Chapter 167
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Faith led Buffy and the others to the Master's kingdom, where Jessie was likely being held as a hostage. Giles used this opportunity to learn what he could from Faith.
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Giles: Could you please explain how the Master has his own kingdom.
Faith: He's a powerful vampire.
Giles: He has to give his followers something. Something other than just destruction.
Faith: He offers vengeance, against us. He also gives them something to believe in.
Buffy: Believe in what exactly?
Faith: Beyond revenge and destruction, I'm not really sure. I guess they're just lost souls who need something to believe in.
Xander: Like you did?
Faith: Yeah. I was a traitor, a murderer, but I was never stupid enough to join a cult whose only belief is absolute destruction.
Xander: Yeah, believing in a giant snake demon trying to conquer the world, much more sane.
Faith: Between us B, how many minor demon cults did we fight? How many were just like the Order of Aurelius? I remember Angel told me about the demon who resurrected Darla. This demon had two servants in robes who followed him around, opened doors and other things for him.
Xander: Who exactly decided that a good career choice would be as flunky to a demon trying to bring about the end of days?
Faith: Like I said, just lost souls who were looking for something to make them feel a little less lost. Especially for a vampire, eternity is a long time to go without believing in something. It may sound stupid, it might make no sense. But the Master knows how to manipulate them to serve him. Some of his former followers did reject the Master, Jessie, Darla, but he also got others. People who love destruction and are willing to follow this guy. We need to be careful.