Fic: Souls, Slayers... and a Scythe???

Author: mkcrl120

Disclaimer: All the characters mentioned in this story belong to Joss Whedon or Mutant Enemy or some other people. I own nothing and wrote this just to get it out of my system.

Summary: Set two weeks after the events in Explaining Africa 3

Authors Notes: I have no clue about Africa. Which is probably always a good place to start writing a story. So if details I've used for place names, and tribal names and whatever are wrong then just (correctly) assume I have no idea what I'm doing.

Rating: 15 by English standards (mainly for language)

Chapter 6b:

Same time as last section

Xander and Roger stepped out of the lift on their floor. There was a man with his back to them leaning against their door. Roger felt himself tense up.

Xander stepped out in front of him looking relaxed but aware. Roger watched as Xander monitored the corridor. 'He seems to be staring at each door,' he thought. 'Of course, if the guy has a partner it would be better to know about it now.'

Roger was trying to see past Xander to see the man standing there. Nothing out of the ordinary he figured. In an attempt to look inconspicuous, he did a quick three-sixty while following Xander down the corridor. It failed. It probably wouldn't have worked anyway, but the fact that Xander had stopped walking while he was in midspin, and he failed to notice hadn't made it better.

Xander quickly glanced behind to see what had collided with him, Roger offered a smile. Roger noticed Xander looked over his shoulder to scan the corridor behind him before turning to speak to the man on the door.

"Excuse me," Roger heard Xander say. "That would be our room."

"Mr Harris." Came a familiar voice. Roger moved to the side, so he could see who it was. 'Samson..?' he thought.

"And Mr Craddle. How are you two fine gentlemen this evening?"

"It's practically dawn." Xander answered shortly.

"We went looking for you. We thought something could have happened."

"I thought I'd check in with you before you returned to your hotel."

"So where were you?" Xander asked.

"Ahhhh... now that is an interesting tale."

"Care to come in and share?" Roger said, opening the door to their room.

"It's a tale best told over breakfast... or maybe lunch. It depends what time you get up." And with that Samson handed them a card, and then departed towards the lift. "If I'm not at my place. I'll probably be out working... speaking of which, how is that coming along for you Xander."

Samson entered the lift after his parting shot, and waved as the doors closed.

Roger unclenched his fists, "I'm really starting to hate that guy."

"Tell me about it. To think, at one point I was afraid I'd wished him dead or gone or something."

"Ahhh..."

"Okay, fine I admit it... wishes seem harmless if you only think them while in the cave... okay, I admit it, I thought about making a wish, while we were in the cave. God, you'd think with my past I'd have definitely learnt that lesson."

"I made one too."

"You made one?"

"It was when everyone else had a weapon."

"Mine was when Faith had gone, and I had the distinct feeling this was another wild goose chase."

"Don't worry about it. I blame Samson entirely."

"I agree."

"I don't think we should tell the girls though."

"Agreed."

It was past noon when Faith woke up. Crawling out from the covers she somehow entangled around her legs, she raised her head to face the day.

Shaking the remains of the covers off, she looked at where Amy was still sleeping. 'Guess I'd be dead to the world too, if it wasn't for my Slayer recuperative powers.' Shrugging her knickers off, she looked in her bag trying to find some clean ones. Having found some, she slipped them back on, followed by yesterday's shorts and a fresh t-shirt.

Deciding to leave Amy to her sleep, she quietly slipped out of the room.

Using the lift to go downstairs, she left the hotel and went in search of some food.

Walking around the market in Maputo, she noticed just how different it was to America. Here everyone expected you to haggle. She couldn't get the Monty Python sketch out of her head. Considering she had no idea what the money in her pocket was actually worth, she decided she wouldn't risk it.

Walking around she found herself outside Samson's... what had Amy called it... a Ragbar.

Noticing it was open she looked inside. Samson was in the back dealing with a customer. 'He's fucking alive!' She thought to herself. 'I'm going to kill him.'

Waiting for the session to end, she stood outside and had a cigarette. She couldn't help but overhear some of Samson's advice to the young woman inside.

"You need to change your outlook on life. Stop looking for incentives in every decision you make. Taking a chance could lead to a life-changing outcome."

'Blah blah... same old crap every gypsy peddler sells.' She figured.

After about ten minutes, the young woman left. Faith strolled in.

"And what the fuck happened to you last night?"

Shocked Samson turned around. "Ahhh... the lovely Miss Harrison."

"Masterson."

"Sorry my mistake."

"I asked what happened to you?" Faith repeated, practically snarling in his face.

