come, she was already 5 minutes late…
Ten minutes later, Eona was rubbing her eyes, tired, the last few days haven’t been relaxing, the data they had discovered in the book Il Maestro gave them were too important to neglect….then Buffy decided to fight back before another assassin tried to kill them…Faith and her had taken the bus to LA the same morning…their plane would take off soon…maybe leaving the Hellmouth without a slayer to guard it was a dumb idea but Buffy had been inflexible…the enemy had dealt with lots of opponents, even slayers and had won these battles…but nobody had ever faced two determined slayers…no one could be ready for this…besides, it was pretty obvious their enemy wanted them dead before acting…
Spike would do the patrols with the help of the Scoobies…if everything went well, the slayers would be back in a week…
The passenger door was quickly opened by the girl Eona wasn’t expecting anymore. Faith, the double, sat in the car and closed the door. Both girls were looking right in front of them…an awkward silence followed Faith’s entrance…Finally, Eona decided to say something.
"So…you came…"
"Have a gift to state the obvious, girlfriend…now if you don’t mind I prefer when you shut your mouth."
Eona sighed once again then turned the ignition key …the journey to LA would be a long long one.
The two slayers were sitting and waiting for the permission to board. Faith looked at Buffy who had just closed her eyes…she wasn’t asleep and Faith knew that…they hadn’t had the time to discuss since that night…the night Buffy managed to make her accept her past…the night Buffy succeeded in bringing back hope in her heart…
"What are you thinking about?"
"You!"
Buffy quickly opened her eyes, wide eyes and a blushing skin…Faith couldn’t prevent herself to think that it was very cute, then she whispered.
"If just by saying it…I cause such a reaction …imagine what…"
"Fairy, don’t go further" Buffy said that with a wicked smiled on her lips.
"Or what B, you’re gonna give me a spanking? I could like that you know."
Buffy’s answer was cut by the speaker who announced that the passengers for the slayers’ flight were asked to come on board…Faith quickly stood up, grabbed her bag and walked to the gates…
Buffy followed, lost in her thoughts…then a smile crossed her face…
The slayers were gone…but they didn’t go unnoticed…Nara had been watching them during the whole journey...and she wasn’t the only one…a man, wearing a costume had done exactly the same thing and was leaving the airport…as he walked just in front of the toilets, Nara pushed him in and followed.
Once inside, she stood before the exit and waited for the man’s comments.
"Are you nuts?"
"No. In fact, I was waiting for you."
"What?"
A noise made them jump…a short woman went out of one of the toilets looked at them as if they were some lunatics then left the room…Nara did nothing to stop her.
"You were waiting for me?"
"Yes, wasn’t difficult you know…the slayers left Sunnydale…a watcher had to follow them…even if officially you have nothing to do with them anymore…you can’t stay away from them…you spy on them…report of their moves…"
"Who are you?"
"Nara…your murderer."
"What? No no, you can’t kill me…not here, not now…"
"Why, because it’s a public place? Because of the woman who just left? What would she say? The poor man was discussing with a girl with dark hairs who was wearing leather…oh, wait a minute…I think there is another girl who corresponds to this decription too…"
The man’s jaw opened wide…no sound came out of his mouth.
"Oh, I see you are beginning to understand…see (then she punched him on the face) they will find you laying on the floor, bathing in your own blood (a kick on his right leg followed by another one on his neck) probably killed by a brunette..the report will go straight to the Council (she grabbed him by his hairs and threw him to the wall) that will analyse it. They probably know now that the slayers are on their way to England (she let him stood up) the time of your death will be approximately the time of their departure…so, as logical men, they will conclude that the slayers are responsible for this mess and track them in their own country."
The man saw with horror that Nara had just taken a stake from her pocket "Especially if I kill you with this toy. So, what do you think of this plan?" Then, without waiting for an answer, she staked him in the heart. He fell on the floor lifeless.
Nara grinned "That was rude. You could have answered my question before dying."
She washed her hands and then left.
The sun was shining in Sunnydale. It was the end of the afternoon and a dozen of children was playing on the beach. Among the children, a young girl enjoyed the moment under the amused eyes of her parents, Leo and Nara.
"I like to see her laugh like that…without pressure, without lessons…just like every little girl…"
Leo, hearing what his wife was telling him, kissed her lighlty on the lips and said: "I agree!"
Her eyes locked on her daughter she sighed heavily, a tear appeared in the corner of her right eye.
Leo, noticing it, put his arms around Nara who put her head on her husband chest. Then, Leo spoke again:
"You know there is no other choice…she has to go trough the ritual…she can‘t stay a baby her whole life…I have great plans for her."
"I know…I really do…but she is my baby and I have the feeling that I didn’t see her grow…we are engaged in the Old Game for so long that sometimes I feel as we have missed all the important things life can bring…"
"Once again, I agree with you and that’s the reason why we have to fulfil our goal…once everything done, we could at last take advantage of life…no more pressure, no more pain, just life. Can you imagine that I don’t even remember what a day off looks like…What was the last time I didn’t spend a minute of the day thinking of the Game?"
"When I gave birth to Laura, honey…"
Both Leo and Nara were looking at the sea, her eyes lost in the sight of smooth wave crushing on the rocks that surrounded their cove…then Nara ended her sentence.
"…800 years ago…"
Leo nodded and swore that this mission would be his last..it had to…
They had left London by train two hours after their plane landed. They were now in a small town of East England, waiting for a bus that would finally lead them to their destination. As the bus wouldn’t be there before four hours, Buffy had decided that they could go picnic somewhere and they were going to the town’s centre place where most of the shops were situated. They didn’t want to be disturbed by their bags so they let them in lockers in the station.
"I’m not a real fan of picnic you know B…can’t we go in a pub or some place?"
"Come on, Fairy…where is your sense of adventure?"
"I think it’s gone with the rain…listen, B…I agree with you that it would probably not rain again today but…"
"With such a sun, the grass will be dry before we finish shopping…so don’t worry, Fairy…your leatherly backside won’t be wet…"
An evil grin crossed Faith’s face, she went to whisper on Buffy’s ear "With you around, B…my leatherly backside is always wet."
To Faith’s surprise, Buffy didn’t blush…instead her smile grew wide when she said: "That’s perfect..so you won’t bother about the picninc anymore…will you?"
"You…you…"
"Gotcha!" said a laughing Buffy.
Faith smiled: "15-0 for the blond slayer…but beware, B…the game isn’t over yet…"
"I know…so picnic?"
"Picnic!"
15 minutes later, they exited a grocery…they had enough food and drinks for their picnic but Buffy wanted some more fruits and a cover was still missing…so they decided to split up and meet 15 minutes later on a place they had seen near the river.
Buffy was the first to arrive. She had the food but no cover as Faith was the one that had to buy it…she waited 5 minutes before the dark slayer showed herself…She had the cover on her shoulder and was coming slowly towards Buffy with a strange look in her eyes and a strange attitude as if she was ashamed. Buffy became worried as soon as she noticed it.
"Fairy, what’s wrong..you seem so.."
Faith has her hands behind her and was not very comforable with the situation…what could have caused it?
Buffy wanted to hug Faith but she avoided her and said, shyly.
"Look, B…don’t freak out…there is nothing wrong…it’s just…I mean…I’m not used to …"
Buffy put her right hand on Faith’s shoulder, the one with the cover and smiled at her friend…then Faith did something totally unexpected…she gave a bunch of roses to Buffy. A simple gesture that means so much things…The smile on Buffy’s lips grew even wider.
"Look, B…I know it could seem pretentious…it’s just that they were so beautiful…I…I couldn’t resist I had to give them to you…I...I."
Faith was cut by Buffy’s kiss on her cheek, a kiss that cause an increase of her heartbeat…
"They are magnificent…thank you so much, Fairy."
"You…you really like them?"
"Of course I like them. How couldn’t I?"
They remained face to face without saying a word…a silence that wasn’t awkward, nor wrong…they just wanted to enjoy the moment. Faith was the one who spoke first.
"Didn’t we planned a picnic?"
Spike and Xander were patrolling that night…they weren’t the best buddies in the world and would probably never be but they had discovered they were a good team during the last days when the slayers were preparing their journey to England.
The atmosphere in Sunnydale was strange these days, vampires and other demons seemed to hide, even Willie complained about the fact that he had fewer and fewer clients.., and he couldn’t find why.
"I say it doesn’t look good…what do you think, Spike?"
Spike didn’t had the time to answer, a horned shadow crossed the street in front of them to enter a wrecked house, shadow they quickly followed. Thanks to his vampiric state, Spike was the first to catch the demon. When Xander joined him, he had the demon under control…the demon was…slimy but the most scaring thing about him was his glare…he was terrified.
"OK, pal…I know you probably a wife and some kids waiting for you, but I need some answers…"
"Let me go…let me go..they are coming…don’t you hear them..we have to hide…they’ll kill us all…we can’t fight them…"
Xander spoke for the first time since they caught the demon. "Who…who are they? We are the slayer's friends..; we can help you…"
"No…no one can help me…we’re Oh my god…on the ground, quickly.."
They heard footsteps…lots of footsteps then, following the demon’s advice, they lay down on the ground…curious, Spike watch briefly through the window, saw the army of demon and whispered "Bloody Hell."
They were indeed in big trouble…the Scourge was in Sunnydale.
It was a very well designed cottage, so British in fact but what else could he expect from Quentin Travers? It was around 3.30 PM when Giles entered his superior residence and, after having introduced himself to the secretary, he was asked to wait in the living room. Five minutes later, Quentin Travers shook Giles’ hand before asking him to sit down while the secretary brought them some tea.
"I’m glad to see you, Rupert…unfortunately, I haven’t very good news for you."
"As I’ve never been invited here before, I wasn’t expecting such news, Quentin."
Calmly, Travers sipped his tea, put the cup on the table and continued the conversation.
"I know we haven’t agreed on many points in the past but this time, the threat is serious, Rupert. Nothing comparable with the forces you had to fight against since your return to England…"
Giles crossed his legs before pushing his glasses to the right place on his nose but didn’t say a word…waiting more information from Quentin.
"I presume that you’ve heard that the slayers are working together again…"
"Yes, indeed, it seems that they have resolved their issues without the Council’s intervention…something you said was impossible to achieve."
"Touché, Rupert…but, even if both slayers are out of the Council’s authority…it doesn’t mean we have given up watching them. Besides, if Ms Faith hadn’t showed such good will during her time in jail…we would have done something to prevent her for doing any further harm to the society…and, according to the last reports, we should have done it…"
"Listen, Quentin…I know Faith’s past doesn’t speak on her favour but with Buffy to support her, I’m sure she could behave and…"
"You don’t seem to understand, Rupert…I said according to the last reports…a woman corresponding to Faith’s description killed one of our own a few hours ago…in the airport of Los Angeles."
"Are you sure it was her?"
"Not 100% certain…but his co-watcher who was waiting for him outside the airport confirmed that Faith was in the place when the …incident occurred."
Giles sighed heavily: "It was too good to be true…I think we should call Buffy to…"
"Ms Summers accompanied the other slayer in the airport…"
"OH…Quentin…I know what you are thinking about…and I assure you that…"
"Rupert…the facts are there…there has been a murder and the slayers were in the same place…together…could you assure me that Faith couldn’t have corrupt Buffy…you haven’t seen her for months now and according to my sources…she wasn’t really stable lately."
"Listen, Quentin…I trust Buffy…I know her better than you do and…"
"I know what you’ll tell me, Rupert…you aren’t very objective in this matter but I need you for this mission…you see..the slayers aren’t in America anymore…they are in England…we almost caught them in the airport but we arrived 5 minutes after their departure…I don’t know what they are planning to do, I warned every watcher of the country and asked them to call me if they saw them but there is a possibility they’ll come to you…and I need to be sure that if they are indeed evil…you’ll know where your duty is…can I trust you, Rupert?"
Giles was washing his glasses with his handkerchief, then he put them back on his nose and said: "If they are evil…I will stop them…you have my word."
The slayers were sitting on the grass, they had no food anymore and the sodas were almost empty. Faith didn’t know what to do…Buffy was once more lost in her thoughts…she had been thinking a lot lately…especially since their flight had taken off and each time Faith had tried to begin a talk…Buffy had only answered by short sentences…there had been only one exception…just before the picnic while they had been looking for food…otherwise she had had Thinking Buffy all the time…in the plane, the train and during the picnic…she didn’t want to deal with Thinking Buffy anymore…she wanted her Babbling and Laughing Buffy back…Moreover, she couldn’t prevent herself of thinking that she was the cause of such a strange behaviour…cursing herself once more for the flowers, she decided to discuss the problem with the older slayer …she wasn’t used to it but she wasn’t the same anymore, was she?
"B?"
"Hu?"
"What’s wrong?"
"Nothing."
"And I’m a loony tune…look, B, if it is about the flowers..I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have.."
"No, no…I like your flowers…that was so sweet of you.."
"So, what’s the problem?…I thought that there would be no more secrets between us and you are acting like Mystery Girl since we left LA and what about this picnic you so wanted to have? We are in it, the ground is not so dry, my pants are full of water and you haven’t said a fucking word while we were eating…so WHAT – IS – WRONG – BUFFY?"
Buffy flinched..Faith had called her Buffy meaning that she was dead serious…meaning that waiting time was over.
"There is nothing wrong, Fairy…I know I’ve been lost in my mind a lot of time and I’m sorry if I hurt you…I never meant to…it’s just weird…I wanted this picnic to be an enjoyable activity and I made it dull and lifeless…again, I’m sorry."
Faith took Buffy's hand in hers, thinking that for once, she was the one doing the encouraging gestures then smiled. "So, what’s in your head…must be something very important…afraid to see Giles?"
Buffy shook her had. "No, you see, I thought that this trip to England could be a very good opportunity to enjoy being just the two of us…the Chosen Two visiting England…a kind of mix between duty and pleasure…I know I should only think about the mission.."
