They drove the entire night, all over Sunnydale stopping at each cemetery. Vala made them walk, each girl made to look, to search of something evil to kill. The silence began to creep out the Potentials, more each time they had to leave the safety of the red BMW. If either Slayer noticed they didn't let on, they just focused on their surroundings knowing they were responsible for the girls with them.
"Nothing." Vala muttered darkly as she headed back to the car. The girls scurried after them, not wanting to fall behind or get caught alone, not in the empty town.
Vala hadn't seen anything remotely like this in Prague, there had been people still walking the streets, not too many and only the dumb ones out after the sun set. She turned still walking, her eyes scanning the empty cemetery.
Nothing.
No vampires, no demons, there were no Bringers not even a Turok-Han or Uber Vamp and definitely no First.
"Waste of time." Faith muttered ten minutes later as they all got out of Vala's car.
Vala said nothing knowing she could agree with the younger Slayer but knew better than to assume just because there had been no sign of them it meant they could breathe easy. Prague hadn't been as quiet, hadn't lacked life and that had made her careless. She hadn't been paying attention, hadn't sent the 'bigger picture' and it cost her dearly.
'More than anyone should have to pay…'
Again, Matzuye's words echoed in her mind, warnings because he was always warning her of something, trying to make her more vigilant and even though Vala had been careful, had done as he'd trained her to do…
'Dead… He's dead…'
Somehow they both lived through Prague but in the end she was the only survivor. Vala had questions, she wanted answers but more than that, Vala needed to know for sure.
Was he really dead?
Or…
Like her, had the First been able to impersonate him because he'd temporarily died?
Had his heart stopped? Had he stopped breathing? How long had he been dead? Did it matter? Where was he? Where was her friend hiding? Or maybe, maybe he'd been buried-.
Vala noticed the faint lightening in the sky, the gray permeating the night bringing with it a new day. She headed up the stairs behind the girls with no particular destination in mind. Sleep wouldn't come easily, even with having been up all night. Vala was used to that.
"Morning."
The voice registered among the jumbled thoughts going around her head. Vala turned towards the dining room, her hand automatically reaching under her coat for the gun.
"Buenos dias."
Buffy barely arched an eyebrow noticing her movements. The steaming cup of coffee in her hands rose and she took a sip. Vala moved around the table, peeling off her long coat deciding now was the time to get things said, get it out in the open and move past her…'desertion'.
"Zilch, huh." It wasn't a question and not needing an answer Vala didn't reply. She found herself remembering her dreams, the ones with the green eyed Slayer and stared at Buffy.
'So much fighting, so many already lost… and she kept fighting.'
Vala couldn't understand, couldn't see why this Slayer had kept going. She quit the Council, didn't take their orders and still kept fighting, kept protecting those on the HellMouth.
'Why?'
Instead, Vala started talking. She wasn't sure why, the words just… they just poured out.
"I come from a big family. Two younger brothers, two older sisters and brother." The confusion on Buffy's face was obvious though Vala carefully kept her own from showing. The sudden change of topic had caught the younger woman by surprise and now she wondered what Vala's family history had to do with their situation or even with not finding anything to kill in Sunnydale.
"I remember my grandmother; she used to tell us stories about her grandmother. She was supposed to be this great bruja. Made all sorts of weird things happen; there was even a raising of the dead." Vala shook her head, a brief smile flitting across her features as she remembered the childhood stories told at the feet of her grandmother. "My mother told me once, that we all had 'the gift', every woman in my family as far back as they could remember and it might have been true of my older sister-." Vala stopped, bit her lip and tried not to think of her family. She couldn't go back to them anymore. Their little sister, their daughter had died a long time ago and the woman she'd become could only bring them trouble and pain.
Death was her gift… that's how it was supposed to be.
"Pierce and Rayne, they spun this wonderful lie for my parents about a school. They said I had a full scholarship, there'd be no financial burden for my parents and I could tell they were… happy. They'd never dreamed of anything like it."
Buffy stiffened at the mention of Rayne, wondered how the Chaos worshiper could have been at the school but Vala gave her no chance to ask or clear up the confusion.
"I realized I wasn't like them, the supposed witches in my family. All those movies, the TV shows, I could never do anything like that and I definitely couldn't do anything like my grandmother had pulled off… but I wanted to be- special." Vala realized it was true. All of her life, everything that happened was because of that, because she wanted to be special.
'It's all my fault…'
The realization hurt, left a hollow ache in her chest. All of those girls dead, her family… and Matzuye. It was all her fault, her choice that got her to this moment and the justified reactions from the two Slayers-.
