Author's Note: Thanks for all the readers still sticking in there. I know it's a long time between chapter updates but I appreciate your patience. I even appreciate the Skype messages of encouragement. Thanks guys.
Chapter 14
The shit is goin' down tonight. Finally. Finally I'm gonna get ta make someone hurt for everything that's been happenin' lately. Last night was nothin'. I took a hit but it healed alright. I woke up at noon 'cause my shoulder itched like a mother. Once I was up I couldn't get back ta sleep. It didn't matter much though 'cause with wounds like this ya gotta stretch while it's healin' or it'll cramp. It'll be a real bitch if it happens while I'm fightin' tonight. I tried Tai Chi but I couldn't clear my mind and quiet my rage. There's just so much…shit goin' on. So the bag it is. I'm workin' at controllin' the force of my punches because there's nothin' to steady the damn bag. I'm about ta give it up when Xander clears his throat.
"Dunno why ya had to announce yourself. Heard ya breathin'." He lets out a soft sigh 'cause he knows I ignored him on purpose. I don't say anything as he makes his way over an' grips the bag to anchor it for me. I almost walk away but I guess he's got somethin' ta say. So we do this, it'll be like nothin'. No awkwardness. Right? I snort an' stretch my shoulder gently as I eye his left leg. "Shiny new gear. Think it'll hold up ta me?"
I gesture with my chin at the new brace he's wearin'. Looks like some Robocop shit. But it does seem easier for him ta walk. Xander glances at it an' grins at me. "Someone in your pack, Remy, he's amazing. Faith, this kid is a regular MacGyver." I nod at that. I know the kid he's talkin' about. Remy is one of those stray wolves that decided ta stay with the pack. He never worked here, too young, too innocent maybe. Not that he's a saint but he's swamp folk. He hasn't seen what life is like in city. That's one cherry I couldn't pop ya know? "He said it'd hold up okay as long as I'm not running any marathons or playing ninja."
Okay then. I give a nod an' give the bag a few light warm up taps. It's still with Xander's reassuring bulk behind it. Hm. Reassuring. I don't like that he's somethin' that feels reassuring. I don't like that I feel like I need that reassuring presence in my life. I hit the bag again, harder as I focus on somethin' other than the feelin' in the pit of my stomach that's just gnawin' at my gut. Jab, jab, hook. It's hard enough to knock some dust off the bag but it holds steady. Somehow, that pisses me off me. I give the bag a brutal six punch combo that would obliterate a man's ribcage. The bag rocks but he digs his heels in, refusing ta let it swing. "Too much?" I sneer when I say it just because I feel like bein' a dick.
He shakes his head and slaps the bag. "I've taken a beating from you before. I can take it again." I give him a look, considerin' throttling him again. "You just worry about blowing out that shoulder before game time." I huff but I know he's right. The way I'm feelin' I might just fuck myself up if I'm not careful. I scale it back, workin' on combos that require speed more than force to stretch an' tone the muscle. It's awhile before he finally spits out what's on his mind. "I know I made a mistake. I'm sorry."
I stop punching the bag an' sigh. "I know." But it doesn't stop me from bein' pissed. Not just at him but at Enzo too. Plus this general angry feeling about Eowain. He's got some balls comin' after what's mine. And now I'm gonna shove them down his throat after I cut them off. "Thought we went over this already." I turn my attention back ta punching and I think for a second he might leave it at that but he doesn't. He speaks up again.
"Okay. See I got confused because your 'I'm going to murder you' face and your 'normal' face kind of look the same." I flick my eyes ta him lettin' him know that if I wanted to murder him, he'd be dead. "Okay okay don't get persnickety." Jab, jab, duck, weave jab. It's a weak combo I like to use when I'm playin' with my kill. It tests out my opponents speed, resilience, an' temperament. How they respond to that attack shows me some weaknesses I can exploit. Especially if they're bigger than me. "So if it's not me, why the big huff?" I give the bag a vicious hook. "Okay not ALL me."
I give him a shrug. "My friend is dyin', I gotta kill her grandson. An' my girl has ta kill the demon that's gonna be wearin' said friend's body." But that's not all. I give the bag a series of short hard jabs to the solar plexus. "Some power hungry, revenge happy vampire wants ta kill me and everyone I care about so he can harness the Hellmouth. And your dumbass has a death wish." It's enough ta make a girl start drinkin'. Well. Drinkin' harder, anyway.
