Chapter 3:
For the second time in one day they stood in front of this particular door, and also for the second time it was Buffy who opened it for them.
"Oh, it's you."
"Is that your standard greeting or do you sometimes try other words as well?" Kirika heard her partner ask.
"I don't have to take that from some murderer you know."
"Really? Because here I remember you calling us for help." Oh yes, it was obvious Mireille was enjoying this.
Buffy seemed on the verge of biting back when she visibly swallowed her anger away and instead told them through gritted teeth. "Why don't you come in? We have more important things to do than stand here."
When Mireille didn't immediately move Kirika had enough and walked inside, leaving the two blondes to glare at each other. Entering the living room she recognized the man talking on the telephone as Rupert Giles, the Watcher she remembered.
"Yes, quite, thank you." And he hung up the phone writing something on a piece of paper. It was only when he turned around that he noticed her. "Oh, hello. And you are?"
"Kirika."
"Oh quite, one of the ehm, assassins."
"Yes, that's us. Are you going to act like Miss High and Mighty or will you actually be able to deal with it?" Mireille asked, apparently having decided that hanging around the front door wasn't very entertaining after all.
"Miss High and Mighty? Oh you mean Buffy. Quite, ehm, no I think I'll reserve judgment for now actually." And for some reason he began polishing his glasses.
"Miss High and Mighty? Who do think you are that you can go calling me names?"
"Buffy, not now please." Strangely enough it had been Mister Giles who said it and, even weirder in Kirika's opinion, it actually seemed to work.
"Sorry, you're right. Dawn first, mass murderers later." Mass murderers? It seemed that her partner might have been right about how righteous this one considered herself to be after all.
The man only sighed however and didn't even bother stopping her again. Probably a choice made from experience. "Quite, now I just got of the phone with a contact who would try and find out where the Faithful will be located."
"Faithful?" She asked, remembering the other time she had heard those words. She had a crossbow bolt in her shoulder at the time but that maniacal sound wasn't one she'd easily forget.
"Oh yes, that ah, is what the kidnappers call themselves."
"And why weren't we told that this afternoon?" Mireille wanted to know, glaring at the other blonde who she obviously figured to be the reason they hadn't been told.
"No, no. Buffy didn't know about that this afternoon. I only told her and Dawn about it after I had returned."
"How did she get taken?" Kirika asked.
"She said she was going out for a while in order to think things over but we believe she was taken not long after she left."
"Believe?" Her partner asked incredulously. "You aren't certain?"
"No, she told us she'd be back for dinner but when she didn't show up Buffy went looking for her and she was nowhere to be found."
"So, she can be taken what, as early as four hours ago?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Kirika looked at the so-called Slayer while Mister Giles said this and could clearly recognize the despair the young woman exhibited.
"By the people that want to kill her?" Mireille's questions seemed to have a great impact on Buffy who seemed to be withdrawing into herself every time one was posed.
"Yes."
"Don't you think she's already dead then?"
"No, actually I, ah I believe that they will perform some sort of ceremony which means the actual, ah, killing will probably happen at either midnight or even dawn."
"Why would they wait until midnight?" It wasn't any more obvious to Kirika than it was to her partner.
"Because of the magic of course."
"They believe in magic?"
"Believe in magic? Well, yes of course but no more than they'd believe in a chair. After all we all know that magic is real."
"Magic real?" Mireille asked highly surprised. "You mean that you believe in magic as well?"
"What?" Mister Giles seemed rather confused by their apparent disbelief and it was Buffy who finished for him.
"You were bluffing this afternoon. I can't believe it! You didn't know anything but actually pretended you did." The anger about their deception made her forget about her sister for a moment as she glared at them.
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't believe it." Buffy sighed. "Giles! They don't know anything, they probably got the whole Slayer and Key thing from those files but they don't know what it means."
"Yes, I'm afraid you're right." The Brit answered. "But we do need their help so it might be best if we explain what they're going to face while we wait for Philip to call." He then focused back on them. "Now, unlike what most people believe. The world did not start as a paradise…"
Where was she? Dawn mused. She was tied up, unable to see anything and she sported several bruises. Oh, she knew she was kidnapped. Again! Why did this kind of nonsense always happen to her? No use whining about it though, time to think of a way to get out of here.
Now, what was the last thing she remembered? She had almost reached the park when a car had stopped next to her and people got out, after that her mind was blank. Okay, use your imagination to fill in what happened after that Dawnie. They took her, obviously, and after making sure she couldn't do or even see anything they rode off to wherever she was now.
