Three Slayers 10A - Enemies
"I must say Xander your plan is reckless in the extreme."
Xander sighed at the doubt in the Englishman's voice. "I know that G-man," he glanced up at the hallway door, he wanted nothing more than to be upstairs with Kendra, holding, comforting her but he had to concentrate on the job in hand. "I'm not exactly cart-wheeling about it either. But given what Faith found on Finch we have to find out more about the Mayor's operation."
The Watcher stared at him for a few seconds before nodding. "Very well, when do you propose putting your plan into action?"
"As soon as possible."
* * *
"How's Kendra?"
Faith glanced across at her companion, taking a second to weigh up her thoughts before replying. Xander and G might be able to forgive her for all the shit she'd put them through because she'd rescued Kendra but she hadn't. She might be grateful but she wasn't stupid, she'd been conned too much by people's acts in the past to take one action as proof of a change of character. She wasn't going to let the blonde get into a position where she could stab, her, Ken, and the guys square in the back. "Five by five," she muttered, "office's this way." The blonde nodded before following her down the corridor.
Faith took a nervous breath. It was a few years since she'd done any breaking and entry, and this was big shit, way out of the league she used to play in. Not only did the office building belong to the town mayor, the same guy was also a budding black mage attempting to ascend to demonhood. Her full lips quirked up in a slight smile. "So no pressure then," she whispered.
"Here it is," Buffy pointed at the brass plaque on a mahogany door.
Faith raised an eyebrow. "Gee B," she said, "what gave it away, Wilkins' name on it?"
The blonde reddened at her sarcastic tone. "So how do we get in?"
"Try this." Grabbing the door handle, she twisted it forcing the look and pushed the door open. She sauntered into the office and stopped. "Fuck." Every drawer in the filing cabinet inside the office was open and empty. "We're too late B."
"Damn," Buffy looked at her, "Wilkins beat us to it."
"Yeah," Faith nodded, "let's split."
* * *
Wilkins pursed his lips as he watched on the security monitor as the Slayers leave his office. Somehow they were onto him. He wondered how the Slayers had found out about him. Perhaps Finch had talked to them before his unfortunate demise. "The how is not important," he muttered, "what I do next is." Fixing a smile on his face he turned to the figure behind him. "Mr. Trick it's time for you to earn your salary, take your boys and kill them."
The vampire morphed into his demonic face and grinned. "My pleasure."
* * *
"Any luck?"
Faith started as Xander slid out of the darkness. Fuck, a normal human shouldn't be able to sneak up on a Slayer, how did he do that? Before she could speak Buffy broke in. "Nothing, is Kendra okay?"
Faith gritted her teeth; there it was again, all that gushing concern. Was it sincere? "Giles is looking after her," Xander replied.
Faith shook he head, her bud looked so destroyed, if she was the touchie- feelie type she'd grab hold of him and give him a hug. Instead she stepped forward and punched him gently on the arm. "She'll be five by five Xand," she winked at her friend, "we'll make sure of it."
Her friend's answering smile died when a group of vampires hurried out of the shadows to surround them. "Oh crap."
* * *
Xander felt the familiar coldness come over him as the three of them moved back to back. He quickly counted the vampires, three to eight, the two Slayers could handle this many on their own. His brow furrowed when he noticed the almost terrified expression on Faith's face. "Faith," he muttered, "what's up?"
"T..that's Trick, Kakistos' main henchman," the Slayer's voice trembled.
"So?" Xander kept a wary eye on the approaching vampires as he encouraged the brunette, "you killed his boss, now it's time to clean up the remains. Right?" Faith nodded. "Good," Xander pulled out his stake, "now that's settled, let's kick some undead ass."
Instantly the two Slayers exploded into action, charging the vampires. Xander took a different approach, choosing to wait for the vampires to come to him.
He didn't have long to wait. A Nordic-looking vampire leapt towards him, her fangs bared. Xander waited to the last instant before sidestepping the vampire's charge and bringing a knee up into his rival's thigh. The female vampire let out a pained grunt. Reaching out he grabbed a hold of the vampire's golden, shoulder-length hair as she stumbled past him and pulled her back towards him and onto his stake, the vampire shrieked before exploding into dust.
