A Tale of Slayers

by Joseph B

A new Slayer is called. Giles must find out which of his Slayers has died. Faith or Buffy?

2. Part 9 to Part 14

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Nine

CHAPTER NINE

As Xander and Angel started back to Giles' office, Xander noticed the message light blinking on the answering machine. He took a closer look at it.

"Uh, Giles," he said. "You got, like, about twenty messages here."

"Oh?" Giles, who had just finished putting everything away, stepped out of the office behind the counter. "It must be the Council." He saw the question on Xander's face. "Well, when they told me about the new Slayer being called--"

"The conversation was pretty much over for you, huh?" The Watcher nodded a bit sheepishly. "You hung up on them. You the man, Giles. Not afraid to let the bosses know who's more important."

"I appreciate your approval of my rebelliousness, but it does reflect rather poorly in the eyes of the Council."

"Uh-huh," the teenager nodded gravely. "But until I see any of the Tweed of the Round Table down here giving us a hand in the battle with the dark side, a Watcher's gotta do what a Watcher's gotta do."

Giles narrowed his eyebrows, not sure whether to be offended or thank the young man. "Yes. Well, we do need to begin our research. I'll check in with the Council. They must be informed of what happened to the new Slayer. Angel, you should be all right if you stay close to my office and out of the direct light. But in a couple of hours you may want to retreat to the basement."

"Thanks, I'll be fine, Giles," the vampire assured him.

"Very well. Xander go grab the volumes of Dramius, he does have writings about the Order of Taraka. Bring a few for Angel. Maybe this isn't the first time Faith's demon has dealt with them."

Xander crossed the library to retrieve the books and Giles stepped into his office closing the door. He lifted the phone and dialed a very long distant number. It only rang once when a woman's voice answered.

"Hello, how may I help you?"

"This is Rupert Giles, uh," he thought for just a second. "The code word is `giraffe.' G-I-R--"

"Yes, Mr. Giles," the woman interrupted. "Mr. Travers has been expecting your call."

"Quentin Travers?"

"One moment, sir, while I transfer your call."

The line was reconnected before Giles could say anything. It began ringing, but after the third ring was picked up.

"Rupert Giles?" the gruff voice asked.

"Yes, sir. I apologize it took so long in reporting in, but I had to see to the well being of my Slayer."

"Mr. Giles," Travers said sternly. "Your Slayer is dead. Or, at least, one of them is. A terrible lost to be sure."

He was taken aback by the callousness of the older man's words. Giles wondered, briefly, if he had ever sounded like that when he had first met Buffy. He dearly hoped not. Giles said, "I don't mean to disappoint you, Mr. Travers, but I assure you both of my Slayers are alive and in reasonably good health."

"That cannot be possible," Travers insisted.

"No, there is no mistake. They are both with me now."

"Mr. Giles, we have confirmed that the next Slayer has been activated."

"Yes, sir, of course. Actually, it would be most helpful if you can provide me with as much information as you can about this new Slayer?"

"I'm sure you are aware that knowledge of the Slayer is on a need to know basis?"

"Yes, I do indeed." Giles was starting to feel a little impatient. "However, I think you'll agree with me when I tell you that this is an extraordinary situation."

"How so?"

"Because, she is here in Sunnydale, right now. And she has been turned into a vampire."

"That cannot be possible."

"I'm afraid it is, Mr. Travers," Giles continued sternly. "Now, please. The Slayers are going to have to face this creature and she's a Slayer and vampire combined. She is stronger and faster than either of them, and she withstood a stake to the heart. Tell me what I need to know, sir."

Willow and Faith had discovered no new injuries as they helped Buffy shower. Now she was sitting on a bench in the girl's locker room, hovering just between sleep and consciousness, while Willow tended to her. She had helped Buffy get dressed into some gray cargo pants and a dark blue sleeveless top. Willow had the top pulled up over the Slayer's midriff as she applied a fresh bandage to her stitches. She was back in the same clothes she arrived in, although her hair was still wet.

Not far from them, Faith had finished slipping into a pair of one of Buffy's baggier sweat pants, which fit her a little snugly. She also put on a pair of tennis shoes she happened to `find' in one of the lockers. "B's clothes fit a little tight," she commented, pulling on a white tank top. "Good thing she has a bigger butt or these wouldn't even fit."

Buffy stirred slightly, her eyes opening halfway. "Hey, did she just say something I need to kick her ass for?"

"Uh, no," Willow said, giving the brunette a stern look. Faith smiled back with a tilt of her head. "She said you both wear the same size."

Faith rolled her eyes and was about to put on a sweat shirt jacket when Willow noticed something. "Faith, when did you get that tattoo?"

"What do you mean?" She turned to show her right arm displaying her barbed wire tattoo. "I've had this one for a long time."

"I know about that one. I mean *that* one."

Faith saw where the redhead was pointing and looked at her left arm. And her blood ran cold. "Son of a bitch!" she shouted. Then she hurled her left fist into the door of the nearest locker and effectively caved it in.

The crash almost made Willow jump out of her skin. Even Buffy jumped, then held a hand to her head. "Oww!" she whined.

"Faith, what's wrong?" she tried to call out, but the Slayer was already running full steam out of the locker room.

Xander brought a few more books over to the counter, where Angel, on the other side, was still scanning through one of the Dramius volumes. Giles was in his office still on the phone talking to the Watcher's Council, he supposed. He idly wondered who those guys really were. A secret society of a bunch of British, tweed-wearing men and women who were fated with the training and guiding of the world's Slayers. Why is it that the good guys are always out-numbered, he thought. He looked at Angel. But, then again, the home team does have its share of unusual players also.

"So, you guys are pretty sure that this new vampire is the next Slayer?" he asked.

"That's what it sounds like. I haven't seen it myself, but it is very powerful." The vampire only glanced up before turning the page. "There're not many demons that can overmatch Buffy like that."

Angel sounded worried. But then, Xander could not remember a time when the vampire didn't sound worried when it concerned a certain blonde Slayer. He opened his book but didn't look in it. "Faith seems to be a very good Slayer."

"She definitely knows how to fight," Angel commented.

"But I doubt we'll be able to stop this thing without Buffy."

Angel looked at Giles through the glass door to his office. "I'm sure Giles is getting more information from this `Watcher's Council' on this new Slayer. Hopefully there'll be something useful we can use against her."

"Yeah. He's really thrown himself into research mode with a vengeance. He's become Super Watcher. But he's not looking too good. He still looks better than Buffy, though."

"He's had a rough night. Several hours ago he was told one of his Slayers was dead. He finds her alive but then his other Slayer is nearly killed. And now we're faced with a demon more powerful than both Slayers. Not to mention its master--"

Xander raised his hands. "Okay! Okay! I get the picture. You don't have to be so dramatic! Sheesh."

"Sorry. Must be my honed brooding skills." The teen gave him an exasperated look, not sure whether it was for the vampire's off-handishness or the fact he tried to make a joke. "I'm just saying: it's a lot for one person, even one as reserved as Giles, to deal with in such a short time."

Genuine concern filled Xander's voice. "I don't think he's ever seen Buffy like this. She's been roughhoused before, but this one was particularly brutal. I was there when Buffy and Faith went at it that time she tried to kill you."

"But they weren't trying to kill each other."

"So this is what happens when two Slayers go at it in a no-holds-barred-winner-take-the-title fight?"

"It's going to be even worse, next time."

"But next time, we'll be there to help her."

"That's right--" Angel trailed off. He was looking at Xander's book. "What's that?"

"What?" Angel pointed to the open page. "Whoa. How do vampires say `cha-ching!' Here's our demon."

"We can't be sure until Faith can confirm this."

Xander started reading. At least the passages that were in English. "Well look. It says something about a faceless demon or a demon with no distinguishable features."

Angel turned the book so they could both see it. "`The ability to control its minions.' Faith did say the demon had some kind of control over the Slayer Vampire. We may have a match. We need to tell Giles."

* * *

"Mr. Giles, when this unfortunate business is settled please give me another call with your full report," Quentin Travers said.

"Of course," Giles replied. "This is a rather unprecedented scenario. And I do appreciate all the information, sir."

"Tell me, Mr. Giles. I understand it will be Miss Summers' birthday very soon. Her 18th birthday, I believe."

Surprised by the sudden change of subject, Giles answered, "Uh, yes, sir. It will indeed."

"Good," Travers said. "We'll have much to discuss when you call. Good luck, Mr. Giles."

Before he could say anything, the line was disconnected. Giles frowned at the phone for just a moment before hanging it up. Whatever it was, he was sure it could wait til later. He slid his glasses back on, which he hadn't been aware he had removed during the phone call, and stepped out of his office. Angel and Xander were looking at him expectantly.

"Received some rather interesting news from the Council. It appears--"

He was cut off when the swinging doors of the library burst open with a very amissed Slayer charging into the room.

"Giles! We got trouble!" Faith's expression silenced the three men at the counter and she marched right up to it and slammed her left elbow on top.

"Faith?" Giles said, uncertainly.

"This is how that bastard was able to stop my heart!" They all leaned in to examine the weird tattoo design on her upperarm. "I saw the same tat on the Slayer vamp. When it tried to bite me the demon did something and its tattoo flared up and burned it."

"The tattoo?" he asked. Faith nodded.

"That would concur with what we found," Angel said.

Xander slid the book across to Faith. "Does this guy look familiar to you, Faith?"

The brunette looked at the open page and her eyes widened. "Son of a bitch! Who is this guy?" she demanded.

"My Latin is a little rusty--"

"The Faceless One," Angel supplied.

"The Faceless One?" Giles said. "Let me see that." He read over the page quickly, then, in a whisper, said, "Oh dear."

Xander and Faith said, in unison, "I hate when you say that." They exchanged a knowing look.

"If I'm right, we may be in more trouble than I thought." The Watcher quickly disappeared back into his office.

Waiting, Xander leaned over the counter and saw Giles picking up books and flipping through pages.

"Well? Giles, what gives?"

"Ah," Giles said, and emerged with another book. "Here we are." He set the book on the counter and the other three tried to see what he was looking at. But then he raised his eyes to address them in a somber voice. "The, uh, Faceless One is Oranstine."

"Oran?" Angel asked.

"The demon you guys let go, last night?" asked Faith.

"Are you sure?" Angel again.

Giles glanced down at the book again. "If this information is accurate, and I believe it is, the Two-Faced Demon is also know as `He Without a Face' or the `Faceless One."

Xander spoke up. "Then why is it called the Two-Faced Demon if he doesn't have a face?"

"Oran is a shapeshifter," Angel said.

"So he can appear as anyone or anything?" Faith asked.

"But the Watchers were not aware of its shapechanging abilities, at least, not that my research had uncovered," Giles said.

"So, I take it," Xander said, "the faceless thing is his true form."

"It would appear so." The Watcher looked at Angel. "Angel?"

"I've never seen Oran in her true form. But why would Oran send us to her hideout?"

"Her?" Faith asked.

"The Oranstine we met last night was a woman," Giles told her.

"Oh." Faith gave the vampire a meaningful look.

"Faith," Giles chided.

The Slayer looked at him innocently. "What? I didn't say anything."

Giles went on. "But that is a valid point. Why would the demon lead us to--" He trailed off as something occurred to him. He removed his glasses. "Unless--"

"To lure us into a trap," Angel finished.

"That creature did almost kill Buffy," Xander said. "And Angel got into a rumble with a few of his brethren."

"But that was a pretty lame-ass ambush, if you ask me," Faith offered. "True, the Slayer vamp is one tough cookie; and this Oran did mention she wasn't up to her full strength yet, but still. Why didn't they gang-bang in force."

