An act of Fate
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Faye's POV
I woke up slowly to hear silence in a large dark room. I am reminded of an aggravated pain from the back of my head as I began to sit up. All of the sudden I remembered what had just happened, Spike got shot. I tried to stand, but large, heavy steel chains around my legs, arms and my torso held me fast to a heavy metal chair. Why couldn't they just put ropes around me? Handcuffs would have been better, but chains? They are digging into my skin leaving red marks. I want to call out to anyone who was listening, but I feel so weak I can't even form words. I managed to tilt my head to see a blurred figure, who looks vaguely familiar. It was Shin, he was at Spike's funeral, the only syndicate member who attended. Something inside my gut told me I can trust him. My natural instinct is to grab my necklace, but I couldn't so I bit my lip. I slowly built enough courage to talk to him.
"Where am I?" I moaned, my head is pounding and my eyes feel heavy, but I have to remain focused. I felt some of my violet hair fall in my face.
I looked around some to reveal that I was in a large room, a study of some type, with bookcases built into the walls. The milky marble floor reflected the lapis moonlight flawlessly. The floor was clothed with blood red velvet carpeting that flowed from antique heavy wooden double doors to a large mahogany desk at center of the room. To the left of me there was another matching door surrounded by bookcases and a heavy antique table that matched the doors. Lastly, there was behind the desk, in the center of the room, was an enormous Palladian window that had heavy red drapes covering its sides like a long winter cloak. The luxurious room seemed ominous and eerie when overcast with shadow and darkness. Shin was standing in the shadows as if not wanting to be found. I could see that he had something on his mind; it was like a demon that haunted him tirelessly.
"I'm sorry to say that you are in the Red Dragon Syndicate headquarters." His light murmur pierced the silence like a bullet through water. His dark brown eyes looked down at me with a poorly-hidden sorrow.
"Please, tell me, is Spike ok?" I pleaded I felt my eyes become soft and liquid.
"He's fine; Scythe hit him with one of my tranquilizer bullets. It's yourself you should be worried about." He looked away from me and grabbed something on a table
"Why? What are you going to do to me?" I felt myself get anxious, I wanted to get out of here, fast.
"I don't want to do anything to you, Scythe wants to kill you." He came back with a glass of water and a pill "Here drink this; it will help with your head injury." He put the pill in the water and held it to my lips. I hesitatingly drank it
"Why do you want to help me?" I asked weakly
"Scythe is a disgrace of a man; he should have been killed long ago. He has no right capturing you." he said with a slight burning hatred in his eyes. I could tell he was trained not to show emotion, he doesn't do a very good job.
"What has he done?" I asked curiously
"He goes after people who tried to help Vicious in any way. He was Vicious' commanding officer on Titan, he was nicknamed Sergeant Scorpion. He took in Vicious, trying to be his father, and pretty much taught him to hate people." Shin spilled very quietly
"Oh..." I said simply
"That isn't the half of it he tried to-" The communicator rang I realized that I no longer had it, but Shin did. He answered it as spoke something into communicator. He hung up quickly.
"Wait! Was that Spike? What did you say to him?" I panicked why didn't he let me talk to Spike?
"Settle down Faye, it will be ok, I just helped out Spike a little; that is all." He spoke with soothing words that seemed to calm me down a little
"Settle down? I am being held captive by a psychopath and Spike is about to get himself killed again! I don't want to lose him after just having him." I exploded at Lin, I know I shouldn't but that was the only thing I could think of doing besides crying.
He put his hand on my shoulder, his hand felt warn and comforting, it reminded me of Spike's. "Listen Faye; try not to lose composure that is exactly what Scythe wants you to do, the calmer you are the calmer Spike will be. Try to help Spike by being strong for him."
His words made perfect sense. I can't break down; I have to stay strong for Spike. He would stay strong for me I know it; I have to help Spike out as much as possible. I want to get out of here I hate it here. Please, Spike come soon. I want to be in your arms again, I want to feel your soft warm lips lock on mine. I want to take in his aroma of cigarettes, vodka and a rain fresh sent. I want to be entranced in your soul-piercing garnet eyes. I want to feel like nothing will ever harm me. I can only feel completely protected when I am in your arms. I feel as if we are the only people in the world and that nothing can reach us when he holds me. Spike please, I need you right now more than ever, I will try to be strong for you but I don't know how long it will last. Spike, I love you, come soon.