Xander turned to re-join the fray but before he had chance a fist crashed into his jaw, knocking him into the alley wall. As Xander attempted to shake his head clear he saw his assailant approach. The vampire was only short, not more than five foot and a half, but judging from his body's thickness and muscularity he'd been a highly successful bodybuilder before his death. "Great," Xander muttered as he pushed off from the wall, "I get the Sylvester Stallone of vampires."
Sidestepping the vampire's rush he right crossed the vampire in the eye, grinning at the highly satisfying crunching sound of his rival's eye socket shattering under his blow. The vampire growled low in his throat before reaching out, grabbing him around the lapels and flinging him back into the wall.
"Ah shit!" Xander screamed as his back and head thudded into the wall before sliding down to hit the ground. His eye already swelling, the snarling vampire walked over to him. At the last instant he drove the point of his foot up into the vampire's groin. The vampire groaned and fell to his knees, before the vampire had chance to recover Xander drove his stake up into his rival's heart.
Xander's eyes burnt for a second with the vampire's exploded dust. Looking up he saw Buffy being strangled by the vampire Faith had identified as Mr. Trick. Groaning slightly with the effort he pushed himself to his feet and started towards Buffy only for Faith to sneak up behind Trick and slam a stake into his back.
The brunette turned towards him and grinned. "Fuck Xand, you look like shit."
He grimaced. "Thanks Faith." He looked at Buffy. "You alright?" Her hands rubbing at her throat Buffy nodded, he turned back to the brunette Slayer. "Back home?"
The brunette glanced towards her blonde counterpart before shaking her head. "No Xand, got things to do."
"Things?"
Faith looked at Buffy. "Thinking about shit B," she explained. "You go home, I'll see you there later."
* * *
"So you think you can send your hired killer after me?"
Oh dear, Wilkins looked up from his desk to see the brunette Slayer stood in the doorway. This was most troubling, while the Slayer couldn't actually kill him, he imagined she could hurt him considerably and at some length. "Shouldn't you be at home tucked up in bed young lady?"
"Why Mayor Wilkins," the brunette smirked at him, "how very Clinton of you. Were you making an indecent advance towards me?"
"Not at all," he huffed. Good gracious, the very idea, what would his long dead wife say?
"Shame," the Slayer perched on the side of his desk, "been a while since I had an older man." To his dismay the Slayer began rummaging through his carefully organised desk. "So now your hitman's dead you'll be needing a replacement. How much does the job pay?"
"Excuse me?"
"I'm thinking of branching out from just being a Slayer, so what do ya say?"
"Young lady this offer is highly tempting," the Mayor replied, careful not to anger the Slayer, "but why would you want to work for me. After all your friends-."
"Friends?" Suddenly the bantering humour left his guest's eyes to replaced by a searing anger. "Try the new fucking Watcher who's obsessed with trying to perv at me in the shower after training? Try Blondie whose spends time sucking face with a fucking vampire, but is still G's blue-eyed girl? Or Kendra whose the good perfect little Slayer? And try my so boring boyfriend or my supposed best friend who I caught going through my underwear drawer! I want more than this shit!"
Impressed by the veracity he heard in the Slayer's voice he nodded. There was a way he could test her loyalty. A smile on his face he began to talk.
* * *
"Are you alright Faith?"
The Slayer stood in his hallway smiled wanly at his concerned query. "I'm five by five G, how's Ken?"
"She's sleeping with Xander."
The brunette raised an eyebrow. "Encouraging underage sex? You dawg G, you dawg."
Giles sighed. "Sleeping as holding her while she sleeps Faith. Do try and get your mind out of the gutter."
The Slayer chuckled. "I'd have to get it out of the sewer first," she nodded at him, "night G."
"Good night Faith."
* * *
Faith took a breath as she stared at the forbidding mansion, night had just fallen, giving the building an even more eerie feeling. She was taking the biggest gamble of her life. If things went wrong, she could be in a world of trouble. "Play it cool girl," she muttered. Schooling her face she strode up to the front door and knocked.
Seconds later the door flew open to reveal a surprised looking Angel. "Faith!"
"Ten out of ten for observation Fang." She hesitated. "Can I come in?"
The vampire stepped aside to allow her in. After a second's hesitation she nodded and walked in. "What brings you here Faith?"
She shrugged casually, her hand slipping into her jacket, grabbing hold of the flask she had hidden in there. "This!" Moving suddenly she threw the bottle's inky contents over the vampire's chest.
Angel looked down at her, his eyes widening in horror. "Faith! What are you doing?"
"Giving you your groove back," Faith replied, her nonchalance masking the terror gripping her heart.
Suddenly there was an explosion of lights and a shrouded figure stepped out of a gleaming portal to their left, uttering a succession of arcane words. Angel's eyes bulged as he went into convulsions before crumpling to the ground. She glanced up at the shrouded figure. "That it?" The man nodded. "Talkative chap ain't ya?" The man turned and disappeared back through the hole. "Hey call me! That all mystery thing can really get a girl wet don't ya know?" She glanced down at the limp body at her feet. "So what happens next?"
Her muttered question was answered when the vampire leapt to his feet, fully in game-face. "I'm back baby!"
The vampire's back-handed slap sent her down to one knee. Shrugging it off she leapt back up, grabbed the vampire around the waist and flung him back to the ground. The vampire let out a laugh. "Oh you like it on top Faith? Not my favourite position," her adversary snapped her head back with a right hook to the mouth, bloodying her bottom lip. "But I can work with it!"
Ignoring the taunt she cracked a left hook into the vampire's left cheek, rocking his head to the side. "Oh feisty," the vampire laughed again, "I bet you're a wriggler! I just love a wriggler!"
Finally she managed to pull out her stake. Holding it an inch or so above the vampire's heart, she spoke, her voice low and controlled. "So the spell worked uh? Angelus is back, how about we go and see the town's boss, he really wants a meet and greet with you."
Angelus' face morphed back into its human mask, damn if he was human she'd so jump his bones. "I don't have a boss."
"You do now," Faith pressed the stake down, "so what's your answer?"
The vampire nodded. "I'm always willing to learn," a sly look entered his eyes, "how about sealing our new understanding with a kiss."
"Do I look blonde? Now," she rose, keeping a careful eye on the vampire, one thing she knew about Angelus was that he couldn't be trusted, "let's go."
* * *
"I must say Xander your plan is reckless in the extreme."
Xander sighed at the doubt in the Englishman's voice. "I know that G-man," he glanced up at the hallway door, he wanted nothing more than to be upstairs with Kendra, holding, comforting her but he had to concentrate on the job in hand. "I'm not exactly cart-wheeling about it either. But given what Faith found on Finch we have to find out more about the Mayor's operation."
The Watcher stared at him for a few seconds before nodding. "Very well, when do you propose putting your plan into action?"
"As soon as possible."
* * *
"How's Kendra?"
Faith glanced across at her companion, taking a second to weigh up her thoughts before replying. Xander and G might be able to forgive her for all the shit she'd put them through because she'd rescued Kendra but she hadn't. She might be grateful but she wasn't stupid, she'd been conned too much by people's acts in the past to take one action as proof of a change of character. She wasn't going to let the blonde get into a position where she could stab, her, Ken, and the guys square in the back. "Five by five," she muttered, "office's this way." The blonde nodded before following her down the corridor.
Faith took a nervous breath. It was a few years since she'd done any breaking and entry, and this was big shit, way out of the league she used to play in. Not only did the office building belong to the town mayor, the same guy was also a budding black mage attempting to ascend to demonhood. Her full lips quirked up in a slight smile. "So no pressure then," she whispered.
"Here it is," Buffy pointed at the brass plaque on a mahogany door.
Faith raised an eyebrow. "Gee B," she said, "what gave it away, Wilkins' name on it?"
The blonde reddened at her sarcastic tone. "So how do we get in?"
"Try this." Grabbing the door handle, she twisted it forcing the look and pushed the door open. She sauntered into the office and stopped. "Fuck." Every drawer in the filing cabinet inside the office was open and empty. "We're too late B."
"Damn," Buffy looked at her, "Wilkins beat us to it."
"Yeah," Faith nodded, "let's split."
* * *
Wilkins pursed his lips as he watched on the security monitor as the Slayers leave his office. Somehow they were onto him. He wondered how the Slayers had found out about him. Perhaps Finch had talked to them before his unfortunate demise. "The how is not important," he muttered, "what I do next is." Fixing a smile on his face he turned to the figure behind him. "Mr. Trick it's time for you to earn your salary, take your boys and kill them."
