Watcher 6 – Their Gravest Challenge
Xander slid under the vampire’s left hook only to be grabbed around his throat and flung effortlessly into the air. Landing on his side, he rolled up onto his feet only to catch a side kick to the gut that sent him back down to one knee. Seeing his chance, he snatched at the vampire’s grounded foot and pulled sending the vampire crashing to the ground.
“Hi Xand, Angel.”
The teen turned to grin at the brunette. “Hi Fai -, ow!” he rubbed at the back of his head where the vampire had slapped him. “No fair!”
Angel grinned at him. “Remember what I told you, keep your focus.”
Xander glared good-naturedly. Over the past few weeks, the dislike he’d always felt for Angel had changed to respect for the vampire’s fighting skills and sense of honour. Standing he turned to the laughing brunette. “And you don’t need to laugh missy,” he mock-scolded, “treat your Watcher with a little more respect young lady.”
Faith snorted. “Oh yeah, ‘cause that tone works so well for Wussley and G,” her face turned serious. “It’s been four weeks since you became my unofficial Watcher, right?”
“To the day,” Xander exchanged a puzzled glance with Angel
“Yeah, eh,” the brunette looked down at the floor, her cheeks reddening. “Mrs. S. says that if you still want to date me.” The girl looked up, her eyes worried. “You still want to, right?”
Xander grinned. “Well I haven’t been snatched up by any super-models so I guess I’m going with a hearty yes.”
The Slayer beamed. “Wicked! Joyce says that before we start dating you’ve got to come round for dinner so,” Faith giggled. “She can check your intentions.”
“Oh right,” suddenly Xander felt very nervous. Hearing Angel’s strangled chuckles he glared at the vampire before turning back to his prospective girl-friend. “Tell me she doesn’t know we, you know?”
Faith winked. “I haven’t told her that we you know, don’t know about B though.”
“Ever heard the one about walking into a lion’s den Xander?” Angel whispered unhelpfully in his ear. Xander groaned.
“Oh did I forget?” interrupted Faith, an evil gleam in her eye. “Mrs S. wants you to come as well.”
The vampire’s face fell. “Oh shit, not good.”
Xander laughed at the vampire’s distressed expression. “When does she want us to come round?”
“Tomorrow night at seven,” the Slayer grinned. “I can’t wait to start dating.”
Xander grinned. “You wanna stay and train,” he wriggled his eyebrows suggestively, “on the mat with me.”
Faith’s face took on a look of mock outrage. “What sort of young lady do you think I am?”
Xander exchanged a puzzled look with Angel. “You’re a young lady, when did that happen?”
Angel shrugged. “I know things move fast on the Hellmouth, but still.”
The Slayer flipped them the bird. “Bite me,” she turned serious, “me and B patrolling tonight?” At Angel’s nod, Faith sauntered out of the door.
“Oh shit, oh shit,” Xander dropped on the mats as soon as the door slammed shut behind the Slayer,” Joyce is one scary lady.”
“At least she likes you.”
“Likes me?” Xander threw his hands up. “She once chased me with a meat cleaver.”
Angel’s eyes widened before he chuckled. “The love spell?” Xander nodded in confirmation. “Buffy ever tell you about the time her mother backed Spike off with a fire axe.”
“Oh brother we’re,” Xander glanced at his friend, “correction, I’m dead.”
“It gets worse,” Angel looked deathly serious.
“Worse?” Xander felt close to hyper-ventilation. “How is that possible?”
“We’ll need suits.”
“SUITS!” Xander screamed; he was definitely teetering on the edge of a panic attack. “Aren’t you going over the top?”
The vampire smiled. “Don’t you want to impress Joyce?”
“I thought I’d go with witty and charming,” he ignored Angel’s chuckle to groan. “I guess, but I don’t own a suit. And there’s no way I’m borrowing one of Giles’ tweed.”
The vampire grabbed his jacket. “Then we’ll have to go shopping.”
Xander flushed with shame, Giles gave him an allowance, way more than his dad ever had, but still... “I can’t aff-.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll pay,” the vampire waved away his protests. “Can’t have you showing me up now can I?”
“Thanks Angel.”
“No problem,” the vampire smiled at him. “And we can have a talk about etiquette while we’re out.”
Xander’s shoulders slumped. “I really, really hate you.” The vampire laughed. “Another sign of the apocalypse, a laughing Angel.”
* * *
“Xander! Angel! Don’t you both look smart?”
Xander forced a smile. He’d nearly had
a heart attack when he’d seen the price of the suit Angel had picked out for
him, but it did look good – although he’d always held suspicions about men who
were so knowledgeable about fashion. “Thanks Joyce,” he held out his
contribution to the meal, a bunch of flowers. “You’re looking pretty divine
yourself.”
“Why thank you Xander,” Joyce beamed as she took the flowers. “As charming as ever. Come in both of you.”
Angel nodded politely before kissing the woman on the cheek. “Thank you for the invitation Joyce.” The vampire passed the woman a bottle of red wine. At her doubtful look, Angel smiled. “Don’t worry, it is wine not blood.”
The woman smiled nervously. “Go through, the girls are in the lounge.”
“Okay,” Xander smiled before falling in step beside the vampire. “I suppose making out’s not allowed?” he muttered.
“I’m flattered Xander but you’re not really my type.”
“Oh, two and a half years and you choose tonight to develop a sense of humour. Not when we’re taking on a minor-leaguer like the Master or Spike, oh not it’s got to be when we’re doing something really dangerous.”
Xander opened the lounge door. A split-second later, he was hit in the chest by a brunette whirlwind. “Xander! You’re here!”
The young man grinned before picking up the small girl and hugging her. “Did you ever doubt, Dawn Patrol? Sure, there were a couple of trolls trying to stop us, but me and Angel fought our way through.”
“Oh you brought him,” the girl glared disdainfully at the vampire.
The vampire shuffled from foot to foot. “Hi Dawn,” he smiled weakly.
“Hi Angel, come to kidnap me again?”
“Not tonight no.”
“Good, ‘cause Faith’s been teaching me some moves and if you try anything I’ll kick you right in the -.”
“Dawn!” Joyce’s voice boomed in from the kitchen. “We don’t speak to guests like that!”
The small girl continues to glare up at the vampire for a few seconds before turning away. “Sorry mom.”
“She really hates me,” Angel muttered to Xander.
“You kidnap her, try to kill her sister. She really is a spiteful girl,” Xander muttered in reply before grinning. “Just give her time. I mean look at me, I tolerate you now.” Xander smiled at his girlfriend sat nervously on the couch beside Buffy. “Hi Faith.”
The girl stood and grinned uncertainly. “Hi Xand,” the Slayer looked down at her ensemble. “Do I look good?”
