Dark Moon: Pt One - Waxing Moon

The leaves rustled gently in the trees as a soft breeze blew through the branches. Up above, the full moon hung like a milky globe.

“Oz will be safe in his cage tonight,” Buffy thought as she walked quietly through the graveyard.

Then she heard a sound to the left of her. A slight whimper, hardly even audible. Her pulse quickened, and she quickly moved towards the sound. She ducked between the low hanging branches of two trees, and emerged into the open, where the full moon illuminated the landscape brightly.

Between to grave stones stood a man and a woman. The man had his hand tightly entwined in the woman’s long hair, and had yanked her neck back. He opened his mouth and slowly leaned towards the woman’s exposed throat.

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you to respect the dead?” asked Buffy loudly, causing the man to jerk his head up and look at Buffy.

His eyes flashed from his distorted Vampire face. “Slayer...” was all he managed to hiss before Buffy attacked.

She leaped towards the Vampire, grabbed him around his throat and pulled him to the ground. The woman managed to untangle his fingers from his hair, then jumped up and ran from the cemetery. Buffy got back onto her feet, pulled her stake from her boot, and lunged at the Vampire again, this time armed.

The Vampire grabbed her arm and flung her to the ground, and jumped upon her. Scrambling out from beneath him, she turned and kicked him in the head, temporarily stunning him.

“Next time, get a room!” she growled, as she plunged the stake into his heart. Seconds later, the Vampire had exploded into dust.

Buffy paused a moment to catch her breath. Then listened carefully to the night. Aside from the crickets chirping, it was silent.

“That’s the way I like it,” thought Buffy.

Suddenly, a soft feminine voice called out, “Excuse me, Miss, I was hoping you’d be willing to help me?”

Buffy whipped her head around to the direction of the voice, and saw a teen-aged girl emerge from behind one of the larger statue-like monuments. Buffy’s hand tightened around her stake in anticipation, as the pale figure moved closer. The dark haired girl walked with fluid motions, and was dressed in a gothic-style crimson dress. Almost everything about her said ‘Vampire’ to Buffy. The girl moved closer, and Buffy readied herself to attack.

“I’m so sorry to bother you,” the girl said in a soft voice, “But I was hoping...”

“That I could spare some blood?” Buffy interrupted, “Not a chance!”

With that, she jumped, and brought her stake down towards the girl’s heart. As quick as she moved, the other girl was quicker, grasping the wrist of the hand that held the stake.

“You don’t understand,” the girl pleaded, “All I want is...”

Buffy quickly cut her off by kicking her feet out from under her, causing her to crumple to the ground. Buffy was on top of her in an instant, ready with her stake.

“It’s about Faith!” the girl shouted out in desperation.

With that, Buffy stopped short, jumped up, and pulled the girl roughly to her feet. She girl looked slightly shaken, and for an instant Buffy began to doubt whether she truly was a Vampire or not. She quickly banished the doubts from her mind when she recalled the speed which the girl moved with.

“What do you know about Faith?” Buffy demanded.

“I know she’s ok. I know where she is.”

“What, did you and the other Vampires decide to take her for a little trip? A little vacation?” Buffy asked, her voice laden with sarcasm.

“I’m not a Vampire!” she cried out in frustration.

“Oh, really?” asked Buffy, “Then explain this!” she exclaimed as she thrust her fist towards the girl’s face.

The girl easily blocked the fist by catching it in her own hand.

“No normal person has reaction times like that!” Buffy yelled, “So tell me, who and what are you?”

“My name is Ciorstaidh! Ciorstaidh Brandt!” the girl replied with a hint of panic in her voice, “I swear, I’m not a Vampire. Please, I want to get Faith back to her Watcher.”

“Her Watcher returned to England weeks ago!”

“Not to Wesley. I want to get her back to Rupert.”

“Did you take her from the hospital?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” asked Buffy, narrowing her eyes.

“I wanted to heal her,” Ciorstaidh answered, “I know that had I left her, she would have died, either at the hands of the staff, or by supernatural means. I didn’t want that to happen.”