"Maybe they didn't have the numbers needed for a coordinated attack," Giles said.

"I doubt that, Giles," Faith said. "On my way out, I got in two confirmed kills, but there were at least ten more of them. And that's not counting our fanged girl and Angel's friend."

"And I happened upon the three I met while they were hunting. They weren't expecting me."

"And the creature did say its master didn't want her facing Buffy." Giles was worrying one of the tips of his glasses against his lip as he thought. "I don't think the objective was to kill us."

"Then what was the objective?" Xander asked.

"I wish I knew."

They were all silent, in pondering thought. Giles focused on Angel when the vampire tensed just slightly. When he saw his eyes, Giles knew he had just thought of something he did not like. "Angel?"

Angel looked at him as if debating on whether or not to tell them. He looked at the others one by one, unsure.

"What is it?" Giles prompted.

"We were all separated," he finally said. "Alone."

"What does that--" Giles trailed off as understanding swept through him.

Xander got it too. "And Oran is a shapeshifter." He looked over the people he was with. "Why do I suddenly feel that one of us isn't really here?"

End of Part Nine

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Ten

CHAPTER TEN

"Wait a minute," Faith was the first to speak up. "You're saying one of us could be Oranstine?"

"I'm willing to bet that Xander and Willow are who they're supposed to be, since they weren't even there," Angel said.

"I'll agree with that," Giles said. "But really, I doubt Oranstine replaced anyone of us. The chances are just too slim."

"But then if you are Oranstine," Xander pointed out, "wouldn't you want to draw away suspicion?"

"Xan-man does have a point there," Faith said.

"But then again, last night the Council said you were dead." Faith gave him a hard look. "Who's to say the real Faith really isn't dead and you're that Oran-demon posing as her?"

"You want to know who?" she said, angrily. "I'm to say!"

He raised his hands in defense. "I'm just playing devil's advocate here. Since I'm the only true safe member in this party."

"I knew I shouldn't have brought it up," commented Angel.

"Don't get me started with you, Dead Boy." He saw the look the vampire gave him. "Okay, he's Angel." He looked at Giles. "And you are definitely the G-man. How could any demon know any of the titles of the books in this library?"

"Xander, we really don't have time to waste with this--"

The teenager cut Giles off. "I'm just saying we should at least be sure we don't have an impostor here. If we don't, we're all going to have that nagging question, what if. Besides, it seems everybody here is the right person. So, I guess there is no problem--"

He stopped as realization hit them all at the same time.

"Buffy!"

"No. It's not Buffy," Angel insisted.

"How can you be sure?" Xander asked.

"I saw Buffy fighting the Slayer Vampire," Faith said. "It can't be her."

"It would certainly be a good way to convince us that it isn't her," Xander retorted. "And she really didn't talk much, did she?

"She wasn't in any condition to talk much," Giles insisted.

"Exactly!"

"That's pretty thin," Angel said.

"I'll give you that," Xander amended, "but right now, Willow is alone with her. And I hope to hell that I'm wrong." He pushed off from the counter and headed for the doors.

Faith fell into step with him. "Hey, wait up. If Buffy really is the demon, you're sure not gonna be able to do anything about it."

Before they reached the doors, however, they swung open as Willow walked in assisting a still groggy Buffy.

"Willow!" Xander hurried to her side. "Are you okay?"

She gave him a confused look. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Oh," he stammered, aware that if Buffy was Oranstine in disguise it would not do to tip their hand. "It's just that you guys were gone so long. We started to worry."

"Here, let me help you." Faith took Buffy's free arm over her shoulders and eased the blonde Slayer from the redhead. Xander casually put an arm around Willow's shoulders and tried not to look hurried as he led her away.

"Buffy," Faith said. "How do you feel?"

"Oh," Buffy responded. "Need to lie down."

"Sure. Let's go back to Giles' office. Hey, you remember the first time we met?"

Buffy lifted her head a little to look at the brunette with half closed eyes. "Yeah."

"What was I doing?"

"Huh?"

Faith smiled. "C'mon. Tell me."

Confused, Buffy said, "You were slaying a vampire."

"No, I meant before that."

It seemed that Buffy was having a hard time thinking, but after a few seconds she said, "You were dancing *with* the vampire you slayed."

"Yeah," Faith said, with a genuine smile this time. "That was pretty cool, suckering in that vamp like that, huh?"

"Uh, sure," Buffy said. Then added, "I never thought to dance with a vampire first before staking him. Sounds like fun."

"Well," Giles said, as Faith led Buffy into his office. "I think everyone can rest easier knowing we're all who we're supposed to be."

"So you thought that Buffy might have been the demon?" Willow exclaimed after Xander had quickly filled her in. "That's a relief that she's not. I don't like the idea of a demon seeing me naked." Everyone was looking at her again. "Oh, uh, forget I said that last part."

"But that still leaves the question open: why did Oran lead us down there?" Angel said.

"Maybe to throw us off," Xander said, as he and Willow approached the counter. "Maybe their hideout isn't really there?"

"It has to be," Faith said, emerging from the office. "I escaped through an underwater river and was washed up on the beach. They're there."

"She might have just been trying to avoid a fight with Buffy," Angel suggested. "Oran may have thought I would have smelled a lie, so she told us something that was true. But then the Slayer Vampire took it upon itself to challenge her instead."

"That's all nice and everything, but we still have a problem right here." She indicated the new tattoo on her arm.

"I think it's safe to say that you're safe from Oranstine's control for the moment," Giles said. "It seems the demon cannot control its minions over long distances. You haven't been hearing any voices or had any strong impulses urging you to do things you normally would not do?"

"Voices? In my head? Like if I were crazy?"

"No. As if you were being spoken to telepathically?"

"No. Nothing. My head's complete silent." She shot a quick look at Xander when the teen opened his mouth. He closed it without saying anything. She turned back to Giles. "But what if it's on its way over here right now? Maybe it can use it as a homing beacon."

"There's a scary thought," Xander did said.

"I'm sure there's a spell we can use to block out the power of the tattoo," Willow suggested. "We just need to find it."

"Then we best start looking." Giles turned to Faith. "We'll handle the research on the spell and Oranstine, you try to get some rest. You and Buffy are certainly going to need it."

"Cool. At least I know I can do that with no problem." The younger Slayer retreated back to the office and grabbed a spare blanket, spreading it on the floor close to where Buffy was on the sofa. She bundled the sweat shirt jacket to use as a pillow.

* * * *

When Buffy opened her eyes, her cheek was pressed against something soft, and it felt very comfortable. Closing her eyes again, she stretched her body, releasing a sleepy sigh, and snuggled against the comfortable surface made warm from the heat of her cheek. Then she heard something that brought her out of her haze. A "thump-pump" sound that she instantly recognized as a heart beat. Just one and another did not follow. A long moment of silence.

She opened her eyes again and saw that her pillow was Angel. Her head was resting on his chest, the lapel of his coat brushed to the side so that her cheek had been laying against the cotton of his shirt, a flimsy barrier over his cool skin. His eyes were closed and his face was peaceful. Vampires did not breath in the same sense that humans did, but they still passed air in and out of their lungs, not to oxygenate them, just an involuntary "alive" habit they never could get rid of. Especially when they needed air to talk. And even though they were also considered dead, and you usually wouldn't find a pulse with a cursory examination, their hearts still beat. At an extremely slower rate. They still needed a way to push the blood they so craved through their veins.

Buffy let herself just lay there staring into his sleeping face. She realized she was smiling. Suddenly, she just wanted to stay like this forever. A moment she wanted to freeze and bask in all its glory. But she knew she couldn't. In fact, she should get up now.

She took in her surroundings. She was in Giles' office again. The blinds to the window looking into the library had been drawn shut and there was a very bright outline of sun around the cardboard covering the high window looking outside. She guessed it must be close to noon for it to be so bright. Probably what finally drove Angel from the library. He must've been burning the mid-day oil, she thought.

"See what happens when you stay up past your bedtime," she whispered. For his part, he just sighed slightly. She knew only direct sunlight could burn a vampire but being in close proximity to so much of it can really drain them. It was no wonder that Angel was sleeping like the dead. Pun and all.

She didn't remember him retreating into the office, but she could recall waking up briefly to find him with his back against the sofa as he slept. She stayed awake just long enough to slide off and snuggle up to him on the floor. And they were alone. How long had they been here by themselves, she wondered, and had Xander commented on this? More than likely, yeah.

Xander? Willow was here, too. All her memories were a little fuzzy. Her last clear thoughts were of getting thrashed by that Slayer creature. What had Faith called it? Slayer Vampire? She also had faint recollection of Willow and Faith helping her take a shower. Looking back on that, that felt very weird. She was glad she couldn't remember most of it.

Before she let her head fall back against Angel's chest, Buffy let out a breath of resignation, and started to get up. The instant she began to rise, every part of her body screamed at her in pain. She opened her mouth but stopped whatever was coming out, so as not to disturb her vampire, and slowly let a long, silent breath out.

"Oww," she mouthed, when the pain faded.

Prepared for the pain this time, she pushed herself up again and managed to get to her feet. Clenching her teeth the whole time. She ran her hands through her hair brushing it out of her face. Spying her jacket and leather boots, she found that they were lost causes, until they were free of all the sand they'd collected. She slipped her feet into a pair of white sneakers, she kept stashed here, and pulled her brown leather jacket out of the cabinet. Giles had commented once how she had more clothes here than he did, considering that he spent far more time in the library than she did.

She stepped out of the office quietly and entered the library, closing the door softly behind her. She was instantly aware of a strong planty aroma in the air. It smelled like sage, mixed with something equally strong. Giles, Faith, and Willow were gathered around the center table, the surface cluttered with, what Buffy guessed was, spell casting materials. Xander was on the mezzanine overlooking the table, leaning on the railing, the book in his hands forgotten as he watched. There was a thin smoky haze coming from a small ceramic bowl, which was the focus of their attention.

"You want me to spit in that?" Faith asked Willow, making a disgusted face.

"Well, we need something to bind the spell to you specifically," the redhead answered, sheepishly. "And I figured this would be the easiest way."

"What other ways are there?"

Willow hesitated. "Uh, well, you can add a drop of your blood, a piece of finger nail, or toe nail, or you can. . ." She nodded her head trying to make the Slayer understand. "You know. . ."

Faith's eyebrows shot up as she realized what she was talking about. She immediately hocked back, making Buffy wince, and spat into the bowl, scattering the white smoke. A second later there was a small poof of darker blue smoke and the trio took a cautious step back as it spread into a small cloud.

"I can't leave you guys alone for a minute without you trying to blow things up," Buffy finally said.

Giles lowered the book he was using to dissipate the cloud and looked at her. "How do you feel?" he asked stepping over to her.

"I feel good," she said. She saw the look he gave her. "Hey, at least I was able to say it with a straight face."

"Still." He laid an arm around her shoulders and started to guide her toward the table. "You should try to move around as little as possible. Come sit down."

That was when a steady billow of reddish smoke began to rise from the bowl on the table. This time, even Faith looked a little worried.

"Or maybe not," Buffy said. Giles led her over to the carpeted steps to the upper level of the library. She lowered herself down and stopped with a moan. She quickly looked at her Watcher's concerned face. "It's nothing. Just a little sore." To prove her point, she sat the rest of the way down without a sound, though her teeth were clenched behind the smile she was showing him.

Xander came around the railing and sat down next to her. "Man, Buff, you really gave us a scare."

"Well, you know me. Have to be the center of attention all the time." She tilted her chin; which she found was one of the few movements she could make without pain, toward Willow's cloud making. "So what's going on?"

