Title: A Light In The Dark

Author: LostMarbles

Rating: M for language, violence and implied sexuality

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters connected with BtVS are owned by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Characters from Riddick are owned by Universal.

A.N: This story is set directly after Bad Girls in the Buffyverse & before any of the movies or the game in the Riddickverse. Some things have been changed around, certain demons are still alive. Oh and there will be character death in the future and a warning - the main characters may be OOC but I hope to write the changes in a believable and way.

BtVStCoR

Prologue

Faith sat in a plush chair, looking across the large desk in front of her to the man seated behind it. Her gaze follows him diligently as he rises from the chair and walks to the small fridge next to the shelves along the back wall.

"So you wish to join our happy little family?" He asks as he busies himself at the fridge.

"Uh yeah." Faith answers. She jumps slightly as he turns back to the desk and places first a coaster then a large glass of milk down in front of her. She looks at him in question.

"Drink, drink. All that calcium is important for a growing girl." He tells her watching expectantly.

Faith conscious of his steady gaze reaches for the glass and takes a drink of the cool white liquid, grimacing slightly at the taste. She places the glass back on the desk, missing the coaster.

He frowns slightly and nearly lunges across the desk to place it on the coaster. Wiping off the desk he tells her. "Mustn't leave rings."

"Oh, right sorry." Faith tells him, looking at him a little oddly.

He smiles brightly and seats himself, once again behind his desk. Folding his hand in front of him, he looks at her seriously. "Here's my problem Faith. How can I be sure that your coming here isn't some . . . ploy to get into my good graces all the while sneaking information back to the White Hats? I mean you can see the pickle I'm in." He leans back in his chair, and stares up at the ceiling. "What to do? What to do?" He seems to ponder this for a moment, before, "Aha!" He slaps his palms against the arms of his chair and looks back to Faith with a wide grin. "I've got it." He leans forward. "If you could prove that you were finished being a do-gooder. Perhaps if you could do something that, if found out, would sever all ties between you and those misinformed goody-goodies from the school library. . ." He trails off, leaning back and giving her speculative look. "Well then, I'd certainly feel secure in you being my right hand gal."

Faith shakes her head, looking confused. "But, what could I d. . ."

"You see," he interrupts. "I have had many important. . . people come into my town. And many of them have wound up deceased due to the interference of your predecessor."

Faith frowns darkly at his reference to Buffy. It's always about Buffy.

The Mayor notices the look and files it away for future reference, before continuing. "If you could find a way to remove her from my city. . . Well I know I'd feel a lot more confident in trusting you."

Faith frowns again, this time in consternation and confusion. "You want me to kill B?" She asks, unsure if she had heard him correctly. Though Faith would have loved a chance to knock Buffy off of the pedestal she'd been placed on, she knew that even if she actually managed to one up the blonde she'd still have a shit load of problems to deal with namely. . . "I try to touch B, Angel'll rip me apart. Not to mention what G'll do. I heard he can be a real bastard when he needs to be."

The Mayor quickly backtracks. "No, no, no Faith. You've got me all wrong. I don't want you to kill Miss Summers. If you were to do that it's quite possible we'd just end up right back where we started, with a brand new Slayer to deal with. I want you to get her out of my town."

Faith shakes her head in confusion. "How. . .?"

"As you know my associate, Allan Finch," he ignores Faith's flinch at the Deputy Mayor's name. "Was found dead, now if you were to tell one of the Watcher's that it was Miss Summers hand that had wielded the stake. Said Watcher would be required to send her to the Council for rehabilitation, which if done properly, should take at least a year." He tells her, sounding incredibly pleased with himself.

"What's to stop them from just killing her?" Faith asks curiously.

He smiles indulgently. "You know how Englishmen are. They hate to waste resources. And a four year old Slayer, one who has passed the Cruciamentum. They would only kill her as a last resort. That's how they control their Slayers. They take the girl away, from her family, her love, her life. Then they break her spirit completely, leaving a hollow husk in a once vibrant girl, that's when they begin the rehabilitation process. They teach this newly formed husk that the only thing important is her calling and her obedience to her Watcher. Once the Slayer is. . . rehabilitated she's sent to a demon infested town where she inevitably dies after a few short months. Because the only thing that keeps a Slayer alive is human connections to the world. You would think that after twelve hundred years those tweed wearing fools would know that. But no. They continue to allow young women to be killed, uncaring of those who are left behi. . . !" He stops abruptly, breathing heavily. He looks to see Faith sitting stiffly and wide eyed at the pure rage behind his words. He suddenly smiles brightly and lowers himself back to his chair, having not been aware of rising from it in his maddened, passionate speech. "But I'm getting off topic, aren't I."

