The Paladin Project 17 – Birthright

Faith stared at her companion, her heart thundering with passion. "Fuck," she muttered under her breath. "What have I done?" She couldn't believe that she'd flung herself at Xander like that. It had been a while since she got some, hell, if she thought about it the last time she got to do the beast with two backs was probably Xander. But she never chased guys; she waited for them to come to her. She wasn't some desperate bookworm; she was Faith, the hottest of the hot. If Xan didn't want her, fuck him, she could have anybody – that Wood had been giving her looks, he was too old really, he had to be 35 at least, but still.

Except she didn't want anybody, she wanted him. "Concentrate girl," she muttered. "Not paying attention could get you killed quicker than a heart attack."

Faith glanced around her surroundings, resisting the urge to shudder at the stygian shadows jumping around her and her companion, the darkness' movement prompted by the leaping flames in the wall-mounted torches. "So where we heading Xander?" she was proud how steady her voice remained, giving no hint to her inner pain.

"According to the plans there's meant to be a trapdoor in the ground floor," her fellow demon hunter replied.

Xand seemed distracted, 'course it probably wasn't every day he got grabbed by a babe who'd once tried to kill him but had now developed a stalker fetish. If she was in his position she'd probably be fucking terrified too. "What we looking for?"

"I don't know exactly," her partner replied, his voice a murmur. "A weapon, a book, or a spell maybe."

"Just as long as you've got a clear idea," Faith muttered before slightly raising her voice, "and the others?"

"They're clearing the upper levels, making sure we're not disturbed and that if we need back-up we've got it."

Faith refrained from shaking her head. The scheme had kinda of an ad hoc feel to it but it wasn't like they knew enough or had time to make a better one. "Let's get it done."

* * *

They made their way down to the trapdoor indicated on the blueprints, unhindered by any security. Xander took a breath, this was it. He hadn't a clue what lay beneath. He didn't know if there was anything down there, or if the First was just sitting, waiting, for them. "One way to find out," he muttered. Xander glanced across at Faith's taut face. "You ready?" he whispered.

Faith nodded, her cockiness not entirely concealing her nervousness. "You know me Xman, I was born ready."

"Here goes." Grabbing the trapdoor he pulled it open, gasping in relief when the half-expected demon didn't burst out and attack them. Looking down he saw a runway leading into the basement and little more. Swallowing nervously he stepped down on the runway, followed by the raven-haired Slayer, and strode down, glancing left and right into the inky darkness surrounding them. "What I want to know," Xander half-jumped at Faith's whispered voice in his ear, "is why we never run into any super-villains living in penthouses."

"Met a couple," he replied, his voice hoarse with tension. "Although they were human. It's only the demons and vamps who go into the underground dwelling minus interior decorating look."

"Good to know." Faith suddenly gasped. "What the fuck is that!"

"That's power, that's what that is," he replied, his body crying out at the sight before him. "Can't you sense it?"

At the far end of the cellar there stood a black wooden plinth upon which there stood a huge granite rock with a gleaming halberd sticking out of it, the light emitted by it illuminating the area surrounding the weapon. Xander stared at the armament, enthralled by the aura he felt surrounded it, pulling at his being. "Xand," he started at the brunette's hand on his arm. Turning he looked down into the Slayer's concerned eyes. "Xman you zoned out for a while there. You five by five?"

Xander forced a smile. "I'm fine Faith. It's just the halberd."

His companion's concern changed to puzzlement. "What about it?" Faith's eyes narrowed. "You're not getting a bad vibe from it are you?"

Still distracted it took him a few seconds to answer. "No." Quite the opposite in fact, it felt as if his veins were pumping with energy and his senses were somehow more attuned than they'd ever been before. He had to get his hands on it.

Heart pounding, he started down the runway only to stop as a troubling thought hit him. What if like Tolkien's ring, the weapon was evil? Xander swallowed, given that the halberd was being held by a creature of supreme malevolence it was far from impossible – it was even likely. But it wasn't like they had a choice.

His hands suddenly sweaty he continued over to the plinth, the Slayer quietly following. "Xand, you recognise the writing?"

Xander's eyes narrowed as he inspected the strange writing on the plinth's gleaming plaque. He started to shake his head only to start when the letters suddenly made sense. "I..it says, it says," Xander said before stopping in wonder and shaking his head. How could he read it, he'd never even seen the language before? "The chosen weapon for the chosen one. Let it never be raised in anger only in justice."

"Whoa Xman," his companion sounded impressed. "Pretty wicked. I didn't know you could speak the lingo, what language is it anyway?"

"I don't know," he replied. Seeing the Slayer's eyes widen he hurried on. "Are you going to get it?"

