Chapter Ten
A bewildered expression appeared on Buffy's face as she comprehended Tara's question. "Tara, that's not what I meant. Not the kind of love you and Willow have. It's different, a kind of bond. It's stronger than what Dawn and I have. Dawn's a part of me, but Faith and I share something…"
Her voice trailed as she felt something stir inside her. Her Slayer senses were flaring like she was in a middle of a fight and she suddenly felt a strong tremor of terror course through her body momentarily surprising her. But this wasn't her terror; this wasn't her senses going all berserk like she was in full battle mode. It was Faith's. She could feel what Faith was feeling at that moment. It must be coming from the bond they shared. And it was telling her that something was wrong.
"Oh god…" Buffy muttered with a wild-eyed expression on her face.
Tara watched as subtle changes abruptly came over her blonde friend. "Buffy, what's…?"
Before she could finish her question, Buffy took off in a sprint leaving her behind. Buffy rushed towards the Hyperion, wondering what the hell was going on. She could feel the familiar hum suddenly grow stronger, catching her off guard. She turned into an alley, knowing it was a shortcut and saw Faith heading towards her at full Slayer speed. She immediately halted in her tracks to avoid a collision. Unfortunately, Faith was looking over her shoulder, dragging Cordelia behind her, that she didn't see Buffy until it was too late.
With a loud grunt, Faith crashed right into Buffy, bringing them both down in a tangle of arms and legs. They rolled to a halt with Faith on top, straddling one of Buffy's thighs, both hands on either side of Buffy's head in a push-up position, and their faces mere inches apart. They stared at each other with wild looks in their eyes. The kind they get after a fresh kill. They were both flush from the run and breathing heavily. Faith slowly pushed her upper body away from the blonde's, never breaking eye contact, and felt her cheeks flush. She was too embarrassed, surprised, and revved up from her fight to form any coherent thought.
Behind them, Tara stumbled into the alley, breathless, and went immediately to Cordelia's side. She, too, had fallen from the impact.
"Faith," Tara's sharp gasp cut the silence like a dagger.
Faith shook her muddled brain and quickly rose to her feet, not daring to offer a hand for Buffy. She went to Cordelia's side. Fear, sadness, but most of all anger washed over her at the sight of her. The former May Queen was convulsing on the ground with low moans of pain. She was coated in sweat and looked as if every muscle on her body was twitching.
What the hell, Faith wondered.
She gently took Cordelia's chin in her hands and tilted her head so that she could see the wound. Faith heard Tara gasp in surprise as they both saw the two deep and bloody puncture holes. However, what caught Faith's attention was Cordelia's skin surrounding the bite. It was the same color as Dawn's skin; pale, almost white like marble and she could see that it was slowly spreading outwards like a disease. She knew that in over a few minutes or hours, she would be entirely the same pallor as Dawn.
"She's not dead yet," Faith said angrily. "She shouldn't be turning! She wasn't even drained all the way…she didn't even drink any…" Her voice trailed off in anger and disbelief.
In her mind's eye she was replaying the events of the day over and over in her head. What happened back there? What happened to Dawn and Willow? Were Giles and Wesley all right? What if they were dead now? Dead because Faith did nothing but run away. Run, like always. Guilt rose like bile in the back of her throat along with the faces of those she hurt. She could hear and see the din rising back into her mind. All the pain, all those accusing voices and faces slowly resurfacing.
~ "And that's it? You just live with it? You see the dead guy in your head every day for the rest of your life?" ~
Buffy finally came over, staring down at Cordelia's body with an emotionless look on her face. "What…happened," Buffy demanded slowly, giving Faith an accusing look.
Buffy's voice snapped Faith out of her reverie. Faith could feel the anger coming off in waves from Buffy; she could also feel it inside her from the bond they shared. She inwardly shrunk back from the look Buffy gave her while trying to clear her mind from the soft din that was rising in her head. Now was not the time to go crazy. She could sense the stares of attracted pedestrians coming in to look what was going on. With a look, she told Buffy here was not the place. Buffy frowned, but nodded in silent agreement and knelt to carry Cordelia. However, Faith touched her gently on the shoulder and was surprised to meet Buffy's saddened look.
"It's okay, B," Faith said softly. "It's my fault. I got her."
Without another word, she scooped the trembling seer into her arms and silently led the group, or what was left of it, towards Cordelia's house. As soon as they got there, Faith finally remembered Cordelia's keys were in her purse at the Hyperion. Buffy was about to kick down the door, but Faith interrupted.
"No, we should at least respect her and not tear down her front door."
Buffy frowned and crossed her arms apparently not pleased with getting told what to do by Faith. "How are we supposed to get in? Ask nicely?"
Faith gave a half-smile and turned towards the door. "Dennis, 911 emergency. Queen C's hurt bad, we need to get in."
For a moment nothing happened, making Buffy snort skeptically. "Okay, hotshot, now we do things my way."
