Equinox - Prologue

Chapter 2

The drive to the cottage was a long one. Especially since Giles refused to have any music in the car. His excuse being that he wanted to enjoy the scenery and the quiet after their long flight.

“So what exactly are we gonna be doin?” Faith couldn’t take the silence much longer having already bitten her nails to bleeding point through boredom.

“Well the council haven’t told me much really, just that they have had some contact with an immortal, who said he knows how to find the object we’ve been searching for.”

“So why did we have to come? Couldn’t they just like tell you over the phone!”

“Ah. That’s the problem, the immortal is playing some sort of game, and will only give the clue to someone worthy.”

“Who’s that then?”

“Well, we’re not sure, as yet. He has some sort of trial, test, thing that they have to pass first.”

“Cool, sounds like I might get to liking it round here.”

The cottage set way back from the main road its only access a tree-lined dirt track. An old oak tree standing out from the others around it indicated the turn into the driveway. The cottage sat on a small hill, cosy with a thatch roof; smoke gently rose from the chimney. Hanging basket all shades of colour blossomed, Bedding boxes on the windowsills with roses and lavender added to the serenity of the view.

“Lovely.” Faith said sarcastically.

“You know Faith sometimes if you have nothing nice to say then maybe it best if you don’t say anything.” Giles didn’t appreciate her negativity at his home.

He drove slowly to the house hardly being able to breathe at the thought of being there. It had been so long he had forgotten how beautiful and peaceful it was, Since he had taken his calling as Buffy’s watcher he had rarely been home, the day’s, weeks, months, years all blending in to one eternity or so it seemed. Getting out the car he stretched taking in a deep lungfull of the fresh morning air.
Faith followed his lead only the fresh crisp air-cooled her lungs quickly causing her to cough and splutter.

“Oh.. I forgot you shouldn’t inhale to deep till you get used to it.” Giles sniggered to himself.

“Funny.” Faiths face twisting in pain as she tried to regain control.

An old grey haired heavyset woman, whose glasses sat perfectly on the end of her nose, greeted them at the door. Faith looked at her trying to decide if her and Giles were related in some way.

“Edith.” Giles ran to the door hugging the old woman like an over excited child. “How are you? The house looks amazing.”

“I’m fine thank you. How was the trip?”

“Long and tiring.” He stood smiling at her, now it was real he was home.

Faith stood by the car watching Giles in disbelief. His usual formal manner slowly disappeared the more of the air he seemed to be breathing the younger he appeared.

“Faith.. I’m sorry Edith I would like for you to meet Faith, Faith this is Edith my housekeeper.”

“Hey.” Faith stood with her hands in the pockets of her jeans kicking at the gravel beneath her feet feeling a little awkward at the little reunion.

“Hello dear, well you look starved, come on in I have some lovely hot stew ready for you both.”

Faith looked at Giles confused whispering to him “stew”

“Go on I’ll get the luggage.”

Faith stepped into the cottage through the vestibule into the kitchen. The aroma of the food making her stomach groan loudly, The large kitchen didn’t look like it belonged here from the outside the cottage looked so small, the old woman stood at the stove stirring the pot of hot bubbling food. “Don’t know what stew is but damn it smells good.”

The old woman smiled at her as she took two dishes from the cupboard. “Traditional recipe handed down from generation to generation, now you sit I’ll fetch it over.”

Faith sat at the breakfast bar directly infront of her, shortly joined by Giles who stumbled through the door with the cases inhand, Faith sat eating through her stew savouring every mouthful wondering if she could pick out any of the ingredients.

Edith constantly glancing over to Faith’s bowl and topping it up whenever she heard the spoon scrape the bottom.

“Least while you’re here we can get some meat on them bones of yours.” Edith flashed Faith a smile that would have continued the sentence something along the lines of because you’re to skinny and under nourished.

Faith returned the smile before shovelling another slice of buttered baguette into her mouth. After her fourth helping she was careful not to let the spoon hit the bottom of the bowl as she finished. “Well I’m stuffed, all I need now is t catch a few Z’s n I be five by five again.”

