Damned if I don't, damned if I do.

Nearly done with this chapter, I promise. Thanks for being patient :)
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v: The Guardian of the Gate


Faith was still looking up at the Gate. “So how do you want to do this?”

So was Toni. “Very carefully.”

She fumbled for the canister at her hip, unscrewed the lid and passed it to Faith.

Faith took it but didn’t drink any. “You really think this is gonna help?”

“If the goal is to slip past unnoticed, then si, I imagine an invisibility potion will help.”

“Really? Convicted murderer trying to get out of Hell. You think all it takes is a little spell? Don’t ya think all the bad guys down here woulda thought of that already if it worked?”

That was a good point, and not one Toni had considered until now. Willow’s potion had been to see them across Tartarus undetected; it was never intended as a get out of hell free card. She still did not see how it could hurt though, and she did not like the sound of Faith’s defeated tone. She had to stay positive, they both did, if they were to make it through – there was still a long way to go and to show weakness at any step was an invitation to be preyed upon.

“There is a difference between you and them. They deserve to be here but it is not your time. That is the loophole we will exploit with the help of this potion.”

“So what if it’s not my time? If I deserve to be here, what difference does a few years make?”

This was dangerous theological territory. Troy had told Buffy only his divine permission could save Faith’s soul from eternal torment, it was what he had used to keep Buffy in line when Toni’s attention had not been enough, and it had worked to a point - the point where nothing could stand in the way of the slayers’ feelings for one another any longer…

However, Toni was a goddess from another age and her philosophy was more liberal. People changed, the whole world changed – wasn’t that what they were trying to do after all – and very few paths were set in stone. Perhaps someone once destined for Hell could never make it to Heaven but Toni believed wrongs could be righted, good deeds did cleanse a tarnished essence, and a balance could be found.

“A few years can make a difference to your soul, Faith” she said, knowing it was the right thing to say whether it was true or not. “Every noble accomplishment pushes you further from returning to this place. Is that not reason enough?”

Faith pointed at her chest with her thumbs. “You think I’m noble accomplishment gal? I can’t even claim the redemption points from serving my full time in prison. Every day out there ties that anvil a little tighter around my ankle and…”

“Enough!” Toni snapped. “I cannot listen to your self-pity any more! You have my girlfriend pining for your safe return in the upperworlds and all you can do is whine about not being good enough to leave! Of course you are not good enough! You will never be good enough for her, but who cares? She clearly does not!” She threw her hands up and turned to stalk towards the Gate. “So stay here and sulk about not deserving a chance to escape if you wish, è stupido, fottuto idiota, but I am going to fight my way back to the surface of this planet no matter what it takes because that is what she deserves!”

Faith stayed where she was and held her hands out to the sides in confusion. “Tone, relax. I’m just saying that any penitentiary that has walls nine days high -- and, by the looks of it, gates nine days thick -- is gonna have some kind of motion sensors or radar too. Soon as I get close alarms are gonna be going off and guards are gonna come running whether I’m invisible or not.”

Toni turned back. “If you are right, this will always be the case. You must risk it or be content to stay here for eternity.”

“Oh, I’m all for risking it.” Faith cracked the knuckles of her right hand. “But that don’t mean we can’t be smart about it. Thing about prison see, the TV becomes like a… portal, ya could say, to the outside. It’s a connection with the real world, so those on a long stretch, you get to the point where you’ll watch anything. My rec time was in the mornings, which was great; s’all kids TV, stuff I never got to watch properly on our fuzzy black and white set but used to hear the other kids talking ‘bout at school. Didn’t even know Big Bird was yellow ‘til my second week in the joint.”

“As fascinating as this trip into your past is…and I’m sure it will finally help me to understand much about your psychosis,” Toni deadpanned. “If you are simply going to keep talking, do you mind if I sit down?”

Faith cracked the fingers of her left hand with an intimidating grin. “Point is, bitch, I learned my one-two-three’s and my A-B-C’s while on the inside. You won’t get that, but Buffy would.” She winked. “So there’s no point me drinking some of that shit if I’m only gonna get revealed somehow anyway, ‘specially when there’s not much juice left.”

