Title: Blood Tears – New Start
Rating: R (For Language later)
Relationships: X\F
Story: Action\Adventure
Feedback: In lieu of a Faithbot yeah.
E-Mail: KeithWrestle@Yahoo.Co.uk
Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters just worship at their altar.
Credits: For Jason Thompson’s story “Juxtaposition” which gave me the idea of using Faith as the vampiress with a soul.
Blood Tears 1: Old Lives, New Start
The woman closed her eyes. The madam was really working her hard, getting her money’s worth out of her new whore. She turned to face her client, he was short with a decent build and a blindingly poor taste in clothes. Not that they mattered, she’d soon have him out of them.
Wearily she threw the man a battered price list. “There’s what I do, with the prices. Make your choice, but hurry. Meter’s running.”
The man scanned idly through the list, his eyes widening speculatively. “Is that even possible?” she heard him mutter.
The woman flinched inwardly. Great, a pervert. “If it’s on the list it’s possible,” she snapped. Just painful and humiliating as hell. But then she’d caused enough pain in her time.
“Well as tempted as I am by your beguiling form, I’m not here for that, Faith.”
The woman’s head snapped towards the man, her mouth suddenly dry. Man? She couldn’t believe she’d missed it. Leaping to her feet and unmindful of her nudity, she raced across the floor at lightning speed. Grabbing the man round his throat, she slammed him into the door. “Who are you?” she rasped, her eyes changing from their usual liquid brown to somehow glitter golden. “Who sent you?”
Suddenly the woman was flying back across the room to land back on the bed. She glanced up in amazement at the calm figure stood by the door. “Name’s Whistler luv. I’m a balance demon sent by the powers that be to get you back fighting. Only this time on the side of good.”
“Not interested.”
“Really? You want to spend an eternity whoring?”
“You don’t know anything about me!”
“Let’s see. Faith Adams, born in Georgia in 1690. Turned by the Master Vampire Angelus in 1709. Soon gained a frightening reputation for sadistic violence and helped turn an Englishman by the name of William Blesdoe in 1825.”
“Shut up,” the vampiress felt tears of blood roll down her cheeks.
“For seven decades, the trio of you wrecked havoc across America. In single nights you could turn teeming towns into ghost towns. Then in 1897, you stole upon an Apache reservation and murdered the daughter of the tribe shaman, even cutting her unborn child out of her. In vengeance the shaman cursed you with a soul. Since then, you have moved from place to place working as a whore.”
“So congratulations you win a prize! Why are you here?”
Whistler dropped a photograph on the bed. The vampiress picked it up. It was of an attractive blonde with laughing green eyes. Faith envied the girl the innocence she saw in her eyes. Had she ever looked that happy? “Pretty.”
“Buffy Summers. She’s the Slayer.”
Faith raised an eyebrow. “Still calling them are they?” she snorted. “And they call my race barbaric.”
“That’s as maybe but she needs help.”
The vampiress shrugged her slender shoulders. “Not interested. Now if you’re not paying, get out. A girl’s gotta earn a living.”
Instead the demon dropped another photograph on the bed. “That’s her watcher, an Englishman called Rupert Giles, he’s about two cuts above the usual Watcher, actually gives a damn about his charge. This,” he passed the unwilling vampiress another photograph of a ditzy but attractive looking redhead. “That’s Willow Rosenberg, her best friend and a trainee Wicca. And that’s,” he dropped a photograph of a good-natured looking boy with brown hair and eyes. “Her other friend Alexander Lavelle Harris. Remind you of anybody?”
The vampiress reached for the photograph, her long fingers tracing the contours of the youth’s face. “Bucky -.”
“Yes Bucky Adams. The fourteen year old brother you raped, tortured and killed four months after Angelus turned you. I imagine he screamed a hell of a lot before he died.”
“Shut up,” Faith shrieked, tears of blood were once again rolling down her finely sculptured cheeks. Bucky had been the only member of her family she’d loved. It was only because of him she’d stayed at home for as long as she had. Ever since her soul’s return it was his begging bewildered face that haunted her nightmares the most. How could she have done that to the only person she’d ever loved and who’d loved her back?
“Can you stand by and do nothing while Angelus and Spike do the same to the boy and his friends? ‘Cause that boy won’t stand aside and let his friends be taken without a fight. He’s not that sort.”
“Damn you,” she whispered before looking at the demon’s sympathetic face. “When do we leave?”
“As soon as you’re ready.”
Faith nodded numbly. Standing she got her clothes together and quickly dressed. “Ready.”
“Okay.” The demon led her out into the corridor with its threadbare carpet and walls with peeling wallpapers, the air filled with animalistic grunts and the sounds of passion coming from the other rooms. Within seconds a shaven-headed man the size of a small truck blocked their way. “Where you going Faith?”
The vampiress felt a sudden surge of hatred. This man had humiliated and used her as part of her ‘breaking-in’. She’d let him because she had no reason not to, but now she had a purpose and she was dammed if she was going to let him hurt her again. She forced herself to use a coldly polite tone. “I’m leaving Mike.”
The man grinned. “Not unless the boss says you are. She’s fixing to make some serious green off your fine ass. You need some disciplining.” The enforcer reached out to grab her.
Faith’s hand flew out to meet the man’s grasping paw. Grabbing the man’s thick thumb she twisted it violently, breaking it. Even as the man’s mouth opened to scream, her free fist slammed into it, sending teeth flying. In the same instant, her right foot swung upwards to connect powerfully with his groin. She released her grip on his thumb, allowing the man to slump to the floor.
“Nicely done,” Whistler commented as he stepped over the bouncer’s now unconscious body.
* * *
“Hiya handsome.”
Xander turned in the direction of the sultry voice calling to him. His mouth dried up as he watched the lithe figure swaying out of the shadows and towards him. The black leather pants and tight denim shirt did nothing at all to hide the generous curves of the raven-haired beauty advancing on him while the woman’s liquid brown eyes had within them a hint of mockery that contradicted the sadness he saw there, yet only added to the allure. Realising he was staring, Xander flushed and glanced at his feet. “Hello ma’am.”
“Ma’am.” The woman chuckled, a sardonic smile twisting her heart-shaped lips. Suddenly she was directly in front of him. “Do I look like a ma’am,” she purred.
“Uh no.” Suddenly Xander realised something. The woman had her mouth scant inches away from his face and yet he couldn’t feel any breath on his face. Eyes widening, his hand dived in his jacket for his stake only for the woman to grab his wrist in an impossibly tight grip. “There’s no need for that good-looking,” she purred in his ear before kissing him gently on the cheek and pushing a note into his jeans pocket. Then, just as suddenly she was several feet away, a look of merriment on her pale face. “It’s been fun,” she laughed gaily. “Tell Rupert Giles to have a little faith.”
* * *
“Giles! Giles! Giles!”
“Bloody hell Xander. Even if you don’t use it as such, remember this room does occasionally serve as a library.”
“Yeah, sorry G-Man. Do you want to hear about the vampiress I bumped into or not?”
The Watcher’s head snapped up from the leather-bound book he’d been reading. “Vampiress? Please do, don’t leave anything out.”
After Xander had finished his recounting. Giles scrubbed at his glasses, a troubled expression on his scholarly face. “May I have the note she gave you please?”
The colour drained from the Englishman’s face as he read the note’s contents. “Good lord. Angelus and William The Bloody in Sunnydale.” The Watcher glanced up at Xander. “What did she tell you to tell me?”
Xander paused in thought. “To have a little faith.”
“Oh dear, oh dear.” The Watcher hurried over to the bookshelves and came back carrying a hefty volume. “According to ‘Master Vampires Across The Americas’, Angelus was sired in Ireland in the year 1550. His home village of Galway doesn’t exist anymore, he single-handedly butchered every inhabitant. For the last 450 years he has left bloody trails across England, Europe and North America. He has killed at least five Slayers and two of his children are amongst the most savage vampires ever. His second, William Beldose was turned in 1825 and became known as William The Bloody or Spike for his penchant of torturing people with railroad spikes and has murdered three Slayers. Angelus’ first childe was turned in 1709. She was reputedly a woman of quite astonishing beauty who would use her looks to entice men before killing them. She is known to have killed two Slayers, but her most heinous act was the butchery of her own family. According to public record, one deputy sheriff was driven insane by the murder scene. She supposedly disappeared and was presumed dead but apparently not if you met her tonight.”
“No, she can’t be. She was too beautiful.” Xander shook his head in stubborn disbelief.
“Who’s too beautiful? Talking about me again boys?”
Xander gazed distractedly at Buffy, a wavering smile playing on his lips. “Hi Buff.” Normally the sight of Buffy would send his hormones into overdrive but now, consumed as he was with thoughts of the stunning vampiress he’d met earlier, he hardly registered her presence. He knew Giles was wrong about her, there was something in her eyes that hinted at sorrow and regret. And how could a beast without a conscience regret anything? Deciding he had to find out one way or another, the young man waited until Buffy and Giles were deep in conversation before rising and hurrying out of the library.
Redemption 2: A New Home
“So what do you think of him?”
Faith turned to the balance demon, a thoughtful expression on her face. “He was brave,” she said finally. “He guessed I was a vampiress but although I could feel the waves of fear coming off him but he didn’t flinch or beg. He just looked me in the eye.”
“Brave? Good, he’ll need that tonight.”
“Tonight?” The vampiress’ face paled even more than normal. “What happens tonight?” she demanded, her stomach clenching tight with fear.
“A trio of Angelus’ minions have been instructed to take one of the Slayers’ friends as a hostage. The others are safe but Xander is busy searching the streets for a beautiful vampiress who his friends have told him is evil to prove them wrong.”
“No.” Faith croaked. The sweet boy who reminded her so much of her long dead brother was going to be hurt because of her. And after she’d come here to protect him. She couldn’t let it happen. Staggering to her feet, she made for the door. She’d save him.
* * *
“Well lookee here, it’s the Slayer’s friend.”
Xander paled as he glanced at the three vampires who’d stepped out of the shadows to surround him. He’d been so consumed with thoughts of the woman he’d met earlier in the evening that he’d failed to notice their approach. “I don’t suppose it would make any difference if I told you I was on a garlic diet?” he asked hopefully as he pulled out his stake.
“Sorry,” replied their leader, a male standing several inches over six feet tall. “See, we’re not going to eat you. Our master wants a friend of the Slayer’s to play with.”
“You could always tell him play-time was over.”
“A comedian?” The tall vampire laughed. “I like gnawing on their funny bones.”
“Man, your puns are worse than mine.”
All three vampires morphed into their demonic faces and surged forward. Knowing that to turn and run would be futile, Xander braced himself against the nearest wall and waited for their attack.
It wasn’t long in coming, the leftmost vampire was first to reach him. Thrusting his stake, Xander caught the creature in its shoulder. The monster howled in pain but kept on coming, the fist of his uninjured arm smashing into the boy’s mouth.
His vision blurring in pain, Xander swung out blindly at the shapes around him only for his stake to be snatched away from him. A split second later, he was punched in three places at once – the nose, the chest and the stomach. Winded, he could only gasp for air, the sound of his heaving lungs drowned out only by the roaring in his ears.
A hand grabbed his hair and threw face first onto the stone ground. His head bleeding from the fall, the teenager struggled to his knees. “Remember,” he dimly heard the gang leader say. “Angelus wants him alive, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun first.”
A barrage of blows reined down on him, knocking back down to the ground. His body screaming for mercy, he pulled himself back up onto his knees only to forced down again. From a distance he heard a banshee like scream.
* * *
Faith hurried through the town streets, unmindful of the downpour that had soaked her to the skin. She had to find him, he had to be safe. Her pace increased at the sound of a brawl in a near-by alley.
What she saw froze her blood and unleashed an animalistic scream from deep within. Leaping into the air, she propelled herself forward to land feet first in the back of the vampire nearest her, sending her opponent flying into some near-by trashcans.
Upon landing, Faith sent a side kick into the belly of the second vampire, doubling her up. Ducking under the third’s lunge at her, she thrust a stake deep into his heart. Without waiting for him to explode, she pulled out her stake, turned to the recovering second vampire and thrust the stake into her heart. Next, she stalked over to the surviving vampire and grabbed him round the throat, lifting off the ground. “Tell Angelus from Faith the boy’s off limits.” She glanced at the groaning figure curled up on the stone ground. “On second thoughts,” she plunged a stake into his heart. “Don’t bother.”
The vampiress rushed over to the youth lying on the ground. He was a complete mess. His left arm hung unnaturally at the shoulder while three fingers on his right hand looked to be broken, both his eyes were swollen shut, a cut in his forehead was bleeding heavily, his nose had been broken and both lips bloodied. And that was just the injuries she could see. “Oh, Alex,” she muttered softly as she cradled the boy in her arms.
He shook his head. “Don’t call me that,” he slurred. “My name’s Xander, my friends call me Xander. Only my dad calls me Alex before he beats me.”
“Okay Xander it is then,” Faith forced a smile even as her heart darkened. “Nobody’s going to hurt you again I promise. Now let me take you to the hospital.”
“No, no,” he shook his head again. “The school library first. Have to warn the others.”
She hesitated before nodding. “Okay Xander.” She gently lifted him in her arms, wincing slightly at the pained expression on his face and the strangled groans he uttered. “You’ll be five by five, you’ll see.”
* * *
“Help him!”
Giles’ head snapped up at the anguished scream from the doorway of his library. An amazing sight met his gaze. The woman stood in the open doorway carrying Xander’s torn body was soaked and bedraggled from the night’s raging storm. Yet even with her jet-black hair plastered to her distressed face and her clothes soaked to her curvy frame, she was still strikingly beautiful. Even with the blood red tears that streaked down her sculpted cheeks. “Bring him over here.” The Watcher sensed Buffy starting to rise beside him. He grabbed her arm and shook his head. “No Buffy.”
She turned to him, her eyes filled with confusion. “She’s a vampire and she’s hurt Xander,” she growled dangerously.
“No she hasn’t. Trust me.” The watcher turned to the waiting woman. “Put him on the couch.”
The vampiress gently placed the battered body down. Giles’ breath caught as he saw the youth’s condition and beside him he heard Buffy give a muffled cry. Gathering himself, the Englishman spoke calmly. “What happened?”
The Watcher saw guilt in the vampiress’ deep brown eyes, she looked towards the floor. “He was looking for me when three vampires jumped him. I found him and killed the vampires before they took him.”
“This is your fault!” screeched the blonde Slayer.