Shin turned quickly and went to the door. A few seconds after doing so the large double doors door swung open violently and Scythe came barging in
"Well, well, well, what do we have here, you're awake my little pretty." He put his cold fingers under my chin and his slate blue eyes flashed.
"Let me go!" I pulled away from his fingers sharply and glared as menacingly as I could into his eyes.
"I wouldn't have to have hurt you if you had joined me at the casino." He grinned maliciously
"Let me go now!" I yelled at him this time glaring maliciously into his eyes. I felt my eyes burn.
He reached to backhand me across the face when he suddenly regained composure. "Don't you worry pretty, you will have a one way ticket to hell soon enough." He frowned and ran his fingers through my hair. I saw Shin flinch the tiniest bit.
"Get away from me you creepy son of a bitch!" I yelled at him yanking my head from his dead fingers.
"Why you little-" he reared up his hand to hit me when it was caught by Shin
"Don't hit her Scythe, not yet, remember I want my revenge too." I saw him look in Scythe's darkly
"You are messing with me Shin, I wouldn't do that if I were you." He smirked and put down his hand "I remember the last person who messed with me was a man named Gren. He isn't even alive to tell the sad little tale."
"You... what did you do to Gren?" I muttered lowly through clinched teeth.
"That fool tried to make Vicious soft. So, I had to kill him." he admitted proudly
"The scorpion, you tried to kill Gren with the scorpion." I yelled slightly shrilly
"Yes, and when Vicious saved him, they both paid dearly. Vicious had to be taught a lesson, and so did Gren." he smiled evilly, I watched out of the corner of my eye Shin looked outside the window for a second.
"What lesson did they have to learn?" My mouth gaped at the thought of how evil this man really was
"Vicious had to learn that friends don't help, they only hurt you. Gren had to learn to stop being so damn compassionate-" I cut him off
"You imprisoned Gren, and made it look like Vicious did. I bet you put him on the Red Eye that made him change! You sick bastard, I bet it was even you who put the homing beacon in the damn music box!" I yelled at him, the whole story made me sick to my stomach, I felt a tear slide down my cheek.
Poor Gren, he didn't deserve that, he was one of the kindest men I've ever known. He was one of the only men I have ever confided in. He was certainly one of the most honorable men I have ever known, and I wasn't even there with him when he died. I wanted to hold Gren's hand as his star fell. He and Vicious were friends. Vicious saved him from the scorpion, even though he knew Scythe was trying to kill him. That is the only thing I can thank Vicious of. I miss you Gren! I wish I could have thanked him for being there for me even though I was…a faerie. I wish I could have known him as he knew me. I wish I could just turn back time, and have him never imprisoned. If I did that, I would have never met him, but he could lead a normal life at least. It's not fair, why did that have to happen to Gren? I don't understand why such honorable people had to die for such an unjust cause. I wish Gren were alive, and Lin too, but they are dead. They were just collateral damage. I hate Sycthe, why did he have to do those things? Why couldn't he just leave Gren and Lin and everyone else be?
"My, we are perceptive aren't we?" He calmly took out a knife from his pocket and waved it in the air
"Why would you do such a thing?" I asked him angrily
"You mean something like this." I lost my breath as he took a dagger from his coat, and slid its sharp blade across my arm creating a long slice. I watched helplessly as blood thickly seeped from the wound. He returned the knife to his pocket after wiping the blood on my shirt. Shin's eyes widened the tiniest bit as he cut my arm from shoulder to elbow in a long deep gash. I winced as I saw a man rush in from the hallway.
"Sir the guests have arrived, a red Swordfish and a brown Hammerhead. They are attacking the eastern side as we speak sir." The short fat bald man reported
"Oh have they? Just in case they come in, disengage all elevators and block all stair wells." Scythe hissed back
"Sir, I think you need to come see this, the missiles on our fighters are being disabled." He reported with more urgency
"Fine I will see to what is happening." Scythe hissed with a slight exasperated tone. He walked from the room with a malevolent aura.
