Apologies for the delay in updates. Skyrim and Saint's Row the Third has stolen most of my attention. It's a bit short, but I promise that the action will pick up soon.

Chapter 11: Revelations

"Rupert Giles speaking,"

"Mr. Giles? My name is Jonathan Harper, I am the Council liaison to Miss Lehane,"

"Yes, she told me to expect your call. Pardon my asking, but would you happen to be of the Cambridge Harpers?"

"Unfortunately so. Circumstances within the Watcher's Council has allowed our family to resume our duties, despite our less than illustrious past,"

"Superb,"

"Now, I have just returned from an enterprise to the vaults of Vatican City and have couriered you a document that you might find helpful,"

"It arrived just this morning,"

"Excellent. Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions. I have a few more errands, a few more items to collect. Give my regards to Faith,"

"Have a good evening,"

"You too, Mr. Giles. Good luck,"

"The Infernal,"

"Sounds dramatic,"

Faith shrugged and tossed her stake into the air. She let out a noisy breath and glanced at the blonde vampire. "That's what Giles calls it. Apparently it's a pure demon that possesses a willing human, which is why it didn't ping my radar,"

"Pure demons are bad news, love," Spike drawled, taking a drag from his cigarette. Actually Faith's cigarette, he had run out and hadn't had the time to get a pack of his own.

"Tell me about it. The way Giles talks it up, it's the end of the world. Again,"

"Don't sound too fussed about it,"

Faith hopped onto a headstone and peered to her left. "Thought I heard something," she muttered. "But yeah, I ain't too worried. The demon isn't quite here yet, forced to live inside a human body. It can't be that bad,"

"Broke your arm the last time around," Spike tapped Faith on the arm and gestured over to the right. She nodded and they swerved to head in that direction.

"Wasn't prepared back then. And I've got back up this time around,"

"So what's he want then, this Infernal?"

"He's apparently an emissary of the Old Ones. He's gonna face down the champions of our world and if he wins this war, the Old Ones get their playground back," Faith gestured to Dex, and the mongrel gave her a short bark. He trotted off into the distance and quickly disappeared behind a mausoleum.

"That doesn't worry you still?" Spike said, raising an eyebrow. "I'm starting to quake in my boots a little and I'm a big damn hero,"

"You're a vampire who lives in a crypt," Faith replied with a grin. "Can't be all that bad. B's on the case and Angel is still a champion, last I checked,"

"Ergh, I can't believe just brought him up. What's he gonna do, beat the bad guy with the weight of his hair gel?"

Faith raised a finger to her lips and she ducked behind a headstone. Spike knelt behind another and glanced over the top. He looked back down at Faith and raised four fingers. Four Yagnoth demons, digging up graves and sucking the bone marrow out of the skeletons. Scavengers and carrion crawlers, but vicious fighters nonetheless. Faith nodded and raised two, then pointed at Spike. The vampire nodded.

"Go," Faith mouthed and she vaulted over the headstone. Spike was close on her heels and she could tell that Dex was circling around to hit them from behind. Yagnoths tended to focus on their food, so she could hit them hard while they were eating. She drew her knife and held it in a reverse grip and jumped the last ten feet.

The Yagnoth shrieked as Faith's blade buried itself just above its collarbone. Her left arm wrapped around its neck and she pulled its head back, exposing the neck. Before the Yagnoth could struggle, Faith dragged the blade across the demon's throat, slicing open its jugular. Her weight brought the both of them down and she rolled off the demon's body. She felt the second Yagnoth's claws slice just inches above her back. She kicked out and felt the Yagnoth's knee crumple.

Faith jumped to her feet and drove her knee into the second Yagnoth's face. It roared out and fell back, but managed to roll away before Faith's boot landed on its face. It swiped at Faith's legs, but the Slayer raised her leg and hopped away. The Yagnoth clambered to its feet, trying to support itself on one leg. Faith didn't give it a chance to regain its balance and lunged forward. She punched it in the jaw and slashed its chest with the knife.

The Yagnoth attacked instead of retreating and swung its claws at Faith. She swayed away from the blow, but it still managed to tear a slice in her shirt and jacket. Faith looked at the tear, scowling.

"This is my only jacket!"