The vampire morphed into his demonic face and grinned. "My pleasure."
* * *
"Any luck?"
Faith started as Xander slid out of the darkness. Fuck, a normal human shouldn't be able to sneak up on a Slayer, how did he do that? Before she could speak Buffy broke in. "Nothing, is Kendra okay?"
Faith gritted her teeth; there it was again, all that gushing concern. Was it sincere? "Giles is looking after her," Xander replied.
Faith shook he head, her bud looked so destroyed, if she was the touchie- feelie type she'd grab hold of him and give him a hug. Instead she stepped forward and punched him gently on the arm. "She'll be five by five Xand," she winked at her friend, "we'll make sure of it."
Her friend's answering smile died when a group of vampires hurried out of the shadows to surround them. "Oh crap."
* * *
Xander felt the familiar coldness come over him as the three of them moved back to back. He quickly counted the vampires, three to eight, the two Slayers could handle this many on their own. His brow furrowed when he noticed the almost terrified expression on Faith's face. "Faith," he muttered, "what's up?"
"T..that's Trick, Kakistos' main henchman," the Slayer's voice trembled.
"So?" Xander kept a wary eye on the approaching vampires as he encouraged the brunette, "you killed his boss, now it's time to clean up the remains. Right?" Faith nodded. "Good," Xander pulled out his stake, "now that's settled, let's kick some undead ass."
Instantly the two Slayers exploded into action, charging the vampires. Xander took a different approach, choosing to wait for the vampires to come to him.
He didn't have long to wait. A Nordic-looking vampire leapt towards him, her fangs bared. Xander waited to the last instant before sidestepping the vampire's charge and bringing a knee up into his rival's thigh. The female vampire let out a pained grunt. Reaching out he grabbed a hold of the vampire's golden, shoulder-length hair as she stumbled past him and pulled her back towards him and onto his stake, the vampire shrieked before exploding into dust.
Xander turned to re-join the fray but before he had chance a fist crashed into his jaw, knocking him into the alley wall. As Xander attempted to shake his head clear he saw his assailant approach. The vampire was only short, not more than five foot and a half, but judging from his body's thickness and muscularity he'd been a highly successful bodybuilder before his death. "Great," Xander muttered as he pushed off from the wall, "I get the Sylvester Stallone of vampires."
Sidestepping the vampire's rush he right crossed the vampire in the eye, grinning at the highly satisfying crunching sound of his rival's eye socket shattering under his blow. The vampire growled low in his throat before reaching out, grabbing him around the lapels and flinging him back into the wall.
"Ah shit!" Xander screamed as his back and head thudded into the wall before sliding down to hit the ground. His eye already swelling, the snarling vampire walked over to him. At the last instant he drove the point of his foot up into the vampire's groin. The vampire groaned and fell to his knees, before the vampire had chance to recover Xander drove his stake up into his rival's heart.
Xander's eyes burnt for a second with the vampire's exploded dust. Looking up he saw Buffy being strangled by the vampire Faith had identified as Mr. Trick. Groaning slightly with the effort he pushed himself to his feet and started towards Buffy only for Faith to sneak up behind Trick and slam a stake into his back.
The brunette turned towards him and grinned. "Fuck Xand, you look like shit."
He grimaced. "Thanks Faith." He looked at Buffy. "You alright?" Her hands rubbing at her throat Buffy nodded, he turned back to the brunette Slayer. "Back home?"
The brunette glanced towards her blonde counterpart before shaking her head. "No Xand, got things to do."
"Things?"
Faith looked at Buffy. "Thinking about shit B," she explained. "You go home, I'll see you there later."
* * *
"So you think you can send your hired killer after me?"
Oh dear, Wilkins looked up from his desk to see the brunette Slayer stood in the doorway. This was most troubling, while the Slayer couldn't actually kill him, he imagined she could hurt him considerably and at some length. "Shouldn't you be at home tucked up in bed young lady?"
"Why Mayor Wilkins," the brunette smirked at him, "how very Clinton of you. Were you making an indecent advance towards me?"