"Sorry to leave so quickly, you know what to do Shin... have fun. I'll be back when the guests arrive." His slate blue eyes flashed.
I bit my lip trying to ignore the searing pain down my arm. I had to be strong, all my life I had to be strong. All those times though seemed easy compared to this. It's taking all of my strength not to break down. All my life I have had to be self-reliant and now when I have to depend on something I don't know what to do. I know I can depend on you, Spike. You are the strongest person I know. Spike, please help me soon, I'm stuck with a dagger wielding psychopath. I love you Spike please come soon. I was about to cry when I felt something go over my deep wound.
"You pissed him off, he could have done a lot worse. He wants to wait until Spike comes to really hurt you." He spoke pityingly as he rubbed a wet cloth up and down my blood covered skin.
"I am not used to acting nice to people I hate." I smiled weakly "He wants to teach Spike one of his 'lessons' doesn't he?" I asked, slightly weakly, mostly concerned.
"Yes, he believes that it was all Spike's fault that Julia died and gave Vicious such grief. He doesn't realize that it was all of their fault, Julia's, Spike's and Vicious' that it happened out that way." He put away the blood soaked cloth and rolled up his sleeves and balled his hands into fists. "Call it an act of Fate."
"What are you doing?" I asked uneasily, was I wrong to trust him?
"Are you a good actress?" he asked with a grin on his face
"You have no idea." I looked at him with a slight grin on my face
"Good, you have to pretend that I am punching you, try to make it as believable as possible." He frowned while his eyes grinned slightly.
"Got it." I said simply
He then punched into an old book next to me as I matched the blows with groans and yelps. It is actually pretty funny as I think about it. All this time I think how a person like Shin, so kind, got waist-deep in the Red Dragons, it didn't make sense. How could Shin, such an outgoing, pure soul get entangled in one of the most malicious groups in the Solar System? I wish I were smarter so that I could figure out things like this. Intelligence was never a strong point of mine. Common sense yes, but smartness, guess again. If I were smart I would have shot that balding guy before he hit me. I could have avoided all of this if I were just smarter and stronger. I can't wallow down in depression though, I have to be strong for Spike, I have to help him as much as possible. I was awaken from my train of thought to hear sirens go off. Shin looked about the dark room for a minute and then went off quickly into another room. I didn't want to be left alone, Shin right now is the only person capable at this moment of protecting me.
"What's happening?" I called quietly into the dark. I waited for a moment for him to answer; right when I thought he was gone for good he came back.
"Your friends have arrived, they are smart, I think they fooled Scythe." He chuckled "But not me."
"What do you mean?" I asked confused
"Well, Spike is in an old hover-cab while another person is flying the Swordfish." He explained then he turned quickly on his heel to see the balding man holding a gun smirking.
"Why thank you Shin you treacherous snake, you have just revealed to me where Spike is. Now its time for you to pay the price." He smirked devilishly while his beady red eyes glowed. He clicked the safety on his gun and pointed to his head only a few yards away. "Do you really think that little play could have fooled me? Well Shin looks as if you will be joining your brother now." He sneered
I gasped quickly, what is Shin going to do? If he shoots that guy then his cover will be blown and Scythe will kill him for sure. I had to think of something fast,
"That isn't Spike. Spike would never leave his ship to another person, he'd rather die." I blurted out
"Do you really think I am going to believe that story? Ha, your just trying to cover for him." He smirked with his attention towards me
"Go and look at the monitor fat ass! It isn't Spike!" I yelled, I knew I wasn't going to fool him but I though if I could be a loud enough distraction, Shin would be able to do something.
"You little slut! How dare you address me as that?" His eyes sharpened into razor blades and he turned his gun towards me. I flinched a little as he did so.
"Aww, is baby going to cry?" I cooed sarcastically, putting on my façade of toughness I have used tirelessly.
