A/N: Thanks to Jens. I'm definitely sticking to English speaking (and American) villains from now on. Any mistakes are his (you think I'm taking the blame when there's a German to do it for me?).

Two Slayers (2/?)

Jul '99 Venezuelan Jungle

"We have it sir!" Juan Hierro beamed at his benefactor, a German industrialist by the name of Fritz von Erich.

"Excellent," the German's craggy face split into a smile that didn't quite reached into his serpentine eyes. "Bring it here."

Before moving Juan took a second to wipe some of the sweat from his forehead. All this time, four years but his father's beliefs had been proven true. The old legends had some truth within them, if the Gem of Amara existed then maybe did the vampiros! "Here it is sir," he passed the ring to the powerfully built man.

His sponsor smiled at him. "Danke schoen Juan. Oh, and by the way," Juan's mouth opened to scream but only a croak came out when his benefactor's face rippled into something demonic. "Time to die."

Die Faust scooped up the ring from the muddy ground and slid it on, noticing with interest how the ring's silver band stretched to fit onto its stubby finger. Taking an unneeded breath he stepped into the light and smiled slightly when nothing happened. "The Hellmouth next."

Kendra grinned at her sister Slayer. "Five of them, doesn't seem fair really does it?"

"Not really no sis," Faith spat her gum out and winked at the lead vampire. "We gonna get this done guys? I only ask 'cause girl's got a trig test tomorrow and a wicked fierce pa who says I've got to keep my grades up otherwise he won't buy me a Harley for graduating."

Kendra's head snapped away from inspecting the vampires and to her Bostonian counterpart. "Giles is definitely buying you a Harley if you graduate?" she asked incredulously.

Faith winked at her. "Well he definitely won't buy me one if I don't."

"Do you know what we are?" demanded the group's exasperated leader.

"Vampires," she replied. "Do you know who we are?" Faith pouted for effect, Kendra grinned before continuing. "We're the Slayers."

"Yep," Faith smirked. "I love it when they get that terrified look in their eyes, makes a girl all tingly."

Die Faust's lips curled up in disdain as he watched the two Slayers tear through the five vampires with ease. "Pathetic, quite pathetic," he muttered. He had thought taking the Hellmouth would be a simple matter and from there as a power-base he could strike against that Irish bastard Angelus, rip him apart for past indignities, but now.... He winced as the last of the quintet exploded into dust. In his six hundred years he'd killed four Slayers but these two were better than any of those. The neger fought with a discipline and focus that was positively frightening in its intensity while the other girl took an unequalled joy and pride in her kills. Together they were formidable, unbeatable even.

He smiled cruelly, unless you had the Gem of Amara. And then things were quite different. "It's only polite to introduce oneself," he muttered as he opened the door of his tinted window limo and stepped out.

Giles nodded in appreciation of the decorations that he and the others had put up for Kendra's 18th birthday after 'blowing off', he shuddered at the abuses the yanks put his mother tongue under, patrol. His girls might not have had many birthdays ahead of them, his heart clenched painfully at the thought, but he was going to make sure every one of them was special, to make up for the neglect and abuse they'd respectively suffered. It was the least any self-respecting father could do.

His brow furrowed with concern when he realised that at least one member of the Scooby gang wasn't getting into the party spirit. Moving across the room he dropped onto the couch beside the downcast girl, wincing slightly at her slight nervous flicker. "Tara," he kept his voice soft so not to alarm the already skittish honey-blonde. "Why aren't you joining in?" the girl had had trouble settling in over the last two weeks, whenever he and Faith had one of their heated debates or the two Slayers descended into their bickering, the newcomer would retreat into her shell, a look of fear on her face, as if expecting the outbreak of violence. She had started to find her feet a little, she and Jonathan got on well, and she idolised Faith but something had obviously traumatised her. "Are you ill?"

"N...no, it's just it's Kendra's birthday. You've all been so good to me, and I don't have anything to give her."

"Now then", Giles ignored both the girl's slight flinch and his own reticence to give her shoulders a comforting squeeze. "My dear mother always said, 'Rupert'," he heightened his voice range a few octaves and gained the hoped for smile from his audience of one. "'Rupert the best gift you can give is the gift of friendship'. However as a child I never subscribed to that view, always wanting another train for my set. And," he produced a small package. "So I got you to give her."

Tara's eyes widened. "What's this?"

"A couple of Cds from those infernal bloody boy bands she listens to. About the only good thing you can say about them is at least that sodding death metal crap Faith laughingly calls music."

"I can't repay you."

"My mother had another saying, one that I whole-heartedly agree with 're- payment of favours is never needed between friends'. However," Giles smiled as he came to a decision that he'd been mulling over ever since the destruction of Sunnydale High. "If you insist there is something you can do for me. I've become rather bored with my current status as gentleman of leisure, to this is end I've decided to open a magic shop. However I will need an assistant."