"I won’t judge you, B…kinda like your idea …"
"Thanks, I wanted to visit things with you, I wanted you to discover things you’ve never had the possibility to do…I wanted to laugh with you…to run with you just for fun…to picnic with you…"
"We have just tried this one…but now I understand your intentions, I think we could give picnic another try…"
"…wanted to date you…"
"Tomorrow would be a good idea, I presume G-Man…wowowo…STOP…rewind, girlfriend…to date me?"
Buffy squeeze Faith’s hand a little, blushed completely, smiled widely then answered. "Yes…I didn’t know how to say it to you…I know it could sound lame for you to hear me say that I was scared but…I was…"
Buffy noticed Faith’s emotion, tears of joy were about to fall soon and she didn't know if she could continue when they would fall so, she launched herself. She took Faith’s other hand then said:
"I told you that I’ve always had feelings for you…three years ago..I was too busy with the Mayor and Angel to analyse these feelings…probably too young too…but the last weeks I have realised how much you’re important to me…how much I need you…I…it was so good to be with you again that I was a bit scared and convinced myself that I needed some time to cope with all the feelings that had come back after we defeated my beast…I was a fool…and sharing the hell that was your childhood with you…that was so bewildering…I suffered with you and I know you know that…I wish I could erase it to your memories but all I can do is to offer you a happy future…I want to be your future as much as I want me to be yours…I know it could sound selfish but…"
Faith’s finger on Buffy’s lips…Faith’s crying face in front of her increased Buffy’s emotion…and she didn’t think it was possible yet…but what caught her attention and fill up her heart with joy was that Faith’s crying face didn’t show any sign of pain, fear…just happiness…and Buffy had never seen Faith that happy in her life…she took Faith’s finger out of the lips, gently and said with a very soft voice:
"I’m in love with you, Faith…see, I’m not scared to say it anymore…I love you, my Fairy…"
Buffy’s voice was as charged with emotion as Faith's but she could hear the dark slayer say: "And I love you, my B."
Then, without any hesitation, without any other word, as if it was the most natural thing to do…they kissed, slowly, gently…there was no need to rush…they have finally found each other…the path had been long and painful but it didn’t matter anymore…just soft kisses but they meant so much for them…
They were all gathered in the Summers house, listening to Spike who was finishing relating the events they had seen during their patrol…demons hunting half-demon, demons dusting vampires or dismembering the unfortunate humans who had crossed their path. Spike was telling them the few things he knew about the “Scourge”.
“…usually, they don’t care about human or vampires…they are focused on their bloody mission: killing the half-breed. They seem to have changed their mind.”
Then Xander who had remained calm during Spike’s speech said:
“So, some Big bad had just tried to kill Buffy and Faith, his employer is not known, there is an army of demons who want to erase all humanity in Sunnydale and…there is no slayer to fight them…so my suggestion is: we find a hole, we jump into it and wait till the pros win the game against the cons?”
Willow stood up from the chair she had be sitting on since the beginning of the report. "We do not know enough to react…Spike; do you know anything else about the “Scourge”?"
“No! Usually when I heard they were coming in the town I was staying in, I moved away…they have a Frankenstein look that could even give nightmares to Lucifer…”
“Ok, then, we do not have the choice…research time guys.”
Willow couldn’t prevent a smile on her lips when she saw the resigned look on the Scoobies’ faces…except Dawn who was the only one who liked books as much as her.
Giles was driving toward his house, usually, thinking of his place, a very charming little cottage in a no less charming little village, in the British countryside, calmed him…all he had to do was to think about the silence that ruled the place, only the soft noise of the paddle wheel that was in his garden troubled this peace. But not today, not after what Quentin had just told him.
Was it possible that Faith had corrupted Buffy? No, every inches of his brain told him it was impossible…he knew Buffy so well, he had trained her…considered her like his own daughter…she couldn’t be evil…it wasn’t in her personality… she had called him after her beast had taken control of her. She had explained her fear to become this primal being again…and had told him how Faith had saved her…how she had risked her life to bring her back to the light. And for this reason, he couldn’t believe that Faith had killed the man…not after what she had done for Buffy…not after she had proved she had changed…Then, who had killed the watcher?
A move interrupted his thoughts…he had forgotten Nigel, Quentin’s faithful dog…He was in charge of protecting him or that was what Quentin told him…the real reason wasn’t difficult to guess, Quentin didn’t trust him.
“You live in a very poetic landscape, Mr Giles.”
“Yes, indeed…according to this statement, I assume you live in London?”
“Unfortunately, yes…I lived in the countryside during my childhood…then, I followed my watcher studies in London…Mr Travers was my professor and as he was in charge of the London chapter at that time…”
“Oh, he wasn’t in the Inner Council yet.”
“No, he joined them two years later but he asked me to be his contact with the London chapter, something I’m very proud of.”
“But, you must stay in London.”
“Yes, life is not perfect.”
Giles turned to the left and was lost in his thoughts once again…in almost two hours, he would be at home…what if Buffy was waiting for him there?
Buffy watched as Faith was waking up. She had looked at the sleeping form of her girlfriend during the whole journey…she remembered their kiss, then the ones that followed, the wish they had shared to go step by step with their relationship, not to rush things…then she remembered their running when they had realised that they had been closed to miss the bus…then, the journey had began and she had noticed that Faith was exhausted but had been staring at her as much as she had been…it was then that she had told her she could sleep if she wanted…she then remembered two strong arms on her waist when Faith had put her head on her thighs and her reaction to this gesture:
"Hey, don’t break the girlfriend…I’m not going anywhere."
“I’ll never do that…but now that I’ve found you, B…I keep you.”
She was driven out of her thoughts by a now awaken Faith.
“Almost there?”
“Almost…we’ll be there in 10 minutes.”
“Mind if I kiss a wicked sexy blond?” Faith asked with a grin.
Buffy didn’t answer, she just put her hand on Faith’s cheek, then laid down to meet her girlfriend lips with her own. She was the first surprised by how easy it was, no shame, no rush…just two persons in love.
A man coughed behind them but they didn’t care, the kiss lasted till they both needed air…at the same time, the bus stopped, they were in destination under a magnificent sunset.
Nara entered the Sunnydale Museum at 2AM…she gave a brief nod to the guard then follow the corridors she knew perfectly now…she went downstairs and joined the director in the basement.
“Ah, lady Nara…I’m so pleased to see you again…”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever…everything is there?”
“Yes, 21 boxes as you told me…20 have the same shape while the last one is clearly different.”
“Yes, I know…it’s this one I want…you are gonna keep the others and wait for the 22 remaining boxes…they should be here in three days.”
“As you wish…I will warn my men…do you want a cup of…”
But Nara was already gone to supervise the work…God, she hated that guy…too smooth to be honest.
On Sunnydale’s harbour, there was this old bar that was closed for a long time because its owners had the bad habit to die or disappear…an old bar that had such a bad reputation that no one dared to buy it…an old bar that was the new meeting place of the Scourge…indeed, most of Sunnydale’s citizens were oblivious of the caverns that were under the bar…under water…nobody had seen the submarine that had surfaced a few days before in one of these caverns…no one had witnessed the first steps of the Scourge in Sunnydale.
They were all gathered in another cavern, waiting…waiting for Trenchman…their leader, their mentor..their Messiah…the demon who had created the Scourge a few centuries earlier, the demon who would lead them to victory and conquest. They were all waiting in complete silence, ready to receive his holy words. And then, he appeared, coming from his own cavern, his lair, he climbed in the scene that had been built on this purpose, saluted them and began his speech.
"My dear friends, the day we have so long waited for is coming…the day we have dreamed about is near and by the end of the week, humanity won’t bother us anymore…no more half breeds…no more humans…no more vampires…just us demons…THE HOLY NATION."
He waited savouring the hurrahs of the crowd…waiting the end of the clapping hands…he then waved his right hand and the silence came back.
"I know some of you had doubts about our new policy…when I built up the Scourge, I wanted to erase the half breeds, these abominations, these bastards coming from the mix of demons and human genes…it was as if we, demons, the most holy race, copulated with animals…it was too much for me to accept and I know you felt and still feel the same, my brothers…I created the Scourge to annihilate this waste of precious genes, to keep our race pure."
Another wave of hurrahs and clapping hands made him stop…once again, he waved his hand.
"But, lately, I discovered a holy text…this text had been written by a historian who was also a demon…he lived before the Great Cataclysm that forced the most powerful demons to flee in other dimensions and he described the life at that time, how the demons ruled this world, how the humans became our slaves, what a wonderful paradise it was and this text touched me, touched my heart and I understood not that I was wrong but that I hadn’t understood completetly what my mission really is…what our mission really is about…it is not about erasing the half breeds, it is about erasing the whole humanity, this infection that took possession of our world and I swear to you, my brothers that soon, this planet will be ours again, that we will live on it as we deserve to live, WITHOUT HIDING, WITHOUT RUNNING, WITHOUT HUMANS…AS FREE DEMONS."
He smiled, the hurrahs and clapping hands were the loudest he had ever heard, he stayed a little, before sending them back to their duties then, retreated in his lair.
He drew the curtains aside and froze…he could smell a human in his lair…he took his gun and slowly, began looking for the intruder.
"Is it a way to welcome an old friends, Trenchman?" Leo said, comfortably sitting in one of the demon’s chairs.
The demon put his gun back on his pocket, smiling at the sight of Leo’s left hand that was holding a glass of scotch.
"I can see you didn’t wait for me to help yourself…is this a way to treat the demon who was your best man at your wedding?"
"Not really..But this salty hair made me thirsty."
They hugged briefly before Trenchman took the bottle of scotch and fill in another glass for him.
"So, how is my niece…been a while since I last saw her…she must think that I’m a really bad Godfather…"
"No, don’t worry about it…she understands it completely…besides, I hope you haven’t forgetten the ritual…as her Godmother can’t come, I abolutely need you to perform it."
"Don’t worry about it…I’ll be there…you can count on me and you know it…6000 years of friendship that counts, even for a demon."
"By the way, I haven’t congratulate you for your speech…never been interested in politics?"
"Nah, that’s easy…all you have to do is to tell them what they want to hear, with one or two religious craps and some promises…hmmmm..now you are telling me, I have to agree…it is politics.."
"So, you are ready!"
"Yep, it’s about time we end the Game…It may be funny sometimes, but I’m bored now…it's becoming too easy."
"Yep, things change…anyway, in a week, it would be over." Then, Leo stood up and added "The ritual will begin the day after tomorrow at sunrise. Now, I have to leave you…I have lots of things to do."
"No problem…I have also a rather full schedule."
And Leo left.
Spike pushed his crypt’s door, lost in his toughts…a quick glance inside confirmed that nobody was in there…he had to be careful…his crypt had become a kind of meeting place for unexpected guests lately and he hated that. He put his jacket on the sofa, took a pint of blood in the fridge then, sit on the sofa.
His mind was lost but he didn’t think about the Scourge or Willow’s idea to beat them no, his thoughts were far from Sunnydale, somewhere in England…somewhere with a blond slayer…a curse escaped his lips cause he knew that everything was going to be different when the slayers would be back…he had lost her…she would win, he had no doubts about it…so, what was the point to be good then…Why should he continue to be Good Spike when every inch of his body asked for evil deeds? Why should he help the Scoobies if he couldn’t have Buffy? Wouldn’t it be better if he let them deal with it by themselves? If he just drove away from Sunnydale? Leave before seeing the bitches liplocked, something he so wanted not to face.
And, during the most part of the day, Spike was lost in his thoughts.
Giles had just parked his car in front of his house. He closed the driver’s door and went directly to his house, followed by Nigel, his 'bodyguard'.
He took his key, opened the door and gave a sign to Nigel who was thus the first to come inside the house. Giles was still thinking how to escape when he saw a hand grasp Nigel before pulling him away of his sight. Carefully, Giles entered his house to see Faith looking in Nigel’s pocket, a knife under the watcher’s jaw.
"Hey, G-man."
"Er Hello, Faith…" Giles was a little worried…he was not so sure of Faith’s intentions anymore…then, he heard another voice, a voice that erased all doubts in his head.
"It’s OK, Giles, Faith is with me."
Coming from the kitchen with a hot pizza, Buffy gave him a comforting smile.
"Yeah, G-man…B…is…with…ME."
Giles looked at Faith when she said it, and missed the red that covered Buffy’s face when she heard the sentence and its hidden meaning.
Faith smiled grew when she saw Buffy’s reaction…but didn’t push it further…Buffy had said to her how nervous she was to tell Giles about them …she knew that her girlfriend wanted to tell him by herself and was a little bit worried about the way he would deal with it…hell, even Faith was nervous…she liked the G-man and knew how important he was for Buffy… "This guy has no weapon on him, just a cell phone that I took…so, what do we do with him now? Quick answer requested...I'm very hungry."
"He stays. I think what we are gonna tell Giles could interest him either, don’t you think, Fairy."
Buffy smiled while saying it…she was aware that Faith was as nervous as herself and she wanted to support her by using her nickname…besides, she liked this nickname as much as Faith liked when she call her Fairy.
Faith made Nigel sit, and told him: "So, here is the deal, Watcher Kid, you shut up, listen and don’t move and we’ll get along well…otherwise, you’ll be in big fucking trouble…understood?" Nigel answered just by a nod, not too sure if Faith was sincere. "Good, wanna a taste the pizza" and she took the pizza from Buffy's hands.
Giles was a bit confused with the apparition of the slayers and the strangeness of their behaviours…they were nervous and he was seriously beginning to fear that they did kill the watcher even if he could tell just by seeing them that none of them was evil….could it have happened by accident?
"Er, Buffy…" he was cut by Buffy who suddenly hugged him…he hugged her back…too happy to see the woman he considered has his daughter again.
"Sorry, I should have hugged you before but…well…I don’t trust this guy and…we have some things to tell you and I don’t think you’d like it."
"Yes, in fact, I’m already aware about the incident at the airport."
Both slayers exchanged a very astonished look before saying at the same time: "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Giles couldn’t prevent a smile of relief…they didn’t know anything about the murder…their reactions had been too quick…to be anyhting else than genuine…and he couldn’t miss the F word that they had both said…if for Faith it was common, Buffy never used it except when she is pissed off or very surprised.
