Things that go bump in the night

~ Four Months Later~







The High Priest walked into his chambers and softly closed the doors. Turning he froze at the sight of the Prince standing in his balcony with her back to him.



She was dressed as the Prince she was, the pale tunic that fasted about her waist and the back of her neck left her back bare, leaving her tattoos in sight for any observer, a fine paint had been used to cover the numerous scars on her back. The Pharaoh had been appalled by the sight of them declaring they would make her appear human and ordered them hidden. Her hair had been oiled to a shine and the crown that fitted her head was set with jewels so valuable they rivaled only the Pharaohs.



Turning the Prince looked into the eyes of her fathers Priest, his brother. Her uncle. Since being back she had been in such a whirlwind of parties and festivities that this was the first time she had been able to steal a moment alone with the man.



“You have a beautiful son Priest, you must be very proud.” Raya studied the man before her. His skin was painted gold as was custom and the he stood before her in a simple loincloth. ‘No doubt bathing with his wives’



“Thank you Prince, may I enquire about your visit?” He knew better than to demand an explanation. Since her return she had resumed her place as heir and therefore by association had power over every life in Egypt just as her father did.



“I have come to talk to you about a parents love.” Turning she looked at her sleeping cousin. She had slipped sleeping draught into the boys wine; she wished him no harm but for now it was better the Priest didn’t know that.



“I am confused my Prince”



“I am a father Priest. I have two beautiful children.” At his confused look she continued. “Did you really think my father would have put me on the throne of Egypt without making sure I could produce heirs?”



“You are woman.”



“Yes I am, but that’s the thing about my kind. Gender doesn’t matter; I am here because I wish to discuss your son. You wish him to be Pharaoh Yes?”



“I wish only what the Pharaoh wishes my Prince”



“Cut the crap Priest. I have been here four months; before I came back your son was to be Pharaoh after my father passed. He was born less than a month after I left and I left before the final crowning. Tell me that is coincidence.” Raya watched as her uncle seemed to shrink at her words. “Tell me why you sent me away, and we will discuss an amicable agreement or I will leave now if I suspect you to spit lies at me and order your murder. Is that clear?” Raya watched as the man nodded and reached for a robe.



“Sit down.”



Raya sat in the Priests chair, knowing this would rile the man. Making him feel more powerless than he already did.



“Before your ascension, when my fourth wife told me she was to bear a son I had a dream. It was of a great wolf, which led Egypt into prosperity and many long years of peace but never made Egypt what it could be and in the years to come…Egypt will be forgotten. I also saw my son, in the form of a hawk, who through his ambitions strived and succeeded to make Egypt great. The greatest nation in the known world, he and his descendants will build structures that stand for millions of years. I sent you away because I believed this prophecy, because I know you love your father and mother, and you love the people but your heart has never been in Egypt the way my sons has been since his birth. That my Prince is why I sent you away, do to me what you will but my son is blameless in this.”



Raya thought on his words, studying him carefully, she knew he was not lying. Looking to the boy, her uncle was right. He was the ancestor of the one called Ramses. Her cousin may not be the name but he is the cause for some of the greatest things Egypt would ever do.



“I will spare you Priest. I believe your words. But hear me now if I ever sense any malice or hostility towards me or my father and mother I will strike you down and ensure that your son never ascends the throne. Is that understood?”



“Yes Milord.” Priest had no designs to kill the prince when she returned he had accepted that his prophecy was false.



“I have a proposition for you. And if you help me I can guarantee your sons place on the throne.” Raya smiled at the man as his eyes lit up and looked at her waiting for to agree to whatever it was.



********



After four months of solid travel time they finally arrived in Buffalo, New York. Giles had told them that this would be where they would start over. Honestly Faith thought it was because the eight hundred acres there had already been owned by the Council.



