After The Storm
Chapter 17
By Vixen
That night's plan had been easier than Faith had figured it would be. Willow and her had set off to find whoever had trashed the dark arts dealer's warehouse, to see if they could get back the orb that had been stolen. As it turned out, vamps were the culprits. And rather stupid ones at that, Faith had remarked upon following the obvious trail they had left. How she had missed it the first time she had staked out the warehouse, Faith couldn't imagine.
Willow had come with the slayer this time. After getting some much-needed rest at the hotel, the witch was in top form and had been shown off a few tricks. A ball of sunshine to burst through the vamp thieves' lair effortlessly. Though first she had let the slayer get her jollies by staking a few of the more petulant vampires first. Faith had to admit they worked well as a team. There was at least more conversing than when she went out with Connor. A regular girl's night out, just like going to the movies.. only the special effects were better.
The slayer looked at the orb Willow carried as they walked down the city streets. Sucking down a blueberry slurpee from their late night visit at the only convenience store still open, Faith nodded towards the mystical device. "Think it'll really work?"
Willow held up her hand, starring into the orb's yellowish glassy surface. On the outside it didn't look like much, and it didn't give off that many magical vibes. The witch could feel it however, the power it contained, the worlds it could open up. She also felt the damage it could wreak in the wrong hands. It could drag the whole world into a hell dimension if the magick user didn't know what they were doing. Luckily the vamps they had acquired it from had not known it's true power, but now that Willow could feel the darkness swirling inside of it, she was a bit wary of performing the spell. Still, she only smiled and reassuringly said; "It'll work. We just have to stop the vortex first, then we're in business."
"You're worried about losing yourself," Faith commented, looking closely at her ally. She'd heard the stories of Dark Willow, knew what she was capable of. The slayer knew that path, the darkness that could reach out and grab hold of a person. It was probably the only thing Willow and her had in common. Lending her encouragement, Faith punched her in the arm lightly, "Don't be. If you go all veiny scary, with the black hair and all, I'll just knock you around and make you come to your senses."
Willow laughed, Faith had a strange way of comforting people with mock- hostility. Returning the flippant tone, the Witch responded, "Gee, thanks.. I'm so glad you'll be there to kick my ass if the need arised."
"Hey, that's what friends are for, right?" Faith didn't catch her words until they had left her mouth. Standing in the middle of the walkway that led to the Hyperion, she shot Willow a startled look. Friends.. it was a long way from where they had started from. However, they'd closed a hellmouth together before, and with the work they were doing in Los Angeles lately. Still, she couldn't hope for everything to be all peachy-keen between them. And what the hell did she need friends for anyway, Faith asked herself and tried to shrug it off.
Willow saw the way Faith was looking at her, and understood instantly what the girl was thinking. Attempting to put the past behind them Willow smiled and gave a small nod, "Sure, Faith. Friends. We can handle that without killing each other, right?"
It was a step in the right direction towards redemption and coming clean. Faith could have squealed in joy, just for the sheer fact that one of the Scoobies had finally forgiven her, but she was really not the squealing type, unless she was in bed.. but that was a whole other topic. Instead, she simply held the door to the hotel open for the other girl, "That's cool with me."
Willow looked at the open door, giving it a worried glance. It was then that Faith realized all the lights were off. It was a little odd that it was dark inside, what with Connor staying home. He had complained of a headache when they were gearing up to go out that night. Faith had expected to find him up, pacing the lobby or reading or something. It was only eleven, and the kid was quite the night owl.
"Okay, trouble is definitely brewing," The slayer said as she heard something slam hard against a wall. It sounded like a fist, and then some indistinct voice mumbling on the second floor. Willow craned her ear to hear it, but she still couldn't make out what it was saying.
They entered the hotel and Willow stowed the magical orb in her coat pocket, preparing for a fight. It had been a while since she had to defend herself, but with the slayer and her own magick she knew she'd be okay. She watched Faith as the slayer quietly tiptoed up the stairs. As the slayer got further and further away from the other girl, Willow could barely even make out her shape in the darkness of the old building. She made a small ball of light with her hands, forming it from the ether and continued up after the slayer.
"Leave me alone," The voice was clearer when they got to the second floor, the sound carrying well across the empty hallways. "What do you know, you're not.. what? No, I didn't.. you don't know that, you don't know anything."
Faith stopped, listening and then looked at Willow. The ball of light bounced between them, shadowing Faith's face like she was holding a flashlight under her chin as if to tell a scary campfire story. Keeping her voice low, she whispered, "Connor."