Still, Vala had a purpose and a right to be there. She had a task to accomplish and guilting herself wasn't going to help her do it. Letting the others push her around, treat her as they did any of the Potentials… she had to assert herself, make them take her seriously and listen to what she had to say. So far they were putting the Prophecy on the back burner and focusing only on the First and how to defeat it.
'But we can't. There has to be a balance…all we can do is confine it again. Send the First back to where it came from.'
Those were words none of them wanted to hear.
"I never wanted to be Called. I never wanted the responsibility, the legacy…"
Buffy remembered her reaction to Kendra. Her features softening as she thought of the younger girl who'd appeared so stiff and rigid, almost like a robot the way she followed all the rules and how Giles had seemed so pleased with her. Buffy could admit to feeling jealous but only because it seemed as if Giles had found the perfect Slayer. Now there was Vala, older… and obviously knew more about the Council than Buffy had ever cared to know.
That was the difference. Buffy didn't see a need to know about the Council, about their function because all she'd ever gotten were orders, those old men sending her to die…
'They never cared about any of us…'
So why blame Vala for leaving? Was it fair? They both knew what was at stake, what being The Slayer cost…
"You're making excuses…" Buffy sat back in her chair, both hands going to rest in her lap where Vala couldn't see them fist.
"No." the ebony tresses slipped over her shoulders. "No excuses, not anymore. You're all right-." Vala felt the witch's presence in the door but didn't turn or acknowledge the red head in any way. "I left and girls died. Maybe if I had stayed, if I'd been around they wouldn't have." She doubted that would have been true. Hadn't there been another girl before Faith?
"No…" Buffy shook her head. The image of Kendra lying with her throat slashed in the school library surfaced and Buffy knew. When death came there was no way around it, there shouldn't be and yet there she sat. Both women, Slayers who cheated death…
Buffy wondered if it would have been different. Would life have taken a different turn had Vala come to Sunnydale instead of Faith? Would there have been such hatred between them as there had been with Faith?
Was it fair to ask those questions?
"I never wanted to be The Slayer." Vala said quietly. "I didn't want to be… I did my duty, Buffy." She straightened her shoulders, set her gaze on the young Slayer wanting to make it clear she wasn't going anywhere. "I fought, I saved, I lied and I gave up my family."
"What are you saying?" Buffy asked beginning to feel uncomfortable. Did the woman want to leave? She wouldn't be the only one, half the girls wanted to run as far from her and Sunnydale as they could get but fear of the Bringers and the First kept them in her house.
"I don't want to lead these girls, that's not what I'm doing here." Vala said mistakenly thinking Buffy assumed that's what the older Slayer wanted.
Vala thought she'd made that clear from the first moment the question was even raised.
"I don't want to take over as acting Slayer. That girl- she's been dead ten years. I made mistakes, left it all behind and girls died…"
"We all die." Buffy's voice was soft and Vala was surprised by them. "Its part of our legacy."
Vala knew this was by no means an acceptance of her presence but it was a start. With a nod she started with her concern.
"Three Slayers, Buffy. All of us co-existing at the same time. Now," she sat back slightly shaking her head. "I'm not sure what that means, I don't even know why- at least I can't remember because my book's a pile of dust."
That Vala was upset by the loss of the book was obvious but why it was so upsetting didn't register with the blond.
A surge of anger washed through Vala as she thought of it, of what had been destroyed. She loved books, loved to read and so had Maty. One of their favorite places had been the library, they'd expanded on Maty's collection of rare books and now, of the few belongings Vala had to remind her of the life she'd had before, to remind her of her friend…
"It's important I find us another Prophecy book-." The rest of the words died on her lips as she felt the prickling along her skin. Her temples itched and Vala almost reached up to scratch when the foreign presence, faint as it was, couldn't hide.
Buffy watched Vala's expression change, her eyes darkened looking black in the light of the bulb overhead. In one fluid motion the lost Slayer rose to her feet, the chair scraping on the carpeted floor was muffled and then Vala stood at the edge of the table. The fierce look had Willow cringing, Buffy moving to stand by the witch.
"I- I'm so-orry." Willow stammered a little shocked Vala had been able to sense her mental probe and shut her out so quickly.
"What. I haven't done enough to show I meant what I said about staying to help? I haven't taken enough- now you have your witch snooping in my head?" Vala turned her glare on Buffy. Indignation rose to the surface but Willow answered before Buffy had a chance to reply.
"She didn't- Buffy didn't-."
"Now who's the liar?" Vala snapped wanting very much to hurt the witch and aware the fight would be unfair. There was more holding her back, the strict rule of not hurting those weaker than herself, of bending the rules in that regard, all for Matzuye and his warnings.
