CHAPTER SIXTEEN

" Everyone, this is Faith, the vampire slayer." Wesley said.

" Hello, Faith, I'm—",

" Fred. Yeah, Wes kinda gave me the skinny on you." Faith said.

" Oh",

" Faith? What the hell is she doing here?" Cordy demanded, walking down the stairs.

" Nice to see you too, Cor," Faith replied.

" She's here to help." Wesley explained.

" Oh, gee, that's great. Oh, wait a sec. Wasn't she convicted of murder and sent to a state correctional facility for like a gazillion years?" Cordelia asked.

" Murder 2, 25 to life, for the record," Faith smirked.

" So now you brought psycho slayer out of retirement to kill Angelus?," Cordelia turned to Wesley.

" Cordelia, you have every right to feel that way about me. You have no reason to trust me, but I don't have loads of time, so why don't we save it until after this is over. Cool? OK, let's get down to it. We're gonna keep this hunting party tight. Gunn, right?" Faith immediately took charge.

" Yeah,"

" Love the name, Hear you're a good fighter."

"I hold my own, "

" That's a shame. You're with me, Wes and the kid."

" The kid has a name," Connor said sullenly.

" Arm yourself how you like, but I want you to carry the tranq gun. If I can't take him down, I want you to be ready to take the shot, yeah? (to everyone) In case anyone has any other ideas, this is a salvage mission, not search and destroy, OK?"

" No. Not OK. You think you can just breeze in here, telling everyone what to do? You're not a part of this. If you think I'm not gonna kill Angelus if he comes at me, then—"

" Listen up, junior. When need a blood hound, I'll call you. If Angelus needs putting down, I'll be the one to do it, not you. So... is there anything else you're not OK with? Good. Show me the weapons."


" So, the Slayer's here right?" Abigail asked Lorne later on.

" Yeah. She's um…feisty." Lorne said, " You should have been downstairs to meet her."

" I'll meet her later. She'll be too busy with her hands full." Abigail said.

" Oh. I have to go out a bit to see a client. I'll be back soon."

" Are you sure it's safe? With the vampires running around and Angelus on the loose?"

" I'll be fine. He's not far away. He wants a reading done."

" Well…all right." Abigail said hesitantly. Lorne kissed her goodbye and Lorne left. A few minutes later, Abigail put on her coat, grabbed her sword and followed him. She was worried for his safety, Lorne was no fighter and he would need backup in case anything should happen.

Abigail had not gone far when she heard a low growl behind her. She slowly turned, it was a vampire. He was joined by three more of his buddies. She swallowed but gripped her sword. This was her chance to see if she can fight a group of vampires by herself and live.

" You shouldn't be walking around in the dark, there's scary monsters around," the first vampire told her as they circled her.

" It's the daytime-it's our time, not yours." Abigail replied firmly, " The sun will come back."

The vampires laughed, " This is the way the world should be. Vampires now rule and humans are nothing but free meals." He then lunged and she swiftly ducked. She managed to stake the one behind her as the other one tackled her to the ground, but not before she beheads him. He exploded into dust, some of ashes landing on her face.

She stood up and faced the remaining vampire. " I'm impressed," the vampire said, " Such a little thing like you can take on three vampires."

" I've had some practice but I'm not a Slayer," she grinned suddenly, " You should be aware that there's a Slayer in town."

The vamp hesitated, " You're lying," he sneered, " There ain't no Slayers here."

" Oh yes there is. And you'd best go hide."

" Not on your life," he said and charged. Just as he did though, sunshine streamed down upon them and the vamp caught fire. He looked up, completely baffled just as he exploded.

Abigail looked up the bright blue sky and the sun. Never before has she been so happy to see it.

It must mean the Beast is dead, she thought. Faith actually did it.

She remembered where she head heading and hurried, hoping she'd catch up with Lorne.


" Sam, I need to know." Lorne entered the magic shop-after admiring the now returned sun-and went straight to the physic. She was at her till, doing some paperwork.

" Hello Lorne, nice to see you again." Sam answered dryly.

" Yes, hi. I need to know," he started again.

" I knew you were going to come back," Sam sighed, " Need to know what Lorne? I've told you everything-more than I was supposed to tell you."

" I need to know if I'm going to kill her."