Well, that was useful she thought sarcastically. Now, who would want to kidnap her? Was it a vampire, was it a demon or was it something completely different. And why was she posing ridiculous questions to herself when she already knew who was after her and therefore the most likely to kidnap her?
Licking her dry lips she realized there was only one way left for her to get some information. "HEY! Where are you? Let me go you miserable excuses for failed knights!"
When she then heard footsteps nearing her location she knew that at last she'd get some answers, whatever those answers might be. The anticipation sped up her heartbeat until she could hear her heart fluttering at a speed that couldn't possibly be healthy. The footsteps halted and the cloth covering her eyes was yanked away exposing her eyes to the sudden glare of the lighted room.
"Ah! Bastard." She cursed the form she could barely make out. "Why have you taken me?"
"You are the Key."
"Oh yeah, now that's a fantastic reason." Unfortunately the sarcasm didn't appear to faze the form she was now starting to recognize as a man.
"You are a danger to humanity and therefore you must die. We understand however the needs of your human body and are therefore willing to offer you a last meal."
"Great, you know, now that you mention it I am kind of hungry. I take it I can choose it for myself?" Not bothering to wait for an answer she rambled on. "There's this restaurant in LA that has the best…"
"No, you will receive bread and water. As a tool of the Beast you do not deserve anything more."
"She tried to kill me! Why would I help her? Besides she's dead!" Panic was gripping her heart, she had no idea where she was and she was pretty sure neither did Buffy. Which meant she might not make it out of here alive.
"The food will arrive shortly, if you feel the need to pray you may do so. At half past eleven I will return to collect you, the deliverance will take place at midnight." With those parting words the man left the cell, leaving behind a fearful Dawn.
"Oh yes, this looks like their place in France alright." Mireille broke the silence.
They had arrived at what according to Mister Giles' contact was the headquarters of these so-called Faithful and Kirika was rather happy about the distraction. She didn't know what she feared more, the fact that vampires and demons might actually exist or the fact that their companions on this mission believed they did.
She looked at the two that had accompanied them here, while she didn't like going in with a couple of amateurs she also realized they couldn't be stopped from going. The goal of the mission was after all to rescue the blonde's sister. But then again, she refrained from shaking her head, they had both refused to use a gun and instead had brought crossbows and swords.
Unlike her partner she knew exactly what weapons like that were capable of and while they were useful it wouldn't be enough when dealing with the kind of numeric disadvantage they probably faced. Which meant that she might have to spare some of her attention in order to keep them alive.
"Good, let's go in then." As Buffy started forward Kirika shared a glance with Mireille. Neither of them seemed to understand why the Slayer had decided she was the leader and she could see how her partner was going to protest. She quickly shook her head in denial, trying to show Mireille it might be best not to argue about it now. If it proved necessary they could always do so later, when it was important enough.
. . . .
Her partner had been right by comparing this building to the mansion outside of Paris. While the architectures were naturally different there were a lot of similarities, including the strangely religious atmosphere that hung over the building. An atmosphere that was even more pronounced here because the building they were approaching looked like monastery.
And of course, here too, there was a forest surrounding the base but fortunately the security here was lacks, probably because everyone was more interested in the killing of an innocent little girl than in watching their own backs. Not that she minded that of course. With Buffy, who seemed to be able to see a surprising amount in the dark forest, leading they made good time until they finally reached the entrance.
"Plan?" Kirika asked in an attempt to find out what the Slayer wanted to do know that they were here. If they discussed it now both she and Mireille could probably dissuade her from an action that would amount to suicide.
"I knock." Knock? She asked the silent question of her partner but from the confused expression it was obvious she had no idea what the grim looking girl was planning now.
That confusion didn't last long however as Buffy walked to the door and after examining it for a moment kicked it open with a resounding crash which left only half of the door in its original place and the rest scattered over the floor. After she had done so she moved her hand in front of her face where she actually captured a crossbow bolt meant for her.
"Hello, I'm here to pick up my little sister. Is she ready?" Not bothering to wait for the reaction of the people inside she then ran through the broken door.
"I guess we'd better follow her before she gets herself killed." Mireille told her. Nodding her agreement she sat out for the door as well, while Mister Giles brought up the rear.
Upon entering the building she saw her partner sigh in resignation and understood why she did so. Once again they were faced with people using swords and the blonde still wasn't able to use them. Something which must have galled her even more this time because in front of them Buffy was fighting several of the men simultaneously.
"Kirika?"