She glared at Faith to move out of the way and prepared to kick down the door. However, before her booted foot touched the door, the door swung open and the force of Buffy's kick hitting nothing but air made her stumble into the hall and land face first on the ground.
"Thanks Dennis," Faith whispered quietly.
She bit her tongue from any other smart-ass comment, reminding herself that Buffy might rip her tongue out. She walked in, stepping over the fallen Slayer. Behind her, Faith could hear Tara unsuccessfully try to stifle her giggles. Buffy was already on her feet by the time Tara crossed the threshold. She straightened herself with as much dignity as she could muster and slammed the door shut, nearly ripping it off its hinges. She could see Faith flinch, not because of the door, but because she knew Buffy was angry and was expecting a tirade or even a beating.
"Put Cordelia in her room," Tara instructed.
Faith nodded and disappeared into Cordelia's bedroom. Buffy made a move to follow, but Tara blocked her way. Buffy glared angrily at her, clenching and unclenching her fists in fury.
"Get out of my way," Buffy said through gritted teeth.
Tara shook her head firmly, but still had a look of uncertainty. "Buffy, if you're gonna blame somebody, blame me. If you wanna let out your anger by hitting somebody than hit me."
"What are you saying?" Buffy's brows knotted together in confusion. "You had nothing to do with it."
Tara sighed. "Whatever happened isn't her fault, either. She's to blame as much as I am."
"We don't even know what happened," Buffy exclaimed infuriatingly.
"Exactly," Tara stated. "So how can you blame her?" Buffy went silent and Tara continued. "Buffy, let me speak with her because she's obviously scared to speak with you. No interruptions. She deserves that."
Buffy gritted her teeth and clenched her fists one last time before nodding slowly. Tara gave her a grateful look before heading towards the bedroom. Cordelia was thrashing painfully on the bed, but she appeared to be unconscious. Buffy's eyes left the bed to scan around for…
"Oh my god, Faith," Tara muttered sorrowfully and rushed to a dark corner.
Buffy followed immediately. They just stood there both with shock and sadness. Faith was huddled in the corner like a terrified little girl, rocking back and forth on her heels, and muttering something frantically to herself. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and her hands held tight to her body, right over the scar, which was reopened, making her hands covered in blood.
"Buffy," Tara squeaked pleadingly, but Buffy didn't know what to do.
She was in too much in shock to do anything. How could that cocky, strong dark Slayer be reduced to this broken, little girl? Faith's wild eyes snapped up towards Buffy. She stood up, looking horrified, then turned her red, tear-streaked face towards Buffy. Buffy's voice caught in her throat at the amount of pain and suffering that showed in the dark Slayer's eyes and the amount of physical pain she was causing herself.
"Buffy…" Faith said meekly and full of sorrow. "I…I didn't mean to…I tried…I…" She looked back down at her hands as if seeing the blood for the first time. "There's so much pain…I…I can't ever stop…" Her voice sounded lost and defeated. "Please, Buffy, make it stop."
"Faith…" Buffy stammered, though her throat was tightening from the tears that were forming in her own eyes.
But she didn't know what to say. What could she say? She didn't know how far over the edge Faith had gone. She was too consumed in her own hate to ever realize how much pain Faith was going through. She felt the faint tinge of suffering inside her from the bond they shared and new that it was magnified a hundred fold inside Faith. She suddenly remembered a time that she could understand what Faith was going through.
~ "Dirty. Like something sick creeped inside you and you can't get it out. And you keep hoping that it was just some nightmare, but it wasn't." ~
"There's so much blood…I've spilled so much blood," Faith said hysterically, nearly shoving her bloodied hands in Buffy's face. "I shouldn't have left…" More tears streamed down her face as her sobs wracked her body. "…Giles…Wesley…" She shook her head in disbelief then her eyes grew wide in horror. "Dawn!" She looked back at Buffy and shook her head pleadingly. "Oh god Buffy, I'm so sorry…I had to…I'm so sorry…please…" She fell to her knees, staring at the blood coating her hands and not noticing the pain in her side as more blood leaked out of the wound.
All Faith could see was the blood. Now more had been added to the list: Giles and Wesley, both whom she should have saved, Dawn and Willow who were now just bodies possessed by whatever evil, and now soon Cordelia. She felt she had to die, so others could live, so another Slayer could be Called to help Buffy. In her mind, she knew it was right and she knew Buffy could do what Angel couldn't. She knew she had caused more suffering to Buffy than any other person in the world. Surely she would have enough anger and hate to destroy her. So she waited for the finishing blows to come.
But she could feel something spark within her. Faint like a memory, like someone was trying to soothe her and a blanket of compassion surrounded her. It took Faith a moment to realize it was coming from Buffy, through the bond they shared. She could feel warm hands enclose around her own bloody ones and immediately she tried to pull away, but the hands were strong and held her in place. She looked up to meet Buffy's eyes. She was squatted in front of her, eye level, with a look of sadness and guilt etched across her features.
