Chapter 5
First it had been the human territory called California, the easiest to purge of daemonic influence - Eve had been surprised at that. Oregon followed, Wolfram and Hart's holdings collapsing to dust in a single day. After the destruction of the Seattle central office, the reign of terror Illyria and Eve were bringing on the senior partners only began to speed up.
The Midwest,' as Eve called it, fell even more rapidly, but there were consequences to their over-confidence. Eve spent more than one night in a hospital bed after the attack on the Great Falls branch, while Illyria sat at her side, adorned in a long trench-coat, sun glasses and a fedora. She felt like a fool, but Eve thought it better than her masquerading as Fred. Illyria had to agree. Now that Wesley was gone, she no longer wished to experiment with the human side of her host. When she did, it only served to kindle her rage.
New York was Eve's next destination. Illyria normally let her choose, since it mattered little to her where she did her killing, as long as it was done. While at times it felt as if Eve were using her as a chess piece, as cannon or a magical spell to wield as she would. Illyria knew that the other woman understood this world far better than she herself was likely to. She would follow Eve, until this task was done.
x x x x x x x x x x x x
The neon streets of the city reminded her weakly of the once-great structures she had seen in other worlds, now long forgotten. These sky-scrapers,' as they were called, were no-where near as grand, understandably, but they held a power and an awe that was still very difficult to deny. Humans, it seemed, were remarkable creatures in their own right. Who knew that the toys of the Creator would some day be capable of all of this?
Walking slowly through the shadows and tricks of the almost-night that the city provided, Illyria kept her eyes on all places at once. Eve had said they were here to meet someone, without saying anything at all about who that person would be. Illyria doubted if any human could be of use to them, and, owing to their current reputation, it was unlikely that any daemons would come within twenty leagues of them, if they had any sort of choice.
A summons from the now-legendary Eve might be enough to persuade them, if they thought the former leison to the once-omnipresent Wolfram and Hart
might be coming for them. She and Eve were feared now, which did not always work in their favor. Daemons often provided useful information, and now those resources were lost to them.
It was worth it,' Eve often said, to see the way they looked at us when we trashed the Portland offices that first time.' but Illyria wasn't always as sure as her companion. How else would they know what was lying in wait for them?
A dark, leather-clad figure dropped down on them as soon as they stepped into the alleyways behind one of the taller buildings, but it was of little concern. Illyria caught the figure, slamming it up against the sheets of metal and other obscure things littering the enclosed space.
It was a woman, lips barred in a cold sneer, her shoulder-length brown hair waving as she thrashed against the the hand Illyria had placed over her throat. In many ways, the woman looked a great deal like the human who had once occupied the body Illyria now dwelt in, though these woman's eyes were anything but soft.
Illyria tightened her grip slowly, patiently, watching for the stretching in the other woman's eyes. It was Eve who burst between them, waving her arms above her head the way humans who were considered defective often did. Perhaps Eve had finally broken herself. At any rate, Illyria let the woman drop. Her hands immediately went to her throat, a definitive glare darkening her face.
No! No! No, no, no! You don't wanna do that! See, she's our friend! You don't wanna...!
You treat me as if I am a child of your race. And yet I am a being who has lived since before the Creator even concieved the notion of your doomed existence.
Um... are the two of you having... problems... of your own, here? Cause I can give you a little private time, if you think it'd help...
Eve cast the woman one of the blacker glares she kept in her arsenal. Illyria did the same, enjoying the winces they both ellicited. It did not excuse Eve for not informing her of whom they were meeting, but she always felt more at peace when they shared a common opponent.
So you are the two everyone's been talking about, I take it. The woman's careless expression almost provoked Illyria again. How dare any human use such an off-hand tone with her? Even Eve might not have been forgiven for that.
We are the darkness that the darkness fears.
I was afraid you'd say something like that.
Eve appeared between them, her arms outspread placatingly. Don't... I mean, sometimes you just have to... overlook... the things she says. She's kinda... new here.
Um... yeah, I... I sorta gathered that much. The girl nodded as she spoke, letting her shoulders be part of the gesture. Good luck hiding her from Buffy, though. She won't let something like this go.
Then I will face her, if she challenges me. And she will fall. Whoever this Buffy was, she could certainly be no more imposing than any member of the daemonic sydicate that they had fought so far. If she is one like you, one who destroys, why would it bother her so to learn that we wish to erradicate the vermin in this world?
Well, it's just that... Buffy's sort of... particular. I just don't think she'll take this too well.
Her particularities are of no consequence. We fight to the same end, do we not? She will appreciate what gifts we give her.
My blue friend does have something of a point... Eve said, falling on her face when she attempted levity. Faith gave her a very dry glance. Well, think about it, Eve went on, slightly abashed. So far, the only thing anyone in the daemon world is talking about is what we've been doing to Wolfram and Hart. I mean, let's face it, the rest of you are all old news. Who cares if you have an army of slayers? The two of us are doing your job for you, better than you've been doing on your own...
Oh, so you avert one little apocalypse and give the senior powers a black eye, and now suddenly you think you're all high and mighty? I've got news for you. If you think these things are always gonna stay easy, you're in for a surprise. Sooner or later, they're gonna start putting things over on you, so don't get a big head about anything just yet.
And I guess you know about falling at the finish line, wouldn't you? Eve sneered angrily. After all, look what you did to Wesley. Yeah, I heard about that, she said, in response to the grimace crossing the woman's face. Illyria looked up in surprise at that. This woman knew her keeper?
Where is Wesley now? What about Angel and the others?
Eve said calmly. Too calmly. I'm sure you know the consequences of messing with something as powerful as the Wolfram and Hart firm. The Senior Partners didn't take Angel's... management strategy... all that well.
He's dead? Wait a minute... what? The woman, Faith, seemed to be having a difficult time believing the truth, or at least it hadn't begun to affect her yet. Humans were so inane when it came to grief. Instead of wasting time in denial, they should channel sorrow, use it to grow stronger.
We've been over this, Eve barked out rashly. I told you all of this when we talked last. You wanted to get us here to talk, so talk. It's not like we have much time right about now.
Did someone follow you? Faith still seemed less-than-atuned to Eve's words, as if upset over the news. Perhaps there had been some sort of past between her guide and this slayer. It was something she would have to keep in her mind - Eve might know something of it, and she would talk of it later.Illyria would make sure of that.
Big things are up, guys, Faith said, in her unflattering tone once more. We've got stuff to talk about, but I don't want to do it here. I bet the two of you have eyes on you all the time. She shuddered slightly. I hate to think what kind of creepy-crawly fly-on-the-wall type monsters they've got watching you, but I think I'd rather not find out tonight, if I can help it.
Don't worry. We'll protect you. Eve's snide drawl was distinct enough for Illyria to catch without difficulty. Come on, let's go. I wanna get this over with and get back to business.
Oh believe me, Faith spread her hands out before her, This is definately gonna change business,' as you know it.
We'll see, Was all Eve said, but the concern in her was not easily disguised. There was an ominous cast here, and time would see what treacheries waited for them in the days to come. Illyria fell into line behind Faith without a word, knowing Eve would follow.
Ollen70: A weird, short little chapter that I may actually add into the next chapter when I get it completed, but I really wanted to get something posted on this. Sorry it's taken me so long. Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews you guys have left. It helps me so much to know what people think.