FIC: MC 13 Dec ’99 Demons Of The Past (1/9)

"If loving you is wrong.

I don’t wanna be right."

Lorne grimaced as he peered through the smoky atmosphere of his newly-opened Phoniex nightspot. A club bought with Xander’s money.

His scowl deepened as he thought of the god-possessed youth. Nodding his thanks to the waiting bartender, he took his Sea-Breeze and took a sip. He hadn’t taken this job because of what Xander had threatened to do to Caratis or even because of the money offered. It was because, he frowned and took another sip, because it would be good to stick two fingers up at the Powers That Be.

Just what were they playing at anyway? It wasn’t right, a good-hearted boy like Xander and a spirited girl like Faith being forced to serve as their champions. And after their stomach-churning home lives. "No justice," he muttered.

Lorne squinted as he noticed something in the aura of the vampire singing on-stage. "Time to go to work," he took a breath before directing a smile towards the bartender. Placing his cocktail on the counter, he stood up. "You make a great Sea-Breeze Mikey," he praised. "Tom Cruise wishes he could mix a drink like you." He nodded towards the private quarters at the back of the bar. "I’m taking five, hold all my fan-mail, etc, etc."

Once in the back rooms, he picked up the specially encrypted phone that Lyle’s people had fitted. After running the electronics checks that he’d been shown, he dialled a number and waited.

* * *

Faith allowed herself a rare unguarded smile as she peered up at the snoring body led beside her, Xander’s thickly muscled arm snaked possessively around her waist. All her life she’d been programmed to believe that she was worthless, that no-one would ever love her, want her hell yeah, but love a slut like her? That was a laugh. And that belief had resulted in her philosophies of ‘Want, Take, Have’, and ‘Get Some, Get Gone’. Dump ‘em before they dumped her.

But then Xan, she stroked her lover’s arm, had bludgeoned his way past her defences. First he’d risked his life to save her worthless ass. Then, after she’d given him his thank you by fucking him – ‘cause otherwise he really wasn’t her type, and just thrown him aside like he was shit, her cheeks burnt at the shameful memory, he hadn’t given up on her. Hell, he’d even risked his life to save her from killing a human.

It had taken a while, but now she was really starting to believe that she actually loved the big goof and that he returned the feelings. Now she had a sweetheart all of her own.

She chuckled suddenly. "New body’s a kick-ass bonus too." She leaned over to plant a tender kiss on X’s cheek.

* * *

"Ah shit!" she hissed as she was interrupted by the distinctive ringing of Xan’s mobile. Realising that the phone must be hidden amongst the clothes they’d eagerly torn off and flung to the floor as a prelude to jumping one another’s bones, she leaned across X’s body and went through the piles, muttering curses as she did so. Finally she found it. "Yo!" she growled, not bothering to hide her irritation. "It had better be damn important!"

"Well spitfire, you sound cheery."

Faith smirked as she recognised the bantering voice. Despite her disgruntlement at having her night interrupted, she always got a buzz from speaking to the night club owner. "Yo Greenie," she chuckled. "What ya doing ringing a girl just after a booty call?"

"Oh," the demon sounded nonplussed. "I’m sorry sweetie, I thought I rang Xander’s phone?"

Faith’s grin widened. "You did," she confirmed.

"Oh, oh. OH!" Faith practically heard the penny drop for the demon. Lorne sighed. "What a shame."

Faith’s brow furrowed. What was the singing demon saying? That she wasn’t good enough for X? That he wasn’t worthy of her? "What’s that supposed to mean?" she growled.

"Well the LA. Ladies have a saying."

Faith felt a slight smile tug at her lips. "Oh yeah?" She sensed she was being set up, but couldn’t see how.

"Once you’ve done green, you never go back to cream."

Faith threw her head back and roared with laughter. "Oh that is fucking A!" she wailed, fat tears rolling down her face. "Remind me to give you a test drive next time I bump into ya!" she teased.

"Well blackbird, you know what they say about a man with horns."

"Nah I don’t," Faith giggled. "But I’m dying to find out."

"Who are you talking to?"

Faith glanced down to see a bleary-eyed Xander blinking up at her. "An older, more sophisticated man of the world." She hid a smirk at Xander’s jealous expression. "Rich too. Owns a string of night-clubs."

"Wha-," Xander’s expression cleared. "Lorne. Funny. Really funny." Her lover snatched the phone off her and sat up. "Lorne! What have I told you about chatting my woman up?"

"Your woman?" she gently kicked Xander in the ass before kneeling up behind him, linking her arms around X’s heavy pecs, and resting her own chest against his broad back. "No one owns me babe," she whispered before beginning to kiss her boyfriend’s neck.

"I’ll bear that in mind," Xander winked at her before turning his attention to the call. "Lorne, other than trying to get into Faith’s smalls-."

"Don’t wear any lover," she husked into her boyfriend’s ear, smirking at his resulting blush. "You can’t have forgotten already?"

"Oh, I remember now." Xander coughed before shaking his head. "Anyhow what’s the problem?" Faith watched as her honey’s face stiffened. "Okay, can you tell me his name? And what’s this artefact called? And who does he work for?" Xander nodded his head a few times as the demon talked. "Thanks for the head’s up." Her boyfriend hung up.

"Damn X," Faith pouted playfully. "I wanted to talk dirty with Lorne for a while." She grinned at her main squeeze’s glare before turning serious. "What’s the sitch?"

"Lorne read the aura of a vampire singing at the club. Apparently him and some others are going to dig up The Unholy Cross."

"The Unholy Cross?" Faith scrunched her nose up. "Sounds heavy duty, uh? What do you know about it?"

"Not much," her companion admitted. Xander reached down to pick up his pants. "We’d best get Tara up."

"Hold on," she grabbed hold of Xander and pulled back him back down onto the bed. "We don’t have to get up right now," she winked. "Do we?"

Xander grinned before stroke her hair off her shoulder and kissing her there. "I guess we can spare half an hour."

"Half an hour?" Faith raised an eyebrow. "Why, what we going to do for those other twenty-five minutes?"

"Why you!" Xander’s eyes widened. Faith giggled when her boyfriend pushed her down on the bed. "You hussy!" Her giggles turned to laughter as Xander began to tickle her. "I’ll teach you!"

* * *

Trigana, nr. Tucson, St. Jude’s Monastery

Brother Juan ran through the torch lit, winding corridors of the monastery. No longer did his home of the past twenty years feel the sanctuary from the evils of the outside world it had once been. Now he was confronted by demons beyond anything he had ever suspected existed. His feet kicking up dust, heart hammering, and sweat pouring down his face, he continued on his way. "Vampiros!" he gasped.

They’d come just after sunset, five yellow-eyed, fanged beasts. They’d torn through the massed congregation at evening prayer, leaving his thirty-three brethren dead, their throats torn out and blood leaking out all over the ground.

A sob escaped his lips and he charged around a tight corner. And screeched to a halt at the burly figure in front of him. "Please no," he dropped to his knees. Clenching his hands together as if at prayer, he peered up at the advancing demon. "Mercy!"

The approaching vampire laughed, the mocking sound chilling his blood as it echoed around him. "Mercy?" Suddenly the demon was on him, its iron-grip squeezing at his shoulders. He sobbed as the monster smiled down at him, displaying its terrifying fangs. "I don’t think so."

* * *

"Is your meal good?"

Brutus stopped feeding and looked up. He shrivelled inside at the coldness in his boss’ eyes. "Sir?"

"I didn’t send you to feed, I sent you to finish off any stragglers. Now go and help the others find the Unholy Cross."

"Yes sir," he hesitated before continuing. "Do you know where it is?"

His boss’ face tightened. "If I knew where it was we wouldn’t need to find it would we? Now go!"