"I didn't tell her to do anything, Vala." Buffy stated in a quiet yet steadfast voice. She didn't want the other Slayer to feel as if they were against her, feeling isolated with nobody understanding her reasons or motives behind her actions.
'Like I did.' Buffy thought and realized that sometimes she still felt unsure. Would they defect if they didn't like another of her orders? Would they back her every decision or…
"I was curious… I didn't mean-."
"To snoop? To intrude?" Vala questioned. Grabbing her coat from the next chair she set the other back in place intent on leaving the house. There were plenty of abandoned homes for her to crash in and the knowledge of Bringers, Uber Vamps, Turok-Han and even the First didn't frighten her.
"Never." Vala whispered softly standing inches from the red headed witch. "Never open a door you can't close."
Willow's eyes widened slightly. The threat wasn't even veiled and the fact Vala spoke in front of Buffy only added to the warning her voice carried. Without another word the lost Slayer walked past, her footsteps soft on the wooden floor until the front door slammed as she left the house.
Buffy glared at Willow and it only made her feel worse.
"I didn't mean any harm, Buffy." But she could see her friend wondering. Hadn't Willow learned her lesson?
"Why?" was all Buffy asked.
"I-… thought- maybe if I looked then we could be sure… about her- why she's here." Even Willow thought her answer sounded lame.
"Don't." Buffy ordered with a slight shake of her head. Both stood a moment just looking at each other before Buffy walked out of the kitchen.
Willow's head dropped, her eyes shimmering with tears with the knowledge that things had definitely changed.
--
Buffy stood on her porch staring at Vala's red BMW. The fact that it was still in her drive way meant the lost Slayer hadn't left. Maybe it was true, maybe Vala really was there to stay.
'Three Slayers and the First trying to warn us off…' a slight smile graced her lips knowing the First had reason to worry.
She looked down each side of her Revelo Drive still not seeing any sign of Vala aside from her car. With a sigh Buffy went back into her house to start another day of training with the Potentials and planning.
She was getting tired of planning and nothing getting accomplished.
--
Sunnydale, HellMouth
I don't know why I'm writing in this book but I guess I'll blame it on you. I wouldn't have this journal if it weren't for you, King.
What am I doing here?
From the dreams I know I'm supposed to be here. Maty keeps saying I need to fight, that I need to show them I mean to help.
Help.
What a joke.
They don't trust me, I'm not saying they should just on my word but I've tried to help, to get them to see the 'bigger picture'.
The HellMouth is only part of this (yes, the dying part, Hannibal). See? I know how you think and though you tried to brush it off I know its no joke.
Willow (That's the witch, Buffy's friend)
Oh, do you remember that conversation we had in my apartment before you trashed it with your vampire buddies?
Now we know somebody actually named their kid 'Buffy'…
Hannibal, she's the one I've dreamt about. The Slayer I thought had been dead- actually she's died twice and there are three of us.
Three Slayer's on this HellMouth so maybe… maybe you will see me…
It's different this time. There aren't any people, I went on patrol and couldn't scare up anything. Not one single vampire or demon, nothing. This whole town has a creepy vibe, like some old west abandoned ghost town.
I'm tired. I know I need to get some rest, to sleep but I just cant- not here.
I walked out of Buffy's house, I left my car there but I grabbed my duffel and walked two houses down. I had to break the handle but I got in.
Of course I'm being careful, I set the flash bombs and rigged the stairs, my door's bolted shut and barricaded.
I had to get out of her house, away from the witch and her snooping.
Do you know she had the audacity to look in my head?
Like I'm some evil bitch just waiting for the right moment to strike!
But it's also the girls. There aren't that many, Hannibal, not the way I remember. All those girls, the Potentials I saw in the Academy's during my time as The Slayer- only a handful are left and they're here. On the HellMouth…
I know they're going to die, I know this is part of our legacy but they are so young. Just kids and I can't help but feel guilty knowing I won't save them.
I can't.
--
Faith had woken up just as the sun was setting ready for another day. She headed to the kitchen and found a couple of stragglers raiding the cupboards.
"Anything left?" she asked sauntering in. the girls immediately stood at attention, meaning they stopped their lounging, Cassidy quickly jumped off the counter with an apology half formed on her lips.
"Whoa talk about tension." Faith muttered walking to the refrigerator. "I know you're supposed to be all respectful of your elders but…" Faith closed the refrigerator door taking a bottle of juice left in the shelf. She looked at the girls, seeing their young faces and remembered Phade's words, telling her the girls needed rules, needed boundaries, someone to be the grown up and tell them right from wrong so they didn't end up like her.
