Chapter 8: Darkness falling
FAITH'S POV
The ride back was quick considering it was Saturday afternoon, but I wasn't complaining. I sit on the front porch steps trying to clear my head before going in. I reach into my jacket and find a near empty pack of Marlboro Reds. I fish one out and light it. Taking a deep pull I hold it then slowly exhale, oh that's so nice. Staring at the trails lofting up from the cigarette I wonder if Buffy is going to give me shit about smoking. Taking another drag I think about this morning with her, it was just perfect. I rest my head against the railing and close my eyes beginning to relive it.
"Hey" Buffy comes out then sits next to me, "are you ok?"
"Wow, they were right." I shake my head.
"What, who was right?" She looks around.
"You distract me, just like the PtB said."
"You told them about us? Buffy was incredulous.
"They told me, come on they are the PtB."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." She laughs then looks at me, "Wait, they don't like me?"
"Of course they do," I smile and give her a quick kiss, "they just told me not to get distracted by you, then what happens a half hour after I tell them I won't, huh?" I slip my arm around her and pull her a little closer. "Come on, I guess we better get in there so I can tell all before I forget."
Buffy gives me a quick squeeze then jumps up. "Ok, let's do this."
"Yeah" I say as I get up.
LATER
"Just a darkness." I say for the umpteenth time in the last two hours. Willow and Dawn were practically interrogating me. "They just said a darkness is coming, it craves the light. You can ask me ten more times and I'll tell you the same fucking thing." I'm getting angry and they know it.
Buffy steps in behind my chair and rests her hands on my shoulders, "I think we should take a break."
"But we - " Dawn interjects.
"Dawn," Buffy says evenly, "a short break, 10-15 minutes." Dawn and Andrew follow Willow to her office.
"Thanks B; I was getting close to losing it."
Buffy leans her chin atop my head and sighs, "I know."
Kennedy smiles at us, "How about I meet you guys on the back porch with some beers?"
My eyes light up, "That would be great, I knew there was a reason I've always liked you."
Once we are alone, I take one of Buffy's hands and pull her around and onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her. I put my head on her shoulder and take a deep breath.
Buffy hugs me tightly, "I know it's hard, but they're just trying to make sure you didn't forget anything. Come on." She stands pulling me up with her, we are so very close. I can feel the chills shoot through me as her lips brush against mine. Slowly Buffy breaks away. "Let's get you a beer, maybe it will cover that cigarette smell."
"Sorry," I mumble.
As we walk out to the back, Buffy asks me, "Maybe you should tell them what the PtB said about us, well, me. It might be tied to it and it's the only other thing they told you."
"That's one way to let everyone know we're together." I close the screen door behind us.
"Like we don't already know." Ken hands us each a beer from the stash she brought out. She touches both of our bottles, "Welcome back to the family." We all laugh as we sit around the table and wait for the others.
"What is going on?" Willow is not happy. "Kennedy?"
"Look, she needs a break, we all do Will. Maybe by relaxing she'll remember something else. Come on, lighten up." Ken hands her a beer which she reluctantly takes.
"Cool, it's a party!" Dawn says as she comes outside, "where's mine?"
"Me too." Andrew adds right on her heals.
Emma follows them out, "I guess you guys wouldn't consider..."
"No" everyone says at once.
"Alright, alright, can't blame a girl for trying, like none of you ever had a beer at fifteen," she takes a seat next to me and sulks, "silly American laws."
Kennedy looks over to Buffy, "Now what were you saying when you guys were coming out here?"
I answer, "Right after the PtB told me about this darkness business, they said," I look directly at Willow, "and I quote: 'Don't let your new relationship with the Slayer distract you.'"
"Wow that's huge, why didn't you say that earlier?" Willow asks.
"I didn't think it has anything to do with it. I still don't, but Buffy said I should tell you."
Buffy blushes a little and looks around for any kind of response that I basically told everyone we're a couple. She only sees everyone concentrating really hard on making a connection if one does indeed exist.
Emma finally breaks the silence, "Is that exactly what they said?"
"I really think so," I think for a moment, "Yes, word for word, why?"