“Not good exactly,” Xander took a second to drink in Faith’s knee length black silk dress. “More like devastating. You wouldn’t need a stake to slay tonight.”
“Pretty smooth Xand,” Buffy pulled away from hugging Angel to wink at him.
Xander returned the wink. “Years of practicing in the mirror does that to a guy.” Turning to his giggling girlfriend, he took her hand and smiled. “May I have the immense honour of escorting madam to the dining room?”
“Why sir,” Faith fluttered her long eyelashes at him, “I’d be honoured.”
“What about me!” Dawn was jumping on the spot excitedly.
“Well it’s lucky I have two arms so that I can have the pleasure of escorting two ravishing young ladies at once.”
“Very James Bond, Xander,” Buffy laughed.
“I’ve been teaching him,” Angel interrupted proudly, “he’s all grown up now.”
“Bite me, Angel.”
“Well maybe for dessert. Thanks for offering though.”
* * *
“So how’s the training going X-man?”
“He’s doing well Faith,” Angel broke in. “Physically he’s nowhere near us of-course but technically he’s better than any of us.”
“Oh really, we’ll have to get some practice in soon. So good in just one month.”
Xander felt the blood drain from his face at the quiet menace in Buffy’s voice. After glaring at the grinning vampire, he definitely preferred him broody, he spoke. “Actually I’ve got way more than a month’s training. I started training in Judo & Aikido when,” he was about to say Buffy ran away but decided to err on the side of diplomacy,”when we broke up from school last year. Plus, remember when I was soldier guy?”
“And Buffy was a noblewoman?” Dawn let out a giggle.
“That’s right,” Xander’s grin died at Buffy’s glare. “Anyway working with Angel every night has re-surfaced a lot of the memories. Sgt. Greg Thomas served in the Green Berets in Nam from ’68 – ’72, and was decorated five times, even got the Congressional Medal of Honour,” seeing the females’ blanks looks, he sighed, “it’s our country’s highest military honour. After leaving the military in ’73 he spent the rest of the seventies touring the Orient, learning a variety of Martial Arts. Then in 1980 he came home and became a demon hunter until -.”
“I’ll make a start on dishes.”
Xander flinched inwardly at the set look on Mrs. Summers as she walked past him to the kitchen. He leaned across and muttered in Faith’s ear, “I just need to step out for a minute, okay?” after eliciting a nod from his Slayer, he kissed her gently on the cheek before rising and following Joyce into the kitchen.
“I’m sorry for talking shop, Mrs. Summers.”
Joyce turned towards him, her face tearful. He tore a tissue off the near-by roll and wiped her eyes. The woman smiled at him. “It’s nothing you did Xander, I just wish Buffy and Faith were just two normal girls, talking about boys, music, and make-up. And that you and Angel were just two normal boys. I wish we’d never come here that she’d never been chosen, I hate it all.”
“I don’t know what to say, me and words having a poor relationship but here goes. I’m glad Buff was chosen. And maybe Buffy is too,” at Joyce’s look he hurried on. “From what she says she was pretty shallow before she was chosen, not at all the great person she is now. If she hadn’t moved here, she wouldn’t have met the best dad she’s ever had in Giles, or the best friend she’s ever had in Willow, or Angel,” his words trailed off. He was fine with joking, but serious stuff, he didn’t do serious.
Buffy’s mother smiled. “Or you. I’m not altogether convinced but thanks for trying. I just wish Buffy had taken up with you instead of Angel.”
Xander chuckled. “I’m flattered I really am. But you shouldn’t dismiss Angel; he’s a good guy – not as witty and charming as some, but still. He’d never let anything happen to Buffy.”
“Angelus would.”
Xander acknowledged the point with a nod. “Yeah, but that won’t happen again, he loves Buff too much. Angel’s an honourable man; he’d lay down his life for her without a second thought.”
“So would you.”
Xander shrugged, his cheeks flaming. “I’d do it for any of my girls,” he grinned. “Including my Joyce.”
The woman laughed. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been called a girl.”
“Not that long,” he winked, “besides I’ve got to look after my girl’s new mom. I shudder to ask, but how’s she been anyway.”
Joyce’s eyes rolled. “She’s settling in fine, Xander. She likes to test the boundaries, but it’s mostly just for show, she’s doing well. She gets on great with Buffy and especially Dawn. One thing though?”
Xander groaned. “What’s she done now?”
“She keeps boring everyone, well except Dawn who loves it, with tales about a certain wonderful Mr. Harris. I do believe someone’s quite taken.”
“Really?” Xander grinned. “That’s always good to know.”
* * *
It was just past eleven and they were on their way home after dinner. Faith had wanted to go clubbing but Joyce had very firmly told her that if she didn’t have to patrol, she had to go to bed. But still, all in all, a fun night. “Thanks for what you said to Joyce.”
Xander’s lips tugged up in a smile. “You heard? Damn those bat ears.”
Angel chuckled. “I’m glad you’ve got over your feelings for Buffy. That we can be friends now.”
His companion shook his head. “You don’t get it do you Angel? It was never about Buffy, not really, I won’t lie, I always thought it was wrong that she was with a vampire. But before then, when I first saw you, before I knew you were a vampire, when you were just this GQ model with the muscles and fancy wardrobe I knew I was batting out of my league.”
“Nobody’s out of your league,” Angel said softly, his eyes betraying none of the anger he felt. For all his many qualities and newly acquired skills, years of abuse had left Xander with serious self esteem problems. He just hoped they were solved as the teen got older.
“Whatever,” Xander shrugged. “No I started hating you when I discovered you were a vampire sired by the same bitch who turned my best buddy Jesse who I had to stake to save Cordelia.”
Angel glanced across at the boy in shock. He’d never realised the youth’s hatred for him hadn’t been the petulant jealously of a jilted suitor but something far more. “Jesse?” he said cautiously, “I don’t think I ever met him.”
“You didn’t,” Angel heard the teen beside him choke back a sob, “I knew him even before I knew Will. He was the only person who knew about my dad,” the youth’s face flickered in shame, “about my dad beating me. I staked him at the Harvest, the day after he’d been turned. When I found out about you being a bad ass vamp who knew about the Harvest, was supposed to be a good vampire, but did nothing to help, I hated you.”
Angel nodded in understanding. “I don’t blame you. When Whistler sent me to help Buffy, I was far from convinced that I could make a difference. It was that night in the Master’s sewers with you that taught me different. I’m sorry about Jesse.”
“Life moves on,” Xander sighed, “I hate that he’s dead, I really miss him but he wouldn’t have wanted me to stand by and let him kill his family and friends. I just wish it had been somebody else who stopped him.”
“I’m sorry,” Angel reached across and squeezed the youth’s shoulder.
