The Slayer

 

The Slayer

By Norwalker

Part 26 of a multipart story.

Summary: What if Faith came first? If she were the slayer before Buffy( if Buffy even became a slayer)? Just my take on what might have happened. AU, of course.

Pairings: Not sure yet. You might be surprised.

Rating: M( R )

Disclaimer: Characters depicted in this story, except for original characters created by the author, are the sole property of Mutant Enemy, Fox and Joss Whedon.

 

1

"Ok, Ok, Giles, enough!"

Faith looks at Giles wearily, her face reflecting the strain she's been under all weekend. She pushes some of the papers on the table aside, and lays her head on the table, covering it with her arms.

Giles, despite his own weariness, can't help but feel for his young charge. He walks over to Faith, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Faith. I know this must be hard for you, considering everything…"

She looks up at him, not raising her head off the table. "Considering? That's it? Considering?" She chuckles dryly, raising her head. "Gee, you tell me that the father of my girlfriend, the one person I really feel…" She trails off, licking her lips. "… hell, I should've known it. Right? I mean, the last person I felt like this for? Died while freebasing coke in a fucking crack house full of vampires. Now …shit… !" She stands up, walking away, needing to get some distance between them. "You're telling me that my girlfriends father is some kind of big bad, a monster. Perfect… just perfect…"

"Faith, that isn't exactly what I said…"

"I can connect the dots, Giles. Geeze! Something's been happening in Sunnydale not for months, not for years, but decades! You're thinking nearly 200 years. Now tell me, Giles. Except for demons, what's got a shelf life like that? Especially since you figure old Cornell is behind this whole crap… or whatever his … its… name really is." She leans against the bookshelf. All her energy seems to be gone.

"Faith, even if Cornell is something other than human, that's no proof that Cordelia  is… she might be completely human. He could've adopted her, using her as cover. She could be perfectly normal."

"Or, she might be just like him, a demon, playing a part…" She glares at the books in front of her. She grabs one, throwing it across the room in frustration and anger. "I… I just can't believe it. I was with her. I slept with her. I felt it. I felt the connection with her… she couldn't be faking it… she… dammit it was REAL! It FELT REAL!!!" She turns to him, her face red, crumpled, close to tears. "She can't be that fucking good an actor, Giles! I don't … I can't believe she's part of it…"

"There's no reason to believe that Cordelia is a part of this," Giles restrains himself from going to her. She needs to deal with this herself. " Nothing in my researches suggest she has any knowledge of her father's activities… she may be no more than what she appears: the daughter of the richest man in town…"

Faith turns back towards the shelf, trying to cover her intense turmoil. She stares at the spines of the books before her, the words meaningless.

It can't be true. She can't be… Faith shudders as she remembers the dream she had of Buffy. How intensely real it had seemed, how frightened she'd been… how she'd felt as she felt herself consumed… this can't be happening. I can't feel this way about a monster. She can't be a monster!

The pesky memory of how her slayer sense went crazy when she was near Cordelia at the dance the other night won't go away. It had to be all the vamps around… I just got confused, and thought…

"She can't be some monster, Giles. I just won't believe it," Faith turns around, her face morphed into a hard little mask. The only clue to her inner turmoil is her eyes. "I don't care what her 'father' is. She's not…"

Giles can't help noticing she seems to be trying to convince herself more than him.

"I only know she's very fond of you, Faith," Giles says quietly. "She proved that Saturday night. She could've denied the facts, said they were false or faked. But she stood up, and admitted her feelings for you, though it cost her significantly."

Faith moves away from the bookshelf, and walks back towards the table. An outward calm has settled over her. She seems to have composed herself, though Giles can still sense a tension just below the surface.

"I won't do it," Faith says simply.

"I don't understand."

"I won't kill her. If it comes to that, I won't. I can't. You'll have to do it, or Angel. But I can't…" She bites her lip, holding back the emotions. "… won't do it."

"Faith, I'm sure it won't come to …"

"I'm just telling you. I won't do it!" Faith snaps at him. She closes her eyes, recovering her calm. "So, what do I do now?"

"We have all this evidence that he's behind what's going on in Sunnydale," Giles takes her cue, getting back to business. "But I wish I had a clearer idea of why. What his plans are." He stops in front of her. "That's why I want you to go to his estate, maybe look around a little…"

"Oh, right. I'm to look for that secret journal where, like all good bad guys, he writes down his secret master plan."

"I really don't think the sarcasm is necessary, Faith," Giles admonishes her. "I'm simply saying we might be able to find some clues as to what he's up to. Why he's assembled together the things he has."

"I thought that was your job, Giles. The gathering of the facts, the putting together the puzzle. Then you bring me in, the muscle, to defeat the bad guy." She shrugs," then we party, right?"

"Faith, I know this is hard for you, and I wouldn't ask you to do it if it weren't important," Giles' tone turns a little severe. "like it or not, this is our mission, this is what we do. You have to put your personal feelings aside for the moment, and concentrate on the task at hand."