"You wanna punch me in my face?" I almost miss the bag when he says that. My follow through loses momentum and I just lean in ta the bag too. "Just…watch the eye. I've only got the one." I dunno what I'm madder at. The shit that is happening or the fact that it's happening because I let people get close. Because I let my guard down. I shoulda known better but….I forgot I guess.
"That won't make it better Xand. It'll just mess up that pretty face." I give a snort but pull myself out of my pity party. I don't have time ta sulk. Besides, I see what I have ta do so clearly now. It'd be stupid to cloud it up with useless thoughts. I push off from the bag an' give it a testing lil punch. He smiles and holds steady. I smile too. Right before I butt the bag with my good shoulder knockin' him loose ta stagger back. I don't need him ta hold the bag me, or hold my fuckin' hand through life. I really only need B.
Xander dusts himself off with a slight frown and a wince when he puts his weight on his leg. I pick up my water bottle an' take a good long swig. "Okay then." A part of me wants ta apologize an' make nice but the bigger, smarter part of me doesn't wanna care. "So what do you want me to do with Kadee while you guys are taking care of business?" Fair question. I don't want her here without us. Technically I don't want her here period. She seems like she's tellin' the truth but who knows what her real end game is.
"Have Gus stick with her. Give her whatever she wants." I make a slight gesture with my hand. "Within reason. You know what's off limits." He nods at that and stumps a few steps closer to me. "One other thing, do some discreet diggin'. I wanna know if G really sent her and what her deal is."
"Aye aye Cap'n." He gives me a jaunty lil salute an' hobbles off. I watch him go before putting my water bottle down an' looking blankly at the bag. Know what? I'm just not that in to it anymore. I give it a weak punch before unrolling the tape from my hands as I walk out of the trainin' room and down the hall. I'm not even lookin' where I'm goin' I'm just letting my body take me there. A soft moan brings my head up an' I smirk as I push the door to my room open. I take a minute ta just watch before I swagger up to the bed.
Buffy raises her head from Denna's thigh with a wide grin. "Heya baby." I lean down for a deep kiss that tastes like Denna. Hm. No blood. I look down and run a finger along a pale thigh, there are some pink bite marks. Just nips it looks like. The skin is unbroken. B's showin' real control. "Not hungry?"
She shakes her head an' nuzzles in ta my chest. "I'm saving myself for all that deliciously strong wolf blood." I nod at that but I think it's somethin' more. I think she's afraid of feedin' from Denna. An' I think Denna knows it too. We eye each other but I jerk my head for her to leave and she does. "I wasn't done with her yet."
"Yah ya are." I take her by the hand and lead her past the sittin' area to the deep tub. "Come gimme a massage." She considers that before following me. I strip down an' turn on the water. It'll take a lil while for the tub ta fill but I'm not shy. I like it when B can't take her eyes off me anyway. She moves in close an' licks the line of newly formed scar at my shoulder. I give her a half growl an' nip playfully at her ear. I step in to the hot water with a happy sigh and B settles in at the edge close enough ta work the muscles in my shoulder with strong hands.
"It healed nicely." I nod at that but wince when she gets a real sore spot and digs her thumb in ta work out the knot. "Oooh tender." I'm not sure I like how she says that so I cut her a look over my shoulder with a raised brow but she smiles sweetly an' keeps working. After a minute I pat her hand to let her know I'm good but she doesn't stop. OW! B digs her thumb in hard just ta hurt me but makes it up with a soft nuzzling kiss to my shoulder. "Just making sure you're in tip top shape."
"You're nuts." She grins wider.
"You love it." Well she's got me there.
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I know Faith thinks I was lying when I said I was saving myself for later but I wasn't. I'm not afraid to feed on Denna. Well. Not entirely. She has other skills besides being my meal and I needed those other skills. But. Well. One thing led to another and I decided I'd rather fuck her than feed from her. I wasn't quite ready to stop when Faith pulled me away. Maybe that's why I felt the need to poke her shoulder so hard. I watch as my Faith shimmies in to a pair of tight black jeans and a tank top.
It isn't until she pulls her hair up in to a pony tail that I realize she's preparing for war. I mean. I knew she was getting ready to open a can of whup ass but she's serious right now. Bordering on something I recognize but don't like. Been there done that. I cross my arms over my chest and give her a soft exasperated sigh. "Sexy brooding is so 1996."