"Er, the Watcher Council had a man who followed you to the airport…he is dead now…killed in the airport toilets while you were waiting for your plane. The murderer’s description matched Faith’s."
Buffy was the first to react: "It’s not us…Faith didn’t leave me a single second…We have always been together…(then, looking at Faith and on a more soft tone) always."
The emotion almost made Faith burts into tears…Buffy had felt Faith’s fear when Giles had told them about the murder…the fear to be blamed again even if she had nothing to do with the murder…she had felt it and at the same time had suceeded in comforting her girlfriend just by saying a word…a word that fitted in the sentence but meant so much more for Faith…for the both of them.
"Hmm OK…Don’t worry, I believe you…so, what are you doing it…why did you leave Sunnydale to enter in my house…by the way..how did you come in?"
"I wanted to break in…you know me G-man…never been a subtle one but…B told me you were absent-minded sometimes…and she was right…the back door was still open…"
"No, I didn’t say that..I said that sometimes Giles.. er…that’s not the point…we’re in and I have important things to tell you…" then she gave Faith her You-will–be–in-trouble–soon look.
Faith smiled and replied "Told you you’d pay for the Leatherly backside, girlfriend."
Buffy repressed a smile…Giles would find it weird…God, she liked when Faith called her girlfriend…she wouldn’t change it for anything.
Giles cleared his throat…he didn’t understand why but the slayers were acting really strange since Faith had frisked Nigel…but it wasn’t the time to question the way they were acting…if they had come to England to see him…the situation had to be very serious.
"So…you have some revelations for me?"
"Yes"...Buffy sat on the sofa, in front of Faith, took a piece of the pizza then continued "Giles, have you ever heard about a guy named Angus McBride?"
Giles was astonished and it was Nigel who answered…the younger watcher’s curiosity had been awaken by this single name.
"He was part of the Watcher’s Council…in the twenties…why?"
Buffy asked Giles a confirmation just by looking at him.
"Yes, Nigel is right…a very famous watcher if I may add. Where have you heard of him?"
"In there" Buffy replied while she threw the book Il Maestro had given her on the table.
"You’ve found the lost chronicle?" a now excited Nigel said.
"The lost chronicle…G-man…what is Watcher Kid talking about?"
"His diary…Angus McBride's diary disappeared with him…as he had been the tutor of a slayer…a very strong one it seems…it was a pity for the Council…the diary had quickly been known as the Lost Chronicle…is it really McBride’s diary?"
"Yes, Giles…it is…and if I were you…I wouild sit before reading.."
"Yes, G-man…it’s dynamite in there."
Giles sat in the remaining sofa, just under the two guns that were hanging on the wall…in fact, every sofa had weapons hanging above them…Faith and Nigel had two swords above their heads…Buffy had a crossbow on her left.
Giles was ready to open the diary when Faith cut him.
"Wait a minute, G-man, I’m thirsty…do you have any water to help me digest my pizza?"
A little surprised, Giles answered.
"Er..yes, look in the fridge, on the.."
"…kitchen?" Faith added with a light smile.
Giles smiled back and nodded.
Then Faith asked:
"Do you want anything, Giles, Nigel, B?" She insisted on the last letter, locking her eyes on Buffy’s.
"You know, I’m not that thirsty, Fairy" it was only at that moment that she noticed Faith’s pleading look.
"Actually, I would like some water." Nigel’s replied was soon followed by Giles who asked for a cup of tea…
Sending a last look to Buffy, Faith went to the kitchen saying "Two glasses of water and a cup of tea…I’m on my way…"
"Fairy, wait a minute, I’ll help you," shouted Buffy before running to the kitchen.
The only reaction from Giles was a long sigh and, while he watched Nigel, to be sure he wouldn’t try a stupid move, he could only state that the slayers were really acting strangely.
Buffy entered the kitchen while Faith was filling the glasses. Faith looked at her with an evil grin.
"Took you long enough to understand, girlfriend."
A similar grin appeared on Buffy’s face when she answered while coming slowly to her girfriend…
"Was there something to understand, Fairy?"
Faith put the kettle on the cookstove and ignited it before looking deeply at Buffy again, she still had her grin…
"I just need you to heat it up, B (she said it with a gesture towards the kettle)…just to heat IT up…you know, I’m not used to it…"
Buffy was just a few inches from Faith when she answered:
"Really…must be an innate talent then, because I think that you are very good at heating IT up, girlfriend."
"It’s just that this reading thing will probably last hours, B…hours without kissing you (she kissed Buffy on her lips, softly, gently, lovingly)…without smelling you (she smelt Buffy’s hairs)…without feeling your taste in my mouth (another kiss), something unacceptable…"
Buffy was kissing Faith’s neck while she replied…
"I know the feeling…but you forgot the (she placed her hands on Faith’s bottom before pulling it to her, a move that surprised Faith completely) TOUCHING YOU" the second she ended the sentence, she kissed Faith with passion, a kiss that was only broken when breathing was necessary.
After a few second, Faith said with the same evil grin:
"Wow, B…that was intense…Am I not the one who is supposed to take such initiatives?"
"Maybe…but…(the rest of the sentence was whispered to Faith’s ear)…I think you have a very bad influence on me."
They were interrupted by the whhezing of the kettle, the tea was ready…it was reading time.
Giles waited that the slayers were comfortably installed before beginning its reading…he had studied the diary a little while they were preparing the tea…to his surprise, Nigel proposed him his help…the younger watcher seemed very curious about the contents of the diary…it was him who noticed that McBride had written a few pages in the last pages of the book, pages that were the really interesting ones according to the Slayers…Giles began thus the reading of these pages.
My name is Angus McBride and I'm already dead.
I'm not insane or pessimistic, you cannot hide from these guys...I'm
alone, they are everywhere.
As long as I can remember, I have always knew I was going to be a Watcher...my father raised me to become his successor...as his father did with him...this is family tradition, the McBride have been Watchers since the 13th century. I did not want to escape this honour and was proud to belong to this Institution that has always fought the forces of darkness...
I will always remember the 20th of May 1906, it was a bright day, the sky was pure blue...but what made this day so unique was my first encounter with Emma Thales, the new slayer. She was an angel on Earth, wore the perfect features of a Greek statue and her smile was so brilliant that I would have died just to see it again...I had never believed at love at first sight...until that day...that day, when the Council gave me the charge to become Emma's Watcher.
I was ashamed by my feelings for Emma...I was 35, she was 19 years old...falling in love for a woman that young was not the way a Gentleman should have behaved...so, I trained her and hid my love behind a wall of authority...she was a slayer....she could not be distracted by the platonic passion of her Watcher...today, I regret not to have told her my feelings...
Emma was one of the best slayers that have ever walked the world...during three years we have defeated vampires, demons and any other evil being...Europe was our territory, England our garden and we were about to cross the Atlantic to purge the New World when the Council gave us a new mission...her last mission.
On the docks of Liverpool, a demon cult had arisen, a cult based on human sacrifices and litanies of blood...our mission was to eradicate the demons who had started the cult. Emma had a bad feeling about his mission but I erased her doubts playing the big brother I had become for her...the mission was in the hands of Archibald Travers, who belonged to the Inner Council...it was not the first time Travers and I worked together...he was a decent man, totally devoted to his mission.
Travers? Giles suddenly interrupted the reading, he turned his head to Nigel and asked: "Quentin’s grandfather?"
"Probably…you know, the Travers have belonged to the Council for ages…"
"Did all of them became members of the Inner Council?"
"Lots of them, yes…Mr Giles, I’m as curious as you are…could you please continue to read the diary, please…if you want to know Mr Travers genealogy, you shoud ask him."
"Yes, yes…you are right, Nigel…sorry."
The Slayers looked at each other, smiled before listening to Giles.
We succeeded in locating the cult's lair and, while Travers waited for us in the house that had became our refuge, Emma and I entered this place of evil...our sources were wrong...it was a trap. I quickly noticed the ring our 4 opponents had on the index of their right hands...the symbol of the Order of Taraka...someone had hired these murderers to kill the slayer...Emma was magnificent...she killed two of her opponents, demons who had the same power as hers...she hurt a third one very badly but could not dodge the sword of the fourth one...the sword cut my angel's wings...still, she managed to stand up, shouted at me to run and continued the fight...I could not do anything...I was myself hurt...I was a coward...I ran away while my angel gave her life to protect me...I wanted to die this day...I cried all the tears of my body this day...I lost the light of my life this day...but I did not die...the injuries were not lethal...so, bearing the weight of all my shame, I went back to our refuge...to be debriefed by Travers.
When I arrived at the house, I saw Travers shaking another man's hand in front of the door...I was about to ask their help when a ray of light, coming from the Moon, gave me a very good view of the man's face...May God curse him...it was the demon who killed my angel a few minutes before...I was astonished and disgusted when I saw Travers paying him...then, everything was clear...Travers had been the one who hired the Order of Taraka...he was the responsible of my angel's death. I wanted to rush to them, to kill them both, only I didn't...a flash of understanding crossed my mind...if Travers wanted the slayer death, it was because he worked with evil forces...if Travers worked with evil forces, then the Council had been infiltrated by them...and if Travers was not alone...if other Watchers had sold their souls to the Devil...it would be the end of the Council and if it happened no one would protect humanity against evil...So, I waited an hour, before joining Archibald who reacted as the perfect actor he was...surprised and concerned...he even managed to really seem concerned when I explained how my angel ended her journey in the living world. This day, I convinced him that I did not have any suspicion about him.
The following months were very difficult for me…I had to cope with my pain and the paranoïa my discoveries had given birth to…slowly and carefully, I investigated Travers’ deeds, looking for his hypothetical partners but could not find anything…so, convinced that Travers was the only traitor, I decided to tell the truth to the Inner Council, the ruling department of the Council…but something, a feeling…prevented me to ask for an audience…after long hesitations, I decided to catch them unawares during one of their sessions, then to take advantage of their surprise to reveal what I had discovered…Travers and his accomplices could not do anything to stop me.
One of my ancestors built the castle that is the current headquarters of the Council of Watchers…as it was usual at that time, secret entries flourished and still flourish at present…one of these entries leaded me directly to the meeting place of the Inner Council…a place no other watcher can walk in…for you information, I put a plan of these secret entries on the last page of this diary.
I succeeded in penetrating in the room, hiding myself against one of the pillars…I did not want to interrupt an important talk so I decided to wait until the subject they were discussing was over…they were speaking about the skills of the new slayer…how much they regretted Emma and I was grateful to them for knowing how special my angel was…then, someone said that Emma was a very capable warrior but that they had to eliminate her…that there was no reason to mourn for her…my faith broke this day with the realization that the entire Inner Council had been aware of the complot Emma and I were the victims…I ran away and vomited my dinner in the secret entry.
Today, I made my move…I was upset not to be able to understand why the organization I was so proud of had killed my angel…why the rules of the Council that I was so honoured to follow were tarnished by those who should embrace them the most…Today, I kidnapped Archibald Travers and,… Mighty God please forgives me…I tortured him.
As time goes by…my life does the same…I cannot stay here much longer but I cannot take this book with me either…so, I will send him to a friend of mine with the hope that he would be able to reveal what I have gathered in these few pages…so, here is the revelations I obtained from Travers.
- The Inner Council is in charge of the day to day business of the whole Council of
Watchers but the real ruler is only known under a single name : LEO.
- LEO is the founder of the Council, he seems as old as humanity itself.
- LEO receives every week a complete report of the activities of the Council but
had made himself heard only 35 times in the whole History of the Council.
- Sometimes, he helps the Council in its holy mission…sometimes, he orders the
Councils not to intervene in specific matters.
- LEO was the one who required the death of Emma.
The Council has been corrupted…please God these lines help to heal it.
Angus McBride
"That’s pure nonsense…this man was crazy…the Inner Council, corrupted…the whole Council built by this LEO who seems to be immortal…that’s fairy tales…and."
"Kid, would you please shut your mouth up and sit down…" Faith said while she was playing with her knife.
"Mr Giles…you are a watcher…you know that it can’t be possible…"
"Yes G-man..what do you think of it?"
Giles was washing his glasses, lost in his thoughts. The only words that left his lips were: "Why does anyone do this…it is not logical…"
Buffy, who had remained silent until this moment, cleared her throat and said.
"Giles, Nigel…listen to me…Let’s imagine…you are an evil entity and you have a thirst for power…but you are not the only one: other evil beings have the same goal, the Slayer has been created to fight and defeat you and you can’t get rid of her because when a slayer dies, another one is born…and you have also rogue demon hunters who wander the world…too many ennemies for your well being…let’s imagine now that you are a really smart evil entity…knowing too well that you have to have a kind of control on your enemies to achieve your goals…and you have a really good idea…you gather the rogue hunters under the same banner "The Watcher Council", a single organization is always easier to control…you give the reins of this organization to faithful lackeys…this Council succeeds in hiring the Slayer who becomes its tool…the evil entity’s tool…"
Giles finished Buffy’s argument in saying: "You can send the slayer or any watcher to stop a competitor, even a witness or avoid any disturbance from the Council just by saying the Inner Council not to investigate a specific case…that makes sense!"
Nigel was still dubitative: "But…that’s not…it would mean…"
"That we are all fucking pawns, Watcher Kid…Watchers, Slayers…working for centuries for a fucking bastard who plays with our lives as if we his toys…killing us when he wants to…or turning us evil with a snap of the fingers"…the first part of the sentence had been said with rage while the last few words had just been whispered.
Knowing full well that speaking of it had probably awaken some bad memories to Faith, Buffy made a step to comfort her girlfriend while Giles looked at Faith…he had just understood the meaning of Faith’s last words.
Then, the window flew into pieces.
The window flew into piece, revealing three horned green demons that jumped into the living room.
Buffy reacted very quickly and waited for her opponent…with a quick glance to the others, she could see Faith taking the swords that hanged on the wall while Giles and Nigel were retreating towards the hall, probably to take the weapons Buffy had seen when she had entered the cottage.