"The demon that had Faith prisoner branded her with its mark, so it would be able to control her."

"Control her?"

"It doesn't seem to be direct control," Giles explained. "At least, not yet. It's more obedience by punishment. The demon can inflict pain through its symbol, a tattoo. As well as control its subject's body functions. Such as her heart."

"So it did kill Faith."

"Temporarily, it would seem."

"But Willow's working on a spell that will protect her from the demon's influence," Xander said.

"Sounds like you guys have been doing a lot during my hiatus. How long was I out?"

"Nearly six hours," Giles said with a glance at his watch.

"So what do we know about this demon?"

"You guys already met," Xander told her. She frowned at him.

"It's Oranstine, Buffy," Giles supplied.

"Angel's friend." She seethed silently for a moment. "Looks like she and the Order of Taraka kissed and had bygones."

"It would appear so," Giles said. "Or they may not know who Oranstine really is. After all, as far as they are concerned, they already killed her."

"I knew we shouldn't have let her go."

"We couldn't have known, Buffy. Not even Angel suspected her."

"A demon's a demon. Even one who says it doesn't take pleasure in torturing humans." She looked at her Watcher as something occurred to her. "But then capturing Faith was only a way for it to create this Slayer Vampire. Some sort of demon alchemist?"

Giles nodded with approval. "That follows. And I suspect that Oranstine's goal was to create more."

"Which would explain why she stopped the creature from killing Faith," Xander chipped in.

"Until Oran could kill Faith again. Bring her back. Then kill her again." Worry showed on Buffy's face. "Giles, how is this possible?"

"I'm not entirely sure."

"But that's not going to stop you from a long-winded theory, is it?" she teased him.

He smiled at that. He glanced at the table and saw that the bowl was no longer spouting rainbow smoke. "I think it's safe to join the others. You should all hear this." Buffy made a move to pull herself up, and inhaled sharply with pain. "Perhaps we should stay here?" Buffy nodded and relaxed again.

"Willow," Giles said. "Is everything ready?"

"Just about," the young girl replied. She was using a small wooden spoon to scoop the grounded contents from the bowl into a small leather pouch. When she was finished she pulled the thin leather string closing the pouch tight. She knotted a longer leather strap around it. She offered it to Faith. "You'll have to wear it at all times."

The Slayer accepted the pouch and looked it over. "You sure this is going to work?"

"Let's hope so. It's the best chance we've got to counter the demon's spell. If what you say is true, then this demon is very strong."

Faith seemed to consider this, then shrugged and slipped the leather strap over her head. She pulled her hair out from under the strap and let the pouch rest against her chest.

"Everyone," Giles called for attention. "I did gather some information on this. . . Slayer Vampire, you called it?" He looked at Faith. The brunette nodded. "The Council informed me that when they discovered that the next Slayer had been activated, they tried to contact her Watcher. They were unable to reach him. That was when they called me, because they assumed that one of you must have died in order for this Slayer to be called. Shortly after that, they sent someone to investigate why there was no answer."

Faith was sitting on the table, her legs crossed, and Willow had turned a chair around to face the Watcher, as he continued. "The new Slayer and her Watcher were missing. There were no signs of a struggle."

"Because they had been taken a while ago, right?" Faith spoke up. "I mean the new girl was already here before last night, I'm thinking."

"Yes, it does make sense. A great deal of planning went into your abduction . Though I assume they were planning on taking Buffy as well."

"I guess I was `moe,'" she said. Giles frowned at her.

"Like in `eenie meenie,'" Willow explained.

"Ah. The young girl's name is Noriko Amano. She came to America with her grandfather, from Japan, when she was four years old. When she was seven years old, her grandfather passed away and she was sent to an orphanage. At this time, the Watchers were already aware of her status as a potential Slayer. To better look after her, a Watcher, one Matthew Wallace, was assigned to her. He was positioned as a social worker and watched over her for the next few years.

"Wallace felt that he would inform Noriko of her status as a Slayer Candidate when she entered her teens, but there was an incident when she was eleven that determined that for him." Giles took a breath. "She was in the care of her foster parents at the time, when a vampire attacked them one night as they were returning home. Fortunately, Wallace had been keeping an eye on her. There had been a rash of mysterious killings which he suspected to be vampiric, putting him on alert. He could not stop the vampire from killing the foster parents, and what actually saved young Noriko was that she ran while the creature was still feeding. This gave Wallace the opportunity to sneak up on it and dispatch it before she was harmed."

Giles paused for a respectful moment. Buffy was staring at the floor in deep thought. He looked at Faith and she met his gaze steadily.

"Wallace revealed everything to her after that. Since then, she has been training as a Slayer."

"How old was she?" Willow asked, after a moment. "Or is, now?"

"She's sixteen."

"Which means she's been training for about six years," Xander added.

"So she's like really good?" Faith said.

"I was told she exhibited extraordinary talent."

"And with her vampire and slayer strengths, she must be mistress of kung-fu now," Xander said.

"But she doesn't have your experience, Buffy, Faith. This is not a no-win situation. Together I'm sure you can--"

"Giles, I staked her right through the heart and it only slowed her down. Is this what happens when a Slayer is turned into a vampire?"

"There are no chronicled cases of a Slayer ever being turned by a vampire, Buffy."

"But that doesn't mean it hasn't happened."

Giles didn't answer. He removed his glasses, not meeting her eyes. "I'll broaden my research of the Watchers' Diaries. Look for any entries or theories on Slayer Vampires. Maybe there's something there."

"And the rest of us?" asked Willow.

"Continue gathering information on Oranstine. We don't know how the demon's power is effecting this Slayer Vampire's own abilities."

"Would it make a difference if the girl was turned into a vampire before she was activated?" Faith asked.

"You mentioned that before," Buffy said.

"Yeah. After they brought me back when I `died,' she was already a vampire."

Resting the tip of his glasses against his bottom lip, thoughtfully, Giles said, "Interesting. But I suppose it makes sense." He noticed the looks that everyone was giving him. "In, uh, a morbid manner. If Noriko was activated before she was turned, her death to rise again as a vampire would activate the next Slayer, after her."

"I get it!" Willow spoke up. "It would be easier for the demon to kidnap the girls without their Slayer powers."

"Precisely. As well as to avoid having to contend with even more Slayers who would try to stop her."

"That's an even scarier thought," Xander said.

"Giles," Buffy said. "You said the Council did not know who would be the next Slayer until she's activated. So how did Oran know Noriko was going to be called next? There's no way she's that good a guesser."

"I wish I knew. We must find out more about Oranstine's powers. Perhaps she was able to influence whatever forces that are behind the choosing of the Slayers."

"Okay, we have a winner for scariest concept," Xander announced. "So what is our next move gonna be?"

"We still have to take these guys out," Faith put in.

"Yes," the Watcher agreed. "They must be stopped."

"But going up against two Slayers should present a challenge, despite the fact they outnumber us," Willow said. "What if they decide to leave?"

"All the evidence would suggest that Oranstine is attempting to build an army, or, at least, a formidable force of these Slayer hybrids. With Faith's escape, that is no longer possible. They require a Slayer. I doubt they'll leave empty-handed."

"So she'll still have the Order of Taraka on the payroll," Xander commented, with a shudder, obviously reminiscing about his own up-close experience with a certain man-of-bugs.

"And she'll be looking for more potential Slayers around the world." Buffy looked up at her Watcher. "Giles, what if Oranstine has the same method of locating Slayer Candidates as the Watcher's Council?"

"Another alarming possibility. But the Council assured me they will be taking steps to tighten security for these young girls. And with Oranstine still in Sunnydale, it's safe to assume they are not in any immediate danger."

"The only way to make sure she doesn't get her shapeshifting hands on anymore is to make sure she never leaves Sunnydale," Faith declared.

"Here, here," Buffy concurred. "But we still need to devise some kind of attack plan of our own. I don't really relish the idea of waiting for them to make the next move against us. Do we know for sure that Oranstine is a day walker?"

"Angel confirmed as much," Giles said. "And then, of course, the Order of Taraka are free to roam the day as well."

"Well, I think me and Faith were able to thin their ranks a little, last night."

"But there will always be more, Buffy. Kill one, and another will follow, and another and--"

"Giles," Buffy raised her hands. "I know. I was there for the flashback, remember? But they seemed to have gotten over that `working alone' part. It looks like they're working in small groups now. Those two guys that had Faith's room staked out. For all we know they may be watching the school right now."

Buffy fell silent for a moment. Then her eyes widened with a frightening realization. Willow saw her friend's expression. "Your mom, Buffy!"

"I need to go home!" She grabbed the rail and pulled herself up. Halfway up, she groaned and almost fell back. Xander was there and steadied her on her feet. Giles stepped close to help.

"Buffy, you must remain calm."

"Giles, my mom's all alone, right now. The Taraka guys aren't vampires, they can go in at anytime. I need to make sure she's safe, before they decide they can use her to get to me."

Giles knew her determination very well. "But not alone, you won't," her Watcher declared.

End of Part Ten

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"So what's the plan?" Xander asked as he turned the Citroen onto Revello Drive.

"We just walk in there and say `hi' to my mom and see what happens," Buffy replied staring out ahead toward her house as they approached. Her eyes were alive with contained violence. Xander could only recall seeing that look on only a few occasions, and each time spelling trouble for any demon in the area.

"Do you see anything?" he asked.

"No. Still looks as empty as ever."

They were referring to the house next door that was still without a resident ever since the body of Mrs. Kalish, the previous owner, had been found. Or what had been left of it. Even after over a year, no one wanted to live there. The irony was not lost on Xander, that the demon that had killed her was the man-of-bugs from the Order of Taraka that had nearly gotten him and Cordelia when they had come here looking for Buffy. Now it was likely that more Taraka creeps were holed up there staking out the Summers residence again.

Pain flashed briefly through his heart at the thought of Cordelia. It was funny how you never realized what you had, something right in front of you, until it is taken away. But he couldn't let himself think about that right now. It had been over a month since they had broken up and he wasn't going to kid himself anymore that the chances of him and Cordy getting back together were well acquainted with none.

He forced himself to focus on their current problem, right now.

He parked the car along the curb in front of her house. Xander got out first and hurried to the passenger side, just as Buffy was swinging her legs out of the car. She was still moving slowly, but her mobility was steadily returning. But he could tell that the pain was not bothering her as much as it had been. Adrenaline and a loved one in danger could help you forget. She let him have her arm as he helped her out of the car and escorted her up the walkway to the porch.

Buffy brought her free hand to her head and rubbed her temple with her fingers, as if fighting a headache, but she was looking at the other house from the corner of her eyes. Xander kept his eyes pointed toward the Summers house.

"See anything?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said. "Something moved in the side window."

"Make out what it was?"

"I'll take a wild guess and say `something evil.'"

"Safe bet. Any idea how many?"

"Just saw one."

"But they're on a seek and capture mission, this time. I think even they know it'll take more than one to take a Slayer alive."

"Not if they see me like this."

They made it up the steps to the porch without incident, though he doubted even the Order of Taraka would try to jump them in the front lawn in plain daylight. Then he quickly rescinded that, remembering the assassin chick posing as a cop during career week who tried to gun Buffy down during school hours. Buffy unlocked the door and they entered, locking it again behind them.

"Buffy?" they heard a voice coming from deep in the house.

"Mom," Buffy called.

Joyce Summers came from the kitchen. "Buffy, where have you been? I knew you were going to be out all n--" She was stopped by the shock that went through her as she entered the foyer from the dining room and saw her daughter.

"Mom--," Buffy said, trying to stay a panic attack from her mother. It didn't work.

