Disclaimer: Nothing but the original characters belong to me. All songs quoted through-out the story are owned by their respective artists.
Rating: M-ish, overall (for violence, mild language, maybe some sexual innuendo in later chapters, but there will be absolutely NO smut!)
Thank you to all who have reviewed so far!
Chapter 48: Unwelcome Guests
Buffy sluggishly shut the door to her bedroom and shuffled towards the front door. With her book bag slung over her shoulder, she slipped on her shoes, and peered out the window at the night. She was heading out to the bookstore. Given the circumstances, Giles had insisted that she meet both Faith and Spike over there before heading out on patrol. 'Safety in numbers' he'd said. She rubbed her eyes lazily, almost wishing she was able to take a night off from protecting the world. The dreams of the temple fire hadn't stopped, if anything, they'd been getting worse since Travers had appeared in Braebrook. Each night it seemed the indecipherable din of voices calling for help got louder, and louder, to the point where some nights Buffy dreaded falling asleep. She often stayed up as long as she could; reading or doing homework until she could no longer keep her eyes open. Though she almost always regretted it the next day, in the moment it seemed more appealing to her to be sleep deprived than to spend the night listening to the terrified and pained cries of her fallen Slayers.
Her head being in such a fog, she didn't hear her father exiting the kitchen behind her.
"Heading out to study?" he asked, causing Buffy to jump slightly as she spun around.
"Yeah... just waiting for Olly." she replied, "I was gonna go wait outside though."
"Alright. Have a good time then, and don't stay out too late, you look like you could use a good night's sleep." Daniel Cross advised in very fatherly manner.
Buffy smiled, it was comforting with all that was going on, to have a parent be concerned for her, "Okay Dad."
Finally, she heard the sputtering engine of Olly's car pull into the driveway, and she pulled open the door, "See you later."
"Okay Sweetie. Say hi to Olly for me."
She nodded, then flew out the door, waving at Olly, and Lily who sat in the passenger seat next to him, as she hopped in the backseat, and the car pulled away, groaning as it rolled down the street.
Daniel sighed as he watched his daughter leave. Something had changed in her since that attack had landed her in the hospital. She'd been more quiet, more secretive... more distant. He knew she was growing up, that she had her own responsibilities now, and she'd proven since her mother had passed away to be more than capable of taking care of herself. She was growing into a strong and intelligent young woman, and for that he was proud, but it still hurt him to know that his little girl wasn't so dependent on him anymore. With a forlorn smile, he turned the corner and entered his bedroom. Lost in thought, he wasn't prepared for what he found there. He froze in the doorway, feeling as though his breath had been knocked out of him. Sitting on the end of the bed, in a simple sundress, her shoulder-length honey brown hair hung in loose ringlets, they way she'd worn it on their wedding day, was the woman he'd spent the last two years mourning.
"Darling... I've missed you so much." she whispered tearfully as she rose to her feet, her delicate hands clutched over her heart.
Daniel gulped, and drew in a shaky breath before he spoke. "Meredith?"
~o~
Faith sighed as she sunk down onto the mausoleum steps next to Buffy and Spike. She tucked her stake back into the waistband of her jeans, then began to brush the vampire dust off her jacket.
"You want to do that somewhere else, Love?" Spike grumbled, fanning his hand in front of his face, "You're getting vampire bits all over me."
Faith merely made a face at him, and continued to clean herself off. "So what do you say, we wait another fifteen minutes, see if anything shows up then call it a night?"
Buffy nodded, before stifling a yawn, "Sounds good... I think we've done enough damage for tonight."
"I'd say!" Spike exclaimed, "What's our count now? Sixteen?"
"Something's definitely riling them up," Buffy agreed, "It has to be The First."
"But why? I don't get it." Faith questioned.
"Because it's evil? I don't know... maybe it's just trying to tire us out, make us easy prey... maybe it has another plan up its sleeve... we'll just have to wait and find out." Buffy mused.
"Great, you know how much I love waiting." Faith grumbled.
"You and me both, Pet." Spike agreed.
Thankfully, the next fifteen or so minutes passed rather uneventfully, and the three fighters began the long trek back to the bookstore. Buffy peered into the shadows cautiously as they weaved between the tombstones. The First hadn't appeared again since the Cruoris' attack on Faith, and it concerned her. She knew if It wasn't around tormenting them, then it was definitely laying in wait, plotting something... and Buffy dreaded finding out what that was.
Little did she know, she wouldn't have to wait long to find out. As they passed through the clearing where Buffy had fought The Guardian the summer past, Faith froze in her tracks, and all colour drained from her face.
"You coming, Ducks?" Spike asked, after he'd taken a few steps further, and realized the dark-haired Slayer was no longer by his side.
Buffy recognized the terrified expression on her face, and stepped in front of her, hoping she could block whatever was in Faith's line of sight, "What is it, Faith?"
Faith shook her head faintly, her eyes wide as she stared past Buffy, "You don't see her?" she whispered, as tears sprang to her eyes.