"As I told your colleagues last night. It's a story I only want to repeat once. So I'll tell you when you're all present."

"You saw the others last night?"

"Yep."

"Why didn't they just come down to get us?"

"I don't know."

"You should have come see us first. I'd have woken them up, they'd have wanted to see you last night."

"Me... waiting outside the room of two beautiful young women... what would people have thought?"

Faith conceded the point. She wasn't worried for herself of course, but who knows how Amy would have taken it.

"So..." Samson offered. "What do you want to do now? Thought any more about that reading I offered you?"

"Don't need no crystal ball to see how shitty my life can get."

Samson smiled.

"I know that if I want to change it, then I have to work for it."

"Then with that knowledge you should be aware that the worst is over. And it is over Faith."

"Collect your friends come back in a few hours. I'll tell you all later, after I've closed up shop..."

Faith reluctantly left the shop. 'Stupid fucking fortune teller... always telling you what you want to here. Maybe the truth could be useful... hell if I'd known about the jail time I'd end up doing, don't you think that I might have changed my attitude earlier...'

Faith lit up another cigarette, taking a long drag she reasoned, 'But back then, would I have, really? Or would I more likely have seen it as a challenge... to live the life and avoid jail?'

"Fucking psychics." She muttered before heading back to the hotel. 'And I didn't get any food either.'

Heading up to her room, she discovered Amy had awoken.

"Where we you?"

"Out... Slayers don't need as much sleep. Comes with having to fit some nocturnal activities in with a normal life I guess."

"Oh."

Falling backwards onto the bed, Faith continued. "Guess what?"

"What?"

"Samson's alive. Saw him fucking working, if you believe that."

"So where was he?"

"Wouldn't tell me. Says he'll tell everyone at the same time. We gotta go see him later tonight."

"Right."

"The others up? Need food and suppose I should update them."

"Go check, I haven't left the room yet. Going to try and have a wash in the basin, don't feel much like risking the communal shower..."

Faith smiled at her, "You want me to watch the door if you do risk it?"

"I'll see. And thanks Faith."

"No probs."

Faith left the hotel room and headed upstairs.

Knocking on the boys room, the door was greeted by Xander. Dressed only in a pair of boxers.

"MMmmm MMMmmm boytoy."

"Faith?" Xander murmured through still sleepy eyes. Opening the door to invite her in he collapsed back onto his bed.

Faith couldn't help it. 'He's definitely slimmed down. Not the chiselled six pack of regular gym go-ers, but hey they look fake anyway. Wow, mix the manly construction build with the sort of weight loss you could only get by sweating in Africa for a few months, and mamma I'm home.'

"Been working out Xan?" Was all she offered.

Amused at her reaction, "Faith, I finished puberty since you last saw me topless."

"So did I... wanna compare?" She teased, perching herself on the other bed. She figured the lump under the covers behind where she was sitting must have been Roger.

"What did you want?"

'Well that was an abrupt change of subject.' Faith thought. Slightly annoyed at his diversionary topic. "Why didn't you wake us up last night when Samson was here?"

"He came see you too?"

"Nah... I went to see him when I woke up today."

"What did he say?"

"That he'd tell us everything later."

"Great."

"You two getting up any time today? Me and Amy are hungry."

"We'll be down in a sec." Xander turned over to sleep on his back.

"Kay..." Faith got off the bed with a hop. The movement caused the bed to rock slightly.

Roger's head peeked from under the covers. "Was that Faith or was I dreaming?"

Checking out Xander's body one final time. She left the room, "Whichever it was Brit, at least you have good taste."

9pm

Samson was in his element. 'A captive audience is always the best kind.' Though looking around he figured most of them probably wouldn't be too impressed. 'Xander looks bored. Roger looks like he wants to kill me regeardless. Faith is getting impatient and Amy, well at least Amy looks interested.'

"So... I was standing by my jeep..." he began.

&&& Flashback &&&

Samson watched them enter the cave. Smiling to himself, he wondered how the 'pink elephant' he'd given them at the end would go down. 'Wonder how long it takes before they think it.'

Laughing at the thought, he began to walk in the opposite direction to where he'd sent them.

Walking to his car, he quickly retrieved the keys from the ignition, and then continued on his path. Arriving at the opposite cliff face he patiently waited. Sitting on a rock, he waited for dusk to pass. For all remnants of the sun to be removed from the sky and for the world to be lit by the lights of the stars and the moon alone.

The tribe shimmered into place, as they had done every night before and would do every night 'til the demon's wish was stopped.

