A/N: Hey guys, tried getting this up as soon as possible but you wouldn't believe the distraction a snow storm can be. Anyway, trying to definitely go on an AU path up in here. I know there's a ton of POV mix ups in this chapter but just bear with me! Sort of light on the Fayana but I'm setting it up for major happenings.
The sun shone through half closed shades, illuminating a sleeping figure tucked into a bed that seemed to big for one person. The girl let out a groan as she curled further into the bed trying to keep the sun out of her face. Finally giving in the girl lifted herself out of her blanket cocoon, the light catching the hazel flecks in her vivid green eyes. Faye Chamberlain swept her eyes around her room taking a moment to stretch her arms over her head with a yawn reminiscent of a lion. Letting out another grumble Faye rolled off the bed stalking into the adjacent bathroom and immediately splashed cold water onto her face. What a night! Not everyone could say they had almost been strangled to death by a demon, let alone one in the body of a middle aged blond woman.
Faye stared at her reflection in the mirror, noting the haggard look to her eyes as he recognized an obvious sign of a sleepless night. She remembered it so clearly, she had really thought that she was going to die for a second there. She remembered the sensation of a pair of hands curled around her neck, the vicious visage of the woman who was intent on her death. Faye massaged her neck were the demons hands had been in unease, she would grin and bear it but she was in no way over the events that had transpired. If it hadn't been for Cassie she might not have seen another morning, she owed Cassie her life. Faye gazed at her reflection for another moment and shook her head; it really wasn't her style to be this dramatic. Then again, she had sort of earned it.
Shaking out her limbs one last time she walked over to her bedside table and glanced at her cell phone. Flicking the radio on she tapped her feet to the beat and checked the messages, one from Cassie, a couple from Melissa, a sleazy text on Nicks part and a text from .. Diana? She would have expected Diana to be more concerned about Cassie or the new Book of Shadows. Her eyebrows rose as she realized the text had been sent a mere hour after everyone had gone their separate ways. Faye's finger hovered over the "new message" symbol, seriously intrigued by the promptness of Diana's text. It was probably just an "I told you so" text, about how controlling the magic and sticking together could have stopped this but then again, maybe not. Either way it was totally something that she would not have expected from her Ladyship, considering they never texted.
Whatever,she thought to herself as clicked the surprisingly brief message contained only three words, reading, "Faye you ok?"
Faye tilted her head to the side, half disappointed that it had been so anticlimactic for so much deliberation and half confused at the contents of the message. Was she ok? Diana never asked if she was ok, or at least not for a long time. Then again, there had never been a demon attack so she couldn't exactly compare reactions. Deciding it was probably nothing Faye rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath, she had a killer headache all of the sudden. God, she thought, today was just not going to be a good day.
By third period Faye's headache had gotten so bad she could hardly stand it. Nearly stumbling to the front of the class she hurriedly asked the teacher to let her leave the room and managed to make it into a bathroom stall before collapsing. Her head felt like it was going to explode! Was this the goddamn magic again? The throbbing was getting stronger and it almost felt like there was something inside her head, squirming in her brain. Faye's hand stilled over her forehead as she realized the movement wasn't just her imagination, there was something literally moving under her skin. She frantically took her phone out of her pocket using the frontal camera to check out her reflection, catching a glimpse of something worming its way under her skin before it disappeared. Suddenly everything felt too cold and she couldn't stand. Faye's breathing got heavier as she realized she couldn't even move and she was stuck in a bathroom stall with something inside of her. Trying to gain control of herself her thoughts grew panicky, why couldn't she move? The lights seemed to brighten to an unbearable glare and she felt herself starting to slip from wakefulness. She feebly tried to form a plea but soon her eyes grew heavy and she slid into unconsciousness.
Mere minutes passed before the door opened again and heels clacked across the linoleum tiled floor pausing before the stand Faye was in. Melissa glanced around the bathroom before calling out, "Hey, Faye you in here?" Taking a few steps forward she craned her neck towards the back of the bathroom, "You really didn't look good, you ok?" She asked, her voice uncertain.
"Chill out Melissa, I'm fine." Came a sudden drawl from behind her, turning around quickly the shorter girl stared at Faye, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
"Are you sure? You looked really messed up. Maybe you're hitting Nick's potions too hard..?" She offered nervously, taking in Faye's appearance as she stood before her. The other girl seemed fine but there was something off in her stance, something off with her eyes. The taller girl stalked forward until she was toe to toe with Melissa wearing a smile that seemed almost predatory, different from her usual smirk.
"I said I was fine. I'm just excited Melissa." She said, her voice lower than usual. "See, I found my family's Book of Shadows yesterday.." Melissa followed Faye's movement as Faye circled her until she was behind her. "But I don't want anyone to know yet, I found a note inside the book that said there was some stuff buried, so I was thinking just you and me could go look for it?" Her voice was silky as she spoke, lacking Faye's usually bite. Nonetheless it was persuasive.
Melissa turned to face Faye and started at how close they were, smiling nervously she took a step back, "That sounds great Faye but don't you think we should tell someone. A Book of Shadows is a pretty big deal. It could be dangerous."
"Don't be a wimp Melissa." Faye responded in a sharp tone, not fitting her usually light hearted insults. "It'll be fun, an adventure. C'mon I need you to dig it up." She continued as she turned towards the door. A smirk adorned her face as she heard Melissa sigh and follow suit behind her.
The sound of earth hitting earth and the metallic clang of a shovel seemed to be the only noise permeating the forest as Melissa and Faye dug for Faye's "treasure." Even the birds seemed to be quiet and the wind made no sound as it swept through the clearing. Melissa paused as a metallic clang louder than the others reverberated through the area. Picking her shovel up again she stabbed down, the metal clanging emerged again. "Faye, I think I've got it." Faye snapped her head up, jumping quickly over to where Melissa had been digging.
"Move, I've got it." She murmured stepping in front of Melissa and quickly pushing aside the earth that was in the way of her goal. Melissa stood back as Faye seemed to grab something and pull, soon a heavy chest emerged. "Melissa, give me a hand." Melissa grabbed another side of the chest and pulled back, as suddenly as the chest had been found it popped out of the ground causing Melissa to fall back. A large travel chest lay before them. Its metal coverings tarnished with years under ground. Obviously it was very old, older even than their parents. As they both got up to inspect the chest more closely Melissa glanced at Faye who was gazing at the chest with delight, she hardly hid the gasp that escaped her when she saw something slither under the other girls skin. "Faye.. your face…"
Glancing over as if nothing had happened Faye smiled, "What about it?" Following her words another twitch of her skin revealed the movement underneath.
"Never mind, trick of the light." Melissa responded quickly, taking a few steps back. Pulling out her cell phone she quickly sent a group text as "Faye" turned her back. Faye faced Melissa again, tilting her head to the side, "I think we're going to need help opening this don't you?" Her voice now edged with a deeper undertone that had been absent before.
"Um, sure, yeah." Trying out a shaky smile Melissa nodded, "Sounds good Faye. I'll text Diana." Keeping the smile on her face she walked away from "Faye". The other girl seemed not to mind as she continued studying the chest. Melissa opened her phone quickly dialing again and waiting fro someone to pick up.
"Hello?"
Melissa released a breath and spoke with a low voice, "Diana, there's something wrong with Faye."