Chapter Eleven
Faith looked away, feeling her guilt rise up once more like a wave about to crush her. She could still see them in her mind's eye: Giles and Wesley on the floor, Willow holding Cordelia up, and Dawn…She felt her muscles tense and her hands clench tightly, stretching out the scars, almost reopening them.
"Faith," Buffy said softly, reaching out to curl her hands into Faith's. "I need to know what happened. We need to know what we're fighting."
Faith's eyes finally focused and she redirected her gaze towards their hands. She cocked her head to one side as if seeing something strange. Why is she touching me? Her gaze ticked slowly towards Buffy's. "Dawn…she did this. She got Giles and Wesley and she turned Willow into…" She shook her head, still not knowing what kind of creature they were. "And Willow bit Cordelia and now Cordelia's infected."
Buffy was silent, taking this all in. How could everything go so wrong so fast? It was only a couple weeks ago when she had just lost her mother and now she just lost her sister, her best friend, and her Watcher who was more like a father than her biological one. Now here she was with her once most hated enemy, acting like their past was all hugs and puppies.
"Buffy," Faith said one last time.
Buffy snapped her gaze back to the dark Slayer and finally realized she was still holding on to Faith's hand. However, she didn't let go. She just glanced at it as if she didn't know what she was doing then gazed back up to Faith. "What? I didn't hear you."
"I noticed," Faith retorted before she could stop herself. Great, five minutes of a truce and I'm already bantering with her. Just like old times…She shrugged. "I said it's not too late for them. Giles and Wes are still alive and whatever Dawn and Willow turned into…they could be changed back. They're just…possessed...by I don't know what yet."
Buffy looked at her with suspicion, drowning all other thoughts, and going into Slayer research mode. She would have time to deal with conflicting emotions later. "How do you know?"
Faith shrugged, giving her a weak half-smile. "Slayer dream."
"Oh."
Faith stared at their joined hands one last time before getting up off the couch and placing her hands sheepishly in her front pockets. Shy school-girl much? "Ya got any books on Greek mythology?"
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "We've got demon possession and Cordy's turning into something and you want to study Greek?"
Faith rolled her eyes. "No, B, part of the Slayer dream. Got this Goddess of the Moon tailing my dreams. Says her half-bro is causing all the trouble."
A sudden dread washed over her at the mention of goddesses. It was a chilling reminder that Buffy still had Glory to deal with. However she nodded, unsure of what Faith was saying. "I'm pretty sure Giles has some books on that." She hesitated. "Angel only has books on demons and apocalypses." She paused to think, brows wrinkling in concentration. "Can you ask Tara? I know some of her Wicca mojo comes from gods and goddesses. I'll call Anya and see if she can find something at the Magic Box or if she remembers something from her demon days."
Faith nodded silently and headed towards Cordelia's room. As soon as she came near it, her senses went off. What the hell?
Without even thinking, Faith burst into the room, ready for the worst. She found Tara in the corner farthest away from the bed, chanting nonstop under her breath as her gaze was focused on the other side of the room. Faith's eyes darted to that direction and she found Cordelia pinned to the wall above her bed, snarling and straining to be free from whatever force was keeping her up there.
"What the hell happened," Faith demanded as she went to Tara's side.
Tara muttered the remaining of her binding spell and looked frantically at Faith. "She t-turned, I couldn't hold the t-time spell for that long…it was t-too much…"
"It's all right," Faith stated, trying to calm her. "It wasn't your fault, it was gonna happen anyway, we just gotta find a way to…" Faith froze as she finally noticed that Tara was clutching her neck, blood seeping out between her fingers. Oh shit. "Tara…" she said carefully. She moved Tara's hand away from her neck and saw fresh cut wounds, not bite marks. A breath of relief escaped her lips. "Thank god, I thought you were…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Tara's eyes rolled up in the back of her head and she fell to the ground convulsing. A cruel laughter came from behind Faith and she turned around to see Cordelia laughing her head off at her from her prison on the wall.
"You fool," Cordelia snarled, eyes blazing a cruel gold. "It only takes but a scratch, a draw of blood to take you weak mortals." She threw her head up and laughed heartily. "Though it is a bit slower…"
Faith clenched her fist in anger. How could she let this happen? Without wasting another minute and praying that whatever spell Tara used will hold while she was unconscious, Faith raced out the room asking Dennis to warn them when Cordelia or Tara rose.
"B!" Buffy appeared from the kitchen, her face pale and terror-stricken and Faith somehow knew her own looked the same way. "B…Tara and Cordelia…" she started frantically.
However, Buffy raised her hand silencing, though her gaze was faraway. "I know. I felt your anger."
What, Faith wondered incredulously. She felt my…She paused suddenly, feeling something else stir inside her, something out of place that didn't belong to her yet, was something that did belong and felt right. It was rage and terror; and it was coming from Buffy. Well that's new.
"B, what's up?" Faith frowned at the look on the blonde Slayer's face.