“Edith would you mind showing Faith to her room, while I finish.”

“No I would be happy to. This way.” The old woman scooted off through the doorway at the rear of the kitchen.

“Holler if ya need me G.” Faith grabbed her bag and followed.

“There are fresh towels in the bathroom for you if you need more they’re kept in the cupboard opposite your room.” Edith opened the bedroom door letting Faith enter first “There’s fresh linen on the bed but if you get cold there’s extra blankets in the closet.”

“Erm yeah cheers, think I’ll find my way round ok.”

“Very independent Giles told me you would be so how about I leave you to it and you can ask if you want anything.”

“Think me n you’ll get on just great Eady.” Faith walked to the bed bouncing it with her arms.

“Night, night Miss Faith.” Edith smiled playfully this time.

Faith grinned as Edith closed the door behind her. Throwing her bag onto the chair she checked out the bathroom, not huge but bigger than what she was used to at the motel. Too tired and full of food she lay on the bed, It wasn’t long before she was fast asleep.

She woke early the next morning wrapped in the duvet on the bed still wearing the clothes from the previous day. She showered and changed before going to find Giles, who sat in the kitchen eating breakfast drinking tea and reading the newspaper.

“If only I had my camera, the guy’s would crack up seeing you like that.” Faith grinned at the sight before her.

“What do you mean.” Giles looked himself up and down wondering what on earth Faith was talking about.

“You look like that English detective bloke, you know the one with the funny hat and the house coat n slippers on all the time.”

“I have no idea.” Giles looked puzzled.

“Big pipe erm..Got himself a side kick Wilson or Watkin or something.” Faith was chuckling at this point as the images of the detective and Giles merged in her head.

“You mean Watson and the detective is Sherlock Holmes, It’s was elementary my dear Faith.” Giles put on his queen’s English accent for her to add to the pictures in her head.

Faith held on to the work top in fear that her legs would give way she laughed so hard. Giles chuckled along with her before telling her there was fresh coffee brewed and Edith had left a plate of breakfast in the oven for her.

“Think I’ll have the coffee first let my jaw and cheeks stop aching some. You’re a funny man G must be something in this country air.”

“Thank you I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Faith helped herself to four mugs of coffee before seeking out the breakfast Edith had prepared for her. “Jeez G I’m gonna weigh over 300lbs if I keep eating this much. What is half this stuff anyway.”

“Full English with extras. Lets see you got bacon, sausage, eggs, mushrooms, waffles, fried bread, grilled tomato, onion rings and beans. There’s also toast on the rack over here with butter and marmalade.”

“Oh.” Faith never turned down a home cooked meal and if the stew last night was anything to go by she certainly was going to give this a try. “Mind if I turn on the TV.”

“No I was going out soon anyway, I will probably be gone most of the day I have a meeting with the watchers council. I have a fully equipped gym, with most of the weapons we have at home so I suggest you get on with some training work off that breakfast. Edith will be around if you need anything.”

“Yeah ok,” She said with a mouthful of food not really paying attention to him as she flicked through the channels looking for cartoons.

After the breakfast had settled and the boredom of channel hopping had set in she decided to check out the rest of the house. All of the rooms more or less how anyone ever meeting Giles would expect. The largest room housed his extensive book collection. Changing into her sweat pants and vest she made her way to the outhouse for her workout. Inside was set out like the backroom of the magic shop only this didn’t have Buffy scent lingering in the air. Making her training much more intense without the distraction. Training hard for a couple of hours she showered, changed, and went to the kitchen looking for more food.

“Surely you can’t still be hungry.”

“What can I say.. slayer metabolism and I think I burned off that delicious brekker you made me training so hard.”

“Sit down I will get you something.”

“I can do it.” Faith opened the fridge grabbing armfuls of snacks.

“So wha’d people do for fun round here.”

“You may be asking the wrong person there, I don’t think much has changed round here in fifty years or more.”

“Well what did Ripper used to do for entertainment?”