The vampiress’ head snapped up, her eyes were now cold and hard. “My fault? If you did your damn job and actually gave a damn about him, maybe he wouldn’t have been walking the streets alone!”
“You want me to slay more of the grateful undead?” the Slayer rose from her seat. “Why don’t I start with you?”
The brunette laughed harshly. “Go for it little girl. You’re so out of your league it isn’t funny.”
Giles’ temper snapped. Not caring that either of the females could effortlessly break him in two, he stepped between them. His face thunderous, he glared angrily at them both. “You’re both acting like bloody pre-schoolers. Show a little decorum! Remember our priority is Xander!”
Both of the women fell silent. Relieved, Giles glanced down at Xander and flinched. The boy had taken a hell of a beating, yet somehow clung gamely to consciousness. His eyes fluttered in recognition. “Giles, be careful. The vamps who attacked me were looking for any of Buffy’s friends. Angelus wants us. Faith saved me. I asked her to come here to warn you all.”
“Hush son, just rest.” Giles said comfortingly. Typical Xander, thinking of others first. “Thank you for your help, Faith, Buffy, could you please carry Xander out to my car.”
“I’m coming with you.”
Giles opened his mouth to argue with the raven-headed woman but seeing her determined look he nodded reluctantly. “Very well.”
* * *
“Where’s that stupid little bastard!”
Giles glanced upwards with disgust at the man who had entered the corridor. It was Xander’s father, who he suspected beat the boy, all too often the Watcher had seen the young man move gingerly or with bruises on nights that he’d either not patrolled or the patrol had been trouble-free. He’d tried to the youth about his injuries but Xander would either storm out or deflect his inquiries with a joke.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the dark haired woman pacing impatiently outside the door of Xander’s room move into the centre of the corridor blocking the man’s access. “You’re not going anywhere near him,” she said flatly.
Anger flared in the thickset man’s eyes. He snorted. “That little bastard might jump to your tune, but I don’t. Get out of my way bitch!”
A split second later and the man was pinned against the wall, Faith’s forearm pressing against his throat. Beside the Watcher, Buffy began to stand, only for Giles to pull her down. “Wait,” he ordered. He guessed that Ripper was going to enjoy what happened next.
“Listen very carefully,” snarled the enraged vampiress. “You’re going no-where near Xander. Or should I say Alex?”
The Englishman saw fear flicker in Mr. Harris’ eyes. “You can’t stop me from seeing my son, tramp!”
The vanpiress slammed his left fist into the man’s distended belly, causing him to gasp in pain. “I think I can,” Faith glanced towards Giles and Buffy, causing the Watcher to shudder at the coldness he saw in her eyes. “Cause if you turn up here you’ll find one of us waiting for you, and they might not kill you. But,” she leaned towards him until she was inches away from his face. “I have no such compunction.”
“I’m going to see you -.”
Giles winced as Faith slapped the man across his face, drawing blood from the bully’s bottom lip. “You’re not listening,” he heard the vampiress growl menacingly. “You’re son’s under my protection now, and neither you nor anybody is going to hurt him again. One night there’s going to be a knock at your door and it’ll be me and Xand to pick up his things. And you’ll smile nicely and invite us in. Understand?”
The terrified man nodded quickly. The brunette smirked and tossed him aside. “Good.” The vampiress turned her back on the retreating man and resumed her position
“What was that about?”
Buffy’s whispered voice caused Giles to turn away from the vampiress and back to his Slayer. “I’ve believed for some time that Xander’s father beats him. Apparently Faith found evidence that backs up that theory.”
The Slayer’s mouth dropped open. “I never knew.”
“No, abuse victims often become adept at hiding the signs, somehow feeling they are to blame.”
“How do you know we can trust her?” The Slayer was staring at the vampiress with animosity. For her part the vampiress was looking back with a look of studied indifference.
“The blood tears.”
The Slayer tore her gaze away from the vampiress to look at him, a look of total incomprehension on her face. “Eh?”
“When she came into the library she was crying tears of blood,” the Watcher explained patiently. “You’ve all seen vampires crying normal tears but they’re just fakes. Because of their lack of a soul vampires cannot cry sincere tears because they cannot experience true sorrow. Legend has one day there will be an ensoulled vampire of tremendous power who will fight on the side of good. One of the signs of this vampire will be the tears of blood.”
“But how is this possible?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.”
Blood Tears 3 – Parenting
Faith gazed fondly at the sleeping boy. It was when he was asleep that he most reminded her of Bucky. Awake, he was too sharp-witted to be her little brother although he shared his sweetness and gentleness.
The vampiress tensed as the scent of another human reached her nostrils only to relax when she recognised the scent. Hurrying down the stairs, she nodded politely at him, smiling slightly at his crimsoning cheeks as he took in the flimsiness of her dressing robe. “Mr. Giles.”
“Good morning Faith,” the Watcher coughed nervously. “I trust you don’t dress like that around Xander?”