"Clean up after yourselves." Faith ordered glancing at the messy counter and sink half full of dishes. The girls immediately set to work moving around Faith as she grabbed some granola bars from the counter and went out the back door.
She sat on the wooden rail munching on the granola watching the last color in the sky turn to black. A couple of stars twinkled but she couldn't find anything peaceful. Her brow furrowed as other things came to mind, primarily the lost Slayer.
She'd been to Prague and not for College as she'd said on the drive to Buffy's house that first night. She'd survived the Bringers attack, killed most of them before Faith or Buffy could offer any real help. That last Bringer… Faith realized Vala had been waiting for the last moment to roll away from it. Even if she hadn't been thinking it her body would have reacted instinctively to avoid death.
'Primal instinct and we all have that.'
Vala had also kept her temper in check, never actually striking at her or anyone else.
'Not like me. I just hit…no questions asked. I just react.'
Wasn't that what kept getting her in trouble. Wasn't that the reason she landed in prison, at least one of the reasons…
Faith couldn't blame Vala for the way her life had turned out. Phade was right, they had all been Faith's choices and even though she'd excused it by saying there had been no one to guide the young Slayer, Faith couldn't pretend she hadn't known, deep down, the things she'd been doing were wrong.
She'd have to make peace with Vala.
"Damn, I am growing up." Faith muttered up to the moon.
--
Vala walked in unannounced and was quickly lost among the sea of Potentials milling about. Most sat by the TV watching a movie barely sparing her a glance as she walked past. She glanced towards the dining room only to find a couple other Potentials in there eating or playing cards games. They looked up, their expressions just a bit fearful after the mouth washing she'd imparted. Vala noticed the house looked a bit neater even with all the extra bodies.
"You should all be cleaning weapons. They'll be needed soon." Vala watched the girls quickly get up, all of them obeyed and turning to the living room decided to leave those girls alone. She looked up the stairs but headed towards Giles' office/study. She hoped there would be something there that could help her remember, some clue as to the prophecy.
Vague memories of the book and its pages swam in her mind but none of it clear enough. Vala was beyond frustrated and after another crazy dream she wasn't in the mood to play 'guess what'. Scowling at the top of the book shelf, Vala reached up and took the first book her fingers touched.
Giles' chair was empty and sitting down in the comfortable leather Vala opened the book to the first page and started to read.
'Something has to come of this. It has to…'
Vala read for over an hour, her eyes skimming through each page only stopping when something seemed familiar. The more books she went through the more pieces began collecting in her head but still couldn't make sense of what she had.
Standing yet again for another book the sound of raised voices drew her attention to the door. Frustrated, Vala set the book on the desk and walked into the hallway recognizing Kennedy's voice. She frowned hearing the tone, clearly the girl hadn't learned to hold her tongue or be polite.
"What's going on?" Vala asked. Her voice held its normal husky tone but none of the girls ignored the warning.
"Un-invited deserters." Kennedy replied barely curbing her snappish tone as Vala finally came into view of the woman being treated so rudely.
Vala flicked her dark eyes over the stranger, taking in the long waves of inky hair, the front partially pinned away from her face. A smile graced the full lips, they shone glossy under the hall light.
"Hola," the woman stepped forward, her hand held out in greeting. Vala took it still processing the woman's appearance; dark blue jeans, a thin leather belt looped through the waist clearly not needed. She wore a deep maroon turtle neck under the black leather jacket, no jewelry or adornments of any kind. Vala didn't think the woman needed it.
"I'm Phade Vartan." The smile didn't reach the dark brown eyes and turning, Phade introduced the young girl at her side. "This is Mayahuel DeGarzes, she's a Potential."
That announcement drew Vala's attention to the young girl, dark skinned and striking in appearance with her straight jet black hair. Vala couldn't help but be reminded of the girls in the little village she'd lived in… almost in another lifetime.
"I haven't seen you before." Phade stated looking her over.
"Vala Rey. I'm the Slayer." As soon as the words were past her lips Vala felt like a complete idiot. Beside them, Kennedy was angrily huffing much to Vala's annoyance but it seemed to please this new arrival.
"Creo que oí mal. You're who again?" Phade questioned still with that genial smile in place. The fact the woman spoke to her in Spanish barely registered in Vala's mind as she sought words to explain herself.
Realizing what she was doing, Vala stiffened and then she focused on the woman's assumption that she would speak Spanish. Because she looked it?
"Me oíste. I'm the Slayer or … I was before I died." That last came out with a tinge of apology but it was too late. Still, Phade only shrugged, her smile never fading.