She stops what she's doing and looks over her shoulder at me before chuckling. "I'm not broody. I just wanna end this. I wanna turn the page an' finish the damn book already." I smile at that and let my arms down. I understand the sentiment so I let it go and open the weapon cabinet. Faith must have put the Scythe in here when I was sleeping because it's gleaming dully as it hangs from pegs in the wall like it always hung there. I touch the handle in a light caress before I heft it fully. The second it's in my hand power sings through me, filling me and setting my body alight with a cool pale blue glow. Huh. The last time that happened it was a warm yellow glow. I wonder if it's because I'm dead now. Not that it really matters right? All that matters is that I didn't get dusted and it somehow still recognizes the Slayer in me. Nifty. I give it a few testing twirls and it's like riding a bike. "Ungh."
I look up at Faith, staring at me with lust written all over her face. I give her a coy smile and throw a sway in to my hips as I walk out of the room. I know she's following me just so she can watch. I laugh when she gives a playful joking howl. At least she stopped being all…moody and depressing. I rest the scythe on my shoulder as we enter the main parlor. It's packed with wolves and our own House people. Everyone has a stake in what's happening tonight. I take the two steps up the dais so that everyone can see me and rest a hand on my hip.
Faith's body is a wall of warmth at my side. I notice our guests spread out among the group and smile. Willow and Oz aren't exactly hanging on each other but they're standing close, red haired heads close as they speak in whispers. "Listen up people." They were already staring at me but the few who hadn't noticed turn their eyes toward me. "We don't anticipate trouble but that doesn't mean it won't happen." Some people nod. Some shift uncomfortably. But all of them are solid in one thing. Protecting the House. "We're closed for business until this is settled with the Pack. Let's keep our eyes open and our weapons handy. Just in case."
Murmurs of assent make me happy and I beam a fanged smile at them. Good. Faith tucks her hands in to her back pockets and stares out at the wolves. "Tonight we finish it. Enzo might play dirty an' some of you might hafta fight. If that happens everyone that can't fight needs ta get to a car and get the fuck back to the House. The rest will follow when they can.'
The crowd parts and Ama is practically carried in. Her slippered feet are barely moving in a shuffle but they aren't touching the ground. Danni and Avi set her down lightly and she pats them gratefully. She doesn't say anything just squeezes my hand and Faith's. I don't think she has the energy left to speak. We both give her a short nod. Some unspoken signal makes everyone start filing out toward the exit. I give Denna a quick caress with my free hand as we leave, my other hand firmly in Faith's.
I guess I never gave any thought to how the wolves got here but looking at the cars lining up near the front I realize most of them drove. I'm sure it'd be faster if they ran there in wolf form but I think they're making a show of solidarity to arrive with their Alpha. We pile in to Faith's truck, Robere and Avi jumping in to the bed with watchful eyes. Ooh we get our own bodyguards. As if we need them. The drive is short but the trek in to the wolf den isn't easy. For a human. Especially not in the dark.
The wolves around me take big lungfuls of air in, reading all the scents they can. Some of them fall to all fours, shifting. Some pull off shirts and shoes, opting to wear only enough to be decent. Whatever form they take the wolves move as one behind Faith as she jogs in to the wild without a hint of hesitation. I can tell from her stride that she's in full on hunter mode. Letting her nose guide her she lets her stride go long and loping, easily jogging over felled logs and gnarled underbrush.
Small animals scurry away in the shadows, away from the wave of power rolling through us. There's no abrupt stop when we reach our destination. It's more like we glide in to the clearing, filling up all the empty spaces not taken by Enzo's people. They were here first but there are less of them than us. We must have done more damage last night than I realized. Enzo looks pissed at our entrance and sneers but before he can speak Faith cuts him off.
"Say it." He stops short and blinks at her but fades in to a malicious smile. He's been waiting for this for a long time now.
"I challenge for Alpha." The words are barely out of his mouth when she lands a very hard uppercut that makes Enzo's teeth rattle in his skull. He takes a few steps back and chuckles but not in an amused way. "So you Champion den?" She gives me a sarcastic smile. He gives a shrug as if it's all as he expected and tips his head back with a howl. One thing about Enzo he is fast. For a big guy he can catch you unexpectedly. But Faith already knows this and anticipates it as they circle each other. Her shoulders drop and she watches his chest.