"I got it, Giles," Faith rises, her tone cold. "I know my job. I don't need the rah rah speech. Just kinda funny," Faith walks over to him, looking up at him. Her eyes are ice cold. "This is our mission, but I'm the one putting myself out there, while you're back here, reading the books and sipping tea…" Her nostrils flare. "And hey, if I get killed, no big. I mean, they'll just call another slayer…"

Maybe it's the lack of sleep, or the fact that his nerves are drawn tighter than a tuned violin's strings. Or maybe because he'd just been thinking about his wife or daughter.  But Faith's remark cut deep; deeper than it should've. Without thinking, he slaps her across the face.

"How dare you," He says, his anger rising.

Faith just stares at him, seemingly not feeling the slap. Then she touches her reddening cheek.

"Nice to know ya care, Jeeves," She mocks him. She smiles, but it never reaches her eyes. "I'll see ya."

She turns, and strides quickly towards the library doors. Reaching them, she stops and turns back.

"Gotta clue for ya, Giles," She calls across the library.

"What would that be?" Giles, his own voice taking on a chilly tone.

"You don't know nothing about what I feel," She turns, and bursts through the doors, walking away.

Giles watches as the doors slowly stop swinging, and frowns.

If only…

He turns, and walks towards the stairs.

 

2

 

 

"CRAP!"

Walter Kendall curses, and gets down on his knees, trying to retrieve his books and papers.

God, can you get any clumsier? Maybe if you didn't try to carry everything at once, dork!  Walter sighs, scrambling around to catch loose and flying papers. Shut UP! I don't NEED to channel Harmony! I live with her! Isn't that torture enough?

Walter is having a bad , very bad day. On top of a bad week, which leads to the bad month, and bad year and bad life he's lived up to now.

Can't I get cut a break here anywhere? Is it MY fault that my sister happens to be Harmony Kendall? Clueless cheerleader, walking disaster zone? I sure didn't want her as a sister… but every time she does something loony, guess who pays for it? Harm? Oh, no, Harm never pays. She's protected by the queen bitch herself. Oh no, it's good old Walt that pays, because it's EASY to pick on the geekazoid, right?

Walter isn't loving his life. From his point of view, his parents, Roger and Cynthia Kendall are vapid, unapologetic social climbers who early on hooked their star to the Chase wagon, pulling them along as that family rose in power and influence in Sunnydale. Harmony is their 'perfect' daughter, a chip off the old DNA block, perfectly attuned to their inanities. The suck up, clueless, vapid gene is well developed in her. She is the perfect daughter to Roger and Cynthia.

Walter, on the other hand, is the epitome of disappointment for the Kendalls. Not interested in social standing, or social anything, he pretty much goes his own way. The way of perfect geekdom.  Cursed with a curious mind and lack of social or physical grace, he never fails to let down his socially conscious parents. Their only hope, from their perspective, is that he'll someday grow out of his current obsession with all things scientific, lose his fascination with computers, and actually develop the ability to walk without tripping over his own laces.

It must be trolls, Walter concludes in his own, Tolkien-laced brand of logic, trolls must've switched me and the REAL Walter Kendall at birth. Somewhere out there is a clueless, perfectly groomed golden haired child stumbling about, confusing my real parents as to his lack of interest in anything but social climbing and parties. It's just not fair…

Finally gathering his mess together, he lifts it up, only to have some papers fly off from the bundle. Sighing, he weights the bundle with some books, and goes off in pursuit of the errant sheaves.

 Can it get any worse? All weekend it's been "Where's Harmony? Where's Harmony?" Like, I know? Not my fault that the bimbo without a brain got lost at the homecoming dance, and stayed lost! If, for once, she'd followed me, instead of being a stubborn cow, she'd be… here now. Not that I'm saying I want her here, just then everyone would LEAVE ME ALONE! God, if I hear "Where's Harmony" one more time…

Walter, seeing the bunch of pages he's lost, kneels down to pick them up. He's stopped when a well shaped foot, encased in a 500 dollar Gucci pump descends on the pile, holding them down.

His eyes travel up the perfect leg, encased in coffee colored stockings, up past the designer skirt and well filled out and obviously expensive blouse to a rather bemused face. The face of Cordelia Chase, looking down on him with some askance.

"Hey, Walter. Where's Harm?"

Walter explodes from his kneeling position, pulling the papers roughly from under Cordelia's heel, tearing the pages and almost tripping her in the process.

"God, I don't know! Ok? I don't know  where Harmony is. Why does EVERYONE keep asking me that? What do I look like, the Harmony Information Service? Go ask someone else, look around, open your eyes. Just quit asking me!!!!"

"Well, gee, don't have a Guernsey, ok? I just asked! You could've just said I don't know," Cordelia, recovering from her near flip, snaps. "Can you get much ruder?"

"Sorry," Walter grumbles, looking at the torn pages in his hand. "I'm just so tired of everyone asking me about HER! I mean, the jocks, when I couldn't tell them, decided to use me as a toilet brush, you know?" He looks at her, and realizes that she would never know. "Never mind, why am I telling you this? Just leave me alone. I don't know, and I don't care where she is!"