"But who's he talking to," Willow couldn't hear another voice, but a door slammed shut somewhere down the corridor. The ball of light returned to hovering over the witch's shoulder, as she followed Faith around a corner. She could tell the other girl was listening for another voice, some sign of the trouble they faced when they got to where the commotion was centered, so Willow stayed quiet and didn't disturb her.
Faith opened each other doors of the hallway, allowing the ball of light to glide around each of them and do a quick sweep. When it returned to the girls bouncing up and down, signaling the room was clear of trespassers, the slayer shut that door and moved on to the next one. It was mostly just a precaution, since the sound had been coming from the far end of the hallway, but she didn't want to be led into a trap only to have something come from behind.
One by one, the girls checked each room, with the ball of light as their guide. Nothing out of the ordinary could be seen, so they moved to the last room and prepared for a fight. Faith opened the door, slowly and checked the corners, pushing forward slowly into the room. There was a quiet murmuring behind the twin-sized bed that took up most of the room's space. It sounded like crying.
"Connor," Willow called out softly, "Are you in here?" When she received no reply, she slowly walked around the bed. When she saw Connor there, huddled with his arms around his knees, the redhead knelt down beside him. He was whispering quietly to himself, obviously distressed. Willow smoothed his hair back, as Faith checked out the room for any signs of trouble. There were none, just the boy, which worried Faith even more. She stood over Willow and Connor, not knowing what to do. The caregiver role was more Willow's territory. "Connor, come on talk to me. Are you okay?"
"Why won't he leave me alone? He's always here.. just under the surface.. just..," Connor shook his head, quieting again. When he began speaking again, Willow couldn't make out the rest of his words they were spoke so softly, just noiseless ramblings.
"Who are you talking to?" Faith asked, a little more direct. She got Connor's attention though, he looked up through teary eyes. Though it appeared more like he was looking straight through her, not comprehending any part of reality. She glanced uneasily away from the boy and his blank expression, directing her conversation to Willow, "Well, the kid's finally flipped."
"Shut up," Connor said towards his shoulder. No one could be seen there, and Willow's brow scrunched up even more in concern. "Is that what you want? Will that make you leave me the hell alone?" Suddenly, he glared back at the two of girls, reality half-sinking in. At least he knew they were there now, but Willow wasn't sure if that was really a good thing when he unexpectedly stood up, falling easily into a fighting stance. "I am not a little kid."
"Connor.." Willow called to him in a shaking voice, his full strength and furor was startling when he let it all show through. She soon realized that calling out to him really wasn't a good idea when he bent over her, focusing his attention on one target instead of two. Willow backed against the wall, but he shot out his arm. He grasped the witch's neck with one hand, and hauled her to her feet. "My father used to read me the bible when I was a little boy. There was this line.. about witches, people like you. 'Though shall not suffer a witch to live'."
Willow's eyes went wide, comprehending the full weight of his words. Faith tried to fight back, to get the situation under control, but the slayer was sent sailing away from the confrontation but a backhanded punch from Connor. She landed hard against a desk corner, blacking out momentarily. Willow's face was slowly losing its color, as Connor tightened his hold on her neck. She tried to choke out a few words of protection, but her powers couldn't be called upon when she was struggling just to remain conscious. The ball of light began to flicker, the room going from dark to light and then back again.
Willow watched as Connor continued choking her, and then black spots began to appear in front of her eyes. She could barely make out the shape of the slayer coming towards the two of them, luckily Connor didn't see her moving either. He was too preoccupied with enjoying his first kill in over a year. Willow mentally begged Faith to hurry up. When the slayer picked up a chair and brought it down over Connor's head, Willow slid to the floor. The boy crumpled into a heap next to her, losing consciousness.
The redhead breathed hard, gathering her energy. Shakily she rose to her feet; she glanced over at Faith whom looked just as unsettled. Though the confusion was missing from the slayer's eyes. It was almost like she had expected this. Willow's attention was brought back to the boy when he started to stir. Calling upon the goddess, Willow worded an incantation, "Rememdium."
Connor's eyes blinked open, the healing spell clearing both the physical pain from his body and the mental jumble. The disorientated expression was gone, replaced with shame, as the knowledge of what he had just attempted to do shocked him back to reality. "Willow.. oh god," He shook his head, reaching out to her but brought it back abruptly. Not knowing how to make it up to her, he hopped over the bed and began running out of the hotel instead. He stumbled down the stairs in the darkness in his escape to get away from the near fatal mistake. Although he could hear the two girls rushing after him, he didn't look back and he didn't slow down.
..............................................
Boo Yeah! Another chapter done. Behold my happiness.
