SUNSET

Chapter Four



She snatched the cape from his hands, making sure to tighten her grip on his collar, cutting off his air supply.

“Speak to me you little thieving fuck, before I break you in two.”

Buffy shook off the languid stupor her body felt after such a powerful release, and rushed toward Faith. She was determined to protect the thief at all costs; one senseless death was enough. Faith only dropped the puny man after feeling the sting of Buffy’s boot on her temple, momentarily stunning her. Once the dizziness cleared and she could see again, the slayer faced her; and any semblance of her lover was nowhere to be found.

“No more killing Faith, I won’t let you harm him. Back off, please don’t make me!”

This was the blonde dynamo that had defeated a God, through sheer force of will. She was formidable on a bad day, but now she was pissed off. Vesper ran behind her, utilizing her sanctuary. His intuition told him this resolute young woman represented the balance of good in the world.

It was the ferocious gleam in her eye, a gleam reserved for warriors. There was a set to her jaw; that belied her small frame. He knew she would protect him with her life.

Faith groaned as she felt her head clear, “Damn baby, I thought it was good for you.”

Buffy was knocked off her feet by a blazing left hook, but she was trained for this, reg regained her balance within the fall. She used the momentum of her weight against Faith, sweeping her legs out from under her. The tables were turned quickly as Buffy jumped to her feet placing a heel in Faith’s throat.

“To me you’re just another vamp, wanna see?”

Buffy saw something in Faith’s face then, that gave her hope. One tear fell from eyes that had temporarily lost the coldness of the grave. Her heart softened at the sight and she removed her heel from its resting place.

“B, help me please. This…whatever it is took me over back there. When I saw how he was beating her, I…lost it. The son of a bitch deserved what he got.”

“That may be true, he was wigging out on her; but I can’t allow you to go around killing. It’s against everything a slayer stands for.”

“Um Buff, in case you haven’t noticed, I don’t think I’m a member of that club anymore.”

Buffy crossed her arms and glared down at the brunette, “I’ve seen you at your worst remember? I know you better than anyone, and you are every ounce a slayer; it’s in your blood.”

Faith looked into the small blonde’s eyes, *Damn, she wasn’t shittin’ me coz I rocked her boat, she really loves me*

“B, it has to be that gotdamned cape. Everything was fine until I bought it and wore it that night. And tonight, when that thug tried to run off with it, I felt something tugging at my gut.”

“Faith, You have my benefit of doubt this once. If I see you going all vampy on me again, there won’t be enough of you left to scoop up with a dustpan, understood?”

The rogue slayer spread her arms wide in submission, “C’mon B, what choice do I have? I’m laying flat on my back, I’m ass out here.”

The blonde’s previous experience in battle made her back up. Her reflexes were primed and ready for any untoward move from her Russet-haired counterpartuffyuffy looked at Vesper, who seemed afraid to leave the safety of her shadow.

“Ok you, whoever you are, what’s up with this cape?”

Vesper was about to answer her, but instead he cowered behind her shoulder. Faith stood before them both, staring intently into his eyes; issuing an unspoken threat.

Even in his position of weakness, he was still determined to take the
Cape. He squatted to where it lay at Buffy’s feet and clawed at the ground trying to reach it. She lifted him to his feet with two of her fingers to make a point.

“I didnay Iay I wouldn’t squash you little man, I just asked what you want with this cape?”

Vesper looked defiantly at Faith, “My Master requires its return, it was he that commissioned the garment.”

Faith’s eyes took on a dangerous quality and she bared her fangs, “That cape is mine, willing to die to get it?”

“Be careful how you talk to me, I am my master’s favorite and you will pay
for your insolence.”

Buffy, ever the peacemaker; stretched out her arm in front of Faith and gestured towards the cape.

“Tell you what, how about neither one of you gets this, until I figure out what’s going on here?”

The petite slayer never took her eyes off Faith, as she reached down taking the cape into her hands. It didn’t appear to be enchanted, but she had learned enough from Willow over the years to know, that looks could be deceiving.

Buffy examined the cape thoroughly and came away with a phrase written in fine gold lettering, it appeared to be Latin: CAVI CAUTUM TU RAPIO PESTIS VESTIMENTIUM,
followed by the initials JC and a strange symbol.

“So tell me Vesper, who is your master, and why does he want this cape so badly?”

“Is it wrong that a man should want back, that which was stolen from
him? All my Master requires is its return.”

*Here we go with the cryptic, I don’t want to thrash this little creep*

“I need to know why my friend has changed into that.” She motioned at Faith, who threw up her arms in a mock (I’m going to get you) pose.

“That I can not explain, it is my charge only to return the cape.”

Faith lunged at the tiny man, menacingly pressing one of her fingernails to his throat. They had all transformed into elongated, razor sharp points when she changed, and one swat would be lethal.

“Look you twerp, I didn’t ask for this to happen to me. I need to know what this is so I can reverse it. I’m thinkin’ you know exactly what’s going on here. I’ll gut you like a fucking fish, have no doubt!”

Buffy watched as Faith growled at the shivering waif, there was nothing wrong with a little good cop, bad cop. And brunette was so good at it she was allowed to continue. Spittle began to run from Vesper’s mouth and his eyes bulged with fear.


“If I tell you, he will surely kill me!”

Faith roared is fas face, “Well at least you’ll have time to run from him, I won’t be so kind.”

“I will never betray my master!”

Buffy’s patience was gone and her tone grewnousnous, “I’ll figure this out without your help, and when I finally meet your master; I’ll kill him too.”

She reached around Faith and lifted the little man until his feet dangled in the air.

“Go tell your master that I have the cape, and if he wants it; he’ll have to take it from my dead hands.”

The frightened man charged from the alley as soon as his feet touched the ground. Buffy had calculated roughly how much time they had left before sunrise. Now she would put hern inn into motion.

“Wait a minute B, first you wouldn’t pound him to find out what you need to know, and now you let him go? I never figured you for a pussy, slayer.”

The blow caught Faith in the mouth and drew blood, “And don’t you ever, I know what I’m doing. If Spike and Angel could track by scent, then so can you, and we still have a few hours before daybreak.”

She threw a piece of material ripped from Vesper’s coat at the brunette, knowing she could lift Vesper’s scent from it.

“Fetch bitch.”


TBC