Some of them were the cousins of his ancestors he reasoned. Remembering the tales his grandfather told him, that his grandfather had told him. These were the cursed. Upon discovering the wish-demon they had avoided him for a long time. They were a proud tribe. They prided themselves upon their hunting ability beneath the full moon. But their world was a primitive one. Animals also hunted at that time, as did the blood-drinkers and other tribes. They tried to survive in that harsh wilderness, but as with a lot of primitive people their lack of knowledge was against them. They prayed to the gods who lived on the moon. Names long dead now, forgotten even by our own people, his grandfather had told him.

Each night they return and they await those who could end their curse, or the demon's death whichever came first.

The curse had been the result of a misworded wish. As happened to so many that had visited the demon.

Samson was certain that those he had sent into the demon's cave would be okay. He had forseen parts of their lives. It had been a gift that one of the wise men from the ancient peoples had given him, or taught him... he had been a child, and he had been shown how to use the gift over time... maybe he always had it, and his grandfather simply took him to the only ones who knew how to develop it. He'd probably never know, he figured. 'Maybe that's my curse... I learn lots about complete strangers yet nothing about myself.' The more he thought about it the more it seemed true... 'I was never able to use it with my own family, nor close friends. The longer I knew someone for, the less I could see.' Maybe it had been a gift given a timelimit, only showing him a certain amount of time from when he first met each person, maybe it had been a restriction the elders had put on him, so that he could not be tempted to abuse the power. 'I guess I'll never know.'

The legends told that the tribe had requested their battle prowess under the moon they worshipped to be unsurpassed. Not wishing to be greedy, they asked to be undefeated under the moon's light. 'Well they got that in spades.'

He went out to meet the warrior who had left the camp once they realised they were back. "I have some new friends inside the cave."

"Can they help us?"

"I don't think they're here for that."

"They walk with Her Who Fights."

"You know...?"

"Are they aware of the curse?"

"A friend of theirs made a wish. They want to know details."

"A friend, are you sure?"

"They are trying to help a bloodsucker, if you believe that."

"We are aware of the beast. We tried to block his passage, who knows what a bloodsucker might wish for. As you were all still here the following night, we assumed his wish had not been granted."

"A bloodsucker got past you?"

"Strangely he was not interested in feeding. We were going to lure him in with the possibility of drinking us dry."

"I'd hoped you'd stop doing that."

"We must take every advantage that we can. It's easier to stake them while they feed. And it's not like it hurts for long."

"They could leave at any time. You must be careful."

"Those that travel with Her shall not be harmed."

"I was thinking more of yourselves."

"They cannot do us harm. But if it will ease your mind."

The warrior waved his arm and the camp was covered in a light mist.

&&& End of Flashback &&&

Samson smiled at the others.

"So let me get this right?" Xander began. "You were waiting for us to come out of the cave, when a camp of primitive warriors materialised around you?"

Samson nodded his agreement.

"And they then went on to tell you about the demon?"

"And you didn't know this was going to happen?" Amy added suspiciously.

"Tales of the demon, keep many away from the beach at night. The tales of the ghostly tribe have been around since before my grandfathers time. But I've never seen them before."

Faith couldn't believe this turn of events, "Fucking wonderful."

"So how did you get back?" Roger wanted to know.

"I drove back."

"Your car was still on the beach when we looked for you."

"I was in one of the tents, talking to the wise men."

"Been there, done that." Xander muttered under his breath.

"We didn't see any tents."

"And I didn't see outside the tent... so I didn't see you looking for me. Your car was gone when I returned to mine."

Roger began hesistantly, "When you were in the tent, did you drink anything... suspicious?"

"No. They smoked a pipe, but I refused."

"And all they could tell you about the demon is that the wishes will be removed when it dies?"

"Yes... that is the only certain way they know of. They have heard rumours from a variety of the people they've met over years that there are other ways but... they've never found another."

"All of the wishes?" Amy asked, curious. "All the ones, it's ever done ever?"

"I assume so."

"Wouldn't that involve a lot of rewriting of history?" Amy called.

"You'd think so... I got all this from the tribe members, who've been talking to anyone they meet over the years."

Faith asked, "How long is the demon likely to live for?"

"No one knows, they don't even know how long they've been there. Countless nights, they reckoned. And the demon was a legend in their time."

"Wonderful... the major part that's pissing me off," Xander said. "Is that in all their years, they've never found anyway to communicate with the demon other than by wishing."

Amy took it up, "Which when their wish to remove their previous wish was denied. They've been reluctant to try again, should another twist occur."

