A/N: Thank you all for the reviews. I don't really feel like I deserve them…not really a good writer and I'm stumbling on writer's block, grrrrrr. Hope you enjoy it so far though, and thanks for taking the time to read this story.
Chapter Three
"That's not how it goes," Buffy replied softly. She herself didn't understand theology.
Faith raised an eyebrow, noticing the uncertainty in her tone. "Oh? And you know how it goes?" She smiled as Buffy remained silent. "God." She paused as if thinking the word over. "He is one of man's blunders. A creation to make up a reason for why you exist. There are many religions in your world, many contradict, which is why it is so easy to start wars here." She gave a sinister smirk, her unnaturally glowing eyes crackling just a bit. "But they all contain the same thing…a creation…a destruction..."
"So, lemme guess…" Buffy interrupted boldly. "You're here to bring about the destruction?" She shrugged. "I've stopped apocalypses before. This time will be no different." Her voice was pure determination.
Faith looked at her curiously, then she laughed softly, amusedly. "Such determination. In some ways, you are just like her." She moved away from the balcony, gesturing Buffy to follow her inside. "I did not come here on my own accord. I am doing what I was made to do."
Buffy sat on the edge of her grand bed, staring up at Faith with questioning eyes. "And what is that? What are you?"
The Slayer Faith gestured towards Buffy's body. "Same as you."
"I'm not like you," Buffy replied heatedly.
Faith smiled wanly, moving close to place her hand tenderly on her cheek. "No, you are not," she agreed, her piercing eyes cutting deep into her. "Not yet."
Buffy flinched at the touch; pushing down the rising emotions she felt whenever Faith was around. Whenever any Faiths were around. It was always the same feelings. The fear, the anxiety, the pain, and the hate. There were also other emotions that she felt. A rising passion that only Faith seemed to bring out of her, that made her fight harder, laugh louder, and actually live for once. The calming feeling because she was not alone anymore, there was another Slayer. The confusion she felt when she thought of Faith's attraction towards her. The confusion of what she, herself, felt towards the dark Slayer. Was it hate? Or is it something more powerful that transcends it all? All this rolled up into one overwhelming package that Buffy was never ready to deal with.
Faith grinned mischievously as she gazed at the blonde. "You mistake confusion for fear, my love." She moved away, still grinning madly, making Buffy a little anxious. She wondered if she had read her thoughts and Faith's grin grew wider. "I did."
"I thought you didn't choose to," Buffy stated, slightly flushed.
Faith held her amused expression. "I can not help it, when you express yourself so openly and easily." Her eyes danced wildly with mischief, reminding Buffy of their Faith. "You were drawn to her." She laughed mercilessly. "You were drawn to the way she lived, her spirit. So free with wild and reckless abandon." She paused, her grin still there, looking exactly like Faith's. "She tried to show you." Buffy looked away, shamed for some reason. "But you were afraid." Her grin dropped as she stared intently at the blonde. A frown formed. "You poisoned her."
Buffy looked back at her, shocked and confused by her words. "What? I didn't…"
"She was the innocent one!" Faith cut her off frigidly, her eyes glowing angrily and crackling bolts ominously. Her tone was harsh, angry, as if it were her that had been wronged.
Silence filled the air, except the hissing sound of the energy brimming in Faith's eyes and the occasional sound of violence outside. They stared at each other; the blonde with a confused expression and the dark-haired beauty with a condemning look. Buffy wondered what she meant by that comment. Faith, the innocent one. She had killed two people; one accidental and one purposely and ruthlessly. That, by any means, wasn't innocent. She was also guilty of crimes against her and her loved ones. How on earth was that innocent? She dimly was aware of what Faith went through, remembering the small amount of memories she was given. She felt what Faith went through; all the pain, the shame, the guilt. She felt there was more to it. More of what this Faith meant. The innocent one. How? Was it her fault that Faith went over the edge? Her heart sank as she tried to find the answer. Maybe it was. Maybe if she didn't push her away so many times. Maybe if they included her more. Was she guilty over the things Faith did?