“We don’t use that name in this house young lady. You might find something in the garage to keep you entertained though.”

“K thanks.” Faith headed to the garage taking a few snacks with her.

Flicking on the overhead lights as she entered, her eyes scanned the room, a couple of vintage cars that looked like they had seen better days. Bits of old engine parts lay strewn around no order to anything housed here. “Oh yeah definitely Rippers domain.”

Her eyes found what they were looking for, leant against the back wall was a black trials bike, mud and dust covered it. “Jackpot.” Taking the keys from the box near the doorway she opened the garage doors and wheeled the bike outside. Closing the doors behind her she straddled the bike putting the keys in the ignition and checking the fuel gauge. Gripping the handles tight she tried the kick-start, the bike cough a little then died. She tried again this time the bike coughed a little longer spewing black smoke from the exhaust before dying on her. Not one for patience she cursed the bike and with all her slayer strength she kick the pedal once more. As if the bike knew what a bad temper she had it roared into life not daring to cut out again. Faith twisted the throttle to clear some of the remaining dust from the engine. Flicking the gear into first she wheel spun the bike down the driveway and over into the woods and fields beyond.

It felt like years since she had rode a motor bike but she soon got the feel for it again, twisting her way through the trees. Using bumps in the fields and hills to perfect her jumps. When she had enough fun she rested on a pile of rocks on the top of a hill overlooking the village below. Smoking her cigarettes and enjoying the peace and quiet that she only ever got if she rose early in the morning to catch the sunrise. The pounding of a horse’s gallop echoed through the silence disrupting the tranquil setting. Looking around she saw the black steed and its rider thundering up the hill toward her. Pulling up the horse at the last minute the rider looked out over the scene as if she hadn’t seen Faith sat there.

Faith was mesmerised by the beauty that sat on the beast. The long legs, slim body, well-toned physic and long dark plaited hair only added to the intriguingly natural beauty of the rider. Faith was drawn into her eyes the twinkle in them pulling her in like a black hole.

“Beautiful isn’t it.” The husky well spoken voice of the rider jolting her back to reality.

“Yeah.” Faith replied seemingly at a loss for words.

“ Nice bike.” The rider said as she turned the horse kicking it and galloping off into the distance.

Faith lit another cigarette as she stared out into the openness, Picturing the beautiful stranger that had entered and left her life so quickly.

Faith returned to find Giles pacing the kitchen.

“Where the hell have you been, and who gave you permission to take out the bike.”

“I’ve been out, as for the bike well it needed dusting off anyway. Jeez chill out.”

“Faith you can’t just take off like that. What if you had an accident?”

“I got bored you don’t exactly have much entertainment here G. I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere.”

“It’s just that.. Well..” Giles fiddled with his glasses “I’m responsible for you.”

“I didn’t get in any trouble.”

“I was worried about you not finding your way back. Things here are a little different to what you’re used to.”

“I know, can we stop with the lectures now.” Faith felt like a ten-year-old being reprimanded by her father.

Giles looked at Faith knowing in his heart he had no right to speak to her in the tone he had taken but he cared about her like a father. A responsibility he took willingly when she returned to SunnyDale.

“Faith I’m sorry, I had no right but I do care what happens to you.” He smiled hoping she would accept his apology.

Faith returned the smile and said, “I know.” Before leaving the room.

She felt angry that he had shouted after the closeness they had shared that morning but glad that he showed how much he did care for her. This was something no one had shown her before, at least not without an ulterior motive. She chose to stay in her room for a while giving Giles and Edith time to catch up. Drifting in and out of sleep the usual bad dreams disturbing her. She had managed to convince herself in reality that the mistakes she made in the past she could put right but her dreams never let her forget the terrible wrong she had done. The faint aroma of cooking food awoke her tired body could not deny the roaring hunger of her stomach much longer.

“Good evening, dinner won’t be long.” Edith was multi-tasking over the cooker and the kitchen sink.

“Smells great.” Faith slumped herself over the breakfast bar watching Edith work.
“You don’t gotta cook for me all the time you know.”