"Oh well. It happens a lot around here doesn't it."
Vala arched an eyebrow, the only sign of curiosity at the woman's statement. How did she know about the dying? For that matter how did she know about the Potentials and The Slayer? What was she doing in Sunnydale and who was this Angel?
"Are you sure there aren't any more of you hiding somewhere…?"
If the question had been meant as a joke, Vala wasn't getting the punch line. She stared coldly at the woman who stubbornly kept her smile in place.
"Not that I've come across."
"They can't stay." Kennedy snapped finally tired of being ignored by them. She glared at Phade, both hands gripping her hips.
"Last I looked you're still a Potential." Vala said in her soft tone. She faced the impudent girl and glared. "This is not your home."
Quiet.
Not another word left the girls mouth.
"Me caes bien, Vala." The stranger replied to her back.
Vala looked at Phade; her brow furrowed but thanked her anyway. She had no idea who Phade was and yet there she stood an amicable smile on her face as more Potentials came to see about the fuss.
"Maya?" Sabine quickly came into the hallway, a smile on her young face.
"Sabine!"
Vala watched the young girls hurry off taking two duffel bags. Phade's pleased smile as she watched them was tinged with sadness. Noticing, Vala wondered what she knew of their situation.
"So where are the Scooby's?"
"Perdón, quienes?" Vala questioned.
"Buffy, Faith and the others. Don't tell me they left her alone again…" Phade trailed off a slight scowl marring her features.
Vala was at a loss, she had no idea what the woman referred to and it brought more questions about her sudden presence in a town that was supposed to have been deserted. No one but Vala had ventured to Sunnydale since the towns people had left.
"In the basement." Cassidy answered.
"Thank you, Cas." Phade replied and Vala noted the girls grin. She looked at the other girls hanging about the hall way and noticed most of them wore smiles.
'Who is this woman?' Vala wondered.
"This way." she didn't wait for Phade to follow her but walked through the Potentials and towards the basement.
Phade caught sight of the weapons spread out on the dining room table; more were in the weapons chests on either side of the arch they passed through.
"Looks like your getting ready to fight a war." Phade murmured as the girls went back to their places. Some stared but Phade ignored the looks watching the 'Slayer' and wondering where this one had come from. It couldn't have been that long ago but then things in Los Angeles had been kinda crazy what with Jasmine and her fanatics. Phade wondered if any of the girls in Sunnydale had felt it, the crazy demon's love brain washing.
"We are fighting a war." Vala replied. "Le guste a quien le guste." She murmured.
"No te gusta verdad." It wasn't a question so Vala opened the door to the basement and headed down. "I don't agree either. The Powers That Be have a sick sense of what's right and wrong when they throw little girls to their deaths."
Vala stopped on the middle step and faced this new woman. She re-assessed her, forming another opinion of Phade and found herself liking the woman.
"Me caes bien." Vala repeated then smiled.
"Phade?" Giles' voice wiped the smile off Phade's face and setting her shoulders stiffly she stepped around Vala and went down only stopping on the third to last step.
"Hello." She said and Vala could picture her smiling again. "The door was open."
Vala arched an eyebrow at that but was more surprised by the cold tone of Giles' voice as he ordered Willow to close it.
"Is there a reason you're here, Ms. Vartan?"
The question only made her more curious and Phade's answer added to the fire. Who was this woman? What did she think she could do here. Vala couldn't sense anything evil from her and unless she was some sort of… well she couldn't be a demon and certainly didn't feel like a vampire. What did Phade have to contribute to this fight?
"I'm not here for any of you, well, Buffy and Faith but not any of you because I still stand by what I said before I left and I'm not taking any of it back."
Without another word, Phade stomped up the stairs, slipping around Vala who looked to the bottom of the stairs and up. Deciding quickly Vala headed back into the kitchen where she found Phade pacing, a scowl on her face.
"Phade? Que fue eso?" Vala noticed the curious stares from the dining room n glared at the snooping girls.
"No te han contado el chisme?" Phade questioned. Vala shook her head negatively seeing the surprised look that came into he eyes.
"Let's take a walk."
Vala arched an eyebrow looking the woman over with a practiced eye. She had an air of menace about her person that she'd noticed immediately but it was veiled. Her first impression of the smiling woman had been unflattering, only going off the smile Phade had worn from the very start of their conversation. Now, Vala realized why she'd seemed so amused by the goings on.
She'd been there before.
Vala flicked her eyes to the slight bulge at Phade's side under the leather jacket. There was no mistaking it.
"You're armed?" the question was coupled with a genuine smile already knowing the answer.
