A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed already! Hopefully
you'll like the rest of the story just as much (or maybe more.?)!
* * * * * * * * *
Chapter Two~
A neon sign blinked as if on the verge of reluctant sleep outside the 24-hour diner. Beside it a small chalkboard displayed the day menu that listed an assortment of pies. Below the day menu was the night menu. It consisted mostly of an assortment of blood types.
It was a demon and human diner. A friendly demon that only needed to refuel on a flock of pigeons every three months or so ran it. The demon, Melonia or Mel as some called him, employed humans and strictly enforced an anti-violence rule in and around his diner. For its position on the so- called 'bad part' (that's assuming there was a good part of the city) of New York City, Mel's Pies did well for itself.
Sitting in a crusty, red-cushioned stool at the bar, Spike picked at a half-eaten apple pie. He'd had a bit of blood at a bar in London but that had been a few days ago. He wasn't even in the mood for a good beer. The pie revolving in the lighted case just looked so damn good at the time. It'd been a confusing trail of rumors about a particularly vengeful city that drew Spike to New York City. True, the chances were slim that Anya would be in the same place but there weren't many big cities, he might as well hit them all.
As Spike polished off his third pie plate, a woman with unruly brown hair slid into the stool beside him. He didn't pay much heed to her at first. It was a little odd that someone so clearly human would sit right next to a vampire even in such a peaceful diner. And by the time Spike ordered a slice of blueberry pie, his fifth slice of pie, he realized the women was watching him steadily in the corner of her eye as she drank her coffee.
Never the one to hold back, Spike finished off the slice and finally asked, "Do I know you?"
The woman turned to him. Her brown hair fell back to reveal a relatively young face, mid to late twenties Spike assumed. The only thing that betrayed the age in her face was the glitter in her eyes. Her dark brown eyes seemed playful but as if she'd seen a lot of the world at the same time. It was as if the woman should've had wrinkles to show all she'd been through.
"No but I know you," she teased.
Spike scowled. He hated guessing games.
"Look, little girl-"
"Little girl?" the dark-haired woman raised her eyebrows at him. It was only then he saw a long jagged scar on her left temple. She'd seen many battles, that's where the wisdom in her eyes came from.
"Who are you?" Spike demanded.
"Oh, touchy," the woman scolded, "I was just walking by and saw you here looking so lonesome. Thought I might mosey in and cash in on that promise you made me so very long ago."
Spike stared at her in confusion.
She leaned in close to Spike's ear and whispered, "You get that chip out yet?"
Pulling away from her, Spike stared hard the woman, mouth agape. "What are-"
"Aw, come on, you didn't forget about that confrontation we were planning. I'd still be willing to pop you like warm champagne," the woman said seductively.
"But Buffy said that- oh."
Spike faltered. He remembered vaguely that Dawn told him about Buffy switching bodies once with another Slayer who was named Faith. The switch had been made around the time of his strange 'chat' with Buffy at The Bronze. That was the first time he really lusted for Buffy. But maybe it hadn't really been Buffy.
"Yeah," the woman laughed, "the bad Slayer returns and this time in her own digs."
Faith ran her hands down her worn black leather pants. Spike wondered whether it was true. He hazily remembered Xander's description of the other Slayer as a brunette but that's about it. How could she make all of that up?
"What, you don't you believe me?" Faith pouted.
"Honestly." Spike started.
She leaned in again, her lips lightly brushing his ear lobe. Softly she asked, "wanna give it a go? See if I'm really the Slayer-gone-wrong?" * * * * * * * * * * "You can't keep doing this."
Anya turned to glare at her employer.
"D'Hoffryn." she started but the demon waved his hand at her.
"You're sorry?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Actually I was going to inquire as to whether you ever knocked," Anya replied curtly.
"Oh." D'Hoffryn turned to look at the open door of Anya's apartment. "Sorry."
Anya just shook her head and stood up from her desk.
"As I was saying." D'Hoffryn started walked closer to her. "You have to stop doing this. Part of being vengeance demon is reeking vengeance."
"I know but."
"But what? It's been five years, Anyanka," His tone softened. "You need to move on."
"You make it sound like it isn't as complex as it."
"I realize that it must be hard but if you continue to not grant people their wishes then you can't continue to be vengeance demon."