"Yes sir!" Jumping to his feet, he hurried off to join the others in the monastery’s main body. His boss was not a demon to anger.

Not if you wanted to stay undead.

FIC: MC 12 Dec ’99 Demons Of The Past (2/9)

"Yo Tar!" Faith smirked at her as she stumbled, bleary-eyed, into the lounge of their rented apartment. "You don’t look too hot," her sister commented with her trademark annoying candour. "What’s the sitch? Not sleep well, bed lumpy?"

Tara glared at her younger sister. Every night, for the past ten nights, she’d been kept awake by the sound of her friends’ coupling into the early hours. She’d barely got to sleep when Xander had awoken her. It better be something big. "Too noisy," she grunted.

"Yeah," Faith nodded sympathetically. "I hated to mention it when we were sharing but you’re a wicked loud snorer." Tara extended her middle finger at the Slayer. The Bostonian’s eyes widened theatrically. "Sis, that’s disgusting!" the east coast native glanced at Xander. " Did you see that Xan? Where could she have learnt that?"

"I’ve got no idea," Xander replied, a wry smile on his face. After ruffling the Slayer’s hair, prompting a grin from the brunette beauty, their group’s leader turned back to her, his expression turning serious. "We’ve got a situation. Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll tell you about it?"

"O..okay," Tara dropped onto the sofa opposite the chair that Xander and Faith were both occupying. She looked up. "If there’s research to be done, can I have my lap-top?"

Xander smiled in embarrassment. "Good point." Her friend reached into The Always Pocket and passed her the lap-top and dozen CDs that Mr. Stark had supplied them with. Her friend waited until she turned the computer on before starting. "Lorne rang forty min-."

"Uh, thirty."

For some reason Xander glared at an innocent-looking Faith before continuing. "Forty minutes ago Lorne called with some information. Apparently he read this vampire at the Phoenix club and saw him and a bunch of other demons going to dig up this artefact, says it had really bad mojo. Something called ‘The Unholy Cross’."

"What do you want me to do?" Tara flipped open the lid of her laptop. If only the others could be bothered to learn how to use a computer then she would still be wrapped up in her nice warm bed, asleep.

"Do a bibliographical search for references to The Unholy Cross," Xander replied. "That way I can cross-reference it with The Eternal Archive."

"Okay," she leafed through the CDs, found the one labelled ‘Occult Objects’ and inserted it into the CD-drive. A few seconds later and the CD’s program kicked in, executing a search program. She quickly typed in ‘The Unholy Cross’, pressed ‘ENTER’, and waited. Seconds later there was a beep. "One hit," she reported. "Try ‘World Religions And Their Basis In Fact & The Occult’."

"Thanks," Xander smiled briefly at her before pulling out The Eternal Archive. "‘World Religions And Their Basis In Fact & The Occult’." After a half-second Tara felt a familiar shiver run through her as The Eternal Archive magically summonsed the requested text to its pages.

She watched as Xander leafed to the back of the book, scanned the index, and then turned to the relevant page. Her friend read for a few seconds; Tara’s heart dropped when the colour drained from his face. "Oh crap."

She exchanged a worried glance with Faith. After a second, the Bostonian spoke. "What’s the sitch boytoy?"

Xander didn’t speak for a few seconds, and when he did his tone was heavy, lacking its usual humour. "Sitch is the Unholy Cross was the cross that St. Peter was crucified on-."

"Holy shit!" Faith exclaimed, "so he was a real person? What about JC?"

"JC?" Xander chuckled. "It’s far from certain if JC, as you put it, was real, another prophet, holy man, or what. The fact crosses work against vampires suggest he was but," the young man shrugged. "So do Stars of David, so who knows?" Xander turned serious again. "Point is the fact that a holy man was sacrificed on it makes the Unholy Cross a powerful weapon for evil."

"How?" asked Faith, her eyes intense.

"If a righteous man is sacrificed in the same way as St. Peter and a ritual performed then a previously summonsed demon can be pulled from hell and back onto this plane of existence," Xander replied.

"Shit X," Faith looked stunned. "That is heavy. How does it work?"

"This is how I understand it from what Mithras knows," Xander said. "Good souls go to heaven, paradise whatever. But evil souls and demonic essences go to hell upon their deaths. But these souls and essences are non-corporeal in nature so to call them back needs a shell to place them in."

"Why wasn’t The Unholy Cross destroyed?" Tara asked.

Xander shrugged. "Historical importance, its existence being proof that," her friend grinned at the Slayer, "JC lived, who knows?"

"Where is it?" Tara pressed.

This time a scowl accompanied Xander’s shrug. "I don’t know, the Vatican has always concealed it, moving it from church to church."

"Well someone’s found it," Faith commented. "How we gonna do the same? Get Ang to try and hack the Vatican?"

"As a last resort. They’re probably looking for us already, best not to risk drawing attention to ourselves. No," Xander shook his head. "I figured we might be able to track them through the vampire Lorne saw." Her friend glanced towards her. "Maybe we could see if he’s on the CDs Mr. Stark gave us?"

"Sure." She nodded before taking the CD labelled ‘Famed Vampires’ and swapping it with the ‘Occult Objects’ disc drive. After a few second she nodded. "What’s his name?"

"Lorne said he was called Razor," Xander supplied.

Tara typed in the name and completed the search. She shook her head when the screen came back blank. "Nothing."

"Damn," Xander pursed his lips in thought.

"Maybe he’s a vamp who everyone thought had died?" suggested Faith.

Xander grinned. "Brains as well as beauty." Tara couldn’t help but feel jealous when Xander kissed Faith. It should be her, not Xander kissing the sultry Bostonian. "Could you do a search on inactive\deceased vampires?"

Forcing away her jealousy she did as requested before shaking her head again. "No match."

"Ah heck," Xander scowled. "How many vampires does that include?"

Tara checked the totals before replying. "Two hundred and twenty-six active, twelve hundred and eighteen deceased vampires."

Faith whistled. "That’s a shit-load of master vampires. If our boys not amongst them he’s either wicked smart or just a minor-leaguer."

"That’d be my guess," Xander wearily rubbed at his brow. "I guess we’ll have to risk the Vatican computers then."

"No, not necessarily." Faith looked unusually thoughtful. "Where did you say Lorne was when he took this reading?"

"Phoenix."

"Then maybe the Unholy Cross is somewhere in Arizona," Faith suggested.

Tara stared doubtfully at the younger girl. "Arizona’s a big state."

"I know." By now Faith’s eyes were gleaming with excitement. "But maybe you could do a search where you checked the local web sites to see if shit’s gone down at a church or church property in the state." Self-doubt flickered in the Bostonian’s eyes. "But that’s probably pretty dumb uh?"

"Not dumb at all," Tara flashed the brunette a reassuring smile. "It’s worth a shot." And certainly the best idea they had. She looked for a few minutes. "Nothing national," she shook her head even as she smiled at her friend. "But maybe that’s because it’s too small potatoes or just hasn’t reached there. I’ll try the regionals next." She searched for a few seconds and then….. Bile rose in her throat at the reports.  Tara turned to the others. "I’ve found it."

"Where is it?" Xander leaned forward, his expression intense.

"Trigana near Tucson."

"Well done," Xander flashed her and Faith smiles. "Both of you." Her friend turned serious. "We leave in the morning."

Tara nodded and rose. "Can I get some sleep now?" she demanded.

"I tell you sis," Faith shook her head. "If your snoring’s that bad, maybe you should see a doctor."

FIC: MC 13 Dec ’99 Demons Of The Past (3/9)

"You sure about this X?"

Xander nodded at his girl-friend’s whispered comment. "I’m sure Faith," he replied without looking away from the brown-red, featureless monastery some three metres away. His girl-friend had seen and experienced far too many horrific events in her short life, he could shield her from this one. And as for Tara, well it was stupid but the old Xander protector gene had kicked in. "I’ll be an hour tops."