"Yes?" She wondered what her partner wanted.
"Once we're back in Paris, we'll buy those swords and you'll teach me how to use them. I'm getting sick and tired of not being able to fight these people."
Finally, Kirika smiled at being told this before both of them raised their silenced weapons and the bullets started to fly. When the knights noticed that the Slayer wasn't alone they came running and like in Paris, there were too many of them to hold of with guns. This time however she didn't even bother to wait until her gun was empty before she dove in their midst.
Ducking beneath a swung sword she kicked the man behind her while putting her gun in the face of the other. Pulling the trigger she fired her last bullet with good effect. Realizing the gun was now useless she placed it in the small of her back before reaching down for the sword whose owner no longer had need for it. While looking around for a new target she noticed that instead of killing them, Buffy merely knocked her opponents out. Had she had the time to shake her head over such stupidity Kirika would have done so, instead she merely faced her next target.
When finally the last of the targets was gone she looked around. Quite a few of the men on the floor had been killed by bullets, others by… varying… means but there were still quite a few breathing ones left. And in her opinion there was only one way to deal with that, taking hold of her gun once more she replaced the empty clip and moved to the first of them.
"What are you doing?" Buffy asked but she didn't pay the young woman any attention. While the Slayer might be stupid enough to leave enemies at her back she had no intention of doing the same.
A clean shot through the forehead took care of the first. As she then walked to the next she spared a moment to glance at Buffy's shocked face, it appeared that while the Slayer hadn't trusted Mireille at all, she had mistakenly taken her for the more dangerous of them as well. But that mistake was one she probably wouldn't make again, Kirika thought while once again ending the life of one of the defenseless men on the floor.
"It's time." The man told her as he entered the cell.
"Why do you have to kill me? I'm not a danger to anyone anymore." She was close to tears, this wasn't the first time she was close to death but it wasn't very often she had the time to think about it. In fact the only other time she had been informed of when she would die was when it was Glory who had tried to use her as a way to get home.
The man didn't tell her anything however and just picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. She tried kicking but that only succeeded in hurting her since beneath his robes he seemed to wear some kind of armor. She then tried screaming and pleading but that started out useless as well, until the man suddenly stopped and put her down.
Had she succeeded in convincing him to let her go? For the first time in hours hope flooded through her, only to be crushed when her captor took out a piece of cloth and gagged her. He didn't explain his actions until they were underway again.
"You will not be blinded again, it is believed that you must face your destiny with your eyes wide open. Your mouth however wasn't specified and your screaming might interfere with the ritual."
She tried to remain strong but when they finally entered a large room with in the center what could only be a sacrificial altar she couldn't keep it up. Tears pricked in her ears and when she was placed on the stone they started to flow. Please don't kill me. What had she ever done to them? She had never asked to be created like this but she did like her life and wasn't ready for it to end.
They couldn't read her thoughts however and since she was gagged she couldn't tell them either, not that it stopped her from trying though. Her arms were ruthlessly stretched above her head then and while she couldn't see what was happening, the feel of even more rope was unmistakable. Her legs received the same treatment then until she lay spread-eagled on the altar, unable to move even an inch.
An older guy, dressed more elaborately than the others, came to check her bindings and when he pronounced them as sufficient even more people entered the room. The old guy, who was probably the head-priest or whatever, then took some kind of knife out of his robes and held it up high for all to see.
"It has taken us years to create this dagger but now it will finally be put to its intended use." Oh god, the sadistic bastard was making a show out of it. "After tonight the earth will be freed from the danger that the existence of the Key brings with it. We will end the danger by destroying the Key. Not only its current human form but by using this dagger we will put and end even to its magical essence."
He started chanting then in Latin but she wasn't able to pay enough attention to it to figure out what was being said. They were really going to do it and unless Buffy showed up within the next couple of minutes her sister would be too late. The priest suddenly brought the knife down in a fast movement and she felt her heart stop.
The movement stopped a hairsbreadth from her skin however and she allowed herself to breathe again for a moment, it hadn't happened yet, it hadn't happened yet. Her heart too was working again although it appeared to have permanently moved to her throat. The priest wasn't done however as he suddenly moved the knife, dagger, whatever, down her body. Ripping her shirt apart and leaving her exposed.
She was far from happy with that but it wasn't until the sadist began carving in her flesh that Dawn learned why he had done it. The knifepoint seemed to be made of fire as it cut into her body, the only thing that disproved that theory was the fact that she couldn't smell any burned flesh. She couldn't stop the screams however and she was certain that despite the gag the priests could hear them. But even that didn't stop the headpriest from continuing to carve patterns into her body until she was coated in her own blood.
