Part 5: The Slayer
…The next couple of weeks were the most intense of my life, I did stamina training three times daily and in between that I worked on my fighting techniques with Liz. Even now in my head I can still hear her saying, "Come on Faith just another mile, because all the technique in the world won't save you if you become tired mid battle." She taught me everything I know. She taught me my favourite part of slaying weapons…
Loud grunts accompanied by rhythmic thudding could be heard reverberating around Elizabeth's apartment. Elizabeth and Faith were in one of the spare rooms that Elizabeth had converted into a small training room for Faith. Elizabeth was dressed in her now customary grey suit, but her jacket was hanging in the room and she was tightly gripping a large rectangular pad as Faith was hitting the pad with a variety of kicks. Faith was dressed in her usual training attire a pair of dark training pants a sports bra; a pair of trainers and her dark hair was tied back to keep it out of her face. Over the next hour Faith went through a series of routines and practiced a variety of different kicks. Elizabeth continued to grip the pad shouting out "Good, again." after each kick. Every so often the two of them stopped and Elizabeth gave her advice such as, "Fully extend your leg" or "Put your hips into it more" Faith listened intently to the advice and then began again with her routine putting Elizabeth's advice to use, eventually Elizabeth shouted, "Stop I think that's enough for now." Faith stopped and picked up a towel that was lying on a piece of training apparatus and she wiped the sweat off her face. "Ok what's next?" Faith asked. Elizabeth walked over to the large cupboard on one side of the room and unlocked it, inside there were weapons of various descriptions, knifes, axes, stakes and crossbows were among the many items. Faith pushed a few loose strands of hair back behind ears and looked over the weapons in Awe. With a huge smile she exclaimed, " Wicked cool, weapons training!"
Faith continued to glance over each weapon as Elizabeth replied "Yes, you will be trained and evaluated on each of these, they are all of an even difficulty level, which one do you want to try first? Faith continued to look over the weapons and pointed to a large Black Fibreglass Bow and asked, " That one, I always wanted to use one of these like Rambo!"
Elizabeth had a puzzled look on her face while saying, "Rambo?"
Faith sniggered and replied, "You're kiddin' me? Liz where have you been living, the past 10 years? You gotta watch Rambo sometime you'll love it! Trust me"
…She even tried to get me to read the slayer handbook, but she gave up after a few attempts, well one attempt anyway and after that I flatly refused to even open the cover she never bothered me with that damn book again. Liz and me became pretty close too; she would never moan or complain about spending time with me, which was a nice change Even if it was just to run a few more miles or pummel the hell out of a heavy bag, I can remember after my mom died that I said I would never trust people again because in the end everyone leaves you. But thinking back Liz was the one who gave me back my faith in people, even if it wouldn't last. She taught me my winning mentality she taught me never to think about losing, because if you have any doubts about victory it could affect your concentration and focus in battle. The training over the two weeks brought me new confidence too; I was becoming more self assured about my skills and wanted to test them out. I went out "on patrol" as Liz called it, but she went with me, we took out one vamp at a time, with her helping me. But I was getting a little impatient; I wanted to test my skills fully, with no watcher holding me back telling me to be cautious…
2 weeks later
1998 Elizabeth's Apartment 6.45 p.m.
The sound of the TV could be heard blaring away in Elizabeth's apartment; Faith was lying on the couch engrossed in the images that were on the TV. Elizabeth made her way out of the kitchen carrying a tray that was neatly arranged with two plates of sandwiches and a pot of tea, one cup and a can of coke.
" I cannot believe you have never seen Spiderman, Spidey is the best, Liz, shouldn't Slayers be given wall crawling powers too? that would be so cool " Faith suddenly exclaimed. As Elizabeth sat down on the one available chair she handed Faith her sandwiches and poured herself a cup of tea, "Well when I was your age my studies encompassed a great deal of my leisure time, and I think your powers are sufficient to carry out your job " Was Elizabeth's response. The reply from Faith was simply a " uh Huh." She was more interested in watching the TV and eating her food. Elizabeth just sat back watching the young slayer, a smile formed on her lips as she thought about the hard outside that Faith put up at times, but watching her now she looked like any young teenager enjoying life. Elizabeth could feel herself caring for her Slayer in a 'motherly' way, which went against everything she had been taught but she didn't care, she just couldn't help it the young slayer was infectious. When both had finished eating Elizabeth quickly cleared up she, took the dishes to the kitchen as Faith continued to watch the TV. " What are you doing Faith, Shouldn't you be going on patrol now?" Elizabeth shouted.
"Yeah I guess, how long are you gonna be?" was Faiths answer.
"Well I'm having a nice evening in with a cup of Bovril and a good book." Elizabeth shouted back.
At that point Faith poked her head around the Kitchen door, "Does that mean I can patrol alone?" Faith asked with a hopeful look on her face.
Elizabeth softly smiled and replied, " Yes just be careful, I want you to check out the cemetery tonight to get rid of the any newly risen vampires, should you run into any more experienced vampires see if you can get any information about Kakistos or this other gang."
Faiths eyes lit up like the proverbial cat that got the crème as she answered, "Yeah thanks Liz, I'll be careful." Faith grabbed her jacket and opened the front door.
"Oh one more thing, can you go via Jack's and pick up a couple of vials of Holy Water?" Elizabeth shouted as she came out of the kitchen and looked at Faith. Faith then flashed Liz a huge grin on her way out of the door and shouted, "You got it!"
Faith jogged the short distance to Jacks magic shop; it was only a couple of blocks way from Elizabeth's Apartment. As she got there she saw a green and red neon sign reading 'Magick' that flickered on and off, above a small wooden door with a window. "When is he gonna get that cheesy sign fixed." Faith said to herself. As she opened the door a small bell rang as Faith entered and she made her way over to a counter.
…I can still remember Jacks magic shop today, the layout, where everything was, It was way bigger than the one I saw in Sunnydale, it was more commercial than it too, there was more useless junk in Jack's than there ever was in the shop in Sunnyd. A guy named Jack owned the store after his Dad died, he was just over 20 years old and in the beginning we got on very well, he was a real salesman though he would do anything to make a quick buck, sell stuff to demons, snitch a little anything to make money. I had gone here with Liz a couple of times. She used to be something of a practising Wicca she was nowhere near the power of the Mayor with his rituals but she could do some wicked spells and she used to bring me here when she stocked up on ingredients and items she needed. Liz taught me which stuff was for tourists and which stuff was real…
"Hey J you there? Faith shouted as she glanced about the shop.
"Just hold on a min geeez," was the muffled reply from within a storeroom behind the counter. After a few seconds of scrambling about a man emerged from the storeroom. The man was good looking, about 6 ft tall with a medium build, his eyes were a deep hazel and he had dark brown hair which was medium length which looked rather unkept, but to Faith some how never looked bad.
"Oh its only you, I shoulda stayed out back," Jack said with a smirk on his face.
"That is so hurtful," Faith replied in mock indignation, " You know I'm your favourite customer really, and to be blunt the best looking," Faith added a little half smile with her last two words.
" Well considering I've recently only had a few slimy demons in , I guess in those respects, you are my best looking customer", Jack retorted.
Faith grinned and replied, " Wow J that almost sounded like a compliment, you betta watch out, you keep saying things like that people will think you like me."
Jack just chuckled and asked, " So what's up Faith?"
"Oh you know supply run, Liz needs some holy water, so here I am." Faith replied
Jack kneeled under the counter and began to look for his stock of holy water. " I think we got some here, somewhere, so where's Liz tonight?" Jack inquired.
Faith sat herself on the counter with her legs hanging on Jacks side of the counter as she replied enthusiastically, " My first solo patrol tonight I can't wait."
Jack chuckled as he continued to look, " You sound enthusiastic about that, I'm sure glad I don't have your job."
"Well the pay sucks but I love doin it, it's so exciting, better than being stuck in a disorganised shop, taking hours to find a customer her goods." Faith stated with a grin on her face.
