Thanks to the wondrous reviewer who corrected me on some mistakes I had made. I here by dedicate this chapter to you (I would put your name on here, but for some strange reason I can't find the review you sent).

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Dread

Faith sat with her back to a tombstone smoking a cigarette. Taking a long drag, she flicked the butt into the grass and stomped it out. Walking over to the blue convertible parked next to a mausoleum she peeked inside. Xander lay passed out in the back seat.

Rolling her eyes she gave him a light smack across the face. "Hey Xander! Wake up already. You've been snoozing for the past three hours."

A bleary eye opened and he answered. "I got hit over the head by a little girl and kidnapped by a Psychopath; don't you think that merits a little rest?"

Faith snorted. "Oh please. The only thing we've done since we got to Rome is rest. Do you realize that we've only had one good brawl in the past three months?"

Xander groaned and sat up. "Yes I realized and have thanked the Lord fervently everyday."

She ignored this and went on, "In Sunnydale there was at least one good slay a night. This place is for the dogs."

"Well then, I am a dog. And a very happy one I might add. Not everybody has superpowers Faith." Xander sighed and climbed into the driver's seat. He sat there for a minute before realizing the keys were not in the ignition.

"Um, keys?" He held out a hand in her direction.

Faith rolled her eyes again and tossed them to him. "Here. You go ahead. I'm gonna patrol some more."

"Whatever." Xander muttered and turned the car on.

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Willow shifted nervously under the scrutiny of the young werewolf that stood guard at the entrance to the 'den.' Oz was as stoic as always.

"Dusc it's real important that Fae get this information."

Dusc wouldn't be budged. "I understand that Oz, but you are not permitted to pass. Give me the message and I will tell them."

"Tell who what?" a voice interrupted.

Willow and Oz whirled around to see Melissa standing behind them.

She arched an eyebrow, "Well?"

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Thunder boomed and Faith glanced at the sky nervously. 'Just what I need. To get caught in the rain.' Glowering she started to walk faster. Giles' loft was closest so she headed there.

She was rounding a small shop when group of demons leapt out of the darkness and surrounded her. Faith grinned in anticipation. Maybe the night wouldn't be a total waste after all.

The leader, a tall horned creature with red eyes spoke. "Slayer, tell me, are you ready to die?"

Faith tossed her hair and laughed, "Are you?" she called in challenge.

The demon glared at her and charged.

The brunette feinted to the right, drawing a dagger from the inside of her coat she slashed downwards past the demon's neck. It bellowed in rage as bright purple blood spewed from the wound.

At this, the rest decided to join in.

Faith whipped around, thrusting the dagger into anything that moved. Pausing, she took aim and hurled the blade into a demon's chest. The stricken beast clutched at it and fell over.

Suddenly she felt her breathe leave her body as she was tackled from behind. Grunting, she hit the sidewalk hard.

A burst of lightening lit the sky and the clouds opened, pouring water on the combatants below.

Gritting her teeth, Faith pushed herself up off the sidewalk. Grabbing her attacker she hurled him into a wall. Whirling, she was just in time to snap off a round house kick at the head of another demon. Slipping around the stunned creature the dashed over to the dead one and pulled her dagger out of its chest.

Stopping to catch her breathe, she shook the rain water out of her eyes and took stock of the situation.

She had slain one and mortally wounded another, but four were still in action.

The demon she had tossed in the wall was slowly getting back to it's feet when Faith came at him again. Plunging the blade into his right bicep she grabbed his head and slammed against it with her own. Reeling backwards, the demon collapsed. She grinned and looked for her next target.

She didn't have far to look. The Horned Demon, on hand clasped to his neck, charged at her again. This time he made contact. As the two of them flew through the air, Faith drove the dagger deep into his back.

She almost lost consciousness as the now dead body pile-drived her into the street. Blinking away black spots, she didn't have time to react before she was grabbed and hauled bodily into a back alley by one of the remaining demons.

Faith shook her head to help clear her mind and reached once more into her coat. This time she drew out a small hatchet. Raising her arm, she brought it down hard on the demon's legs. The creature howled in shock and dropped her.

Suddenly the drenched atmostsphere was full of howls. Faith dragged her body out of a gutter and propped herself against the wall, readying for the next attack. None came.

The last two demon's had heard the wolf calls and fled. The last thing she saw before blacking out was a huge pack of wolves streaming through the alley like a river of grey.

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I had more I wanted to write, but not only is my mom booting me off the computer, I'm also not going to be able to get back on for a the next couple days. Or so I've been told. I decided to post this and provide you guys with more of the story. LOL. It also puts me another chapter closer to finishing this story.