Title: “…A Lost Paradise…”
Author: Crazed_Attourney.
Feedback: Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Email: crazed_attourney@hotmail.com and/or crazedattourney01@yahoo.co.uk.
Pairing: C/A. W/T. mentions of B/R, B/F unrequited, ?/? and orig. m/f.
Rating: UK-18/NC-17.
Spoilers: Set in an alternative s.4 (and Blind Date from Angel s.1), anything beyond didn’t happen.
Disclaimers: This belongs to Buffy God Mr. J. Whedon and any rights he assigned to any others, either in person or corporations, just borrowing them, still got no money, so please don’t sue.
Authors Notes: This story contains sex, violence, torture, character death, a stalker and bad language. You’ve been warned.
Authors Notes (2): All song extracted from Pink Floyd, see end notes for references, they are used without permission, only serious amounts of love, so please don’t sue.
Authors Notes (3): I’d like to thank my Beta Readers Lea, Steen and Shane (now unfortunately an ex-beta reader), who do a wonderful job from poor material. My thanks.
Any mistakes are my own
A Lost Paradise
“A man lies in dreams of green field and rivers
But awakes to a morning with no reason for waking
He’s haunted by the memory of a lost paradise
He’s chained to a world that’s departed.”1
A Lost Paradise: Prologue.
The world spun as the blind fold was removed, the bright sunlight caused her too wince, though as the purple dots slowly receded, her ever so sharp senses began to kick in, and it was like being hit by an eighteen wheeled truck.
“Are you okay?” an English accented voice called, she could hear the panic laced concern from its owner.
“Yeah, just dizzy.” She felt movement, the brush of air as someone entered her own personal space.
“Here sit down.” She winced as the cool hands touched her and the feeling grew more intense, despite that though the touch was gentle, guiding her to a soft and expensive seat.
“Drink?” It asked as she settled.
“Got coffee?”
“Course…Angela, could you bring us a pot of tea and one of coffee please.”
She slowly began to adjust to her surroundings, to say the conference room was luxurious would have been an understatement, along the lines of saying David Beckham was merely a footballer, or Michael Jackson had sold a few records in his career. It rang from the antique table that seemed to stretch like a battle ship before her, the deep carpet that her booted feet sunk into and the works of art that lined the walls.
“How are you?” The man asked as the secretary brought in their drinks.
“Kidnapped, drugged, blindfolded, rate it up there with my all time best,” she bit back sarcastically.
“I’m sorry Faith,” for all he sparked her senses Faith found herself believing the man, “sometimes, it is necessary.” He shook his head sadly.
Faith took her first good look at the man, he was tall and thin, his face had a cross between a devilish and an elfish quality about it. Though his most distinguishing feature was that he was black. It wasn’t in his skin colour, no that was a pale white, as if stuck in an office without seeing the sun or the deathly pale of a vampire, no it was that that was the most obvious thing about him, the colour black. Somehow, though it looked natural on him, from the black nails and neatly cut hair, to his expensive suit, where even the shirt and tie were black. His eyes though made Faith shudder, they were a moonless, starless night black, a colour so deep that it went on ad infinitum, they held no other colour.
He smiled, it was a contrast, to his dark, almost evil appearance, it carried a warmth that even sparkled around his eyes.
“Anyway, enough of that, how are you truly?”
“Glad to be out, though……”
He smirked. “Don’t worry, your free and legal,” he pre-empted the question brewing in her face. “Much to my sorrow, it was the only way to guarantee your attendance.” He paused. “Welcome to Wolfram & Hart.”
Fear crossed Faith’s face, images of her last encounter with the evil law firm burst into her mind, and Angel’s warnings quickly followed.
“W-what do you want?” She stuttered, she had a sudden desire to be somewhere else, she glanced looking for any escape route that would present itself.
The man noticed her panic, he grinned in amusement. “Don’t worry, your perfectly safe, some may disagree with that,” his voice darkened, “those voices are not of any more concern.”
She gulped, fearing the menace lurking behind his clipped accent. She noticed for the first time the sharpness of his teeth, like a vampire’s but not quite fully formed.
“You see Faith, I need a favour.” He cocked his head slightly, the warmth turning to a kind of innocence, the one you imagine the devil to have before he took your soul.