Toni took the canister back as it was offered and started to put the lid back on. “So you suggest we save it for if we make it through the gate. That is probably wise,” she conceded.

“Nah, I got something wiser. You drink it now. All of it.”

“But if we are going to be detected anyway…”

“I’m gonna be detected! Unless Pool-Boy has ratted us out no one on the Gate is gonna know there’s two of us. If they can’t see you, and you’ve got the sword, while they’re hassling me you can dance around like an invisible ninja and take the fuckers out!”

Toni shook her head. “I do not like the thought of being cloaked when you are not.”

“Ya mean you don’t like the thought of telling B you were cloaked and I wasn’t if you’re the only one of us that makes it out.”

Toni could not deny the truth in that and smirked, unconcerned that her true motive had been recognised.

“Yeah, well, suck it up, Tone, ‘cause you know this plan is better than any you’ve come up with.”

In answer, Toni raised the flask of potion to her lips. There was only a mouthful of the bitter liquid left and she drank it all; let Faith deal with that if her wonderful plan failed. She recapped and reattached the canister to her belt.

“Shall we proceed?”

“Yeah.” After a few steps towards the forbidding Gate, Faith stopped again. “No, wait. If I don’t make it through, will you give something to Buffy for me?”

“Like what?”

The swell of Faith’s stomach pressed to her own again but this was no accidental contact. Toni’s back remained straight, her posture stiff but Faith’s hand found the back of her neck and pulled her forward, moulding her around the bump between them until their mouth’s met. Toni shut down her mind, subdued her gift so as not to exacerbate the kiss and waited politely for it to be over. Her eyes widened in surprise as Faith’s tongue swept dominantly between her lips and she pulled hers back deep into her mouth, refusing to reciprocate, but she could understand now why Buffy was always so breathless and giddy after kissing her. When a firm hand smacked her bottom before giving it a soothing squeeze she finally pushed Faith away.

“I think I get the message!”

Faith was laughing as she stepped back, straightening out her tattered wedding dress. “Just make sure you pass it on. All of it!”

“I may kill you myself, just for the opportunity,” she muttered, doubting she would ever get to do such a thing again if she did return with Faith.

They were halfway to the Gate when Faith stopped again, spinning ungainly in a circle.

“What are you looking for?”

“You, as it happens.”

“Scuzi?”

“Ya just disappeared.”

Confused at first, for she could see Faith clearly enough – well, as clearly as the smoky, eternal night would allow at least – but then it dawned on her.

“The potion is out of your system. You are no longer protected by the invisibility spell.”

“Damn. Maybe not my best idea ever after all.” With a shrug Faith walked on. “If we’re gonna keep you a secret I guess that means we can’t talk anymore either.”

“You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that.”

Faith shot a smirk her way and Toni matched it even though hers couldn’t be seen.

“Think this is gonna get hairy?” Faith whispered, eyes never leaving the giant gates they were approaching fast.

“Like a Yeti.”

“Ya know, even though I hate your guts and all that, kinda feels like we should be having a moment here or something.”

“I think we had more than enough of a moment a minute ago!”

Faith started laughing again but the pleasant sound was abruptly cut off by a voice like an amplified dentistry drill.

“Halt, Murderer!”

“I think I need to pee again,” Faith muttered, her eyes big and her body tensed.

“Merde,” Toni muttered. One way or another this was going to be unpleasant.

*****

Buffy sat up on the narrow cot like Dracula rising from his coffin, but faster probably.

“Faith’s in danger!”

Willow and Xander exchanged a startled glance and she didn’t blame them, they’d been aimlessly discussing pizza toppings two seconds before. It had maybe even been a whole hour and a half since she’d last mentioned Faith’s name.

Xander pulled himself up a little straighter against the wall on the other side of the basement. “Well, yeah, she’s in Hades. Not exactly the safest of tourist spots.”