Grabbing his bundle, he starts off.

Cordelia's nose twitches. Something's definitely wrong with the geek here.

"Walter… Walter, wait!" Cordelia calls out, following him. "Geeze, stop, would you?"

"Why? So you can have some of your jock friends mess me up? No thanks, had my quota for today. Go pick on someone your own species, ok?"

"Hey, look, what's up? What's wrong? You're acting weird, even for you."

"Nothing!" Walter feels cornered, trapped. "Look, I'm sorry for what she did, ok? She made me help her. I didn't want to, but she… oh, screw it! Never mind. Just… leave me alone!" He breaks away.

Cordelia is having none of that, however, and hurries past him, turning and blocking his way.

"Walter, stop! What is it? What're you hiding?"

"I'm NOT HIDING ANYTHING!" He yells. Strangely, instead of galvanizing him, the yell seems to drain him of energy. He slumps, his shoulders rounding further. He looks at Cordelia with round eyes. "We… Harm and I… were running through the dark, trying to get out. She was giving me her usual ration of crap, and I guess I got mad. We kinda fought, and she slapped me. She called me names, and I… I ran away, leaving her. After that, I didn't see her. Nobody saw her. I…" he trails off, his voice going lower. "I think something happened to her… she …she's been gone all weekend, and today. The parentals are beside themselves…" His expression turns bitter. "yeah, and if I went missing, they probably wouldn't even notice…"

"Walter…" Cordelia reaches out, seeing his distress.

"No… no," he suddenly seems to come alive. "just go away, ok? You want to find her? Well find her. Just leave me out of it! Just leave me alone!"

Looking angry, frustrated and scared, Walter breaks away, almost running towards the school building.

Cordelia watches him go, a slightly puzzled look on her face.

"Well, he was freaked."

"Yeah, what did you do to him, anyway?"

Oh, just great.

Cordelia turns to see Willow and Xander standing behind her, looking off in the direction Walter disappeared. She frowns.

"You two? Again? Don't you have elsewhere to be?"

"She seems grumpy, doesn't she?" Xander turns to Willow.

"Yeah, must be what scared off Walter, " Willow turns to her. "Why're you picking on poor Walter, anyway?"

"It's Cordelia, Will," Xander shrugs. "Since when has she needed a reason?"

"True. Still, I thought maybe there was  a reason… not just a drive by ego crushing. So, was there a reason?"

Xander and Willow look at her, expectantly.

"Hey, I wasn't picking on him!" Cordelia complains, "And since when have I had to explain myself to you two?"

"You don't, I guess," Xander says, "but we thought you might be looking for Harmony…"

"Yeah, considering what she did to you at the homecoming dance Saturday…"

"God, I'm so sorry I missed that," Willow says, smirking. "But anyway, we thought we'd tell you…"

"… that he probably doesn't have a clue, since Harmony's been missing since Saturday night…"

"Well, Duh, I know that…" Cordelia says.

"But I guess it's too late to spare Walter… he might be upset, seeing how his sister is missing…" Willow says. "Kinda insensitive, don't you think?"

"Like, she'd notice?" Xander asks.

Willow shrugs.

Cordelia looks at the two of them, and shakes her head. Surprisingly, a smile breaks out on her face. It's a rather hard smile.

"You two," She almost chuckles, "… you're so smug, aren't you? Thinking you're better than me. Loving that I'm getting my 'comeuppance', right? Well, here's a clue. You're not! You're no better than I am!"

"Excuse me?"

"Is that so? At least I don't go around…"

"What, Xander Harris? You don't go around what? Gossiping about people? Give me a break. You both do, and if you're even the tiniest bit honest with yourself, you'd know that's true. You don't judge people? Please! You've been judging me and my friends for years. What do you really know about us?" She stands there, arms folded across her chest. "Well?"

Xander and Willow look uncomfortable. They look at each other, and then back at Cordelia. In turn, each starts to say something, then closes their mouths.

"Uh-huh. Oh, and you don't think you go around hurting people? Well, guess again, guys. Because you might think your little comments and snide remarks aren't noticed, but they are. You're as willing to tear someone down as any cheerleader or jock I've ever seen. So, don't feel so morally superior, guys, because frankly, you're not."

Willow and Xander stand there, stunned. Their mouths are slightly open.

"Would you look at the time?" Cordelia says, consulting her watch. "Gotta run. Nice chatting with you!"

Cordelia turns, and starts towards the school buildings. She gets about halfway when she turns around, to see Xander and Willow following a discrete distance behind. She stops, putting her hands on her hips.

"Where do you think you're going?" She stares at them. "Are you following me?"

"What?"

"No, why would we follow you?"

"We… we just have to get to class," Willow points at the buildings.

"Find another way," Cordelia says firmly.

"But…"

"Go on, go!"

Willow and Xander look at each other, puzzled. Then they hesitantly turn, and start walking in another direction.

"Geeks, I swear," Cordelia turns, and quickly strides through the doors of the building.