“Show me where she is. If this is a trick, you’ll wish that you had never lived long enough to regret it.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Buffy followed Ciorstaidh to a small apartment building on the ‘bad side of town,’ and together they entered an apartment on the fifth floor. Seeing Faith’s form on the bed, Buffy rushed over to her side to make sure no additional harm had been done to her. Ciorstaidh stayed out of the way, giving the two Slayers their space.

“Oh, Faith,” she whispered, “What have they done to you now?”

Faith stirred, opened her eyes, and sleepily said, “Nothing much, aside from making me drink the world’s crappiest tea.”

Buffy’s jaw dropped open, shocked to see Faith awake for the first time since they faced off against each other.

“Faith, I’m so sorry for what I did to you,” Buffy whispered, “I was angry, and I lost control of the situation.”

“Open your eyes, B,” Faith replied hoarsely, “I screwed big time. I lost it completely. I acted like a bitch because I was sick of playing second best to you. It’s all my fault; I shouldn’t have turned against you.”

“Did you really do it because you were mad at me?”

Faith look down at her hands, and mumbled, “I got upset because everyone always looks to you, like you’re the only Slayer. But you’re not. I’m supposed to be the Slayer now, but I keep screwing up. First, I watch my Watcher die. Then I killed that accountant, and pretended that it didn’t bother me at all that I screwed up so badly that I cost a person their life. Then I abandoned everyone and helped the baddies, because Mayor Wilkins made me feel like I was really important- the most important. Like I was wanted and needed. And he took all the guilt I felt away from me.”

“I know you never meant to kill that guy; I was there. It was a wrong place, wrong time sort of thing. Giles and I never stopped wanting you or needing you. You’re one of our greatest assets, and personally, you make my life a lot easier when your fighting with us.”

Faith managed a small smile, and said, “And I bet I make it a lot harder when I fight against you.”

Buffy smiled in return, and said, “Well, you definitely provide me with a challenge.”

“Is he dead?” asked Faith, changing the subject. Even though Mayor Wilkins had been so kind to her, she still knew he was a very evil man, and that someone had to stop him from gaining his ascension.

“Yup, thanks to the handy advice you gave me.”

“You mean the dream? You actually got it?”

“You betcha. We Slayers share a special bond, don’t we.”

Faith grinned, “Oh ya, B. Definitely got that bond thing happening.”

Buffy shifted her weight from foot to foot, a little uncomfortable with the question she was about to ask.

“Faith, when I had that dream... it was weird,” she said, “It was like I was in a computer that had glitches... things weren’t quite right. I know that you received a head injury in the fall... but was it that serious? Like, was there brain damage?”

“At the time... I think there was. It felt like nothing was working right. But now, I feel fine. I mean, I still have a God-awful headache, but I can think straight, instead of in fractured pieces. But I still don’t know what happened.”

“I do,” said Ciorstaidh softly from the back of the room, “But let’s get Faith back to Rupert first, then I’ll tell you all why I’m here.”

Buffy looked from Faith to Ciorstaidh, the said, “It sounds like a plan to me.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Getting Faith over to Giles’ house without the use of a vehicle was no easy task. Neither Buffy nor Ciorstaidh had any money on themselves, and Faith was still in her hospital gown, so she didn’t have any money either. They half-carried Faith, who attempted to hobble somewhat. It wasn’t that her ankle was sore, but the heavy plaster cast that encased it was awkward. Plus, Faith was incredibly weak since she had been bedridden for three weeks and some of her muscles had started to atrophy. Although she had only been out of the hospital for four days, Ciorstaidh had seen a major improvement in Faith’s condition already.

“You know,” Ciorstaidh said with regret, “It was a lot easier to get you out of the hospital because I borrowed a wheelchair. But silly me, I took it back the following day!”

“If only I hadn’t spent my last twenty bucks on that tank top at the mall yesterday,” Buffy said, “We’d all be sitting in a nice, comfy cab right now.”

“C’mon guys. It’s just a little farther,” Faith encouraged them, although she was out of breath from the effort she was putting in.

Finally, by almost two o’clock in the morning, they arrived outside Giles’ door. Buffy banged on the door noisily, and yelled, “Hey Giles, let me in!”