"X," it was Faith again. "What if there’s some vamps in there?"

"Then," Xander felt his jaw tighten. He’d read the police reports of the massacre, even without the accompanying photographs it had been enough to make him sick to the stomach. "Then I’ll kill ‘em all." Ignoring the sweltering heat, he threw on his leather duster and kissed Faith on the forehead. "You’ve got the radio. Warn me if you see someone coming."

* * *

"Five by five," Faith nodded in reluctant agreement as her boyfriend exited the car. She hated it when Xan went all protective. She knew he only did it ‘cause he cared, but she wasn’t some pampered innocent, she was a Boston southie. And if he got himself hurt playing Sir. Alex she’d so kick his ass. Sighing slightly, she turned to her best friend. "Say Tar, have I told you this sweet thing X did?"

"Oh joy," Tara muttered with a groan. "Again."

Faith glared at her big sis. "Who stuck a stick up your ass?"

Tara grinned at her. "Faith and Xander up a tree. K-I-S-S-," her sister exploded with laughter. "Your face!"

"Funny sis," she growled. "Really funny." She definitely had to get Tara fixed up with someone, then she could be the one making fun of the other.

As it was supposed to be.

* * *

Xander eased the church’s wooden double-doors open, wincing slightly at the accompanying creak that shattered the eerie silence. His nostrils flared at the cloying stench of death intermingling with the monastery’s musty atmosphere. Taking a breath, he ducked beneath the yellow evidence tape and walked inside.

He grimaced as his torchlight pierced the holy place’s darkness. The bodies had of course been removed, taken to the local M.E.’s, but the chalk outlines remained, grim evidence of the massacre that had taken place. He directed his torchlight towards the walls and winced at the blood splattered there. Somehow he doubted this church would ever be used again.

His eyes narrowed as the light illuminated something. Careful not to disturb the wrecked pews and shattered glass, he made his way to the front of the church. After gingerly climbing over the communion rail, swallowing slightly at the blood evident on it, he made his way over to the over-turned altar. "Shit."

The floorboards where the altar had stood had been torn up. Squatting down by the hole, Xander peered down into it. He groaned at the tell-tale cross-shaped outline on the ground. "They’ve got it." Things had just complicated.

"Indeed they have."

In an instant Xander was up and spinning round to face the voice, his hand dropping beneath his jacket to draw his gun in a practiced blur. "Just who are you?" he growled.

The interloper raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Relax. I wasn’t with them."

"Uh, uh," Xander’s tone was non-committal, but he’d already decided the man wasn’t a vampire, taking into account the chained cross resting on his shirted chest. Didn’t mean he wasn’t some grave robber though. He took a second to examine the tall, thin intruder, noting his wispy grey hair, beaked nose, and intensely staring eyes. "Who are you?"

The man smiled mockingly. "It would appear you’re the guest here and not I."

Xander noted the stranger’s voice had a rich, Gallic accent. "And yet," he raised an eyebrow. "I’m the one with the gun," he waggled the muzzle of his automatic for emphasis. "So talk."

"As you wish," the older man nodded. "May I reach into my jacket and take out my I.D.?"

Xander hesitated before nodding. "Just make sure that’s all you take out though. Use your left hand, do it slowly, and hold your jacket open so I can see there’s no weapon inside. And bear in mind I’ve got a very itchy trigger finger."

"Oh I will," the mystery man vowed before slowly unbuttoning his jacket. Once the jacket had dropped open, the interloper waited for Xander’s nod before easing his hand into his pocket.

The intruder’s hand reappeared holding a thick leather wallet. The mystery man opened the wallet and pulled out a plastic card that he threw to Xander’s feet. His eyes still fixed on the stranger, Xander crouched down and picked up the card. His heart sank as he quickly digested the information on the ID. "So you work for the Vatican uh?" he commented before tossing the card back to the man. His tone remained even but inwardly he was berating his luck. At least it was consistent, all bad.

"Papal Special Investigations," the man confirmed as he pocketed his card. "When they got the call I was the nearest agent. But what’s your interest?"

Ah, Xander quickly sought a cover-story. "I’ve been tracking one of the vamps involved for 18 months now, ever since," he hated himself for the tremble he put in his voice, "he butchered my family. I heard a rumour about him being after the Unholy Cross."

"Really?" an interested gleam entered the Vatican agent’s eyes. "Which vampire? And what is your name? The Church is always interested in recruiting demon hunters."

Oh boy, Xander winced inwardly. Long years of lying to his parents had taught him the less detail in a lie, the less likely you were to be caught out. "No way Jose," he bluffed. "I’ve heard enough about the Vatican. Got one question though? If the Unholy Cross is so damn dangerous why didn’t you brainiacs destroy it?"

"A prophecy says it’ll be important in the fight against evil," the investigator retorted.

"Oh yeah?" Xander raised an eyebrow. "And yet you didn’t know about this until too late? Strange that," Xander shook his head before backing around the man and out of the front of the building. "Don’t do anything stupid like trying to follow me."

* * *

"I wouldn’t dream of it," Jean-Pierre Fontaine replied as the young man retreated out of the shadowy building. He stared after the youth, his lips pursed in thought. The boy was impressive, younger than he’d expected but with an easy familiarity with his gun and an assurance that belied his age. But a lousy liar.

Fontaine shook his head. He’d know this was big when he got the call. They didn’t come much more important in the Church’s occult hierarchy than the Unholy Cross, an object in turn revered, feared, and loathed in roughly equal measures. But to top this with him…

A feral grin on his face, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone and quickly dialled a number. "Yes, it’s Fontaine. I believe I’ve found him, oui Mithras."

* * *

"Faith!" Xander growled as he jumped in the driver’s seat and gunned the engine. "I thought you were meant to be watching for anybody turning up?"

"We did!" she protested. "No one passed by us. Did they Tar?"

"No one," her sister quietly confirmed.

"Oh," Xander winced. "He must have come in through the back. Sorry."

"No harm, no foul X," Faith replied as the car screeched away from the monastery. "Who ya run into?"

"Vatican Investigator by the name of Jean-Pierre Fontaine."

"Ah crap!" Faith cursed. Just because she hadn’t finished or even started high school, didn’t mean she was stupid. This development made things real difficult. "We staying in the game X?"

There was a long pause before Xander replied. "We don’t have a choice. If whoever’s stolen the Cross manages to use it…"

"Gotcha," Faith hid her disgruntlement. She hadn’t expected any different, X was just too noble for his own good. "And the Cross?"

"It’s gone."

Faith scowled. The shit just kept on getting deeper. "What do we do next?" asked Tara.

"We find Razor," Xander announced.

FIC: MC 12 Dec ’99 Demons Of The Past (4/9)

"How we gonna do this X?"

Xander paused for a second before replying. "I figure we roust the local demon bar, kick over a few stones, see what crawls out." His decision given, he continued to get ready.

"Y…you know we’re on a timetable here?" Tara quietly queried.

Xander nodded, that was bugging him too. "It’ll take them some time to get ready."

"I…I was talking about the Church."

Xander scowled. An added problem that he didn’t need. "I figure we’ve got maybe 24-48 hours before they get here."

"This is Gecko’s territory right?" Faith scowled at her utterance of the former bank robber’s name. "Why not get him to help?"

Xander grimaced. If only. "He’s taken his team to cross-train with Gunn’s group this week. I’ve phoned him, but he doesn’t know this Razor, he’s not a known local."

"Oh wicked!" Faith punched the wall before taking a breath. "Best get this done then."

"Sooner the better," he agreed.