--
The more Vala listened to Phade talk the more she found herself liking the woman. They shared a few anecdotes, talked about their choice of weapons finding out Phade had a healthy dislike of the crossbow. Both found another thing in common when Vala revealed she preferred to use the compound bow. Phade's childlike reaction and her wide eyed stared was almost comical. It brought another smile to Vala's face who kept herself from laughing out loud.
They walked down the street, Vala listening to her surroundings but not being obvious. She kept wondering if Phade knew the danger they were in, walking along, at night in a town full of evil things ready to kill them.
"So what happened?" Vala finally asked watching the smile fade and her resigned sigh.
"I told them off." And the rest of the story poured out.
Vala was more surprised by Buffy. Leaving them, all the girls and the others just because they didn't agree with her decision… how was it that much different from what Vala had done ten years ago? Then Phade started in on the part the others had played. Vala agreed most of the things they'd done were wrong but they all had their reasons. She was no one to judge them, no one to say they were right or wrong even though in this situation none of them could afford to second guess or undermine their leader.
And hadn't they all chosen Buffy?
"So how'd you die?" Phade asked. The question startled Vala who hadn't had to answer that. Neither Buffy nor fait had asked her what happened. Giles had said it for her and it seemed enough for both Slayers.
"Perdon?" Vala stalled, her voice dropped into a whisper.
"Curiosity. It hasn't killed me yet but they keep telling me its just luck." Phade replied with a shrug.
"Really, you don't look like a cat." Vala responded casting her eyes over the other woman.
"Uhh, no. I guess I don't… but I have the tail and ears put away…" the sudden change in tone and the animated expression of her face got another smile from Vala.
It was a moment before she told Phade about Prague and though at first the words didn't seem to flow but soon Vala felt herself ease. It became easier to recount of her experience, tell her about Maty and their deaths.
"The why are you here?" Phade asked completely confused. "I mean if you were 'lost' and they couldn't find you why come to another HellMouth?"
"Bringers." Vala replied simply. "They found me and once I figured out what was going on I came here. I wasn't planning on telling them who I was but Giles…" she shook her head, a bit of disbelief at his action and hers.
"What'd he do?" there was no disguising the curiosity.
"He threw a knife at my head."
"He what!" Phade exclaimed, she flinched realizing how loud her voice had been but they were trying to attract attention.
"Knife. My head." Vala repeated ignoring the exclamation. "Don't worry, I caught it and gave myself away." She kept walking; her steps slow as if she were just strolling in the park. "Buffy and Faith were having heart attacks and brain pains trying to figure out how I could do that. I think they wanted to hurt him, Giles and then he told them who I was and it looked like they wanted to hurt me."
"You don't look hurt so I'm guessing they didn't."
"No, they didn't." but it hadn't been for lack of wanting. Vala thought of Faith, her reaction to the news of another Slayer and the fist. So maybe one of them had hurt her…
"So where have you been all this time?" Vala glanced at Phade in disbelief but the woman kept staring, waiting expectantly and somehow Vala knew she wouldn't stop until she got some sort of answer.
"Oh fine. It doesn't look like we're going to find anything soon."
The smile on Phade's face grew and Vala just shook her head trying to figure out where she'd start.
"Talk about the guy." Phade prodded making Vala glance at her sharply but the woman only nodded encouragement.
"Guy?" Vala echoed. "What makes you think there is a guy?"
"Phfit! There's always a guy!" Phade exclaimed. "Come on, echa pa'fuera."
"Ther-I- uh!" Vala threw her head back and expelled her breath of air. "His name is Hannibal.'
"As in 'Silence of the Lambs'?" Phade questioned. Vala glanced at her sharply her mouth slightly open.
"I said the same thing to him!"
"Wha-." Phade laughed, shook her head in disbelief and then Vala joined in as well. "What'd he say to that?" Phade finally got out.
"Oh he acted put out but I know better now. I did refer to him as 'Baby Huey' for a while." Vala answered with a grin.
"Na-ah, tell me he doesn't look like Baby Huey…?" Phade pleaded though she couldn't get rid of the grin.
"Definitely not. No. Uh-uh." Vala shook her head remembering how not like Baby Huey, King was.
"Oh-ho. You're a goner." Phade chuckled.
"What- por que?" Vala asked, her brow furrowed.
"So what is it about this Hannibal you like?" she asked ignoring the question. "I mean there has to be something that gets you…" Phade arched an eyebrow letting Vala insert the ending but it was clear from her expression what she meant.
"Pay dirt."
"Huh?" Phade made a face not sure what that meant.