“W-what?”
“I need a body guard, not for me, but for someone very important to me.”
“Who?”
“My daughter.” Her eyes widened. “She doesn’t know that she is, in fact she’s perfectly human…”
“Unlike you?” He grinned wickedly, at her mumbled question.
“Yes unlike me, you see my dear Faith, I’m somewhat special, unique even, legends call me a day walker, I am evil’s version of a slayer.” His grin grew as she paled. “Yes that is why your senses are so…so hyper.”
He waited ‘till she’d calmed a little before continuing, “But you see I have two children, and they should be destined to be happy, they should find happiness, total, complete and forever. Someone, however, is not playing by the rules, I want to know who, what and how, and I want it stopped.” His voice had grown ever louder as he talked, anger turning his voice to a feral growl and his fists balled.
“Okay?” Faith shrunk back. “Why me?”
“You’re a slayer, and she needs protection, who better.”
“The catch?” Despite her nervousness, she could feel the but coming.
“’Cause I own you, I freed and cleared your name, this is your debt, and it will be paid in full.” The earlier concern had disappeared behind the menacing tone.
Faith nodded, the word ‘no’ was definitely not an option.
“Good,” the warmth flooded back, he stood up. “Someone will be along to pick you up in a few moment, he’ll explain everything. Good luck Faith and Thank-you.”
“Hey, where is this job?” She called.
“Er.. A town called Sunnydale, I believe your familiar with it.”
Faith’s world bottomed.
XxxX
Loki leaned back in his office chair, closing his dark eyes against the emotions that battered against his dark soul.
A beautiful women, as red as he was black slide into his lap.
“Is it done?” She drawled, her voice as soft and deadly as a snake.
He nodded, he groaned into her exploring fingers. “Yes,” he all but moaned.
“Good, and?” She dragged her sharp nails along his skin, just breaking its pale surface.
He spasmed with delight, his dark eyes open dancing with lust.
“Our…(gasp)…d-daughter’s will be happy.” He breathed heavily, as the women’s sharp teeth dragged along his neck, little droplets of blood welled.
He growled, pressing her hard against the desk, his hands grasped her thick red lock, exposing her own neck.
It was her turn to gasp with pleasure.
XxxX
Faith listened to the lawyer drone on, she recognised him from her previous encounter with Wolfram & Hart, Lindsey or something.
“…This is your contact, her name’s Anya, lives with her girlfriend...er…Cordelia Chase I think, they’ve contact with the other slayer,” Faith twitched at that, images of the beautiful blond slayer flashed like bright neon lights against her mind. “So be careful……” She tuned out, not really caring, her own file covered what the prattling Lawyer was babbling about.
As the limo began to pull away from Los Angeles, and start the journey towards the Hellmouth Faith shifted nervously, she could almost feel it, despite the distance, it called to her.
Chapter One: “…Wish You Were Here?”
“How I wish, How I wish you were here,
We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground,
What have we found,
The same old fears,
Wish you were here?”2
“So everything to your satisfaction?” She could almost feel the sarcastic sneer on the lawyer’s face.
She didn’t care though, she was too engrossed in the luxury of her new home, it just seemed to roll on forever. It was larger than any home she’d ever known, from the hovel she was born into, through the foster and care homes, to even the mayor’s apartment. So like a little girl, she examined every nook and cranny, touching every little item that adorned, almost casually the rich home.
“Yeah, it just so cool!” She grinned.
Lindsey winced at her obvious happiness. He simply couldn’t understand why such a senior partner was helping the slayer who’d so completely betrayed the firm and its ideals.
And so, like a good lawyer he’d copied the file he was holding, hoping that Holland would be able to make some sense of it all. There was one piece of information that he’d not been able to copy, and that he suspected would be they key, grudgingly he handed it over.
“Here,” he thrust a video cassette into her hands, “a message from a mutual acquaintance,” he sneered before leaving.
Faith hardly noticed his departure, she just stared at it’s black plastic casing, images of another man’s final words flooded back into her mind, the mayor sinisterly, jovial final goodbye.
Those memories sapped the excitement from her, and the unique air of Sunnydale began to crawl its way back into her senses. It was the feeling of being trapped in a maze, with a thousand dark corners, and that behind each one an invisible evil lurked.