Feeling all eyes on her she takes a nervous breath, "Well, how do you know they meant your new relationship with Buffy? I mean, I know you have a new relationship with Buffy, and that's really great." Emma's blush is bordering on turning purple. She takes a deep breath and continues. "Eh, I mean it's just that you just got here so couldn't it mean your new relationship with any of us Slayers? Ohh, not that kind of relationship, cause well that would be..."
I hold my hand up and nod, "No, it's ok; I know what you're trying to get at. I think you have something there. I was actually thinking about you and our conversation this morning right before I went to talk to them. Maybe they picked up on it. Red, what do you think?"
"Maybe, but why would you be distracted by Emma?"
"Because I'm a demon," She answers matter-of-factly.
"WHAT?" Willow feels like this little backyard meeting is getting way out of hand.
Buffy put a hand over Will's, "It's ok; Reader's Digest version: Emma's father was a witch and her mother was an Empath demon. They died when she was a kid. The 'family' that put her in the hospital adopted her then couldn't handle her when she came into all her powers."
"Ok..." Willow takes it in.
"So Faith would be distracted because you two are so much alike, composition-wise: Slayer, demon, witch..." Kennedy puts the pieces together.
"It makes sense, doesn't it?" Emma asks me putting her hand on mine. I gasp as I feel a shock of energy run through me from the contact. Before I can compose myself enough to answer, she pulls her head back and closes her eyes. "The Goddess who craves the light is named Ereshkigal."
"Holy shit!" I can't believe the sensations running through me. It's like a live wire holding onto me. I jump up and look at B.
"You guys ok?" She asks us.
Emma and I look at each other then turn to her and nod.
"Ok, everyone, party's over," Buffy stands, "let's get back to my office and get all of this down."
We pile into Buffy's office. Dawn goes right to the computer and does a search on the name of the Goddess. Willow stands behind her back-seat-surfing. Buffy, Kennedy and I sit on the couch while Andrew and Emma plant themselves in the chairs opposite Buffy's desk. Everyone is pretty much quiet, only Dawn and Willow are talking through the web search. Then a flurry of typing can be heard.
Dawn scrolls up to the top of the screen. "Ok, let me see if I have everything:
1 – Ereshkigal, is the Mesopotamian underworld Goddess of death, darkness and dust – gotta love the internet, huh?" She looks around seeing everyone lost their sense of humor a while ago, and then looks back at the screen. "Ok...
2 – Darkness craves the light
3 – Answers found in the questions from the past
4 – Don't let Faith's new relationship with the Slayer distract her
Now Faith was there anything else, anything at all?"
I go over their conversation again, trying to ignore the major headache that's pounding in my skull. "Yes, there is one other thing."
"What now?" Willow asks, getting impatient.
I start to rub my forehead and sigh. "My commitment to them will never be over. They let me come back here, but they were quite clear, I'm a champion, and always will be."
"Well that really sucks." Kennedy gets up. "I'm getting another beer, anyone else?" Everyone says yes.
"But what does that mean? I don't understand." Emma looks from me to Buffy.
Buffy leans forward resting her arms on her knees, "It means that if the PtB wish to intercede in basically anything, any place, dimension or time, they will send Faith and she must go because it is what she is meant to do."
"Oh," Emma says softly as she looks to me then back to Buffy.
"Well said." I put my hand on Buffy's back.
Buffy drops her head in her hands, "Yeah, I've gotten really good at deciphering shitty cryptic prophesies over the years, I've had lots of practice." She's upset, shit.
I move my hand up Buffy's back and rub her neck, "Sorry."
"Not your fault." Buffy turns to me and tries to smile.
"I ordered some pizzas and salads, should be here in a half an hour. We can't fight the forces of darkness on an empty stomach." Kennedy says as she hands out the beers. She gives one to Emma and winks, "Don't say I never gave you anything."
"Cool, thanks." Emma smiles.
"Kennedy!" Willow scolds.
"Take it easy Red," I say calmly. "Wouldn't you rather her have one with us then sneak around? Come on, you remember what it feels like to be fifteen and left out, don't you?"
Willow regards me for a moment then shakes her head and smiles, "You've really changed. I like it... a lot."
Andrew twists off his beer cap and walks over to Dawn, "Ok, so why would an underworld Goddess of death want to come to Cleveland?"
"I don't think there has been any change in demon or vamp activity," Dawn brought up the databases, "No, it's been steady for the past few months."