You can be fooled by a person's feet, you can even be fooled by the intent in their eyes. But if you watch their chest you'll know when they'll press a forward attack. I watch the loose way she deflects his hits and dances out of reach. I can admire it even as I keep one eye on Ama who is only just managing to keep her eyes open and watching. I won't be long. After a few feints I watch as Faith ducks under Enzo's arm and swipes out with a clawed hand along his upper arm. The black gris gris falls from his arm and drops to the ground. Robere reaches out a long arm and snags it off the ground before Enzo notices.
Fingers crossed Will has her mojo ready back at the casa Slayer. The tall wolf looks at the gris gris with such hatred that I wonder about him. He squeezes it in his hand tightly before dropping it in to one of the small bonfire pits around the circle. It goes up in a shower of sparks and rank smoke that startles Enzo in to looking our way. "NO!" He makes a lunge toward us but stops and glares with hatred. "That make no difference now. Fools."
But horror fills his eyes when he turns and takes in Faith. Her eyes and bled to black and her features have shifted to wolf. "No." He says it again but softer in disbelief. "No." This time it's firmer. Denial. "You can't…" But he's less sure as she prowls forward toward him. Enzo snarls and lunges forward to tackle Faith, knowing that his weight could pin her. A disquieting reedy howl rends the air and I'm jerked to attention. I look at Danni and see her head drop to Ama's still chest. A weight settles on my chest and I hitch the Scythe higher on my shoulder.
For a moment nothing happens but the frail, delicate, still chest heaves a deep breath of air. Danni looks up hopefully but her hope is replaced with fear as Ama's hand tightens around her throat. "Hey!" Cloudy white eyes turn to me and I smirk. "You wanna keep that hand?" It. And I have to call it 'it' because I can't think of her as Ama anymore. It gives me a creepy smile that I've seen on another face before. "Hello Ethan."
It tosses its shoulders back and smirks. "We prefer The Ascended now." The Ascended? "Still. It's lovely to see you again. Still have that lovely tattoo?" As if I would leave a tether for a demon to latch on to. Well. Um. I wouldn't have BEFORE I died.
"Oh get over yourself already." My brow tingles with the shifting of my demon face and the Ama thing claps like a delighted child.
"Oh very good, very good indeed. We would have loved to try you on for size you know. And we just might when your little girlfriend kills the vessel."
Okay then. "Until then I'm just going to kick your ass. Okay?" It starts to speak but I use the flat side of the Scythe to smack them, it, square in the face. The thing flies back a few steps, reaching out to touch the dark, thick blood tickling from a slit in its lip. We snarl at each other and run forward to attack. Ama's body is strong and her slight frame is flexible in ways an old lady shouldn't be flexible. It makes landing a good hit nearly impossible. Enzo lets out a pained roar and the Ama thing laughs.
"Oh my my. He certainly didn't last as long as we thought he would. Then again we didn't bank on whatever…that…is." I take the moment of distraction to press my advantage and land a few very solid, hits pushing the thing back in to the wolves sounding us. They leap out of the way as if fearful of touching what used to be Ama.
"What can I say? My girl is a real go getter when she's motivated." It snakes a fist out in a fast strike but I move faster and step back out of reach. I chance a look at Faith in time to see make deep gashes across Enzo's throat. There's no way he can recover from a blow like that but she closes the distance to finish him off before he can even start to heal. It's time. The Ama thing reaches for my shoulder and I drop it low and twist, raising the stake end of the Scythe behind me. The demon's momentum impales it on the Scythe but it only looks mildly surprised.
"You think this will stop us? The vessel is dead and the Alpha's power will be ours." It opens its mouth again but I pull the Scythe free and bring it around two handed over my shoulder. "We…we…" A pained look comes over its face, confusion causing the wrinkled brow to furrow even more. "What…?"
"Sweet dreams." I bring the Scythe around in a deadly arc and sever head from body. Howls go up all around me but I can't tell whose wolves they are. I guess… all of them are Faith's now. One howl is louder than the rest and I move through the bodies toward it. Faith drops her head to look at me. Blood is smeared on her hands and face but I disregard it and kiss her anyway. I'd say sorry if I could but this will have to do for now.