"Do you think he's here?"

She consulted him as her eyes roam around the room.

He tilted his head to look at her.

She was unaware that he's looking at her. She sipped her drink and her brows met when she sighted a possible disguising man.

"I don't know. But it's Jet and Ed who assured me that Cock and his partner are targeting this event. You know those two."

"Ah… They better be right. This hasn't been so easy."

He understands her somehow. It's easy for Faye Valentine to rush to things and finish everything right there and then rather than waiting for some guy to show up in three days.

When the long speeches and preaches about weddings and families were through, the head organizer announced that they can all socialize and talk among themselves, learn about the family-life and make friends.

Seated on their table with two cocktails, Spike and Faye imperceptibly observe everyone.

Many were possible suspects but still, they have to wait for Cock to do the first move. They have agreed that they'll wait.

Her eyes were focused on a tall, lean man with a black woman when she saw somebody approaching their table.

The guy Spike said he met yesterday and the one who was able to witness their act this morning ─ Wayne.

But what caught her attention was the woman with him; wearing a flirtatious above-the-knee-length scarlet dress, matching her red hair.

The two reached them and she knows the woman hadn't notice nor recall her simply because she's looking at Spike.

Wayne started the introduction with a short cough, enough to make Spike, who was busy sipping his drink , raise his face.

"Well, Spiegel, I told you you'd meet my wife, didn't I? And now, she's here beside me. This is Vixen."

He turned to her and smiled.

Spike looked at the person beside him. She's tall, somehow taller than Faye; her wavy red hair matches her brown eyes; and she looks pretty mature than Faye.

And he couldn't explain why he compared the woman to Faye.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Spike Spiegel."

She extended her hand and Spike shook it.

"Ehem!" Faye abruptly stood up.

"Haven't we met before? I just can't remember where I could have met you."

She saw a peculiar smile on Vixen's eyes.

"You must be his wife, the bearer of his heart and his sweet life. No, I guess we haven't met somewhere else but here and today, Mrs. Spiegel."

Her eyebrow rose as she watched Spike carry out the conversation with this two.

Wayne's a bit mysterious to her and he's also one of the supposed guys with the bounty on his head.

And this Vixen… She looks flirtatious with her dress like that and her hair and all. But she acts so smoothly. She was no cheap chic, Faye admits.

But she doesn't like the way Vixen looks at Spike.

I'm gonna shred her to pieces and make a carpet out of her!

She's flirting in front of her husband.

Hah! And Wayne doesn't care or is he juts plain stupid?

Spike! Why is he so engrossed with this conversation?

They're talking about bounty hunters ─ for goodness sake!

"Well, this people – bounty hunters, they are called, are really inconsiderate. They appear out of nowhere and shoot somebody."

Spike was taken aback with such remark.

"I don't think you discuss that thing to them. You might be scaring them, honey. This is the first convention they have attended so far." That was Wayne while taking two cocktail drinks from a passing waiter's tray.

"I haven't experience that but I heard girl bounty hunters are a bit inattentive when it comes to discussion and they destroy more than what they are suppose to destroy. Well, a friend just kidded me one day. I'm not really sure if it's true. Haven't met one."

Her brows twitched a little upon hearing what Spike just said.

Faye smiled at him.

Deep inside she's repeating some words to herself.

I'll be kind.

I'll be kind

I'll be kind.

But she knew that she's not that affected.

"What's with the gender, honey? Men! Sometimes, you say women do all the crazy things. That's not fair." But she was smiling.

Spike's hand touched her forehead with gentleness, as though trying to feel the temperature.

"Women. You get so sensitive. But your head's not hot. That means you're not going to turn into anything if I make another comment."

Somehow, Faye could detect that he's enjoying this. Talking with her, sarcastically, but not really, because they're not frowning and no eyebrows met.

Subtly, she took his hand off her forehead and shoved a few strands of her hair.

"Who's going to turn into what?" She knows a different glint could be seen in her eyes. She feels like laughing but she wouldn't.

"Okay. No one's turning into something. I have this bad feeling that if say something displeasing; I'll be forced to crouch outside the doorsteps."

He was shaking his head, lightly.

Wayne laughed out loud.

"You're right. Women can overthrow men. At times, they have the power over you. They can even make you sleep outside of your bed room."

At that, Vixen remarked about men. Thus, their topic was shifted to women and men issues.

Faye felt relieved, somehow. And it's not because the topic changed.

