The library is quiet except for the turning of pages of ancient texts. Why I'm here I haven't quite figured out yet. I got a call and what sounded very much like a summons to come to the school to meet Buffy to check out someone's apartment. So of course I get up, get dressed and walk over to the library. What do I find when I get there; two watchers. Now color me surprised because I had assumed I was coming over here to meet Buffy. Well it seems that miss tightly wound was impatient and decided it was necessary to go explore the apartment on her own. Overall I won't object it plays out almost like it did before. Undoubtedly Angel is going to meet her there and he will get shot and hopefully not killed.
Giles had suggested kindly after seeing my expression that I follow Buffy. I had merely told him that if she had really wanted the help she would have waited. My express must have been enough because he let the topic drop. Wesley on the other hand felt it was necessary to comment. I shut him down quickly by reminding him that if he had any control over Buffy I would not have been here waiting for her return. I refuse to follow her around town like a dog hoping for a pat on the head.
Flipping through a text not really reading the words I wait for what I hope is the inevitable. I am thankfully not disappointed. Buffy comes through the library doors with Angel half dragged and sweating. It is rather strange watching a vampire sweat. Something that is undead and whose body temp is below normal should not sweat. Vacating my seat I position it for Angel to sit down. Taking a close look at him I see the damage I would have undoubtedly of done. Impressive I have to say.
Looking at his chest I see the arrow head sticking out. Without an ounce of mercy I break the shaft and yank the arrow head out be as he sits down. Angel howls in pain and I merely smile.
"Take it like a man dead boy. It was quick and you were caught by surprise it couldn't of hurt that much." Examining the arrowhead I see the bit of fluid gleaming on it. It's been poisoned alright. Looking at Angel's light gleam of sweat I know it is already taking affect and that he hasn't noticed it yet. Putting the arrowhead under my nose I take a deep sniff. Same poison great just great. I end up having to feed him after all.
Buffy shoots a death glare at me but I merely smile. Her beloved just got poisoned and I know the cure. Should I tell her or let her suffer a little…hmm…big question. The little glare she gave me makes me vote for suffer. I know she fed him but I don't know how much. Hopefully just a little in the beginning of this poison will be enough. Watching them bandage him up I hear Wesley going on about the professor's findings in Hawaii. Angel gets up and immediately collapses. Without a word I hand the arrowhead to Giles, he too takes a sniff and realizes that Angel has been poisoned.
"Call the others. Get them here. We need to move him to the safety of his own bed before the sun comes up."Giles orders while looking at Buffy.
"Is he going to be alright?"Buffy asks her voice laced with deep concern.
"The Council has a vast network of information on these types of things."Wesley puts in with all the naïve confidence of a novice of the Council. He is going to be sadly disappointed.
"It's clearly a type of poison it may take some time but I promise we will figure this out." Giles says while laying his hand on Buffy's shoulder in a comforting gesture.
Releasing a sigh at the drama of it all I lean down and help Angel to his feet. He's unconscious so I am lifting dead weight, no pun intended. Dragging his body over my shoulder I balance him before getting to my feet. Without a backward glance I walk out of the library. I hear Buffy following me her concern for her lover like a thick syrup coating me. The walk to the mansion is done in silence. Buffy is too busy fretting about Angel and I personally I too busy carrying his full weight to offer any form of condolence. Honestly you would think she would at least offer to help carry him. I mean I may be a slayer but this guy weighs at least 200 pounds and his about six feet. That's a lot of weight over a large space. Some concern she has. I bet if I suddenly collapsed she would be worried that I had hurt him not over the fact that I had fallen.
Getting into the mansion I settle Angel into his bed and take a seat. It's going to be a long night. The silence stretches between us. Buffy is silently holding Angel's hand, and Angel is already beginning to really sweat. Overall this is not good for me. The poison is infecting his system at a faster rate than I expected. Then again the last time we played this game I was working for the mayor and wasn't around to see the effects of the poison. I do know that it is rather painful.
The hours tick by slowly. Buffy is becoming slightly frantic in her worry and the looks she is throwing me occasionally are starting to get on my nerves. Her expression practically screams that this is my fault in some manner. I am waiting for her to finally break. Obviously she has some pent up frustration and sadly I am the only person who she can vent it on. Just great.