Spike began to turn in a circle, searching their surroundings, and Buffy shot a glance in the direction Faith was staring. They were completely alone, which only served to confirm Buffy's fears. Grabbing her sister Slayer by the shoulders, she shook her gently, "Faith, look at me. Just look at me." She urged firmly. After a moments hesitation, Faith complied, her normally hard expression was coloured with devastation. "It's The First. It's trying to mess with you." Buffy explained calmly. "You have to stay strong... just ignore it."
Faith drew a shaky breath, "It's Yuki, Buffy..." she whimpered, "She... oh God... she's..." unable to finish her sentence, she squeezed her eyes shut tightly, as though she were trying to erase the image from her mind.
Remembering the sight of Skyla a few nights prior, Buffy could only imagine what Yuki looked like in Faith's eyes. She felt her stomach drop, as grabbed Faith by the arm, and began pulling her forward slowly, "Just keep your eyes to the ground, okay Faith? It's not real. We're gonna go back to the bookstore, and everything will be alright." Buffy assured her as she led her past the clearing.
Spike stepped in front of the two, and began to lead the way protectively, scanning the cemetery for signs of any other assailants. He relaxed visibly once they exited the gates, and were once again under the orange glow of the streetlights. Falling back, he put a reassuring hand on Faith's shoulder, "You alright then?" he asked softly.
Faith finally looked up from the ground, her gaze was steely once more, but her eyes still shone with unshed tears, and the colour had still not returned to her cheeks. She nodded, but remained silent as they continued down the street.
Buffy shot a glance behind them as they drew further away from the gates, and discovered standing there, the young Japanese girl she'd seen many times in her dreams. Her long shinning hair was matted with blood, and she looked to have been beaten within an inch of her life. She smiled, and waved to Buffy, before disappearing completely. Rage crackled inside her, they would need a game-plan, the sooner the better.
~o~
Giles' nerves were visibly frayed as he listened to Faith recall what she saw in the graveyard. He knew the reappearance of The First would be vastly troubling for their small group, he should have expected that it would attempt to weaken the strongest of the bunch first. The sweeping deaths of the other Slayers had distracted all of them, and evidently left their own Slayers as open targets for Its other plans. He looked around the room at the defeated-looking expressions of the people around him. Clearly he was not the only one feeling as though they were in over their heads
"It would seem, for the time being, that The First has it in its cards to throw the two of you off your game." he began, "I know it will be difficult, but the two of you must remain level headed until we learn more of what Travers has in store. You must keep in mind that It is not a physical entity. Though it may attack you psychologically, It can only hurt you as much as you let it."
"Easier said than done, Giles." Faith sighed. She seemed more her normal self now, however to the trained eye she was still shaken underneath the surface.
"I know Faith, but we're at a disadvantage right now, we need to do everything in our power to give ourselves more time." Giles replied.
"It's okay Giles," Buffy interjected, "We'll just have to keep patrolling in groups... It can't screw with all three of us at once. We'll just have to watch each other closely."
"Right. And if anyone sees anything strange at all, there's no keeping it to yourself." Willow agreed.
"Yes, Willow is absolutely right." Giles concurred.
Everyone fell back into silence. Lily and Olly hadn't said a word since the others had returned from their patrol, seeing the more seasoned veterans of the group so visibly shaken by this "First" character had them both worried. Willow was busy wracking her brains for a spell, a potion, anything that could possibly keep them from seeing The First as anything other than its true from, but she was coming up empty handed. She new the coming weeks would include a lot of research, and she found herself cursing the day job she normally found so cushy. Spike had begun pacing nervously, his last run-in with The First had ended his un-life. Given his recent bout as a human, then being turned back into a vampire, and then being souled again, he was really not looking forward to what this battle would have in store for him. Buffy was busy trying to convince herself she would be alright. She already knew, of course, what kind of torture she and Faith would be in for, and she was hoping she would be able to hold herself together, having to stare into the faces of the young Slayers who had both been called, and killed, because of her.
It was Faith, who finally broke the silence in the room, "It's funny," she said, "I'd been on my own for so long, I'd kinda forgotten that there was a whole army of us Slayers... that I'd fought with most of them... hell, that I'd trained half of them... just hearing about them being gone, it doesn't hit you as hard you know? And while you're waiting for your strength to fade... and this big scary goons to come and off you... it's kinda hard to mourn." she trailed off, her cheeks turning slightly pink as she was unaccustomed to talking about her feelings.
Willow smiled sympathetically, "I know, Faith, it's a lot to digest."
"She was a good kid, Yuki." Faith continued, "A little too good! She was smart, respectful, obedient to a fault... basically everything I'm not." she chuckled sadly, "It took me forever to get her to break some rules, you know? I remember when I'd take her patrolling, she'd always ask me if it was time to stake the vampire... and if I didn't tell her to, she's just keep beating the damn thing... it was kinda funny, but it made me worry, you know, like what was she gonna do when I wasn't around anymore? So this one time I wouldn't answer her... she just kept wailing on the poor guy – and she was a good fighter too – and I could see she was finally getting angry! So I just stood by, and I waited, and I didn't say a damn word... and she got fed up and just dusted it, then marched over and yelled at me for not answering her, and punched me in the arm... and I told her she did a good job... and she got it, that I was just there to help her... We were like this afterwards." she held her hand up with her index and middle finger crossed over each other, "Seeing her like that..."