"Not at all," he huffed. Good gracious, the very idea, what would his long dead wife say?
"Shame," the Slayer perched on the side of his desk, "been a while since I had an older man." To his dismay the Slayer began rummaging through his carefully organised desk. "So now your hitman's dead you'll be needing a replacement. How much does the job pay?"
"Excuse me?"
"I'm thinking of branching out from just being a Slayer, so what do ya say?"
"Young lady this offer is highly tempting," the Mayor replied, careful not to anger the Slayer, "but why would you want to work for me. After all your friends-."
"Friends?" Suddenly the bantering humour left his guest's eyes to replaced by a searing anger. "Try the new fucking Watcher who's obsessed with trying to perv at me in the shower after training? Try Blondie whose spends time sucking face with a fucking vampire, but is still G's blue-eyed girl? Or Kendra whose the good perfect little Slayer? And try my so boring boyfriend or my supposed best friend who I caught going through my underwear drawer! I want more than this shit!"
Impressed by the veracity he heard in the Slayer's voice he nodded. There was a way he could test her loyalty. A smile on his face he began to talk.
* * *
"Are you alright Faith?"
The Slayer stood in his hallway smiled wanly at his concerned query. "I'm five by five G, how's Ken?"
"She's sleeping with Xander."
The brunette raised an eyebrow. "Encouraging underage sex? You dawg G, you dawg."
Giles sighed. "Sleeping as holding her while she sleeps Faith. Do try and get your mind out of the gutter."
The Slayer chuckled. "I'd have to get it out of the sewer first," she nodded at him, "night G."
"Good night Faith."
* * *
Faith took a breath as she stared at the forbidding mansion, night had just fallen, giving the building an even more eerie feeling. She was taking the biggest gamble of her life. If things went wrong, she could be in a world of trouble. "Play it cool girl," she muttered. Schooling her face she strode up to the front door and knocked.
Seconds later the door flew open to reveal a surprised looking Angel. "Faith!"
"Ten out of ten for observation Fang." She hesitated. "Can I come in?"
The vampire stepped aside to allow her in. After a second's hesitation she nodded and walked in. "What brings you here Faith?"
She shrugged casually, her hand slipping into her jacket, grabbing hold of the flask she had hidden in there. "This!" Moving suddenly she threw the bottle's inky contents over the vampire's chest.
Angel looked down at her, his eyes widening in horror. "Faith! What are you doing?"
"Giving you your groove back," Faith replied, her nonchalance masking the terror gripping her heart.
Suddenly there was an explosion of lights and a shrouded figure stepped out of a gleaming portal to their left, uttering a succession of arcane words. Angel's eyes bulged as he went into convulsions before crumpling to the ground. She glanced up at the shrouded figure. "That it?" The man nodded. "Talkative chap ain't ya?" The man turned and disappeared back through the hole. "Hey call me! That all mystery thing can really get a girl wet don't ya know?" She glanced down at the limp body at her feet. "So what happens next?"
Her muttered question was answered when the vampire leapt to his feet, fully in game-face. "I'm back baby!"
The vampire's back-handed slap sent her down to one knee. Shrugging it off she leapt back up, grabbed the vampire around the waist and flung him back to the ground. The vampire let out a laugh. "Oh you like it on top Faith? Not my favourite position," her adversary snapped her head back with a right hook to the mouth, bloodying her bottom lip. "But I can work with it!"
Ignoring the taunt she cracked a left hook into the vampire's left cheek, rocking his head to the side. "Oh feisty," the vampire laughed again, "I bet you're a wriggler! I just love a wriggler!"
Finally she managed to pull out her stake. Holding it an inch or so above the vampire's heart, she spoke, her voice low and controlled. "So the spell worked uh? Angelus is back, how about we go and see the town's boss, he really wants a meet and greet with you."
Angelus' face morphed back into its human mask, damn if he was human she'd so jump his bones. "I don't have a boss."
"You do now," Faith pressed the stake down, "so what's your answer?"
The vampire nodded. "I'm always willing to learn," a sly look entered his eyes, "how about sealing our new understanding with a kiss."
"Do I look blonde? Now," she rose, keeping a careful eye on the vampire, one thing she knew about Angelus was that he couldn't be trusted, "let's go."
* * *