"Correct." Samson said, thinking he'd covered all he wanted to.

"So we're fucked." Faith summarised.

"Seems that way." Xander added.

Samson smiled. "You can go talk to them yourself, if you wish. They said those that walked with the Slayer would be welcome."

"You told them about us?" Amy asked.

Samson shrugged, "They knew. They may have foresaw your arrival."

"Unlike you managed to do..." Faith teased.

Samson smiled. "I knew you were coming," he said, nodding towards Xander. "I just didn't know you were a Slayer."

Faith looked at him. "Fucking answer for everything."

Samson smiled and left.

Two years later
England

Xander was sweating. He couldn't get the image out of his brain.

They'd been sitting down having a meal, celebrating Dawn getting into Oxford. Willow and Giles had been very impressed. Him and Faith, there was a him and Faith now, and actual item, nine months on and going strong; hadn't really had a clue, but it sounded important, and Dawn was happy and that was important. And anyway, these days any excuse for a get together. This time it was Willow's place they'd invaded.

They'd been having a good time, it wasn't even that bad when Spike had turned up; Buffy had brought him like usual. He'd been souled, she'd said, and the reasons why Angel and her couldn't work out weren't standing in the way. They seemed to have an on-off relationship; it only counted when they were in the same city together, 'elsewhere was elsewhere' Buffy had said.

'Open relationship,' Faith had called it, adding further comments on 'how open exactly were they?'. Goading him, into seeing if he wanted one. He'd replied about how it wouldn't be fair as she get attention far more often than he would. Some goodnatured teasing had been gone around the table.

There was no risk she'd said. Spike'd joined in, entertaining the girls, with the latest antics from W&H.

Buffy was informing everyone about as how no more Slayers had been called that they felt really at ease with the spell. He'd argued that no Slayer had died recently so it still hadn't discounted anything. A normal regular argument between the two of them. There wasn't even any shouting this time.

Giles seemed extremely happy with all the new information being provided. It seems that inaccessible books of knowledge weren't really that inaccessible when twelve slayers turned up on the doorsteps asking for them. And where Slayer strength couldn't help, well there was always Willow.

Spike had wanted Willow's help with something he'd found at W&H. Some trinket, Angel had picked up, their magic users hadn't provided any help, so they wanted Willow to take a look. Spike led her out to the car to show her.

Buffy had gone out to see what had been taking them so long.

The first thing that Xander noticed was the person he didn't recognise in the kitchen. They were threatening Giles, he'd only had to say one word 'Faith.' She was up and heading to Gile's rescue in seconds. Normal run of the mill vamp... why would they attack us in the home of one of the most powerful witches in the world. And why the hell do it, when two slayers were in the house.

That's when it occured to him. The vampire was in the house. Giles couldn't have invited him in. He ran to the window. Willow's body was slumped on the floor by the car, it was surrounded by blood. He could see Buffy trying to hold her own against five vampires, but every time she staked one another took it's place.

He turned quickly to see Faith was facing similar numbers in the kitchen. The lack of room, was enabling her to fight them one on one. A noise attracted his attention, Dawn had been grabbed by Spike and pulled into a room on the opposite sides of the table.

Xander stamped down breaking the chair next to him. Picking up the remains of two chair legs to use as makeshift stakes, he'd kicked the door seperating him from Dawn. She was lying lifeless of the floor. Spike had a blood ring around his mouth. Two vampires approached from behind him to continue to feed once Spike was done.

He'd frozen for a fraction of a second. Seeing Dawn lying there, it had taken the wind out of him. Spike looked in his direction. Grinning he'd said something about only him getting to drink from the Slayers, but anyone could have the whelp and the watcher.

Grabbing the door handle, he closed the door attempting to halt Spike in his progress. Glass burst from his left. Three vampires had leapt through the window. He'd realised there was nowhere left to run, holding his two chair legs, he ran at the vampires. His last thought; if he was going down, he was going down fighting.

& &

Xander sat there in his bed... Roger across from him sleeping on. Sweat was pouring off him. He couldn't shake the casual way Spike had passed Dawn on to the others, the way you might offer someone a few fries.

He got out of the bed, moved into the 'bathroom' and rinsed his face in the basin.

It didn't help.

He looked back into the room, where Roger was sleeping.

Remembering something from an earlier conversation. He walked determinedly over to his shorts he pulled them on. Fastening his sandles, he quickly grabbed a shirt.

'You need to make a wish... I've got a wish.'

End chapter 6b: