Stepping into Darkness

Part 3


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The darkness cast an eerie shadow on her path. Her calling pulled her closer and the smell of fear filled her senses, intoxicating, inviting her presence. Stepping on a wounded rat, she pulled her weapon from its place, slowly edging herself closer. Creeping through the dingy streets, the foul stench preyed upon her, willing her to leave.

She could feel him near, a master surrounded by evil, engulfed within its grasp. Narrowing her eyes, she continued on her path, undeterred by the eyes that watched her every move, unwilling to let her focus drop. This one was strong and she craved the fight ahead.

Stretching out, she sensed the minions, weak and harmless to her, and the humans. She knew her calling, she knew her job. Lowering herself to a crouch, she brushed a stray hair from her masked face and turned the corner...


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"Angel! Look out!"

He spun around at Cordelia's warning and quickly used the vampire's momentum to throw him onto the ground. These minions were weak and foolish to think they could take him on. He had over three hundred years of experience and about a hundred of those years had been spent in hell.

Spinning on one foot, he kicked the other vampire into the side of the building, stunning it for long enough to allow Cordelia to stake it. Without turning, he pulled a stake from his duster and spinning it in his hand, thrust it back into the remaining vampire as it got to its feet.

"Well, I should think that would do it." Wesley said as he wiped the remains of the last vampire from his shirt and removed his glasses to clean them.

"Yeah, I don't think there'll be more trouble tonight."

"Yeah, Gunn, way to jinx it." Cordelia said throwing her hands in the air. Looking towards Angel, she frowned at the strange look on his face.

"More trouble?" Gunn asked, exchanging a glance with Cordelia.

"I...I don't know."

"Oh, well that helps." Cordelia said, brushing at her clothes.

"I can sense someone...but if I didn't know any better I'd say it was a Slayer."

"Buffy?" Cordelia whispered, slightly hopeful.

"It can't be Buffy." Angel replied looking at his hands. Cordelia and Wesley averted their gazes as Gunn looked around awkwardly.

After a moments silence, Cordelia looked back at Angel, "It's not mad psycho bitch is it? 'Cause I am so..."

"No, it's not Faith."

"Faith is in jail, Cordelia," Wesley said to the girl, "I don't really see that she can pose much of a threat from there."

Cordelia raised her eyebrows at him, "Yeah, I sleep safe knowing that."


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She pulled away, confused by what she had seen. This vampire was not like the others - he was helping the humans. He had sensed her and she knew that she was wise to leave quickly. This one was not to be underestimated.

She stealthily made her way back, retracing her previous steps, sensing the eyes that continued to follow her path. She stopped and turned around, awaiting their imminent arrival. She wasn't disappointed.

"So," the woman purred, stepping into the light, "a Slayer." Sneering, the woman tilted her head to the side as she vamped out, "I've been waiting for years for the opportunity to kill a Slayer." As the vampire spoke, her minions surrounded the area, each one grinning at their assumed victory.

The leader gave a sharp nod of her head and they moved in closer. In an instant, the Slayer jumped into the air, landing kicks to the vampires directly to her left and right, knocking them down. As she landed, the leader grabbed her and slammed her into the nearest wall.

Instantly, the Slayer lashed out and placed the back of her hand against the vampire's face, connecting with a loud slap, throwing her opponent to the ground. The two vampires, yet to enter into the fray, had stakes protruding from their suddenly dusty forms before they had even seen them leave the Slayers flaring sleeves.

The Slayer turned her attention back to the master vampire, who was now back on her feet, and the two quickly began to throw well-aimed punches and kicks. The Slayer spun around, her leg flying over the master's head as it ducked. As she finished spinning, the Slayer threw a stake from her right hand that landed in one of the remaining vampires, quickly turning it to dust.

In a fury of punches and kicks, she managed to keep the others at bay. Jumping up onto a dumpster, she flipped herself over the two vampires landing behind them and instantly, she fell to the ground as something heavy cracked her head from the back.

"Well, Slayer," the voice slurred, "I think you've outstayed your welcome."

She rose slowly, her head still lowered. Turning, she stared at the other vampire that had appeared behind her. It was still holding onto the large plank of wood that had recently been in contact with her head.

The vampire laughed at her deadly stare and continued, "And don't think I'm going to give you a choice in the matter." The Slayer's gaze remained fixed as she prepared to fight.

"Oops, look at this. I think I've walked in on a private moment. Am I bad?" The three vampires and the Slayer turned to see a pretty brunette standing at the end of the alleyway.

"Go away, little girl, or I might just let you in on the party," the vampire leered.

"Really," her face lit up, "do you mind if I invite a few friends?" Suddenly, out of nowhere, a tall good-looking vampire and two other humans appeared.

Kicking the Slayer's most recent enemy in the chest, the new vampire said, "I guess my invite got lost in the post, huh?"

The Slayer rolled her eyes before flipping herself backwards and continuing her fight with the remaining two vamps. After a few minutes, all three of her opponents were dust and she turned to the new vampire, stake in hand.

"Woah!" The brunette stepped forward, "He just saved your ass." The Slayer raised her eyebrows behind her mask as the girl continued, "You can't stake him."

Angel looked at the girl in front of him, an unidentifiable familiarity striking him. Frowning, he stepped forward, hoping that his instincts were right, "My name's Angel."

"As in Angelus?"

"No, no, no, no, no," the brunette, waved her arms emphatically, "Well, actually yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. But he's a good Angelus. He has a soul. He's Angel."

"And that makes a difference?"

"Oh great. We get him away from Horny Slayer, only to get him dusted by Psycho Slayer number two!"

"Cordelia!" Wesley looked at her incredulously.

"What? Well, at least this time we won't need to worry about you being soulless. That's one up over Buffy." She turned quickly to Angel, "Oh God, I didn't mean..."

"It's okay, I know. I forget sometimes, too." Angel gave her a small smile and turned back to the Slayer. He looked into her eyes and frowned once more at their familiarity.

"Who are you?" He asked. The girl seemed to be eyeing him suspiciously, unsure of how to proceed. Slowly she lowered her stake.

"Just stay out of my way and I'll let you live." She brushed past them and started to walk down the street.

"Rude much? Who's to say he couldn't kick your ass anyway?"

The Slayer turned back to look at her menacingly, "Wanna find out?"

"Okay, enough." Angel stepped in before the Slayer permanently damaged Cordelia, "Why don't we try to come to some kind of arrangement? We can go back to the hotel and work something out. Deal?" The two girls eyed each other suspiciously for a few minutes before the Slayer replied.

"Deal."

"Cordelia?" He looked at her expectantly.

"Oh all right." There was a pause as the two girls continued to glare at each other.

Wesley looked back and forth between the two as Gunn stepped forward in an attempt to aid Angel, "So," he asked, "what's your name?"

She stared at them all once again before focusing on Angel. She stared into his eyes and time seemed to stand still. Angel inhaled deeply, using a long since redundant function, as the girl seemed to search his soul. After a moment, she lowered her stake.

"Fliq." The girl pulled the mask from her face and looked back at four startled faces.

"Buffy?"


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END OF PART 3

I know, I'm not just the Diva of Darkness, I'm also the Queen of Confusion!