"A magic shop?" the girl looked alarmed. "Me working at a magic shop?"

"Just at the weekends, nothing to interfere with your studies," he hastened to reassure the worried-looking girl. "Get you some extra money to buy whatever things young girls like." He didn't know what they spent their money on and to be honest, given Faith's lewd winks and suggestive remarks he really didn't want to. More to the point, Tara needed something to make her more confident. Perhaps the cut and thrust of dealing with strangers on a daily basis would be just the ticket.

"I..I'll give it a try." Worry warred with anticipation in the girl's gentle eyes.

"Then it's settled." Standing, he glanced away and shoved the nagging worry that his charges were late. "Plenty of time yet," he muttered. Still, he couldn't help but hope that the girls hadn't run into anything they couldn't handle.

Faith's head snapped towards the stranger. "Oh crap," she muttered. The giant stood several inches over six feet with the sort of build that would make a WWF wrestler jealous. But the power he was radiating, Kakistos would be hard pressed to match him, which meant he was old. "Ken."

"I see him," she relaxed slightly when her sister moved up beside her. "Let's get him slain, then head home. What do you say?"

"Sounds like a plan Ken." Faith agreed. God, she was glad the guys had given this patrol a miss. "Flank attack?" her sis nodded. "Go!"

Charging in unison, her on the right and Kendra on the left, they met the on-rushing vampire. Faith grunted as the bastard's shovel-sized fist slammed into her forehead, knocking her back a step before he backhanded her sis into a gravestone, breaking it in two. Faith spat blood out of her mouth, fuck he was a strong bastard.

Suddenly she grinned. But she was the mother-fucking Slayer and after Kakistos, this prick was nothing. Noting the smirking bastard had moved into a boxing stance she did the same and winked. "How about it ugly," she winked and cracked her neck. "Ready for a little one on one?"

The vamp let out an inarticulate roar and rushed forward. At the last second Faith left her feet, leaping into a spin-kick that snapped the demon's head to one side. Upon landing, her knees bent and feet spread to lessen the impact, she ducked underneath the demon's right cross and slammed a trio of lightning body shots into her rival's stomach. "Float like a butterfly, hurt like a bitch!"

Her crowing ended abruptly when her adversary caught her with an elbow to the head, knocking her to one knee. "Shit!" Blocking the knee coming up at her face with her forearm and grabbing it with her free hand, she flung the vampire onto his back. "Not the face man! That makes it personal!"

Shaking away the stars circling her head away she surged upright and charged the demon only for him to roll to his feet and away from her palm strike to the face. "Who the fuck are you anyway?"

"Such foul language from such a pretty mouth," the demon taunted. "If I had the time to train you you'd soon be singing a far sweeter tune."

Faith's skin crawled at the vampire's words. "Never happen," she blustered. She feinted a hook to the head before going for a leg sweep, taking the vampire at the ankles. Grinning at the demon's grunt as it hit the ground, dust flying everywhere, she drew her stake, rushed to the vampire's side, and plunged her stake into its unbeating heart.

Her eyes widened in shock when the vampire continued to grin up at her. "What the -." Suddenly her world exploded in pain as the vampire simultaneously grabbed her left breast and viciously squeezed while repeatedly bludgeoning her face with his other fist. Finally the vampire released his grip on her chest choosing to grab her by the neck and throw her, rag-doll like, to the ground.

"Who the fuck are you?" Faith demanded as she gazed up at her attacker, too stunned and pained to move. Reaching into her back pocket, she pulled out her vial of holy water and threw it into the vampire's face. Instead of the expected flames, the vampire just kicked her in the ribs, driving the wind from her battered body. Why couldn't she kill him?

"My name is Die Faust!" the vampire glared down at her, holy water dripping down his vamped out face. "And you will be my fifth."

"Not likely!" half a gravestone flew through the air to crash into the vampire's head, knocking him to the floor. In an instance, her sister was by her side, dragging her to her feet. "Can you run?"

Faith looked at the vampire. "From him I can."

Heart pounding, Faith unlocked their front door, Kendra standing guard for her. At the third attempt the keys found their way. "We're in!" she gasped. She just hoped the vamp couldn't walk in uninvited. "Lounge?" her sister nodded in agreement. She pushed the door open and stepped wearily through.

"Surprise!"

Suddenly there were bodies all around her. Faith's fist swung out in an instinctive back-hand at the nearest face. At the last second, she realised it was Xander and pulled her arm back. Still, her fist connected, knocking her friend into the couch. "Fuck Xand!" She hurried over to her dazed friend and helped him to his unsteady feet. "You five by five?"