The youth nodded gratefully, before looking up at him, a puzzled expression on his face. “Angel, why did you agree to train me, I mean we get on okay but back then.”
“Oh, I call you my penance,” he chuckled at the teen’s glare, “you’ve always had my potential. The Master’s Lair, that night in the school with Spike, backing off Angelus, the Zombie Gang, and confronting Faith all took nerve-.”
“Faith wasn’t nerve that was idiocy.”
“But on the plus side, you got a hot girlfriend out of it. I knew you were loyal to Buffy and that if you were trained that would mean there was another capable fighter to help protect her and the others. All you had to do was show the maturity to ask and to admit what you did the night Buffy sent me to hell.”
“About that -.”
The vampire waved his companion to silence. “Three vamps coming up from behind, two in front.”
The boy’s eyes flickered, changing in an instant from warm and humorous to hard and dangerous. “You back, me front?”
“Gets my vote.”
Watcher 7 – Breakdown
Angel stalked over to the three vampires. “Hi guys.”
“Angelus, prepare to die,” snarled the middle of the trio, a short fat man in his early forties with an ugly face that Angel was surprised anybody would want around for an eternity.
The ensoulled vampire shook his head. “You three kill me? Not on your best night and my worst. By the way your threats? Passé, my girl-friend does them much better.”
The short vampire howled in anger before charging forward, Angel’s foot flicked out catching the vamp in his stomach, snapping bones and sending his adversary to the ground. Moving forward, Angel grabbed the vampire to his left by his throat and flung him into the remaining standing vampire. As soon as the two vampires crashed to the ground, he rushed over to the fat vampire and thrust a stake through his heart even as fatty leapt to his feet.
Angel raced smoothly on toward the other two vampires, ducking under a left hook to slam his stake into the nearest of the two vampires before kicking the remaining vampire in the knee. The vampire staggered under the impact of the blow and Angel slid into a leg sweep that sent the vampire plummeting face-first to the ground. Before his adversary had chance to recover, Angel crouched down and shoved his stake through the vampire’s back and into his heart. Standing, he looked to see how Xander was doing and grimaced.
* * *
“Can’t we do this tomorrow? I mean I’ve got my new suit on, I’ve just been round to meet my new girlfriend’s mom, I really don’t want to fight tonight.” Xander looked at the two vampires flanking him and sighed. “Be like that.”
Lunging forward, he crashed his fist into the face of the vampire to his left, quickly following up with a left hook to the stomach, before finally staking it. At the last second he heard a footfall behind him and felt a hand on his shoulder. Twisting away from the grip, the teen let out a curse as he heard his jacket tear.
“You bastard!” he shouted. “That’s my new suit!” he drove a foot into the vampire’s groin, as the vampire doubled up, he propelled a knee into the monster’s nose shattering it. The vampire dropped onto his hands and knees wailing for mercy but Xander was merciless, after powering a foot into the creature’s ribs, he grabbed him by the shirt collar and seat of the pants and flung him head-first into a near-by headstone.
“Xander, I’ll buy you a new suit, just stake him already.”
The youth looked over at the ensoulled vampire and winked. “Just be a moment.” Xander turned back to the now standing vampire, ducked beneath a left hook to crash a punch into the beast’s armpit before finally staking it.
Xander turned to face a scowling Angel. “That was stupid, playing with him like that. What if he’d been a powerful vamp like Spike or me? Always take the kill.”
Xander smiled, he knew Angel was right but it wasn’t in his nature to take criticism from the vampire lying down. “Another vampire like you? God I hope not.”
* * *
“Hi Xand, so how do you think last night went?”
Grinning at the sound of his girlfriend’s sultry voice, Xander turned from his locker to face her. As always his first sight of her took his breath away, dressed in just a pair of jeans and a light blue blouse, she looked like a million dollars. “Depends on if you mean before or after the vampire attack.”
Worry entered the Slayer’s beguiling brown eyes. “You okay honey?”
He smiled reassuringly before stroking his girlfriend’s silk black hair. “Didn’t lay a finger on me sweetie. Tore my damn suit though.”
His Slayer’s ruby-red lips parted in a smirk. “Didn’t lay a finger on you, eh? Better not let anybody but me lay a finger on you.”
He gulped as Faith’s fingers began to lightly stroke his chest. “I’ll bear that in mind.” He lowered his head to kiss her.
“Hey lookee, it’s the nerd and the tramp. Say Harris, when you’ve finished with her, throw her my way. Lips like that she’ll be able to suck start a Harley.”
Xander’s blood boiled at the hurt and humiliation he saw in Faith’s chocolate brown eyes. He grabbed her around her waist as she started after the three laughing footballers. “Cool it Faith,” he whispered in her ear, “remember control baby. Chill.”
His girlfriend glared at him for a few seconds before nodding. “Five by five,” she sighed, “I better get to class.”
“Good girl,” Xander forced a smile as his girl started off down the corridor. His face hardened as he glanced in the direction the footballers had gone. “I on the other hand,” he hurried down the school corridors and caught up with the footballers outside the science labs.
“You see the look on Harris’ face. It was fuckin’ hilarious. What a loser like that doing with a babe like that anyway? She’s football team property, a looker like that. She must be easy though if she’s with -.”
Xander let out a bestial snarl as he grabbed Percy West’s thick shoulder and spun the footballer round to face him before butting him hard in the nose. Even as the youth’s nose disappeared in a torrent of blood, Xander drove his knee into his unprepared opponent’s groin. Sensing another footballer closing on his right, he stepped towards the gridiron star and drove the point of his elbow upwards into the jock’s mouth, sending teeth flying, before following up with a sweep that took the youth’s legs out from behind.
Upon straightening, he was rocked by a punch to the side of the head that he only partially managed to avoid. Grunting slightly at the pain, he bent his knees slightly, allowing a follow-up right cross to pass harmlessly over his head, before again straightening and levelling his rival with a fast three punch combination to the head followed by a palm-strike to the chest.
Even as the third footballer left his feet, Xander was stung by a shot to the jaw from West. “You’re dead Harris!”
Ignoring the threat, he ducked under a second punch to the head and shrugged off a crunching thump to the stomach before grabbing hold of West’s arm and throwing him face-first through the near-by toilet door. After following the footballer into the lavatory, he blocked a right to the head on his forearm before sweeping the footballer’s legs from underneath him. Grabbing the stunned footballer, he dragged him over to the urinal and dumped him in face-first. Pushing West’s head down, he spoke, his voice cold. “This is a gentle warning West; Faith is off limit to you and your goons. Try and hurt her again, and I’ll make sure you’ll never play collegiate ball. Understand?” Taking the footballer’s muffled sobs as a yes he stood and slammed a foot into the footballer’s ribs before leaving. “Never did like bullies.”