“Tartarus,” Willow corrected him absently while watching her with concern. “But Xander’s right, we knew that.”

“Okay, more danger then.” Buffy stepped off of the cot and closer to the portal. Its size fluctuated constantly between a tennis ball and a tractor tire. Right now it was about as big as the window on the washing machine. “Bigger danger or… different danger. Something is worse. I can feel it, I think, and that’s never a good sign.”

Willow and Xander exchanged another glance.

“It might just be that the invisibility potion has all been used up,” Willow said, keeping her cool. “We knew that might happen, remember, and now you can just feel the danger she’s been in all along. Okay, that was supposed to sound more reassuring than it did.”

“Plus, upside,” Xander said. “It means she’s still alive. Hard to be in much danger when you’re dead.”

“Or it means Toni’s dead,” her voice sounded flat and detached, despite the uproar that thought caused in her insides. “And Faith is in danger because her protection is gone.”

Her fingers reached towards the shimmering green portal as if she was dipping her fingers into a rock pool.

“She can’t get out of there with no guide, no help, no protection! She’s as good as dead too if someone doesn’t…”

Kennedy had been sitting halfway up the stairs playing her new Nintendo DS but now she was coming down them in a blur of motion, hurtling across the basement and straight into Buffy. They went to the hard floor together in a tangle of limbs and only the element of surprise gave Kennedy the chance to pin her before Buffy recovered enough to kick her ass.

“Get off me!”

“Sorry, Mama Bear,” Kennedy’s voice was evidence of how much effort she was using to keep her down. “But you’re not going through that thing.”

“She needs my help!” Buffy thrashed to get loose but got nowhere instead.

“Buff, don’t make me chain you up, ‘kay?” Kennedy grunted.

*****

Toni had her sword out, held firmly in both hands as she tilted her head back, trying desperately to locate where the voice was coming from. Was it as invisible as she was or just hidden up there by the smoke – much denser here thanks to the dual fires flanking them.

Faith had walked to within feet of the Gates and was standing still, hands vaguely held out to her sides as if trying to show she was unarmed, and she was staring straight up too.

“You mean me?” There was no tremor in her voice, no tremble in her body, only her eyes gave away her unease.

There was nothing and that stretched on for a moment and then, “I see no other killer here!”

“You don’t sound all that sure.”

“Silence!”

Faith dutifully obeyed. Toni wondered what her plan was now, if she had one; her own part in the original strategy was defunct, with no guards rushing them to be cut down by her invisible sword. It was Faith against the voice, at least until the voice showed itself. She was racking her brains trying to think who it might belong to, attempting to remember any details from the days of research that might enlighten her. Who guarded the path from Tartarus? But they hadn’t even known of the Gate! The mysteries of this place had remained shrouded since the birth of night and, if they did not make it out, would always be so.

“Why are you at my Gateway? Explain yourself!”

“You want me use sign language? Or am I allowed to speak now?”

Ah, that was Faith’s plan. She was going to piss it off until it killed her. Wonderful!, she thought sarcastically, and then backtracked in her mind, Actually, the plan has some merit.

There was a screech from above; obviously Faith’s own sarcasm had not pleased.

“Wow, someone’s testy.”

Another screech.

“Okay, chill. I’m here ‘cause I wanna be let out.”

“Never! You have been judged only worthy for the pit.”

“Yeah, but that was a mistake. I wasn’t the one who was supposed to be zapped. My almost-mother-in-law is just a lousy shot with the lightning bolts. It’s just a misunderstanding and I don’t really deserve to be here. So if you could just, I dunno, tap the exit code into the keypad, I’ll be on my way.”

“Faith Lehane, you have been destined to reach this place for four years.”

“I really don’t think so, Dude. I’m Catholic for starters.”

“That is of no consequence. Be gone from my sight.”

“Sure thing. Soon as you open the Gate.”

“The Gates of Hades never open.”

“Then why have gates in the first place?”

There was another angry screech from above and Toni smiled grimly.