No, she had a choice, Buffy reminded herself resolutely.
Faith smiled as she watched Buffy rack her brain for answers. Again, her expression softened and she spoke softly, like to a child that was too young to understand. "You think you know…what you are…what's to come."
Buffy stiffened at those words, hearing it twice before. Once in a dream, the other by a powerful vampire.
~ "I need to know more. About where I come from, about the other Slayers. I mean, maybe…maybe if I could learn to control this thing, I could be stronger, I could be better. But…I'm scared…" ~
That's when the truth hit Buffy with a stunning force; she felt the breath escape her lungs and the pit of her stomach churning wildly. Faith knew what a Slayer was. She understood. She controlled it and dealt with the consequences good and bad. She was stronger. She was better. She was never afraid. Until she met Buffy.
Faith had sought to be closer to Buffy, thinking she found someone else like her, who shared the gifts of being the Slayer. But she was wrong. Buffy was not like Faith. Friends and family surrounded Buffy. Slaying was not her life. She did not enjoy the hunt. She did not like the darkness that came with it. And Faith began thinking that that was what slaying was about. That her views on being the Slayer were wrong when she was, in fact, right. That Faith was wrong in relishing in the darkness and the power. That she was supposed to live like other people, even though she was not like other people. So Faith had tempted Buffy with her life. No rules. No boundaries. Freedom. Enjoyment. Because they were Slayers, they were Chosen. No one could stop them. Her philosophy of want, take, have a childish vision of the world; innocent and breathtaking and sincere. Because she did not live in a world full of insecurities, worries, and bitterness like Buffy. She loved her life; she had joy in what she did. And Buffy was tempted, but did not cross the line.
Then Faith started to see her as a role model, the good, and the perfect, Buffy Summers. She became insecure, shamed, and jealous because she began to believe her lifestyle was reckless, indecent, and just plain ghastly because it was not prim and proper like Buffy's. And she became confused. She lost the cherished way she lived her life, free and uncaring. She lost the feeling of joy when on the hunt, knowing they would lose and she would win because she was the Slayer. But not the only one.
There was Buffy. The other Slayer, the good Slayer, the older and more experienced Slayer, and her circle of close friends. Was that how she was supposed to live her life? For praises and appreciation? So that's what Faith began to seek, but would never find. Not from them. Faith had been through a lot, but she still retained her innocence, her childlike beauty. She was too innocent to know right from wrong. All she knew was that she was the Slayer, she was given power, and that she was supposed to use it. Her innocence was what made it so easy for her to be corrupted and she was, by Buffy first. Her downfall into darkness came soon after and Buffy got a taste of it when she plunged her own dagger into her gut, when Angel and Dracula sank their fangs into her. She did enjoy the darkness; she hungered for it and the power. But she was afraid. Overall, they had corrupted each other.
Faith smiled as she watched Buffy closely. You haven't even begun.
* * *
Faith sat impatiently in the middle of the cold, dark room. She had been waiting for what seemed like hours in this dark, dank, and empty room in the middle of the earth. The two trolls had left her there by herself and said she was supposed to wait. She didn't know what the hell she was waiting for. As soon as they left, she heard them lock, bolt, and block the door behind them. Her first reaction was anger and to get the hell out. Then she calmed herself down and remembered she belonged in prison anyway and if that's where she was, then so be it.
At least she was learning more uses of her new powers. She rested her chin on the palm of her hand as she sat cross-legged on the dirt floor. Her other hand was gesturing in front of her, moving and manipulating the darkness that swirled around her. She sometimes made them into shapes of animals, dancing along around her, but mostly had them fighting and killing each other. She sometimes made them into weapons that she threw against the dirt walls around her. As soon as they embedded into the walls, they dissipated into nothing, leaving small holes or welts in their wake.