Her demon was very near now and she was about to give him a turning kick when her opponent collapesed on the floor, a sword in the throat. Guessing who had just thrown it, she looked at Faith who was stabbing her own demon with the remaining sword. She looked back at her demon and noticed a device around its neck but didn't have the time to look at it carefully as the last demon was running after the watchers. Buffy took the sword off the demon’s throat before behading the last enemy.
The Watchers were back very soon, Giles had a bowcast while Nigel carried an impressive axe. They didn’t have the time to discuss the problem because they could hear other growls coming from the outside, growls that were similar to those made by the three dead demons.
Nigel was the first to speak, pointing one of the bodies.
"These demons are radio controlled, look at the device on their neck…"
Giles nodded and added looking at Buffy: "Looks like the kind of experiment the Initiative attempted to achieve…"
"That has nothing to do with governmental experiment…that’s a project that was under Travers guidance."
The Slayers and Giles were surprised by Nigel’s revelation, the older watcher asked then: "Are you sure, Nigel?"
"Positive, I received the last reports last week…the demons are controlled by devices that have been magically improved to give a total control of the creatures."
Faith said then suddenly: "It’s very intersting but our groupies seem impatient…so what about moving our asses out of here?"
Giles put his glasses back on the middle of his nose and answered: "They seem to wait for us outside…Faith is right, we don’t want to disappoint them, do we?"
Spike, Willow and Xander were spying on one of the Scourge patrol, waiting for an opportunity to strike. After a whole day sitting on a chair, thinking about his future, Spike had decided to stay in Sunnydale a couple of days, just to be sure that lil’ bit remained safe…he wouldn’t admit it to anyone but he liked her, really liked her…it was bad for his image but Dawn was a kind of sister he liked to protect…he couldn’t leave Sunnydale knowing she could have been in danger…and with the Scourge around she certainly was.
Now, there was Willow’s plan…which was a good one according to Spike. Knowing that all crew members of the Scourge were from the same demonic background, it was normal to deduct that they shared a similar genetic code…so, if the witches could cast a spell on every bearer of this specific code, living in Sunnydale…the Scourge wouldn’t be a problem anymore…simple and effective…there was just a little problem…find the genetic code. Where? On the body of a Scourge’s soldier. So they were waiting for the oportunity to beat the crap out of one of these fanatics and then, take its blood. Spike didn’t like to wait that much but he was also the first to admit that attacking a whole patrol would be suicidal.
The demons were waiting for their preys…silence had been the master of the cottage during the last minutes, there had been no sign of the 4 targets since the first wave of demons had been defeated then, suddenly, a motor had been ignited and a car appeared, crushing one of the cottage's door. This car came upon the demon’s controllers unexpectedly. They didn’t known that Giles had another car as the one he used to go to his appointment with Travers was still in the path situated on the left side of the watcher’s cottage.
Giles was driving his Aston Martin as fast as he could, he couldn’t prevent the smile that crossed his lips, he had bought this car a few months ago, wishing to give himself a kind of James Bond style, everybody had his crazy moments, it could be ridiculous but this idea was saving their lives at the moment. Who said that absurdity kills?
The slayers were sitting on the back seats, ready to strike, the car was quickly out of the cottage, but a group of demons was waiting for them, cutting the only road that could lead them away. Without hesitation and ignoring Nigel’s screams, Giles pushed the accelerator and rushed at them. Normal demons would probably have avoided the car but the demons, following their controller’s orders didn’t move, the Aston Martin crushed 6 demons before stopping because its wheels were locked by the bodies. Five demons remained, ready to fight, strangely enough, they were all on the right side of the car, Buffy’s side. The blond slayer was waiting for them and was also aware that other demons were converging towards them. She waited a little, ready to fight when she heard a big noise coming from the roof then, she saw a dark shadow jump on the demons…Faith.
Faith landed in the middle of the demons, the two swords she had in her hands were already stabbing two demons, while the others fell backwards because of the slayer weight. One of them succeed in hurting the brunette yet, a long wire of blood appeared on Faith right arm. Buffy quickly exited of the car and, while the watchers were taking away the bodies that locked the car, she ran to the demons, afraid that she might lose her love, her girlfriend, her Faith.
Faith felt the pain in her right arm when she stood up but didn’t have time to focus on it or to check the severity of it, she had still three demons to defeat. She managed to escape two clawed hands but lost her balance and fell on her left side. She succedded in taking advantage of it when she cut one of the demon’s ankles while she was on the ground but her joy was very brief as she received a fist on her face. There was no real injury because of this punch but she felt dizzy a few seconds, seconds that could have been her last ones if Buffy hadn’t killed the remaining demons, too focused on their prey to notice the older slayer coming on their backs, they didn’t hear anything, they simply felt the swords cutting their existences..
Faith stood up, laboriously, looked at Buffy, saw the angry look her girlfriend was throwing at her and knew that she was in deep trouble…Buffy was about to say something but Giles interrupted her by saying that the way was clear. Lots of demons were coming toward them and it wasn’t the time to discuss, the slayers entered the car and they drove away from the cottage.
Xander was tired of waiting. Did these guy never rest, sleep, eat or…his thought were interrupted by the sight of a soldier, leaving his companions to go in a very dark street, the demon stood in front of a wall and…
"I have never thought I would thank a demon’s bladder some day."
Willow smiled a little in answering: "Hey, some needs are universal, Xander."
"Should we wait a little that he’s finished?"
Spike cut into the conversation: "I think we should grab him now, there is no time for anatomy or philosophy so, could you please move your bloody asses and help me?" The vampire shook his head and moved away.
Willow and Xander exchanged a glance and the carpenter said: "Some guys have really no sense of humor."
Willow smiled anew before they followed Spike.
The demon had just finished peeing when he felt someone behind him. Because of his uncomfortable position, he couldn’t really resist when Spike pushed him agaisnt the wall, smashing his head several times against it. Xander waited, knowing full well that Spike wouldn’t like his help, especially when he was defeating his opponent and ejoying it.
Willow looked at the corner of the street, just to be sure that no soldier was coming but, to her surprise, the demons seemed not to have waited their comrade.
A soft noise informed Wilow that the soldier had hit the ground and, after a quick glance, she could see the soldier unconscious, probably dead, laying on the ground while Xander was busy taking his blood in a syringe.
Once, the syringe was full of the demon’s blood, Willow joined them. "OK, time to go home."
"That would be a very bad idea."
Three heads turned in the voice direction to see a woman in leather coming to their direction, she was very athletic and was wearing sunglasses, something very disturbing at night…
Thirty minutes after their escape, Giles stopped the car and looked at the back of the car. "How is she?"
Buffy answered: "She’ll be fine, it’s superficial, with her slayer abilities, she’ll soon be able to fight again."
"Oh, perfect…Nigel and I are going to find a new car…wait for us here, that won’t be long."
Faith asked then: "A car…but we have this one, is there a problem with the Aston Martin?"
"No, but if the Council is behind all our problems, they probably have already given the description of my car to any agent they have in the country…this is England, Faith, this is Council's territory, we won’t go very far if we still use this car…we won’t be long so don’t move and wait for us, understood?"
"Yes, G-man, loud and clear."
"Buffy?"
"We’ll wait, Giles, don’t worry."
Faith saw the watchers disappear in the night then, she turned her head to Buffy who directly shouted at her.
"Are you crazy? What was that about?"
"What was what about, B? What have I done wrong this time?"
"You know exactly what I’m talking about, Faith…throwing a sword to my demon before I could reach him and playing Jackie Chan on the roof before jumping on ferocious demons, nearly killing yourself.."
"Hey, I was helping you, girlfriend…you should thank me instead of breaking my eardrums…"
"I…I should thank you, you’ve never given me the time to fight these demons, Faith…I would have been able to deal with them but NO, the mighty Faith thought she could defeat them all…"
"Oh sorry, B, should have known you’d have behaved like this, it’s all about you, isn’t it…your little person probably is the most important thing to you…I’m the slayer, I can deal with anything…"
"What?"
"No wonder Soul Boy or GI Joke left you, your only concern is…"
Faith stopped, seeing Buffy’s face, she had hurt her, once more and the worse was that she didn’t think a single word of what she had just said…the hurt before you get hurt attitude…it was back…she knew that speaking about Angel and Riley would hurt Buffy…she had said to her after the picnic that she wouldn’t make the same mistakes she did with Riley, to cut her off..hell she had even proved the last weeks how important Faith was for her and…the very grateful Faith had hurt the one she loved so much…again.
"Buffy…" she said, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.
"Don’t say another word, Faith…not now…" the voice was harsh but Buffy was also fighting her tears..
The sound of a houter, the watchers were back. Silently, the slayers came in the car.
The woman in leather was obstructing their only way out as the street was a dead end. Spike didn’t usually care about a single person blocking the way but there was something strange with this woman, every inches of her body expressed danger and even if it was hard for him to admit it, this girl impressed Spike a lot. If he had the choice, he would rather avoid any confrontation with that chick.
"Ok, guys, first of all, give me the syringe or I might be upset."
The syringe was still in Xander’s hand. As soon as the girl had mentioned it, the three scoobies glared at it…just a second of inattention..a single second and it was enough for Nara, she grabbed the lid of a dustbin and throw it to Xander as it was a huge freesbee…the lid connected with Xander’s wrist, because of the pain, Xander let the syringe fall to the ground where it flew into pieces wasting the precious blood that was inside. It had been quick and nobody had had the opportunity to prevent it.
A smile crossed Nara’s face, she then walked slowly towards her three opponents, her right index on her left thumb as if she was counting on her fingers.
"So, first point: not to let demon’s blood in the hands of the slayer’s gang…status…done…Point two: to deal with the bleached vamp and with any person who would interfere with that point…I guess we will have some fun time now…you do not seem so excited about it..never mind, I can be excited for the five of us."
As soon as she had finished her sentence, she ran to the scoobies.
Spike easily stopped Nara’s fist, succeeding in protecting Willow and Xander at the same time…he didn’t know why he had done that…a pure reflex..staying with them had tranformed the big bad into a boy scout and strangely enough, it didn’t bother him…bad sign but it wasn’t the time to think about it, his enemy was in front of him and he knew too well that she had to be a though opponent.
"Come on, boy…vamp me…show me what lies in your pants if there is something in it."
Spike launched his right fist in the direction of the woman’s left cheek but only found an empty place, the girl was moving with the grace of a panther, quickly, elegantly and efficiently.
The fight between Spike and their mysterious assailant had just began and Willow could already say who would finally win..Spike was a good fighter but the girl was better, faster. It was as if every puch or kick she gave to the vampire hit exactly where she wanted to hit…as if she knew how Spike would react to her actions and anticipated it with a deadly efficiency..and Xander could see it too, she had had difficulties to convince him not to help Spike…But they have to do something and Willow decided to do so, decided not to keep her word for their sake, she closed her eyes and began her spell.
"Mighty Goddess, I invoke you…"
Spike was having a very bad time, the chick was too good for him…he didn’t see how to defeat her and then, he heard Willow, she was preparing a spell, she was helping him, they would do it…he saw Nara glaring to Willow too but they were too far for her to prevent the spell…even if she had thrown her sunglasses away…but why had she done that and why was she glaring to the witch with these strange golden eyes?
"Mighty Goddess, please give me the force of thunder to…" Willow was about to end her spell when flames appeared on her dress, the flames were spreading on all her outfits and she would have probably been totally burned herself if Xander hadn’t pinned her on the ground before putting out the fire thanks to his jacket…but Willow was injured now and she couldn’t cast any spell to save them.
A new smile crossed the girl’s face, a cruel smile, her eyes weren’t so luminous anymore…she turned her head to Spike’s direction before saying:
"Sorry for the interruption, pal…where were we?"
Spike glared at her before answering even if he didn’t believed it himself: "I’m gonna kick your ass so hard that it will ignite the lamps that are hid in your eyes so I could use them to light the road to my crypt."
"Eww… not a very good perspective…I’d like to see you try…"
Spike launched a quick look to Xander, asking him to leave the street with Willow while he was playing with the bitch…he saw Xander’s hesitation then his nod…if he could divert her long enough…
"Don’t worry, they can leave…I don’t mind..I want you. The witch won’t be capable of anything for the days to come, that’s all what we need…so, come on Lugosi, come on and get my ass."
"Here I am, Goldie. You’ll plead me to stop," and Spike jumped to Nara who easily dodged his attack and fought back with much more efficiency while she was replying to the vampire.
"Do you really think, you can beat me? No way, Lugosi, I have fought vampires, demons and other amusing toys for thousands of years now…you’re not worth my time."
Spike couldn’t stand the beating anymore, he was close to fainting but he managed to say "Maybe, but I can try and even if you kill me, I know I’ll be avenged."
Nara grabbed him by the collar "Oh, you’re thinking of the slayers…they’ll be too late. Besides, I’m not afraid of them. I know them," and she threw him against the wall.
Spike laid on the ground and said: "No, you don’t get it…"
Nara interrupted him by placing her foot on Spike’s throat "No, YOU don’t get it…" then she leaned and said loudly "I AM A SLAYER TOO."
Xander was turning the corner of the street, he was still supporting Willow who was still unconscious…the street was empty and he had heard the whole conversation…astonished, he looked a last time to the fighters and then left hearing Nara say: "I think it’s time we close the debate..what do you think?"
Giles was driving the Jeep they had 'borrowed' a two hours before. They were approaching Olivia’s father house, an old farm in West England. Olivia and her parents were travelling in Africa and he had received a key just in case..if something happened while they were abroad…he was sure the Council didn’t know this place. He looked at Nigel who was sleeping next to him then looked in his rearview mirror to see the slayers. Something was not right between them…neither Buffy, not Faith had said a word since they stepped into the car and they were sitting near the doors as far as possible from each other…he had to speak to them, had to discover what was wrong between them.