Giles had been stunned and then drunk for a week when he learned of the Councils devastation. They had all waited for the older man to come around and take the reigns as Council-head, once he had contacted the accountants and learned where they were financially he acted fast. Having Willow send out sensors to help them find slayers and once they had arrived on the grounds they all roomed in hotels while Giles ordered contractors too build the school. Along with three dormitories and six houses, explaining later that they would have visitors from time to time and it wouldn’t do to not have them comfortable. Faith just couldn’t believe how British he was bein about all of this.



That night was the first night they had had a chance to look at the finished product. It had taken four months because whether or not Giles wanted to admit it she knew he had paid more than what the contractors would send the IRS on there tax returns.



She had to admit it was beautiful, the School was the first thing you saw when you came up the drive, it was designed to look like an old style mansion, then again…they were in prissy ass up-state New York so what could she except. Behind the school there were there ended up being one main dormitory, while Giles had ordered four houses built further back on the grounds.



Giles had a small one story house built for him, while Buffy, Dawn, Andrew and Xander got there own house similar to the one they had in Sunnydale.



Willow and Kennedy got there own small house that Faith found downright girly and loved to tease Kennedy about because she believed this further proved how pussy whipped the slayer was.



Faith, Horus, Asher and Skylar got there own house, closer to the woods so Horus and Asher could run around more freely in there wolf for if they wanted too. Faith loved it, she got the master bedroom, a small room right next to hers was Skye’s and there was a bedroom across the hall for guests while Horus and Asher had there own rooms on the main floor. It wasn’t at all cramped like it had been in Sunnydale and the dark wooden tones they had all agreed on did nothing but make it feel like a real home.



While all this had been going on Willow and Giles had been using the Councils jet to fly around and convince the families of slayers to allow them to attend there school. While some were aware of the girls’ powers others were not. So to the outside world “Watchers Institute” was a school for gifted young girls.



Slowly the girls began to come, then by the truckloads. As time went by Faith was happy to loose herself in the chaos, she and B were the main instructors while Willow taught alchemy and magic works, Andrew and Dawn taught Slayer history. Xander did what he was best at. ‘Fixed the things the girls broke, Giles was able to draw up complete histories for both Horus and Asher, who became Horus and Asher Talsen, so that is how Horus became the instructor in obscure demonology and Asher was a sparring partner for the girls. Something thanks to teenage hormones he greatly enjoyed.



It was at night, when everyone was quiet and Skye was sleeping that she let herself miss Raya. Over time she grew angry at the woman for leaving her. She had promised she would come back and she hadn’t. Skye was getting bigger everyday; soon she would be talking more, and walking…hell she was already scooting everywhere.

Horus lay down in the room below Faiths and tried not to listen as she cried. It was like this every night, he missed his mother. Terribly, but he knew the ache in his heart was not like the one in Faiths.



He prayed that time would heal it as the philosophers claimed.



*******



~ One Year Later~





Christmas was growing near and the girls had gone home on holiday. The original ‘gang’ were all sitting around the table in Buffy’s home. She had the largest home and for some reason she was by default the ‘hostess’



Skylar was walking, talking and driving her mother and brother insane trying to catch her. Faith was all but ready to pile everything NOT furniture into the closets until the kid learned better. But she didn’t feel like hiding away her books and lamps and other breakables for the next eight to ten years.



Asher had just turned fifth teen and was already almost as tall as his father. Everyone commented on how much he had grown and smiled kindly at his shy date. What was her name...Tracy? No…Tasha? No…Tanya that’s it. The little pom-pom princess was a slayer that had recently come to the school and had no where to go.



Horus’s date, Alice was with them this year. She was an attractive woman in her early thirties who worked at Asher’s high school. They had met when Asher’s had been suspended for fighting at school. So far things seemed promising.



When Andrew had announced he had a date coming Faith had discovered coke hurt REALLY bad coming out through your nostrils. When she had reminded him his hand doesn’t count he had gotten all butt-hurt so she had to make Red make nice.



None of them were surprised when he and his date Drew walked through the door, yea that’s right…Drew as in a man. She had to give it to the nerd he had good tastes. Drew was young, probably some rich snobby brat, most of the locals around here were. He was tall, dark and handsome and seemed completely taken with Andrew for reasons unbeknownst to everyone else in the room.