Reaching the hallway, she makes her way towards her locker. She stops dead when she sees something written on it. In large, bold letters:

DYKE!

She stands there for a moment, her confidence draining out of her. Her shoulders slump, and she turns away, biting her lip. Feeling the hot tears coming, she clenches her fists, trying to regain control.

It's just stupid  losers who did that. They're nothing, they mean nothing. It means nothing.

But it doesn't make it better. The word is burned in on her brain.

 

DYKE!

Feeling suddenly shaky, she turns seeing some students wandering in. She hurries away before they see the word, and of course, start laughing at her.

She turns the corner, desperately looking for a bathroom or somewhere where she can be alone for a moment. Somewhere to pull herself together.

She can't believe how much seeing that painted on her locker hurt.

DYKE!

God, where are the bathrooms in this place? What if someone had an emergency! She feels her breathing becoming irregular, her breath hitching in her lungs. She knows a cry when it's coming on, and the last thing, the VERY LAST thing she wants is for someone to see her crying. I won't! I won't give them the satisfaction! I'm Cordelia Chase! They can't hurt me, they can't touch me!

Yet, despite her toughness, she can't deny the tears starting to blur her vision. God, I won't do this here! I won't! Through the thickening haze, she sees the doors the library ahead. Faith! Maybe… god I hope she's there. She's gotta be there, she works there, right? Maybe she'll… god, I just need her to…

She needs to be held. If ever in her life Cordelia needed to be held, now was the time. Held and told it's all right, everything will be all right.  I just gotta get there…

She pushes through the doors, rushing quickly into the library. She expects to see Faith, as usual, occupying the rear reading table, a stack of books beside her, reading.

Instead, she sees no one. The table is empty; no books, no Faith.  She stands there, as if not believing her own eyes.

God, where is she? I need her, where the heck IS she?

"Can I help you, Cordelia?"

Cordelia almost jumps out of her skin. She whirls around to see Giles standing behind the check out counter.

"Giles! What're you doing? Where'd you come from?"

"I was sorting some files…" He points below the counter. "When I heard someone enter. So I stood up…"

"Well, don't sneak up on people like that!"

"I'm very sorry if I startled you, Cordelia," Giles removes his glasses and cleans them. "Was there something I could help you with?" He replaces his glasses.

"Faith? Where is she? I need..  is she around?"

"I'm sorry, but I sent Faith out on an errand. Can I help you?"

"No, I just… really needed to talk to her… will she be back soon?"

"I really don't know, " Giles scrutinizes her, noting her coloring and expression. "Are you sure I can't assist you?"

"No, no, I just really needed to… I better go. Gotta get to class…"  Distracted, Cordelia starts towards the door.

"Did you want to leave a message for her?"

"No! I… bye… gotta go!" Cordelia quickly exits, the doors swinging behind her.

Strange girl…

Sighing, he lowers down to continue filing.

 

Cordelia sees the crowd has built up in the hallway. She starts towards her locker, then stops. No way, no way I'm going back there. Not now, anyway.

Today has just been too much for her. All day, it's been whispers and laughter. Whenever she approached a group, it would suddenly go quiet… only to pick up again after she passed by.

And the stares. They were the worst. She felt like the display of a particularly ugly and strange looking bug.

I can't do this. I'm done. I gotta get outta here…

She weaves her way through the crowd, making for the exit. As she passes her locker, she sees a group of her friends standing around it, laughing. Ducking her head, she pushes on, finally breaking free of the crowd.

Looking around, feeling paranoid, she notices no one looking at her. She slips quietly through the exit.

 

 

3

 

 

Buffy stands hesitantly before the motel room in front of her.

God, this place is a dump. What's he doing here? She wrinkles her nose, as if smelling something bad. Maybe I got the wrong place…

She takes the note she wadded up in her jeans, and smoothes it out, reading the contents again.

Buffy,

I need to see you. It's important. I'm staying at the Sunnydale Star Motor Inn , room 7. Please come as soon as you can

Merrick

Buffy looks again at the motel sign, and sighs. This is it.

Sighing, she knocks on the door, and folds her arms, waiting.

Inside, she can hear someone moving about. Then there's a pause, followed by the click of locks being opened, and a chain being pulled.

The door opens wide, and there stands Merrick, looking a little flushed.

"Buffy, come in. I wasn't expecting you so soon," Merrick steps back, waving his arm to invite her in. "Aren't you supposed to be in school?"

"You're note said come ASAP. So, I did."

Buffy walks in, and frowns a little. The place looks like a tornado hit it, food containers and papers and junk everywhere. She discretely moves some stuff off an easy chair that looks like it was purchased direct from the Goodwill, and sits, facing the bed.

"I meant, once you got out of school. I didn't mean for you to skip school… "

"Believe me, there's nothing in school I'm gonna tragically miss," Buffy says, with some disparagement. "and your note said it was important…" Her face hardens. "Did you find out something about Angelus? Maybe find him so I can stake his skanky ass?"