"It wasn't really her." Buffy answered, "Same goes for anyone else you see, it's not really them... you just have to keep telling yourself that."
The others nodded, but Buffy frowned, she wondered how long it would take for The First to wear her down, to make her forget her own advice.
~o~
After Olly had dropped Lily off at home, he and Buffy had spent the rest of the car ride over to her place in silence. Olly was unsure of how to console her, he couldn't imagine being haunted by visions of people he'd cared about... he suddenly was very thankful that no one he loved dearly had passed away – except for Maddy's mother of course. Buffy on the other hand was finding it hard to assure Olly that everything would be alright. When they finally pulled up to the end of her driveway, they were both relieved that the awkward drive was over.
"... You sure you're gonna be okay Buffy?" Olly asked.
"Yeah," she replied with a reassuring smile, "This is my life." she added with a shrug.
"It's certainly never dull."
Silence fell between them again, and Olly looked extremely pensive, something that was fairly unusual. Buffy wondered if he was thinking of Lily, if he was wondering if she was in danger.
"You know, Olly... you really don't have to hide the fact that you and Lily are together from me."
He snapped his head around to look at her, his expression a little bewildered, "What? What are you talking about?"
Buffy stifled a giggle, "Oh, come on! Do you really think I'm that clueless? Give me some credit here!"
"I'm sorry," Olly replied sheepishly, "It's just, we didn't want to upset you, what with Angel..." he trailed off as he saw Buffy's expression fall, "I'm sorry... that was a big no-no."
"It's okay Olly, he may not come back, and I need to get used to it... which is all the more reason why you guys shouldn't be tip-toeing around." Buffy replied with a smirk.
"He will come back." Olly assured her, "Then, hey! Maybe we can double date! Wouldn't Angel just love that?"
Buffy giggled again, "Thanks Olly," she said, stepping out of the car.
"Hey, it's what I do... you bring the ass-kicking, I bring the funny."
"Be careful." Buffy said, as she rounded the car, and headed up her driveway.
"Please! This thing is built like a tank!" he said, patting the side of the car door, "Just wish it would drive like one!" and he puttered off down the road.
Shaking her head, Buffy sauntered the rest of the way up the walkway, a smirk playing on her lips. She was thankful to have Olly and Lily around, and that they hadn't been dragged down by her slaying yet. She knew their optimistic attitudes would be much needed in times to come. As she dug around in her bag, searching for her keys, a voice startled her.
"Aidez-moi... aidez-moi..." it whimpered.
Looking just ahead, at the porch steps, Buffy saw a young girl, no older than twenty, sprawled across them. She wore ripped jeans and a motorcycle-style black leather jacket, her hair was dyed black and purple, and cut short and spikey. She was bloodied and beaten, much the way Yuki had looked outside the cemetery.
Though her stomach flopped again, Buffy steeled herself and walked past the apparition, "Nice try..." she grumbled.
"Seigneur..." she gasped, "You don't remember me Buffy?" she asked in a thick french accent, "C'est moi, Anne-Sophie..."
Clutching her keys tightly in her fist, so they jabbed into her flesh, Buffy turned angrily back towards the thing sprawled across her porch, "You are not Anne-Sophie, now get the hell away from my house!" she growled.
"Tellement méchante! C'est ta faute!" The First spat, her voice changing gradually, as Anne-Sophie's skin became darker, her hair grew longer, and wove itself into a series of tiny braids. Suddenly Buffy found herself staring Naiobi in the face, "It's your fault this happened to me..." she sobbed.
Buffy spun around quickly, and jammed her keys into the lock. She flew through the door and slammed it behind her, her blood still boiling. Taking a deep breath, she attempted to compose herself.
"Oh... hi Maddy." a soft, almost zombie-like voice came from behind her.
Turning to look into the living room, she discovered her father sitting on the couch. His shoulders were slumped, and dark circles rimmed his eyes, in his hand he clutched a half-full coffee cup.
"Hey Dad..." she greeted, "A little late for coffee isn't it?"
"Hmm?" he peered into the mug in his hand, almost as though he'd forgotten it was there, "Oh, I guess you're right."
Her eyebrows knitted together, it was uncharacteristic of her father to seem so disoriented, "Are you feeling alright Dad?" she asked in concern.
"Sure." he answered simply.
"Okay... well, I'm gonna head to bed, maybe you should too." she said with a frown.
"Okay sweetie, I'll head off soon..."
Concern etched into her features, Buffy cast one last glance at Daniel Cross before she disappeared down the hallway and into her room.
As soon as he heard the click of his daughter's bedroom door closing, he looked up, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead as he discovered her standing before him again.
"Please Darling, come with me... I'm so lonely here." she whispered.
"I like my town with a little drop of poison
Nobody knows they're lining up to go insane"
- "Little Drop of Poison" by Tom Waits
~o~
The First has something dirty up its sleeve... next week all will be revealed!