They all sat down and as Giles carved the turkey Faith looked over at her daughter as she laughed and giggled at the faces Red was making at her.



Smiling she realized this was home.



******



~ One more Year later~



“What do you mean another year? It’s already been nearly four.” Raya stalked around her uncle’s chambers trying to calm down. But she had already been here longer than she had ever planned.



“Raya, we have to wait for the eclipse, I told you this.”



“There was no eclipse when I came back here or when you sent me away in the first place why doest there need to be one NOW!”



“Because you want me to send you to a VERY specific time I cannot do that without the eclipse. When I sent you away last time I did not know where I was sending you but now I do and in order for it to work it has to be right. I have told you this many times”



“One more year?” Raya knew she had to change, she was too angry and she just needed to change and hunt. When the Priest nodded she turned and stomped out of the room. Passing servants and guards she walked off the grounds and through the city, breaking into a run she leapt over the Nile and rolled onto the other side, carefully she undressed and shifted, breaking into a run she ran for what seemed like forever.



Stopping only when her lungs screamed and her legs felt on fire. Stopping she looked up at the moon and howled.





******



Faith watched as Skye ran and climbed up the ladder as she headed for the slide. The kid loved that thing. She knew right now if she were to get her she was scream her head off.



So waiting for another ten minutes for her to get tired of it so they could leave Faith settled into watching her daughter run and laugh.



“Which ones yours?” Turning Faith looked up to into the smiling face of Wilson Masters; he had been a dedicated ally to the institute and frequent visitor since its opening. He was a nice guy, open and friendly. Also wasn’t bad on the eyes. He was taller than Horus and barrel cheated, with a head of thick red hair and bright green eyes Faith knew in another time and place she would have jumped his bones.



“The girl with the blue overalls and red shirt.”



“Yes ive seen her at the institute. She’s beautiful. You and your husband must be proud.” Faith smiled at the compliment.



“I have no husband.” ‘Dammit why did I have to admit that’ Faith moved over on the bench when he moved to sit beside her.



“I’m Wilson, Wilson Masters.” He held out his hand, and she shook it. Noticing how strong it was. ‘Like Raya’s’ She pushed the thought back. Instead answering his questions and smiling when he made a joke or two. They were genuinely funny so that helped.



“I’m sorry I have to go, it’s getting time for her dinner.” She hadn’t realized how much time had past until she looked up and noticed that the sun was setting.



“I’m sorry to have kept you.” Wilson stood and turned motioning for his own son to come over. Faith watched as a redheaded boy about the same age as Skye sprinted over to his sun and leapt as his father caught him and balanced him on his hip.



Turning to Faith “Would you like to have dinner with me and my son this Friday? It’s nothing fancy, maybe bring Skye with you?”



“Sure that would be nice, what time?” Faith felt strangely flattered that he was asking her to dinner. She generally wasn’t the type of girl guys or girls asked to dinner, she was the one that asked out for drinks and got fucking in the alley. But it had been a long time since any of that had happened.



“How's five for you?” Faith nodded and got his number and she agreed to call him later that week for directions.



*****



~Later that day~



Asher and Skye quietly went through the basement boxes.



“I know its here somewhere, Skye have you seen anything?”



Skye shook her head “No Ashther.” Asher smiled, the little girl had a horrible lisp and everyone laughed whenever she would say his name.



“Here it is. Skye come here, these are your moms.” Asher waited for Skye to settle onto his lap and he flashed the light on the picture. It was taken of Raya and Faith one day not long before they had gotten pregnant. They were sitting on the steps of the Summers house, Raya had her arms around Faith and they were both smiling broadly.



“See, I told you I would find you a better picture.” He looked down as she smiled and pointed to Faith. “Yea that’s your mama Faith, and this…is your mama Raya….see?” Skye smiled but he knew she didn’t really get it yet. A couple more years’ maybe.



TBC



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