Chapter 17
By Vixen
That night's plan had been easier than Faith had figured it would be. Willow and her had set off to find whoever had trashed the dark arts dealer's warehouse, to see if they could get back the orb that had been stolen. As it turned out, vamps were the culprits. And rather stupid ones at that, Faith had remarked upon following the obvious trail they had left. How she had missed it the first time she had staked out the warehouse, Faith couldn't imagine.
Willow had come with the slayer this time. After getting some much-needed rest at the hotel, the witch was in top form and had been shown off a few tricks. A ball of sunshine to burst through the vamp thieves' lair effortlessly. Though first she had let the slayer get her jollies by staking a few of the more petulant vampires first. Faith had to admit they worked well as a team. There was at least more conversing than when she went out with Connor. A regular girl's night out, just like going to the movies.. only the special effects were better.
The slayer looked at the orb Willow carried as they walked down the city streets. Sucking down a blueberry slurpee from their late night visit at the only convenience store still open, Faith nodded towards the mystical device. "Think it'll really work?"
Willow held up her hand, starring into the orb's yellowish glassy surface. On the outside it didn't look like much, and it didn't give off that many magical vibes. The witch could feel it however, the power it contained, the worlds it could open up. She also felt the damage it could wreak in the wrong hands. It could drag the whole world into a hell dimension if the magick user didn't know what they were doing. Luckily the vamps they had acquired it from had not known it's true power, but now that Willow could feel the darkness swirling inside of it, she was a bit wary of performing the spell. Still, she only smiled and reassuringly said; "It'll work. We just have to stop the vortex first, then we're in business."
"You're worried about losing yourself," Faith commented, looking closely at her ally. She'd heard the stories of Dark Willow, knew what she was capable of. The slayer knew that path, the darkness that could reach out and grab hold of a person. It was probably the only thing Willow and her had in common. Lending her encouragement, Faith punched her in the arm lightly, "Don't be. If you go all veiny scary, with the black hair and all, I'll just knock you around and make you come to your senses."
Willow laughed, Faith had a strange way of comforting people with mock- hostility. Returning the flippant tone, the Witch responded, "Gee, thanks.. I'm so glad you'll be there to kick my ass if the need arised."
"Hey, that's what friends are for, right?" Faith didn't catch her words until they had left her mouth. Standing in the middle of the walkway that led to the Hyperion, she shot Willow a startled look. Friends.. it was a long way from where they had started from. However, they'd closed a hellmouth together before, and with the work they were doing in Los Angeles lately. Still, she couldn't hope for everything to be all peachy-keen between them. And what the hell did she need friends for anyway, Faith asked herself and tried to shrug it off.
Willow saw the way Faith was looking at her, and understood instantly what the girl was thinking. Attempting to put the past behind them Willow smiled and gave a small nod, "Sure, Faith. Friends. We can handle that without killing each other, right?"
It was a step in the right direction towards redemption and coming clean. Faith could have squealed in joy, just for the sheer fact that one of the Scoobies had finally forgiven her, but she was really not the squealing type, unless she was in bed.. but that was a whole other topic. Instead, she simply held the door to the hotel open for the other girl, "That's cool with me."
Willow looked at the open door, giving it a worried glance. It was then that Faith realized all the lights were off. It was a little odd that it was dark inside, what with Connor staying home. He had complained of a headache when they were gearing up to go out that night. Faith had expected to find him up, pacing the lobby or reading or something. It was only eleven, and the kid was quite the night owl.
"Okay, trouble is definitely brewing," The slayer said as she heard something slam hard against a wall. It sounded like a fist, and then some indistinct voice mumbling on the second floor. Willow craned her ear to hear it, but she still couldn't make out what it was saying.
They entered the hotel and Willow stowed the magical orb in her coat pocket, preparing for a fight. It had been a while since she had to defend herself, but with the slayer and her own magick she knew she'd be okay. She watched Faith as the slayer quietly tiptoed up the stairs. As the slayer got further and further away from the other girl, Willow could barely even make out her shape in the darkness of the old building. She made a small ball of light with her hands, forming it from the ether and continued up after the slayer.
"Leave me alone," The voice was clearer when they got to the second floor, the sound carrying well across the empty hallways. "What do you know, you're not.. what? No, I didn't.. you don't know that, you don't know anything."
Faith stopped, listening and then looked at Willow. The ball of light bounced between them, shadowing Faith's face like she was holding a flashlight under her chin as if to tell a scary campfire story. Keeping her voice low, she whispered, "Connor."