They had been hearing the muffled screams for almost five minutes when they finally found the source.
"Oh god." Kirika heard her partner whisper next to her. And for once she couldn't agree more with the blonde. From the entrance to the room they were standing in they had a good view of the altar where the screams came from. Screams that were loud enough even to drown out most of the chanting and with a perfectly good reason.
Blood was dripping from the sides of the altar while someone was using a dagger to carve into Dawn's still living body. The poor girl was bound and gagged and clearly a long way from healthy. In order to protect the Slayer and Watcher Kirika had chosen against submerging herself into an emotionless state but now she almost wished she hadn't done so. The armor that would have given her would have protected her from the nauseating feeling the sight caused her. She would have had to deal with it at a later time but as it was she had no doubt she'd have nightmares about it anyway.
But even while these thoughts spun through her head she had already started to bring her gun up. Tactically it might not be the best way to fight these people but she couldn't let the girl die. So when the priest once again brought his hand with the dagger up for another stroke she gently caressed the trigger.
The man staggered backwards, a surprised look on his face, but even that lasted only for a moment before he fell down with part of his brain blown away. The chanting went on for almost two seconds before the only thing that could be heard in the room were the everlasting cries of pain coming from the altar.
If love can kill people, surely hatred can save them. Altena's words, and in this case they might actually prove to be true. Mireille had now brought up her gun as well and without a word being spoken between them the sounds of silenced guns being discharged joined that of the screams.
One down, two, three. Every time she pulled the trigger another target fell to the floor. Since they probably wore armor beneath those robes she had aimed every shot at the target's head. Time seemed to have slowed down for her as the priests needed valuable seconds to react. Seconds they didn't have, her gun clicked empty and with a practiced move she quickly replaced the empty clip. The sound of her next shot coming nearly simultaneously with that of the empty clip hitting the stone floor.
"DAWN!" The shout of anger and despair came from the entrance where she had expected the other two to appear and indeed Buffy seemed to fly out of it. With a sword in her hand she jumped over, under or went through everyone standing between her and her sister. Obviously she had momentarily forgotten the fact that she didn't kill humans as nothing that dared approach her lasted more than a couple of seconds.
While her attention was mostly on her own targets Kirika now finally understood how badly she had underestimated the Slayer. The supernatural speed and strength, while exhibited in the earlier fights, was now being used to its fullest and the effects were devastating. As priests went flying until they crashed into a wall she even started to wonder if her previous assessment, that she would be able to beat the Slayer if it came to it, was correct. No, she amended, she would be able to beat the young woman as long as she ensured that she wouldn't threaten Dawn.
Mireille's gun clicked empty next and she had to focus on both their targets, therefore no longer able to see how Buffy was doing. When next she could spare the time she saw that the sisters had been reunited as Buffy was cutting Dawn free from her bonds. A priest came up to the Slayer from behind but even before she had a chance to shoot him the Watcher had done so with his crossbow.
It hurt so much. While Dawn knew Buffy had to do this in order to get her free, every single movement of her body hurt. At least the gag had been the first to go so she could tell Buffy how she knew there wasn't anything she could do about it. Even the blood that had dried up caused her pain now as it contracted the flesh it was lying on, causing the cuts to open again, making her bleed and she really didn't want to think about the rest.
She felt a little dizzy, probably from the loss of blood, as she finally sat up. "I would hug you but I don't think that'd be very good for you." Buffy told her as she swung her feet of the altar she had feared to be the place of her death.
"Yeah, oh god it hurts. Thank you for being in time."
"Not in time enough obviously, if that bastard hadn't already been dead I'd…"
Yes, the priest was dead. Looking at the corpse on the ground before her she couldn't stop herself from smiling. At least that was one sadistic bastard that had gotten his due. The dagger was lying next to him and she decided to take that, it had been meant to kill her and now it would serve to protect her. She hoped the priest would see that from his afterlife.
"Dawn watch out!" The sudden shout of alarm caused her to look up and she saw the other priest she wanted to see die most. The one who had dragged her here, who had gagged her when she pleaded for her life, who had… She knew Buffy was on her way to save her again but besides the fact that she wasn't sure if her sister could arrive soon enough, this one was hers.