"My, God, Buffy! Are you okay?" She hurried to her girl and put a hand on her cheek, gaping at the bruises on her face, the cut above her right brow. If this was how she reacted when Buffy looked like this, Xander figured she would have really wigged if she had seen how she looked this morning.

When she had first found out about her daughter being the Slayer, Mrs. Summers had taken the news not very well at all. In fact, she had accepted it not without a lot of stress and misery. And matters had not been helped when Buffy had ran away the following day, not to be heard from for months, until she had returned after the summer ended. Xander had once joked with Willow that Buffy must have come back because she didn't want to miss the new "Must See TV" line-up. Needless to say, his best friend had not found it funny. Neither had Xander.

"Mom, I'm okay. But right now I need--"

"Buffy, what happened to you?" Joyce demanded. "Was it a monster? Oh, of course it was! Did it almost kill you?"

"No, Mom, I'm fine, I swear!" Buffy put her hands on her mother's arms, trying to calm her down. "I just had a rough night at the office. But Faith was there and she helped me out."

"Is Faith all right?" she asked.

"Yeah, she's fine."

"Does she look as bad as you do?"

"Well," Buffy stumbled over the words. "Last night wasn't exactly, uh, a picnic for her either. She had to handle a lot of stuff, also, uh, too. And she looked really--" Buffy saw the expression on her mother's face. "--tired?" Joyce's gaze became a glare. "Really, she had these bloodshot eyes, they looked totally gross." She glanced at Xander.

"It was very scary," he chipped in. "Frightening."

"Buffy," she said, sternly.

"Mom," the Slayer let her shoulders sag. "You know what I do can get dangerous. I know you worry and--"

Joyce raised a hand to stop her. She let out a breath. "I know. You're a Slayer and there are job hazards that I must accept. I understand this, but that does not mean I am ever going to hate your job any less." It seemed as if tears were about to fill her eyes as she looked at her daughter. "It's just seeing you like this is a cruel bucket of cold water." She shook her head, then wrapped her arms around Buffy.

Xander was in position to see the look of pain that filled Buffy's face as her mother held her tightly, but she managed to keep from making any sounds that would alarm her. When Joyce finally pulled away, Buffy was wearing a forced smile that somehow looked sincere.

"See? I'm fine," she told her mother.

But Joyce's attention was else where. "What's this," she asked, in an alarmed voice. She placed a hand on Buffy's side, over her stitches, and this time she was unable to stop a sharp gasp of pain from escaping. "My, God. That's it. Buffy, you are going to your room and you are getting into bed. And you are going to tell me everything that happened!"

"Believe me, Mom, there is nothing in the world I want to do more than that, but. . . You know the work I mentioned? It followed me home, this time. Actually, it was already here. Next door, in fact."

"What?" her mother asked. She took a moment letting it sink in. "You mean there are monsters in that house right now?"

Buffy nodded. "And now that I'm home, they'll be coming over here."

"Why? Are they trying to kill you?" she demanded.

"No. They're after me and Faith. They're trying to capture us. I don't have time to explain. I need you to go with Xander upstairs. Get some of your things together. We're getting you out of here."

"What?" Joyce looked her daughter up and down. "You expect to be able to fight them like this? Alone?"

"I'm still good for a few more rounds." When it looked like her mother was going to argue more, she quickly added. "You're just going to have to trust me, Mom. Please. You may hate my job, but I know how to do it."

Maybe it was the look in Buffy's eyes, Xander thought, but Joyce gave up any other objections and nodded. She put a hand on her daughter's cheek again. "Be careful."

"I will."

Joyce headed up the stairs and Xander moved to follow. Buffy grabbed his arm and he looked into her worried eyes. "Take care of her, Xander."

Her friend put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I won't let you down, Buff." She gave him a smile and he disappeared upstairs.

Buffy turned and looked at the house around her, the silence descending like a cloak. "Okay. I'm waiting."

* *

Anyone looking into the backyard of the Summers house would have seen what looked like a man, eyes hidden behind sunglasses, sneaking stealthily to the backdoor. He was about six feet tall, clean cut brown hair, a couple of days worth of facial hair, and wearing a long dark trench coat. Despite his heavy work boots, they only made faint thuds as he stepped to the porch and stood in front of the door. He brought his hands to the doorknob and, a few seconds later, opened the door with the slightest clicking noise.

Just as silently, he crept into the kitchen, his movements having a liquid quality not characteristic of normal people with two legs. He reached the doorway and saw Buffy at the end of the hall, by the stairs, standing before the front door. Her back to him.

Seeming to float, he glided slowly down the hall, his coat tails flowing like a cape. The Slayer had her attention focused on the door and did not appear to be aware of his presence.

He was only a few feet from her when she casually turned around to face him, arms folded across her chest. She appraised him without surprise.

"What kept you?" she asked.

The man was slightly taken aback by the target's attitude, but did not loose focus of his objective, and was preparing to strike when a voice replied *behind* him!

"I ran into a pitbull on the way."

The intruder whirled around and found himself facing the second target! Who they had not seen enter the house. But before he could fully contemplate the trap he had just walked into, Faith's stepping side kick was slamming him in the chest and he nearly flew down the hall. Straight for the first Slayer.

Buffy immediately sprang into action with her own strike, a front kick to the intruder's back, and was met with severe protest from her still healing body. Though her strength was not quite back to normal standards, she was still able to send him back up the hallway where Faith was waiting, swinging the handle of Lagos' battle ax, in her hands, across his face. He slammed against the wall and slid to the floor. Faith moved in, raising the deadly ax, to finish him off, when the front door crashed in.

Buffy looked over her shoulder and saw another man in dark clothes center his eyes on her, and they flared with a yellow glow that resembled torches. Smoke was even spiraling from them.

"Buffy!" Faith shouted behind her.

She turned just in time to catch the Lagos Ax the brunette had tossed to her, as the second intruder charged her from behind. Spinning to meet her attacker, he was unable to defend himself as his momentum carried him straight into the ax and the cruel blade sank deeply into his chest. Buffy swung the handle around, therefore, the assassin as well, and slammed him against the wall. She released her hold and the inhuman slid to the floor, the yellow fire in its eyes dying as he did.

"Buffy!" she heard a frantic shout from upstairs.

"No, Mom! Stay up there!" she shouted, turning her attention to the first intruder.

Faith was still standing over him and had pulled out a knife. But before she could take him out, he swung his arm up at the younger Slayer and swatted her away.

Buffy blinked. The intruder's arm had become a thick tentacle that shot out of the sleeve of his coat and had sent Faith flying back into the kitchen. Buffy quickly composed herself and moved in. Only to get slammed by the tentacle, too. She hit the wall and every single injury screamed at once. Her vision cleared in time for her to see the tentacle coming straight at her face. She just let herself drop feeling the appendage miss her hair as she hit the floor.

She scrambled on all fours and came to the dead demon lying along the wall. Buffy grabbed for the Lagos Ax but was swatted by the tentacle again, sent sliding across the floor where she stopped in front of the open door. She was about to push herself up when the tentacle shot out at her again, this time wrapping itself around her neck and yanking her to her knees. The inhuman, whose sunglasses had been lost during the fighting, stepped out of the hallway, and Buffy saw the tentacle reeling into the sleeve as he approached her. It stood over her and she could see its eyes clearly. They were solid pools of black. It grabbed the lapel of her jacket with its still human hand, and Buffy would have been curious how much of this guy was octopus like if he hadn't been currently trying to choke the life out of her. But it probably still wanted to take her alive and was just trying to cause her to black out.

That bought her some time, she thought. But time to do what?

From her position, she was just able to see around the guy, moving her eyes only, and saw Faith in the doorway to the kitchen holding a butcher knife. The brunette looked on them and quickly flipped the knife in her hand. Throwing it by the blade, it whistled down the hall straight for the Tarakan's back.

Where it bounced off with a clank.

A hard shell, Buffy thought. She saw Faith stand there in amazement. But just for a second and she spotted the knife she had lost in the hallway and made a dive for it. Snatching it up, she sent it sliding down the floor towards them. But tentacle boy heard the scraping sound it made against the wood and looked down just in time to see the knife appear between its feet. Buffy made a grab for it.

The creature roared in anger and pulled the Slayer off the floor to keep her away from the weapon. But his roar was cut off when Buffy slammed the knife into its throat all the way to the hilt.

Its hold went slack and Buffy fell from the tentacle and collapsed under her own weight to the floor, coughing for breath. With a final gurgle, the creature died on its feet and started to fall towards her. Buffy tucked herself in a ball for the impact but Faith rushed up and shoved the dead thing to the side where it fell into the foyer.

Faith looked down at the blonde Slayer and smiled. "Now that is how slaying is done," she declared, reaching a hand down to her.

Clearing her throat, Buffy accepted the help to her feet. "How many is that I owe you now?"

"C'mon, B, I'm not the type of person to keep track of these things." Buffy narrowed her eyebrows at her. "I let Giles do it." Buffy rolled her eyes as if to say `of course.'

"Buffy!" The Slayers turned and saw a harried Joyce Summers rushing down the stairs. Xander, who had been unable to keep her up there any longer, was right behind her.

"It's okay, Mom," Buffy called. "I think it's over."

As soon as her mother reached the bottom she threw her arms around her daughter. "Oh, God, I was so worried! Are you all right? When I heard the noise."

During the exchange, Faith fidgeted with the pouch hanging from her neck, sniffed it and made a face. She let it drop and shoved her hands into the pockets of her sweat shirt.

"Oh, my," Joyce said, as she finally noticed the dead demon lying on the floor. Then she saw Faith standing next to her. "Faith! Where did you come from?"

"I was dropped off one street over."

"It was a trap we had set up," Buffy said.

"Yeah," Faith smiled. "These creeps snuck up on you guys, while I snuck up on them."

"Looks like it worked pretty good," Xander commented.

"Them?" Joyce asked. "There're more?" She looked around and spotted the mess in the hallway. "Eeww."

Xander and the Slayers looked to see that the other demon had disintegrated into a liquefied bubbling goo. The ax of Lagos lying in the puddle. "That was mighty convenient of him. Makes cleaning up easier. All you need is a mop."

"What about. . .?" Joyce indicated the other creature.

"Faith and I will clean up our mess when this is all over," Buffy assured her.

"I'm not worried about that. I'm just glad you weren't hurt. Either of you," she added, looking at Faith. Then, to the younger Slayer's surprise, embraced her in a hug. "Thank you, Faith, for being here."

Taken off guard, she wasn't able to say anything for a moment. She found her voice when Joyce pulled away. "Hey, nothing but the best for B's mom. You deserve both Slayers."

"I appreciate it." She looked the young girl up and down. "You look great." She looked pointedly at her daughter. "Wouldn't you say, Buffy?"

Buffy seemed chided. "Uh, yeah. Sure."

"What's going on?" asked Faith.

"Buffy's grounded for almost dying, last night," Xander told her.

"What?" Buffy exclaimed. "What did you two talk about up there?"

"I was just filling your mom in on what's been happening lately." Buffy shot daggers at him with her eyes. "Oh, she didn't ask for the gruesome details so it was pretty much a short story."

"Great," Buffy threw her hands in the air, and winced in pain. "Don't I even get a suspended sentence for extenuating circumstances?"

"Well, we'll discuss this later, honey."

"Yeah, we still need to hit the road," Xander said. He was carrying a shoulder bag which obviously had her mother's things.

"Yeah, the sun will be down in a few hours," Buffy agreed. "And I don't like leaving Willow and Giles alone at the library. Even with Angel there, he can't move that much until the sun goes down. We better hurry."

Buffy led the way out of the house and Faith brought up the rear, closing the front door behind them.