"What are those?" Vala pointed and turning towards the scruffy figures heading their way Phade let out a relieved 'Oh' before focusing on the danger.
"Uber vamps!" Phade suddenly exclaimed. Vala half expected her to have her hand raised. "Sorry, little excited here."
Vala shrugged she felt a little giddy herself but it was quickly wearing off as they approached and Phade still had to reach for her gun.
"Their chests are like steel so staking is gonna be difficult and their supposed to be the Alpha dogs of their species. Faster, stronger and a smidge brainier."
Vala shrugged reaching for her own gun. A sundog would take care of them.
"Anything else?"
"Yup, no guns. I'm pretty sure the bullet's likely to bounce off and I don't feel like getting riddled with holes." Phade replied setting a hand on Vala's wrist.
"No guns." Vala agreed. "It would've been too easy."
"Ya know, I really do like you." Phade replied watching her slip out the Katana. They smiled at each other but Vala's faded seeing the other woman faced the vampires empty handed.
"Where's yours?" the concern was evident but Phade just smiled and patted her back.
"I got my Sai." But that didn't get rid of the frown marring Vala's features. "Hey, this is nothing compared to what I went through in LA. Trust me, I'll live."
"Sai?" Vala arched an eyebrow.
"Tell me you know their offensive weapons and not just some knives." Phade practically whined.
"I've handled a pair before." Vala revealed thinking of Maty's lectures on the various weapons he'd trained her with. Suddenly she ducked away from the swipe at her head. Vala found herself being pressed by the Uber Vamp and using her body to its advantage the lost Slayer broke away getting enough room to bring up her Katana.
A smile ghosted past her lips and the flash of steel was quick, the small burst of flames glinted on the clean blade and Vala was off on her hunt. After last nights failed patrol she was a little surprised they had come out for only two.
She got caught between two of the Vampires finding them faster than her regular vampires. It only made Vala loosen the tight rein she held over herself and her abilities.
"Duck!" Vala didn't think, just dropped to the ground on her stomach. Above she felt the brief flare of heat and flash of light as the Uber Vamp became ash. Rolling to her side she caught sight of stone spears. They imbedded themselves in the Uber Vamp making it fall against a headstone. Vala kicked up knocking it over and using the same moment got to her feet. The Katana flashed under the moon severing the head and making more ash.
Vala turned in time to see Phade lightly hop onto a head stone, she jumped off straight into the Uber Vamp. Vala tensed, her body starting to move even though she knew there was nothing she could do. The Slayer was too far to be of any help and then her arm flared. Vala was shocked, flames had just… appeared on the woman's arm and then her fist went through the steel like chest.
The vampire looked surprised then it was just another cloud of ash and Phade turned around, her eyes flickering bright orange-red until they settled on the natural deep brown.
"I know." Phade held her hands up as if giving in but Vala hadn't demanded anything of the woman.
Yet.
"What am I, right? Or maybe how did I just do that?" she motioned over her shoulder all the while smiling.
"Uh-huh." Vala nodded, still gripping the Katana in her hand.
"I'm a Fury."
Vala blinked. Neither spoke as Phade waited for the lost Slayer to process that little bit of information. Most people assumed she meant the mythological figures and then she had to correct them.
"Oookay…"
"Let's go back to the house. I'm feeling much better now that I got something easy to kill. The last couple of weeks in Los Angeles have been a bitch!" Phade walked through the cemetery taking her Sai from where they'd landed and slipped them back into the sheaths strapped under her jacket. Vala could see the flash of silver from her gun then black leather fell back in place, hiding it from view.
"I take it you don't mean those-."
"Mythological nutties?" Phade cut in with a chuckle. "Nah, but you'd be amazed how much I get that. Anyway, I don't work for the Powers That Be. We don't have that 'One in every generation' krap. There's a bunch of us, all co-existing at the same time… just don't ask me how many or where." Phade finished softly sighing. Vala noticed her brow was furrowed but her own disgust at the Powers That Be and their rules of only having one girl fight evil…
"Aren't you the lucky one." she muttered.
They walked in silence back to Buffy's house both lost in their thoughts. Nothing came at them, nothing attacked but neither noticed the shadow looming over head watching them walk through the empty town.
The First was not pleased to see the Fury once more. It was annoyed by the presence of the Slayer but that was quickly becoming a bigger problem with the presence of three slayers.
The oldest, the audacious one threatening the First, that one had to be dealt with. She had to be taken care of before she could warn the others of the Prophecy. There would be nothing to get in the way, nothing that could stop its plans. The First had waited too long to enter the realm of man and now, now was the time…
--
"So you helped with the girls." Vala said. She watched Phade shrug it off, as if it weren't important and it might not be but under their current circumstances it was important.