* * *
“So Mr. Harris you start a fight with three of our football stars. Can you think of any reason why I shouldn’t suspend you?” Snyder glared at the youth sat opposite him. What he wouldn’t do to wipe the smug look from the boy’s face.
“Now what sort of idiot do you think I am?” the boy raised a hand and smiled, “no, don’t answer that. I didn’t start anything, I just confronted them about insulting Faith and they attacked me,” the young man shrugged. “So I dealt with the problem.”
Snyder slammed his hands on the desk separating him from the youth and stood. “You’ve dented this school’s chances for athletic glory for that tramp-.”
“Careful,” the principal felt a chill at the complete of emotion in the teen’s voice and the stoniness of his face. “I tore through three footballers bigger than me at once, what do you think I could do to you?”
The principal felt the blood drain from his face. Somehow, he knew it wasn’t a bluff. “Don’t you threaten me in my office,” he blustered.
The youth smiled evilly. “You won’t always be in your office. And let’s be honest, who would care or miss you if you disappeared? So am I suspended?”
The principal glared impotently at the youth. He’d love to punish the impudent brat but there was no proof that he’d started the fight. The three footballers he’d fought were too scared to admit what had happened and all eye witnesses’ accounts were inconclusive and contradictory. And there was something about Harris that suggested his words weren’t a bluff, without the Mayor’s support he didn’t dare go up against Giles and his gang. “Just get out of my office.”
The youth winked. “All you had to was ask.”
* * *
“What were you playing at you stupid bloody idiot!” Giles roared at the youth. “Starting fights at school. Do you have no discipline? Have you listened to nothing that Angel and I have taught you?”
“I won’t let anybody hurt her,” Xander’s voice was low and controlled, but Giles could see the raging emotion in the boy’s eyes.
“Faith is hardly your concern. I am more than a little concerned about your growing relationship with my Slayer. I might have to recommend that Faith is moved away from your influence-.”
Giles opened his mouth to tell the junior Watcher to shut up. Too late. His eyes flickering hard, Xander surged to his feet, grabbed the surprised Watcher by his tie, and threw him down a near-by table scattering books. Wesley attempted to rise but the enraged youth had by his throat, forcing him back. “Two things, you pompous prick. Only Giles and Angel can use that tone with me. And most importantly,” Xander began to tighten the Watcher’s tie, causing Wesley to gasp for air. “You try and mess with me and Faith, and I will kill you.”
Finally Giles found his voice. “Xander! Let him go immediately!” It was an effort to keep his voice steady. After a second the boy released his grip and pushed his prisoner off the table and to the floor. The boy moved towards the crumpled body, possibly to kick him but Giles snapped out an order. “No Xander. Get out of here! Go home!”
The boy nodded and walked out of the library, his head bowed; the few students in the library scattering out of his way. Once the boy had left, Giles turned to his fellow Watcher, his eyes like chipped ice. “You damn fool,” he growled in disgust. “You’re just incapable of keeping your mouth shut aren’t you? For the first time in her life Faith feels happy, protected, but that’s just not good enough is it?”
“Mr Giles,” Wesley’s snooty arrogance was back in full force. “My Slayer’s happiness isn’t my concern only her effectiveness.”
Giles shook his head in disbelief. “She’s not a soddin’ tool; she’s a frightened teenage girl. Every time you open your mouth you just confirm my first impression that you’re an idiot.” His head still shaking; the former Watcher walked into the inner office to phone Angel.
* * *
“I’m teaching you these skills to fight vampires and demons, not school bullies! Just what are you playing at?”
“For seventeen years I’ve let people, my dad, school bullies, pick on me,” Angel watched as the youth’s body began to shake and tears started to roll down his face. “Nobody’s going to hurt me or my friends ever again. And especially Faith.”
The ensoulled vampire looked at the crying youth, his own stomach clenching in pain. Xander’s father had destroyed him, oh to be Angelus and locked in an elevator with that bastard for a day. Sighing, he pointed at the couch. “You can sleep here tonight Xander, I’m just going out.”
* * *
“Given what you tell me I can only conclude that Xander is under-going some sort of breakdown. Years of abuse and the last 2 ½ years battling on the hellmouth have taken their toll. Add to that possession by a hyena, a pack animal, and he is fiercely protective of us all, particularly Faith. That’s even without considering the possible trauma of the soldier who once possessed him. Anything he perceives as a threat, no matter how slight is dealt with ruthlessly.”
“What can we do for him?” Angel asked.
Giles’ forehead creased in thought. “I understand from Buffy you meditate to help control your demons.”
The vampire nodded. “Yes.”
“You can teach him the techniques to help control his emotions. The rest of us can help by providing him with the care and security he’s never received.”
Angel nodded and stood, pausing as a thought struck him. “What about him being Faith’s Watcher?” he asked. “I hate to be cold-blooded but can he be considered responsible?”
The Watcher grimaced. “You have a
point, and I’ve already considered this problem. Unfortunately our own actions
have manoeuvred us into a corner. Both Faith and Xander are fiercely protective
of one another, as evidenced by today’s events. Separating them with only
retard both of their recoveries at best, or even provoke a violent reaction from
them at worst. Anyway,” the Watcher sighed, “I believe Xander will bear
watching but he’s proven to be a resilient character in the past and I’m sure
he’ll begin to recover soon.”
The vampire nodded, but he was far from convinced. Still, as Giles said it wasn’t like they had many options.
Watcher 8 _- A New Player In Town
Spike was nervous. It wasn’t a feeling he was used to and he didn’t like it. Ever since running from Sunnydale things had gone to hell for him, his Dru had left him, and he’d become a laughing stock in the demonic community – behind his back, no-one was stupid enough to laugh at him to his face. Sighing, Spike glanced around him. Of the other five vampires in the darkened room with him only one had less power than him and two of them were older than the poofter. He was in the big leagues. “Bloody marvellous,” he muttered.
The door swung open. Spike groaned as he recognised the vampire stood in the opening. “Dalton,” he’d been wrong, he wasn’t in the big leagues, he was knee-deep in the shit and sinking fast. “Bloody marvellous.”
* * *
“G, what’s wrong with Xander?”
Giles looked carefully at the brunette Slayer sat opposite him. Three days had passed since the ‘incident’ that had become the talk of Sunnydale High. “Faith, this is your counselling session. We’re here to talk about your problems, not Xander’s.”
“I know but,” the teenager glanced down at the floor. “He’s helped me a lot and I want to help him too. I’m worried about him.”
The Watcher kept his face impassive but inwardly he rejoiced at the change in the Slayer. Faith, concerned about someone other than herself? “Very well,” it would be a shame to waste this break-through by refusing to discuss the matter; the brunette would only become convinced that he didn’t trust her. He plunged into an explanation of Xander’s behaviour omitting the part about Xander’s hyena considering Faith his mate for fear of ‘freaking her out’, he believed that was the yank teenager vernacular.