End of Part Eleven

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Twelve

CHAPTER TWELVE

Buffy, Faith, and Xander walked through the library doors and found Willow and Giles conferring with each other on the upper level. Buffy was relieved when she saw that they were okay. She had feared that they would be attacked while she and Faith had been away. Once they had gotten her mother to a motel, she had called Giles to let them know everything went, more or less, according to plan, and was happy to hear his and Willow's research had not been interrupted by any surprise visitors. And it turned out the Tarakans didn't have the school under surveillance after all. The Slayers had made a quick sweep of the campus just to verify that there were no demons lurking in the bushes or connecting buildings.

As they passed the check-out counter Angel appeared in the office doorway.

"Angel," Buffy said, feeling a smile on her face. She went to him and hugged him.

"Are you guys all right?" he asked.

"Yeah, we're fine."

"Giles told me about your plan. Did you run into any trouble?"

"Scratch two more Taraka uglies," Xander chimed in.

"You got your mother out of there?"

"Yeah, she's fine. Holed up in a motel outside of town. She should be safe for a while."

"By then, this should all be over," Faith spoke up.

"Let's hope so," Xander added.

Buffy pulled away from Angel and he looked at her closely. "You're sure you're all right?" There was concern in his voice.

"Yes," she said, firmly but she was still smiling. "I caught a few bumps but with Mom safe, I feel much better, now."

Willow and Giles were coming down the steps and heading towards them.

"Find anything new?" she asked them.

"Some," Giles said, looking at her. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," Buffy said, with a sigh. "And I wish everyone would stop asking me that. I'm good."

"Yeah," Faith said. "She bagged both the demons herself."

"I couldn't have done it without you, though."

"Either way, they're on your score card."

"I don't keep track of that sort of thing."

"Don't worry. I'll do it for you," Faith said with a smile.

Buffy gave her a "what am I gonna do with you?" expression, then turned to Giles and Willow. "So, what did you find?"

"Oh, yes," Giles began. He had removed his tweed jacket hours ago and Buffy noticed his haggard appearance for the first time. Out of all of them, he was the only one who still had not gotten any sleep. And after the night they just went through, she wasn't sure just how much longer her Watcher could go on like this. She made a mental note to send him to his office for a nap as soon as he made his report. She listened as he continued.

"We've found several volumes with chronicles of a demon that was undoubtedly Oranstine. Some of them, however, are conflicting."

"How do they conflict?" Buffy asked.

"Well, some of Oranstine's exploits occur very close in the same time frame," Willow said.

"Which would suggest that there are more shapeshifting demons than just Oranstine," Giles finished.

"Great, that's just what the world needs," Xander said. "More demons who can disguise themselves to be anything."

"Relax, Xander," Buffy said. "It's not really all that different from other demons who could take on a human form. Remember Marc in the talent show our sophomore year?"

"Yeah, but he only had one disguise," Xander countered.

"Ooo," Faith said. "I haven't heard this one before. What happened?"

"Marc turned out to be a demon that needed a few human organs to keep his human form for another seven years," Willow began. "And when we finally found out who it was all the demon needed was a brain. Marc was about to slice the top of Giles' head off with a guillotine; that was his act for the talent show, when Buffy and--"

"Uh, Willow," Buffy said.

"What? Oh. Sorry." She looked at Faith. "I'll tell you the rest later."

"Can't wait."

"So, Oranstine. . ." Xander prompted.

"Oh," Giles continued. "We found out that Oranstine's power center appears to be a tattoo, the exact design on Faith's arm." The brunette Slayer unzipped her sweat shirt and slipped out of the left sleeve, exposing the tattoo. "Reports are a bit sketchy, but it seems to be located on the demon's chest. It's not known where it got the tattoo nor where the power behind the tattoo is derived from, but by casting it on others, it can share a part of its power, its essence, so to speak."

"You mean a part of that demon is in me?" Faith demanded.

"Some of its power, yes," Giles said.

"How do we get rid of it?" Buffy could tell Faith was fighting to keep the worry from her voice.

"From what we found," Giles hesitated. "Once the tattoo has been placed, it can never be removed." Giles held up his hand when he saw that Faith was about to speak. "But my guess is that if Oranstine were to die, then the power behind the tattoo would negate itself."

"But you're not sure?" Buffy asked.

"I'm afraid I haven't found anything to confirm that hypothesis."

"Hey, it works for me." Faith said. "I'd be willing to test out that theory. Even if it won't come off when I kill it, at least it won't have any power."

"Perhaps," Giles said. He looked at his younger Slayer with concern. "But then Oranstine's death may take you with it."

Faith and the others didn't say anything for several seconds. She glanced at them and saw they were all looking at her. Finally, she shrugged. "Hey, no biggie. Slayers like to live dangerously, right, B?"

Buffy managed to give her a supporting grin. "Yeah. I'm sure nothing will happen when we take Oran out. And besides, Willow's protection spell blocks out her power over you."

"The spell may neutralize the demon's hold on Faith, but it cannot remove it," Giles said. "With Oranstine dead, there's no telling what may happen."

"And how do we know that this thing is actually working?" Faith held up the pouch hanging from her neck.

"Well, the magic is in place," Willow said. "That much I'm sure of, but there is a way to test it." She glanced at Giles.

The Watcher removed his glasses. "Willow and I also believe we've discovered why this Slayer Vampire appears to be impervious. The tattoo which lends Oranstine's influence also binds the bearer of its mark to the demon itself. As long as Oranstine is alive, no one with its mark can be killed."

Silence fell as the words sank in. Buffy regarded her fellow Slayer. Faith had only been a Slayer for just over half a year, since just before last summer, being activated at the moment Kendra was killed, she reflected. Even though the time was considered short, she did go through a lot during that period. Most notable being the loss of her first Watcher at the hands of the master vampire Kakistos, causing her to flee Boston to Sunnydale, seeking Buffy's help. That much the two Slayers had in common, and that their second Watcher happened to be the same person. But Buffy could see very little of herself in this new Slayer. Where as Buffy tried to deny her calling as the Slayer; not just when Merrick had first approached her, but also when she met Giles here in this very library on her first day of school, Faith committed herself --no, Buffy amended-- practically threw herself into her role as the Slayer. She had a zeal that Buffy never had, which, she was slightly embarrassed to admit, made her a bit jealous at the time.

She recalled how protective of her title she had been when Kendra had come along claiming to be the Slayer. But she had quickly come to accept the concept of two Slayers, thinking it would be sort of nice to have somebody cover for her while she could take some time off, as Giles had suggested when they had the discussion of her going to college. On days like this, college was looking a lot better. Wait until Faith has had about a hundred more days like this, she thought. But then, she had to survive today. They both had to. But so far Faith appeared to be holding up pretty well.

Buffy finally broke the silence. "You said there was a way to test it?"

"Yes." Willow looked uncertain. "See, if Faith is indestructible, uh, then she should be able to. . ."

"I get it," Faith said. She took the sweat shirt off and pulled out a stake from the back of her waistband. Even though it had been unlikely they would be facing vampires at Buffy's house, during the day, she wouldn't want to be caught without one.

Realizing what she was going to do, Buffy said, "Wait!"

But Faith was already putting the sharp wooden point against her open palm and made a quick slash across her skin. She hardly winced as blood welled up and started to drip onto the floor.

"Oh, dear," Giles whispered. But nobody said anything else as they stood and watched the blood dripping from her hand.

Faith looked down at the pouch resting on her chest. She grabbed it with her other hand and pulled it over her head. Willow reached out and took it from her. As soon as the pouch left her hand, Faith's cut suddenly stopped bleeding and they all stood in awe as it began to mend itself. After almost a minute the wound was completely gone, as if never there. She wiped the blood away with her other hand and there wasn't even a faint scar left. She looked at the knuckles of her hand and remembered how badly she had scraped them last night, punching the rock surface of the wall. She hadn't noticed how fast they had healed. And it also explained why she had not drowned during her underwater escape from the caves.

She just looked at her hand for a long moment before closing it into a fist. She said, "I don't know whether to think this is very cool or to be more worried."

"Being indestructible can have its advantages," Xander spoke up.

"But not without a cost," Angel said. "Without the protection spell you cannot be killed, but then you'll be at Oran's mercy."

"Not a very fair trade," Buffy said.

"Here Faith." Willow held the pouch out to the Slayer. Faith eyed it for a few seconds then accepted it and hung it around her neck once more.

Faith was looking a bit pale to Buffy. A total contrast to the headstrong Slayer she resembled just a couple of minutes ago. But the blonde Slayer was sure that Faith would be able to hold herself together. She was very tough, yet she was still dealing with the fact that she had died last night. Or maybe she wasn't dealing with it, she thought, remembering how Faith was insisting that Oranstine had faked her death to activate the Slayer Vampire. Maybe she denied the fact that she had died because she did not want to face that horrible truth. Heaven knew, as did everyone else in this library, that Buffy had not easily come to terms with her own brief death, at the hands of the Master. Not until she had turned his remaining bones to dust with a sledgehammer. And now Faith was faced with the possibility of dying with Oranstine.

How things had suddenly switched, Buffy thought. Before they had left the library to go get her mom, Giles had been adamant with Faith that she needed to watch over Buffy, make sure no further harm came to her. The older Slayer had declared that she wasn't a baby, but her Watcher would hear none of her protests and even had Faith promise that nothing would happen to Buffy.

"I'll play baby-sitter," the brunette had replied with a grin, causing Buffy to glare at her.

And then a similar scene had played out in her Mom's motel room. Joyce had taken Faith aside to talk to her as Buffy and Xander had returned to the Citroen. When she had an idea, she had been on her way back to the room to tell them about it, when her mother's voice made her stop just outside the door where she listened to the conversation.

"Don't worry Mrs. S, Buffy's tough," Faith was saying. "She can handle this."

"But in her condition," her mother replied. "She's just not as strong as you are, right now. It just has me worried."

"Trust me," Faith said. "By the time the sun goes down, she'll be almost good as new, and ready to kick major as-- uh, demon butt. Back at the house, those two guys were really tough and we took care of them like that."

Buffy heard Faith snap her fingers. She was leaning against the wall as she listened, her expression solemn. A moment of silence followed, then Joyce Summers spoke again.

"Can you look after her for me, Faith?"

After a brief pause, Faith replied, in a bravado tone, "Hey, no problem. I'll play baby-sitter."

Buffy rolled her eyes at that. Then, gathering a false front of her own, she walked into the room saying, "Hey, I just had an idea." The other two women looked at her, and she noticed her mother hiding her worried expression, but Buffy pretended not to notice. "Mom, can we borrow the jeep?"

"The jeep?" she asked. "To go out slaying?"

"Yeah. I mean, no. We're not going to slay anything with the jeep. The car will be fine, we'll make sure it stays out of any fights."

"Buffy," Joyce said. "You remember what happened last time when I let you borrow the car. And that time I was under the influence of a curse."

"A curse? How did that happen?" Faith asked.

"Oh, that's a long story. I'll tell you about it later," Buffy said.

"I ate cursed candy," Joyce told Faith.

Buffy let her shoulders drop. "Apparently not that long." She took a deep breath. "So how `bout it, Mom? It would really help us out."

"Okay." Joyce picked up her purse from the bed and took her keys out. Buffy took a step forward, but her mother turned to Faith. "Do you know how to drive, Faith?"

"I've had occasion to drive a few cars," she said, giving Buffy a knowing look.

"So you have a license?"

Faith said, truthfully, "I don't have a California license."

Her mother decided not to press the issue and handed the brunette her keys. Buffy mumbled, "Oh, really feeling the confidence in this room, it's almost embarrassing."