"Me?" the brunette looked confused. "Why me?"

Xander raised an eyebrow. "Chosen one remember?" God, he wished it was his to wield.

Faith nodded. "Five by five," the east coast native grabbed the hilt of the weapon and pulled. The halberd didn't shift. Her teeth clenched and the writhing of her arm muscles visible even under her denim shirt, Faith struggled on for another minute or so before releasing her grip and shaking her head. "Nothing Xand," the Slayer turned towards him. "You wanna give it a try?"

Xander blinked. "Me? But I'm not a Slayer."

Faith shrugged. "You might as well give it a try. After all," the brunette pointed at the plaque, "you read the writing."

After a second he nodded and stepped forward. "Good point." For a few seconds he stared at the halberd, his mouth drying with desire. Part of him wanted to grab the halberd shaft, feel its power running through him, but another part was afraid, scared of the responsibility that he somehow knew came with it.

Forcing away his fear he took hold of the halberd. His senses swam for a second as something like an electric charge ran through his body, pushing him onto a higher plane of existence, making him pulsate with energy. Taking a breath he pulled at the weapon. For a half-second it didn't budge, but then slid effortlessly out of its constraints. After staring at the weapon for what seemed an eternity he forced his eyes to meet the raven- haired Bostonian's, seeing the awe he felt reflected there. "Xand, you five by five?" she asked.

"I feel fine Faith," he smiled at the Slayer. "Better than that I feel great!"

"Five by five Xand," the brunette eyed him nervously, "maybe we should get back and see what that is."

"Sounds like a plan," he nodded in agreement before starting back towards, the Slayer following close behind. They were halfway there when he sensed a presence in the shadows to their left. He spun around instantly to confront the intruder and was met by a crunching right that smashed into his jaw lifting him off his feet and sending him crashing head-first into the hard wall behind.

* * *

Faith's heart missed a beat as Caleb lunged out of the shadows and attacked Xander, the priest's beaming grin never shifting an inch. Forcing away any concern for Xander, she stepped towards the Jesus-nut. "Hi Rev, ready for round 2?" God, this bastard had single-handedly kicked hers, B's, and Spike's asses. How the fuck was she meant to handle him on her own?

Caleb cast her a scornful glance. "Ah, the sinful one, the one most in need of my cleansing touch."

Faith raised an eyebrow. Christ, even the boss hadn't been as pompous as this prick. "Touch this!" She moved into a right-footed spin kick only to stop and change into a left-handed backfist. The feint caught the priest unawares but the punch connected with the holy man's jaw to depressingly little effect.

Pushing aside her disappointment, Faith attempted to follow up with a karate chop to her rival's neck but the priest's hand snatched up to grab her wrist in an inescapable grip. She bit back a scream when the man jerked her arm, dislocating her shoulder with a pop. Her arm flopping uselessly by her side, she kicked the priest in the right hip but the man ignored her assault to slam a right hook into the side of her head, momentarily stunning her. "HARLOT!" the rev's fist shattered her nose. "HUSSY!" his foot smashed into her stomach, driving the air from her body and sending her crashing to the ground. "SLUT!"

A series of explosions interrupted the priest as Xander emptied a magazine into Caleb's chest knocking him on his ass. Caleb was back to his feet almost instantly but not before Xander got between the priest and her. "You okay Faith?"

She spat out a mouthful of blood before replying. "Five by five Xand." Faith shakily climbed to her feet.

"Good," her rescuer's voice hardened. "For a holy man you've sure got a nice mouth on you. Think you can take me, motherfucker?" Her heart pounding Faith stared at Xander, he couldn't take Caleb, not even Kakistos hit as hard as this prick.

"I think I can," Caleb started forward.

"Stop Caleb." Xander paled at the appearance of some kid who looked like he was in his teens but had to be the First. "Xander old buddy," Faith blinked, so it was someone Xander knew. "You still haven't dumped her. Not that I blame you," the teen leered at her. "A body that hot and a girl that easy." Faith flinched when Xander chuckled, a sound cold enough to freeze her heart. "You stupid prick. If you were Jesse you'd know nobody messes with my friends. I was willing to let you crawl back into your hole, but now," Xander shook his head. "Now I'm going to rip your heart out and feed on it. Let's get out of here."

After a split-second Faith nodded and started to move. She didn't know about The First but right now she was fucking terrified of Xander.

* * *

"I could have taken him!"

"Could you?" The First remained unmoved in the face of Caleb's rage. He glanced at his children as the other Fallen members stepped out of the shadows. "Maybe you could but that's not I want. The time is not quite right for my plan to come to fruition, soon it will be time to both crush Demonsbane and open the hellmouth in one fell swoop."