"But who's he talking to," Willow couldn't hear another voice, but a door slammed shut somewhere down the corridor. The ball of light returned to hovering over the witch's shoulder, as she followed Faith around a corner. She could tell the other girl was listening for another voice, some sign of the trouble they faced when they got to where the commotion was centered, so Willow stayed quiet and didn't disturb her.
Faith opened each other doors of the hallway, allowing the ball of light to glide around each of them and do a quick sweep. When it returned to the girls bouncing up and down, signaling the room was clear of trespassers, the slayer shut that door and moved on to the next one. It was mostly just a precaution, since the sound had been coming from the far end of the hallway, but she didn't want to be led into a trap only to have something come from behind.
One by one, the girls checked each room, with the ball of light as their guide. Nothing out of the ordinary could be seen, so they moved to the last room and prepared for a fight. Faith opened the door, slowly and checked the corners, pushing forward slowly into the room. There was a quiet murmuring behind the twin-sized bed that took up most of the room's space. It sounded like crying.
"Connor," Willow called out softly, "Are you in here?" When she received no reply, she slowly walked around the bed. When she saw Connor there, huddled with his arms around his knees, the redhead knelt down beside him. He was whispering quietly to himself, obviously distressed. Willow smoothed his hair back, as Faith checked out the room for any signs of trouble. There were none, just the boy, which worried Faith even more. She stood over Willow and Connor, not knowing what to do. The caregiver role was more Willow's territory. "Connor, come on talk to me. Are you okay?"
"Why won't he leave me alone? He's always here.. just under the surface.. just..," Connor shook his head, quieting again. When he began speaking again, Willow couldn't make out the rest of his words they were spoke so softly, just noiseless ramblings.
"Who are you talking to?" Faith asked, a little more direct. She got Connor's attention though, he looked up through teary eyes. Though it appeared more like he was looking straight through her, not comprehending any part of reality. She glanced uneasily away from the boy and his blank expression, directing her conversation to Willow, "Well, the kid's finally flipped."
"Shut up," Connor said towards his shoulder. No one could be seen there, and Willow's brow scrunched up even more in concern. "Is that what you want? Will that make you leave me the hell alone?" Suddenly, he glared back at the two of girls, reality half-sinking in. At least he knew they were there now, but Willow wasn't sure if that was really a good thing when he unexpectedly stood up, falling easily into a fighting stance. "I am not a little kid."
"Connor.." Willow called to him in a shaking voice, his full strength and furor was startling when he let it all show through. She soon realized that calling out to him really wasn't a good idea when he bent over her, focusing his attention on one target instead of two. Willow backed against the wall, but he shot out his arm. He grasped the witch's neck with one hand, and hauled her to her feet. "My father used to read me the bible when I was a little boy. There was this line.. about witches, people like you. 'Though shall not suffer a witch to live'."
Willow's eyes went wide, comprehending the full weight of his words. Faith tried to fight back, to get the situation under control, but the slayer was sent sailing away from the confrontation but a backhanded punch from Connor. She landed hard against a desk corner, blacking out momentarily. Willow's face was slowly losing its color, as Connor tightened his hold on her neck. She tried to choke out a few words of protection, but her powers couldn't be called upon when she was struggling just to remain conscious. The ball of light began to flicker, the room going from dark to light and then back again.
Willow watched as Connor continued choking her, and then black spots began to appear in front of her eyes. She could barely make out the shape of the slayer coming towards the two of them, luckily Connor didn't see her moving either. He was too preoccupied with enjoying his first kill in over a year. Willow mentally begged Faith to hurry up. When the slayer picked up a chair and brought it down over Connor's head, Willow slid to the floor. The boy crumpled into a heap next to her, losing consciousness.
The redhead breathed hard, gathering her energy. Shakily she rose to her feet; she glanced over at Faith whom looked just as unsettled. Though the confusion was missing from the slayer's eyes. It was almost like she had expected this. Willow's attention was brought back to the boy when he started to stir. Calling upon the goddess, Willow worded an incantation, "Rememdium."
Connor's eyes blinked open, the healing spell clearing both the physical pain from his body and the mental jumble. The disorientated expression was gone, replaced with shame, as the knowledge of what he had just attempted to do shocked him back to reality. "Willow.. oh god," He shook his head, reaching out to her but brought it back abruptly. Not knowing how to make it up to her, he hopped over the bed and began running out of the hotel instead. He stumbled down the stairs in the darkness in his escape to get away from the near fatal mistake. Although he could hear the two girls rushing after him, he didn't look back and he didn't slow down.
..............................................
Boo Yeah! Another chapter done. Behold my happiness.