"That's It! I don't care!" He aimed the gun and two bullets shot through the dark room. I felt the overwhelming pound of a bullet against my chest, when I realized that the bullet ricocheted off of the heavy chain and went into the wall. I am glad now that the chained me instead of just putting rope around me. I uneasily looked at the man who was now crumpled in a small heap on the blood velvet carpet. I felt my hair flip as I turned to look at Lin holding a smoking gun. That gun was familiar, that smoking gun was none other than Spike's old Jericho. I felt myself smile inside to think that Shin kept it, and not some police officer. He almost looked like Spike holding the gun like that and shooting a person; I could tell that Spike made a strong impact on his life. Spike, I think, was a mentor to him, although Shin's life is a mystery to me. I wonder if he is meaning to look Spike, and be like Spike for a reason. Spike and Shin are a lot alike, they both have good hearts, they both have Syndicate entangled pasts and they both hated Vicious. I wonder how things would have turned out if Vicious was never born.
"Shin..." I gasped
"Yes?" he answered putting the Jericho back in his breast pocket.
"What will you do now? Scythe now knows that you-" I was cut off
"He would have figured out sooner or later, and I wasn't going to stand there and let him just kill you now would I?" He frowned, his eyes grew sad and dark "I am going to die anyway." He looked out the window to see pitch black abyss
"We are all going to die someday..." I sighed
"Yes, well, who would have thought that today would be it for me?" He said that as a statement
"You aren't going to die Shin, No one has died holding that gun that you have now." I looked at him trying to get a response from him
"Yes, no one has, have they?" he chuckled quickly. Then he turned and watched in horror as the double doors were swung open to reveal a snarling Scythe seething.
"I thought I could trust you well it looks like I am wrong." Scythe sneered as he pulled the trigger on his gun. I watched the entire scene in slow motion, the bullet hit Shin in the right portion of the chest has he was propelled backwards through the Palladian window. The glass shattered as Lin fell through it; I immediately remembered a similar scene when Spike fell through the Cathedral window.
"Shin no!" I screamed through the rippled silence. I saw the expression on Shin's face, it was a sorrowful peaceful expression as his body fell among the shards of crystallized pain. He looked at me, I don't know how long, but he looked at me with dark brown eyes filled with blank emotion. I felt a tear rush down my tired cheek as he fell from the perilous height. I saw out of the corner of my eye him pull out the Jericho and quickly drop it onto the floor before he fell. This can't be happening, Shin can't die, it should be Scythe falling through that window. Dammit! Why do all the nice people have to die? Shin, Gren, how many more? If Spike dies... no I can't allow myself to think that; he won't die. Shin, I am so sorry this has happened.
"Now that your little friend has finally left the building, its now time for more important matters." He sneered and ran up to me and held the barrel of the gun pressed against my forehead. He was about to pull the trigger when a spray of bullets streamed through the double doors and Spike stepped through the smoking doorway.
"Spike you're here!" I felt my eyes become soft as they welled up with tears over my smiling ruby lips. I feel so happy I wish I could just fly into his arms, out of harms way. I wanted this all to go away and just to kiss him over and over on his expertly chiseled face and neck. I wanted to curl up with his body up against mine under a mountain of covers. I wanted to prove my love to him, I want to make sure he feels the love I feel for him. I will do anything to make sure that he knows I love him with every ounce of blood in my body. I want to make sure when we are making love that…ooh I'm getting dirty aren't I? Well I better clear these thoughts and focus.
"Faye hang on we are going to get out of here soon." He looked at me with poorly masked distress and concern. "Scythe, prepare to die you heartless bastard." He held up my gun as frowned his eyes clouded with a pure red hatred
"How did you get here so fast? Well, I guess that just opens up time in my busy schedule." Scythe grinned as he pulled out his gun with one hand and his dagger with another. His gun was aimed to Spike as his knife was held against my throat. I saw Spike's eyes widen as he frowned and spat lowly.
"Scythe I don't care why you like Vicious or why you want to kill Faye, you're as good as dead." Spike maliciously cursed. I have to admit it was scary to see Spike act like this, his eyes filled with boiling hatred. I was a bit frightened by this sudden rush of intense hatred, I think Spike looked into my eyes and saw that. His expression softened some, but the glint in his eyes was about the same. I prayed that Spike would make it.