Her friend smiled then winced. "Any one ever tell you you punch like a girl? Because they were lying."

"Good lord," she turned to look at G. "What did you two run into?"

Faith winced as she registered the decorations. Shit, Kendra's birthday party, yeah she'd forgotten about that. "This vamp called Dick Fast, or some such shit, threw Ken half way across the graveyard, then beat the crap out of me." Her eyes widened. "I staked the son-of-a-bitch, threw holy water in his face, nothing."

"The vampire's name, according to your description is in fact Die Faust," Giles sighed. This was bad, very bad. Ignoring Faith's muttered 'whatever' he continued. "He was born Josef Muller, a champion Bavarian bare-knuckles fighter, wrestler, and weight-lifter of the 1480s turned by none other than the Master-."

"Oh great!" Xander exclaimed. "A trip down Memory Lane!"

Again, he ignored the comment. "For almost three hundred years he served his Sire loyally, earning the name 'Die Faust' – 'The Fist' serving as his sire's enforcer, allowing the Master to take over a huge swathe of central Europe, his demonic empire ranging from Brussels to Minsk and all the way down to Bucharest. When the Master simply allowed Darla to run away with Angelus without retribution, he grew disgusted with what he perceived as his Sire's weakness and left. For fifty years, he and Angelus waged a war across mainland Europe, leaving a trail of corpses behind. Then he moved to Africa and became known by the locals as 'Death Comes At Night'. Roughly thirty years ago he was sighted in Latin America but since then nothing."

"Well baby," Faith winced. "He's back now."

"Giles," Kendra looked terrified. This wasn't the birthday he'd planned. "Why couldn't Faith stake him?"

"Yes there is more bad news I'm afraid," Faith groaned at his words. "There's been a legend that Attila the Hun-."

"Wait!" Faith's eyes gleamed eagerly. "I know this one, we did him in school last year! He's the leader of the Huns who brought Rome to its knees in the 5th Century AD right?"

"Correct," Giles allowed himself a slight smile at the Slayer's pride at his praise for academic achievement. She had changed. "At least that's what the history books tell us. Council legends have it rather different. In their writings Attila was a vampire with the ability to walk in light, invulnerable to attack, empowered by the Gem of Amara-."

"That ring around Die's finger?"

Giles nodded at Faith's question. "Precisely."

"So," Xander had a look of concentration on his face. "How come Attila's not king of the world?"

"He didn't see Titanic?" Seeing their looks, Cordy bristled. "What? If it's good enough for Leonardo, it's good enough for some stinky vampire!"

Giles sighed, sometimes that girl made his head hurt. "Legend has it that one of his subchiefs, sickened by his leader's butchery, challenged him in the mid-day sun, and beaten down by his master, managed to chop his hand off with his dying stroke. Instantly the vampire exploded into flames and died."

"Where did this Gem come from?" Xander asked.

Giles grimaced, he hated questions he didn't know the answer too. "No body knows."

"Well," Kendra's eyes gleamed dangerously. "At least we know where the ring is now."

"And," Faith broke in. "How to beat the bastard."

Josef smiled and rose as the humans entered his block, taken over from some squatters. It hadn't taken the Slayers long to track him down, but then it wasn't as if he hadn't left a trail of corpses for them to follow. His smile grew wider as he surveyed the group. A purposeful looking Englishman, he recognised the sort, the sort that built Empires and won World Wars, two average looking youths, a striking beauty that had to be a cheerleader, oh, he'd keep her around for a while, the things he would do with her, and a terrified looking girl. He tutted as he looked at the Slayers and shook his head. "Frauleins, is the best you can do?"

"Best we can do?" replied the coffee-skinned beauty glared at him. "Ever wonder what happened to the Master, Kaiktosis, or William the Bloody? They helped take them down."

Josef' eyes narrowed, this was more interesting. "Besides," the raven- haired Slayer flicked her hair back. "Don't worry about them. Worry about us."

Suddenly the two Slayers dived to the ground. Behind them, the Watcher and the taller of the two male teens brought up crossbows, aimed and fired. Josef snatched the bolts out of the air with contemptuous ease but was unready to meet the neger Slayer's drop-kick to his chest.

Grunting at the impact he staggered backwards. Instantly the two Slayers were up and at him, bombarding him with a barrage of fists and feet. Finally he managed a backfist knocking the neger schlampe off-balance. Eyes gleaming, he slammed a foot into her groin, the neger turned grey and crumpled to the ground.

"Bastard!" eyes blazing, the other Slayer increased the intensity of her attack, a right uppercut snapping his head back and a knifehand to the jaw hitting him with all the impact of a wrecking ball. Stunned, he was surprised when the Slayer didn't continue her attack immediately, choosing instead to grab his right hand.

