The Quickening

Previously:

"You're not alone in this. Remember that. We can help you," Xander said.

"I know," Faith said, looking into Xander's face and smiling. "For once in my life, I really know that."

Chapter Fifty-Five:

Giles and Wesley stood in front of Balthazar while the demon instructed one of his minions. "Moisten the front!" Balthazar cried as the vampire moved a ladle of water of his body. The vampire nodded quickly, obviously in fear for his life. Giles had to restrain himself from chuckling. He clearly understood the gravity of the situation; however, he found Balthazar to be an utterly appalling, yet entertaining figure. The demon was sitting in what appeared to be a large tank of water. His skin was scarred and dried, apparently from the attempt on his life.

"What is that thing?" Wesley asked in repulsion as he glanced sideways over at Giles. Giles could not contain his snicker at Wesley's comment.

"What do you think it is?" Giles whispered back harshly.

"I don't know," Wesley said, shuddering.

"That would be our once dead, now apparently alive demon Balthazar," Giles replied matter-of-factly.

"I did not imagine that he would be quite so ugly," Wesley said, looking down at the floor so that he would not have to look at the demon.

"Quiet," Giles said. "We don't want to hurt his feelings. He might do something violent to us," he said sarcastically.

"I don't think now is the time to be joking," Wesley snapped back.

"We're probably about to die," Giles replied. "I think it's a perfect time to be joking. We don't have too much time left to do so after all."

"Who said that you could talk?" Balthazar suddenly demanded, realizing that his prisoners were discussing something in hushed tones.

"Not you apparently," Giles spoke up. Balthazar sneered and stared at the Watcher.

"Bring them closer," Balthazar demanded. "I want to smell their fear." Several of Balthazar's minions moved forward and grabbed the Watchers by their elbows. Their hands had been tied behind their backs shortly after they were taken from the library. The vampires dragged them through town until they reached the warehouse district. After that, they moved their way through the abandoned warehouses until they came to the one in which Balthazar had set up his operations.

"I'm afraid you might be disappointed," Giles replied boldly. "I've seen far worse than you in my time."

"Where is my amulet?" Balthazar asked angrily.

"We don't know," Wesley said, raising his chin in defiance.

"If we knew, we'd tell you. Unfortunately, we can't help you," Giles added.

"I know that you have my amulet. One way or another, you're going to tell me everything. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Personally, I'd rather we did this the hard way. It would be far more entertaining for me to watch you both suffer, to watch you endure incredible amounts of pain," Balthazar sneered.

"You'll be wasting your time and energy," Giles replied. "We don't know anything."

"I know that the slayers stole my amulet. Where is it?" Balthazar demanded.

"We don't have it," Wesley stated.

"If you don't have it," Balthazar said, obviously getting frustrated, "then who has my amulet?"

"That would be me," Angel said, striding into the room confidently. Pulling the amulet out of his jacket pocket, he held it up for Balthazar to see. Giles turned to watch Angel, relieved to see Buffy striding in behind him. However, the fact that Faith was not with them worried him. He knew that Faith was eager to take down Balthazar. Angel slipped the amulet back into his jacket. "If you want it, come, and get it," he quipped, smirking when he saw Balthazar's face go red with anger.

"Bring me my amulet and kill them!" He ordered. His minions turned, ready to attack. Several rushed at Angel, while the rest rushed at Buffy. Angel slipped into his vampire face as he fended off the demons attacking him.

"Turn around," Giles said, moving over to Wesley. "The knots are fairly loose. I think I can untie you." Giles turned so that his back was facing Wesley's back. Then he began to pick at Wesley's bonds. He could feel the ropes loosening as he worked on the knots. Finally, they gave way and Wesley slipped out of them. Wesley spun around and quickly untied Giles's rope. "Well, now is a good time for you to stake your first vampire under out of control circumstances," Giles observed.

"I think I'm ready," Wesley said confidently.

"I hope so," Giles retorted. "After all, we're massively outnumbered."

…………………………………

"So you dumped the body?" Xander asked. He, Cordelia, and Faith were gathered around Cordelia's dining room table. They had just ordered a pizza. The box sat in the middle of the table with the lid hanging open. Xander reached in to grab a second slice.

"Yeah," Faith replied. "Threw him in the water off the harbor."

"No one should find him," Cordelia added.

"What if they do?" Xander asked.

"Then we're screwed," Faith replied.

"We need to have a back up plan," Xander noted. "Just in case."

"What do you suggest?" Cordelia asked.

"Pack a bag?" Xander joked. "The Canadian border isn't that far away."

"Are you serious?" Cordelia asked.

"Why not," Xander replied. "It's better than going to jail."

"I think we're getting ahead of ourselves here," Faith interrupted. "Besides, I'd be the one going to jail, not either of you. You didn't do anything."

"We're accessories," Cordelia pointed out.

"Look, if they find his body and figure out what happened, I won't let anything happen to either of you, okay?" Faith said. "I don't want you getting in trouble for my mistakes."

"We're in this together, Faith," Cordelia said. "We're all taking care of each other now. Stop worrying."

"I think there's something more important that we're missing though," Xander said.

"What's that?" Faith asked, taking a bite of her slice of pizza and looking over at him.

"You said that Finch came to you for a reason. He wanted to see you. We need to find out why."

"How do you suggest we do that?" Cordelia asked.

"Break into his apartment. He probably had some information he wanted to give you. But he wouldn't have brought it with him," Xander said.

"Why not?" Faith asked.

"It would have been tactically unwise," Xander said. "He probably wanted something in return – protection, safe passage somewhere. If he handed the information over to you the first time he met with you, than there would be no reason for you to honor any agreement."

"Good point," Faith said.

"So we need to find out where this guy lives," Cordelia said. "I should have a phone book around here somewhere. His name should be in there." Cordelia rose out of her seat, moving out of the room in search for the phone book. Faith turned to Xander and sighed.

"I really appreciate your help," Faith said. Xander smiled and nodded.

"You know that I would do anything for you," Xander said, reaching over, and taking Faith's hand in his.

"I know," Faith said. Leaning over, she gently pressed her lips against his. Pulling back, she leaned her head against his chest, sighing contently as she let the rhythm of his heart calm her nerves.

"Everything's going to be okay," Xander said, rubbing soothing circles on her back with his hand. "I promise."

"Yeah?" Faith said. "No one's ever promised me anything before."

"Well, I think you'll come to find that I never break my promises. I'm very true to my word," Xander replied. Faith smiled and pulled away, settling back in her seat as Cordelia reentered the room with the phone book in her hand.

"Okay, let's see where Alan Finch resided," Cordelia said, flipping the book open. Locating his name, she smiled and scribbled his address down on a piece of paper.

"So when do we want to do this?" Faith asked.

"Tonight," Xander said. "Before anyone realizes that he's missing."

Cordelia nodded. "I agree."

Faith sighed, realizing that there was no going back now. "Let's get this done."