Buffy shook her head, her expression dazed. She held her stomach as if she were going to vomit and sank slowly to the floor, Faith following in concern. "They're gone…they're all gone. It's over…"
"What? B, what are you talking about," Faith demanded, getting more and more confused by the second. "What's gone?"
Buffy finally looked up at her, her brows furrowing as if she were some stranger. "Sunnydale. Anya's one of them…she said they've taken over Sunnydale…all the women…Xander…"
Faith shook her head from all unnecessary thoughts, though she felt all her rage and anger building up, threatening to consume her. She couldn't let that get in the way. She had some control over the darkness. She knew she had to think clearly if they were to survive, if she were to help save them.
"B, now's not the time to wig out on me," Faith replied firmly, her thoughts remembering a certain night.
~ "First rule of slaying: don't die." ~
"Buffy you need to get up. We need to get out of here. Tara and Cordelia could come out of that room any second and…"
Faith froze, her eyes growing wide as she saw a floating knife slowly zoom her way hilt first. Dennis was warning her; danger was on its way. She quickly snatched the knife from out of the air, muttering a quick 'thanks' under her breath, and moved to get Buffy on her feet. However, it was too late. Cordelia's bedroom doors splintered open and Cordelia sprung out of it like a bat out of hell. She found them quickly with her golden eyes and moved towards them with a wicked grin.
Faith didn't move up in time and Cordelia's foot connected with her jaw, sending her crashing to the wall. Buffy was still too shocked to move and Cordelia took one appealing glance at her before cold-cocking her in the temple, rendering her unconscious. Faith stood up, brandishing her knife and preparing herself for the attack.
Cordelia turned towards her, her eyes her normal color of chocolate brown, a seductive smile playing on her blood red lips. "Faith, you don't wanna do that." She moved towards her slowly. "It's me, Queen C," she said sincerely with a sad smile. "You don't wanna hurt me."
Faith stiffened at the words, clenching the knife tighter in her fingers. Oh god, nononononono…that's not right…That isn't her…she's gone. "You're not Cordelia." However, her voice was wavering, betraying her uncertainty.
Cordelia took another step closer, her brows furrowing in hurt. "Of course I am." She ran her hands down her body suggestively. "Still the same ol' me." She frowned. "I can't believe you want to hurt me after all I've done for you."
"No," Faith said weakly, shaking her head in disbelief.
"After I stood up for you, cared for you," Cordelia continued, coming closer. "After I tried to be your friend…"
Faith shook her head, her brain going on overload not knowing what to believe. "Cordelia…I didn't mean…" She started to shake, utterly confused, not knowing what to do, her mind becoming foggy like in a daze. The knife fell uselessly to the floor.
Cordelia stopped, almost nose to nose with Faith. She glanced over her body hungrily before her wicked grin returned, masking her once sincere face. "Who would ever want to be friends with a disgusting murderous bitch like you?"
The cruelty of her voice and words snapped Faith back to reality, but it was already to late. Before she even had time to blink, Cordelia's countenance changed. Her skin became marble smooth and white and her eyes were back to gold. She smiled, showing off two long pointed incisors. Her weapon and Buffy lay forgotten on the floor, while Cordelia was close enough to be kissing her.
"You'd like that wouldn't you," Cordelia whispered as if reading her thoughts. She pressed their bodies even closer, so now Faith was trapped between the wall and the tall brunette. She craned her neck towards Faith's exposed jugular and flicked her tongue across the smooth flesh. "Don't worry, it won't hurt a bit." She softly raked her teeth across the flesh, but not hard enough to draw blood. "Just a quick taste…"
Faith trembled with shock and anger, while trying to keep her lust down on hold. Who wouldn't want to be pinned to the wall by this beautiful ex-cheerleader? She hoped she didn't used to act this way before, but deep down she knew she had. It suddenly repulsed her that she used to be as evil as body-possessing demons. Possibly even worse, because she enjoyed it and she had a soul.
Cordelia's hands quickly moved up to hold down Faith's. It was a surprisingly strong grip, stronger than a Slayer's, which was kind of scary. She had never felt this weak before, not since before she was Called, and she absolutely hated it. Why couldn't she do anything? It seemed like Faith couldn't form a clear thought and it definitely wasn't because of her anger. She would have been 'catgirl' by now if that were the case. So what was going on?
Faith shook her head, trying to clear her mind from the fog that had presently formed there, but she couldn't. All she could feel was an overwhelming desire and it was unnaturally subduing her, mesmerizing her. It almost felt like this desire was artificial; like someone had placed it in her…
"Cordelia," Faith gasped, finally realizing what was going on and what was the cause of it.
Just as she uttered the name, Faith felt two sharp fangs puncture her skin and rupture her vessel. Blood sprayed out like a fountain, which was easily controlled and devoured by hungry lips before she slumped against the wall. All at once she felt a wave of emotions drown her thoughts. She felt rage and an unnatural thirst and lust surge through her. Faith didn't realize she was quietly moaning in ecstasy at the way her body felt. She felt stronger, faster, and even deadlier than before as the transformation began within her. She could feel two sharp points grow behind her lips and her fingernails erupt into inky black talons. Her vision turned infrared as her dark eyes turned into yellow seductive orbs.