“You think you will ever walk free?”

“I dunno, but if you open the gates I gotta good shot.”

“The soul of Lester Wirth will follow you forever! His fear, the torment and pain he felt in his last minutes on Earth will be with you for eternity!”

Faith’s cockiness had left her, draining from her face as fast as water from an upturned cup. Toni’s grip tightened on the sword’s hilt.

“I know that.” Now there was a tremor in her voice.

“He felt it all, you know? Each stab of the knife. Six of them. He felt them all!”

“I was there.”

“You were very there. In the moment. Crowing as his hot blood gushed over your hands. Your blood was singing as he begged for his life!”

Faith gave a short nod, perhaps not trusting herself to speak.

“His existence meant nothing to you. Why should yours mean anything to me?” When Faith didn’t answer the drilling voice yelled, “Be gone!”

Faith shook her head and said quietly, “No. I’ve changed. I’m trying to anyhow. I deserve the chance to make up for what I took. If I end up back here when I die, so be it, but I’ve earned the right to try and change my fate.”

“You deserve nothing but damnation and that is what you have.”

Toni could see Faith’s muscles – what she had left of them – coiling, ready for action. Her hands went to her stomach for the briefest of moments and then she threw herself towards the Gates, yelling,

“Fuck you! I do get a second chance. Someone higher up than you thinks so. Buffy is proof of that! Our baby is proof of that!”

Her hands were clawing at the gap between the Gates, trying to push or pull them open but the heavy iron wasn’t showing any signs of movement. Toni knew she should help but she was struck frozen by Faith’s impassioned words. The Slayer had it so right and so wrong at the same time.

There was a screech from above, more fanatical than the previous, and then the soft sound of heated air catching vast wings. The thing was on the move and it spurred Toni back into action. She ran forward a few steps, sword once more held high in front of her. As soon as the voice showed itself she would strike.

The chance didn’t arise. The voice did appear, swooping down, still screeching in anger, but before she could swing the sword it had picked Faith up in its huge talon-like fingers and was rising back up.

Toni had time to register the large leathery wings, the snakes writhing above its head like the world’s baddest hair day and the thick black liquid pouring from its eyes. It dripped onto Toni’s arm as it passed over head and she looked down. It was red closer up: blood!

It was one of the Erinyes, meaning she and Faith were as good as dead! Yet… Toni watched it soar higher still… Erinyes couldn’t fly! At least, the one she’d met in her past couldn’t despite her long, bat-like wings.

Thirty feet up the creature let go of Faith and the pregnant slayer dropped like a rock to the hard ground. Toni started to run under her but her reaction was a second too late – probably just as well considering she was still holding the sword point up – and Faith screamed on impact.

Her first thought was for the baby. Would it – could it - survive such a fall? Her second thought was for Faith and she bent down, hoping for a sign of life. She got one in the form of a groan. All her thoughts were consumed by the Erinys then as it coasted to the ground a few feet away and walked back to Faith’s prone form. Toni had to move back out of the way so she wouldn’t be detected but even as she did so she readied the sword for a good, clean swipe at the thing’s head.

“You dare to offend Tisiphone!” The creature screeched. “You belong to me now, Mortal! And I will personally torture you for your crimes!”

As she screeched out her threats Tisiphone used her sharp, bony fingers to cruelly wrench Faith onto her back. Faith rolled easily and punched her fist up, catching the creature low on her belly.

She jumped back, screeching wordlessly again, giving Faith just enough time to get to her knees. As the Erinyes came in for another attack, Toni went to swing the sword but Faith lunged forward, putting herself in the way. She would never know how close she came to accidentally having her head chopped off! Faith punched Tisiphone again, sending her backwards once more.

Faith dragged herself to her feet – and did not make it look easy – but when she was up she advanced on the bat-serpent woman, her fists raised like she was in a boxing match rather than a no-holds-barred fight for her life.

“Come on then, bitch, you wanna play?”

“You will die! I will kill you myself!”