Jack got to his feet and placed a small box on the counter and replied, " Hey don't knock it till ya tried it, plus in here is a lot safer." Jack took a vial of holy water out and handed it to Faith and continued, " That's the only one I got, more will be in on Monday."
Faith took the vial, swung her legs around and slid off the counter and replied, " That'll do just put it on Liz's account, thanks, oh and this job safer? What happens if some 8ft demon bursts in looking for some artefact and doesn't want to pay? At least I would have the strength and stamina to kick its ass!"
Jack looked Faith up and down from behind his counter and smirked as he replied "stamina?"
Faith leaned over the counter and whispered, "Like you wouldn't believe" Leaving Jack speechless She then turned and headed towards the door shouting, "seeya" over her shoulder. As she reached the door Jack shouted after her, "Yeah, have fun." Without looking back Faith just held her hand up as she left the shop.
A small hazy mist hung over the cemetery; there was a slight calm breeze in the air that made the branches of the trees sway slightly. A figure then suddenly emerged cutting the mist as it punched and kicked into thin air. The figure was dressed in shiny black leather pants and a dark denim jacket covered its upper body, a small red top could be seen where the jacket was open, it continued to shadow box into thin air until it finally sat down on a wooden bench. "Come on vamps come to Faithy!" the figure on the bench exclaimed out loud. Faith was beginning to get impatient she spun a vial that was labelled holy water into the air and caught it. "Come on I've been shopping, now I need some action!" Faith said to herself with an annoyed tone in her voice. Then Faith suddenly stopped as something caught her attention, she slowly turned her head and looked at a mound of rupturing earth in front of a headstone a few metres from herself, the corners of her mouth slowly upturned into a grin, she put the vial in her jacket pocket and then said to herself, "Time to motorvate!" she then vaulted over the bench and headed in the direction of the moving grave.
Out of the mound of earth first came a hand then another, and then the rest of the body. The creature that emerged was a tall vampire it was dressed in a typical burial suit but its body was well built. It stood taking its first look and smell of the world as an undead creature of the night. The first thing it felt though was a jumping roundhouse kick to the back of the head, the vampire stumbled and fell over, Faith readied herself in a fighting stance smiling with glee exclaiming " Lets party big boy!" The Vampire quickly got to his feet but before he could regain any sense of positioning Faith was on him, she connected with a left then a right and she followed up with a spinning back hand. This sent the vampire sprawling face first to the ground. Faith then leapt onto his back and began to give the vampire clubbing left and right hooks to the side and back of his head. As Faith continued to pound away she heard a twig snap behind her, she instinctively knew another vampire was approaching, she quickly rolled off the back of the first vampire. As Faith came out of her roll she brought her hands up grabbing a leg that had been aimed in her direction. Faith then spun around and swept away the new vampires balancing leg, the vampire then landed on his back with a loud thud. Faith then sprung up to her feet and in a flash she had a stake out and drove it into the vampire. Faith looked down at the vampire the stake had been driven through his shoulder and was driven with such force that it was half in his shoulder and half in the ground, pinning the vampire in his place. Faith then quickly stamped on the protruding stake so the end was embedded into the chest so the vampire couldn't pull it out. She gave the vampire a sexy pout and remarked, "I'll be back for you when I've finished playing."
Faith looked around for the other vampire, he had stumbled to his feet and was fleeing in the opposite direction. Faith just smiled and began to run after him. When Faith caught up with him the two began two trade blows, The Vampire was just swinging furiously, Faith though was simply blocking and parrying until she got an opening. Eventually Faith dodged one of the Vampires stray punches, she then grabbed his wrist and quickly put his arm up around his back into an arm lock, she then reached for her stake. But a moment of panic spread over as she realised she had used it to pin the other vamp to the ground. This gave the vampire a chance for him to recover and he used the momentary lapse in Faiths concentration to reverse her arm up behind her back. The Vampire then grinned as he bent down to sink his teeth into Faith's exposed neck. Faith could feel the vampire's breath on her neck as he was preparing to feed, an idea then came into her head, she reached her free hand down between the vampire's legs and squeezed as hard as she could. The vampire let out a loud scream as he sank to his knees in excruciating pain, Faith stood over the vampire with a huge grin on her face, " What can I say, men…you always think between your legs, that's probably why that hurt!" Faith then reached into her jacket pocket and unfurled a small length of sharp metal wire. She then wrapped it around the vampire's neck and pulled the ends in opposite directions cleanly decapitating the vampire, his body and head fell to the ground separately before both exploded into a haze of dust.
