Kathy's Revenge

Chapter 56
Andrews POV

AN: This chapter should be read as if you are Andrew, rather dramatically and slow. Just imagine you spend all your time watching star trek and reading comic books or something…


Although no one is moving, there is a strange feeling in the air like static electricity ready to pounce on anyone who wants to touch it. Amy and Spike are ducking and diving through the shadows as the others try to hold Kathy’s attention. For the moment it looks like they have it.

Spike and Amy duck behind a large metal container and begin to pull out half a dozen or so candles from the black rucksack Spike was carrying. As Amy draws the large pentacle on the cold, hard concrete Spike places the candles on the points and one just off centre in the middle of it. Amy looks up and nods slightly so I reach my hand down to grab the whistle on some string around my neck, I bring it to my lips and blow then move into the shadows as much as I can.

And so the mayhem begins.

Willow starts with what looks like lightening coming out of her hands, although it is kinda purple… Kathy reacts quickly setting up some sort of barrier spell the lightening twists and flickers around the barrier but getting no closer to Kathy. However the lightening flicks around the barrier, which has not totally encased the witch and catches her slightly on the right arm.

Buffy and the two Faiths go for a simultaneous attack, one Faith with a crossbow the other with the sword and Buffy with a rather large axe. It looks bad but they aren’t trying to kill her they are just trying to wear her out. Without a blink of an eye Kathy sets fire to the arrow and then sends the Faith with the sword and Buffy flying across the factory.

“You guys ready?!” Willow asks, she is met with yes’s from Xander, Buffy, two Faiths and Jen who then proceed to quite stylishly flick away their coats and show off their lovely tool belts which aren’t exactly fitted with tools…

I have to close my eyes at the brilliance of the light emitted from at least 11 or so potions and spells being thrown and cast at the same time, this time Kathy is having some trouble keeping up with it all.

“ANDREW NOW!!!” I hear screamed from the midst of the battle, I look down at Spike and Amy below me and give them the thumbs up.

The candles are already lit and Amy is in position. She starts slow and quiet but then has to raise her voice to be heard over the noise of the battle. I try to watch what is happening but all I can see is bright lights and the occasional glint of a weapon. Plus the shouting, which I suppose is better than screaming right?

The light fades around the battle around me. The Faith carrying a sword has moved away from the rest of the group and is focusing her attentions on a vampire in the far corner. He really does look like Lestat. Well at least he’s trying to. Tom Cruse was way better at it. Suddenly it dawns on me exactly why everyone thinks I am gay.

Faith ducks under the vamps balled fists miles before it connects with her. His over zealous attack pushes him off balance and he has to stumble a few steps to right himself. Faith twists her sword around in her grasp and I can see she’s saying something but I can’t tell what. I think I should get her to write it down. Then we can have a whole lesson and the do’s and don’ts of punning while on the battle field.

“EGO redimio vos ex effectus vulnero , vulnero ut vestri vel vulnero ut alius!” Amy shouts from behind me.

I see the Lestat wannabe choose this moment to make his fangs known and Faith only laughs at him.

“I’m out of potions!” I hear someone cry from the centre of the battle I think it was Xander but I’m not sure. The shout makes me look over and sure enough it’s Xander. He’s been knocked to his back and is scrambling backwards away from the fray.

“EGO redimio vos ex effectus vulnero , vulnero ut vestri vel vulnero ut alius!” Louder still she bellows.

The Faith with a crossbow seems to have become fed up with having to load her weapon and has turned it around and is using the stock as a club and is attacking the barrier which is still surrounding Kathy. She reaches into her jacket stopping her assault for just a moment. “Xander! Catch!” In the time it takes to throw the potion to Xander Kathy has found her opening and has sent a fireball into Faith’s side making her fly through the air straight into Jen. I should be angry about that but at least she’s been pushed out of harms way for now.

“EGO redimio vos ex effectus vulnero , vulnero ut vestri vel vulnero ut alius!”

Pink light, then green light, then white light, then red light all radiating out from the pentagram and Amy’s feet. They fly into the air above our heads and begin to swirl around each other gaining speed at each pass.

I’m transfixed until a very loud grunt catches my attention and I turn my Gaze back to the action. My gaze lands on the Faith with a sword just in time for me to get front row seats to the decapitation of Sebastian. The shocked expression stays on his face until his head rolls to the floor and turns to dust.

Crossbow wielding Faith has managed to get up off the ground and is dusting herself off while reaching down to Jen. They exchange some words which makes both of them laugh. I feel so left out. Then turn and run back to the light show surrounding Kathy.

“EGO redimio vos ex effectus vulnero , vulnero ut vestri vel vulnero ut alius!” A bright beam of light shoots from the centre of the pentagram and fly’s through the middle of the still swirling colours above it. I take it that means the spells done.

Then a scream comes from the centre of it all. My eyes widen in panic and regard for my own life leaves me, for I must help. I slide down the ladder one foot either side and run, I run as fast as my legs will carry me. My eyes narrow as I get closer, I can see Kathy standing in the middle of it all, my mind blanks as I pull out the only weapon I could find when we left the house, something I had been saving in case things got really bad. As I close in on her she sees me running. She turns her head and laughs at me and with that I throw the small jar of liquid and to the amazement of everyone else it hits her, it has penetrated her protection spell and smashed right in the middle of the forehead releasing the fumes.