"Well, I'm positive he's here," Merrick says as he walks towards the bed. He notes the magazine laying open, and quickly closes it, moving it from sight. "However, as to where he is right now…no, I haven't found his nest… but I have more disturbing news…"

"More disturbing than not knowing where he is so I can dust him?" Buffy's voice is harsh. "That bastard has to die, yesterday. Every second longer that … thing… lives is  an insult. I want him dead, now!"

"Patience, Buffy!" Merrick chides her. "We'll get him, but you have to be patient. This isn't any ordinary grunt and growl vamp we're talking about. Angelus is crafty. We have to plan this right, or he might slip our grasp."

"Patience my butt!" Buffy fumes, standing up. "He's a vampire, right? He sucks blood, he kills people, and if I stake him, he's Hoover material. What's the big?"

"The 'big' as you put it, is that it seems he's working with someone else…"

"Ok, another vamp. Big whoop. It's a two for one sale; dust one, get one free. So?"

"Not a vampire, Buffy. A human… at least, I think it's a human. And that can spell some trouble for us…"

"I don't care if he's working with Mother Teresa! If this moron gets in my way, I'll just take care of him or her too…"

"Buffy, we're not vigilantes! We don't take the law into our own hands…" Merrick looks at her severely. "There are laws to deal with the matter. And anyway, from what I've heard, it's not so simple."

"Ok, no killing the moron, but I'll rough him up a little, and you can turn him over to the police…"

"That's just it, Buffy. I don't know if he, or she, is aware of Angelus' true nature. From what I hear, Angelus has duped this individual, making him believe that he is the good guy…"

"Exactly how stupid is this 'tard, anyway? Angelus is a vampire. Everyone knows vampires are evil…"

"I told you, Angelus is clever. He's convinced this person that he has a soul…"

Buffy looks at Merrick, and bursts out laughing. " A soul? C'mon, who'd be stupid enough to believe a vampire with a soul? That makes as much sense as a fish needing a bicycle!"

Merrick sighs. "Buffy, you have to learn that everything in this world isn't black and white. There's lots of gray area out there. And that makes for doubt, and Angelus is perfect at exploiting doubt. He's a consummate actor, and can play the part of a ' tortured, guilt ridden' vampire to perfection. This isn't the first time he's pulled this stunt. He needs this person to keep an eye on things when he can't… like now, during the daylight."

"It still doesn't wash, Merrick," Buffy says, some doubt in her voice. "Why would a civilian want to help a vampire, soul or not? Never mind, the fact that most people don't believe in the pointy tooth crowd. Why would he bother?"

Merrick hesitates. He looks uncomfortable.

"What? What aren't you telling me?" Buffy presses him.

"Nothing…" Merrick looks away. "Maybe I've said too much. Maybe I shouldn't have told you…"

"Merrick! For god sakes, you're my watcher! You're supposed to keep me informed on things. How can I do my job if I don't know what's going on? What's going on? What aren't you telling me?"

"Buffy, I'm not absolutely sure of my information. I might be in error…"

"So what? If things change, cool. But leaving me in the dark totally? Is only going to get me killed. Is that what you want?"

"No, of course not," Merrick looks at her with a concerned expression. "Thing is, Buffy. This person… helping Angelus? Isn't a civilian."

"What? What're you talking about?"

"It distresses me, to think that a member of the council could be fooled so easily…"

"Wait a minute… you're telling me a member of the watcher's council is helping Angelus?" Buffy thinks for a moment. "Wait, that doesn't make any sense, either. Why would a watcher be here, anyway?"

"Sunnydale is located on top of an active Hellmouth, Buffy. The council keeps a member on or near a Hellmouth, to keep track of any strange occurrences or patterns that might happen. That way, we can keep abreast of the enemy, so to speak, and bring in the slayer if need be…"

"Ok, I'm guessing that makes sense…" Buffy still sounds doubtful. "But what the heck is a Hellmouth, anyway?"

"It's a mystical portal, between our reality, and the various hell dimensions that abut our plane. Essentially, it's a gateway between the dimensions. Fortunately, for mankind's sake, it's shut tight most of the time. Still, it poses a potential threat…"

"… and that's why you have a watcher on hand. In case something starts to happen?"

"Yes, something like that…"

"But that doesn't explain why any watcher in his right mind would team up with a vampire… soul, or no soul…"

"Angelus has convinced the watcher that there's a great danger coming. Something along the lines of an apocalypse… and that he can help avert this danger…" Merrick shakes his head. "Of course, it's nonsense, absolute fiction… but the watcher is convinced that Angelus is a friend… and he's sided with Angelus."

Buffy is holding her head, as if it hurts. "How can anyone, especially a watcher, be so stupid as to believe something like that?"

"I told you, Buffy. Things are not always black and white. Certain prophecies do predict a coming apocalypse… some even making vague reference to  "A land in the west, yet unknown, from which the doom will come…" Considering most of these were written hundreds, if not thousands of years ago, that would be just vague enough to indicate America as a potential place of the end of days."

"So, there might actually be an apocalypse coming?" Buffy looks pained.