Faith nods hesitantly.

His smile softens. "Just tell one of the Watcher's. They'll do the rest."

"How do you know so much about the Council?" She asks after a brief hesitation.

His smile turns brittle. "That's something you'll learn after I know I can trust you."

She nods. "Alright. Um, I'll tell one of the Watcher's tonight. I better go with Wes, cause G'll know that B would never kill a human, even by accident." She tells him, a hint of bitterness tainting her voice.

The Mayor claps in glee, an action, which Faith actually found more disturbing than his show of anger. "Perfect, perfect. I'll expect you back tomorrow morning, eleven o'clock. Don't be late. Punctuality is a sign of consideration." He smiles brightly.

Faith gets up to leave and heads towards the door when his voice stops her.

"Oh, Faith."

She turns back to the Mayor a questioning look on her face.

"You didn't finish your milk. You wouldn't want to waste it." He tells her pleasantly, as he gestures towards the nearly full glass on the desk.

Faith looks at the milk in distaste, but not wanting to offend the man behind the desk takes the few short steps towards the desk. She grabs the glass and quickly gulps the liquid. Once she finishes she shudders and plunks the glass down, this time careful to place it on the coaster.

The Mayor smiles proudly. Faith returns the smile a little hesitantly before turning around and leaving the room. She's shown out of the building by one of the Mayor's many minions. Taking a deep breath Faith begins the trek to the library, determined to drive the final nail in the coffin of whatever relationship she and Buffy could have ever had.

BtVStCoR

Chapter 1

In an undisclosed location in London Quentin Travers, head of the Watcher's Council was seated in his office reading the most recent reports from the only active Watcher in the States, one Wesley Wyndym-Price.

Mr. Giles continues to undermine my authority with Miss Summers. Resulting in her becoming insubordinate, unruly, and argumentative. I am unsure of how to break the bond Mr. Giles and Miss Summers have, and would appreciate any suggestions on that front. Baring that her fighting style is still remarkable and she continues to improve with each passing day. Her ingenuity continues to amaze me and it is apparent that she has the ability to become a very powerful Slayer (if she wasn't already), if only she were not so entwined with the civilians she considers friends. The vampire being a particular worry of mine.

Meanwhile Miss Evans, though wild and not as experienced as Miss Summers, has shown an acceptance of me as her Watcher. With time I believe that Miss Evans could become an acceptable Slayer. Though it is doubtful that she will ever reach Miss Summers' level, as she seems to rely heavily on her strength and apparently lacks the imagination Miss Summers' possesses.

Travers frowns at the information provided in the letter. It was apparent that Miss Summers' continuing attitude problem needed to be addressed. Unfortunately without an adequate reason the Council would not approve of more drastic measures. Travers was no fool, he was well aware of Miss Summers strength, not only physically, but mentally as well. And Travers hungered for that power, though in lew of that he would happily settle for controlling the conduit for that power.

A buzzing emanating from his desk draws his attention. He looks over at his intercom and presses a button. "Yes Mary. What is it?" He asks impatiently.

"Mister Wyndym-Price on line one for you. He says it's urgent." His secretary tells him calmly, long used to his bouts of temper.

He disconnects from his secretary and picks up his phone. "Ah, Wesley. So good to hear from you. I'm just reading your latest report right now." He frowns as Wesley tells him the reason for the call. "A Deputy Mayor you say?" pause. "Are you quite positive?" pause. A slow smile begins to spread across Travers face. "No, no. You did the right thing in informing me. I'll send a team to take care of it. They should be in Sunnydale by tomorrow night. I assure you Wesley that everything will be taken care of." pause. "Yes, goodbye Wesley."

Travers hangs up and leans back in his chair a smug smile on his face. He stays that way for a moment before moving forward to press the intercom button. "Mary, would you be so kind as to send for the Black Ops team? Oh, and schedule a meeting for the Council heads by two o'clock."

"Yes sir Mr. Travers." Mary replies cooly.

"Thank you." He tells her before once again leaning back, this time folding his arms behind his head. The same predatory smile on his lips.

BtVStCoR

A.N. Hey this is actually a plea not a note. I am desperately looking for a Beta reader for both this story and Dimensional Slayer (probably more than one for DS). If you happen to be interested in either story, just grab my email address from my profile page or send me a review. Thanks!