His ring hand. Josef' eyes widened in realisation. "I think not mein schatzi!" he growled before clubbing her in the side of the head with a left hook and driving his knee into the girl's ribs. The brunette let out a pained gasp before falling to her knees, her face showing the effects of both this and their previous battle. Grinning triumphantly he slammed a fist into her head, knocking her on the back. First this one, and then, he glanced across at the neger, the other.

"No!" the Englishman stepped into his path, a grimly determined look on his face and a sword in his hand. The sword came up, Josef grabbed the sword arm at the wrist and drove his forehead into its wielder's face. Snarling contemptuously, he flung the limp body to the floor. Time enough to deal with the humans once the Slayers were dead.

"LEVIOSA!" suddenly the shy-looking girl let out a scream. To Josef' amazement the Gem of Amara flew off his finger and fell to the ground.

"Verdammte schlampe!" Eyes gleaming, he started towards the girl only to hear the sound of a crossbow being fired behind him. Spinning round he snatched the bolt out of mid-air before letting out a frustrated bellow, rushing past the youth, shoving him to the floor, and leaping out of the second-floor window. "Scheisse!" But he'd be back and they'd all pay.

"I...I'm a demon," Tara didn't raise her gaze from the floor. She'd swore she'd never use her powers for fear of being further infected or others being hurt, but when that vampire had been about to kill Kendra and Faith, something had just snapped inside her. "I'll get my things and leave."

"Ah bullshit." Tara looked up to see Faith blocking her path, a resolved expression on her face. "You're not going anywhere."

"P...please I won't hurt anyone," she pleaded. "I...I won't hurt anyone. Just let me go."

"You misunderstand Faith," Kendra said from behind her. "We're not going to hurt you. Whoever told you that you are a demon was mistaken, you're a human."

"B..but my pa sai-," said Tara's voice trailed off as she realised it had been a trick to make her stay. The last thing she heard before fainting was Faith's panicked scream.

"G-man," Xander looked up at him, the Scooby having caught Tara as she fell. "Is she going to be alright?"

"She'll be fine son," he replied, hiding the boiling rage he felt behind a calm facade. If he ever got his hands on Tara's father there wouldn't be enough left for a DNA sample.

"G," he glanced across at a worried looking Faith. "What is she?"

"She's a Wicca," he replied. He really should have sensed it, probably would if he'd been looking for it, considerable power too. More than either him or Jonathan. Not nearly as much as Willow, but a far more stable personality and disciplined mind. "If she wants I'll teach her. Kendra, could you help Xander take her up to her room?"

"Sure Giles." Once the two had disappeared he turned to Faith. "What should we do about this?" she asked, lifting the Gem.

"Only a complete raving idiot would keep it," he replied. "Destroy it."

Giles looked up from his book and cursed. "Bloody marvellous," he muttered. Even when the kids had gone out for a picnic on a balmy Saturday morning he couldn't get any peace. "Be there in a minute," he called.

Three days had passed since the destruction of the Gem of Amara and the besting of Die Faust, in those three days, he mused as he hurried to his front door, Tara had slowly begun to come out of her shell. Simple things really, she still stuttered but entered the conversations more, would contribute ideas, and answer back when Faith or Xander teased her.

Opening the door he furrowed his brow to see a short, fat man in his mid forties. "Yes?"

"Mr. Giles?" he nodded, the man continued. "My name's Archibald Letchford, I represent the Watcher's Council."

"Oh?" Although Giles kept his expression calm he felt his hackles rise. "And what's your business here?"

"I understand Kendra turned 18 this week? I'm here to discuss arrangements for her 18th birthday test."

"You better come in." The moment the man was over the threshold, Giles grabbed him by the collar and shoved him face-first into the wall before slamming a fist into the man's kidney. His opponent attempted to turn to face him, but a well-aimed kick to the hamstrings sent him crashing to the ground.

Giles waited until the man was on his hands and knees before driving the point of his boot into his adversary's groin. Instantly the man doubled up and began drying heaving. His lips parted in a snarl, Giles grabbed the Watcher by his collar and flipped him onto his back. "You are not testing either of my girls," he growled before pounding his fists into the man's face, shattering his nose, bloodying his mouth, and sending teeth flying. "Tell that to bloody Travers." Grabbing the whimpering man by his collar and the seat of his pants, he flung him onto the lawn outside before walking out and planting a foot into the man's ribs, grinning slightly at the resulting crack. "Now piss off you bugger!"

"Mr Giles! What is going on here!"

He turned to his neighbour peering over the fence at him. "Salesman trying to sell me Cliff Richard's back catalogue," he explained. "Wouldn't take no for an answer."