“EGO redimio vos ex effectus vulnero , vulnero ut vestri vel vulnero ut alius!” Amy screams, as if in pain.

The colours in the sky bind together and shoot for the still dazed Kathy. It crashes into her chest sending her to the floor coughing and wheezing as she tries to get some air into her lungs.

I turn from the fallen witch and run for Jen who is lying crumpled on the floor underneath the large dent in the wall she made as Kathy sent her flying.

I skid to her side on my knees and pull her face onto my lap. Pressing my fingers to the side of her neck I bite my lip so hard I think it might start to bleed and hold my breath. A pulse. There’s one there. Oh thank god. I lean over pressing a kiss to her forehead and watch as the tears fall from my eyes onto her face.

I quickly wipe them away not wanting to cause her any more discomfort. “Jen?”

One side of her mouth lifts into a small grin. “Hey beautiful.” Her voice croaks but her eyes stay shut. I let out a small un-amused laugh at her nickname for me. Well everyone knows who wears the pants in this relationship.

“How are you feeling?” I really want to kick myself for that comment.

Her eyes do open this time. “Never better.” She coughs and grabs her ribs with the action. “Did we win?”

I take myself out of this moment we have going on to glance at the carnage we have created. All around there are people supporting injuries. Without the battle ragging around us I can make out the different Faith’s. The blast from the past Faith is being all independent and standing on her own. But she is cradling her right arm and favouring her left leg so it’s hard to think that she came away without so much as a scratch.

Our Faith has made her way over to Willow, who is lying on the floor from the exertion of so much magic all in one go and has pulled her head onto her lap and is gingerly stroking her hair. It’s so cute those two together.

Buffy is leaning heavily on her axe and gladly takes Spikes arm to support her. Blood runs down one side of her face from a head injury. Possible concussion.

Xander has fallen to one knee and is holding his ribs.

No one seems to have noticed Amy slowly walking over to her fallen mother on the ground. “Mom?” The low call echo’s around the large room and everyone looks up at the noise.

I can see Kathy’s chest rising and falling as she breaths and slowly but surly raises to lean on her elbows. She’s wearing a smile which is safe to say is not good. “Stupid girl.”

Amy falters in her advance and stops. I have to say I’m surprised she didn’t take a step back from the look in her mother’s eyes.

“You bound me.” It’s not a question. Kathy slowly rises to her feet and both Faiths come in closer. She may be bound but I can see that this is far from over. “You do not have a concept of the true power I posses.” The ends of her fingers begin to crackle with energy and I can hear a collective groan from everyone else in the room. How can she still have this power?

Blast from the past Faith steps in her firing line using her body to shield Amy. “You gonna kill your own creation? … Bitch.” I like the little add on there.

Kathy’s fingers tense and the energy begin to jump across her palms. “You have failed your purpose. Therefore failed me. So I will place your worthless existence…” She’s cut off by a very strong hand wrapped around her throat cutting off her air supply.

Faith pushes her face right up into Kathy’s and says with so much venom that I fear for my health. “I think I’m about to serve my purpose.” Is she going to kill her? Surly that would give our Faith more to feel guilty about. Which is what got us into this mess in the first place!

Instead of simply snapping the woman’s neck like I was expecting she reaches out without looking and takes hold of her future selves hand. Their skin connects with a defiant ‘slap’ and Kathy begins to scream.

A beam of light spills from her mouth high up into the rafters as her head tilts back from the pain. A light quickly flashes across her eyes so quick I have to question if I’ve seen it or not.

The Faith with the older woman at the throat turns to herself. “I’m Sorry!” She yells over the scream and then her body begins to jolt and our Faith begin to scream.

Her feet are the first to disappear. Breaking into millions of peaces and swirling up her body taking the rest of her in its wake. The last parts to complete this process are her hands, which are both grasping screaming woman. When her hands follow the rest of her the small pieces swirl once more and slam directly into Kathy’s chest. Both remaining women collapse to the floor.

Neither moves for several long minutes. Willow who has been screaming since Faith started is still struggling against Buffy. She turns in the slayer’s embrace and shoots something magical at her. It doesn’t hurt her it just makes her lose her balance and fall on her butt to the floor.

Jen who is still lying on my lap reaches out a shaking hand towards the two fallen women. “Faith.” Faith is like her best friend. Well her only friend really apart from me. I don’t think I count though.

I reach down to stroke her hair. “Faith will be fine honey.” Okay so I’m telling a slight porky. I don’t know how she is going to be but my girl needs some reassuring so I’m damned well going to give it to her.

Willow slides the last few steps to her lover’s side and kneels next to her. Running her hands over her face. I can see tears spilling from her eyes and down her face. “Faith please wake up.” She’s too distressed to check her vitals and keeps running her hands over the Boston girl’s face. “Don’t leave me baby. Please don’t leave me.” She angrily wipes her tears on the back of her hand. “Don’t leave me Faith. I love you.”