The Yagnoth cackled and jumped forward again, stabbing its claws at her face. Faith grabbed the Yagnoth's arm and pushed it out wide. She thrust her knife upwards and buried it hilt deep into the demon's jaw. The body slumped over and Faith tossed it over in Spike's direction. It collided with the third Yagnoth, which was attempting to jump on Spike from behind.

Spike was wrestling with the last Yagnoth and managed to snap its neck, just as the third Yagnoth climbed to its feet. Faith pounced on the third Yagnoth and kicked it in the chest, sending it flying. It crashed against the wall of a crypt. Before it had time to land, Faith jumped on top of it, grabbed it by the neck and slammed it against the wall. The Yagnoth snarled and swiped at Faith, but she ducked underneath its arm, grabbed it and snapped it at the elbow. The demon didn't have time to shriek in pain before Faith stabbed it in the heart.

She walked away from the demon corpse, flicking the blood off her knife. She inspected the tear in her jacket and t-shirt, frowning.

"Problem?" Spike asked. He wiped blood off his lip and spat at the taste.

"Rips I can sew up, but I hate fixing zippers," she complained.

"Buy a new one. Tweeds across the pond give you money, don't they?"

"Yeah," Faith said grudgingly. "I've had this one a long time, though,"

Spike fingered the leather jacket. "Clean tear. Sentimental value?"

Faith hesitated. "Angel gave it to me,"

"Ah," Spike said, nodding slowly. Faith could tell that he was holding something back and she rolled her eyes, giving him permission to continue. Relieved, he grinned wide. "What is it about that big poof, anyway? Broody forehead is like a chick magnet, I don't get it,"

Faith smirked. "You are so jealous of him,"

"I am not!" Spike sounded indignant. "I'll fight you if you say that again,"

Faith was quiet. "He saved my life," she finally said. "Same way Buffy saved yours,"

Spike glanced at her, hands in his pockets. "Pretty picture the two of us paint, eh? Loyal lapdogs to the real champions,"

"Hey, speak for yourself, blondie. I'm the friggin' Slayer," Faith smiled. "Hey, you wanna get a burger?"

"Works for me. Place over on Fifth has great fries," Spike said, pointing. Faith nodded and they veered towards that direction.

"I'm not worried either," Spike said again. "With them on the case, there's no way we can lose. Even with Angel mucking things up,"

"You're starting to look a bit green there, Spike. Looks good on you," Faith teased, poking Spike in the ribs.

"You're as annoying as he is," Spike gave her little shove. "Maybe we should start shagging, horn in on their little Slayer-Vampire romance novel,"

"Please," Faith replied with a mock grimace, waving her fingers at Spike. "You're not my type,"

She drove forward, unstoppable. She could feel warmth from above her, and a light. The light provided guidance and a path for those to come after. She had no light, no warmth but her own. She raced across great distances, vaulted over obstacles and destroyed barriers. She did not do so without exertion. But she moved forward, tireless and unfailing.

She provided no guidance, no path. She did it to prove that it was possible.

The phone rang five and a half times before Giles leaned over his desk to pick it up. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and in the back of his mind noted that he had been reading for a straight eleven hours.

"Hello?" he said, clearing his throat after his voice cracked. He reached over to take a sip of tea, frowning when he noticed that the cup was empty.

"Mr. Giles? This is Jonathan Harper," Faith's Council liaison was sounding rather rushed and flustered. "I'm afraid I've managed to find some rather disturbing news,"

"It's a far cry from the complete lack of information I've managed to turn up, so any sort of news is welcoming right now,"

"Not this type of news, Mr. Giles," Harper replied. "I uncovered a scroll from a library in Estonia that has a record of previous incidents with the same signs. The Infernal, some manner of duel, Champions and Old Ones,"

"Please don't keep me in suspense, Mr. Harper,"

"The Infernal is a champion of the Old Ones, a herald for their new reign of terror upon Earth. In order for this to happen, he has to win five duels. If all accounts are accurate, this next duel is the fifth,"

"He's won all previous duels?"

"The Old Ones cheat. The representatives for Earth and humanity are chosen as part of the compact. But the Infernal finds them and kills them before they are given the role, allowing him to win by default,"

"So we must find these… representatives and protect them before anything happens to them,"

"Indeed, Mr. Giles. And you won't have to go very far. The first representative, the first champion is the Slayer,"