"I am not here to die at the lowly hands of you Spike. You took Julia from Vicious so I will take Faye from you. Turnabout is fair play." He sneered "Did you see what I did to the fully trained Shin? He is now a mere splatter on the cement like you will be."
"First of all, I didn't take Julia from Vicious, she chose me. It was all Julia's choice, and she chose me. Second of all, Shin was my friend and you will pay in full for what you did to him." Spike smirked as he raised my gun to Scythe's head.
There was nothing I could do but sit there and stare at the two stare each other down. I was scared, I hoped that Spike would be ok, but Scythe was a psycho and I didn't know what he could be capable of.
"Spike be careful, I love you." I yelled to him not caring what Scythe would do. I had to tell him if, in fact, I was going to die. I wanted to make sure he knew.
I saw the hatred in his eyes wash away immediately. He looked upon me with the eyes of an angel as he told me five words. "I'll love you forever Faye." He turned back from me to Scythe and his eyes turned slightly sharp.
I felt my heart melt away. I felt as if every care in the world had suddenly dissipated and left the room entirely. I have waited forever for him to say he loved me. Even though he said it before, I could tell that he meant it. I am not saying that he didn't mean it before, I just know that he meant it when his two toned eyes met mine that it would all be alright.
"Aww, the love birds are singing their last song how cute?" He smirked "I heard Shin tell you the story of how I met Vicious and Gren, and how I got my nickname." He grinned and turned to me tilting the blade of the dagger so that I could see my reflection in the cold steel.
"I am the scorpion, just like Vicious was the snake. Different bodies, same poison." He looked at my arm then straight into my eyes. "The tail of the scorpion secrets a poison to kill its prey with; my dagger has the same qualities. Vicious poisoned the Syndicate, I poisoned you. Faye you only have eight hours tops to live." He smirks and plays with his dagger, but keeps his gun on Spike.
"What have you done?" Spike roars at Scythe with blood red eyes
"He…he cut me Spike…I'm poisoned. I am going to die." I yell to him with my eyes filling up with held back tears. I saw him look at my arm in horror his jaw dropped an inch. I couldn't believe it myself, I was dying. I didn't feel like anything was happening at all. I think the poison is slow moving, to make my suffering as deep and as painful as possible. Spike I don't want to die; I want to be with you forever. I want you to be my husband, I want to spend every waking and sleeping moment by your side.
"Faye you will be ok you hear me? You will be fine I will make sure of it. Scythe I'll get you for this I swear it I will get you!" Spike charged at Scythe with the Glock shooting three of his unshed steel tears at Scythe's wretched figure.
"Spike you are a fool you know that? I don't care if I die here or not, I have done what I have set out to do. Killing you would be icing on the cake as well as living through this pathetic ordeal." He shot back at Spike missing his target by inches. Spike retaliated with three more bullets, one which hit Scythe in the arm making him drop his tainted dagger.
"Scythe you are the vilest person I have ever encountered. You are more vile than Vicious himself!" Spike dove to the right and tried to shoot again, but he was out of bullets. Scythe saw his chance to strike and shot Spike in the leg and right shoulder. He smirked as he shot Spike again in the stomach.
"Spike no!" I shrieked madly trying to free myself from the chains. Tears began to pour down my hot cheeks as warm blood poured out of Spike's wounds. I felt the chains dig deeper into my skin as I struggled futilely to get free. I nearly gasped as I felt the poison slowly take effect. My vision was slowly blurring and my stomach was gradually tying up in knots. Then I saw it, the Jericho lying behind Spike. Thank you Shin.
"Spike the Jericho behind you!" my voice cracked as I began to feel dizzy. I saw Spike see it and made a mad dash to retrieve it. Scythe hissed and sprung after Spike like a pouncing lion. Spike whipped around like flowing water as he shot Scythe in the chest. Scythe stumbled backwards awkwardly and put his cold hand to his fatal wound. It would have pierced his heart if he had one. I felt my eyelids flutter closed as the poison made them heavy.
