Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Buffy awoke from the nap she had inadvertently taken to the rapping of knuckles on the door. She blinked and mumbled, eyes peering to the door. The boy from earlier looked from the slot in the door. "Hello, Ms. I've brought your food." He attempted a smile and slid her meal through the slot. She moved slowly, feeling her senses reeling as she took the plate. "The captain had it specially made for you." He leaned just a bit closer after looking around him. "Don't eat the peas'. The captain added a bit of sleeping poison to them." Buffy set the plate on the bed she had rested on before running to the door.

"Hey, kid, wait!" The kid returned to the door, anxiously looking around. "What's your name? Where are we going?"

"I'm Joan, but everyone calls me Jo. We are going to a place where you can get to the Forgotten. A pit-stop." Jo said, before scurrying away, her name being called from above the deck. Buffy groan and returned to the bed. She picked at her food, shuffling the peas' threw the window in the door. The meat looked a bit dried and the potatoes looked almost moldy. The taste wasn't any better either and Buffy sorely wished she hadn't stormed off. Jo came back some time later, telling her they'd be at port soon and to get ready to leave the ship. "If we're lucky," Jo said excitedly, hands fiddling with the sash that held her pants up, "we'll see Tara, or Faith. Maybe my brother can get us aboard Faith's ship. She can take you to the Forgotten easy." And just like that, with Buffy unable to ask any questions Jo ran off again, scuffling her boots across the dirty floor and back above deck.

Buffy groaned and finally collapsed against the bed, just waiting for this hellish nightmare to be over. A creaking came from somewhere above and she winced as a loud bang sounded as well. The door opened with a clatter and Jo smiled at her. "Come on!" Jo reached in and grabbed Buffy's wrist, yanking her out of the room and above deck. The captain was nowhere to be seen, his crew lined up along a railing and a young blonde haired woman was looking around. "Ms. Tara!" Jo called, waving her free arm to get the woman's attention. The blonde turned, green eyes shining as she made to skip over to them.

"Joan!" A husky voice called, attracting the crews attention as well as Joan's. A dark figure moved down from where the wheel was, Buffy saw the captain following the figure. "Joan, your brother has been wondering about you. And you've been playing here, Todd's shipping been well to you?" Jo nodded and smiled to the taller figure. Buffy felt her eyes widen and her breath catch in her throat—whether from the darkness this person emitted or from the beauty of the woman who's black eyes scanned across Joan.

"It's been okay," Joan said as she let Buffy's wrist go to salute to the woman, "But I think I like your ship better, Captain Faith."

"Thank you, Jo." Faith turned her black gaze to the blonde Jo had pulled behind her. "And who is this?"

"I'm Buffy, and I refuse to go anywhere until someone tells me where we are! And how I can get back home!" Buffy said, shivering as Faith turned her full attention to her and lightly tapped Jo aside to step closer to her.

"Really now? You're the slayer Xander told me to watch for?" Faith eyed her up and down, going so far as to reach out and raise her arms above her head and look to the well cared for hands. "I expected someone more, intimidating." Faith said at last as she let Buffy's arms go and turned around, welcoming the blonde who had, like a decent lady, walked her way over to Faith. "Tara, what do you see?" She asked as Tara leaned against her and looked at Buffy. Buffy felt her heart throb as she looked into the shining green eyes. Her soul was good, pure, untainted even by the creature that held her.

"She is good. And strong." Tara turned and smiled adoringly up at her sister. "Don't underestimate her, Fai." Faith nodded and smiled, squeezing the arms she had around Tara's waist.

"I see. Joan, take her to my ship. And any belongings she may have." Captain Todd didn't seem to agree as Buffy watched him walk to the four of them.

"I really have to disagree with you, Faith." Faith turned to him and Buffy watched with narrowed eyes as the Todd started sweating. "She's my property. I got her before you did at the docks. And—" He was cut off by Faith's hand wrapped tightly around his thick throat and her low growls the only thing audible on the ship. Faith leaned down and growled something into his ear, causing him to nod quickly and her to casually throw him into his crew. Jo giggled just a bit as she came back from where she'd fetched Buffy's bright pink bag. Tara caught sight of it and squealed, rushing over to Buffy.

"That is so cute! Where did you get it?" Buffy gave her a hesitant smile.

"I bought it. At Macy's." Tara forward her brows and tipped her head to the side just a bit.

"Macy's? I've never heard of it. Where is it?"

"At the mall. Near my home." Tara nodded. She smiled and reached out patting Buffy's cheek.

"It'll be okay. You have nothing to fear. Fai will take good care of you, and bring you home when your mission is over. I promise." Buffy stared at her in wonder for a moment as Tara leaned closer and planted a soothing kiss to her forehead.

"Tara! We are leaving." Tara turned with another adoring smile and attached herself to Faith's arm. "Come, we will go see your Willow. She must be getting anxious." Faith turned her attention to Buffy and Jo. "You two will come as well. We'll be going straight to the ship and it wouldn't do any good for you two to get lost on your way. Come." And with those calm words Faith turned and helped walk Tara off the ship, attention solely on the blonde who was clearly attached to her.

"Are those two always like that?"

"Yes. Excpet when Tara has her spells. But that's not often. Come on, Faith said to follow her. So we follow." And with that Jo picked up the suitcase and hurried after the two. Buffy quickly followed when she saw the crew loosening up and leering at her. Buffy followed the natives to Faith's dark ship. It was craftily made of a fine shined black wood. It's masts where a deep gray, seemingly pitch white that where slowly turning a darker color from the darkness. The rails, as Buffy walked up the plank and got a closer look, had intricate carvings of either a foreign language or of creative designs. She looked up in curiosity as she heard a sharp whistle and saw a pirate careening down from one of the mast's ropes.

"Captain! Spike has exited the ship and is suspected to have been hunting. And, sir," He didn't seem so sure now as Faith turned to him, "He's been saying things about Drusilla." Faith nodded and the pirate turned and ran to do something else.

"Jo, take Buffy to the quarters beside my own. She will room with Tara's Willow. Understand?"

"Yes sir!" Faith nodded and Jo ran to settle Buffy's suitcase into the room. Buffy instead stayed where she was and crossed her arms, glaring at Faith. Faith raised a brow as she saw her still there.

"Your still here? I told you to do something. Do it." Tara gave her a smile and leaned up, pecking Faith on the cheek as she said something to her. Faith nodded and Buffy watched Tara run to the room Jo had just entered. "Do you not follow orders'? Or are you just mentally challenged?"

"I'm fine. But I'm not so sure about you! See, I've said I want to know where I am, yet no one has told me. I've said I want to go home, but I'm not home. So, you tell me where I am, and get me home."

"I take no orders'."

"Neither do I!" They glared at each other for a few moments before Buffy growled and stepped closer, she poked a finger into Faith's chest. "Tell me, where I am. Now!" Buffy gasped as best she could when she felt Faith grip her shirt and lift her from the deck and to eye level.

"Be quiet! Stay quiet! Or I'm not sure you'll live to get to the Forgotten. Do you understand, girl?" Buffy just glared at her. "Good." Faith put her back down and turned, stalking her way to her room. Buffy gave a sigh as she heard Faith close her door with a slight snap of the hinges.

"Yeah, great plan Buffy. Get her so mad she kills you." She threw her hands up into the hair and followed the path Tara and Jo had made and went to her room.