Gazing to her feet, Anya bit her lip, a habit she'd picked up recently.
After a moment, D'Hoffryn prodded, "Anyanka?"
She looked up at him like a deer headlights.
"I'll require time to consider this," she said quickly.
"Times like these. any strength you can get, you should keep," D'Hoffryn replied, a little taken back by her answer. "I'll give you some time." Then he left as quickly as he came.
Anya stood a moment, running everything through her mind.
"Stay alive," Spike echoed in her mind again.
Then, she realized that the only thing she needed to keep living wasn't something she'd get through wishes. Quickly, before she could change her mind, Anya threw her few belongings into a suitcase and left her apartment.
Anya had to find Spike. * * * * * * * * * Their breathing was heavy. She looked at him, her dark eyes glinting with pleasure.
"Had enough?" Spike shook his head and replied, "hold on."
Faith smiled at him from across the alleyway. One of his temples was bleeding and he moved to wipe it before it trickled down his chiseled features. He was a good fighter she gave him that. It had been a while since Faith went up against a really strong demon. Since the Final Battle she'd mostly taken on small town nuisances and anything that was in her way. Even though it wasn't exactly her style, Faith was trying to keep a low profile. Many demons these days didn't believe that Slayers even existed. But the ones that knew better, the old ones, only craved to kill her even more than they had in the past. Killing a myth was even better than killing a legend.
Carefully, Spike studied the woman that was smiling at him on the other side of the alley. She was strong. Slayer strong, most likely. And how would she know all the things she said about Buffy and the others? Talking about the body switch and various events during Buffy's senior year when they had been fighting before, Faith had convinced Spike that she was the Slayer. She had to be. What else could she be?
"Have you been following me?" Spike asked suddenly.
Faith laughed mockingly and said, "If that's what gets you going."
Trying to keep his cool, Spike shrugged and replied smoothly, "I would blame you or anything if you were."
Again, Faith laughed.
"You vampire, me Slayer, remember?" she asked.
"I heard a rumor you had quite a thing for Angel way back when."
"It's different with Angel. You know that," she teased.
Spike scowled and asked quickly, "why are you here?"
"Local vampire nest," she replied nonchalantly. "Sides, this little country gal wanted to get a taste of the. bigger city. Why are you here?"
"I'm. looking for a demon," he answered cryptically. Spike was oddly not in the mood to bear his soul to this stranger.
"What kind? I could use something to kill."
"I won't let you," Spike caught himself, "kill anything until I'm sure you won't just turn around and dust me," he finished lamely.
Faith faked pouted. "I'm hurt. I wouldn't stake you. Not until you stake me that is."
A sexy half smile crept across Faith's face. Spike ignored it.
"You can tag along if you want. Just don't get in the way," he warned.
"Come on, Angel, drop the cryptic," Faith teased, her smile took a sly edge.
"Fine. Now, I don't exactly know where this demon is. I asked around at a demon bar in New Jersey and they pointed me here but I can't be sure."
"I was actually wondering who this demon is but."
"A friend. Which means no maiming or killing."
"Where's the fun in that?" Faith complained but saw Spike's warning glance. "Fine. But will you pitch in with the nest after?"
"Why not?" Spike replied tiredly.
"Oh, we're going to have tons of fun," she said sarcastically.
"I'm just." Spike stopped and pulled out a cigarette that he lit and took a slow drag on.
When she saw that he wasn't going to finish his sentence, Faith asked, "So when are we going to find this demon?" * * * * * * * * * * "Where ya headed miss?"
Anya stared up at the bus driver who stared back at her through the mirror above his seat. She then scanned the bus. It was pretty much empty. Sleep weighed down the corners of the bus driver's eyes. His run was almost over.
"Where are you going?" Anya asked.
The bus driver blinked in confusion then shifted in his seat.
"Now, miss, I have."
"Please," Anya pleaded. "Where's the furthest you travel to?"
After considering the girl, the bus driver said, "end of the island. That stop is near a hotel."
Not exactly what Anya was hoping for but at least it would give her time to leave New York before D'Hoffryn figured out what happened. She thanked the bus driver, dropped a few coins down, and found a secluded window seat.
Watching the broken down shops pass her by, Anya felt growing excitement about her search. But at the same time, uncertainty followed it like a shadow.