"Yes, and no."

"Ok, can you make that any more vague?"

"What I'm saying is, most of the prophecies that point to such an apocalypse have been debunked. Most are thought to be the ravings of lunatics."

"Most?"

"There are a few that aren't totally discounted… but still, the chances of an actual apocalypse arising from here are slim…"

"But this watcher… this one helping Angelus… thinks they might be legitimate? Why?"

"Well, Buffy…" Merrick again looks pained. "We fear that perhaps, the mystical forces of the Hellmouth might've had an effect on his mind. That, and a personal tragedy he suffered years ago… may have caused him to … well, rebel isn't exactly the right word. But we feel he might not be reasoning quite rationally…"

"You're saying he's a loon…as I said, like the type that would believe a vampire could actually be a good guy…"

"That's harsh, Buffy. He's lost his family…and Angelus has promised to help him find the creature that did it…"

Buffy's face softens, just a hair. "Ok, I can see how perhaps that might affect his judgment…I can understand how he feels…" She struggles a bit, and continues. "But that doesn't excuse him…"

"I understand, Buffy. But you see we can't just treat him like a criminal. After all, Rupert Giles has a reputation in the council…"

"Rupert Giles? That's his name?" Buffy jumps on it. She thinks a minute. "Wait a second, he's the librarian at Sunnydale High. I was introduced to him this morning…"

"Damn!" Merrick curses himself. "I didn't mean to name names. As I said, my information isn't complete. You can't jump to conclusions here, Buffy…"

"He's the school librarian. You're telling me he's a watcher, too?"

"Yes… being the librarian is a cover, Buffy. It would be suspicious, him being here, otherwise. He has to blend into the community to keep his mission covert…"

Buffy sits, looking a little weary. She rubs her temples. "This is beginning to sound like a cheap action movie…"

"There's more…"

"Why did I know you were gonna say that?"

"Thing is, Buffy, we have to be careful about approaching Mr. Giles. Confronting him with his delusion, so to speak. You see, he's convinced…" Merrick pauses for effect,"… that he's the watcher for the current slayer…"

"WHAT!" Buffy's eyes almost seem to pop.

"Angelus, as I said, is very clever. He's enlisted what we think is a shape shifting demon to pose as the slayer…"

"Whoa… you mean there's something … a demon… running around looking like me?!?!"

"No… I mean, posing as the slayer just before you…" He looks grave. "You remember you were called quite suddenly…"

"Yes…"

"We think Angelus might've had the real slayer killed, and substituted the demon to pose for her… so, as far as Mr. Giles knows, this demon is the slayer…"

"But… I'm the slayer! " Buffy almost yells it out.

"Yes, we know that, but Rupert Giles doesn’t. And considering his mental condition, he might be disposed to think you're the fraud…"

"Ok, now I know I'm in an action movie. This is beyond ridiculous! We have to …"

"Buffy, despite his…problems, Rupert Giles is still respected in the Watcher's council. He has a lot of powerful friends. And frankly, as of yet… no one but a few of us believes that this 'slayer' of Giles is anything but the genuine article. Until we can prove the old slayer's death, we have to come up with another explanation for you…"

"Like what? I popped out of a crackerjack box or something…?"

"I don't know yet!" Merrick snaps, a little irritated. "I have to think about it, meet with Mr. Giles… see what I'll be able to tell him ,while not giving away your true mission here. I don't want you to get killed, ok?!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Merrick," Buffy says contritely. "I know you're just trying to help. It's just that I want Billy's murderer so badly…"

"I know, Buffy. I do to. I liked Billy. And we'll get him. We just have to be careful for now. So, and I can't put this strongly enough, for now, let NO ONE know who you are, ok?"

Buffy nods. "OF course, got it. But…" She looks at Merrick, "I can't just sit around on my hands. I gotta do something…"

"I know… and I have no problem with you looking around, searching for Angelus' nest… just be careful, and avoid running into this 'slayer' of Rupert's. at least, until I have a chance to make him aware of your presence here…"

"Ok, ok, I'll be careful. Not an idiot. But, try to do it quick, ok? I don't wanna have to be skulking around too long. I don't do skulk too good…"

That's a fact, Merrick thinks, that would take brains, my dear. Something you seem to be sadly lacking in.

"I promise, Buffy. I'll make it known as quickly as I can. For now, lay low, ok?"

"Ok…" Buffy gets up, heading towards the door. "Guess I better get going…"

"Ok, and don't miss anymore school, ok? I don't want you getting in trouble, calling attention to yourself."

"Right, no worries. Going back now, ok?"

"Good."

And if you believe that, I've got a great bridge in San Francisco I'd love to sell you, Buffy thinks. Merrick. Good guy, not so tops in the brains department.

"I'll see you soon, Buffy."

"Right, bye!"

Buffy exits quickly through the door.

Merrick waits awhile, then picking up his cell phone, presses a number on his speed dialer.

"Hello? Yes, it's Merrick. Yes, I've talked to her… and she's bought it, hook, line and sinker… yes… ok, I know the next part, don't worry. Right…right… bye."