"Vicious once told me that you say life is only a dream Spike… your right." I heard Scythe gasp his last breath. I smiled as Scythe fell backwards through the glassless window. I opened my eyes briefly as Spike looked down to Scythe and said
"I woke up a long time ago Scythe." Spike spitted out the window, and then rushed towards me fearfully. "Faye speak to me, are you ok?" His eyes filled with an overwhelming worry. He unwrapped me from my chains, and cradled me in his arms. I was beginning to feel weak from the poison on the blade. I lifted my eyelids to look at his loving eyes. I felt myself break into a cold sweat and I began to shiver. I felt him run his long fingers along my cheeks wiping away my tears. I looked into his eyes to see the one expression I thought I would never see, fear. I wanted that expression never to return, it made pain fill his garnet eyes.
"Spike…are you ok?" he was the only thing I could think of at this moment. Spike was my life, I'm worried about his injuries, no matter what the extent of mine. I love Spike Speigel no matter what happens to him or me, I always will.
"I'll be fine Faye, once I get you to a hospital. Faye don't worry you will be fine." He lifted me up gently and kissed me on my lips. I tasted his sweet lips and felt his tongue flow gracefully in and out of my mouth quickly. I took in his characteristic aroma and felt his smooth skin massage my tear wet cheeks. I opened my eyes as he broke the kiss. I felt so relieved to be in his arms, even though I may be dying, I never felt safer. I smiled at him as I felt my eyes soften and become liquid. I grabbed my necklace and yanked it from my neck and handed it to Spike.
"In case…I don't make it, I want you to have it… Remember I love you." I meekly whispered from his arms.
"You'll make it Faye don't you worry everything will be alright." He reassured me as he kissed me on the lips once more. I was about to close my eyes when I saw the Lobster fly to the window.
"Spike…look" I weakly spurted out as I saw Jet, Ed and Shin stick their heads out from the overcrowded ship. I saw him turn his head and saw relief wash over his face. He spun around to walk forward when he winced and nearly fell. He seethed at his gunshot wounds but still managed to hold me; he is truly strong.
"Spike hold on, we're coming!" Jet and Lin jumped off the ship. Shin had his shoulder bandaged up sloppily, as they ran to Spike and me.
"Faye, she needs to get to a hospital, she is poisoned. Take her first Jet, you can only fit three in the ship." Spike grimaced as Shin lifted him up and wrapped Spike's arm around his shoulders. Jet took me from Spike's arms and lifted me sturdily into the small lobster. I felt so sleepy, I felt like I was losing consciousness. I tilted my head backwards and as strongly as I could opened my mouth and said "I love you Space Cowboy…" The words that escaped my mouth was barely above a whisper, but Spike heard.
"I love you, stay strong." Spike called back to me from the now lightened room. I smiled weakly as I heard those words. I closed my eyes and let my body fall limp in Jet's firm arms. I still had consciousness, but I could only make myself concentrate on Jet's voice.
"Ed go to the nearest hospital, and step on it." I heard Jet urgently tell Ed. I heard Ed answer back but it was all mumbling to me.
"I don't know if Faye will make it Ed. I sure hope so." Jet propped my head higher. I felt the ship fly quickly, but a little shakily in the soon fading night. After what seemed like hours, we stopped. I assume it was the hospital because Jet got out of the ship. I felt him turn with him still holding me.
"Go back and pick up Shin and Spike, they are hurt and need to come to the hospital also." Jet yelled as he sprinted into the building. The sudden change of lighting startled me. My eyes, even closed, were much more sensitive to light now that the poison had started its effect on me.
"Quick someone help this woman is dying over here! She is poisoned some doctor better get his ass over here now!" Jet's booming voice soon quieted the noises in the hospital. I heard faint murmurs and voices talk to Jet quickly.
"Her name is Faye…Speigel." I smiled when Jet said that, I thought that name had a pretty good ring to it. I hope I survive this so I can legally have that name. Before I knew it I was being lifted onto a stretcher. I felt them touch me over my body to see where I was hurt. This scared me, it wouldn't normally but the poison effected even my typical emotions and train of thought. I didn't want to be alone, I wanted someone to be with me.
"Don't…leave…me…" I hoarsely whispered to Jet.
"Don't worry Faye I'm not going anywhere." Jet's smooth deep voice calmed me. I smiled and then quickly lost all consciousness.