Faith shook her head. "Don't touch me…" She looked down at their clasped hands. "…so much blood on my hands…"
Buffy also glanced down at their joined hands, getting Faith's blood on them too. She had Faith's blood on them before. "The blood's on my hands, too. I just got too caught up…looking for someone to blame. We'll get through this together, like we're supposed to."
* * *
Faith walked through the familiar meadow. Her mind in a daze, obviously still reeling from the day's events and the fact that Buffy had actually showed compassion towards her. She stopped as she felt a familiar presence.
"Back again? Better have better messages than the last time," Faith replied with her arms crossed.
The mysterious beautiful woman materialized in front of her in a show of green and purple lights, the same wild animals playing by her feet. "Ah, I see you can sense me now."
Faith shrugged, hugging herself closer, noticing that here in her dreams she didn't have any cuts or scars. "Slayer powers and all…"
The woman nodded. "Yes, you are developing your new powers extraordinarily fast. You have ways to go."
Faith tapped her foot impatiently. "What the hell am I supposed to be doing with these new powers? And what the hell did you make me eat? Nothing's happened! And who the hell are you in first place?"
"Well, I shouldn't exactly be here in the first place, breaking rules and all, but might as well go all the way if I'm going about breaking them," the woman replied. "You are to teach the other about the new powers…"
"Look, lady, just cut through the bullshit and tell me straight up," Faith snapped.
The woman chuckled. "Ah, you're the feisty one. The other…you know…the other Slayer. She has the same powers you possess, but you come to terms with all your sides than she does, which ultimately makes you better suited for the job if not reckless about it. As for who I am…" She paused. She shimmered a bit and her appearance and clothes changed into that of a sophisticated looking lawyer. "You better know me as Diana…Diana Rogers, you're lawyer." She shimmered again and changed back into her original form. "But formally known as just plain Diana, Goddess of the hunt and moon, or if you prefer Greek, Artemis. And what I gave you to eat, that was ambrosia, fruit of the gods."
"Diana!" Faith's fists curled in an outrage. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't gotten me out of jail none of this wouldn't have happened. Giles…Willow…Dawn! They could still be alive!"
Diana laughed as if it were the funniest thing she ever heard. "You honestly think that they could defeat him all by themselves? Why do you think I got you out in the first place? You're the only one that stands a chance. If not for you, that other Slayer would have been one of them by now, but no, she left the building with the powerful Wicca's lover because of you. Besides, those two pompous Englishman are still alive…for the time being anyway and the Key and the Wicca are just…subdued. There's still time to save them if you use your wit and stop…how you say it…wigging out."
Faith was silent for a moment as if mulling things over. "Ambrosia huh? So why am I not zapping bolts outta my fingertips yet?"
Diana smiled wanly. "Yes, it's true that ambrosia can turn you weak little mortals into gods, but gods can nullify and modify its affects."
"And what did you do to it," Faith asked suspiciously.
"I made it so you can not…" She shook head. "Ah! We haven't enough time!"
"What?" Faith looked around confused.
"They are going to wake you soon," Diana said annoyed. "Listen carefully. You are facing my half-brother; do not take him lightly. His evil spirits only possess and control, but are nothing like those filthy vampires of your world…"
Even as she was talking, Faith suddenly started to feel light headed. She could hear someone faintly calling her name in the back of her head. She tried to focus on what Diana was telling her.
"…my Chosen. I'm very proud of you all," Diana continued.
"What?" Faith shook the fog out of her brain. "Your Chosen?"
"Yes," Diana stated as-a-matter-of-factly. "Since that idiot demon possessed one of my own and spread its blood among my people, there has always been a Chosen. My Chosen. And since then, you have been the only one to…"
"Faith," a voice said gently, enveloping the rest of Diana's sentence.
Faith's eyes slowly fluttered open to meet Buffy's hazel-green ones. She sat up, lying on the couch where she fell asleep and clutched her head. She found her hands cleaned, well mostly anyway. She still had the scars from bashing in the walls in prison. She touched her side, feeling it wrapped and stitched and she was changed back into her familiar gray prison jumpsuit. She gave a questioningly look up at Buffy.
"You didn't have anymore clothes and I think Cordy would get mad if you bloodied any of hers." Buffy smiled faintly and looked away, still not able to look into the dark Slayer's eyes. "Tara did a spell. She couldn't get rid of the scars though, you…you went too deep." Faith nodded and started to get up but Buffy placed a hand on her arm to stop her. "Where are you going?"
"Cordy," Faith muttered, feeling a flush of guilt wash over her.
Buffy felt it too and drowned it with comfort. "She's getting worse. Tara's got a spell surrounding her to slow down time, but I don't know how long that's gonna last. Tara's getting drained." She took a deep breath, knowing she had to get the info now or never. There was no use to draw it out any longer than she had to. "Faith, we need to know what happened. We need to know what we're facing. What happened to Giles and Wesley?" She paused as she felt tears rising. "Faith…where's Willow? Where's my sister?"