Catch you on the flipside

Faith sat patiently at Rayas side, Red had done about every mojo spell possible with nothing. It had been almost two weeks and her mate hadn’t so much as twitched. If it hadn’t been for the even breathes Faith would have thought she were dead.



“Come on love, just wake up.” She whispered, brushing a lock of Rayas hair from her face.



She had divided her children among the pack, the twins both sets were with Dawnie, Brigitte and David were with Ash and Skye was the only one that refused to go and by proxy so had Ryan.



She had stopped letting Red into the house too especially after last time when she and Vicki had insisted that there was the possibility that Raya wasn’t going to wake up. That conversation had ended with Faith throwing the both of them out on their ear and punching a dent into the refrigerator door so hard that it no longer closed…they had been using duct tape.



She was so involved in her own world and when she looked back at Raya she was surprised to see something she hadn’t noticed before. At the corner of her jaw and brow a small net of veins were showing vividly against her pale skin. Only Raya hadn’t had those before and her skin was tan enough to make any LA beach bum proud.



Running a finger across the markings she felt a cold chill run down her spine. She had heard Skye when her daughter had told them of homicidal Bambi and Vicki had been analyzing blood samples but none of them had believed, had wanted to believe the virus had not only jumped species but could affect females now.



But, the memory of Giles as he succumbed to the virus was still fresh in her mind despite the years it had been. She clearly remembered the blood shot eyes, fangs like razors and how translucent the skin became.



By the time they had managed to make the decision to kill him his skin had been so pale it seemed like all his veins were visible. Faith shuttered at the memory of Buffy walking into the underground tunnels where Giles cage had been kept and walking out hours later, slumped and broken. Her clothes were filthy tatters and she dragged her sword on the ground behind her, its steel blade covered in viscous black blood.



Faith choked back a sob as she imagined the same thing happening to her Raya. She wouldn’t let it. Her wolf was stronger than this; they had fought so much and won. She knew Raya was sick, without Vicki’s medical input and anytime she knew they would come for her and for the safety of the pack she would be expected to put the safety of the school above Raya. And she knew that may be the case but killing her mate, the mother of her children. That was admitting that this nightmare of a virus really could touch home and she wouldn’t let it.





Refusing to think about her choice she stood and walked over to the computer desk. The last few years that two thousand dollar computer was nothing but an oversized paperweight. Taking a piece of paper from the drawer she sat and tried to think of what to write. Pictures of her children flashed through her mind, Skye in the backyard tumbling and running with her children, David her strong one patiently reading under a tree, patiently allowing his niece and nephew to climb all over him as if he were a toy, Garrett and Chaye at the river doing back flips with Raya from a small cliff and her baby Brigitte who was the sweetest child but lately Faith had noticed a new independence to her, she was growing up. Sighing sadly Faith took up a pen and started to write a letter to her children. She knew they wouldn’t understand and would fight her which is why she had to do this with no goodbyes.



Finishing the letter she carefully sealed it in the envelope and stood, staring for a moment at her mate she left her house and crossed the yard to Horus and Dawns. One true quirk about living with a pack of skin walkers, you were almost always tripping over cubs.



Stepping into Horus’s home she waited by the door and looked around the living room. Before the virus the home was a cozy rustic house with a large stone fireplace and a winding staircase, now there was meat smoking in the fireplace, spears and arrow heads were stored in a scatter of baskets around the living room. Charms and other small protection potions were strewn about the room in chaotic order.



Looking to the small table there was a small blue bottle that Faith recognized, it was a cloaking spell that she had used many times during the early days when they were still studying the new vampires. It would effectively cover her scent and make her invisible for at least two hours. Swiftly pocketing it just as Dawn walked in. Startled dawn took a deep breath and laughed.



“Startled me, who was it this time?” Dawn said teasingly.



“What?” Faith asked.



“The kids, who’s in trouble now? Mine or yours?” Dawns eyes danced kindly but Faith could see the stress and anxiety just underneath.



“Um, neither is Horus here?” Faith asked the letter in her pocket suddenly weighed a ton it seemed. She finger traced its outline carefully. Avoiding Dawns inquisitive look.



“Yes ill get him.” Dawn smiled and disappeared into the back of the house. Faith fell back against the door and tried not to panic. It was strange to think the giant of a man was technically her step-son and she had to now because it was the only way this was going to work. She had never pulled the card of his alphas mate before.





******************



An hour later





Horus looked over at Faith who was standing stiffly looking out across the landscape. Dawn had asked him to go see what Faith wanted when he had been eating, it would have been the first time in two days and he was starving. He felt somewhat bad because his mother was ill, he had been over every day since it happened but honestly his faith in Raya as an immovable force was stronger than his acknowledgment of her mortality.