* * *

Milton beamed as he looked around his crowded bar. It wasn’t much, just a few round tables dotted around a saw dusted floor around which a variety of demons, vampires, and human scum sat drinking various types of cheap alcohol. Not even the blaring jukebox blasting the latest hip hop tunes or the faded movie starlet posters added overly to the ambience.

No, it wasn’t much, but it wasn’t his. And it was a very profitable his. "What a craphole!"

Milton turned to the bar’s entrance. His three eyes bulged at the sight that greeted him. Stood at the landing that led into his property there stood a ravishing brunette, a shy but determined looking blonde, and a brawny male all in their late teens. Milton’s heart sank. The demon world had been alive with rumours for the last few months about this trio. And now they were here. "Please," he raised his shaking hands. "This is a peaceful place. We don’t want any trouble."

* * *

"Shame," Faith commented as she looked down into the smoky club. Take away the demonic patrons and it was a brother to the places she’d spent much of the last two years of her life in. Hell, they’d practically been home. Shaking off the bad memories, she had Xand and Tar now, she smirked. "’Cause trouble is my middle name." She glanced at her buds. "Cover me guys." Grabbing hold of the wooden landing rail, she vaulted over to the floor.

The moment she landed, a burly vampire charged her. "Bitch!"

"Really," she snapped out a side thrust kick into the vampire’s distended stomach, doubling him up. "Unoriginal." Grabbing the demon around the collar, she propelled him head-first into the jukebox, shattering its front and cutting the music off. "I mean it’s not like," she swept the demon’s legs from under him. "I haven’t been called that like," she slammed her stake through her rival’s chest, "a million times before."

"FAITH! Hit the ground!"

Faith responded immediately to her boyfriend’s bellow, plunging down. A quarter-second later two shotguns boomed out. Looking up, she saw the heads of two advancing demons explode like pumpkins hit by a hammer. "Gee X," she commented as she jumped up. "Always wanting me on the ground," she tilted her head to one side and winked. "Or in the bedroom. Or in the shower. Or in the elevator." She grinned up at her now blushing lover. "Thanks sweetie." She turned her attention back to the bar, concentrating her senses on its now hushed patrons. She smirked as she found what she was searching for.

She was instantly at the side of a tall, thin grey-looking guy with a goatee sat alone at a table, a whiskey bottle in front of him. Eyes widening, the man started to rise. "Sit down," Faith ordered. Putting her left hand on the patron’s shoulder, she pushed him back down onto his seat even as she scooped up the bottle by its neck and slammed it into his face.

The man screamed, his true vampiric face showing. Before the demon had chance to react she’d driven a stake through each of its hands, pinning them to the table. Faith dropped into the empty chair opposite the snarling vampire. "You’re the oldest vampire in here. What can you tell me about a vamp named Razor?"

"I’m going to make you scream!"

"What little ol’ me?" Faith fluttered her eyelashes. "Well really I’m flattered but I’ve sorta got a boytoy who gets it done for me. But instead," she reached across the table, grabbed the vamp’s head and forced his face down on the shattered glass. "You can tell me about Razor?"

Ignoring her queasiness at the demon’s continued screams she held the struggling demon down for almost a minute before releasing her grip. Instantly the demon bolted upright, his face now a bloody mask. "Now," she arched an eyebrow. "Do you want to place nice like a good little vampire and share?"

The sobbing vampire nodded. "W…what do you want to know?"

"Let’s be friendly," she snatched a beer bottle off a near-by tale and took a swig, wincing as the taste hit the back of her throat. Shaking her head, she flung the bottle over her shoulder. "Watered down crap," she muttered before turning her attention back to her quarry and smiling. "What’s your name?"

The demon nervously licked at his lips before answering. "Norton."

"Faith," she beamed at her captive before turning serious. "Now you wanna tell me about Razor? Like where he is?"

"I don’t know – argh!"

The demon screamed when she twisted the stake impaled in his right hand. "Naughty, naughty," she scolded, ignoring her unease at what she was doing. Reminding herself this was a murdering demon, she forced her emotions under control. "I thought we’d decided you were going to be a good vampire? I know," she winked, "pretend like you’ve got a soul!"

"I’m telling the truth!" the demon protested in a whine.

Faith raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Convince me," she challenged. "Tell me who he’s working for?"

"I don’t know."

Faith shook her head. "Losing my patience here," she warned.

"The new boss arrived in town maybe three months ago, asked maybe twenty vamps to join him. He was looking for the Unholy Cross!"

"Not helping much," Faith warned. "Why didn’t you join with him? He asked you right?"

"Not interested in taking orders," Norton replied. "Took enough from my sire before she was dusted." The demon swallowed. "I do know one thing though, Razor and some of the others have been ordered to kidnap Josh Levins, the guy who runs the local homeless shelter."

Faith shot Xander, who’d by this time walked down the steps to stand beside her, a worried look. "Where’s this?" her boyfriend demanded.

The demon hurriedly recited an address. She beamed at him. "Thanks." Standing, she sauntered over to the vampire’s left side, "’ppreciate it." She pulled her stake out of the demon’s left hand and slammed it into its chest. "Let’s go X."

Xander grinned. "Sounds like a plan." Her boyfriend nodded at the three-eyed demon stood behind the bar. "By the way, my compliments to the management."

FIC: MC 13 Dec ’99 Demons Of The Past (5/9)

Josh Levins sighed wearily as he closed up the chipped front of the homeless shelter he ran. He thanked god that it was his rostered night off. Groaning slightly, he placed his hands on his lower back and leaned back, stretching the kinks out. Twenty years of police work and twelve of first helping out, and then running the shelter had taken its inevitable toll. "Ach, Josh," he chuckled to himself, "you’re no spring chicken." Hearing the sound of footfalls to his left, he began to turn. "Sorry, we’re full -." His voice trailed off, his heart missing a beat, and limbs turning to jelly as he slumped against the front of the shelter.

The interlopers were a trio of Latinos – but Latinos with yellow eyes, bulging brows, and drooling fangs. "What," he forced himself to continue. "What are you?"

"Why," one of them, a thick-set, coarse-featured man smiled. "We’re vampiros."

Heat thundering, he reached for his keys only to find he’d dropped them in his shock. Legs rubbery, he stumbled off into the night.

* * *

Razor chuckled. This was the thing he loved best about being a vampire. Not the actual acts of killing or even feeding, but the chase. The look of dying hope when their prey realised there was no escape. He turned to his companions. "Get, but don’t, hurt him."

"Sure boss," one of his companions nodded before chasing after quarry.

* * *

"Say X," Faith’s brow furrowed in thought as they left the bar and hurried to their SUV. "How come they didn’t snatch one of the monks together with the Unholy Cross?"

Xander halted. "What do you mean Faith?"

"Well priests are righteous men right?" Faith shrugged. "’Cept those assholes who abuse kids and cover it up. Why not use one of them for the ritual?"

Xander stared at her. "That’s a really good point. I don’t know."

"I do." They both turned to Tara. "The aura around the monastery is bad, real bad. The place had probably corrupted the monk’s souls so they weren’t clean enough for the ritual."

Xander raised an eyebrow. "There’s your answer. Now, let’s get to the shelter."

* * *

Levins wheezed and gasped as he hurried through the darkened streets, his heart pounding with terror and mind reeling at what he’d been confronted by just minutes ago.

He fell onto his well-padded behind when two of the beasts stepped out of the shadows ahead of him, their eyes blazing through the darkness. Gathering his courage, he lunged to his feet and dived at the monster to his left side, hoping to get grab hold of him around the waist and throw him to the ground. Instead the monster smoothly side-stepped his attack, grabbed him around the collar, and flung him into the brick wall to their side.

He grunted as he hit the wall face-first, his nose shattering, and teeth flying out at the crushing impact. Groaning, he slid down the wall, leaving a trail of blood behind. He whimpered as something thudding into his lower back, causing him to convulse wildly.