It's because…

Good. At least that red head stopped flirting around.

And Spike's not looking at her that much.

He's looking at me!

She tried to control herself from frowning or saying something when Vixen laughed because of a joke Wayne put up.

Why does she laugh like that? Is she trying to amuse both men?

I know her.

But is she really the same woman who sat with me last night and took my winning moment away?

She told me we haven't met but I know she's just acting it all up.

"I think I'll leave you guys for quite a few minutes. I'll just go to the rest room." She heard Vixen say.

Faye watched Vixen smoothly move about.

She looked at Spike, who was looking at her too.

Spike nodded, as if reading her thoughts. She excused herself simply.

She looked back just to see the two, engrossed with whatever they must be discussing.

…………………………………

"So, why didn't you let them know?" she heard the sound of the water from inside the cubicle.

The cubicle door opened and Vixen went out soothing her red hair.

Her face was unreadable.

Faye's eyes followed her as she motions towards the sink to wash her hands.

"What did I not let them know, Mrs. Spiegel?" A mischievous grin playing on her lips.

There's no one there except for the two of them.

"Cut the crap! You know what I mean." She could feel the blood rushing to her head.

"You mean – tell them I met you at the casino and you lost all the money you had because of me. That's not a big thing to brag about, Faye."

"Listen, here. Do you think it's a big thing to me? Well, it's not." She's slowly losing her control again.

"You're too hot- headed and… stubborn. Stephen told me you drunk yourself to sleep based on what he spied on you last night."

Faye was taken aback. It took a second before she absorbed what Vixen meant and the reason for the impious glint in those eyes.

"Wayne? Then – " her words were cut off as she tried to move steps backwards putting more distance between the two of them.

But Vixen was faster. She grabbed her by the arm and twisted it to her back. With her right hand held tightly, she tried to lay a hand on her pistol with her left hand.

Faye fired the pistol, the sound ringing to the four corners of the powder room but surely nobody outside could have heard, and she saw blood dripping from Vixen's arm.

She could have managed to escape loose of Vixen's grip but as she turn to face the scarlet devil, a musky scent from the sleeping spray overpowered her senses and she saw the world turn dark before her, hearing her adversary's words.

"By the way, my name's not Vixen. It's Bloody Mary. Nice to meet you, Faye Valentine."

And she imagined Spike still talking to Wayne – no, to Stephen.

Spike…

………………………………………………..

It's been thirty minutes since Faye went to the powder room.

Where could she be?

He saw Vixen coming through a small crowd towards their table.

Wayne's been telling him about having a family and what disasters they bring.

For a few times, he was curious about the sadness he sensed in the man's voice.

There was no evident reason for such, because from the looks of it they're nice couple.

Spike heard Vixen's apology for the delay but something's bugging his mind.

"Where's Faye?" Wayne asked the question he wanted to ask.

Vixen shrugged her shoulder innocently and looked at them puzzled.

"I haven't seen her. Why?"

Huh?

Spike's face slightly lit up in an all at sea expression before some ideas flashed through his head.

It really didn't matter where she could have gone off because he knew that she can protect herself, especially when she gets annoyed.

The thought of her getting into trouble and punching somebody's face made his lips twitched a little into a frown.

He was actually picturing Faye, but in his mind, her arms are a bit larger than they really are.

She's not the type to call out help at the top of her lungs.

She might be even saving a man.

That Faye.

"Uh… you can go ahead if you want. Don't waste your time waiting for her. I know where she is. She'll probably be back soon."

But deep inside him, he's not sure where to find Faye.

Where could she be?

Maybe back at the hotel

Maybe…

Wayne and Vixen glanced at each other.

A mystic agreement lies between them and Spike knows nothing about it.

The two excused themselves and modestly went.

It was then, that he noticed the scarlet shawl around Vixen's shoulders.

It's a different red…kinda seem wet.

Must be the drink. He thought to himself, thinking that the cocktail might have caused his hallucination.

For he saw something red slowly dripping on Vixen's arms, that she immediately placed her hands on her left arm.

Blood?

He dismissed the thought but something was bugging him.

He decided to call Jet.

It's the second day of the seminar and he needs his aid seriously.

He concluded that Faye could have gone back to the hotel.

And that, he shouldn't worry.

He lit a cigar, and placed his hands inside his pockets.

He looked so at ease but still…

Faye…

………………………………………………………………