Her eyes sparkled with mischievous mirth. “Around a hormone-driven teenager? If I did, not even a Master vampire like myself would be able to fight him off.” She glanced at the folder in the Watcher’s hands. “Are those the papers you mentioned?”
“They are.”
“Well, if you give me a moment I’ll get dressed. The kitchen’s through there if you want a cup of tea.”
“You have tea?”
She winked at the Watcher. “I was turned in Boston remember? They have parties there over the stuff.”
“Ha, ha, ha. Yes and given your love of mischief making I’m sure you were at the original one.”
* * *
“So how did it go last night?”
The vampiress stared at the Watcher for a moment before answering. During the few days that had spanned Xander’s hospital stay, she’d spent some time with Xander’s friends. She’d found the Slayer and the Wicca to be over-protective and overly convinced that everything in the world could be categorised as either black or white. The Watcher though was a man of intellect and understood that the world had shades of grey. She liked him. “Five by five. Mr. Harris made a few threatening growls but I allowed my eyes to turn golden and that was enough to send him scurrying off into the garage.”
The Watcher chuckled before opening the file on his lap and passing the vampiress a sheet of papers.
Faith stared at the papers blankly. Her backwoods upbringing meant that she had only the most rudimentary of schooling. Angelus, wishing for her to fit in to respectable society, had taught her to read and write, but she was at a loss with modern society having spent much of the past century on her back. “What is this?”
“They’re papers giving you custody of Xander until his 18th birthday under the name of Faith Anderson.”
With an effort Faith fought down a wave of panic. Custody? What sort of a parent could a 300 year old vampire make? She took a sip of her cup of blood, allowing its coppery taste to calm her. “Faith Anderson? Why the name change?”
“I had to go through Council channels to get those papers,” Giles explained. “I thought the name ‘Faith Adams’ might set off alarm bells, so I took the liberty of changing it. If that’s alright?”
The vampiress nodded slowly. “Adams is a name associated with depravity and butchery. Maybe I can use the name Anderson for nobler purposes.”
“Good, in that case.” The Watcher dropped some other papers on the coffee table between them. “Those are a driver’s licence, a birth certificate and a social security id made out in your new name.”
The vampiress glanced casually at the documents, after a moment her mouth dropped open. “You’ve made me 21! I was only 18 when I was turned!”
The Watcher laughed at her outrage. “It’s reassuring to see that even 300 year old vampiress are sensitive about their age. I only made you 21 because it made your adoption of Xander slightly less suspicious.”
“Five by five.” The vampiress nodded, the humour in her eyes dying. “We haven’t had any time to talk in private since I arrived in town. And I suppose you have questions.”
“Only about a million.”
Faith chuckled dryly. “Only one of us is immortal. Perhaps you better limit your questions to three or four.”
“How were you turned?”
The vampiress grimaced, her stomach contracting in pain at the memory. “It was 1709 and I’d run away from home 3 years earlier to get away from my father’s fists. I was working in a Boston brothel when this handsome Irishman turned up one night. Vampires can hypnotise mortals but Angelus never needed it. In three hundred years, he’s the best looking man I’ve ever seen – like a young Elvis with a better body. I actually thought I was lucky when he chose me,” she laughed bitterly. “The door to my room was still closing when we began tearing each other’s clothes off. I screamed in pain when his ice cold hands touched my flesh for the first time. That only made him laugh and increase his efforts,” she shuddered. “I’ve never been so brutalised. When he’d finished he morphed into a vampire and tore into me with his fangs. The next thing I remembered was feeding off the whorehouse madam.”
A long silence followed her sober recounting. Finally the Watcher spoke, his tone gentle. “And how did you get your soul returned?”
“One of Angelus’ favourite pastimes was watching from the shadows as I forced myself on other women who’d caught his eye. One night he saw a young Apache girl he liked the look of. We stole onto the reservation, Angelus, Spike and I. After I’d taken her, we all fed from her, before killing her. Then we were attacked by the tribe’s young bucks, some thirty of them, we escaped but,” Faith took an unneeded breath. “A tomahawk with my blood on it was cursed, giving me my soul back. Together with a shit load of guilt.”
“And when did this happen?”
“1897.”
“And what have you done in the past one hundred years or so?”
“I’d rather not talk about it.” Tell a man you’ve been a whore and he might get ideas.
The Watcher stared searchingly at her for a few moments before nodding. “As you wish. So why have you decided to help us now?”
Faith glanced upwards in the direction of Xander’s bedroom. “You’ve heard of my massacre of my family? At the Watcher’s silent nod, she continued. “My parents weren’t any prize, to be honest I regret killing them but it is not one of the acts that plagues me the most. But my little brother,” her voice began to shake. “Little Bucky, he was the only person I ever loved. Loved his smile and laughter. Loved telling sitting him with him and telling him fairy tales and bedtime stories. The night I returned home, he was so pleased to see his big sis.” The vampiress closed her eyes against the pain. “Sometimes I still hear his screams as we tortured him.”
“Good lord.”