"Buffy," her mother said, approaching her. "I just don't think you should be driving in your condition, that's all."

"`My condition.' Mom, I'm not pregnant! And pregnant women do drive."

"You know what I mean. You're still weak."

"I was strong enough to kill two demons an hour ago," she commented.

"Stop," her mother said, in a serious tone. "I just want you to be careful, all right?"

Buffy looked at her mom. "I know. And I will be. I promise."

Joyce hugged her and held her tightly for a long time. This time, Buffy hardly felt any pain. When she pulled away, she saw faint hints of tears in her eyes.

"We better go," Faith said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, I better go with Xander. He shouldn't be without a Slayer escort." She looked at her mother.

Joyce nodded to her daughter that she was all right and started to follow Faith out of the room. "Faith?" she said.

The brunette looked at her and Buffy saw them share a silent communication, which she pretended not to know what it was about. "I will," Faith said. "Don't worry."

"Be careful," she said again.

"We will," Buffy said, and the two Slayers left.

Now, back at the library, Buffy felt like she was the one that needed to look after Faith. Even though there was no way she could have beaten her in an arm-wrestling match just now.

"Don't worry, Faith," she finally said. "We'll figure something out."

Faith looked at her. There was rage suddenly in her eyes. "Oh, I'm not worried. I'm gonna kill that demon bitch myself." She grabbed her sweat shirt from the counter, where she had put it, and slipped it on as she crossed over to the book cage, heading straight for the weapons cabinet. Everyone watched the younger Slayer with concern, even Angel.

Buffy looked to Giles. Her Watcher took his cue and followed the brunette. "Faith. Now, we must not lose our heads here. We need to maintain our focus."

Faith had pulled out another battle ax, this one not as big as Lagos' ax, but it would do for her. Then she dove in for more weapons. "Yeah, while you all are staying focused, I'm gonna go out there and kill me a demon, and hopefully I'll find our fellow Slayer with her."

"Faith," Giles said, firmly. "You cannot go out there alone. We need to stay together on this. Our only hope is to combine our forces against these odds." But the Slayer was not paying him any attention as she pulled out a crossbow, slinging it over her shoulder. "Faith. I'm not going to let you go out there by yourself, it's suicide."

She looked at him. "Back off, Giles. You can't stop me." She returned her attention back to the weapons.

Giles looked over his shoulder to the others, who watched silently. Buffy started to walk forward, but he raised his hand to stop her. She gave him a questioning look and he gave her a reassuring nod. She rejoined the others.

He turned to his younger Slayer again. When he spoke, his voice was soft and without authority. "Faith, I know exactly how you feel."

The brunette scoffed at him, pulling out a wicked looking machete. Buffy felt the urge to slap her for that, as she began to realize where Giles was going with this. But she told herself that Faith was not exactly thinking clearly right now. Hell, she thought, Faith usually didn't act rationally most of the time.

"Unless you feel like killing that demon as much as I do, then there's no way you can know what I'm feeling!"

Faith slammed the cabinet shut again and turned to leave the cage. She stopped when she saw Giles rolling up the sleeve of his left arm. Her determination to leave was still there, but she was curious. Giles had the sleeve rolled up above his elbow and presented the inside of his arm to the Slayer. Buffy knew Faith was looking at the weird tattoo the Watcher had near the inside of his elbow.

"What's that?" she asked.

"This is the Mark of Eyghon," he said, meeting her eyes. "Eyghon is *my* demon."

Faith looked at him for a long moment. Then she asked, "Is this demon still around?"

"No. It's gone, I assure you. But I never would have made it through without the help of some good friends." He glanced over his shoulder once more at the group by the counter. His attention on Faith again, he said, "I would like to tell you about it."

Faith didn't say anything for a moment. Giles whispered, "We can't do this without you, Faith."

Faith's eyes wandered around the library, then she looked at the weapons she was holding. Silently, she set them down. Giles took the crossbow and she slipped out of the sling.

"We can talk in my office."

She still said nothing as she walked with him across the library. Giles handed the crossbow to Buffy when they reached the group, Faith stepping inside the office. "The rest of you continue. . ."

"Got it," she said. "Oranstine, tattoo, Slayer Vampire."

"Yes. And Willow, get on the computer and check the hospital and the police station. Buffy was rather rough with the two chaps at Faith's motel last night, perhaps they were unable to avoid being taken into custody."

"If they're at the police station, then I wasn't rough enough with them," the blonde Slayer commented.

"Sure," Willow said. "But it might be best to try the newspaper first, considering that hacking into the police and hospital databases is kinda illegal."

"Oh, yes, quite right. Let's do try to be within the law. To start with, anyway." With that he stepped into his office and closed the door behind him.

But they all just stood there for a moment, not moving to their tasks.

"Wow," Buffy said, shaking her head.

"What?" Angel asked.

"Giles often said I still surprise him every once in a while." She glanced at the closed door and smiled. "But he can still surprise me, too."

End of Part Twelve

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Thirteen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

With sunset less than an hour away, Angel had more freedom to move around the library, with the deepening of the shadows, and for the past two hours they had been hard at work gathering as much information as they could. Giles was sure that Oranstine would make her move once night fell, to take full advantage of her vampire ranks, and they were still no closer to finding a sure way of killing the Slayer Vampire. So far, the only plan they could come up with was they would have to kill Oranstine first. And with the chance that the demon's demise could possibly mean Faith's death, they were deep in their research to find a way to sever her hold on the younger Slayer.

They had not found anything yet.

He remembered what Giles had said this morning about not going after the demon, especially with Buffy not up to full strength, but with the new development with Faith and her bond with Oran he was convinced that they couldn't afford to wait for her to make the first move. They needed to take the fight to her.

Angel was on the upper level, standing in the shadows between the bookshelves, as he looked through the endless volumes there. It was also a way to guard the doors leading into the Stacks, which was the larger area of the library. He glanced down toward the book cage where Faith was busy preparing the weapons they would need for tonight, lining them atop the table. She was definitely not one well suited for doing research, he reflected, considering the pressure she must be feeling right now. True, they were all under pressure, but she was at the heart of it, and Angel had to admit she was certainly up to the challenge to face it. Her weakness would be her impulsiveness, leaping into action without first thinking of the consequences. Faith was fortunate to have Giles as her Watcher, and the vampire had been very impressed how the man was able to calm his Slayer down. Lord knew he'd had plenty of practice with Buffy over the past two years.

His eyes fell on the blonde Slayer. She was sitting at the table below him, looking through another old book, Xander right across from her. What area of the surface that was not occupied with weapons was cluttered with volumes of dusty tomes. Buffy was slowly rotating her neck as she read, wincing slightly from her still soar muscles. Nearly all the bruises had faded completely, but the cut above her right brow was still there. Willow had checked her stitches and had found they had been pulled, during the fight with the demons at her house, but the wound in her side had already closed, so she removed them.

Angel still felt it was a bad idea for her to face the Slayer Vampire again. Even with hers and Faith's combined strengths, it would be extremely dangerous for them both. Angel had insisted that he should be with them. Three to one odds would be better, but the Slayers also had Oranstine to contend with, if they were to even have a chance of defeating the indestructible vampire. And they could not do that with its minions around to protect it. Faith and Buffy would try to take out as many lesser demons as they could, but it was agreed that their focus would be Oran and the Slayer Vampire. So Giles, Xander, and Willow had to keep the others occupied, and the only hope they had of doing that without dying was with his help.

"Aha!" Willow declared. She was behind the counter working on the computer. Everyone turned their attention to her. Giles stepped out of his office. "I think I found one of Buffy's attackers."

"I believe they are my victims, thank you very much," Buffy said as she walked over to the counter.

"What did you find?" asked Giles.

"According to the police files there was a man, identified only as `John Smith,' who was arrested this morning and booked for possession of concealed weapons." The teenager looked up. "He's still there awaiting bail."

"Good show, Willow." Giles pulled a fresh tweed jacket from the hanger rack. "You and I should go down there immediately. We don't want him to leave before we get there."

Everyone was gathered around the counter again. "Are you sure it's safe for you two to go after this guy by yourself?" Buffy asked.

"We should be safe enough," Giles reassured her. "If all goes according to plan, he won't even see us. And I want the rest of you to leave the library as soon as the sun goes down."

"You think they'll attack us here?"

"It's best not to take that chance." He came out from behind the counter, followed by Willow and set his leather bag on the table to choose a couple of weapons. "With any luck, this chap will lead us to the exact location of their hideout."

"You don't think they'll stay in their cave hideout?" asked Faith.

Xander spoke up. "If you knew that two pissed-off Slayers had your address wouldn't you feel the need to move?"

"And I'd rather not go puttering around searching blindly where they're likely to see us coming before we find them. We'll call if we find anything."

"But we're going to have to be by a phone where you can reach us," Buffy said. "I don't think our usual places will be ideal choices. And we have to assume Oran knows where everyone lives."

"How `bout the Bronze?" Xander suggested. "I know the Order of Taraka don't shy away from public assassinations, but they may think twice about trying to kidnap two Slayers at the same time in a very crowded place."

"The Bronze, on a Saturday night?" Willow said. "We're talking long waiting line. What if you can't get in?"

"I don't think that'll be a problem." Buffy turned to Angel. "Right, Angel?"

He nodded. "I can sneak in and let everyone in through the back."

"Don't they have a large bouncer guarding the back?" Xander asked.

The vampire, Faith, and Buffy looked at him and said, "What's your point?"

Xander looked at them for a moment. "Oh. Well, adding assault and battery to Willow's hacking offense shouldn't really make too much of a difference on our arrest warrants."

"Not to worry," Buffy told him. "They'll be no batteries included." She looked at Angel.

"He won't even have a bruise when he wakes up," he promised her.

* * * *

Willow was sitting in the passenger seat of the Citroen, fidgeting with a handheld cross. She also had a couple of wooden stakes in the pockets of her overalls, but she thought it wouldn't be a good idea to play with those, considering where she was. The Sunnydale Police Station was pretty small compared to most city precincts; at least the ones she saw on TV, but it still marveled the redhead how all the vampires and demons can go unnoticed for so long in such a small town.

The sun had gone down just before their arrival and it had been almost twenty minutes since Giles had entered the station. Willow figured she would give the librarian a couple of more minutes before she started to worry. After all, she thought, what could possibly happen to him in a police station?

Willow decided to forego the two minutes.

Giles may be just the Watcher, but he was more capable than she and the others gave him credit for sometimes. She had seen him slay a few vampires during his time as Buffy's Watcher and she wondered if he had faced any vampires prior to coming to the Hellmouth? From what little she heard him say about Watchers, they usually tend to stay away from vampires and other monsters, except in extreme emergencies. Such as when Noriko's Watcher, Wallace, had saved her. They still did not know what happened to that Watcher. Surely he would not have stood by and allowed his charge to be taken. And if the Order of Taraka had done the kidnapping, more than likely Wallace was dead.

For ten years he had been Noriko's Watcher, and she had never been activated as a Slayer under his care. He must have developed some type of bond with the young girl during all that time. Willow knew that Giles cared about Buffy, not just as his Slayer, but as the girl who was, in many ways, the daughter he never had. His reaction to Buffy's running away last year had been similar to Mrs. Summers', although without being as emotionally expressive about it. She and Xander had to watch as he would often rush off to catch a plane, after receiving a possible sighting on Buffy, seeing the hope in his eyes as he left. Then to see the helplessness in them when he returned. But he remained strong, at least that's the appearance he showed them. She remembered that night when they had gone to his apartment and he had opened his door to find Buffy standing in front of him. It must've taken him every drop of self-control to keep from throwing his arms around her, and thoroughly embarrassing her in front of her friends, but Willow had seen the light return to his eyes that had been missing for those months.

