"What are you doing here Slayer, I thought you got out of the trade years ago." The voice growled as its source stepped out of the shadowed cave.
Faith glared at the imposing Demon as she resisted the ingrained urge to remove its head from its shoulders. Taking a breath, Faith tossed a large gem onto the cave floor. "I need a portal, one of my friends is missing and I need them back." She said as the demon picked up the precious stone and looked it over carefully.
Nodding at the cut and shape of the stone, he looked back to the longest living slayer. "This is a big rock, either you were miss quoted a price or your friend is very far away." He growled as he really doubted it was the first. No one over paid for anything, they always knew exactly where they were going by the time they came to see him. "What rabbit hole has this 'friend' of yours fallen down?" he questioned as he rolled the gem around in his hand.
"He went to see Trigon…" the rest of her request was cut off as the gem thumped to the ground at her feet.
"No deal. None go to Trigon's lands and live. Go bury a box with his name on it and comfort his family." The demon recommended as he walked back into the shadows.
Stifling an urge to scream, Faith picked the Jewel off the ground and stalked out of the cave.
As she entered the bright African sunshine the gathered Slayers and watchers looked at her expectantly and deflated slightly as she shook her head.
Andrew, for his part, pulled a well worn sheet of paper out of his pocket and scratched off a name on the list. "That leaves Willow and Illyria as the last possible beings capable of getting us there." The now thirty year old said as he watched the legendary Slayer while she considered her options.
Willow would never agree, she had been one of the three responsible for sending Xander TO that hell world.
Illyria, on the other hand, was one of the few 'Old Ones' capable of standing up to the likes of Trigon, the problem arose from the history she shared with Faith.
Swallowing in fear, the oldest of the 'New Watchers' laid a hand on the Boston native's shoulder, "Faith, we need her help. Every second we waste is one more Xander is stuck there." He said low enough that the gathered slayers could pretend to ignore it.
"I know, it's just hard… Angel, Gun, Wesley all dead and she walked away without a scratch." Faith hissed before shaking her anger off. Andrew was right. "Alright, we're headed to L.A." she ordered as the gathered group got into their vehicles and started towards the dirt patch they were using as a landing strip.
For the rest of the trip Faith stared out the window, lost in thought.
--
"Yes." The voice said abruptly as it responded to the Astral Projection that had interrupted his thoughts. "What do you want Merjok." Stephan Strange had been very unhappy for the last several months at what he and his two compatriots had done.
"Wizard." The Demon said with a mock bow before straightening up. "I am informing you that 'The Slayer' came to me asking for transportation to the lands of Trigon." The Demon said coldly as he truly despised the mortal Mage he was currently being forced to serve.
Nodding at the information Strange looked at the demon's form again. "You denied her access I assume." He stated coldly as the Demon sneered at him.
"I know of your orders, little mage, none are to enter the lands of Trigon if I am able to deny them that access." The Merjok said as Strange nodded again. After a moments pause the demon finished his report. "I believe they are going to attempt contacting Illyria." He finished before bowing to the self styled 'Sorcerer Supreme' and vanishing in a cloud of flame.
Stephan Strange, for his part, stared at the empty space the astral projection had occupied before rising and heading towards his Library.
He had many things to consider.
--
Xander stared at the ceiling of his bedroom and frowned again as that little worm of doubt wriggled around in his head. He knew he had asked Willow, Strange and Zatana to transport him to the hell dimension, he knew he had a reason for it.
Why would the Scarecrow's fear gas have him 'asking' to go to hell?
Why was it so hard for him to believe that he really was safe?
--
(A/N) Well, here is yet another chapter, I had originally hoped to finish this with the next Chapter but… it looks like it may take a while.