Another thing entered her mind. Something wild and evil that only wanted blood and pleasure; different from the darkness surging within her. It was some sort of spirit that manifested from the mysterious god and it fought for dominion over Faith's mind.
With it, it brought strange memories. Memories that didn't belong to her yet shared. Faith could see and feel how other's were initiated into this sisterhood. She realized that only women were the only ones it possessed. She saw how it happened to them, starting from the very first; a young girl not much older than Dawn not wearing much clothing and what clothing she did have on was made of animal hide. Man other women flashed through her mind and then finally to those whom Faith did recognize.
She saw how quietly Dawn was taken. The god had somehow summoned her to him by using her mystical Key energy and tainted her in her sleep. Dawn was then teleported back to her bed, right next to the slumbering Faith and her transformation was complete before she was woken up by Buffy. Faith saw and felt how painful Willow was taken. She was taken by surprise in Angel's office. She was calming Dawn down and while she was hugging the young Summers, the girl had bitten her. Faith then saw how Cordelia was taken. Cordelia had put up a fight, trying to run and kick and couldn't even have time to scream as Willow picked her up from behind and sank her long fangs into her throat. She then saw how Tara was taken. She was bending over the bed to wipe the sweat from Cordelia's brow when Cordelia's taloned hand swept up and slashed her in the throat.
With a final grunt, Faith threw the raging spirit into a mental cage, binding it, freeing her only mentally of the transformation. She then realized that was the gift Diana had given her: free will over her own mind and soul, like she was never bitten. However, when she looked down and saw her smooth marble white skin and long talons followed by the two pricks inside her mouth, Faith realized she was still physically transformed. It suddenly dawned on her that that was Diana's plan: to get somebody to work on the inside, thus freeing her mind from the god's will but giving her the appearance of the god's minion.
Now I have to pretend again? I can't even earn people's trust as a fricking human, Faith thought wryly.
Suddenly, Faith felt a yearning for something to drink. It was so powerful and insatiable; she thought she would die from it. It was far worse than any hunger she felt in her childhood or prison. Yet she somehow knew not any drink would satisfy this thirst. It had to be blood. She gasped and was momentarily surprised by the hissing sound that erupted from her throat.
Whoa…demon sounds…I'm not even used to my cat sounds yet, Faith mused.
"Faith," a familiar voice called to her and Faith recognized it as Cordelia.
She turned to look up at her, the hunger pangs shooting pain throughout every vein, as if they were empty themselves. "Gods, the thirst," Faith exclaimed. Damn, never felt this…thirsty…before…
"Faith?" Cordelia shook her head, clearly dazed, a lost look on her face. "Faith, oh god, I'm so sorry…"
Faith clutched her hungry stomach as she looked around, giving Cordelia a skeptical look. "You've got to be kidding me!"
"I didn't mean to bite you," Cordelia continued sorrowfully. "There was something inside of me…and I had no control…like I was watching everything from the inside and I couldn't do anything…and now it's gone and I'm here again…"
"Cordelia…it's okay," Faith said tentatively, brows wrinkling in confusion as she tried to figure out what happened. "I think whatever Diana gave me was in my blood and passed over into you when you drank from me." She shook as the thirst crashed into her with a force that could bring her to her knees if she wasn't already slumped against the wall. "Shit…this damn thirst…I think I'm going crazy."
"The thirst is there for eternity," came another voice. Tara had finally emerged from the bedroom, her transformation complete. She gazed down at Faith with a satisfied gleam in her golden eyes. It's not so bad once you've had your first taste of blood.
Faith stared at Tara for a moment. Did she just say that? Her lips weren't moving.
We communicate telepathically. Tara smiled cruelly, reading Faith's thoughts. So our Lord knows us and we hear his bidding. Even if we're leagues away.
Faith rose, shaking her head amused; all she needed right now was more voices in her head driving her mad. From behind, Cordelia was staring at Tara apprehensively. Obviously, Tara was still possessed by the demon and Cordelia didn't know what to do and not to mention she was still scared and confused. Faith hoped Tara wasn't reading any of Cordelia's thoughts right now.
"First taste huh? You seem to be doing okay. Where'd you get your pint of blood," Faith questioned, looking for a way to divert Tara's attention towards her.
Tara smirked, her shy-girl façade obliterated by the demon within. "Cordy's blood ran in rivers from her wound. There was plenty for me to dull this thirst." Faith flinched in disgust at the thought of sucking blood from washcloths, but thankfully Tara mistook it for the need to have blood. "You won't be much use to us if you're weak without blood." An absolutely evil look graced her features. "And there is still one left to turn."
Tara's gaze fell to the floor next to her. Faith followed her gaze, eyes widening in shock, fear, and desire at the same time. "Buffy…"