TBC.
Chapter Two~
A neon sign blinked as if on the verge of reluctant sleep outside the 24-hour diner. Beside it a small chalkboard displayed the day menu that listed an assortment of pies. Below the day menu was the night menu. It consisted mostly of an assortment of blood types.
It was a demon and human diner. A friendly demon that only needed to refuel on a flock of pigeons every three months or so ran it. The demon, Melonia or Mel as some called him, employed humans and strictly enforced an anti-violence rule in and around his diner. For its position on the so- called 'bad part' (that's assuming there was a good part of the city) of New York City, Mel's Pies did well for itself.
Sitting in a crusty, red-cushioned stool at the bar, Spike picked at a half-eaten apple pie. He'd had a bit of blood at a bar in London but that had been a few days ago. He wasn't even in the mood for a good beer. The pie revolving in the lighted case just looked so damn good at the time. It'd been a confusing trail of rumors about a particularly vengeful city that drew Spike to New York City. True, the chances were slim that Anya would be in the same place but there weren't many big cities, he might as well hit them all.
As Spike polished off his third pie plate, a woman with unruly brown hair slid into the stool beside him. He didn't pay much heed to her at first. It was a little odd that someone so clearly human would sit right next to a vampire even in such a peaceful diner. And by the time Spike ordered a slice of blueberry pie, his fifth slice of pie, he realized the women was watching him steadily in the corner of her eye as she drank her coffee.
Never the one to hold back, Spike finished off the slice and finally asked, "Do I know you?"
The woman turned to him. Her brown hair fell back to reveal a relatively young face, mid to late twenties Spike assumed. The only thing that betrayed the age in her face was the glitter in her eyes. Her dark brown eyes seemed playful but as if she'd seen a lot of the world at the same time. It was as if the woman should've had wrinkles to show all she'd been through.
"No but I know you," she teased.
Spike scowled. He hated guessing games.
"Look, little girl-"
"Little girl?" the dark-haired woman raised her eyebrows at him. It was only then he saw a long jagged scar on her left temple. She'd seen many battles, that's where the wisdom in her eyes came from.
"Who are you?" Spike demanded.
"Oh, touchy," the woman scolded, "I was just walking by and saw you here looking so lonesome. Thought I might mosey in and cash in on that promise you made me so very long ago."
Spike stared at her in confusion.
She leaned in close to Spike's ear and whispered, "You get that chip out yet?"
Pulling away from her, Spike stared hard the woman, mouth agape. "What are-"
"Aw, come on, you didn't forget about that confrontation we were planning. I'd still be willing to pop you like warm champagne," the woman said seductively.
"But Buffy said that- oh."
Spike faltered. He remembered vaguely that Dawn told him about Buffy switching bodies once with another Slayer who was named Faith. The switch had been made around the time of his strange 'chat' with Buffy at The Bronze. That was the first time he really lusted for Buffy. But maybe it hadn't really been Buffy.
"Yeah," the woman laughed, "the bad Slayer returns and this time in her own digs."
Faith ran her hands down her worn black leather pants. Spike wondered whether it was true. He hazily remembered Xander's description of the other Slayer as a brunette but that's about it. How could she make all of that up?
"What, you don't you believe me?" Faith pouted.
"Honestly." Spike started.
She leaned in again, her lips lightly brushing his ear lobe. Softly she asked, "wanna give it a go? See if I'm really the Slayer-gone-wrong?" * * * * * * * * * * "You can't keep doing this."
Anya turned to glare at her employer.
"D'Hoffryn." she started but the demon waved his hand at her.
"You're sorry?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Actually I was going to inquire as to whether you ever knocked," Anya replied curtly.
"Oh." D'Hoffryn turned to look at the open door of Anya's apartment. "Sorry."
Anya just shook her head and stood up from her desk.
"As I was saying." D'Hoffryn started walked closer to her. "You have to stop doing this. Part of being vengeance demon is reeking vengeance."
"I know but."
"But what? It's been five years, Anyanka," His tone softened. "You need to move on."
"You make it sound like it isn't as complex as it."
"I realize that it must be hard but if you continue to not grant people their wishes then you can't continue to be vengeance demon."
Gazing to her feet, Anya bit her lip, a habit she'd picked up recently.