"Stop!" he dimly heard the voice of the creature who identified his attackers as ‘vampiros’. A strong hand grabbed him around his collar and yanked him upright. "I warned you we need him unharmed for the ritual."

Ritual? His stomach hollowed at the ominous meaning concealing by a seemingly innocuous word. Even as he opened his mouth to somehow beg for mercy, a husky voice rang out from behind. "Private party, or can anyone join in?"

Looking behind him, he saw trio of teens – a brawny male, a leather-clad brunette, and a New Age chick. He opened his mouth again, this time to scream for help only to catch a right in his stomach forcing the air from his lungs before he was dropped to the ground.

* * *

Faith hid her relief at getting to Levins in time behind a smirk. Three low-powered vamps, shit she could handle this on her own. Hell, X probably could. Her smirk withered and died when she sensed some more demonic presences behind them. She bit back a groan when she glanced over her shoulder to see half a dozen more vampires approaching. "Great," she muttered with a roll of her eyes. "Just great."

* * *

Razor grinned at his reinforcements’ arrival. It was a shame he didn’t have the time to enjoy himself with the two girls especially, he directed a covetous gaze towards the timid-looking blonde, making her scream. But he had priorities and his master was not a vampire to be a disappointed. Looking down, he grabbed the kneeling soon-to-be sacrifice around the collar. "Kill them!" he bellowed. The moment his subordinates charged the three humans, he lifted and dragged the man away.

* * *

"Just great!" Xander scowled as he pulled his shotgun out. "Oh no, we couldn’t have a fair fight for once," he aimed his gun at the vampire fleeing with their target. "Why should we get it easy?" Spying a demon rushing him out of the corner of his eye, he adjusted his aim and blew its right knee off. Hurrying over to the screaming vampire he slammed a stake into its chest. "Shut up." He glanced around and groaned as he saw the boss vampire hurrying away, the man slumped over the demon’s shoulder.

Shaking his head, he stepped after the vampire only to be grabbed around his neck. His hands snapped up to grab the beefy forearm constricting his throat before leaning forward, flinging the demon over him. Even as the demon hit the ground, Xander dropped to one knee over the vampire and thrust his stake home. Looking up, he saw their target disappearing into the distance.

* * *

Faith dropped into a squat before leaping upwards. Once airborne, she tucked herself into a ball, and flew over the heads of the other vampires. Upon landing in a crouch she straightened, pulled her stakes out from beneath her jacket and thrust them into the demons’ chests through their backs.

A vampire grabbed her right shoulder. Faith reacted with a lightning fast side kick to the monster’s face, splintering its jaw. The demon stumbled backwards, its hands flying up to its ruined face. Leaving its chest unprotected. Faith gleefully smashed her stake home. Sensing another vampire she began to turn to face it.

Seeing a fist flying towards her, she leaned away from the overhand right, the draught from the blow brushing her hair off her face. Growling ferally, the demon followed up with a kick at her left hip. She countered with a left forearm block, wincing as the pain reverberated through her arm.

Biting her bottom lip against the hurt, she stepped into the vampire’s guard. Ducking smoothly under the taller demon’s left hook she drove her forehead into her adversary’s mouth, the demon shrieked and stumbled away from her, flailing desperately. Seeing an opening, she thrust her right stake at the monster’s heart but her hand was grabbed by the demon. "Oops," she shrugged and grinned at the monster before slamming her left stake into the beast’s heart. "Guess I’ll have to use the other one instead."

Looking around, she saw big sis was finishing off her vamp, while X was finishing off his third. Deciding instantly that the others wouldn’t need her, she let out a bellow. "X! Tar! I’ll go after Levins!" Without waiting to see if Xand and Tara heard her, Faith charged after her prey.

Razor had a hell of a lead but, she grinned slightly as she ate up the distance between them with long, easy strides, the added weight of Levins was slowing the demon down. Either she would catch up with the demon or he’d be forced to drop his cargo to escape. Whatever happened they’d win.

"Shit!" she cursed as a black van screeched to a halt in front of the demon. Just as she’d been about to catch him.

Determined that her prey wouldn’t escape, Faith increased the length of her strides, her legs burning with the effort. "Nearly there," she grunted through gritted teeth. She glanced at the van’s driver.

And lost all control of her legs. Stumbling to her knees, she stared in wide-eyed terror at the driver, her stake dropping to the ground through nerveless fingers. "T…Trick," she croaked through trembling lips.

FIC: MC 13 Dec ’99 Demons Of The Past (6/9)

Xander heard but didn’t have time to acknowledge the departing Slayer’s shout. Ducking beneath a left hook, he stepped into his opponent’s guard and drove his elbow upwards. Its point collided with the demon’s jaw, snapping its head to one side. Spinning to stand face-on with his rival, he smashed his stake home. A half second later the vampire exploded into dust.

Turning, he grinned at Tara. "You okay?"

The pale-faced Wicca nodded. "F…fine. Shall we go after Faith?"

"Lets," Xander agreed.

* * *

Trick scowled as Razor opened the van’s rear doors and flung his prisoner inside. "Where are the others?"

"We ran into trouble!" his follower croaked, his eyes filled with terror. "They’re dust!"

"Who?" Trick glared at his hireling.

"Her!" Razor pointed a shaking finger into the distance.

Trick turned his head in the direction his fellow demon was pointing. His dead heart shrivelled as he recognised the sultry beauty charging towards them. "Faith," he croaked. He smiled weakly as the girl’s face paled in recognition and she fell to her knees. He was tempted to jump out of the vehicle and rip her throat out, taste the finest of blood. "Priorities," he muttered. Besides, he momentarily vamped out, the one he was resurrecting would want that sweet pleasure for himself. He looked around when Razor jumped in beside him. Slamming his foot down on the accelerator he roared off into the night.

* * *

"Faith!" Seeing his love knelt in the middle of the road, staring sightlessly into the night, Xander raced up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"NOO!" Before he had time to react to his girl-friend’s bestial scream her hands surged up to snatch hold of his wrist. A half-second later and the Bostonian flung him over her shoulder to crash down onto his back on the tarmac.

"X…Xander!" He watched as Tara edged around the knelt Slayer to his side. Her wide eyes fixed on the east coast native, the Wicca crouched down beside him. "Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah," Xander winced as pain shot though his back and shoulders. "I’m just peachy keen." Gathering his courage he rolled up onto his knees until he was face-to-face with the trembling Bostonian. "Faith," he kept his tone soft hoping that he wouldn’t further agitate his terrified girl-friend. "What’s happened?"

He was relieved to see some semblance of intelligence return to the brunette’s unfocussed eyes. "X..Xander," Faith’s voice joined her lithe body in trembling. "It’s Trick," tears began to stream down the Slayer’s cheeks, "he’s going to bring Kaktosis back."

Faith’s words hit him like a punch to the gut. For a second, he stared aghast at his love. Shaking his head clear, he scooped his girl-friend up in his arms, and stood. "No he won’t," he declared, his tone cold. He turned to Tara, his voice softening. "We’re going back to the hotel."

* * *

The moment the van doors opened Levins leapt for freedom only to be grabbed around the throat the moment his feet hit the sandy ground. He stared up fearfully at the power-suited black, the constricting pressure around his throat ensuring that he was unable to even beg. "Pathetic!" the vampire flung him head-first into the van door.

* * *

Trick sneered as the middle-aged man slid to the ground. Pitiful. "Take him inside and ready him," he instructed.

"Sure boss," Razor nodded before picking up the limp body and throwing him over one shoulder.