Faith then made her way back to the vampire she left staked to the floor. When she reached him the vampire was still pinned down but was struggling trying to free himself. Faith then straddled the vampire's upper chest, her legs pinning his arms down. The vampire began to struggle and snarl, "Now play nice will ya" Faith said with a little wink of her eye. The vampire seemed to calm down realising he had no chance of escape.
" Ok now you aren't newly risen judging by the total lack of dirt on your threads, so you could help me by answering some questions?" Faith asked. The vampire just closed his mouth in defiance. "So are you one of Kakisto's men?" was Faiths question, she was met with silence. Faith then unbuttoned her jacket pocket and pulled out the vial of Holy Water with a smile on her face she said " Not exactly Mr talkative are you, so now we're now gonna play a game, I just got this new bottle of Holy water and I want a second opinion on how it tastes, and you have got the honours."
The vampire just stared wide eyed in horror as Faith continued, "now every time I think your lying to me or refuse to answer you get a small sip, and I have to tell ya even though I'm a slayer my speciality isn't drip feeding people so if I maybe miss your mouth it could end up on your face or as replacement eye drops and think how much that is gonna hurt when it burns your eyes out, so who do you work for?" The vampire again refused to answer. Faith simply smiled and poured a little of the Holy Water into the vampire's mouth a small hissing sound and smoke began to emanate from the vampires mouth and he let out small scream. "Now I know you work for some big daddy vamp what is his name?" Faith asked. Faith received a snarling response, "I ain't gonna tell you shit Slayer…" Faith quickly cut him off "oops" And she spilt more of the Holy water but this time she missed the mouth and a drop went rolling down the vampire's cheek burning and hissing as it ran down the vampires face, this was accompanied by another scream. " Are you getting a taste for it cuz I'm having a hoot and a half, I think we could go All night" Faith quipped as she gave the vamp a sexy smile. "Ok, ok you psycho I'll talk, I'm one of Kakisto's men I was here to get some new recruits." The vampire said with a tone of resignation in his voice.
"Good, good, your learning quick, now what do you know about these vamps that are opposing Kakistos?" Faith asked
"I...I…dunno anything," The vampire stammered in response.
Faith just grinned, " oh it looks like you have something in your eye, I'll just try to wash it ok baby?" she began to slowly tip the vial…
"Nooooooooooooooo!" The vampire screamed, "Ok, ok Kakistos is holding a meeting tonight about how to deal with the subordinate vampires, everyone will be there, he is holding it at the Casino on Hoyt Street, that's everything I know I promise!" After taking all this in Faith simply winked at the vampire turned and said over her shoulder as she walked away. " Thanks you've been a sweetie."
"Wait, Wait you've got to help me up," the vampire pleaded as he watched Faith walking away. Faith turned around and glared at the vampire she raised her eyebrows which was followed by a smirk, " You got a pair on you I'll give you that!" Faith responded. She then went over to vampire and pulled him up with all her strength. The vampire screamed as he was pulled off the stake which was still in the ground, he then stumbled to his knees clutching his shoulder whilst Faith was retrieving her stake out of the ground. The Vampire rose to his feet and as he turned to face Faith he remarked, " My life ain't gonna be worth living now I ain't worth…"
The vampire than came to a realisation he looked down at his chest and the Stake that had been driven into his shoulder was now firmly embedded in his chest in the region of his heart, the vampire then exploded into a cloud of dust and smoke. "Dust" Faith said with a smirk on her face as she finished the vampire's sentence for him. She then took a quick glance around the Graveyard before sprinting off in the direction she came to relay her new information to Elizabeth.