“Xander, Xander looks so much like Bucky would have at the same age if I hadn’t,” Faith’s voice grew husky. “If he hadn’t died, that it hurts sometimes. But with him I get a second chance and I won’t fail him like I failed my brother.”
“And are you ready to be there for him? Not just as a protector but as a parent too?”
The vampiress’ face twisted in indecision. “I don’t know. I’ve spent nearly two hundred years massacring and butchering families and entire villages, but I haven’t got a clue about being a parent. I just know I won’t let anybody hurt him and that I can’t do a worse job than his father.”
Giles nodded and stood. “Truth be told I’ve often wondered who’s the worst – a human fully aware and able to make their own decisions about what’s right and wrong or a vampire controlled by a demon and unable to control their urges. I had my suspicions about Xander’s father but whenever I approached the boy about them he would just clam up.” The Watcher looked the vampiress in the eye “Xander seems to respond well to you, I believe that’s half the battle of being a parent. You have my number. If you need any help with Xander, anything at all, call me at any time. Even if it’s just someone to talk to.”
Faith nodded gratefully. “Thank you.”
Blood Tears 4 – Bonding
“Wake up sleepy.”
Xander’s eyes fluttered open at the sultry voice. Where was he? He smiled slowly as he remembered. “Hi Faith.”
“Hi, sleepy-head.” The vampiress smiled and ruffled his hair. “It’s nearly ten in the morning. Hadn’t you better get up?”
Xander grinned up at the woman sat on the edge of his bed. “Don’t you know it’s in the American Constitution that teenagers don’t get up on Saturday mornings?”
The vampiress chuckled throatily. “Kid, I was around when they did the first draft. Don’t try and BS me. Now, out of bed.”
“Sure boss,” he noticed the vampiress was still smiling. “So what’s made you so disgustingly chirpy?”
“Got your custody papers this morning off Giles. I own your ass, boy.”
“That’s great,” a mischievous gleam entered his eyes. “My mum ran out on me when I was four months old so I never got the hang of breast feeding. If you’re my new mum maybe,” he mock leered. “I should practice on yours.”
The vampiress laughed before playfully slapping his legs. “I’m not your mother. Think of me as an older sister.” Still chuckling, Faith made for the door.
“Much older,” Xander muttered under his breath.
“I heard that!”
* * *
Faith glanced over her mug of blood at the youth wolfing down pancakes across the kitchen table from her. He certainly enjoyed her cooking, a by-product of her early days slaving for her father. She smiled, at least that part of being a parent was easy. “So do you want to tell met about your family?” In all the time in hospital she’d never brought it up, not wanting to distress him but now…
The boy paused in his pancake massacre, putting his knife and fork down, he looked at her, his eyes full with pain. “I never really knew my mum, like I said before, she ran out on me when I was just a baby. Not that I blame her, dad’s a real bastard. I just wish she’d taken me with her, guess she didn’t love me enough to care.” The boy looked at the floor.
Her heart filling with anger at the anguish she saw in the boy, she reached across the table and took his hands. “You can’t know that Xand, maybe your dad forced her to leave. Maybe she wanted to take you but couldn’t, maybe your dad wouldn’t let her.”
“Maybe.” The boy didn’t look convinced. “My dad, when I was little, never took me took the movies or a ball game or anything, just ignored me really but that was okay ‘cause Willow and Jesse’s parents always made sure I was included in their stuff. But when I was six, it got a lot worse. Dad lost this big job, started drinking heavily. One night I slammed the door too loudly when I came in from school. Next thing I knew, I was led on the floor, my head ringing. Since then, the slightest thing would set him off.”
“Oh Xand,” Faith whispered. Inside her the demon was chuckling with sadistic glee even as her soul ached. “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“I told Jesse.” The boy looked down at the table.
That name again. “Who’s Jesse?”
If the vampiress had thought the youth looked sad before, now he looked heart-broken. “Me, Will and Jesse were the three musketeers, inseparable since first grade. Then the night Buffy arrived in town, he was turned by the Master’s goon, Luke. The next night, I had to kill him to protect the school bitch, the girl I hate most in the world.”
The vampiress moved over to the distraught youth and hugged him close. After a few seconds she pulled away. “So what you doing today champ?”
The boy’s face brightened. “Well, this afternoon Willow and Buffy have asked me to go with them to the mall, then tonight we’re patrolling.”
“No you are not!” Faith exclaimed firmly. At the boy’s involuntary flinch, she moderated her tone remembering that the boy was all too used to raised voices being followed by violence. “Xander, you’ve had a nasty concussion. You’ve had three fingers on your right hand and two ribs broken. Do you really think you’re in any shape to patrol?” she finished gently before continuing. “Besides I saw those books Red brought with her last night. I assume they weren’t Playboy annuals?”
“Playboy does annuals?” At a look from her, Xander hurried on. “No it was homework from school.”
“Good,” Faith nodded. “Then in that case you can do the homework on the computer after you get in from the mall and then,” the vampiress paused for dramatic effect. “We’ll go to the movies at ten.”