Faith was looking through the window even if she didn’t see anything of the landscape because of the darkness but mostly because of her thoughts, she was lost in it, wanted to let her tears fall but couldn’t let them at the same time, she didn’t want them to see it, the only person she would accept the presence in this situation was the one who sat next to her and so far of her at the same time…that was Faith’s paradox so close, so far…so closed, so opened for the one she loved…To worsen the situation, three sentences were coming and coming again in her head…three sentences she didn’t want to hear also…I’ve hurt her again…I screwed it up again…I’ve lost her…and these sentences made her sick but she couldn’t let the tears fall, she couldn’t allow the watchers to see her tremblings thankfully, the darkness was hiding it.
Faith was trembling, Buffy could see it and could also imagine she was fighting her tears…seeing it made her sick also. She had cooled down since their fight, she knew Faith didn’t mean what she had said but these words had hurt her badly…why was she doing it…why was she so daredevil during the fight…Faith knew that she can take care of herself, she didn’t need to be protected like a….child…the truth sank in…that was the reason.
Laura was turning and turning, feeling her new dress fly with each turn, she liked it, all blue and white like a blue sky with tiny clouds…her father was watching her with love and pride, the rituals were close now…she ran to her father but then, notices her Godfather and changed her mind to jump in his arms…he wasn’t maybe handsome but he was the Godfather every girl wished to have, charming, loving…
"Trenchy, you came."
"I wouldn’t miss it for a kingdom, sweet cake…it’s your bid day…ready, afraid?"
"No, I’m not afraid…but Daddy said, we will do the other ritual first. So, I am happy…two rituals the same day…gonna like it."
Trenchman smiled at her then looked at Leo "I thought half of the boxes were still missing?"
Leo answered: "It’s true so, you’ll take this point in charge…don’t worry, it’s just a preventive action."
"The slayers?"
"Yep, they are a little bit tenacious."
Trenchman smiled again saying "You should have known…"
Leo smiled back "I never said I didn’t like it…in fact, I would have been disappointed if they weren’t tenacious…anyway, time for the song and dance…ready?"
Laura and Trenchman nodded before following Leo through the corridors of the museum.
The farm wasn’t very big, it looked more like a big cottage in fact. Three rooms made up the building; a living room that was also the dining room, a kitchen and a bedroom. They were in the living room. They had just arrived and were ready to spend the night when Buffy asked to the watchers.
"Giles, Nigel…er…you said that you wanted to check the outside..er…the lie of the land and things like that."
"Yes, Buffy but it’s late and it would be easier during the morning.."
"I know Giles but..could you please leave us alone…Faith and I…er…We have to talk."
"Yes, I know something happened between the two of you while we were looking for a car."
"It’s kinda long to explain…but I really need to be with her alone…please."
The watchers exchanged a quick look before nodding and leaving them by retreating in the place's only bedroom, closing the door behind them…if they weren’t British, Buffy would have been afraid they might try to hear something.
Buffy looked then at her girlfriend, she was in front of piece of furniture, facing the wall, not wanting to look at her..she hadn’t said a word since their arrival and had succeeded in keeping her tremblings unnoticed but now she wasn’t hiding it anymore. Even an earthquake couldn’t make someone tremble like that and Buffy was sure that Faith was crying too. She let a deep sigh escape her mouth and went to Faith.
Faith could hear Buffy’s steps coming in her direction…that was it…the moment that would broke her…she couldn’t stop her tremblings anymore, couldn’t stop the tears…waited for the blames that would precede the break up..these words she so didn’t want to hear…she couldn’t hear the steps anymore, she could feel Buffy’s breath on her back…and the same three sentences that came back again: I’ve hurt her again…I screwed it up again…I’ve lost her…and then, Buffy did something totally unexpected, she put her hands around Faith’s waist, put her head on Faith’s back and just said: "Breathe, I won’t go away. Ssssss Calm down…I’m here, told you, I’ll always be with you" and Buffy continued to repeat it until Faith calmed down.
When she felt that Faith was calmer, Buffy put her hands on her girlfriend’s shoulders and turned her to face her. She wanted to say something but a still crying Faith was the first to say something.
"Buffy, I’m so sorry…I don’t know why…"
"Shhht, it was just a fight, honey, there will be other ones…I’m not the most patient person on Earth and sometimes you can be…er…"
"A pain in the ass."
"Not my words..you said it."
Slight smiles crosses both faces…then Buffy continued.
"Fairy, we need to talk about what happened at Giles."
"I know, B…it’s just that…I mean…it…"
"I’m not him, Faith…I’m not Andy."
"I know you’re not Andy, B…"
"So, stop cocooning me as a child; I know it’s hard for you but I’m a slayer Faith, just like you…we have the same package, I can take care of myself, I can fight demons."
"I know, but I don’t want to lose you…I love you so much…and the people I love die, B…I don’t want you to die…I’d rather die myself."
"Stop saying it, Faith..I don’t want you to think about that…I know it’s difficult with Andy but I’m not him, I’m not Andy who had been in a golden cage all his life, who was too fragile to face the real word alone…I’m not him..he’s dead, Faith, you have to cope with it, not transfering the fears that had awakened with this memories into our relationship."
No answer, Faith was lost in her thought… "Besides, I don't think letting me call you Fairy is a good idea."
"What…you don’t want to call me by a nickname? You don’t like it?"
"I love it but I think it reminds you too much of Andy.."
"No, that wasn’t the purpose, I want you to call me Fairy, Buffy…I know it can seem like transfering things but I need you to call me Fairy..it’s important for me…can’t tell you why but I need to."
"Ok, but you will have to trust me then."
"But, I trust you, B…you know that."
"Not enough to let me fight demons, Faith…and if you continue to protect me; putting your life in danger, I would be worried for you and not be focused enough on the fights and it can be lethal for the both of us…I can fight demons as good as you do and you know it…trust me and just be yourself, the Faith I love, not my bodygard."
Faith was thinking, she continued to doubt at herself, even at the love of Buffy…she wasn’t completely healed; it would take time and Buffy knew it but, as there were some times were actions were better than words, she grabbed Faith and pulled her to her, kissing her, giving all her love for Faith in this gesture, putting all her passion in this kiss, a kiss so passionate that Faith’s doubts were completely erased by it, Faith putting also all her passion, her love for Buffy in that kiss. The world didn’t exist anymore for them, they didn’t see anything but them, could feel anything but them, couldn’t hear anything even the vase that was broken when Buffy pinned Faith against the piece of furniture, couldn’t smell anything but their smell that was as the most powerful and wonderful perfume they had ever smell. When they ended the kiss, they were so enthusiastic about it that they needed time to recover and it is when they had recovered that they heard someone cough.
They quickly looked to the bedroom and saw a completely blushing Nigel and a slightly disturbed Giles looking anywhere but at them.
"We…we heard something and…we thought.."
The slayers were completely red now. Buffy was the first to regain a little composure.
"Er..Giles, Nigel…even if it can seem a bit late now….I..Faith and I are togheter, a couple…in love with each other…"
"Yes, Buffy, we noticed and…as it seems that your…conversation is over maybe you can explain to Nigel and I the events of the last weeks…it seems that this would be very interesting..sit down, I will prepare something to drink."
As Giles disappeared in the kitchen, Nigel sat on the sofa and Buffy was ready to do the same when Faith’s arm pulled her to the dark slayer who closed her arms around Buffy’s waist.
"Thank you, B…you’re so…ha…there is no words to describe how wonderful you are."
Buffy turned her head, gave a quick kiss to her girlfriend and answered: "It’s because you’re inspiring me, love."
Buffy was about to go to the sofa but Faith had the time to whisper in her ear: "I would never compare you to Andy, B…besides, I have thoughts for you that I would never have had for him."
And then, Faith took Buffy’s hand and leaded her to the sofa…the last comment was so Faith…Oh yeah, she felt better.
Xander had torn the dummy to shreds and was now going to the living room...he had never thought that convincing Buffy to have another dummy in the Summers house would have helped him to calm down a little…just a little. Xander couldn’t erase the memories of Willow lying on the ground, her clothes in fire…why couldn’t he fight efficiently, if only he had done something… were only two of the many questions he was asking himself. He couldn’t erase the image of Tara either, her look of panic and despair when he had brought Willow…
Once in the living room, he spotted Anya who was coming from the kitchen, two plates in her hands, she had probably made a breakfast for the scoobies. Dawn was on the sofa, awake and Xander could see the that she was worried for Willow as all of them. Then, he saw Tara coming from upstairs.
Dawn was the first to speak.
"How is she?"
A visibly exhausted Tara answered: "She’ll be OK, I put some ointments on her injuries…she’ll be fine, it looks much worse than it really is."
"Still, she had been hurt and would be extremely weak for days, wouldn’t she?"
Tara just nodded to Xander who exploded.
"Brilliant! We have army of a nazi like demons invading our streets, a thousand years old girl who claimed to be a slayer and probably work with them and what do we have to face them? A 15 years old girl, an ex-demon, a witch and … a carpenter. No more vampire, no more…slayers."
"Xander, what do you mean, you can’t blame them for what happened…"
"I know, Tara…I know…but I can’t prevent myself to think that if Buffy had been there, Willow wouldn’t have been hurt...that she prefers to spend her time with her Fairy instead of being with us…come on, Tara, don’t say you haven’t noticed that she is hanging with Faith all day long since she returned…as it was the case three years ago…"
Anya and Dawn were staring at their friends, no one dared to cut off the conversation. Tara made a step to face Xander.
"Xander, are you thinking what you’re saying or are you trying to find someone to blame for tonight…to lighten the guilt that is eating you inside? Faith has changed, you were the first one to say this to all of us and still, you’re afraid that she might hurt one of us? And Buffy, she explained to us why she had to go to England, she couldn’t let the enemy try to kill Faith and her again, and the Watchers know how to fight her so, taking Faith with her was logical…"
"I know, Tara, I know…it’s just…I couldn’t protect her…and Spike well, he was Spike and don’t get me wrong, I still dislike him but…well, he saved us tonight and…well, I kinda have a bad feeling about him…and I keep saying to myself that if Buffy or Faith had been there…"
Tara put her hands on Xander’s shoulder before saying: "Probably, but they aren’t there, we have to deal with it by ourselves, and you came with a very important information today…we didn’t know anything about our enemies, now we have a clue…"
"Yeah, a slayer who doesn’t look her age and who can burn somebody just by looking at him…"
"Exactly, so…while I’m staying here and take care of Willow, why don’t you guys go to the Magic Shop to do some research?"
Trenchman looked at her niece with pride, she was beautiful with her dress beside, she didn’t seem worried about the events to come, Leo had been a very good teacher. They were in a very huge room who was bare except for the altar and the boxes that were lying on the floor, 20 of them who formed a half-circle around the altar, the circle would be fulfilled the next day when the missing boxes would arrive…a last box was standing next to the altar and was hiding an essential tool to achieve their goal.
Leo, Nara and Laura were standing in front of the altar, they formed a circle by holding their hands and were finishing the first ritual. Soon, the face of the world would be changed…soon, the Old Game would be over…soon, he would retreat to the Caribbean island he bought a few weeks ago with nothing but food, drinks and a few slaves… some things are essential. Shaking his head, Trenchman focused once again on the ritual and heard Leo say: "We, the Father, The Mother and the Child are invoking you, Tlalac, give us your most powerful son, may him surround us with his strength and prevent our opponents to come and defy our just cause, may his eye cover us by his peaceful glare. These is our wish, this is my wish, me the Father…"
Then Nara continued: "This is our wish, this is my wish, me the Mother…"
Trenchman looked then at Laura and couldn’t prevent a tear to drop on his cheek when he heard Laura say: "This is our wish, this is my wish, me the Daughter…"
God, he loved her niece. Then, Trenchman felt a cold wind circling around the room and knew that the ritual had succeed…tonight, they would do the other ritual, the one that was supposed to take place this morning but had been delayed because this new ritual had to be done and had cost them lots of energy. A part of Trenchman regretted it, it would delay the operation but part of him was delighted too, he would have more time with her niece. Trenchman noticed then that Laura was looking at him, he smiled at the little girl and open his arms in which, Laura was happy to jump. Enough speculation, it was fun time.
Giles was sitting in the kitchen, thinking of the events of the last hours, the sun was high in the sky already. They had spent the rest of the night discussing about what had occurred in Sunnnydale and in England, they had discussed about the Council and the threat it represents for them presently. Dawn was long gone when they had decided to go take some rest before discussing the matter once more. They had to find a solution, to discover who really was this Leo and what were his real powers and, the last question that tore Giles apart just by thinking of it – if they had been the Council pawn’s since the beginning, what was the real goal of the Watcher’s Council?
He was interrupted in his thoughts by a noise coming from the living room. He looked at his watch and noticed that it wasn’t the time for Nigel to take the guard. They had indeed decided that one of them must stay awake just in case. The Council didn’t know this place but you never know…Giles stood up and came into the living room. Nigel was sleeping in one of the sofa while the other one was empty. Faith wasn’t there anymore. As he hadn’t heard the front door, he assumed that Faith was in the bedroom. Wondering if he had to bother the slayers as they..as their relationship had evolved he then remembered that it was Faith who denied his offer to share the bed with Buffy. A smile crossed his face when he remembered the confused look Buffy had when she had heard Faith saying that then, her smile when Faith had whispered something Giles pretended not to have heard to Buffy’s ear - "It’s not that I don’t want to sleep with you, B…it’s just that I don’t think I would be able to JUST sleep with you if we share the bed" - Giles erased the memories of the next sentence from his mind…too personnal to be remembered.
He was walking to the bedroom, remembering what he had heard the slayer say when they were on guard. He hadn’t wanted to listen to them but, as he couldn’t sleep and as the house was small, well, he had heard some pieces of their conversation. He had heard Buffy telling Faith that she was worried about the Scoobies but was also afraid to give them a call that could lead the Council to their haven, had heard Faith reassuring Buffy, telling her they’ll find a solution the next day, had heard them saying words every lovers say to each other then, Giles had fallen asleep just to be awaken by the sound of steps. He remembered seeing Faith carrying a sleeping Buffy to the bedroom before coming back to the kitchen.