“So this all the fault of Xand’s pa?” Faith asked quietly.
“In large part, yes.”
“Maybe I should pay him a visit.”
“No, Faith. Violence is not the answer!” Giles glared at the Slayer until she dropped her gaze.
“So how do we help him?”
The Watcher sighed in relief, his own reaction to Xander’s father had been angry but controlled but Faith always had a problem with control and if she confronted Mr. Harris it could well end in the buffoon’s death and while the bastard’s death didn’t worry him one iota, the affect it would have on his Slayer did. “We have to show Xander that he is loved by us all and that he is worthy of our regard.”
The Slayer smiled slowly and nodded. “I can do that.”
* * *
“Faith, what are you doing here?” Xander’s eyes narrowed. “More to the point, what are you wearing?”
The brunette twirled. “One of B’s summer dresses. You like?”
“Well Buff never filled it like that ow!” Xander rubbed his arm where the Slayer had punched his arm. “Not that I’m complaining but what are you doing here? And what’s in the hamper?”
“Duh. What do you usually put in a hamper?”
“Knowing you, S & M equipment? Ow! That really hurt.” Xander rubbed his shin where the Slayer had kicked him.
“Serves you right, I’m trying to be all lady-like and you keep jerking my chain,” Faith leaned forward and brushed her lips against his cheek. “Get your coat; we’re going to the park for a picnic.”
“I still think the S&M idea was a valid choice,” Xander muttered before grinning and kissing his girlfriend on the forehead. “You planned this with Giles last night didn’t you? That’s why he told me to take the day off school.”
“Busted,” Faith blushed.
“Not that I’m complaining, but what’s the big fuss?”
“Just wanted to show my guy that he’s
special.” The Slayer squeezed his hand. “So come on, grab your coat. Time’s a
wasting.”
* * *
“So you want anything else, Xand?” Faith asked as she draped her arm across her man’s chest.
“Just a kiss from my favourite Slayer.”
“Can do,” Faith reached up and pressed her lips against her guy’s for a few seconds before expertly working her tongue into the man’s receptive mouth. After a while she pulled away and dropped back down beside the teen. “Xand, can I ask you something?”
“Yes, you are the best looking girl in Sunnydale.”
“Only Sunnydale?”
“Yeah, but look at the competition.”
“Listen buster, there is no competition,” Faith nudged her boyfriend in the ribs before turning serious. “Xand, don’t you think you over-reacted a little with West and his goons?”
“Not you too,” Xander’s voice hardened, became angry and betrayed. “What was picnic for? Soften me up for the big lecture?”
The Slayer forced down her hurt at the suspicion in her boyfriend’s voice. “No, Xand, no lecture. I appreciate you trying to protect me, I really do, nobody’s looked after me before. I’m just worried,” her voice caught and trembled. “I’ve never had a guy care about me like you do. I don’t want to lose you, for you to stop being the sweet, funny guy I’ve fallen for. I don’t want you to stop being the guy who cared enough about a scared kid to stop her from running.”
Xander raised a hand and started to stroke her hair. “Faith, I’m sorry I snapped at you,” the teen’s tone softened. “You don’t have to worry about me changing. You know why?”
“No, why?”
“Because changing might cost me you.”
The Slayer beamed. “Good answer,” she reached across and kissed Xander on the cheek. He’d be five by five; she’d make sure of it.
* * *
“Damn it,” Xander ducked beneath the vampire’s swing before thrusting his stake into its undead heart. He sidestepped another’s head-long charge before tripping the vampire and slamming his stake through its back. Wiping the resulting dust off him, he turned to Angel and grinned. His friend was facing off against a vampire nearly a foot shorter than him, this should be over quickly. “Hurry up Angel. We’ve got a double date to make. You know how antsy the girls get if we’re late.”
“Xander, run for it,” came the terse reply.
His brow furrowed in puzzlement. “I’m not leaving you bud. Besides, there’s only one vamp.”
His friend’s head snapped towards him, showing him his demonic face. “Xand go! Get Buffy & Faith, and warn Giles that Lee Cheng’s in town. Go!”
Compelled by the firmness in the ensoulled vampire’s tone, Xander hurried away, his heart pounding furiously. He could almost have sworn the ensoulled vampire was scared. He’d barely run two hundred yards when two shapes stepped out of the shadows in front of him. He swallowed as he recognised one of the figures. “Hi Spike, good to see you’re back raising property prices again,” he smiled weakly. “So Dru ever come to her senses and leave that slime demon?” he gulped at the vampire’s answering growl. “I’m guessing that’s a no then?”
“Bloody hell whelp, you never did know what to keep your trap shut did you?”
“That’s what it says on my school reports,” Xander admitted candidly as he edged his hand into his jacket. “So who’s your friend,” he nodded towards Spike’s companion, an African-American in a sharp business suit. “Decided to try your luck with guys now? Here’s a quick tip Willy, you should have waited for a personality transplant first.”
Spike’s face darkened. “His name’s Mr. Trick, he used to work for a master vampire your bird killed,” the vampire grinned evilly. “He’s looking forward to getting his hands on her hot little body.”
“Like hell,” Xander snarled. Surging forward, he ducked beneath a right cross only to charge onto a left hook to the jaw that sent him staggering backwards. As he tried to regain his balance, Mr. Trick grabbed his stake arm and twisted, ripping the stake from his hand. His yell of pain was cut off by a body shot from Spike that drove the air from his lungs and cracked a rib. Legs buckling, he fell to his knees and then into unconsciousness as Spike’s fist collided with his jaw.
* * *
Faith glanced at her watch worriedly. “They’re nearly half an hour late B.”
“I know. I’ll phone Angel, you see if they left Giles’.”
The brunette nodded. Her fingers shook as she dialled the phone number. After fourteen rings she hung up. “No answer.”
Buffy shook her head. “None at Angel’s either.”
“That means they left but,” god, Faith couldn’t believe how fast her heart was beating, “never got here.”
“I know,” her friend swallowed hard. “We know that Angel was meeting Xander at Giles’ before coming here. Let’s re-trace their steps and see if we can find any clues.”
Faith nodded before standing on suddenly unsteady legs. “Sounds like a plan B.”
* * *
“Damn.”
“What have you found Faith?” Buffy ran over to her sister Slayer. “Oh no.”
The blonde crouched down beside her sister Slayer, her heart pounding with fear. In the middle of the Sunnydale Superior Cemetery there lay two groups of tell-tale dustpiles, one of two, another of five. The Slayer took a breath before glancing across at Faith.