“Really?” Xander’s eyes lit up. “My choice?”
“Your choice,” Faith agreed with a fond smile.
“Faith,” the boy began nervously. “Can I ask you something?”
“Ask away hon.”
“Well, when you rescued me you tore through those vamps like paper. You were awesome, while all I know about fighting is,” the boy smiled painfully. “Is how to take a punch and how to fall. I was kind of hoping you could teach me how to fight.”
“You know I’m far stronger, faster and tougher than you could ever hope to be.”
The boy nodded. “I know, but I was kind of hoping you could help me get into condition, improve my reflexes and teach me how to throw a punch, that sort of thing. If I could fight better I could help Buff more.”
The vampiress considered his request for a few seconds before nodding. “I’ll train you. On one condition, you get your D average up to a B.”
“Fai -.”
“No arguments,” she cut in sternly. “Your father might not have cared about your future but I do, you’ve got a quick mind and you can do a lot better than you have been doing in school. I’ve talked to Giles and he also says you’re capable of much more if you were more disciplined. And if you hope to become a better fighter you’ll have to learn discipline.”
The youth nodded slowly. “In that case, I better hit the books.”
The vampiress smiled sadly as the boy hurried out of the room. Had any young man spoke about her the way Xander spoke about Buffy or looked at her with the adoration he saw in his eyes at just the mention of her name? No, she decided forlornly, her relationships with men had usually consisted of them banging their money down and telling her what position to assume.
* * *
“So what’s it like living with a vampiress?” Willow asked between slurps of her chocolate milkshake. Beside her Buffy waited intently for Xander’s answer.
“Weird, with the curtains closed at all times and blood in the fridge thing, but still way better than home, don’t have to worry about Faith coming home having had a brewski too many. And she actually asked me about myself, like what music I liked and films and stuff, guess my dad still thought I still play with the Action Man helicopter he got me when I was seven.” He looked downcast for a second before brightening. ”Said I had to do better at school so she bought me this new computer that’s top of the range and she’s promised to take me to the movies tonight.”
“You’re not patrolling with us?” Buffy asked casually, ignoring her feelings of disappointment.
Xander raised his plastered hand. “Look at me, Buff. I couldn’t fight off Mr. Gordo much less a vampire, besides Faith said I can’t -.”
“Fine!” The Slayer slammed her fist on the table, making everybody’s plates and cups jump. “If the great Faith thinks I can’t protect you she must be right. Give me the money, I’ll pay.” After the others had wordlessly handed their money over, she stalked off to the counter, a scowl firmly in place. “Couldn’t protect him, uh? Who’s been doing it for the last year? Not the great Faith, me!” she muttered.
* * *
“So you enjoy that, Xand?”
“Sure did,” Xander smiled at the beautiful woman stood beside him. In just the single day he’d been living with her, she’d shown more interest in him than his dad had in the last year. His stride faltered as he realised they were being surrounded by a trio of men in their late twenties.
“Well look what we got here,” leered one of them, his tongue licking his fleshy lips. “A real prime piece of meat.” The man looked at Xander and laughed. “Run along home, boy. Big sis is going to entertain us tonight.”
Xander felt a surge of anger. “Why don’t you -.” He was silenced by Faith’s gentle hand on his shoulder.
“I’ll deal with this Xand.” Her voice was soft but there was something about her tone that chilled him to the bone.
The man standing in front of the vampiress had clearly missed it however. Leering, he stepped forward. “What you need to worry about is taking care of us, babe.”
To Xander, what happened next was a blur. Faith’s right foot flickered sideways, catching the man to her right in the stomach, doubling him up. In the same movement, her leg arched upwards and swung round to catch the man in front of her in the jaw with bone-shattering impact. Even as the man began to topple to the ground, she pivoted round and grabbed hold of the man that had been to her left by the pants crotch and shirt collar. With seemingly effortless power, the vampiress picked the man up and threw him into the man she’d kicked in the stomach. The two men crashed to the ground, their heads cracking painfully on the pavement.
“Oh boy,” Xander looked from the groaning bodies to the vampiress in awe. “I suppose it’s a bad time to mention the towels I left on the bathroom floor?”
The vampiress laughed musically before swatting him playfully on the back of his head. “Just don’t let it happen again.”
Blood Tears 5 – Visitors
Giles nodded politely at the vampiress sat opposite him. “I’ll certainly investigate your curse for you. It could be quite an interesting project. If I may ask, why are you concerned with it now?”
Faith shrugged. “If it comes with an expiry date or conditions, I want to know about it. It would be really stupid to let it lapse or break any conditions through ignorance.”
“Indeed it would, you’d have to be exceptionally foolish,” the Watcher agreed. “If I might ask why haven’t you researched it yourself in the past century?”
“I guess I haven’t cared about anybody enough to give a damn before, but I won’t risk the demon gaining control and hurting him.”