A few moments later, the door opened, and Giles, wearing his blue bathrobe, sleepily looked out at his visitors. He eyes grew big when he saw Faith.

“Come in,” he ushered them, “Let me call Xander and Willow.”

“At this hour?” asked Buffy.

“I’m sure they’ll want to come over. Why don’t you all get settled in the study; I’ll bring in something to drink.”

“I’ll have hot chocolate,” said Buffy, who then asked, “Did you want hot chocolate too, Ciorstaidh?”

“Um, yes please,” she said quietly.

“I’ll have a rye and coke,” Faith quipped.

Giles raised his eyebrow at Faith, who smiled sweetly in return.

“So three hot chocolates it is,” he replied wryly.

Faith shrugged, and said, “You can’t blame a girl for trying.”

Within fifteen minutes, Willow and Xander had arrived, and Buffy greeted them at the door. It was very evident that both had been awakened from their sleep, and that Giles had told them that it was very urgent that they arrive as soon as possible. Willow wearing a baggy green T-shirt and red plaid pants, while Xander was wearing a white undershirt and black silk boxer shorts with bright red ‘kisses’ all over them.

Immediately seeing Buffy’s gaze at his shorts, Xander defensively said, “They were a gift from Cordy. Besides, I had to wear something over.”

“You mean like pants?” Buffy asked.

“Ha ha, very funny,” was his reply.

“Hey Xander,” called a weak voice from the study, “Aren’t you going to come in and say ‘hi’?”

Xander looked at Buffy, and said, “That sounded like Faith. Please tell me I’m not going crazy. That was Faith, wasn’t it?”

“It sounded like Faith to me,” Willow added.

Buffy grinned. “Go on in and take a look,” she said.

Xander half walk and half jogged over to the study.

“Buffy,” Willow asked with uncertainty, “Has Faith changed? Like in your dream? Or is she still like she was before the coma?”

“I truly think we have the old Faith back... ready to raise hell, but on our side.”

Xander entered the study and immediately saw where Faith had been settled in the leather easy-chair. She smiled at him, and with that he grinned back.

“Did ya miss me?” she asked.

“It depends; do you have any plans to take over Sunnydale or anything?”

“Not until I recover completely, I guess,” she joked.

“Well, I guess I missed you then,” Xander joked in return.

Buffy entered the study with Willow and Giles, who had hot chocolate for everyone.

“I want marshmallows in mine,” said Xander, reaching for his mug.

“There are plenty of marshmallows in yours,” Giles told him, “But if you want more once your pick those out, you know where to find them.”

“Of course I do!”

“And here is yours,” said Giles passing a mug to Faith.

Faith took a sip, and exclaimed, “You put liqueur in it! Thanks Giles!” Faith was completely thrilled, as was evidenced by the huge grin on her face.

“Way to encourage her,” Buffy mockingly scolded Giles.

Suddenly, Xander noticed that there was a new face in the room, and became painfully aware of how under dressed he was.

“Company? No one told me to expect company!” he exclaimed, looking for a place to hide himself.

“I guess I should do the introductions,” said Buffy, “Everyone, this is Ciorstaidh. Ciorstaidh, this is Willow, Xander and Giles. Ciorstaidh already seems to know everything possible about Faith and I being Slayers, so don’t bother holding anything back.”

“Hi,” said Xander quickly and nervously, “Please believe me when I say that I usually don’t dress like this, but they caught me sleeping, and I rushed over as soon as I could... I actually don’t even wear this to bed, but it was the first thing I grabbed, and...”

“Xander, you can stop with the rambling,” Buffy told him.

“Ok,” he said meekly.

“Usually, my boyfriend Oz would be here too, but because it’s the full moon, we had to keep him locked up,” Willow told Ciorstaidh.

“Ya,” Xander added, try to draw the attention on to something else, “Oz is a werewolf, and except for three nights a month, he’s a very valuable part of our team.”

“Anyway,” said Buffy, “You promised to tell us what was going on once we got to Giles’ house. So go for it.”

“Ok,” said Ciorstaidh softly, “But it’s going to be a long story.”

“That’s ok,” said Giles, “We have all night.”