"Un poco nadamas. A Sabine, I found her in Los Angeles and Mayahuel, the little one I brought with me, that one my husband dropped off." She smiled already turning up the path to Buffy's house. "Son las que mas cuido."
"Esposo?" Vala echoed. "You have a family?"
"You don't?" Phade remarked wondering if she were about to hear the same lame excuses Buffy had spouted about not being able to have a 'normal' life.
"Para nosotras-." Vala stopped the practiced words of denial from spilling. She shook her head and smiled sadly. "Yes, a long time ago."
"I'm sorry." Phade replied wanting very much to ask what happened but somehow knew it wasn't the time. Not so soon after meeting even if she had asked other personal questions, this was different.
"Don't be." Vala replied setting her shoulders back. "I'm the Slayer. This is how it's supposed to be."
Phade rolled her eyes sighing. Both women walked up the steps with Phade shaking her head.
"Between you and Buffy, I can't decide, cual es la mas sufrida."
Vala opened her mouth to protest but Phade was already walking into the house.
"PJ!"
"Puta madre…"
Vala walked in after the Fury, her brow furrowed at the response to find a grinning Faith.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" Phade grumbled.
"Aw, you missed me." Faith quipped.
"Like a sore on my ass." Phade returned but there was a smile twitching the corners of her mouth. "How ya been, kiddo?"
"Five by five." Faith replied letting the older woman give her a brief hug. Vala smiled seeing the discomfort cross the young Slayer's features but she didn't protest and Phade seemed to hold on tighter purposely.
"Don't call me 'PJ'." Phade muttered letting go.
"So where'd you guys go?" Faith asked hiding her grimace.
"Oh you know…" Phade grinned as she rocked on the heels of her boots.
"Hunting." Vala replied. "I wasn't sure but I didn't have to save her life."
"Oh right, cus I'm so helpless." Phade retorted with a laugh.
"Not when you go all flamy but otherwise… Phade? How exactly do you…?" Vala waved her hand at the arm she'd seen on fire.
"Wanna see?" Phade arched an eyebrow, a mischievous twinkle lighting her eyes. Before either Slayer could answer they were following Phade to the back yard. "I'm not all that great with the fire but I guess it's kinda cool too. As long as I don't burn down any buildings." She laughed and both slayers noticed the slight tinge of nervousness in the sound.
"Uh-huh." Faith nodded sounding unsure and deciding it wasn't such a good idea to get close she leaned on the rail, one foot resting on the bottom step. "I'll just watch from here."
"Yeah, I'm not going to burn you." Phade retorted frowning. Still, it was better if they just stayed back.
"Phade?" Buffy came out and seeing the Fury smiled. "You really are here?"
"Uh-huh, your boy friend dropped us off." Phade gave a little wave smiling at the blond's immediate scowl.
"Angel is not-."
"Yet. But you two will eventually get there. Now let me concentrate here." She ordered ignoring Faith's snickers.
"Oh that's funny, huh?" Buffy grumbled moving to stand behind Faith. She nodded at Vala who wore a soft smile on her face. Buffy wondered what it was that amused the lost Slayer but refrained from asking since she was there and didn't want Vala leaving again.
A bright light startled them and then there was a 'whoosh' as Phade erupted into a blaze of flames. All three Slayers gasped in shock while Phade's yelp was swallowed by the loud sound of fire.
They watched her stumble and bump into the tree at the end of the yard. Phade landed on her butt, the flames sucked back into her body leaving her with a light sheen of perspiration and a warm glow just under her skin.
"Are you alright?" Vala asked rushing forward, the heated air scorched her and she stopped before touching Phade.
"Don't touch me!" Phade warned holding up a warding hand. The burn on Dean's hand flashed through her mind. It hadn't been a bad burn but Phade didn't want to hurt anyone else. Behind both Buffy and Faith stopped, looking at her wide eyed. "Wow, that's never happened before." A nervous laugh slipped past her lips. Only that wasn't entirely true wither. Hadn't she burned up the demon the Winchester's were hunting and sent him tohell?
"She burned my tree!" Buffy cried suddenly. All eyes turned up to the scorched trunk, her finger pointed out the still crackling tree branch. Phade scrambled to her feet apologizing as she set her palms on the trunk.
"Hey, we did worse inside the house." Faith reminded the blond who grimaced.
"True." She replied with a resigned sigh then turned a frown on Phade who had managed to put out the little fire. "No more fire for you, missy."
"Fine with me." Phade sighed sounding relieved.