After a moment, D'Hoffryn prodded, "Anyanka?"
She looked up at him like a deer headlights.
"I'll require time to consider this," she said quickly.
"Times like these. any strength you can get, you should keep," D'Hoffryn replied, a little taken back by her answer. "I'll give you some time." Then he left as quickly as he came.
Anya stood a moment, running everything through her mind.
"Stay alive," Spike echoed in her mind again.
Then, she realized that the only thing she needed to keep living wasn't something she'd get through wishes. Quickly, before she could change her mind, Anya threw her few belongings into a suitcase and left her apartment.
Anya had to find Spike. * * * * * * * * * Their breathing was heavy. She looked at him, her dark eyes glinting with pleasure.
"Had enough?" Spike shook his head and replied, "hold on."
Faith smiled at him from across the alleyway. One of his temples was bleeding and he moved to wipe it before it trickled down his chiseled features. He was a good fighter she gave him that. It had been a while since Faith went up against a really strong demon. Since the Final Battle she'd mostly taken on small town nuisances and anything that was in her way. Even though it wasn't exactly her style, Faith was trying to keep a low profile. Many demons these days didn't believe that Slayers even existed. But the ones that knew better, the old ones, only craved to kill her even more than they had in the past. Killing a myth was even better than killing a legend.
Carefully, Spike studied the woman that was smiling at him on the other side of the alley. She was strong. Slayer strong, most likely. And how would she know all the things she said about Buffy and the others? Talking about the body switch and various events during Buffy's senior year when they had been fighting before, Faith had convinced Spike that she was the Slayer. She had to be. What else could she be?
"Have you been following me?" Spike asked suddenly.
Faith laughed mockingly and said, "If that's what gets you going."
Trying to keep his cool, Spike shrugged and replied smoothly, "I would blame you or anything if you were."
Again, Faith laughed.
"You vampire, me Slayer, remember?" she asked.
"I heard a rumor you had quite a thing for Angel way back when."
"It's different with Angel. You know that," she teased.
Spike scowled and asked quickly, "why are you here?"
"Local vampire nest," she replied nonchalantly. "Sides, this little country gal wanted to get a taste of the. bigger city. Why are you here?"
"I'm. looking for a demon," he answered cryptically. Spike was oddly not in the mood to bear his soul to this stranger.
"What kind? I could use something to kill."
"I won't let you," Spike caught himself, "kill anything until I'm sure you won't just turn around and dust me," he finished lamely.
Faith faked pouted. "I'm hurt. I wouldn't stake you. Not until you stake me that is."
A sexy half smile crept across Faith's face. Spike ignored it.
"You can tag along if you want. Just don't get in the way," he warned.
"Come on, Angel, drop the cryptic," Faith teased, her smile took a sly edge.
"Fine. Now, I don't exactly know where this demon is. I asked around at a demon bar in New Jersey and they pointed me here but I can't be sure."
"I was actually wondering who this demon is but."
"A friend. Which means no maiming or killing."
"Where's the fun in that?" Faith complained but saw Spike's warning glance. "Fine. But will you pitch in with the nest after?"
"Why not?" Spike replied tiredly.
"Oh, we're going to have tons of fun," she said sarcastically.
"I'm just." Spike stopped and pulled out a cigarette that he lit and took a slow drag on.
When she saw that he wasn't going to finish his sentence, Faith asked, "So when are we going to find this demon?" * * * * * * * * * * "Where ya headed miss?"
Anya stared up at the bus driver who stared back at her through the mirror above his seat. She then scanned the bus. It was pretty much empty. Sleep weighed down the corners of the bus driver's eyes. His run was almost over.
"Where are you going?" Anya asked.
The bus driver blinked in confusion then shifted in his seat.
"Now, miss, I have."
"Please," Anya pleaded. "Where's the furthest you travel to?"
After considering the girl, the bus driver said, "end of the island. That stop is near a hotel."
Not exactly what Anya was hoping for but at least it would give her time to leave New York before D'Hoffryn figured out what happened. She thanked the bus driver, dropped a few coins down, and found a secluded window seat.
Watching the broken down shops pass her by, Anya felt growing excitement about her search. But at the same time, uncertainty followed it like a shadow.
TBC.