“What is it Faith.” Horus finally asked, waiting for her to get around to it was taking forever. He could smell the fear and pain on his mothers mate, the scent of her love for Raya smelled different too, almost bitter and poignant. Sighing he ran a hand through his hair. Startled when Faith suddenly burst out laughing. “Faith?” Horus suddenly worried that perhaps she had had a mental break of some kind.



Horus watched feeling helpless as Faith laughed so hard tears streamed down her cheeks and she clutched her stomach and sank to her knees. As quickly as it began the laughing was replaced by sobs. Horus crouched beside her and unsure of what to do, he had never been affectionate with her, they had been more like buddies and buddies gave each other beer he had learned. Not hugs.



Carefully Horus pulled Faith into an awkward one armed hug. As usual he was wearing a pair of leather leggings and nothing else, he spent more time in wolf form these days than he had ever in his life. So he was even more surprised when Faith suddenly clutched to him and cried into his chest. Sighing he felt a small twinge of fear, he could count on one hand the times he had seen Faith cry.



“What is it?” Real fear in his voice. Horus waited until Faith had composed herself and pulled away.



“Sorry.” Faith sniffled, sloppily wiping her nose with her arm. “She’s got it.”



“Got what?” Horus asked, his heartbeat suddenly roaring in his ears. He knew it was coming but it didn’t seem real.



“The virus. Her skins going pale and…and it’s like Giles all over again.” Choking Faith failed at stopping fresh tears.



In stunned silence Horus knew it was the truth, even though all of his soul wanted to believe differently. “What do we do?

“

“Nothing. I’m going to do it.” Faith said, sounding more resolved than he had ever heard her. “I’m leaving my children with you. Raya and I are going to leave the school and were not going to come back. So I need you to be Alpha. I need you to take care of my kids. Keep them safe.” Faith said finally looking into Horus’s eyes.



Cold dread rolled through him without realizing it he began shaking his head in denial. “No, they need you.”



“I won’t be any good to them if Rays dead Horus, I won’t make it without her.” Faith exclaimed. “Ill die without her. I won’t let them see her like this.” She finished in a whisper.



“I…I will not let you die.” Horus spat. A slow rage expanding in his chest. “You are her mate it is your duty to protect her children”



“And what will happen when they see her when it happens? God knows I love her, she is my world, and our pack is my world. I have had over twenty years with her and it’s not enough, but this world has gone to shit and I will not let my children grow up knowing their mother became a monster. I am your Alphas mate and I’m giving you an order, do you refuse?” faith knew of all the skin walkers none followed the skin walker laws as faithfully as Horus. She felt guilty watching his internal struggle play across his features.



Finally after several moments Horus ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “Fine. Take her away but when it’s over you have to come back. Promise me Faith.” Horus stared her down.



“Alright, I promise.” Faith said, knowing it would be a promise she would break.



Reaching into her pocket she pulled out the letter and gave it to Horus. “Give this to Skye after I’ve gone.”



Nodding Horus tucked it onto the pocket of his leggings. “What now?” He asked numbly.



“I’m going to pack up the jeep and you’re going to drive us to Gypsies and leave us there.”



“Why gypsies?” Horus asked.



“It has a basement, and the warding spells around it don’t let day walkers in.” Faith knew this from a close call six months ago that had resulted in her and Red sprinting through the woods after they had crossed paths with a pack of hungry demons.



“Okay, let’s get this over with.” Horus said bitterly trying to make peace with what was coming.



Silently the pair walked out of the woods.





******************





Skye laughed as Adrian climbed her back and tried to grab her nose, playfully nipping his fingers her son squealed in delight and leapt off her back and ran in front and Skye before stopping and growled playfully.



Skye laughed and turned when she heard the Jeeps engine roll over and start. Frowning she turned to walk towards the car when Ryan walked out the back, her mate looked devastated and was holding a wrinkled piece of paper.



“…Skye.” Ryan whispered, Skye felt sick suddenly as she stalked toward her mate. Tayrn and Adrian stopped playing when they sensed their mother’s distress.



“What is it?” Skye asked when Ryan held out the paper. Skye took it and frantically read it.



Dear Skye,



I know you won’t understand why I am doing this. And I don’t expect you too. Raya is sick, she has the virus and not only does this mean the virus is mutating but that Raya will be forced to change. This isn’t much of an explanation and I’m sorry but now Horus is Alpha and you are head of the family. I will not let the children see her this way and I will not be coming back. Please forgive me Skye, I love you all.



Love your mother,



Faith



Skye staggered and fell back in shock.



“What…she can’t do this.” Skye whispered.





TBC



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