"Hmm…" Faith wondered. She moved the darkness in front of her and made a little black chair. A wry smile formed on her lips. "Wicked." At least I can spend imprisonment comfortably.
Suddenly the hairs on the back of Faith's neck rose and her Slayer senses started to prickle. Faith's brows wrinkled in confusion as she looked around the room. What the…nothing here…
A moment later she felt something next to her. It felt as if somebody was standing right next to her, looking down at her, studying her. Faith looked at the empty spot with a raised eyebrow. For some reason, the unseen presence felt familiar, like she had felt this presence before. She frowned at the empty spot and stood up, backing away, her muscles tensing.
"Hello?" She stared uncertainly at the spot. Don't tell me I'm losing my mind now.
Faith then watched as the air around that spot blurred, as if it were water, and a figure slowly phased into view. Faith's eyes widened in shock. Standing before her was Cordelia. She looked every bit the Egyptian queen. She wore a flowing white gown that exposed a delicate shoulder and a golden cord was tied around her narrow waist. Her long hair was done in many small braids that fell gently across her shoulders and down her back. She wore the same unmistakable scowl on her face, but the only difference was her eyes. They were the color of crimson and glowed a soft reddish light.
Faith took a step towards her, in amazement. "Cordelia?"
The frown on her face deepened, if that were even possible and her eyes narrowed into dangerous red slits. She continued to study the dark Slayer, making Faith feel a little unnerved by her unmoving stature and unwavering stare.
Faith stopped her movements, her own eyes narrowing. "Cordy, what's…"
Before Faith could finish her sentence, she found herself being thrown back into the dirt wall. The metal collar around her neck tightened quickly around her like a noose and started to burn. She could feel her skin sizzling underneath the collar as she tried to suck in air. She opened her eyes to find Cordelia right in front of her, glaring furiously, her eyes glowing angrily. It was then Faith realized this wasn't Cordelia. She should have figured it out sooner, but she was always a little slow. This was the Cordelia of wherever she was now.
"Do not call me that," Cordelia hissed angrily, her voice carried a soft foreign accent so different from the valley girl accent Faith was used to. It made her sound more majestic and dignified.
Cordelia turned away and the pain instantly subsided. Faith immediately took in deep breaths to fill her aching lungs of much needed oxygen. She winced slightly at the burns around her throat. She stumbled to her feet, fighting the urge to attack this woman that wore the face of one of the only people who trusted her.
"Who…who are you," Faith asked between gasps of air.
Cordelia spun around and Faith immediately dropped into a fighting stance. At Faith's reaction, Cordelia smiled cruelly. "So it is true. You really are here."
Faith raised an eyebrow. "Well, yah, I'm here. If I wasn't here then I wouldn't be here." She grimaced inwardly. Yah, that made perfect sense. She rolled her shoulders, dropping her stance, and slowly crossed her arms. "So what's the sitch?"
Cordelia moved around her, like a vulture circling its prey. "You have power," she stated, ignoring Faith's question. She stopped in front of the Slayer, her red eyes roaming across her body. "You look exactly like her." A small frown formed when she met the other girl's gaze. "Not the eyes." She looked away as if thinking of something.
Faith crossed her arms impatiently. "Look, I really don't wanna stay here more than I have to. If you'd just kindly lead me to the armies, I'll do my thing and I can blow…" She waited for a response, but Cordelia just stood there with a concentrated look as if in deep thought. "Hey, what's your deal? Are you gonna help or what?"
Cordelia's gaze snapped towards hers and she flicked her hand in a dismissive gesture. At the movement, the collar around Faith's neck gave one final squeeze before unclasping itself around her neck and fell to the ground with a dull clunk. Faith stared at the plain metal object before her gaze met Cordelia's impassive one.
"I'll take that as a yes," Faith replied, rubbing around her neck absently and wincing at the burns she found there.