And then there was Faith. She was sure that Giles cared for Faith also, but not with the love he felt for Buffy. Not yet, anyway. But that was just because he had not known Faith as long, and the brunette was more closed off to everybody. Given time Giles would surely come to love the other Slayer as he did Buffy, unless a new Watcher was assigned to her and she was moved from Sunnydale.

Giles was like a single parent with two teenage daughters to look after, she thought. Fate can have a weird sense of humor at times.

Willow was brought out of her thoughts when she saw Giles walk out of the police station. "How did it go?" she asked when he got back behind the wheel.

"I believe it went rather well," he said.

"You don't think he'll be curious about who bailed him out?"

"I suspect, well I hope, he won't want to stay around long enough to ask any questions. Hopefully, he'll just assume one of his colleges bailed him out and just didn't want to wait for him in a police station."

"How much did the bail cost?"

Giles tilted his head. "More than a month's worth of my librarian salary."

"Gosh. I doubt this guy is going to stick around for his court appointment. How can you afford it?"

"Simple. I can't." He looked at the worried expression from the teenager. "Not to worry, I have a receipt. The Council does reimburse for expenses generated during the cause."

"Really?" Willow sounded surprised.

"Oh, yes. Did you think I was left with the responsibility of caring for my Slayers without assistance?"

"Uh, actually, yeah."

Giles smiled. "The Council does provide me with some resources other than books. A slush fund, if you will. Who do you think pays for Faith's motel room? Or all the weapons Buffy has gone through over the years?"

"At least you don't have to pay for all of Buffy's clothes," Willow said, jokingly.

"Not for Buffy. But I leave Faith to do her own shopping."

"Really? You pay for Faith's clothes?"

"Remember, Faith does not have a real home here, and no means of income. She is, after all, a Slayer, so the Council should at least make sure she has everything she needs. Granted, the Watcher's Council isn't exactly swimming in wealth, but nobody said protecting the world was easy."

"I never thought of it that way."

"Hello," Giles said, and Willow looked to where his gaze was. "There's our chap."

Willow saw a tall man in dark fatigues. She hadn't noticed the taxi that pulled up in front of the station. "Are you sure? You said they were wearing ski masks."

"Yes, that's right. But he's still wearing the same clothes from last night." They watched as the man got into the back of the taxi and Giles turned on the engine as it pulled away from the station. "Here we go."

* * * * *

The line of people waiting to get inside the Bronze was very long, so they had to go with Angel's plan. They only waited at the backdoor for just a few minutes before the vampire opened it to allow them in. True to his word, the bouncer on duty there was sleeping soundly without a mark on him. But, still feeling bad for the guy, Buffy insisted they leave their cover charge with him, stuffed in one of his pockets. Not too surprisingly, Faith had volunteered for the stuffing.

Now, after nearly an hour, she, Xander, and Faith had finally snagged a table close to the bar, upgrading from the many sofas away from the dance floor. Angel had taken position on the second floor where he can keep an overhead view of them and everyone around them. He was sure he would be able to spot any demon or vampire long before they reached them; not that the demon in question would survive its encounter with the two Slayers sitting at the table. The three teens were making small talk, trying to blend in, but they were warily scanning the gyrating crowd on the dance floor and the dozens of people milling throughout the rest of the club.

"So, Buffy," Xander said, picking a new subject, "what do you want for your birthday?"

"Birthday?" Buffy said. "Wow. With all that's been going on lately, I nearly forgot it was coming."

"When is your birthday, B?" Faith asked.

"In two weeks."

"She's gonna be the big one-eight," Xander smiled. "It's gonna be all down hill from there."

"Speaking from experience?" she asked, with mock scorn.

"Absolutely."

"When did you turn eighteen?" Faith asked Xander.

"Just last week. Of course the surprise party they threw for me was nothing compared to the *monster* bashes we try to have for the Buffster, here."

"Don't even go there," Buffy warned with a slight grin.

"A party? Where was I?" Faith said, with a tint of accusation.

"Well, uh, I--I did try to call you," Buffy said. "I even went by your place earlier that day before the party."

"I must've been out." Faith said, impassively. Despite the thrum of rock coming from the sound system, silence fell at the table. The brunette made a show of scanning the club again, looking for any would be demons. So far there was still just Angel, looking down on them. Finally, she said, "So, what's your biggest thrill of turning eighteen, Xand?"

"My biggest thrill, hmmm," Xander put a hand to his chin.

"Legalizing his Playboy collection?" Buffy suggested.

Xander gave her an offended look. "Buffy! Such thoughts! And coming from a *minor*!"

"Hey, you! Keep all verbal assaults above the belt!" Then, after thinking about what she just said, and seeing Faith's and Xander's expressions, she said, "I mean-- I wasn't-- just that. . . ." She let her shoulder's slump. "Oooh. Just when I thought I got over the ability to embarrass myself, I make a come back."

"Hey guys."

Buffy whirled at the sound of the voice behind her but relaxed when she recognized the eighteen year old. "Oz! Been standing there long?"

"What?" he asked, his eyebrows narrowing slightly.

"Nothing," she quickly said. "I didn't know you were playing tonight."

"Yeah. Neither did I. Devon got a call for an impromptu gig, at the last minute. We'll be on in about twenty minutes."

"Join us," Buffy said.

The guitarist of the local band known as `Dingoes Ate My Baby' was about as tall as Buffy, if you didn't count his spiked hair style; which was a current shade of red this week. "Thanks."

He slid on the stool next to the blonde Slayer nodding in turn to Faith and Xander, though the exchange between the two young men was a little tense, with Xander averting his eyes quickly. Even though Oz and Willow had made up just a few weeks ago, the `incident' which led to the break up was still fresh to all those involved. With Oz and Cordelia walking in on Xander and Willow in full smoochie mode, while trying to rescue them where they were being held hostage by Spike, no less.

To Buffy, it seemed as if things were calming down a bit. Well, Cordelia still made an effort to avoid them, but she really couldn't blame her for that. But was it her imagination or was Cordelia actually starting to be just a little less mean to them? It was hard to tell.

"Is Willow here with you guys?" asked Oz.

"No. `Fraid not." Buffy noticed Oz was staring at her, finally getting a better look at her.

"Buffy, what happened?" Even though the tone of his voice hardly changed, Buffy picked up on his concern.

"Oh, it's a long stor--" She stopped and glanced at Faith and Xander, then said, "I got my ass kicked."

Oz raised his eyebrows. "That was going to be my first guess. But that's something that happens, like, every once in a . . . never."

"Believe me, it's something I do not want to make a common occurrence of."

"So did you bag the demon that did this to you?"

"Not yet," Buffy said, looking down at the table.

"But we're going to get her tonight," Faith spoke up.

"Do you guys think she'll show up here?"

"No. We're waiting for Willow and Giles to give us a call. They're trying to find out where this demon's hideout is."

"They are? Is it dangerous?"

"No," Buffy said, quickly. Oz's concern for Willow was apparent in his usually calm demeanor. "Well, no more than what she has done in the past."

"Do you guys need any help?" he asked.

"What about your gig?" Buffy asked.

"If Willow's in danger, then the band can wait."

Buffy looked to Xander for help, but it seemed as if he wasn't comfortable enough to say anything, and Faith really didn't know Oz very well, so she was more than likely to invite him along to join the slayage. "Oz, Willow wouldn't appreciate it if we dragged you away from your band, she knows how important it is to you."

"If Willow is caught up in something dangerous, I should be with her," Oz said, sternly.

"Oz," Buffy began. It seemed his loyalty to his girlfriend knew no bounds and she respected him for that, and she wasn't intimidated to say that their love for each other could easily rival that of hers and Angel's. Or, at least, the way it used to be. "I promise you, Faith and I are the ones who are going to be handling the really dangerous stuff. If everything goes according to plan the most Willow will have to do is watch us slay alot of demons. And besides, you do have obligations to the guys in the band. They're not the Dingoes without their lead guitarist."

Oz didn't look entirely convinced. "But it can never hurt to have an extra pair of hands to hold stakes. Granted I haven't been in the slaying business as long as you guys, but I still have contributed in the past."

"But you shouldn't have to let vampires interfere with your life. Believe me, I know how important keeping some semblance of a normal life can be."

Oz seemed to consider this. Torn between his concern for Willow and his duty to the band, which was really the only ambition the laid back teen had in life. Other than spending as much time with a certain redhead that was legally possible. And there have been many times where he had missed out on similar adventures.

Oz's attention was drawn away from the table and Buffy looked over her shoulder to see the lead singer of Dingoes waving him over, where the band had begun to set up for tonight's gig. Oz gave the tall young man a nod and indicated he would be right there. He turned his attention back to Buffy.

"Look, I'll make you a deal," she said. "I will give you my personal guarantee; and this is a Slayer-approved, money-back guarantee, that Willow will be perfectly fine after tonight's slayage. And I'll even have her give you a call as soon as this is all over." She paused, hoping that didn't sound as lame as she thought it did. "Deal?"

Oz regarded her for a moment. Then said, "You have it in writing?"

"In triplicate," she nodded.

Even though it seemed she sold him on the idea, Buffy was not sure if he really would agree to stay. She knew that if someone she cared for was doing something dangerous she wouldn't be able to just sit back. Then why was she doing her best to keep Oz here? she thought. Simple --well, okay, maybe not so simple-- but Oz was a friend and the fact that Willow loved him so much made it imperative for her to do what she could to make sure he didn't ruin things with his struggling band. He was already forced to take three days off away from the band due to his little curse of becoming a werewolf on the nights of the full moon every single month, which already put a strain on them. It wouldn't do him any good to abandon them just minutes before an act to go out and fight vampires. Sure, Buffy often had to run off for that exact reason, but that was the package deal of being the Chosen One, or One of the Two, she thought.

But before Oz could reply, Xander spoke up. "Buff." He pointed toward the bar where one of the bartenders was holding a phone, covering the mouthpiece with his hand.

"I have a phone call for an Anne," he said in a raised voice that was barely audible over the music.

"Oh, that's us," she said. "Be right back." She hurried to the bar to take the phone.

"Who's Anne?" Oz asked Faith and Xander.

"Uh, that's Buffy's middle name," Xander explained. "We're using it as sort of a code."

Oz nodded, in understanding, then narrowed his eyebrows in question. But before he could say anything, Faith said, "I think, B wants you."

Oz saw Buffy waving for him to come over. She was still holding the phone and she said something they couldn't hear, but they were able to read her lips as she mouthed "Willow." Oz hopped off the stool and took the phone from her. Buffy returned to the table, picking up her jacket where she had laid it and put it on.

"What's the word?" Faith asked her.

"Eureka. They followed the goon back to their hideout. They're still at the harbor, but it seems they moved their HQ to a freighter on the docks."

"Are they okay?" Xander asked as they stood.

"Yeah, they're fine." Buffy waved toward the second floor and motioned to Angel that they were leaving. "As soon as they found out where they were they backed off to a safe distance."

"So, is Oz staying?"

"Yeah. If anyone can get Oz to stay, Willow can." She waved to the guitarist as they started for the door and he returned it, slight traces of a smile on his face as he spoke into the phone.

After meeting up with Angel at the door, they piled into her mom's car and drove off into the night.

End of Part Thirteen

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Willow finally hung up the payphone and returned to the booth she and Giles had been sitting at in the road side diner. He was nursing a cup of tea with his spoon, his danish barely touched. They were the only customers in the place at the moment. There was a smile on the redhead's face as she sat down across from him.

"Everything was fine?" he asked.