As scared as she felt, Faith looked terrified. If god forbid she lost Angel she still had her mom, sis, Giles, and Willow. But Faith, part of Faith still believed that only Xander truly cared about her. She reached across and hugged the younger Slayer. “Faith, they’ll be fine.” She forced a laugh. “They know what we’ll do to them if they aren’t. Let’s get to the library.”
The other Slayer nodded slowly before stumbling to her feet. “Sure B.”
Watcher 9 – Angel’s Urges
“I’m sorry but I can’t allow you to risk your life in such a manner. After all, Angel is for all the assistance he has given us just a vampire. As for Mr. Harris he is -.”
Wesley was cut off by the scrape of Faith’s chair flying backwards just half a second before she grabbed the Watcher around the throat and lifted him into the air, kicking and choking. “Be very careful Wussley,” she growled dangerously. “You’re talking about the best guy I’ve ever met, someone worth ten of ya. I’m wicked pissed and looking for someone to unleash on. And if you keep flapping your gums you’ll get yourself nominated.”
“Faith!” the Slayer glanced at Giles’ determined face. “Don’t waste all of your hard work on him. He’s not worth it.”
After a tension-filled moment, Faith released her grip and dropped the shaken Englishman back in his chair. “Next time you’re dissing G, remember he saved you from a long stay at Sunnydale Hospital.” She turned to Buffy. “What’s the what B? Off to Willy’s?”
The blonde Slayer nodded. “Let’s go.”
* * *
Willy groaned as the bar door crashed open and the two Slayers walked in, he’d only just got the place cleaned up from the last time they’d visited. It just wasn’t natural the way his place emptied when they entered, two babes like that should have patrons flocking in not stampeding out. He forced a smile as the two women approached the bar. The grim expressions the two beauties wore couldn’t be good news. “Hello ladies, and may I say that as usual it’s a pleas-.”
His greeting was abruptly cut off by the brunette grabbing him around his collar and throwing over the counter and onto the hard wooden floor. “Shit Slayer,” his voice trailed off as he noted the homicidal rage in the girl’s eyes.
“We don’t have time to mess around,” the brunette warned. “Who’s taken our boys?”
“Your boys? You, with a steady? I’ve heard your rep-,” his head was nearly knocked clean off by a back-handed slap from the cold-eyed Slayer. Willy swallowed, he quickly realised that while Summers had some restraint about hurting humans, the new Slayer obviously didn’t. “I don’t know much ‘cept a lot of the minor vamps have been real scared, some major players in the vampire world have come to Sunnydale to play.”
“Names and numbers Willy, we need names,” said the blonde. “Otherwise Faith will have to start hitting you again.”
“There’s seven, but I don’t know all their names – there’s your old bud Spike, a black guy by the name of Mr. Trick,” he saw the brunette blanch, “ a real ugly guy by the name of Dalton, and a Chink by the name of Lee Cheng. That’s it, that’s all I know I swear.”
The blonde dropped a twenty dollar bill on his chest. “Thanks Willy. Next time answer straight away, it’s usually less painful that way.” The blonde looked up at Faith. “Back to the library. Let’s see if G knows who Dalton or Cheng is. Oh and Willy?”
“Yeah?”
“If I find out you’ve lied, I’ll send Faith back on her own to see you.”
* * *
“Xander, how are you feeling?”
“Aside from my cracked rib, bruised jaw, and dislocated wrist, never better. You?”
“My injuries have more or less healed already.”
”Lucky you,” the teen winced, Angel noted with concern the youth looked almost
grey with pain. “Who was that Lee Cheng you were fighting with?”
“One of the Council’s dirtiest little secrets. He was a Watcher in the 1680s, a superb Martial Artist,” Angel grimaced; the beating he’d taken was brutal testament to that. “His potential was called as the Slayer in 1684, and thanks in large part to Cheng’s training, Mai-Ling became acknowledged as one of the best Slayers ever. But in 1689, Cheng was diagnosed with cancer and in return for eternal life he betrayed his Slayer to the local vampire lord.”
“What a prince, I couldn’t see G-Man doing that to Buffy or Faith.”
“No, you’re right. But then again most Watchers of my acquaintance,” Angel raised an eyebrow, acquaintance, what he really meant was tortured and killed, “are more like Wesley than Giles.”
“Isn’t that reassuring, the fate of the world in their hands. Gets me just jumping up and down for joy.”
“How did he get you? I put up quite a fight; you must have a mile away at least.”
The youth sighed. “Cheng must have Spike and some guy called Trick working for him ‘cause I ran into them just seconds after leaving you.”
Angel felt a hollow pit form in the pit of his stomach. He shook his head slowly. “Doesn’t make sense. Cheng is muscle, not a leader. There must be somebody else involved.”
“As astute as ever Angelus.”
“Oh shit,” Angel groaned. Their bad night had just got a hell of a lot worse.
* * *
“And who’s this Dalton dude?”
Giles glanced up from the books spread across the table to the nervously pacing brunette Slayer. “Dalton is an extremely old vampire turned approximately around 1450 by none other than the Master.”
“Oh that name gives me such fuzzy feelings.”
Giles chose to ignore Buffy’s muttered interruption. “Dalton soon amassed quite a reputation for cruelty and depravity. The Master became very proud of Dalton and when he turned Darla, he shared her with Dalton completely. When Darla ran off with Angelus, the Master was disappointed but Dalton was enraged. Until the gaining of his soul, Dalton and Angelus attempted to kill one another on numerous occasions -.”
“Shit B,” growled Faith. “What is it with our boy? Every time he gets his cock out everything goes to shit!”
“Yes thank you Faith, the highly disturbing visual your words has conjured up is most helpful,” Giles said sarcastically. “The question is how do we proceed?”
“I could do a locater spell,” offered Willow. “I’d need something of Xander’s, something precious, Angel wouldn’t be any use what with him being a vampire and this being the hellmouth.”
“I’ve got something Red,” Faith
offered. “But I’ve got to have it back; it’s the first thing Xand ever gave to
me.” At the Wicca’s nod, she reached around her neck and pulled a gold cross on
a chain over her head. The Slayer glanced self-consciously at him. “He said
Ms. Calendar give it him as a good luck charm on his birthday.”
Giles forced a smile; just the mention of Jenny sent a stab of pain through his
heart. “I’m sure Jenny would approve of its new owner.”
The Slayer blushed. “Thanks G, means a lot.”
* * *
“You’re telling me I’m here because of your urges!”
Angel winced. From the dangerous look in Xander’s eyes he should be grateful there wasn’t any jagged wood near-by. “Xander, it not quite like that -.”
“Darla, Drusilla! And you still hadn’t learnt anything by the time you got to Buff! What are you, the vampire world’s answer to Homer Simpson?”