Giles entered the bedroom and found Faith, sitting on a chair watching Buffy sleeping.
"Couldn’t sleep. Some people eat in this case, watch a movie or something…I watch my movie, G-man and it’s the most beautiful sight in the world."
Giles didn’t say a word, lost in the moment but was surprised by the next sentence.
"I’m not the kind of person you were expecting for her, am I?"
Giles cleared his throat and said: "You are wrong Faith, you are this kind of person."
"Huh?" Faith who hadn’t stop watching Buffy turned her head to look at the watcher in disbelief.
"Don’t get me wrong, Faith. If Buffy had told me about our relationship alone or in another situation, I would have warned her. Sorry if I am hurting you but, your past isn’t a reference."
"No hard feeling, G-man, I know what I’ve done…I can’t erase it."
"You have yet."
The disbelief was still there.
"For me. The past is forgiven. I’ve seen the way the two of you looked at each other, the way you’re looking from each other support and giving it just by an exchange of looks, I heard the words of comfort you’re telling to each other and I can’t deny what I’ve seen in it…Pure Love. You are making her happy Faith. I’ve never seen her that happy even with Angel. You are bringing her the joy of living she had lost when she was called, the balance she never fully had since that time and I would be eternally grateful to you for this. You are meant to be with each other, even I who have only seen you two together for a few hours cannot deny it. So, to answer your question, Faith, you are the kind of person I wished for Buffy and the fact that you are a girl doesn’t bother me."
"Th…thanks, Giles."
Giles could see and hear that Faith was really touched by what he had just said. He put a hand in her right shoulder and stay there a little while. He was surprised when Faith put her hand on his own. They stayed there during long minutes without saying a word then Giles said: "Tomorrow will be a though day and you need some rest too."
"I’m coming…just a few more minutes. She is so beautiful."
"OK, don’t be too long, we have a lot to talk about and we’d better have a clear mind."
Faith smiled and said "Don’t worry, G-man, I’ll be ready. Besides, I kinda have a plan."
"A plan?"
The smile grew when she said: "Won’t spoil it before tomorrow though."
He smiled also then went back to the kitchen.
Laura and Trenchman were playing cards while Leo was, once again, checking everything for the ritual. Nara had just done her training session and walked the corridors of the closed museum. After visiting the few rooms she hadn’t seen yet, she decided to return to room 14 also named the torture room as it contained a restored chamber of torture dating from the Inquisition period. Once inside the room, she went to the table in the middle of the chamber where Spike had been attached.
"Hey, Lugosi, awake yet?"
No answer came from the vampire’s mouth.
"Oh come on, still mad at me for the little bump in your forehead? You can be so soft sometimes."
"Untie me and I’ll show you if I’m soft, Granny."
Nara sat, next to his head and began playing with his hairs.
"What are you doing?" said Spike with an offended look.
"Daydreaming, see my daughter is busy with her Godfather and my husband is planning some things so, I got bored and decided to come to see you, everything is OK, you’re comfy?"
"Listen Granny, I don’t want to socialize with you. You kicked my ass and I can’t deny it but, please spare me these bullshit and stake me."
"Why do you want me to stake you? I don’t want to."
"But, you’re a slayer so…besides why don’t you want to stake me?"
"First of all, I’m not the current slayer, so I don’t have the duty to stake you, point two, we need you for the big finale, so, I won’t hurt you…see, you’re safe with me. I just want to spend some fun time with you…is it wrong?"
"No..er yes, we are enemies. We should fight each other to death..that’s how it works."
"Oh, don’t be so old-fashioned…if it was really how the things work, Buffy should have staked you long ago instead of playing a remake of 'Beauty and the Beast' in your arms…it reminds me that I’ve never tried vampires…"
"What?"
"Yep, see, Leo and me are husband and wife for several thousands years now and, well, you don’t stay happily together for so long without being very open to certain matters…anyway, don’t worry, I never do this without my partner's approval…"
"Oh please, tell me I’m watching a bad remake of the Addams Family..this cannot be true…"
Nara stood up and waved her hand. "OK? Lugosi, got things to do…enjoy the place as long as you want and…if you want to enjoy the mistress of the house…feel free to call me."
Nara exited the room with a smile on her face…she really liked teasing Spike…he was so evil and prude at the same time…the strangest vampire she had ever seen. She wondered if she would have time to continue her game before…anyway, time to go and find Leo for dinner…Chinese food…yes, she wanted Chinese food today.
Dawn was in front of the brand new computer Anya had just bought. They all thought that this computer could help them when it was research time. Dawn had even helped Willow putting the whole 'paranormal database' in it. But now, Dawn wasn’t convinced in its efficiency anymore. She looked at Xander and Anya who were reading old books without success either. Fortunately, it was Sunday so no customer came in to bother them.
Anya and Xander were reading the Watchers Diaries but they didn’t expect to find anything anymore. If Nara was several thousands years old, there was little chance that her name was written in a book maybe a papyrus or something but not in a book. The problem was that they didn’t have a papyrus or something.
Suddenly, an image appeared on Dawn’s screen. An image of a golden eye woman staking a monster with two big canine teeth.
"Guys, I’ve found something."
Xander & Anya stood up and almost ran to the youngest of the Summers.
"Look, these are hieroglyphes that came from an old temple in Thebes. This temple was the meeting point of the Egyptian lounge of the Watcher Council. The whole temple had been progressively covered of the Egyptian slayers deeds. Looks like Egypt had lots of Bad Guys at this time."
"OK, Dawnster. So, what does it say about her? How had she been corrupted? Did she worshiped some evil demons or something?"
"Yeah, the God of Bunnies, Egyptian Gods had all animal faces so, it must be it."
Xander sighed, ready to say something to her fiancée but Dawn interrupted him.
"There is no translation. I only have the hieroglyphes."
"Great. Now, all we have to do is translate the comic in English. Is it a long story?"
"According to the database, her story was the longest one..it covered a whole wall of the temple."
"Which means?"
"Er…451 sketches…"
"Oh God…Have I already mentioned how much I hate this place?"
Nigel, Giles and Buffy were in the car waiting for Faith to return. It was the end of the afternoon and darkness was falling on the English countryside, they could still see the sun between the depots that surrounded them but sunset wouldn't be long. Nigel seemed a little bit annoyed, turned his head to Giles as if he wanted to say something then looked through the window again. The younger watcher behaviour didn’t go unnoticed though.
"Nigel, for God sake, what’s wrong this time."
"I’m still not feeling this plan…I…it is insane…we have no chance of success."
"I like this plan."
Nigel turned his head to the back of the car. "Er, sorry to say it, Buffy, but you are not very objective on this matter."
"Why? Because it is my girlfriend who found it…do you really think it would prevent me to have another opinion if it was as bad as you think it is? Ask Giles, he could testify that I’m not this kind of person."
"Well, Nigel, I can assure you that Buffy never hesitate to speak her mind..even when she shouldn’t."
Buffy was ready to say something but the smile Giles gave her informed her that he was just teasing her.
"Besides, I don’t think that Faith’s plan is bad…Buffy and I have already used plans that seemed even more insane sometimes."
"OK, OK…we only live once."
"Nigel, do you have any better idea? The area around the Council’s is one of the most well guarded territory on Earth. Cars are checked thanks to very effective devices as soon as they enter a perimeter of 5 miles. Radars cover the whole region to prevent any air attack…and the secret entries Mc Birde used a century ago must be covered too. Remember, they know we have his diary."
"I know, I know it’s just …"
"You don’t like this kind of transportation, do you?"
Nigel looked at his feet before nodding to Buffy. "I tried it once and was scared as hell. They had to disembark me almost as soon as I stepped inside."
"Well, Nigel…"
"I would do it, Mr Giles. I have no choice. Now, if you would like to excuse me, I need some fresh air." Nigel went out and sat on the grass, near the car.
"Were you so annoying when you were his age?"
"Probably yes, he is still young and doesn’t have experience."
Giles and Buffy didn’t say a word during the next minute. Tension began to rise as they both knew that the following hours would be crucial.
"Giles?"
"Yes?"
"Thanks for what you said to Faith this morning. It means a lot to her… and to me."
"She is a good girl, Buffy…all she needs is someone who can guide her, show her that life isn’t only a curse but can be a wonderful gift too…someone who teaches her that opening herself isn’t a weakness but can be a strength. I can see that she had chosen you, her love for you is so obvious as is yours for her."
Buffy bowed her head and gave Giles a soft kiss on his right cheek before saying with emotion in her voice: "Thanks."
"This will be a long way, Buffy. She still has issues and you can’t change her overnight."
"I know but she’s worth it… yesterday, she told me that now that she had found me, she won’t let me go, ever…I won’t let her go either, Giles..I’ll never do it."
The conviction Giles saw in her slayer's eyes was so strong that he didn’t see any reason to continue this conversation. He turned his head, saw Nigel crossing and uncrossing his legs then, he spotted Faith who ran towards the car. As soon as she had seen her girlfriend, Buffy was out and gave a quick kiss on her lips before the watchers joined them.
"What took you so long? I was missing you."
"Yeah, B. Missed you too." She gave another kiss to the older slayer then spoke to the watchers.
"I got it…these guys would do anything for money. I checked it twice, there is no metal in it. We can go in an hour. You’ll see, B…you’re gonna love it."
Sunday night, Avelson Castle, headquarters of the Council of Watchers, an impregnable fortress that was based at the top of a hill. A castle protected by spells and technical devices that could spot cars and pedestrians approaching it while a radar checked the air traffic. The area surrounding it was scanned by powerful spots that lighted it as if it was daytime. Guarded armed with riffles were standing in front of each external door, preventing anyone to enter without approval or credentials while other armed men were watching the inside and the outside grounds from the towers of the castle.
On the North tower, the two guards were discussing while checking the surroundings…what they didn’t think to look at was the sky, as dark as ink due to the lack of moon this night. If they could see the sky, they would have noticed the montgolfier that was descending, slowly and silently, to their tower, a montgolfier that was carrying two rogue watchers and two slayers.
"I don’t like it."
"You told me you liked my plan, B…changed your mind, girlfriend?"
"I agreed with the montgolfier thing as the radar couldn’t spot it because of the lack of metal…I didn’t agree about you and the benji thing. That wasn’t in the plan, Fairy."
Faith, who already had the benji attached around her waist, grabbed Buffy by the front of her belt and pulled her girlfriend in her arms. "There is no other solution, B and you know it."
"It’s fucking dangerous, Faith…this is not a stable place, if the wind blows too hard, you can hit a tower and…"
"Relax, B. It’s not a big jump. I’ll make it. Be positive, I received this advice from a wicked sexy slayer not so long ago."
Buffy smiled and added. "OK, then."
"Don’t worry, B…the only risk I take is to receive the Kid’s dinner in the face when I jump."
Buffy’s smile widened at the thought of Nigel who had been sick the whole journey. Faith had really the gift to comfort her when she was worried. Suddenly, they heard the voice of Giles who was watching the tower thanks to the infrared binoculars they had bought near the depots.
"Ready, Faith…10…9…8"
Faith sat on the verge of the nacelle and said to Buffy. "Gimme a kiss. I need some courage, this is my first jump."
"…7…"
"But, I thou.." Buffy’s reply was cut by Faith’s lips on hers.
"…6…5…4…"
Faith broke the kiss, winked at Buffy before saying. "You know, you’re a lucky girl , B."
"….3…"
"Huh?"
"…2… 1…"
"You’re dating a mix of Jackie Chan and Tom Cruise." Faith winked again before falling backwards to the void when she heard Giles say.
"…0…"
The following seconds were atrocious for Buffy…what if Faith had missed the guards, what if she had knocked her head, what if the guards had seen her and alerted the whole castle, what if she hadn’t succeed in catching something to stop her and was currently rebounding because of the benji? Then, she heard Giles say that he had received the signal…Faith had succeeded in knocking the guards out and had probably unknot the benji…She was probably currently fixing the montgolfier. Buffy prepared herself to join Faith with a rope. The first step had been completed…now, Faith and her had to neutralize the guards from the other towers before they noticed the montgolfier…even with the darkness, they couldn’t miss the balloon when he would be near the tower.
In the Magic Box, Xander, Anya and Dawn were still trying to decipher the hieroglyphs. They had divided the tale in three parts…one for each of them and they were about to finish it…it had taken the whole afternoon but now, they were close to the solution.
"Oh God, I missed Giles."
Anya, who had been the first to finish, looked at her watch and said: "Told you Dawn..he cannot stay 15 minutes without saying it."
"OK, OK…I’m not research guy…nor British..so, I have excuses…Over?"
Both Anya and Dawn nodded.
"Ok, as I had the first part, I begin. The real name of our Old Slayer is Narahi’ti, she was the daughter of a general of the Pharaoh’s army and was called at 16."
"Nothing unusual till that point."
"An, darling…may I continue? Thanks. Her watcher was a close friend of her father and he seemed very impressed by the girl’s abilities. Narahi’ti seemed more efficient that the previous slayers. The rest of the text speaks about battles against vampires and other demons, nothing important. What about your part, Dawnster?"
"Well, most of it relates other battles…she seemed pretty much busy at that time. She found a husband though, a priest, there are some romantic episodes such as (she then saw her friends' glances) …anyway…as I said, he was a priest of Amon, he seemed very influent and probably was a powerful sorcerer…he gave her (Dawn looked at her notes) the Sight of Râ, a spell that gives the one who has it the power of the Sun…it corresponds to what the girl can do with her eyes, doesn’t it?"
"Yeah, so it is a spell…is it permanent, could we stop it?"
"Yes and no…The gift is for a whole life and there is no indication about how we can stop it…she used it a lot in her battles, she seemed to be a very good warrior, whith this gift, she became almost invincible."
Dawn didn’t say another word and made a sign to Anya who understood that it was her turn.