"Huh?" she said, coming out of her almost dream-like state. "Oh, yeah. They left about ten minutes ago. I was talking to Oz."

"Oh?" Giles still marveled at how these kids were able to deal with their normal daily lives in between all the run-ins with monsters and demons. His admiration for their courage would never falter.

"Yeah. His band has a gig at the Bronze tonight. He wanted to leave to help us. But it seemed like Buffy was able to talk him out of it. And I told him that it would be best if he did stay there. I mean we have all the help we really need, don't we?" She looked at him.

"Oh, yes. No, Oz being here wouldn't change the odds very much. I mean, he is a nice lad and can certainly hold his own, in such situations, but I understand the band is important to him."

"Yeah." Willow stared at her own danish, which was half gone. During all the excitement of the day she and the rest of the gang barely took time to eat much. "And it's good that one of us can be apart from the monsters, at least for one night. Have, what we laughingly refer to here on the Hellmouth as, a normal Saturday."

Giles smiled at this and sipped his tea. Willow tore a small piece of her danish and popped it into her mouth. "They should be here in a few minutes then," he commented.

She nodded. "With Buffy driving. . . If they can avoid being pulled over for reckless driving." They chuckled knowingly. "Who would have thought that Buffy would be able to give Cordelia a run for her money as the worst driver on the road. OK, maybe she's not half as bad as Cordelia, considering that Cordy's been driving for a couple of years now, and Buffy has hardly been behind the wheel of the car."

"Yes. I think it would be a good idea to take her out for lessons sometime. What with her Slayer duties and school she rarely does have time to focus on such things, such as learning how to drive."

"Do you think her mother would approve?" Willow said. "Buffy told me that her mom was really wiggy about allowing her to drive. She's still a little afraid that Buffy will, y'know, run away again."

"I believe Buffy has gotten past that phase of her life. Perhaps I should talk to her." Giles suddenly seemed a little uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and straightened his tie. Willow wondered why.

Buffy had been reluctant to discuss the time when nearly all the adults of Sunnydale had been under the influence of the cursed band candy, a few months ago, that had caused them to revert to their teenage personas. She was guessing that maybe something had happened during that time that Buffy did not want to think about. Something involving Giles? And the way he was acting just mentioning Mrs. Summers.

Willow came to the conclusion that she had more information than she needed. Now she understood why her friend did not want to talk about it. But then again, would it be so bad if Giles and Mrs. Summers did get together? she thought. It had been almost a year already since Ms. Calendar had died, and there had been no one in the Watcher's life since then.

Looking through Buffy's eyes, Willow knew the life of a Slayer was a lonely one, but since she moved to Sunnydale, Buffy's had her and Xander by her side, as well as Angel. And now Oz and Faith, a fellow Slayer. Sure, they were all there for Giles, too, but, even though the Watcher was fond of them all, he surely needed to socialize with people in his own age bracket. There was only so much time he could spend hanging around teenagers. His life had to be even more lonely. And his dedication to his Slayers seemed certain to keep it that way.

"Willow?" Giles asked.

"Huh?"

"You all right?"

She gave him a smile. "Yeah. Just too many thoughts right now."

"Worried about tonight?"

"No. Well, yeah, but that's not what I was thinking about." Willow saw him looking at her expectantly. He wasn't pressing her, letting it be her choice whether to share with him, and she appreciated that. "I was just wondering what was going to happen when we all graduate."

"I would imagine we will all go on with our lives," he said, gently.

"I guess. Going away to college and everything." She paused, then looked up. "What will Buffy do?"

Giles considered his answer for a moment. "With her SAT scores I'm sure she'll be accepted to a very fine school."

"And she'll move away?"

"More than likely." He raised his cup to his lips.

Tentatively, she asked, "And what will you do?"

He set his cup down again. "I shall remain here. Where the action is, I suppose. It would also give me a chance to focus more on Faith's training, which she has been lacking since being without a Watcher of her own ."

"It doesn't seem that Faith is lacking in the `killing demons' area."

"No. She's practically a natural in slaying demons, but her study habits are somewhat atrocious."

Willow grinned. "I think there's something about her religion that states schooling is a deadly sin."

"Well, I hope to break her of that habit."

"You think you can get her to go back to school?" she asked.

"Oh, heavens. I admit I've acquired some experience in dealing with teenagers over the past couple of years, but I've not let that disillusion me to thinking I can create miracles. No, Faith and I will have to take things a little differently. Buffy has had her mother to look after her while I could not. Although I'm not complaining about being posted as Faith's `temporary' Watcher, I think the Council may have been wrong in doing so. Faith would surely benefit more by having a full-time Watcher."

"But you're doing a great job! I mean, the way you handled the situation at the library. Not letting Faith go off by herself and getting killed. Personally, I didn't think you could have stopped her--" She stopped. "Uh, I meant, sure, you could have, but Faith can sometimes be-- well you know how she can get. . . . Good show, Giles!" she said and stuffed the rest of her danish into her mouth, filling her cheeks.

Giles lifted his cup again. "Thank you, Willow." He took a sip. Willow tried to say something to him around the danish in her mouth. "Willow, you really shouldn't talk with your mouth full."

Willow waved her hands frantically and pointed over his shoulder. Frowning, he looked to where she was pointing and, through the large pane glass windows, saw a group of people walking toward the diner. They were all wearing similar clothes and dark jackets. Just like the vampires he saw Angel fighting this morning.

The man in the lead was tall and carried with him an air of authority as he pushed open the door with the chime of the customer bell and plucked the "OPEN" sign from behind it. He held it up to his comrades.

"C'mon in, we're all invited," he said, holding the door for the others as they filed into the diner.

The waitress came out from behind the counter and approached the new arrivals. "Hello, how may I--"

Giles shot to his feet. "No! Stay away from them!" he shouted.

A stout vampire now in front of the group shoved the women away with one hand and sent her flying back over the long lunch counter where she tumbled to the floor in a heap, knocking over various items. The swinging door leading from the kitchen opened and the cook stepped out and saw the waitress on the floor.

"Sherri, what happened?" he said.

Then something dark green shot out from the kitchen behind him and wrapped itself around his neck. He gagged and clawed at it with his hands, fighting for air. Giles saw a tall rugged looking man wearing a trench coat step out of the door, the long appendage of his arm reeling into his sleeve as he moved closer to the cook.

"Hank!" Sherri exclaimed, as she pulled herself back to her feet.

The man with the tentacle arm leered close to Hank's face, which was turning blue from lack of oxygen. The demon smiled. "Say good-bye to Sherri, Hank."

With that, it pulled its tentacle the way a child would pull a wind-up string to release a spinning top, but in this case, effectively twisting the man's neck with a snap that reverberated through the diner. The demon let Hank's lifeless body drop to the floor.

"NO!" Willow screamed.

They were both on their feet now, and Giles stepped in front of the teenager, blocking her from the creatures with his body, but she still looked out around him. Then he glanced to their booth again and saw his weapon bag still in his seat where it was doing him absolutely no good whatsoever. "Bloody well done, Giles," he hissed to himself.

He could probably make a dive for it but that would only entice the creatures to move on them more quickly. And he really wouldn't be able to hold them all off for long. Best to bide their time for now.

He figured most of them were vampires from the way they acted as they entered, but some of them were probably different kinds of monsters. Especially the chap who just killed the cook. He counted eight, plus the demon from the kitchen. Nine in all. If Faith was right, it seemed like Oranstine's entire force was here. He even saw the human he and Willow had trailed to the docks. He must have noticed being followed, he thought.

But where was Oranstine? he wondered.

The demon entourage was walking slowly toward them, there rank filling the width of the diner. Sherri, the waitress, had backed away from them along the counter, until it ended, so she scrambled over the top, dropping napkin dispensers and salt and pepper shakers. One of the men in front of the group vamped out, his fangs flashing and tensed to spring at the woman.

"No, wait!" Giles shouted.

He succeeded in getting the creature's attention and it shot the Watcher a look. The vampire growled at him and was about to pounce anyway.

"Hold!" a voice shouted from behind the creatures. The tall man, who was now wearing his vampire face, walked out in front of the group once more, obviously in charge of this little party.

The waitress reached them and Giles pulled her behind him and Willow as they slowly back away to the other end of the diner. Looking over his shoulder, he saw there was no way out on that side. Even the bathrooms were on the opposite side, behind the creatures.

"Please don't get pulled over, Buffy," Willow whispered behind him.

The creatures had now stopped their advance and the lead vamp stepped two paces from the rest. He regarded the humans with a sadistic smile. "My, you have been a busy Watcher. Imagine our surprise when we arrived at the High School and found the library empty."

"Good call, Giles," Willow whispered to him.

The vamp continued. "And when we learned about the failure at the Slayer's home. . ."

The trench-coat demon with the tentacle arm, who was behind the counter now, interrupted by saying, "We were not informed about the second Slayer's escape!"

The lead vamp shot his gaze at the demon. "Hold you tongue! And be glad the Master allowed you to keep it! The failure is still yours!" He turned his attention back to the cornered humans. "Fortunately, not everyone in our employ is a complete idiot."

The human in the group of demons spoke up. "I did lead them directly into your laps, didn't I?"

"Which is the only thing that saved your life," the vamp hissed at him. "Unlike your partner."

The human turned his attention to Giles. "I hope you're a better Watcher than you are a field agent."

Willow suddenly shouted, "He's good enough to have his Slayers hand you Tarakans your asses back to you wrapped in fruit baskets!" The redhead quickly slapped a hand over her mouth and ducked back behind Giles. She looked as surprised as he was by her outburst.

This actually brought a chuckle to the tall lead vamp, as well as some of the others, who were obviously not a part of the Taraka Order. "This is true," the vamp said. "The Slayers are most extraordinary. They will make very powerful vampires when we turn them."

"After your master creates more of these Slayer Vampires?" Giles said.

The vamp raised a grotesque eyebrow. "You have been busy, indeed. I'm impressed."

Good, Giles thought. As long as they were impressed they weren't draining them of their blood from the necks. Now if only Buffy and the others would show up, right now. Of course, `right now,' came and went and they were still here with a diner full of demons. Need to keep stalling.

"We also know your master is Oranstine." He met the human's gaze. "Does that name sound familiar to the Order of Taraka?"

But it was the trench-coat demon who answered. "Oranstine is dead. We killed that demon two hundred years ago."

"Yes," Giles said, "You took its head, but it did not die."

"Enough of this!" roared the lead vamp. "You're just stalling for time. No doubt the Slayers are already on they're way. And with you, we'll have hostages to play against them."

It seemed as if their time was up, and the creatures started to move forward again. Thinking quickly, Giles shouted, "You can have me! I won't resist. I'll be your hostage! But you must let the women go!"

"No!" Willow shouted at him. "I'm not gonna leave you!"

Before Giles could argue with her, the vamp said, "That's most certainly true. It is well known that you Watchers have a nasty character trait of being so self-sacrificing. Especially when it comes to your Slayers, you wouldn't hesitate to give up your life." The creature's eyes seemed to intensify as he glared at Giles. "In the end, however, it did not save young Noriko from her fate."

There was a new tint in the Watcher's eyes. One of anger. "So, Wallace is dead." He made it a statement.

"That surprises you?"

"No, not at all," Giles said, in almost a casual tone.

"Giles," Willow said. He looked down to see her looking at him in shock. "You were planning on killing yourself?"

Giles opened his mouth to say something, but he was suddenly speechless. But Willow saw the truth in his eyes.

Before anyone else could say anything, all the lights in the diner went out. There was a silent moment of confusion from all occupants in the building....

The lead vamp shouted, "Take them now!"

Of course, after that all fucking hell broke loose.

End of Part Fourteen