Trick’s sneer changed to a scowl as his fellow vampire hurried inside. Meeting with Faith again was unnerving and with her and her companions slaying eight of his minions he was now seriously short-handed. But, he glanced towards the abandoned 19^th century saloon that was now their base, none of that would matter when his master returned. Then they would have their revenge.

Now smiling he hurried after the other vampire. He could hardly wait to hear the Slayer scream again. She made such a delicious sound.

* * *

"Can’t face him. Can’t face him."

Xander’s heart bled as he watched his girl-friend curled up in a ball in the centre of their hotel bed. She was shaking, repeating the same three words again and again. Reaching out, he stroked the brunette’s hair, helpless to do anything else to comfort her.

One of the few things he and Faith hadn’t shared were the details of her ordeal at the hands Kaktosis. But he knew enough. Information clandestinely gleaned from G-Man’s collection of Watcher’s Diaries and Mithras’ memories filled in some of the gaps of how vampires treated their prisoners and especially Slayers. Too many, and at the same time, too few. "You won’t have to," he promised before brushing his lips against the shaking Bostonian’s forehead. "I’ll just be in the other room," he whispered before rising and walking out, easing the door shut behind him.

* * *

"What have you found out?"

Tara didn’t answer immediately, momentarily terrified by what she saw. Her friend’s face looked like it was made from granite, his eyes like chipped ice. But even more frightening was his aura.

Xander and Faith’s auras were normally light grey, their harsh lives tainting them too much for them to have white ones. But now Xander’s aura was pitch black, a colour she’d normally only seen on truly evil humans. It was almost enough to make her feel sorry for Trick.

Almost. Tara tore her eyes away from her friend and back to the laptop screen. "There’s not a lot of information," she admitted. "Despite his dress style, Trick wasn’t turned recently. Trick was formerly a Georgian slave by the name of Solomon Tucker turned by Rouge Morte in the early 19^th century."

"So he’s not Kakitosis’ childe?" Xander queried.

Tara shook her head. "No, his grand-childe. Rouge Morte was Kakitosis’ favoured childe until she was slain by Faith eighteen months ago."

"Damn," Xander rubbed wearily at his forehead. "So what else?"

"Nothing much," she replied. "He never struck out on his own, largely sticking to his sire and grand-sire’s sides. Whenever he’s mentioned, it’s in conjunction with those two."

* * *

Xander let out a relieved breath. "Well that’s something." Xander pulled out the All-Seeing Eye, grateful that he’d seen Trick leading the vampires at the Battle of Sunnydale High otherwise the All-Seeing Eye would be useless. Putting it to his eye, he spoke. "Mr Trick."

* * *

Trick looked around the candle lit saloon, nodding with satisfaction. Three of his remaining followers were here, the other two at the entrance. His smile widened as he moved on to inspecting the preparations. The flickering candles illuminated the walls covered with demonic words written in the blood of virgins as the rite demanded. And in the centre of the floor laid the Unholy Cross, the only cross in the world that his kind could touch or even approach without suffering pain, their prisoner tied upon it. Everything was ready. Trick allowed his true face to show before picking up his brimstone dagger and starting to chant.

* * *

"Hell!" Xander cursed as he dropped the All-Seeing Eye onto the bed. "I can’t tell where he is!"

"C..can I?"

After a second he’d calmed himself enough to nod shortly. "Knock yourself out," he grunted.

He watched as his friend put the telescope to her eye. After a few seconds Tara put it down and began typing at her laptop. Finally the Witch looked up, a tremulous smile on her face. "There’s an old mining ghost town from the 1870s some forty miles out of town. The architecture indicates that he’s there."

"Well done," Xander nodded brusquely.

"The resurrection ceremony has to be done at dawn. ‘From first light comes a creature of the dark’, which is in an hour and a half. What are we going to do?"

"We’re going to do nothing. I’m going to kill them all." Xander declared. He didn’t have much expectation of coming out of this alive, but if he had to kill Levins to do it, he would. His own life and his murder of a righteous man were a small price to prevent the Greek vampire’s resurrection. And to protect his Faith. He kissed Tara on the forehead and placed a finger across her opening mouth. "Hush," he whispered in the Wicca’s ear. "I want you to look after Faith for-."

"We’re coming with."

Xander glanced over his shoulder to see his pale-faced girl-friend stood in the doorway of their bedroom. "You’re sure?"

"Me, you, Tar," Faith smiled weakly at the New Mexican. "We’re family and families stick together, right?"

"Right," Xander nodded at his girl-friend.

FIC: MC !" Demons Of The Past (7/9)

Fontaine nodded at the voice on the other end of the phone. "Yes sir, I have the Unholy Cross’ whereabouts confirmed. Yes sir. I understand. The Unholy Cross must not be damaged. And when will the extraction team be here? In two hours?" he nodded again. "I’ll be waiting."

* * *

Xander looked into the eerie ghost town and then at his pale-faced girl-friend. "Are you sure about this?"

After a second Faith spoke. "Less talking, more action hon."

* * *

"Hi guys." The two vampires stared up at his voice. He fired his shotgun twice in quick succession, hitting both demons in their hearts, the specially made ammo turning both vampires to dust. A scowl on his face, he strode through the dust and kicked the saloon doors open.

* * *

Trick’s gaze snapped from the sobbing man fastened to the cross to the intruder in their midst. He was only young, but powerfully-built with a disturbing air of purpose about him. He glanced at his followers. "What are you waiting for?" he screamed. "Get him!" It was only minutes to dawn. Just minutes before his grand-sire returned. They had to hold him off.

* * *

The moment before the vampires moved Xander reacted. His shotgun fired twice, blowing the heads off the two nearest vampires before he dropped the empty gun back into the Always Pocket and pulled out his short sword, smoothly decapitating the nearest vampire. "Oops," he looked at the snarling demons now surrounding him in a half-circle. "Seven to one, heap big trouble." He smiled. "Or not. Faith! Tar!" Suddenly two crossbow bolts flew through the glassless windows flanking the doors, slamming into the chests of two of the vampires, turning them to dust. "Well golly gosh," he tilted his head to one side. "Looks like the cavalry’s here"

* * *

Tara’s heart raced as she clambered through the window and into the wild west saloon. For once she wasn’t scared for herself, more for Faith who seemed so distracted.

Although, she squeaked as she jumped back from a charging vampire, if she didn’t concentrate she’d end up dead herself. Focusing, she backed away as the demon, a bulky, mohicaned biker, began to stalk her. The demon chuckled. "Don’t be sacred girlie. I won’t hurt you. Much."

Tara trembled and sobbed deep in her throat. The laughing monster lunged at her. And jumped right onto her stake. Tara shook her head. "They always fall for the helpless act." Her face paled as she looked around. "Oh no," she croaked.

* * *

Razor growled as he lunged at Xander. Instead of stepping away from the demon’s assault, Xander raced to meet him, leading with a sword thrust that the demon spun away from, ensuring that he only impaled air.

His head exploded with pain when the vampire smashed a punch into his forehead. Dazed, he was helpless to resist a follow-up uppercut that lifted him off his feet and sent him crashing to the ground. The now heartily laughing demon attempted a stomp at his head only to scream when he grabbed his foot and twisted while at the same time kicking furiously at the hamstring of the vampire’s grounded leg.

Knocked off balance, Razor fell to the ground. Grinning triumphantly, Xander snapped a leg off a near-by chair, a task made considerably easier by wood-rot, rolled to his knees beside the demon and plunged his makeshift stake down. Only for the vampire to grab his wrist, its implacable strength halting his attack. "Is this the best you’ve got?" the demon sneered.

"Not even close." He slammed a left into the demon’s face, breaking his opponent’s nose. The surprised vampire released his grip, giving him the chance he needed to propel his stake home. Looking up, he paled at the sight that greeted him. "Oh hell."

