Chapter 14
Understand me, Faith spat. The black panther snarled angrily. Know me. You never would have.
They were both silent for a moment. It looked kind of odd seeing two very large and dangerous animals sitting in front of each other just staring.
We never took the time to get to know you, Buffy admitted softly. But I've always understood you. I know because I could have easily been you, but I got lucky. I got blessed with friends, family, a Watcher who is more like a father, and…Her voice cracked. …And an incredible mother. One of the most strongest women I have ever known. I understand what you felt, every night…during the hunt…right before the kill…I understand because it's in me too, but I was afraid. You were right. You did toe the line and it did tempt me and I was afraid I'd cross it. I was afraid I'd be like you. So the easiest thing for me to do was to push you away rather than to deal with it. And everything you did…I understand everything you did because you did it to me.
The golden panther slowly stood up and took the remaining steps towards the black one. The black panther tensed as the gold one came closer, but didn't move. The golden feline carefully licked the black panther's forehead and placed its forehead on top of the black panther's.
The memories…they just helped me see you. You'll never be alone anymore, Faith, I promise. Buffy hesitated. The golden panther closed its large blue eyes. And I do forgive you.
The panthers were suddenly covered in a black mass like a watery cloth. A second later, it disappeared, revealing two young women standing close in front of each other.
"We're the same, Faith. No more hiding. You won't ever be alone again." Buffy looked up into Faith's dark eyes and gave a small grin as she again took both of Faith's hands into her own. "We're Slayers, girlfriend…"
"The Chosen Two," Faith finished, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
All Faith could focus on was the prospect that Buffy had actually forgiven her. Deep in the back of her mind, she somehow felt that Buffy was just saying it because of the moment. She needed Faith on her side to help with the new Big Bad. Buffy couldn't have easily forgotten what had happened in their past, it was just too much baggage there. Faith knew that they still had a lot of issues to work out, but the new threat was keeping them too occupied to deal with anything. She felt things were being put on hold. Once that was taken care of, Faith really didn't want to find out how Buffy would see things when everything was safe and calm. However, right now, Faith was just overwhelmed of hearing those words from Buffy, no matter the pretext, and prayed that one day she could make herself believe it were true.
"So, I see you saw how to use the 'Dark Side of the Force' while you got a chunk of my mind," Faith mused with a grin.
Buffy nodded with a soft smile of her own. "Yeah, pretty freaky stuff we're dealing with right now huh?" She walked back to the center of the porch. "So what kind of animal was I?"
"Panther," Faith answered. "I wonder what other kinds of powers we have?"
Buffy cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"You know…like fly, moving stuff with our minds and shit!" Faith leaned against the wall and crossed her arms.
"You read way too much comic books." Buffy shrugged and crossed her own arms. "What was that black thing that came out of us? Maybe it's not just for transforming into our animal forms. Maybe if we concentrate, we could use it for something else."
"Like a weapon?" This idea clearly got Faith's attention, but before they could pursue it any further the balcony door opened and Tara poked her head out.
"Guys, I think I found something."
Tara led the Slayers back to the living room, noting the awkward silence and lack of sweat from the supposed 'spar'. "It says here that all the Olympian gods have a source of power." She showed the screen of Willow's laptop to the Slayers. "That's part of the reason why we don't hear too much of them anymore. Most of their sources were taken away or destroyed and they just left this dimension to go back to their own."
Faith shook her head, apparently amused by something as she stared at Tara. "Hey, B, you notice that when Blondie speaks about something serious and grave she doesn't stutter?"
Tara turned a deep shade of red and dropped her head down to her chin, her hair curtaining her face. "Th-that's not important r-right now." She straightened and gave Faith a serious look. "We need to find Dawn and the others."
Buffy nodded. "Yeah, Tara's right. So you got a lead on what his source of power is? I wanna get this done by the end of the week." She ran a hand through her hair. "This thirst for all things with a heartbeat is wigging me out."
The front door opened and slammed and Cordelia walked in looking like someone had just took the last pair of Gucci shoes. She stood in front of Buffy with a scowl and arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. Buffy had a scary reminder of the old high school Cordelia.
"So…how'd it go," the blonde Slayer asked hesitantly.
Cordelia narrowed her eyes and if looks could kill, Buffy would have been dead on the spot. "You're lucky I'm already one of them," she said in a low and threatening voice. Her eyes flashed gold for a second and with that she turned on her heels and stomped off into her bedroom.
Buffy let out a breath. "Well, it could have been worse." She sighed, knowing that she still needed the information from her. "Faith…"
"Already on it, B," Faith replied, disappearing into the bedroom. Faith found Cordelia in her bathroom, scrubbing her hands as if she had touched something repulsive. "So what's the sitch?"
Cordelia shot her a glare and shut off the water. "Gunn's missing. I stopped by his place and it was wrecked. And not only that, all the men seemed to have disappeared." She wiped her hands on a face towel and sat on the toilet. "I was on my way back here and these girls tried to jump me. They were possessed too, and…I think they were gonna rape me." She shuddered at the thought. "But I flashed them my new set of pearly whites and they treated me like I was a missing member of an old clique at a high school reunion."
Faith leaned against the doorframe. "You're okay though, right? You didn't get hurt?"
"No," Cordelia admitted. "Just really wigged out. Those girls said something about an initiation, that it's soon and we shouldn't miss it." She stared hard at Faith as if searching for something. "How about you? Buffy didn't try to kill you while I was gone did she?" She glanced over Faith's body, looking for any signs of battle.