"So what's changed? What is driving her to come here?" Andrew thinks out loud.
Willow turns, "I know this might sound out there, but I think it may be Faith and Emma. They both came here on the same day, with the same powers and plenty of it, so one or both may be the 'light'. Now there's a new 'dark' Goddess in town, it can't be a coincidence. What do you think, maybe a balance of power thing?"
"So if we leave, the Goddess will too?" Emma asks. "But I don't want to leave," she turns to Buffy, "please don't make me leave. You said this was my home now."
Buffy meets her gaze, "No one is leaving." Then she looks me straight in the eye, "I mean it, no one is leaving, ok?" her voice straining.
"Ok," I answer putting my arm around her.
Buffy leans back into me. I know she's thinking of a way to get more information. The few hours of research this afternoon were great but we need more. Especially now, Willow's hunch was probably dead on.
Leaning forward again she barks out the plan: "Will, tomorrow I want you to call the Coven, see what they have to say. Dawn, you should check out the database of watchers to see who's still around from the 'Glory' days that can help on finding out more on the Goddess." They both nod. "Kennedy, gather the girls. Tell them we need more detailed Patrol Reports; make sure they put down absolutely everything that happens. Then you Faith and I will try to shake up the local demons and vamps tonight. Maybe they've seen or heard something." Kennedy goes to find the girls and I just look down at the floor and murmur my assent. "Andrew, I need you to stick with Emma and get her up to speed. You have to be armed and ready at all times. I also need you to gauge how powerful she is, you know the tests." Buffy turns to her, "Is that ok with you, Emma? Andrew won't hurt you, none of us ever will." The girl nods slowly not really liking the idea of tests but knows she must do what she can to help. "Ok," Buffy says as the doorbell rings.
The pizzas arrive and we all go into the dinning room to eat. Surprisingly, there is an easy banter that accompanies dinner. The SiT's drift in and out to grab a slice or some salad. They know something is brewing but wait like good soldiers until they are told what is needed of them. Buffy has always been the head of the Scoobys even when Giles was around. But she has really taken leadership to a new high. No one knows what's coming but everyone seems ok to just do their part to sure up our defenses. Back in Sunnydale the SiT's used to joke and call her General Buffy, well no one's laughing now. Looking around me, I observe probably the best put together team to fight evil I've ever seen, which means a lot considering my travels, Buffy's done very well with them.
After dinner we sit in the living room talking and planning. Emma is fast asleep on the couch, the stress of everyone's emotions being too much for her. I just finished telling everyone how physically draining it is to read empathetic thoughts, and as if on cue, Emma demonstrates the effects. I know I will have to teach her how to block and control the flow of feelings as the PtB taught me.
"Let me take her up to bed, then we can go." Kennedy says as she gently picks Emma up and takes her upstairs.
"Me next baby?" Willow asks as she rests her head on the back of the couch.
"Come on, sleepy," Kennedy motions her to follow upstairs. Willow trails behind them.
Dawn and Andrew have already disappeared to the office they share wanting to get working on cross referencing the Watcher Database. With any luck they'll be able to find someone by the morning.
Finally alone, Buffy watches me closely as I get up and walk over to the window. As if reading my thoughts, "Don't even think about leaving."
I look at her for a moment then back out the window, "Red's probably right and if she is, I won't put you or anyone else in danger."
"But we don't know anything for sure yet." Buffy gets up and turns me around so we are facing each other. "You just got here." She runs her fingers through my hair, then holds my face in her hands. "I'm not letting you go anywhere," Buffy whispers as she guides me backward until my back is against the wall, "you're staying, understand?"
"You don't make it easy to say 'no' to you." I manage before Buffy presses her body into mine. Reaching up, she covers my mouth with her own in a long, smoldering kiss.
Kennedy clears her throat. "Wow, guys, that was really hot." She smirks as she leans against the door frame. "Ready to go now?"
Slowly Buffy's lips leave mine. She's still leaning into me and my body's humming. Eyes still closed, I take a deep breath, God what she does to me. "We'll meet you outside in a sec, Ken." She says then looks up at me, "You ready?"
I stare into those hazel eyes I'd been deprived of for so many years and swallow, hard. Gently I push her back a step, "Yeah, let's go." If I'm going to make a home here, I'm going to have to start learning how to stay put and defend it.