* * *

The moment her feet touched the dusty floor, Faith was confronted by a trio of vampires. "Slayer!" One of them snarled.

"Uh, heard of me than?" Her comeback lacked its customary snap consumed as she was with thoughts of the past and Kaktosis’ return. No, she reminded herself as she slid beneath an attack and thrust her stake home. That wasn’t going to happen. Xander had promised.

The second vampire grabbed her by the front of her shirt. She retorted with a brutal side kick to the knee, shattering the bone. The moment the vampire fell backwards, his injured leg giving way as he fell, knocking a table over as he plummeted to the ground. Eager for the kill, she darted after the falling demon. Seeing the third demon moving to intercept her, she snapped out a side kick to the demon’s gut, spun around and staked him through the back. Turning back to the crippled vampire, she smirked. "Now, where were we?" Her triumph faded to terror at the sight of the huge figure lumbering to his feet at the back of the room. "P…please no."

* * *

Stomach churning with fear, Trick forced himself to turn back towards the sacrifice and continue the ritual. He could only hope his followers managed to hold off Faith and her companions for long enough.

Finally, Levins was ready and the time was at hand. Picking up his cursed dagger and began to chant. "I summons thee Kaktosis!"

* * *

Levins’ heart leapt at the youngsters’ dramatic entrance. Maybe there was a chance for him after all.

His hopes fell as the head vampire’s subordinates rushed to confront the kids, leaving him alone with the most frightening of then, their cold-eyed leader. "Please," he begged, tears welled in his eyes, crying for the first time he was nine and his dad had died in the line of duty. "Don’t hurt me."

His captor either didn’t hear or, more likely, just failed to acknowledge his pleas, continuing his arcane chanting. He closed his eyes when the monster lifted up a curved knife, unwilling to watch its inevitable plunge into him. He heard the monster chant and then screamed as the dagger thrust into him, ripping through flesh and bone before impaling his heart.

He shrieked, his body arching up as much as his restraints would allow. Then he slumped back down, his life-blood dripping out of him and onto the floor. As his life-force ebbed away, something dark and powerful slammed into his body causing his eyes to shoot back open. And then nothing.

* * *

Kaktosis grunted with the effort of tearing the bounds holding him as he sat up. He nodded down at his bowed grand-childe. "Thank you Trick," he beamed as he noticed the pale-faced Slayer. His hand instinctively stroked the scar the Bostonian had caused. "Trick," he glanced at his minion. "Don’t kill her companions. After all, all good torturers need a warm-up."

FIC: MC 12 Dec ’99 Demons Of The Past (8/9)

Xander’s heart stopped when the lumbering, massive vampire slowly rose from the cross. And he’d thought the Master was terrifying. Boy, was he ever wrong. He glanced towards his girl-friend, wincing slightly at her uncontrollable shaking. No way could she take the Greek vampire on.

Swallowing slightly, Xander reached for his Desert Eagles. Maybe, just maybe, modern technology could give him the edge to deal with the 1,000 year old demon.

He cursed as he was tackled around the waist by Trick, the demon bundling him to the ground.

* * *

"Hello Faith it’s been a long time," Kaktosis slowly ran a callused palm down the trembling girl’s smooth cheek, laughing at her fear. "Far too long."

"N…no," the brunette shook her head, her hair bouncing at the movement and her eyes with a combination of fear and disbelief. "You’re dead. I killed you."

"Sweet Faith," he threw his head back and laughed. "Why I have such delicious memories of our time together, the fun we had together. Did you really think that mere death would keep us apart, prevent me from creating some more?"

* * *

Xander gasped as his back collided with the hard, unyielding floor. He instantly brought his knees up into the vampire’s flat stomach, the force of the blow knocking his assailant off him. Within a second, Xander had rolled to his feet to face the standing demon.

The vampire sneered at him. "So you’re Faith’s new protector? Do you make her cry? She looks so pretty with tears rolling down her face. And that whimpering sound she-."

"NOO!" Ignoring Mithras’ voice urging him to calmness, he leapt at the vampire. The laughing demon grabbed him around the shoulders and flung him to the ground, sending tables and chairs flying. He suddenly knew that this demon was too old, too strong for him to beat.

* * *

"L….leave me alone."

Kaktosis’ predatory smile widened as the pleading girl backed away from him until she was backed against the wall. He advanced on the shaking Slayer, savouring every step that brought him closer to his soon to be again victim. In his one thousand years he’d killed four Slayers but this one, this one was different, personal. This one had dared to hurt him. "You know that’s not how it works." Confident that the supernatural warrior would never dare attack him, he glanced over to his shoulder to where the Slayers’ companions were fighting Trick and the last of his grand-childe’s minions. Reassured that his followers appeared to be handling the girl’s friends, he turned back to the trembling beauty. "Tell me my dear," he grabbed a handful of hair and yanked her head back, smashing it against the wall behind. "Those humans are precious to you are they not?" he waited a second for an answer. The raven-haired beauty stared blankly at him, her liquid brown eyes glassy with fear. Kaktosis continued. "You remember how I tortured your beloved Watcher as you watched?" the Bostonian moaned deep in her throat. Kaktosis beamed, oh she remembered. "How will it feel child to watch me do the same to them?" The east coast native shook her head. "And then when I’ve turned them both." Kaktosis smiled, this was pure genius. "They can join me in to-."

A hard light flickered on in the girl’s eyes. "You leave them the fuck alone," she growled.

* * *

Faith was frightened, more terrified than she could ever remember, the blood in her veins congealing to ice, her heart pounding like a hammer against her chest, and sweat pouring off her. It wasn’t fair, she’d faced the Greek vampire before, killed him, conquered her fear. She couldn’t do it again. Her heart shrivelled with every step closer the demon got, wanting to but unable to resist. All too soon he was stood over her, her breath coming in rattling gasps as he flashed back to those horrid days she’d endured as his prisoner. She listened with a sense of disbelieving horror as the demon outlined his plans for her. She tried to protest but nothing but moans escaped her mouth. She tried to resist the vampire when he touched her, but her limbs were frozen by terror.

She suddenly realised Kaktosis was detailing just what he intended to do to Xander and Tara. Her Xander and Tara. Something snapped inside of her. She slowly lifted her head up and glared at the towering vampire. "You leave them the fuck alone."

* * *

Xander forced himself to his feet, grabbing a near-by chair and snapping a leg off it. He risked a quick alternate glances at his two girls. His heart sank at what greeted his eyes. Tara was more than holding her own against her opponent, the hours of training she’d put in paying off. But Faith, Xander’s heart bled at the terror he saw in her face. "Fight him," he pleaded in a whisper.

Turning his attention back to the vampire facing him. Forcing himself to focus on his own fight, he feinted to the right. The moment his rival adjusted his position to accommodate him, Xander shot out a left heel kick at the monster’s knee. Trick grunted at the blow’s impact and stumbled back a step. Eager to press his advantage, Xander advanced on the demon.

And barely managed to twist away from a right cross. Thinking quickly, Xander’s hands flew up to grab the out-stretched arm at the wrist and bicep. Turning into the vampire, he drove a back heel into its gut before flinging it over his shoulder to crash into the bar counter.

He rushed to his opponent, makeshift stake held ready. But instead caught a foot to the ribs, doubling him up, and knocking him to his knees. Lungs wheezing, he was helpless to do anything but watch the vampire rise.

* * *

Kaktosis’ mouth dropped open at the brunette beauty’s sudden defiance. Before he had time to react, the Bostonian leapt into a spin kick that smashed into his head, snapping it to the side. "Bad girl!" he growled before throwing a right cross at the Slayer’s head.

The Slayer slid beneath the punch, causing his fist to collide with the wall, cracking plaster. Her movements a blur, the raven-haired beauty stepped inside his guard and launched a flurry of stinging punches to his right side. Growling, he slammed the point of his elbow into the rebellious bitch’s head.