Faith shook her head. "Nah, you know me. I'm five…I'm fine," she corrected. To get rid of the 'old' Faith, ya gotta get rid of the old sayings. No more hiding, she repeated the words Buffy had said to her in her mind. "I think B and I have found an…understanding."
Cordelia nodded in satisfaction, but gave Faith one last questing look before getting up and heading towards the closet. "I think we should go back to Sunnydale."
Faith gave her a shocked look. "You're kidding right?"
"No." Cordelia pulled out a slinky red cocktail dress and high heels. "Where else would any demonic initiation be except on the Hellmouth?"
* * *
The Host flinched inwardly as the latest demon finished the remaining note of his song. "Ugh, remind me to charge more," he muttered to himself. "Do all demons have to be so tone-deaf?"
He started to make his way towards the stage when a large, familiar figure blocked his way. He nearly yelped in surprise, but regained his composure as he recognized who it was. "Angelcakes, what brings you here?" He narrowed his red eyes. "Yeesh, I sense a really bad vibe coming off of you maybe you should…"
His talking was cut off as Angel's large hand clasped around his throat. It wasn't to hurt, only to warn, so the no-violence spell didn't' take effect. "I need some information," he stated calmly, but the look on his face suggested otherwise. He released his grip around the Host's neck.
The green seer rubbed his neck and raised a brow. "You gotta wait in line and sing like everyone…"
Angel immediately picked up a nearby barstool and hurled it across the room where it smashed into a million pieces. Everyone in the club immediately froze and looked at the dark, brooding vampire with a soul. Angel's eyes never left the Host's as the scared occupants took the message and left immediately.
"…else…" the Host finished helplessly. "You know, you are very bad for business. And if you keep this up, I'll have to ban your attractive little behind from Caritas."
"Just tell me what I need to know," Angel said darkly.
The Host took a seat on the nearest barstool and rubbed his temple. "Why this city needs to start raining men? Or why there are some weird girls out there that are in desperate need of therapy and a tan?" He paused, and looked Angel up and down. "No offense. All your answers lie with one lost little red book in the middle of a forest floor next to a pile of ashes." He smiled to himself. "You might want to get it fast, he might be looking for it soon once he realizes it's missing." He held Angel's gaze for a second before leaning over the counter to grab a warm mug of blood. "Here, why don't you relax a little and have something to…" As the Host turned back, he found himself alone in his club. He shook his head and placed the mug back down. "They really should put bells on that boy."
* * *
Faith glanced up at the hot blazing sun, wondering why she wasn't combusting. Wicked weird.
She could still taste the blood on her mouth from her last feed, not two hours ago and it kind of wigged her out a little that it tasted really good. They had just come back to Sunnydale, finding it completely deserted. She found it kind of odd that the place wasn't being overruled by demons now that the humans were out of the way. She knew that they were probably scared of the new Big Bad in town and if demons were afraid then they had a problem.
"Wow. It still looks so…normal," Buffy replied as she stood in front of the shop. But it doesn't feel normal, she added mentally.
Indeed, both Faith and Buffy's Slayer senses were going all crazy. No doubt trouble was near, but not visible. Then again it probably was just coming off themselves and the two girls with them. They were inhabited by evil after all. However, no buildings have been destroyed; there were no riots or fires. It just seemed like everybody just disappeared, but they knew better. Buffy softly opened the door, hearing the familiar bell chime as the door slowly swung open. Everything was in its place and untouched. Buffy took a sharp intake of breath as she saw Anya standing behind the counter with a pleasant smile on her face, though her eyes looked malicious. She looked perfectly normal.
Be alert, girls. Remember she's not like us, Buffy mentally warned the other girls. Stick to the plan. We play it cool and gather as much information as we need. "Hello, Anya. I'd thought I'd find you here," Buffy said sweetly.
The ex-vengeance demon shrugged. "She has a yearning to be by the money. Not even I can thwart that," Anya replied, gesturing towards her own body.
"Finally, you guys are here," came a familiar voice. Willow appeared from the top floor near the books and jumped down to embrace Tara. "Master has been calling you guys for so long, we thought you wouldn't answer. Is there something wrong?"
Tara shook her head, trying hard not to blush or stutter. "Nothing anymore, now that I'm with you, forever." She placed a soft kiss on the redheaded Wicca's forehead.
Willow smiled seductively and entwined their fingers. "The initiation is tonight, but Dawnie couldn't get the key ingredient."
"Dawn! Where is she," Faith exclaimed, her anger rising, but Cordelia placed a comforting hand on her arm. Shit, I'm gonna blow it! "I…I need to thank our dear little sister for making us like this." She hoped it didn't sound as bitter as it did in her mind.
Willow raised a suspicious eyebrow, but was quickly subdued by another searing kiss from Tara. "She's with our Lord," Anya replied for her. "She is His right hand. She will not leave His side until she has orders." She smiled cruelly. "She failed a mission and our Lord is not cross with her. We think it is because she is the Key. She has much power."
Buffy clenched her fist, trying hard to control her anger and out of the corner of her eye she could see Faith do the same. She concentrated within her and felt the little echo that connected her with Faith. It, too, vibrated with rage. Faith, we need to calm down. If we blow our cover now, we'll all be lost, especially Dawnie.
Faith gave a small nod that only Buffy could see, acknowledging the message. Cordelia instinctively knew what Faith and Buffy were thinking by their demeanor and hoped the other two girls didn't notice. She needed to distract them while the two Slayers worked out their anger. She slinked her way seductively towards Anya, but cringing in the inside; her body already encased in the red cocktail dress and stilettos. She leaned against the counter, showing ample cleavage and winked at the perplexed ex-demon behind the register.
"So where's the party at?" the tall brunette asked in a sultry husky voice.