“You tell him boy,” Dalton chuckled.
Xander glared at the ancient vampire.
“Was I talking to you pigface?”
The words had barely left the youth’s mouth when the vampire darted across the floor and grabbed the teen around the throat, lifting him off the dusty floor. Angel growled and started forward, only for Spike, Mr. Trick, and Cheng to intercept and hold him back, forcing him to watch helplessly as Dalton slapped the struggling youth across the face, drawing blood from the teen’s nose and mouth, before shaking him violently and throwing him to the floor. “Leave him alone!” he bellowed, knowing in his heart of hearts his protests would be in vain. “It’s me you want!”
Dalton turned towards him, a cold glint
in his merciless eyes. “Leave him alone?” the master vampire grabbed the dazed
youth’s hair and dragged him off the ground. “But where’s the fun in that?”
“If you hurt him there won’t be a stone you can hide under. If I don’t get you, Buffy or Faith will, and I promise if Faith gets you, you’ll wish Angelus caught up with you instead.”
Angel saw a flicker in his grand-childe’s eyes but Dalton merely laughed. “You really are a strange one Angelus. I could almost understand your attraction to the Slayer. She’s strong, capable, dangerous, but this creature,” Dalton kicked Xander’s crumpled body, the boy groaned. “Is just prey. Why do you waste time with such cattle?”
Angel shook his head. “You couldn’t comprehend his worth. And in that I pity you but,” the ensoulled vampire looked up, his eyes hard, “that pity won’t prevent me from killing you or anybody who hurts him.”
“Maybe I can find what’s so fascinating about the brat.”
Angel’s mouth dried with unbidden desire as he stared at the newcomer stood in the cellar’s doorway. The interloper was a tall, elegant woman with waist-length silver-blond hair and unfathomable grey eyes set in an almost elfin face. Her curvy frame was clothed in a flimsy dress that somehow managed the amazing feat of fully covering her while hiding nothing.
Dalton smiled coldly. “Ah, Lady de Sade,” the vampire turned back to him, his smile widening at the look of horror on his face. “I see you recognise the Lady’s name. Even before her turning during the French Revolution she worked as a confessor for the revolution, torturing admissions out of the nobility. It’s a skill she’s only refined since becoming one of the blessed, technology is such an aid in her calling. I’d hired her to deal with you, but now…” The vampire glanced down at the crumpled body at his feet. “I think I’ll allow her to have some fun with your friend first. Keep listening,” Dalton smirked at him before passing Xander’s limp frame to the lady.
Suddenly Xander exploded into action, slamming his head into the lady’s face. The vampiress staggered backwards in surprise and Xander followed up with a side-kick to the stomach that sent the female vampire crumpling to the ground.
A smile flickered across Angel’s face. If the boy dived for the open door, he might escape. Instead, he twisted and dived towards him. Cheng leapt towards the youth hitting him with a clothesline that sent him crashing to the floor in a heap. Dalton walked over to the body and chuckled. “That was foolish.”
“No it wasn’t,” Angel snarled as Spike and Trick strained to hold him back. “It was brave and loyal, two qualities you have no concept of.”
Dalton laughed mockingly. “You really are attached to the boy,” the vampire looked down and sneered. “He’s just fodder, food at worst, a few hours of entertainment at best. Dalton glanced towards the other vampires. “Take him out, but make sure he’s near enough to hear his pet scream.”
Angel’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Too late he realised that Xander was possibly the best friend he’d ever had. Not one of the gang of drunks he’d hung around with while alive would have risked themselves to try and save him. As for Angelus, well master vampires didn’t have friends only enemies and cowering minions. As for Angel, well his love of literature and poetry had found a kindred soul in Giles, but Angelus’ return had ruined that. Now though, in the past two months he’d come to admire Xander’s loyalty, generosity, and determination, and even enjoy bantering with him.
All of the Scoobies were remarkable, each one of them had a flaw that somehow paradoxically strengthened rather than weakened them. He considered them all his friends; it was a shame he just had to die before he found them. Still, it was better than not finding them at all.
Watcher 10 – Whatever It Took
“Wakey, wakey boy.”
“Name’s Xander bitch, don’t you forget it because I’m the guy who’s going to be ramming a stake into your heart.” Xander glanced around quickly, his heart sinking as he took in his predicament. As situations went he’d been in better. The Master’s Lair, the She-Mantis’ den, the showdown with Angelus, the confrontation with the Zombie gang, and facing Faith in the alley – all preferable to this.
He was hung by his arms from the centre of the ceiling of a cold, grey wall, dangling just inches from the floor. He’d been stripped to the waist and facing him stood a woman who made Drusilla look like a poster child for sanity and rational behaviour. “Good to see the old Harris luck is holding,” he muttered. His blood chilled as he noticed the table stood next to the silver-haired vampiress. On it lay a variety of ghastly instruments – a selection of whips, a set of electrodes, a hammer, a blow-torch, a number of knives as well as a…
He shuddered at the ice-cold touch of the vampiress’ hand on his face. “You broke my nose,” the demon said softly.
Xander forced a grin. “I don’t suppose you’d accept my apology and a bunch of flowers?”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” the vampiress purred as she raked her long nails down his chest, drawing blood and making him hiss in pain. De Sade leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “Means you have spirit, I like breaking those with spirit, when they shatter they make the most beautiful noise.”
“Lovely,” Xander felt his lips dry, “what it is with me and women? They all seem to work on the kill or cure principle.” He swallowed as the vampiress glided over to the table and picked up a knife. “I don’t suppose we could just go for a coffee, maybe take in a movie?” he forced a note of levity into his voice. “This is a little heavy for a first date, I don’t usually crack open the bondage gear until at least the tenth date.”
“Jokes, jokes. All very amusing,” the vampiress laughed softly before turning a pair of ice-cold eyes on him, “but how will the jester amuse us without his tongue?” Xander let out a gasp of fear as the vampiress ran the blunt edge of the knife across his face.
* * *
“Listening to the whelp’s screaming is all very entertaining but I still reckon it’ll be better if he,” Spike indicated the seated Angel who returned his sneer with a helpless glare, “was in the same room watching.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Mr. Trick started towards the ensoulled vampire.
“Just one problem.” Spike slammed a stake into the back of the African-American vampire. “You’re dust.” The vampire turned to his grand-sire. “Well bloody help Peaches!”
Angel leapt off his chair and lunged towards Cheng only to be knocked to the ground by a kick to the stomach. Seizing his opportunity, Spike leapt forward, his stake arcing downwards at the Oriental vampire’s heart only for his adversary to grab his stake hand and throw him to into the wall. “Bloody hell,” he cursed as he slid down the wall. “Bugger’s strong.”