Merrick closes the phone, a small smile gracing his face. He's just thinking of all the money that will soon be his.

He leans back on the bed, and picking up his magazine, begins to peruse it.

 

 

4

 

"Ok, what's wrong with this picture?"

Faith is sitting, rather uncomfortably, up a tree overlooking the Chase estate. She's been in the tree for a good half an hour or more, and she's puzzled. Something's very wrong here.

Ok, this guy is rich. Billionaire boy's club rich. If he owns half of what Giles showed me, he's rolling in it. So, where are the security people? I figured he'd  have his own little private army around the house, keeping the locals out. But I've been sitting here forever, and not one dude with the wire in the ear and mirror sunglasses has shown up. What's the deal?

Slithering out of the tree, down to terra firma, she scans the yard again. Ok, Faith. It's your lucky day. Why're you looking  Sea biscuit in the mouth, huh? You wanna get caught?

Faith didn't like being here. She thought, despite his evidence, Giles was wrong. Not saying Mr. Chase is any saint, but some kind of … c'mon, that's just nuts. Giles is just seeing demons where there aren't any. I mean, some big daddy demon controlling the town? Can you say, paranoid?

Still, Faith was uneasy. Something was going on in Sunnydale. The weirdness, and no one seeming to notice. The various attacks, especially the one at school the other night. Oh, and the weird dreams, and the weirder thing that happened Saturday night? Forget about those? Something's going down, but that doesn't mean Cor's dad is behind it, does it? I mean, that would mean, if he's not exactly human…

She doesn't want to go there. She really doesn't. Just like, she doesn't want to be here. It's too creepy… way too creepy for her.

Fuck, let's just do this. Get it done. A little B&E, snoop around, and prove that Giles has been listening to Art Bell way too much…

Cordelia starts towards the house, striding quickly and purposefully. She's determined to get in, look around, and get out before anyone can catch her. Especially Cordelia. Yeah, how'm I gonna explain that one, huh? 'Oh, sorry, hon. But Giles thinks your daddy is some big bad, and hey, I'm here to get the goods.' Oh yeah, that'll be good… uh huh…

The closer she draws to the house, however, the slower she moves. She feels almost as if she's moving through Jell-o. Each step closer is harder, and harder. And she can't quite think straight. Her mind seems all fogged up, like the beach in the morning.

Finally, still a good distance from the main house, she just stops. She looks around, her brow furrowed and frowning.

Why am I here again? I don't… want to be here… this is …wrong… something's very wrong… I shouldn't be here… this… No! NO! Giles wants me here… but… I should go…

She turns around, and starts away. Then she stops, again looking confused. Where the hell am I going? I need to do this, get it over with. Why am I going back to the wall? What…

She turns around, and starts towards the house.  Again, after just a couple of yards, she stops.

I… can't… think… all I know is that this is… wrong…

Suddenly, without warning, she feels something grab at her legs. Her heart starts to pound in her chest when she looks down and realizes she's sinking into the earth.

"What the fuck!?" She cries out, struggling to free herself. It's useless, however. The ground around her is like concrete, and she's stuck… and slowly sinking. The earth is up to her knees, now. Panicking, she starts to struggle harder.

"That won't help you, you know." A voice comes from behind her.

"Help… please help me… there must be like quicksand here… " Faith, not seeing the man, only hearing the voice, calls out. "Be careful, you might get caught too…" She sinks lower… now she's up to her waist.

"I wouldn't worry about that, too much. That isn't meant for me, only you."

Faith feels a chill in her heart. She tries to look around, but she's halfway up her arms now, and is stuck fast.

"What… what're you talking about?"

"Oh, dear. I thought I was rather clear. This little trap is for you… and you just walked right into it… " The voice moves around her, and Faith sees a tall man with dark hair, dressed in a business suit, standing in front of her.

In front, and because of her sinking into the earth, somewhat above her. He squats down so they're more level.

"Are you comfortable?" He asks, solicitously.

"Are you nuts? I'm sunk in the earth here. Get help!"

"Why would I want to do that? I put you there." He shakes his head. "You're not awfully bright, are you? I told you, this trap is for you. I guess listening isn't one of your many talents. A pity, that."

"Who in the fuck are you?" Faith struggles, trying to dig her way out.

"Why are you doing that? You can't get out. Not until I let you out. The more you struggle, the more you sink…" he grabs her, pulling her back up. She's sunk to her neck. He pulls her so she's a little higher up. "Wouldn't do for you to sink and smother, now would it? At least, not yet." He smiles at her.

"Ok, I'll repeat myself. Who in the FUCK ARE YOU?"

"You are the feisty one, aren't you? Good…" He pats her on the head. "Well, I guess I should introduce myself." He stands up, towering over her now. "My name is Cornell Chase.  And you, I would guess, are Faith. Is that right?"

"Bingo. And if I ever get outta here, I'm gonna wipe that smile off your face, you  smug bastard."

"Oh, I hardly think that'll happen. Would you like to try?"