"Ahh!" the east coast native screamed as blood erupted above her eye and she stumbled to one knee. Grabbing the brunette by her throat, he effortlessly lifted her off the ground and slammed her into the wall, the back of her head cracking against the wall. Laughing contemptuously, he flung the dazed girl to the ground. Instantly she rolled away from him and to her feet.

Undaunted, he stalked the girl. Battered and bleeding, she still looked so beautiful, so in need of breaking. He smiled at his victim. "Sweet Faith," he rumbled deep in his throat. "The last time you slayed me, you used a wooden pole. What will you use this time?" he snapped a rotting chair leg off and threw it to the girl. The chair leg clattered to the ground between the brunette’s feet. "That?"

Unleashing a wordless screech, the girl launched herself at him, throwing a dazzling combination of kicks and punches. Kaktosis dodged most of the wild attack, those he didn’t bouncing off his centuries’ toughened hide. Finally he grabbed the supernatural warrior by her hair and flung her to the ground. "Pathetic!" he boomed. "Why do I feel your heart’s not in it?"

* * *

Faith stared up fearfully at the advancing demon, her stomach churning. She pressed a shaking hand to her face, it came away bloody. She guessed she was also bleeding from the back of her head where she’d collided with the wall.

She forced herself up on her trembling legs and raised her impossibly heavy arms. She’d tried, she really had, but he was just too powerful. It wasn’t fair. Just when she’d found love, she cast a final despairing look to her Xander and saw Tara hurrying over to help him against Trick, she had to lose it.

And then it hit her. Grinning evilly, she leapt into a series of cartwheels that placed her between Trick and her boy. "Hey asshole," she smirked at the surprised demon. "Miss me?"

Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed the demon by his pants crotch and shirt collar, and lifted him into the air. A quick sideways glance confirmed an on-rushing Kaktosis was in position. Quelling her fear, she flung Trick into his grandsire.

The force of her makeshift missile sent both demons crashing through the window. And into the early morning sun.

FIC: MC 12 Dec ’99 Demons Of The Past (9/9)

The moment the two vampires smashed through the window, Faith’s legs buckled beneath her, sending her crashing to the ground curled up in a foetal ball, sobbing hysterically. Eventually she became aware of Xander’s hands on her shoulders and him whispering in her ear. After a few seconds she managed to speak, the words stuttering out. "H…he’s gone?"

Xander smiled at her before gently wiping her face clean. "My girl kicked demon ass. Like always." Her boyfriend eased her up into a seated position. "You showed him." Xander kissed her on the forehead before whispering in her ear. "Made me proud of you. Again."

Faith managed a weak smile at Xan’s praise. "Thanks babe," she forced herself to look towards the object that had caused all the trouble in the first place. "What we gonna do about that?"

"Yeah," Xander glanced over his shoulder. "Are you okay?" She nodded, X stood. "I’ve got a few ideas about that." Her boyfriend glanced towards her sis. "Look after her for me?" Tara nodded. "Thanks."

* * *

Xander hid his own pain as he approached the Unholy Cross. His body ached from the pounding he’d taken. But that was unimportant next to the emotional agony of his usually spirited girl-friend.

He stopped by the side of the cross that had caused all the hurt and glared down at it. "No more, " he promised in a hoarse mutter. Taking a paraffin can out of the Always Pocket, he poured its contents all over the cross, thoroughly dousing it before pulling a box of matches out. "This ends now."

"I’m afraid I can’t allow that Mr. Harris."

* * *

Jean-Pierre Fontaine beamed as he surveyed the scene before him. Rumour had it there was almost twenty vampires in the gang that had stolen The Unholy Cross. And yet young Mr. Harris and his two lovely companions, he glanced at the beautiful girls, the taller of the two holding onto a distraught-looking brunette, had somehow handily dealt with them. Most impressive.

Confident in the back-up offered by the trio of heavily armed Vatican enforcers, he stepped into the centre of the saloon floor, his eyes fixed on the young man crouched by his prize. "You and your companions are to be commended for your efforts," he continued. "But this is the Vatican’s property and I’m afraid I can’t permit you to destroy it."

Harris’ eyes widened. "After all the damage it’s done? With all the power it’s got?"

"Orders I’m afraid." Fontaine smiled and shrugged. "You’ve done some excellent work here my young friend. My organisation would be most interested in recruiting a man of your talents." Not the girls of course, the Church was patriarchal in the extreme and would never dream of employing creatures touched by the devil like a Wicca or the Slayer.

"Not interested," the young man’s voice was terse, his eyes like chipped ice.

Oh, the boy was going to be difficult. Such a shame. "Very well," his eyes hardened. "In that case I’ll be blunt. Your opinion matters little -."

"You sure about that?" Surprised by the husky voice behind him, he began to turn. His face erupted in pain when the Slayer smashed a hook into his jaw, knocking him to the ground. He stared up in disbelief at the scowling brunette behind him. How had this slip of a girl managed to slip behind his escort and incapacitate them? "I am not having a good day," the brunette warned. "Today is definitely not the day to be pissing me off." The girl glanced towards Harris. "Xan, turn it to ash."

His mouth dropped open as the young man dropped a match on the cross. A half-second later, Fontaine’s dreams of career advancement went up in flames with the cross. "You can’t get away with this," he croaked.

"Funny that," Xander smiled. "I thought we already had. Come on girls," the young man turned to his fellow teens.

"You won’t get away with this!" he screamed.

When the young man turned back to him, all humour had left his eyes. "Like I said, we already have," he replied. "And it would be best for you to if your organisation stayed out of our business from now on." His warning given, the teen walked out of the saloon leaving him with his bodyguards’ unconscious bodies.

* * *

Finally satisfied that his girl-friend had fallen into an uneasy sleep, Xander kissed her on the forehead. "Love you," he whispered in her ear before rising and exiting the room, leaving the door slightly ajar in case she awoke and needed him.

"How is she?"

He started at Tara’s whisper. He’d been so wrapped up in thoughts of his distraught girl-friend he’d forgotten about the New Mexican. Forcing a smile, he nodded. "She cried herself to sleep, she’ll -, whoa!" he was surprised when the Wiccan launched herself into his arms, wrapping herself around him in a protective embrace. "What’s all this?"

Tara smiled up at him. "We’ve all been so worried about Faith, we forgot about you."

Xander grinned down at his friend. "Thanks. I appreciate the gesture. Although…"

"Although what?"

"If Faith wakes and sees us like this, she’ll scratch your eyes out and castrate me. And neither of us want that."

Tara giggled. "In that case we best stop." As Tara stepped away, the New Mexican’s face grew troubled. "Are you sure Kaktosis is dead?"

Xander felt his face tighten. "I’m sure," he replied with a nod. "Faith insisted we checked for both him and Trick with the All-Seeing Eye. But there was only darkness."

Tara nodded. "And darkness means death. They’re gone."

"They’re gone," Xander confirmed.

* * *

Fontaine winced at his superior’s rant. "Yes Parde Richeur," he replied. "They destroyed the Unholy Cross. Yes, I realise the blasphemy involved. Yes sir, he is a greater threat than we ever realised."

* * *

"They’re gone?"

Kaktosis nodded at Trick’s whispered enquiry. "They’re gone." He glanced around their surroundings, a disused mine shaft that was so dark that even his vampiric eyes struggled to penetrate. Him and his grand-childe had been most fortunate when they’d been flung out of the saloon. A combination of the earliness of the day and his age and power had enabled him to get himself and Trick into the tunnel before they burst into flames. He returned his gaze to his fellow demon. "Tell me about Faith’s boy-friend," he demanded.

Oh yes, he’d hear her screams again.

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