Spike rose to meet the Oriental only to be caught by a knifehand to the throat that sent him to his knees. Seeing his grand-sire rising behind his adversary, Spike lunged forward, taking a hard knee to the face, catching his opponent around the waist, and knocking him backwards into the splinter wielded by Angel. The instant Cheng exploded into dust Spike was caught by a thunderous punch to the jaw that sent him back to the floor. “What’s your game Spike?”
“Bloody hell mate, suspicious aren’t you? Try and help a bloke,” he dabbed gingerly at his bloodied lip. Getting a soul didn’t appear to have made his grand-sire’s punches any lighter. “One, I remember blondie dropping an organ on me for hurting you, from what I’ve heard of the whelp’s bird that’s one bint I really don’t want to piss off. And two, Dalton doesn’t remember it but he tried to kill me and Dru in the twenties. And three, he’s planning on opening the hellmouth, I like the status quo too much to risk the world.” He waited warily until Angel offered him his hand. Taking it he climbed to his feet. “So what’s the plan?”
* * *
The door to the cell crashed open under a single kick. Angel’s eyes hardened as he saw the boy’s wretched state. “You’re dead De Sade,” he grated before charging forward, his demonic face showing.
De Sade leapt towards the tool ridden
table, her fingers for the blow torch lying there. Just as the vampiress’
fingers closed on her target, the table was knocked away. The vampiress looked
up in shock. Spike shrugged and smirked. “Sorry pet.”
Even as De Sade lunged for the bleached blonde vampire Angel threw a stake to his grand-childe. The torturer’s eyes widened in shock as she ran onto the stake and exploded into dust. Satisfied that the threat was over, Angel spun around to face Xander.
“Oh no,” the words came out as a whisper as he surveyed his friend’s wretched condition. Blood was streaming down from the boy’s nostrils, both his eyes were swollen shut, and his jaw was covered with bruises. His back was bloody and raw from repeated whipping, while his front was covered in bruises, burns, and knife wounds. Climbing up on a near-by chair, he untied the youth and eased him down, cradling him in his arms.
“Bloody hell Peaches, I’ve never seen you treat anyone ‘cept the Darla and Dru like that. Hey, that shiny soul of yours hasn’t turned you qu-.”
“Be careful Spike,” he growled, “be very careful. Otherwise I might just forget to tell Buffy and Faith that you helped me.” Angel turned back to the comatose youth. “Xander? Can you hear me?”
“Bloody hell, can’t you hear his heartbeat?”
“He might have brain damage.”
“With him how would you know? Look mate we have to get out of here.”
Angel nodded before lifting the youth over his shoulders. “Let’s go.”
* * *
“Leaving so soon Angel? And Spike, changing sides?”
“Never liked you much Dalton?” Spike shouted back before whispering at Angel. “Peaches, you big poof, I hope you’ve got a plan.”
“Ever watch westerns,” he replied with a smile as he watched the twenty or so vampires surround them.
“Westerns? What the bloody hell you talking about?” A door at the back of the factory crashed open and half a dozen figures rushed in.
“Cavalry’s arrived Spike.”
Spike grinned wolfishly at him. “Put down the whelp, poofter. It’s time to fight back to back.”
Angel laughed, feeling the demon inside him rejoice at the thought of violence. “Takes you back doesn’t it?”
* * *
Faith looked anxiously through the brawling melee, searching for any sign of her boyfriend; she didn’t know what she’d do if anything had happened to her baby. A smile flickered across her face as she spotted him guarded by Angel only to disappear when she registered his condition and the numbers encircling his protectors.
“Nobody’s hurting my baby,” she snarled before starting forward, slamming a side kick in the gut of a vampire approaching her from left. Even as the vampire crumpled, she sidestepped another’s charge leaving her stake for the vampire to run on before spinning round, kick the first vampire square in the balls before staking its descending body.
She turned back towards her love and started forward. Suddenly a pair of hands encircled her neck from behind. Before her attacker had a chance to tighten their grip she slammed her head backwards, shattering her attacker’s knee, and drove her right heel into the vampire’s shin. Faith pulled away from the vampire’s loosening grip, turned, blocked a left cross on her shoulder, and staked him.
“Well you’re a fiery one. You must be
the Bostonian Slayer I’ve been hearing about.”
Faith’s eyes flickered around; the fighting had broken down into groups, the largest number surrounding her boy and his protectors, before resting on the vampire stood before her. He was short, an inch or so shorter than her, but thickly built with a face that had begun to show a vampire’s age. Her eyes rested on the sword in the vampire’s hands she drew her own and allowed her stake to clatter to the floor. “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done to my boy, ugly.”
The vampire laughed mockingly. “Yes you’ve done about as good a job protecting him as you made of protecting your first Watcher.”
Faith felt a surge of rage engulf her. Darting forward, she ducked under a sword swing from the Master vampire and into a knee to the face. Rocked by the impact she staggered backwards, twisting away from an attempted thrust at her heart only for the blade to slice through her shoulder, ripping open a bloody channel.
Biting her top lip prevent from screaming her pain, Faith gazed at her grinning opponent. “You’re not very good Slayer,” he taunted. “Ah well. Perhaps your counterpart will be better.”
Just the mention of Buffy got her competitive juices flowing, she was sick of being disregarded, considered as second-best, only Xander thought of her as number one. “You’ll never find out.” After feinting with a head slash she thrust at Dalton’s belly but the vampire sidestepped and countered with a swing at her knees that she leapt over before landing a drop-kick in the vampire’s chest and smoothly backwards somersaulting to land on her feet ten feet away.
The vampire winced and staggered but remained on his feet. “Better than I thought,” he taunted, “but you’re still going to die.” Suddenly the vampire thrust at her neck, she twisted away from the attack only to let out an agonised scream when the vampire pulled a dagger out of her belt and thrust it into the forearm of her sword-arm causing her sword to clatter to the floor.
“You’ll be my fourth Slayer,” taunted the vampire as he back-handed her to the floor. She stared up defiantly at the vampire. She wouldn’t beg or grovel, it wasn’t her style and it didn’t do any good with humans or vampires anyway. She’d meet death head on; she just wished she’d told Xander how much he meant to her.
“Not bloody likely!” Suddenly a crossbow quarrel hit the Master Vampire’s in the right eye. As the screaming vampire staggered backwards, Faith rolled towards her sword and, ignoring the pain in his arm, lifted the blade and quickly decapitated the vampire.
A grin on her face, she turned to thank Giles only for her mouth to drop open at the sight of Wesley coolly re-loading his crossbow. “Wes.”
The young Watcher smiled a most
unweslike smile. “I couldn’t let him get my Slayer could I? Now go and see to
your young man.”
“Damn straight!” A grin on her face, Faith dived back into the
fight. Xander was going to be five by five. Whatever it took.