She paused as she watched the collar rise and float towards Cordelia's waiting hands. She gave Faith a wicked smile before the collar changed shape into a thin, decorated chain that Cordelia clasped around her neck. It now looked nothing more than a silver necklace.
Before Faith could say anything more, she found herself rising a few feet off the ground and floating towards Cordelia until she was only less than a foot away. Cordelia looked over her body one last time before waving in front of her and Faith felt the clothes she had on moving and slithering around her as if it were liquid. She craned her head down and saw that it looked like black goo was oozing all around her, like the darkness that seeped out of her. Then she remembered that her clothes were made from that substance. After a few moments, she was wearing exactly what the other Faith was. The two piece dress with the revealing slits and flaring sleeves. She was then deposited on the ground, her feet bare on the dank ground.
Faith raised a questioning eyebrow. "If you wanted me to change, you shoulda just asked." She gave Cordelia a saucy wink.
Cordelia seemed a bit taken back by the gesture then recovered her stony expression as if she remembered the girl in front of her wasn't the same Faith. "Your language is different." Her eyes roamed her again, her crimson eyes finally landing on her neck. "You have been injured." Her eyes then flicked to the scars on her hands.
Faith fidgeted with her hands, suddenly feeling embarrassed for some reason. "Yeah…well…we're not all exactly invincible where I come from…" One hand unconsciously made her way to the scars on her abdomen another went up to touch her throat. "And that's your fault for putting that weird collar thing on me. Dominatrix much? Anyway, it won't make that much of a difference. From what I've seen, people are gonna be too scared to…"
Her sentence trailed off as Cordelia reached out and clasped both hands in hers. She froze in apprehension when Cordelia brought them close to her lips. They locked eyes and Cordelia slowly parted her lips and gently blew against Faith's hands. The dark Slayer shuddered as she felt her warm breath caress her skin and watched in amazement as the scars marring her skin slowly disappeared, leaving behind smooth flesh.
Faith was about to say something, but her voice stuck in her throat as she felt Cordelia sharply pull her against her. She groaned as one of Cordelia's hands roughly jerked her head to the side, exposing her throat and the other hand moved her hair away. She stiffened as Cordelia bent her head down and felt Cordelia's warm breath once again caress her skin. Then as quick as it happened, Faith found herself standing nearly a foot away from Cordelia, as if they hadn't moved at all. Only Cordelia had a smirk on her lips, suggesting otherwise.
"Th-thanks," Faith finally replied. Whoa…any Cordy that up close and personal is too hot…
Cordelia raised a curious eyebrow as if hearing gratitude from her was the strangest thing. It probably was. "What do you know?"
Faith snapped her mind out of her fantasy. "Huh?"
Annoyance again appeared in her expression and for a moment it looked like the Cordelia Faith knew. "What do you know about this place? About the face you resemble?" Her tone was cold, precise, reminding Faith that this wasn't the Cordelia she knew. She lacked the liveliness Cordelia had. "What do you know of the power you possess? Of why you were brought here?"
Faith shifted uncomfortably at the barrage of questions. "I don't know about this place…" She began ticking off the questions with her fingers. "…I don't know who the hell she is…I'm the damn Slayer…and I have no fucking idea why I'm here. I just woke up here." She crossed her arms and matched glares with the woman in front of her. "What about you? You gonna fill in the blanks for me or are we just gonna stand here and stare at each other?" She shrugged flippantly. "Doesn't really matter to me. Personally, I'd go with the staring." She leered suggestively at Cordelia, her brown eyes raking over her body, the old 'bad girl' attitude settling comfortably around her.
Cordelia's eyes narrowed vehemently. "Enough of this."
She angrily snatched the front of Faith's shirt, almost exposing her breasts. She brusquely pulled her closer to her so that they were face to face, their noses almost touching. Faith stared defiantly back into those scorching red eyes and watched as a malicious smirk made its way to Cordelia's face. Then the world around her began to blur and bleed together so that the only thing that remained clear and focused was Cordelia.