Lifting the dagger in the air she let out a shout of anger before rushing him. The priest undoubtedly was surprised as he saw what had to look like a naked girl, covered completely in blood and carrying their holy dagger coming at him. And that surprise proved to be fatal as she didn't wait for him to get his defenses up but with whatever strength she still had rammed the knife through his armor into his black heart. Watching him collapse to the floor was the last thing she saw before she did the same.
. . . .
The fighting was over and Dawn sat next to the one person she had killed cradling the dagger in her hands. There was something about it that spoke to her in a way she had never encountered before. She couldn't explain the how or why, but this weapon felt like it was the missing part of her life. It had been created by men who wanted to use it to end her life but instead it would signify her new life.
As the dagger was highly magical there were probably some consequences attached to it that she hadn't figured out yet but that didn't matter. Twirling the shiny blade in her hands she didn't even notice how the others had now gathered around her.
"Dawn, I ah, think it might be best if you put that away." She dimly heard Giles speaking.
"No, it's mine."
The next person who tried to take it away was Buffy. "Dawn, that knife was meant to kill you, actually they used it to cut figures into you." For a moment Dawn was reminded of the pain again, but with the dagger in her hands it didn't seem to be so bad. "And who knows what kind of magic they used to achieve that. It's not safe."
"That didn't stop you from using the scythe." She answered dreamily.
"That was different and you know it. Now give me that knife."
"No, you don't need it." Because she knew her sister would continue to harp on it until she gave in she then told her. "I will let Giles test it to see if it's safe. If it is, I get it back and if it isn't we'll decide what to do. Alright?"
It was obvious Buffy didn't like it but she agreed nonetheless. "Okay, Giles will test it and if it's safe you get to keep your little souvenir. But if it isn't we'll destroy it."
For the shortest possible moment she felt like planting the dagger in Buffy's heart but that feeling was gone so fast she didn't know if it had been real or not. And besides it didn't matter what her sister wanted to do with the weapon if it had proven to be dangerous, after all, she was certain Giles wouldn't find anything.
. . . .
"Goodbye."
"We'll meet again. I'm sure of it." Kirika told her. "I don't know why or when but I am certain of it."
Strange, that was probably the most she had heart the other say at one time and the way she sounded so certain… "Okay, cool. Anyway if you ever encounter any vampires, remember to stake them in the heart or cut off their head."
"I'm still not convinced they exist but I will be careful." Her newfound friend seemed to hesitate about something.
"What?"
"Your sister."
"What about her?" She wasn't happy about the mention of Buffy. The first couple of days after she had been kidnapped the two of them had been able to be nice to each other. But now that she was able to move freely again it seemed as if that temporary reprieve was over.
"She loves you, like you love her. Don't let past mistakes interfere with that love."
"Yeah well, that's easy enough to say for you. You don't know what those mistakes are."
Kirika slowly shook her head before casting a glance at the impatient blonde waiting for her. "It does not matter what the mistakes are. Both of you still live, which is what is important. I too once did something that could have ruined everything I have with Mireille but she forgave me despite everything."
"Yeah well, I think the problems between Buffy and myself are a little more than yours was."
"No, I-I killed her family." Kirika didn't seem happy about having to admit that but Dawn didn't even really notice it. All she could think about was what she had just heard and she was so shocked about that she couldn't even move.
"Kirika, it's time." She dimly heard Mireille call out.
"I'm coming." The smaller girl then stepped a little closer before whispering in her ear. "All mistakes can be forgiven as long as you still care about each other. Don't let anything come between you and your family."
She watched Kirika join her partner before both of them stepped through into the section she wasn't allowed to go. Standing in the warm foyer of the airport Dawn waited until she could no longer see either of the women before she turned around.
Her hand went to the dagger she now kept hidden beneath her clothes, closely held against the bandages that still swathed her entire torso. As she had expected the knife had been cleared by Giles and now it was in her possession. Where it would always remain.
It wasn't until she had reached the underground station that she had finally made up her mind about what Kirika had told her about Buffy. The other had been right, whatever mistakes Buffy had made were in the past and she should stop blaming the blonde for everything that went wrong. If she did that, maybe they might actually have a chance to become a family again in the way families are supposed to be.
End
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Post-fic comments: Well, that's the end of this story. I want to thank you all for reading and hope you enjoyed it. Reviews are more than welcome of course. I have also posted the sequel of this story in the Buffy section, as it isn't a crossover.
Jen, thank you for reviewing. I'd say I'm sorry that you at first believed it to be a Harry Potter crossover but I'm not :-) The Noir story isn't that wrong anyway but in case someone who does know the series reads the story I felt that I ought to mention that I'm aware it wasn't entirely like that.