‘Him’ could only be Xander. In the few weeks since the vampiress’ arrival in Sunnydale, the young man had grown quieter yet more confident, shedding much of the buffoonery he had hidden behind previously. As the Watcher had suspected there was an intelligent and thoughtful young man hidden beneath the protective shell built up through years of abuse. “There was another favour you wanted?”
“Oh yes,” the vampiress reached inside her leather jacket, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. “I was wondering if you could order these items for me? I’ll reimburse you of-course.”
Giles’ eyes widened as he read the list. “Just what are you intending to do?”
“Train Xander.”
“What’s the point? I mean he’s such a klutz.”
Giles saw the flicker of golden in the vampiress’ eyes a split second before she launched herself out of her seat, grabbed a newly arrived Buffy around the throat and slammed her into the nearest bookcase. “That ‘klutz’ has fought by your side for months, risking his life for you for some unknown reason you little -.”
The Slayer slammed her feet into the vampiress’ midsection sending her flying across the library. Even as the two women sprang up, Giles hurried between them, backing Faith up with a crucifix and Buffy with a furious glare. “Ladies, have a little bloody respect for my library!” he roared. Turning to the vampiress, he continued his onslaught. “At your age, I’d have thought you would have learnt a little more self-control.” Her face enraged, the vampiress turned and strode out of the library.
“You told her -.”
“Oh do shut up Buffy! For some reason, despite all the times you’ve belittled him, that boy keeps on coming back for more, just as loyal as before. I’m at a loss as to why you persist in treating him so badly.”
Suddenly the Slayer began sobbing. “Because if everybody believes he doesn’t mean anything to me he won’t be a target. But I...I love him.”
“Oh Buffy.” The Watcher pulled the small blonde towards him and allowed her to cry onto his chest.
* * *
“I’ll be there in a second,” Faith hollered as she stalked towards the door. Noting the sun still out, she stepped back from the door as she opened it, out of the sun’s range. In the entrance stood a beautiful brunette wearing a stylish black dress. “Yes?” She didn’t recognise the girl but could only assume she was one of Xander’s school friends.
“Does Xander Harris live here?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” the shapely brunette stepped
into the house without waiting to be invited. “Cordelia Chase. Where’s his
room?” The girl’s tan began to pale as she took in the closed curtains and lack
of mirrors. “Oh god, you’re a vampire.”
“Yep.” Faith slammed the door shut with a kick, causing her guest to jump before continuing. “Fortunately for you an ensoulled one. So why did you want to see him?”
The brunette continued to regard her uncertainly before speaking. “He saved my life a while back, stopped a vampire called Jesse from killing me. I’d sort of like to make sure he’s okay.”
Faith arched an eyebrow. So this was the school bitch Xander had spoken about. Who apparently, if the amount of pheromones she was emitting was any indicator, cared for Xander a lot more than he suspected. She realised the girl was staring at her impatiently. “Go up, he’s the second on the right.”
The girl nodded before hurrying upstairs. Faith waited at the bottom of the stairs for a few seconds before going into the front room, smirking slightly at the snippet of conversation she overheard.
“Cordy! What are you doing here?”
“Well duh, seeing that you’re alright. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my favourite verbal punch bag. You realise you’re living with a vampire?”
”What gave it away - the lack of mirrors?”
“You live in a house without mirrors!! That explains your clothes!”
* * *
Faith opened the front door, her mouth dropping open at the small figure stood outside. “Bbb,” she stuttered in surprise, it was just about the last person she expected to see.
The Slayer coughed nervously before speaking. “Hi Faith, can I come in?”
“Xander’s not in,” replied Faith. “He’s at Willow’s.”
“I know, I asked Willow to invite him on a sleepover so we could talk.”
The vampiress hesitated before forcing a smile. “You better come in.”
The Slayer followed her silently into the front room. “So what is it you want to talk about?” Faith demanded once they were both seated.
“You’re right about the way I treat Xand, I am horrible to him,” the Slayer’s face twisted in misery. “But it’s only because I care about him. I don’t want him to be target for anyone who comes after me. B..but Giles made me realise that it was wrong.”
The vampiress hid a smile. Xander certainly had something – Willow, the girl Cordelia and Buffy all after him. And of course her.
Where did that come from? Did she really think of him like that? She thought back to all the times he’d made her laugh, all the occasions she woken from one of her screaming nightmares to see him coming through her bedroom door to check she was alright and the way he talked to her, valuing her thoughts and opinions like no other man had ever done before. Realising that the Slayer was staring at her expectantly, she forced a blank expression on her face. “So what do you want from me?”
“I realise that we’ll probably never be friends, but maybe we can work together to keep Giles, Xander and the others safe.”
Her mind still reeling from her earlier realisation, the vampiress nodded dazedly. “I can do that.”
“Thanks,” the Slayer stood.
“Where are you going?”
“Patrol.”
Faith hesitated for a second, the blonde had offered an olive branch, and she should grasp it. “Want company?”
The Slayer smiled uncertainly before nodding. “Sure.”