"Were where you Faith?" She asks her voice dripping with hatred. Great what reason does she have for hating me now?
"I was in my room sleeping when you woke me up and ordered me to the library. I am not a god and I can't magically transfer from one place to another in a blink of an eye Buffy. Why didn't you wait for me? I know you are trying to blame me for him getting poisoned but this is not my fault. You should have waited for me. Instead you went off on your own. He chose to follow you. He chose to be with you today. Not me. I had nothing to do with what happened today. So take the blame train away from my station cause I don't want to hear it." I tell her my ire rising with each second. The tension between us is thick and I am tempted beyond reason to just walk away from this situation.
My little speech seems to have taken the wind out of her sails because she nearly collapses into a chair next to Angel's bed. Watching her cautiously I wait to see how this little drama will play out. I don't have to wait long. I hear the front door open and I can tell from the low accents that Wesley and Giles are here. Buffy looks to me, then at Angel and finally to door trying to decide what to do. Motioning my head towards the door I signal for her to go out there and talk to the watchers. Receiving a nod of acknowledgement I watch her walk out of the room. Keeping an ear on the conversation I catch the basics.
The watcher's council refuses to help. They have strict rules on curing, or helping to cure vampires. Buffy of course fights for Angel's cause, points out that these are extenuating circumstances. Receiving the official no from the Council I hear Buffy quit. I knew she would but I am still surprised to hear it. Wesley objects vehemently stating that she doesn't know what she's doing. Clearly he's already afraid of losing his job. I wonder if the Council will remember that I still exist and let him keep his job as my watcher. Interesting thought, I would hate to have him as my watcher as his is right now. After a couple of years working for Angel then I would take him as a watcher.
"Will you watch him?" Buffy asks as she pops her head back in to the room. I am surprised but I suppose I shouldn't be. Out of everyone I am the only one who is equipped to deal with anything that comes in with the intent of finishing Angel off, not that anything is going to. Nodding my ascent I watch her leave. Who would have thought my opportunity would come so soon.
Honestly not sure I want it quite yet. I remember the sensation of his fangs sliding into my neck. It was not pretty and I might have a high tolerance to pain it doesn't mean I enjoy it. Breathing deeply I listen to the house checking to see if everyone is gone. Once I am sure that it's empty I go to Angel. Grabbing onto his shoulders I lift him into a sitting position. A few sharp slaps has him rising to consciousness.
"Angel you need to drink." I tell him while moving his face to the crook between my head and shoulders. I feel him resist. Pulling harder I wrap my arms around his torso holding his head to my neck. God the fact that I don't want to do this only makes this harder. Feeling him continue to struggle I do the one thing I don't want to do. Holding him tight with one arm I reach into my boot and pull out a thin stiletto. Running the blade lightly over my neck I cut it, not deeply just enough to get the blood swelling to the surface. That's all that's needed. The smell of blood and my warmth is the straw that breaks his resistance.
The sudden strength infusing his body is a surprise to me. In a flash he has me in a vise grip and his fangs are sliding deeply into my flesh. Hissing in pain I keep one hand on his back and the other in his hair. This could easily get ugly and out of all the ways I would like to die; death by vampire is not one of them. The slow pull of blood draws my body tight like a bow. I am bordering the thin line between exquisite pain and immeasurable pleasure.
Feeling a bit light headed I try to push Angel off of me. He fights me and I feel us toppling onto the bed with me on the bottom. The feeling of being trapped is damn near suffocating. I'm on the verge of a full blown panic attack and it's not helping. My strength is slipping away with every hard pull at my throat. Suddenly I am back in Riyad's chambers. My arms are pinned behind me and he's between my thighs. The force of each thrust drags a ragged scream from my raw throat. My insides are burning as he tears me from the inside out. Oh god this cannot be happening again. Please God don't let this be happening again. I feel the weight of Angel between my thighs and my brain tries to fight the panic. Desperately I try to tell the panic that I am not there, that this is not Riyad. A sharp keening sound pierces my brain and before I black out I realize it was me.