"Narahi’ti lived 35 years, a record for a slayer. She sacrificed her life against a guy who had ascended, some kind of Mayor psycho. She used her gift to burn him but it took time and the demon wasn’t inactive…they both died that day…yada yada yada, new slayer called, blah blah blah…end of the tale."
"What, it is over, no mention of her turning evil, becoming immortal or joining the Scourge ot any kind of demonic sect? She seemed to be the perfect slayer to me."
Both girls remained silent, not knowing what to add.
"OK, let’s go find Tara and Willow, maybe they could extract something out of this tale."
They stood up and went to the entrance but as soon as they stepped out, they were surprised by what they saw. Xander was the first to find back his ability to speak.
"Oh, God…this time, we’re really doomed."
Nara was in heaven in the arms of her husband. They had just spend the whole afternoon in bed, making love, discussing, making love again..the next time they’d do it, everything would be different and they both knew it.
"What are you thinking about, Nara?"
"What are we gonna do after?"
"We spoke about it already, darling, we agreed to…"
"…to discuss it later but when later Nef? Next week, it will be done and I don’t want to discuss it at that time, at that time, all I would want is to go away and take advantage of our new life…See Trenchman, he had planned everything, an island, slaves..etc…I want to talk about it now, Ibis."
"Ok, OK…I give up…what do you want to do? Do you want to have your island too?"
"Why not…but I don’t want to live there the whole year…I want a garden, I want a unicorn or a pegasus…"
"Look at you, if I listened to you I’m sure we would have more things to do than we would ever had with the Game…I’m not God, you know..there are things I can’t do…"
"I know…no, what I really want to do is stay in bed with you all day long if I want to, it's going to movies if I’m in the mood, it’s shopping with Laura when I want to…see, simple things we so rarely do because of this fucking Game…"
"Yes, I know…don’t worry love, we’ll do it…in a week, we’ll have all the time in the world."
The slayers were in a tower of Avelson Castle. They had easily neutralized the guards and were waiting for Nigel's signal. Faith was sitting her back leaning against a wall while Buffy was sitting between her legs, her own back leaning against Faith’s chest. They were just there, taking advantage of just being there, alone with their love.
Faith was lost in Buffy’s perfumes, she could stay in this position forever, her arms around her love, her nose on her hairs.
Buffy was in the same state, she can feel Faith’s breasts on her back, could sense her face in her neck, smelling her and she didn’t want to let Faith’s hands go. She squeezed them just to be sure they were still there. It was a dumb move as she could feel them but she knew that sooner, she would have to let them go, they would have to go downstairs to face the Inner Council. The night was cold too and Buffy suddenly shivered.
"Cold, B?" and saying it, Faith left Buffy’s hands to rub the petite slayer who began to giggle.
After a few minutes of this treatment, the cold had left Buffy.
"Fairy?"
"Hum?"
"Don’t get me wrong, I like the rubbing thing but, I think that the goal is to rub every part of the body, not to concentrate on parts."
Faith’s hands were indeed, rubbing Buffy’s breasts for almost a minute. Actually, caressing would be the right word.
"Don’t agree, B…there are parts that dissipated the cold very quickly when they are efficiently rubbed…But if you want me to stop." Faith let her arms fall away from the breasts but two delicate hands caught them and replace them were they were.
"Told you I liked it, girlfriend," then, Buffy’s face went close to Faith’s and the two girls exchanged a long an sensuous kiss. Once the kiss was broken, she looked at her girlfriend’s eyes and said: "l love you, Fairy."
"Love you too, B. Every inch of me does."
A beep resounded in their walkie.
"Seems that G-man and the Kid did it. The control room is ours, no more problem with the cameras and stuff like that."
"They would also guide us thanks to it…by the way, you never told me where you get such a strategic mind."
"IMF, B..they showed the whole seasons when I was in jail."
"Oh." A wave of remorse went through Buffy’s body. Then Faith’s lips were on Buffy’s again.
"Hey, if I had known I would be with you once I got out, I could have stayed much longer there. We are together now, that’s important…I rece…"
"I know, you received this advice from a wicked sexy slayer…"
"Should follow your advices, B..they are worth it."
"Nah, I have a girlfriend to remind me of them and in addition, she is very smart."
Faith smiled before giving Buffy a quick kiss.
"Wanna kick some British asses?"
"I wouldn’t miss this for an Empire."
"Wow, you know your standards, B."
Nigel was sitting in front of the guards who were in the control room. He couldn't believe it, it had been as easy as pie. As he knew when the guards of the towers went on patrol, they had waited till that time to act. Giles and himself had put the guards outfits, had began their patrol, had followed the way the guards usually followed and had taken advantage of being near the control room to surprise the controllers...as easy as pie.
He watched the guards while Giles was guiding the slayers through the corridors and halls of the castle, warning them when they were about to cross the path of another patrol so they could avoid any confrontation. They were near the secret entry that leaded to the Inner Council Chamber.
At first, he had been doubtful when Faith had suggested them to use This way to enter the Chamber. As it had already been said, the Council knew the secret entries already but the slayer had had a point when she had mentioned the fact that the Council had probably been expecting them to try to use the external entry, not the inside one. The entry they were planning to use was only a tiny point in Mc Bride's plan, it wasn't even the one the rogue watcher had used to spy the Inner Council. Why would an organization that was so sure of its strength (and even Nigel recognized it as a weakness) guard this entry that was hided inside a fortress?
Thinking about it, and even if he had heard lots of bad stuffs about them from Quentin, he had to admit that the slayers were very effective, fast, smart, they had already neutralized the guards when Giles and him had touched the ground.
Nigel thanked God once more for this wonderful moment of happiness then came back in his thoughts.
He remembered then the way they had looked at each other when they had tied the guards, they had never lost each other eyes, Nigel just wished he could known such a love one day.
On the left of the guards, he could see the connections he and Giles had made and that were so important for the success of their plan. The watchers had done their part of the operation. It was now the most dangerous part of it and it was in the hands of the slayers.
The voice of Giles cut off his thoughts. A quick glance at the older watcher confirmed what he suspected...the slayers had just entered the secret entry where no device, no camera could guide them. They were on their own now and their future depended on them.
The walls of the secret entry were covered from a phosphorescent matter, so the slayers could see as if they were in a small street at sundown. They were progressing very slowly, carefully, with the watchers, you never knew what to expect.
"B? Should we keep these transmitters?" Faith said showing the device she had put into her ear.
"No, Giles and Nigel couldn’t hear us in here, the walls are too thick. Giles said we should have the contact back when we will enter the Inner Chamber."
"Glad to hear it, B…it bothers me," and saying it, she put the device in her pocket, quickly imitated by the older slayer. Then, putting her index on her mouth, Buffy nodded to her girlfriend who opened the way as there were only place for one person at a time in this narrow slippery corridor.
Following Mc Bride's plan, they walked during 10 minutes when they heard noises coming from behind them...noises they had already heard and that probably came from the same demons they had already fought in the cottage of Giles. The controlled demons of the Council.
"Damn! I'm such an idiot, B. I should have guessed they would put the demons in the secret entries."
"No, you're not, Fairy. We should have guessed it. All of us."
"OK, they seem as excited as a boy who is gonna score for the first time. Must have smelled us." Then, she added with a grin "It's quite normal, your smell would even excite a legion of eunuchs...I can barely prevent myself from touching you."
Buffy looked at the ceiling and sighed dramatically.
"How could you make such comments in such a moment?"
"Your fault...You're too hot."
Buffy couldn’t avoid a smile. Then she noticed that the growls were very close now, the demons were coming very fast. Buffy looked in the direction of the noises and said:
"Anyway, we can't let them follow us. If there is something waiting for us up there, we can't be surprised by these demons on our back. One of us has to stay here while the other has to continue."
"OK, B...go and I'll take care of these demons."
"No, Faith. I'll stay, you'll go." Buffy said with a resolute tone while putting a sword out of her bag.
"B..."
"No argument. I'm the one who watch our backs, I'm the one who's gonna fight them. Go ahead, I'll join you."
Having said this, Buffy turned and began descending the stairs to meet the demons, leaving a very frightened Faith behind her.
Buffy's heart was pounding with emotion. She hadn't wanted to be harsh with Faith but this was the test her lover had to succeed in, this was the moment she had been scared of since she had discovered why Faith was so overprotective with her. Her heart was telling her to turn her head towards Faith, to give a reassuring smile to her but her mind knew that if she did such a move, she would never have the courage to let her girlfriend go. Thus, she continued to go downstairs while telling herself "Do not turn your head. Do not turn your head. Do not turn your head" or "Please, Faith go, please Fairy, trust me, let me face them on my own."
Faith watched Buffy move away...move away to fight demons that could hurt her, kill her and if Buffy was killed, Faith knew that everything would be over for her, she couldn't imagine her life without her sister slayer, the woman she was so much in love with. Her heart told her to run after Buffy, even if she had to knock her out to protect her from the demons...her inner demons warned her, telling her that if she left, she would never seen Buffy alive again.
On the other hand, she also knew that Buffy had been right when she had told her that she could take care of herself, she was a slayer too and was probably better than Faith as she had always kicked her ass when they were enemies...Buffy had been right too when she said that Faith had to trust her and not let her insecurities destroy their relationship...but what if Buffy needed her and she wasn't there to prevent the unthinkable?
Buffy could hear Faith's breath even if she was feet away from the brunette, she could detect the unsecured feeling that inhabited Faith's mind in it. Tears began to roll on her cheeks but she continued to move away, saying the same mantra in her head: "Please, Faith go, please Fairy, trust me, let me face them on my own." Then, she heard a big 'FUCK' followed by steps that moved away to the Inner Council Chamber. It was at that time that she let herself breathe again, happy that Faith had made the right choice. She then focused on her sword and waited for the demons that would appear a few seconds later.
Faith ran even if her heart continued to tell her to come back and help Buffy, tears were also running on her cheeks but she felt relieved at the same time because she knew that she had taken the right decision, knew that she had gone through one of the last issues that could have spoiled their love. She kept running and made a quick prayer for Buffy.
"God, Allah, Buddha, Vishnu or whatever your name is, you’d better not let her be killed or I swear by your name that I'd go to your fucking paradise and beat the hell out of you."
Trenchman was looking through the window to the wonderful show that was played by the inhabitants of Sunnydale. He liked to see people entirely controlled by panick and despair, it must be a part of the demon package and he wouldn’t want to change it.
He could see people running with absolutely no destination or purpose, other crying as children. He noticed a gang plundering shops that had been deserted by their owners and he could guess that lots of people were gathering in churches, searching comfort in their God’s houses. Pathetic! If only they knew…
"Interesting view?"
"Oh, Leo. Sorry, I was once again amazed by the diversity of human reactions in face of danger."
"I noticed. See, there was no way to complain about the slowness of the ritual’s effects…isn’t it worth the wait?"
"Oh yeah! Sorry for that but you know me, always impatient to learn new tricks."
"What were you expecting? A sudden apparition, one second everything is normal, the second after, Tadam, here it comes…the forces of nature are very difficult to deal with, my friend, it takes time to domesticate it."
"Yes and now, no one can leave or come in Sunnydale. The slayers aren’t a threat anymore."
They didn’t move nor speak during the next 10 minutes, lost in the contemplation of the external events. Leo was the first to speak.
"Everything is ready, Laura’s ritual will begin in 15 minutes and, as you know, we need you to perform it. Ready?"
Trenchman turned his head towards Leo and only nodded.
A pile of demons was standing between Buffy and her three remaining opponents. It had been easier than Buffy had thought. Being in a confined space like this corridor had been a benediction for the slayer as it had obliged the creatures to fight her one by one. Besides, each time Buffy had killed a demon, the others had to climb above it to face her, giving her the time to cut them off. The last point in favour of Buffy was the dumbness of these demons and their limited vocabulary, of course. Soon, she would have killed them all and could go help her Faith.
Buffy took the second sword that was hanging in her belt. Now, she had both of them in her hands.
"OK, Guys, bored now, the party is over."
The slayer put a foot on a demon’s body and jumped above the pile, landing in the middle of the surprised demons. Before touching the ground, she had beheaded one of them and, following her landing, she put the swords in the remaining demons hearts. She took a sword back, let the last one on the body, jumped one last time above the pile and ran into the direction Faith had taken a few minutes before.
Faith was now in front of the exit, in front of the secret door that leaded to the Inner Chamber. She touched the wall, looking for the stone that hided the opening system and quickly found it. She was about to push it when she remembered to press the button, hidden in her jacket. Once the button pressed, she pushed the stone and the door opened way too loud according to Faith’s taste. Ready to face almost anything, Faith entered the room carefully but couldn’t prevent an exclamation of surprise once inside.
"What the fuck…"
The neons lighted the whole Chamber that was only a big room with 5 huge pillars that contained a single circle table and a dozen chairs, an altar was based on the South of the room, next to Faith while a huge screen was hanging on the Eastern wall. But the room wasn’t the cause of Faith’s surprise, she hadn’t expected to see the whole Inner Council…dead and, according to their faces and the broken glasses she could see everywhere, they had been poisoned. Then, as she was still wondering what to do, someone switched the light off.
Even if she had been surprised by the assassination of the Council, Faith hadn’t stopped scrutating the room, looking for enemies. As she hadn’t seen anybody, the person who had just brought darkness into the room had to be hiding behind a pillar. Moving carefully, back on the wall, Faith had began to walk as soon as the light had disappeared. She was wondering what to do next when she noticed the tiny red spot that had just appeared on her chest.
Faith jumped on the floor, crawling to the altar that had been her goal since darkness had come, hearing two gunshots hitting the walls around her. A sniper, the damned son of a bitch who had poisoned the watchers was also a sniper. Looking for the infrared glasses Giles had given her, 'just in case', she quickly found them in her right pocket and put them on her nose, thanking the watcher’s wisdom. Now, she could see in darkness but couldn’t see her opponent withour risking a bullet in her head.
"Well, well, you’re quicker than I thought."
OK, the bastard wanted to play, Faith was just too happy to oblige.
"Impressed?"
"No, I know what you, slayers, are capable of. Unfortunately for you, Victor is one of the best sniper I ever met. Enjoy your last minutes, Faith."