“Now who’s the murderer?”

Toni watched, slightly awestruck, as Faith and the Erinys began to fight. The flickering flames turned Faith’s sweat-slicked skin to bronze and sent the creature’s shadow up high against the Gate, making the scene even more dramatically spectacular than it already was. It should have been over in seconds, with Faith a crumpled, dying heap on the ground, but despite her weakened state she did not give an inch.

“Come on then, gore-face! Kill me your fuckin’ self! What, all squawk no peck? Been perched up there so long you forget how to rumble?”

“I will claw out your face! Your torturous death will be my amusing anecdote for eons to come!”

There was no way Toni could get a clean swing with her sword, they were fighting too close. Even stabbing would be dangerous as the two of them circled each other, Faith moving with much more energy than she’d shown in all the time they had been travelling through Tartarus together.

“Still just hearing white noise here. Is that you or your hair hissing? FYI, you wanna get yourself a new stylist, the whole serpent ‘do went out about three thousand years ago.”

“My hair will feed on your entrails!”

Faith got in a wild kick, shooting Tisiphone several feet in the air. She flapped her great wings but they did nothing to smooth out her landing and she flopped onto the ground awkwardly.

The kick had sent Faith to one knee too but she was up before the Erinys. “Thought you could fly? You look like a fuckin’ chicken flapping around like that.”

Tisiphone lurched up and ran at Faith, screeching death.

Toni realised she was doing no good just standing there and ran to the Gates to push and pull at them with as much force as Faith had. They didn’t open for her either. She kept at it though, looking over her shoulder to watch the fight. If Faith showed any signs of weakening she would have to give up her unknown status and join the battle. How that would help in the long run… she was sure it wouldn’t, but she could not stand by and see Faith killed without trying to help. It was her purpose for being there, to save Faith or die trying. It was why she had the invisibility potion in the first place, and the sword. The gifts had been given to her for this mission, by Willow and Buffy and… Troy! They’d all given her something to aid in Faith’s rescue from Tartarus!

Toni sheaved the sword with fumbling hands and searched her pockets until the clammy metal touched her palm. She pulled out the black-gold key and looked at it.

The Key to Hades.

She’d always assumed it had been forged to open the gates on the outside – and it had done – but what if…? She looked up at the giant iron Gates, eyes scanning their solidness for any chink in their security.

There!

It was above her head to the point where she had to stretch her arms painfully but with some more fumbling she pushed the key into the hole. It fit and she breathed a sigh of relief, because it could have easily just been a hole, and twisted the ancient artefact clockwise.

Nothing happened and she was scared for a second that it just wasn’t the right key after all or that the lock had rusted shut in the humid air. Terrified of breaking it in her panic, Toni forced herself to stop, take a breath and then twist it back the other way.

Once the key had turned one and half revolutions anti-clockwise there was a click that she really hoped she had not imagined because she had to blow her cover now.

“Faith!”

“What?” Faith was still fighting viciously with Tisiphone and didn’t look back.

“Sword!”

“Good idea!”

Toni had already pulled it free from the scabbard and thrown it. Faith caught it in her right hand, still without looking behind, and brought it around to slice deep into Tisiphone’s side.

The Erinys fell back, gasping as her claw-like hands went to the gash just below her ribs.

“Maybe that’ll teach ya the power of forgiveness!”

“Faith!”

“What?” Faith snapped again, sounding even more impatient.

“The Gate!”

Faith finally turned her head and, despite not being able to see Toni pointing, noticed the Gates were slowly opening outwards.

“’Bout time!” Faith slashed at Tisiphone again, coming close to severing a wing, and then turned and ran. “Later, bitch!”

Toni half-thought Faith was talking to her as she ran past and through the Gates without slowing, but when she ran through too she found Faith waiting just the other side. Her ragged breathing and the thud of her boots alerted the slayer to her presence.

“Any way to close this fucker again?”

“I have no idea.”

“So we keep running?”

Toni nodded, “We keep running.”


Thanks for reading.