“I know dear but I love cooking and you love eating so I think this little arrangement could work out just fine don’t you?

“Not complaining, I just didn’t want you to feel like I was taking liberties.”

Edith knew all about Faith and her past. Giles had told her while pacing the kitchen that afternoon, none of it mattered to her Edith was old school. She could tell that no matter her past Faith was one of the good guys and from the manner in which Giles had taken responsibility for her meant he saw something in her that most would never take the time to wait and find.

“So did you go anywhere in particular this afternoon?”

“Not really just played around the fields on the bike. I did find a nice spot on the hill.”

“Ah yes. Overlooking the village, it so beautiful up there, you can really put a lot of things into perspective sat there in the silence.”

“Yeah.” Faith mind wandered off to the stranger.

“You didn’t see Croft Manor then on your travels?”

“What.. Sorry miles away.”

“I said you didn’t see Croft Manor on your travels then?”

“Erm no don’t think so.”

“Oh believe me if you had you would remember it. Eighty-three rooms in total. It did Lord Croft kept the place beautiful, his daughter lives there now, Don’t think she’s ever home much though takes after her father always jetting off to some foreign lands in search of this or the other.

“Oh yeah what she do?” Faith said a little more interested in the conversation.

“Well she collects artefacts and antiques and builds on her fathers collections. And when she’s not doing that she makes her own entertainment. Reminds me a little of you.”

Faith raised an eyebrow “Wha..dya mean?”

“Well she likes to live life to the full and very dangerously I don’t think there isn’t anything Lady Croft hasn’t tried at least once.”

“Might check it out then could be fun.”

Giles entered the kitchen his nose stuck in a book “What might be fun?”

“Oh nothing.” Faith got up to get a mug of coffee hoping Giles wouldn’t press her.

“Faith..What could be fun?” Giles put the book down and gave her the i want to know what your planning look.

“Edith was telling me about some of the sights. Thought I might check out Croft Manor you know something to tell the guys about back home.”

“I don’t think that would be such a good idea Lady Croft is very busy and some of the things in there are very very old and priceless. Besides she’s probably off treasure hunting somewhere in the world.”

Faith smirked “You mean like Indiana Jones and the crusade type of treasure hunter.”

“Yes I suppose like that. But a little more sophisticated and up to date.”

“Why don’t we just ask her to help if that’s what she does for a living. I mean well I’m a slayer and killing vamps is what I do!

“Lady Croft and I have very different methods of doing things, and although she has come across some of the demons in this world. I’m not sure she would be ready to witness the apocalypse first hand.”

They sat eating dinner together the three of them telling little amusing stories, A loud knock on the door startling them, “Ill get it.” Edith got up to answer the door. Faith leaning curiously over the table to get a better looks at the visitor.

“Is he home” The husky well-spoken voice of the stranger echoed through to the kitchen.

“Yes go through.”

“Ripper.” Lara tossed the helmet back through to the porch as she made her way round to Giles.

“Lady Croft.” Giles stood away from the table and hugged her “Well haven’t grown up.”

“Lady Croft! You really have been away to long Ripper what happened to calling me Lara.”

“A few things changed remember.” Giles didn’t like that she used his old name.

“So you two must be old friends then cos. no one else gets to call him that.” Faith sensed Giles unease.

“I don’t think I introduced myself properly earlier. I’m Lara Croft.”

“Faith.” She smiled trying not to drool at the same time.

“Sorry Rupert I always thought Ripper sounder better.” Lara looked a Giles for a second but it was her being drawn back to Faith.

“That’s fine Lara. Would you like some tea.”

“You know me better than that.” Her eyes never left the slayer. “I actually wanted to see if Faith here would like to come play.” Her eyes locked with Faiths teasing her.

“You don’t need me round here right G?” Faith said in more of a statement than a question tone.

“No I can manage.”

“Splendid. I’ll be sure to have her in bed by midnight.” Lara said playfully.

Faith could see the red colour flushing through Giles face at Lara’s comment.

Lara turned heading for the door. “Lets go then.”


TBC