"Is it what you had said to your colleagues just before poisoning them, Quentin?"
This was a big gamble based only on Faith’s intuition. Besides, Quentin Travers was the only watcher she could named so…
"Oh, you’re very shrewd, Faith. In fact, I think I underestimated you. I thought that Ms Summers was the brain in your team…in fact, it was her I was expecting here. Where is she? Did she met an…unfortunate fate?"
Faith breathed, she had been right.
"No, she’ll be here soon enough, you’ll see. She is having fun with some of your demons."
"I see."
Faith knew the sniper was moving towards the altar but couldn’t hear him for now. That meant that he wasn’t too close from her. So, she could keep talking.
"Why did you poisoned them, Quentin? I thought they were working for this Leo guy just like you."
"He doesn’t need them anymore and as I am his spokesman to the Council, as every Travers had been before, he gave me the mission to eliminate all individuals who know something about the Game."
"And it is your speciality, isn’t it? Killing innocent, killing slayers for his benefit. There was a time I thought you were the good guys…I was so wrong."
"You can’t understand the Game, Faith. It is something you can’t even begin to understand. I think I work for the sake of humanity…but you can’t fight evil without losses and I’d sacrifice a thousand watchers or slayers to stop the forces of darkness. I made a deal with Leo, I confess the Inner Council kill or act on his behalf for ages but he was the one who created us, who gave shape to our organization and it is thanks to him that we can face evil."
"You’re always talking about that Game? What game?"
"Oh, you don’t expect me to answer that question, do you? Anyway, my time is precious and I have a visit to pay to the 15th oubliette before leaving."
"You don’t want to see if your sniper can shoot me?"
"I don’t have the time. Besides, if he misses you, you’ll have the whole castle on you. Do not forget they believe that you killed one of our crew."
"Not anymore, bastard!" and saying it, Faith heard a noise on her left, the sniper was very close now. So, she glided to her right, waiting for an opportunity.
"What do you mean?"
"Giles is in the control room. I have a transmitter on me and he played our little chat in live for the whole castle. Don’t count on your watchers to stop me. Do count on them to hunt you for the murders of their peers, loser."
"I might be a loser, but soon, you’ll be dead."
The sniper was very close now. She could feel his presence. She had to act quick, otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to avoid the next bullet. She began to stood up and then she heard:
"Fairy?"
Buffy, Buffy was here. Part of Faith was relieved to hear her voice. She had made it. She had beaten the demons. She was still alive.
Another part was worried now. The sniper! Hearing Buffy, he would probably shoot her. She couldn’t let that happen. Fortunately, she had continued her move even while she had heard her love’s voice. Thanks to her infrared glasses, she could spot the sniper, only five feet away from her. She could see that he hadn’t seen her and was currently rotating his body to fire on Buffy. Not paying attention to anything else, Faith jumped on the killer, kicked his arm, a move that made him drop the riffle then, she took advantage of her jump to knock his head on a pillar. The killer was unconscious, Buffy was safe, everything was allright. For the first time, she looked at Buffy who couldn’t see anything.
"The switch is on the pillar to your left, B. Switch the light on and come with me. I want you to meet someone."
Faith grabbed the riffle, broke it on her knee and quickly noticed Quentin who was quietly beating a retreat to the North of the room.
"Don’t move, asshole. I can see you."
The light came back and with it, Faith could hear Buffy’s 'Oh my God' when she saw the bodies. She dropped her glasses and said.
"This son of a bitch poisoned them. Think you know him."
"Travers…why am I not surprised?"
"Well, Ms Summers, it’s always a pleasure to see you."
"The pleasure is all yours, pal."
Buffy was on bad girl mode and Faith liked her that way. She could also hear Buffy coming in her direction, feel her every move. She turned her head towards Buffy who suddenly shouted:
"Faith, look out."
Faith looked at Quentin just in time to see him disappearing through another hidden door that quickly close behind him.
"The fucking bastard." Faith shouted while running to the wall.
"Where is the opening stone?" Buffy said while they were both checking the wall.
"The bastard, the bastard…the fucking bastard." Faith was knocking the wall, furious. Then, Buffy found the stone and the entry was open again.
Faith was ready to run after him but felt Buffy’s hand on her shoulder. She looked at her amazing green eyes and closed her eyes to fill Buffy’s lips on hers. The kiss was quick but so wonderful at the same time.
Buffy just said: "Missed you," then entered the secret corridor.
In one single act and 2 words, Buffy had calmed Faith down…completely…God, she loved that girl.
Quentin was running as fast as he could. The slayers wouldn’t take long to follow. He had to reach the 15th oubliette before them. If 'he' talked to them, they would known too many things about the Game. Fortunately, these stairs would lead him near the oubliette.
After a few more seconds, he turned to his left and stopped, scared as hell. A demon, a guardian demon was in front of him. He had to deactivate him thanks to the remote control but he realised with horror that he had forgotten it in the Inner Chamber…he had no control on the beast that caught him by the throat.
The slayers were facing a spiral staircase now. The question was where did Quentin go?
"Where do you think he go, Fairy?" Buffy said looking behind her at Faith.
"Downstairs, B. Talked about a guy he had to kill in an oubliette…the 15th I think."
Suddenly, while the were beginning their descent, they heard a scream coming from downstairs. The slayers hurried up and stopped in front of a demon who had its teeth on Travers neck and didn’t seem to notice them.
"I think we can stop running, B. He won’t go far now."
"Yep. Pity, I would have liked to spend a few second with him…alone."
"Me too. So, what’s the plan now."
"Easy, you kill the demon and we go to this oubliette to see who’s locked in there." She gave her sword to Faith while answering her girlfirend’s question.
"Thanks, B."
"You’re welcome. I thought you could have some fun too. Besides, I’ve killed enough demon for tonight…I’m kinda near the indigestion."
"Oh, I so don’t want to see you sick, B."
Faith took the sword and threw him to the demon. The sword ended its way through the demon’s neck.
"Hey, what’s the deal with you throwing swords?"
"Can you keep a secret?"
Buffy crossed her arms, simulating irritation. "Of course!"
"I want to propose it as an Olympic discipline with the…"
"…synchronised slaying?"
They both looked at each other before laughing, then they kissed before going to the oubliette, hand in hand, smiling like two teenagers.
They quickly found the exit, then the oubliette that was very easy to open. Inside they discovered an unconscious man, laying on the ground, his head hidden in his covers. Faith went to the poor guy, turned his head then look at Buffy who said:
"Fairy…I know him…it’s…"
Dawn was near and they had spent more than five hours doing this ritual but, soon, it would be over. Nara cleaned the sweat that was covering her body, mixed with tears on her cheeks. Laura was still laying on the altar, under a white sheet that was now covered of red spots…blood spots.
She remembered the ritual completely, remembered her baby sitting on the altar, a bit afraid by the whole ceremonial. Then, she had smiled at her and had layed down, putting the sheet over her body. She remembered Trenchman, Leo and herself, cutting their hands to drop their blood on the sheet, then, Leo cutting her baby’s hand to mix her blood with theirs. She had wanted to stop the ritual at that time but knew it had been too late…you couldn’t stop a ritual that had already begun. Then, her heart had bleed when she had seen Laura’s body shaking, her voice screaming under the convulsions. She remembered having seen a tear on her husband’s cheek, having seen Trenchman turning his head with an emotion she had never noticed in his eyes before. They were suffering from seeing Laura in this state but they all knew that it was necessary.
The convulsions had last a long time but the screams had stopped for a long while now, Laura had been unconscious during half of the ritual. Suddenly, there were no more convulsion, Laura’s body was still. Nara hold her breath, waiting for a move. Then, she saw it, she saw a hand, Laura’s right hand moving under the sheet. She saw the hand moving out of the sheet, touching it in the level of the head and removing it quickly. She then saw a young woman, in her mid twenties with long dark hairs and a yellow lock of hair falling on her forehead…a woman who looked a lot like her. Her baby was gone…Laura was a woman now.
The sun was high in the English sky and no clouds were hiding it. In one of the tower of the Watcher’s Castle, the slayers were lost in the contemplation of the nature that surrounded them. Buffy was sitting on a loophole, her legs standing in the void while her back was against Faith's who was sitting right behind her on the same loophole.
Buffy had her head on Faith’s shoulder and was enjoying this moment of calm, this moment with Faith, their first real moment of real tranquility since the declaration of love, two days before.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Faith while kissing Buffy’s neck.
"Us."
"And?"
Buffy turned her head and torso towards Faith and smiled, her hand was now on the brunette’s right cheek.
"First of all, I love you (a quick kiss followed that statement). Secondly I’m very proud of you."
Faith blushed a bit and touched Buffy’s hand that was still on her cheek. "Love you too, my B…proud of me?"
"You know what I mean. I know how difficult it was for you to let me fight the demons alone. You defeated your fear once more, Fairy. I know you still feel weak sometimes but believe me, you’re one of the strongest persons I ever met, you’re even stronger than me."
"I’m not. If I am that strong it’s because you have been there for me, always. Even when I was in jail, you were the one that guided my life. Each time I was feeling down, I thought of you and it gave me the courage to continue. Fuck, I even named my mirror B."
"What?" Buffy asked with giggles.
"Er…yeah. Sometimes when I was alone in the cell, I looked into it and did the Snow White silly sentence 'B…my dear B…who’s the most pretty girl on Earth' and I imagined it answering that it was me…I imagined you answering that..pathetic much, hé?"
"Not at all. You know what, Fairy?"
"No, but you’ll tell me."
A smile on Buffy’s face. "You amaze me…shhht let me continue…you amaze me by your strength, by your golden heart, by your romatic mind, hided behind this tough girl attitude and I’m so proud to be the one you let see it. I’m so proud to be the one you love."
Faith looked away, embarrassed and blushing. "Well…thanks, B…I don’t know what to say."
"Don’t say anything, just kiss me."
Faith bowed her head and did so. The kiss last a long long time, their tongues dueled inside each other mouths but it was the softer and most romantic kiss they had shared since the picnic, two days before.
Faith was the one who broke the kiss. She locked her eyes in Buffy’s and said.
"Actually, I know what to say. I love you, Buffy. I always have. The sky right above us, the nature around us are perfect but the most beautiful sight is in front of me, in my arms. Yesterday, I spent a lot of time just watching you in your sleep and this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, B. Be with you, looking at you…feeling you by my side. You’re everything I dreamed about, strong, beautiful, hell, you even manage to support me."
They both smiled, some tears have appeared in their eyes. Buffy put her head on Faith’s chest and they stayed in each other arms for a long time.
They finally heard Giles coming to them. He stopped next to them, looking to the countryside.
"So, G-man. What happened?"
Giles was cleaning his glasses then said.
"Well, there are lots to do to rejuvenate the Council and make it operational again. The Inner Council controlled everything and they’re all dead so, we have to find new leaders…we have to gather all the watchers to discuss these matters."
Buffy then noticed that Giles hadn’t looked at them yet. It wasn’t in the watcher’s usual behaviour. Something had happened.
"Giles, what’s wrong?"
He finally looked at them and his eyes confirmed Buffy’s suspicions.
"He…he is awake and…"
"And what…come on G-man, spill it."
"I was coming to tell you he wanted to speak to you..then, I heard something on the news…it was about Sunnydale."
Both slayers stood up quickly, too quickly in Giles' taste. They could have fallen from the tower and get killed. But he decided not to say anything. It wasn’t the time for a lecture about the danger of standing up on a loophole.
"Come with me, I’ll show you. We tape every newsflash to analyse them, to see if there is no suspected supernatural activity in some news."
They ran in the stairs towards a room that contained lots of tapes and CD-Roms and a huge screen. Giles asked for the last newsflash and put it in the recorder. A man, sitting in front of a desk appeared on the screen.
"We will come back to this trial at the end of the flash….In California, a cyclone has appeared from nowhere in the region of Sunnydale. The specialists have not been able to explain how such a phenomenon could possible appear without being noticed by anyone. It is completely against the current theories about cyclones, typhoons, etc…We, of course, share the concern of people who have family or friends living in Sunnydale. The town stands just in the eye of the Cyclone and seemed untouched for the moment as you can see in this picture coming from a satellite, just above Sunnydale. The specialists are facing another unexplained side of this cyclone because it seems to remain still, it hasn’t moved since its creation. The surrounding of Sunnydale are completely devastated but the town in itself is safe as long as the cyclone remain still. An expert of cyclone, Mr Harvis, will share his thoughts with us in our next flash…"
Faith and Buffy remained silent, shocked. Then, the dark slayer said: "They have closed the door. We can’t move in…"
"…and our friends can’t get out…" Buffy ended.
Xander had Willow in his arms. Dawn, Tara and Anya were following him. They had no idea where to go. The cyclone had trapped them and the Scourge was hunting them. Fortunately for them, Dawn had seen them come and they had had the time to escape. But what could they do. Dawn, Anya and himself couldn’t do much against the Scourge, Narahi-ti and whoever was behind this shit. Tara couldn’t do anything on her own, she would be alone against an army. Willow was seriously injured and couldn’t do anything for them in her current state and Spike…well, if he wasn’t dust at that time, he couldn’t do anything either. He had hoped that the slayers would come to help them but, the cyclone had come and his hopes had gone when he had seen it. This time, they were really doomed.
Andrea stood in front of the cyclone. She was in a safe place, just outside the Cyclone’s area. She could feel the wind on her face with the sand that was carried by this wind and the water that was coming from the ocean on her left. She could feel the sand of the beach on her bare feet and looked at the natural phenomenon. She had taken her decision for a while now. She would run into the external part of the cyclone. A place wherein a horse would have a chance to escape as the cyclone was still but where a normal human being would be taken away by the furious winds that shaped the spiral. But, she wasn’t a normal human being. Kelanu had told her that the first step had to be the control of her physcial abilities that would lead to the control of her mental ones. Facing a cyclone, what a challenge for these physical abilities. She made the first step and ran towards the storm.
...continued in Chosen...