Suddenly, Faith finds herself out of her earthy prison. She looks at the man, who is standing smirking at her, and then jumps at him.

And through him, hitting the ground behind him.

"Tsk, tsk. Now, didn't I tell you so?" he turns around, and grabbing her, sets her on her feet. "Don't you feel rather stupid now?"

"I feel… " Faith doesn't finish. She kicks out, and again, goes right through him. "Goddamn it, hold still!"

"You're rather the stubborn one, aren't you?" Cornell chuckles. "You can't touch me, you fool. Didn't I tell you that?"

"Ok, so if I can't touch you, why the thing with sinking me in the earth?"

Cornell shrugs. "I just wanted to. It amused me, and anyway, I'm not a fan of pointless violence…"

Suddenly, Faith is once again trapped in the Earth.

"… it's so pointless, don't you see?"

"What the fuck is going on? Who… what are you?"

"I hardly think you have the mental capacity to grasp exactly what I am. Why don't you just consider me a human, for now… "

"Yeah, right. And I'm the tooth fairy."

"I hardly think so. After all, the tooth fairy has a purpose. To ease children through the pain of losing their baby teeth. You, on the other hand, have very little use, as I can see…"

"You don't know the half of it, pal…"

"Au, contraire, ma chéri, I know the whole of it. You're the slayer, right? The chosen one… let's see, how does that little ditty go, again? ' The one girl, in all the world, with the power to fight the vampires, and the forces of darkness…" rather melodramatic, and kind of puffery, don't you think? Considering…" he shrugs, indicating her predicament.

Faith glares at him. Inside, her heart is pounding in her chest.

"Now, now, ill temper simply won't do. I'm really trying to be nice here. After all, you are trespassing on my property. I'm rather the injured party here, in the eyes of the law…" He squats down in front of her. "Never mind that you're rather taking advantage of my daughter…"

"Ok, pal, really not following you here…"

"Oh, don't be dense, child. I know very well what you and Cordelia are up to. I'm not a fool, you know."

"You're losing me here…"

Cornell proceeds to describe in excruciating detail Cordelia's and Faith's last sexual encounter. Faith feels the blood drain out of her face.

"So, you see, young lady, I have every right to be upset with you. To do awful things to you…" he leans in closer. "I could even kill you, and be justified, I think…" he reaches over, and touches her head with his hand.

Violent scenes of her death, including dismemberment, evisceration and rape/ torture flood through her head. The sights, sounds and smells are so real, so close, she feels as if she's lived through each one of them. She almost blacks out from the experience.

She's brought back to consciousness by a couple of hard slaps across the face. Cornell is staring at her intently.

"Listen to me, you little fool. I know why you're here. You're here to find some evidence about what I really am. And hopefully, to find out my plans. Like all of your species, you hurry and scurry around, looking here and there, trying to save your pathetic hides. Well, I'll give you this. Congratulations, you found me out. I'm the bad guy." He smiles evilly at her.

"So, what's your plan? Gonna destroy the world, or something?"

"Oh, no, no, no! No telling now. That would ruin the surprise, don't you see? And what fun would it be, if not a surprise. No, sorry… I'm not telling."

"Well, hell. You're gonna kill me, who'm I gonna tell?"

"Oh, no, dear girl. You have it all wrong… but then, why should I expect differently. I'm not going to kill you… not yet, anyway…" He smiles broadly. "You'll have plenty of time to go blabbing things to your watcher. So, for now, I think I'll just keep my cards close to the vest, so to speak."

Faith eyes him carefully.

"Know what I think?"

"Oh, do tell. This should be amusing."

"I think you're scared. Oh sure, you're some kinda big baddy, I'm guessing, but frankly, I don't think you're anywhere near as sure what you're gonna try to pull off is gonna work. So, you're playing games, trying to frighten me and Giles off… cuz frankly, if we knew what you were up to, we'd be able to stop you. I think you're running scared, and that's what this is all about…"

Cornell laughs heartily.

"I have to admit, you're rather amusing. I'm almost going to regret having to kill you… almost… you are rather fun, in a crude, limited mentality way…"

Suddenly, Faith is pulled from the ground. She's lifted high, very high above the estate. Just as suddenly, the support vanishes.

She falls, feeling the wind rushing past her. Her ears ache, and she braces for what is probably going to be fatal impact.

And just as suddenly,  she stops. She hangs less that 5 feet off the ground. Her heart nearly stops right then.

Almost gently, she floats to the ground. She finds herself standing upright, facing Cornell.

"Now, wasn't that fun? I know I had fun. But, I'm getting bored now, so I think I'll just be toddling off…" He gives her a once over with an amused expression on his face. "Oh, and if you want some advice?"

"What? Get out of town?"

"Oh, no, much too late for that. Actually, I was just going to say, duck…"

"Huh?"

Faith feels a hand on her shoulder, and she turns.

The last thing she sees before the world goes black is a fist slamming into her face.

That last thing she hears? Mocking laughter fading slowly as she loses consciousness.

 

To be continued.