Something else lurked in the town’s streets for Faith, her very own demon, and as the sun set, she could feel it come into it’s own, adrenaline pumped from the hunt and the battle it was a feeling by one other living thing.
XxxX
Buffy brought her knee up into the stomach of the vampire, her long dark wavy locks and leather-clad body reminded the blond slayer of her rogue counterpart.
Faith! Her mind spat the name.
She lashed out again and again, her fists making a dull squelch as they destroyed what remained of the human visage.
“I. Hate. You.” She muttered only seeing Faith.
“Er…Buffy.” Willow coughed quietly. The concerned and horrified tone broke into the slayers red hazed rage, seeing what remained of the vampire she felt pang of sympathy and brought down the stake quickly.
“Sorry,” she mumbled ashamed. Willow shrugged as she helped her best friend to stand.
“Channelling Faith huh?”
“Oh that so not gonna come out,” Cordelia whined, as she stood up from behind the bench.
“You’d be surprised, blood not a problem,” Buffy added cheerfully as she dabbed away specks of blood from her new top.
Cordelia rolled her eyes, “No look.” She pointed at the smudged dark green bands that now covered her shirt and jeans.
The wet paint sign glinted on the bench.
The ex-cheerleader grimaced as she ran her hands through her short hair, her new clothes, ones that she’d bought for her date with Anya were now ruined. Another item on her rapidly shrinking, and impressively small wardrobe ruined by the creatures of the night.
The other two women shook their heads with wonder. Out, proud, and bordering on butch, Cordelia Chase was still Cordelia Chase.
“I’m sure Anya won’t mind.” Like she even cares, Willow thought bitterly, she was still uneasy about the ex-demon.
“Yeah, where is she?” Buffy asked.
“Not sure, she’s off be-“
“Oh damn.”
They stared open moved t their red-haired friend.
She blushed.
“Sorry, gotta go, bye.” She ran off.
“What is with her lately?” Buffy mused.
“I got……………………”
XxxX
A man sat on a desk, a mischievous grin on his handsome features. For a second Faith’s mind saw red haired and heard that kind, favourite uncle voice. “Hello Faith, If your watching this……” She brushed away the tears and blinked until her vision cleared.
The black covered frame of her new boss, shifted on the desks edge.”…then you’re I Sunnydale. Good. You see this (he produced a file), this is the file my associate Mr McDonald gave you. There’s only one thing to do with this (he ripped in half and dropped in an off screen bin), it’s a complete and utter rubbish.
“Some of my more Machiavellian colleagues will be watching you, trying to find out what I’m doing. There’ll probably be sitting outside soon, white van, dark tinted windows.” He rolled his eyes, his English tones dripping with disapproval. “You’d think they’d be more original. Anyway, I know they’re outside the address I gave you for my agent, but they’ll be watching an empty mansion, and too stupid to check the names under any different spelling, so that done, but you’re another matter.”
“My Agent is waiting for you now, she’s in a black ford, she’ll take you where you need to go. I’ll be in touch, good luck.” The screen darkened as he approached the camera, they screened flickered and descended into a crackling snow.
XxxX
Another has touched her.
I know, I can smell it on her, it lingers on her breath and skin like an obscene perfume.
She’s so innocent.
It sparkles in her eyes as she talks, it’s reflected in the radiance of the moon shining on her hair, in her soft laughter.
Another is loving her. Fucking her.
It’s only that, her love should be mine.
She should be mine.
Why? Why? Why? Why?
Can’t she see me? Can’t she tell?
I can love her.
I can protect her.
The voices tell me, that the other is corrupting her, forcing her away from me, blinding her with magic.
You can smell that too, the evil incense.
She’s mine.
I’ll stop it.
They are pleased
So am I.
But who?
XxxX
Faith froze.
She instantly recognised the slim, attractive brunette sitting in the driver’s seat.
So she stood half in, half out of the large car.
Everything suddenly makes sense, the names make sense, the lawyer was right, just off not to be too different, but different enough to hide the true owner.
It was Anya, girlfriend to Cordelia Chase, member of the Scooby Gang.
“Are you getting in?” Anya huffed.
Giving a small nervous nod, Faith climbed into the car.
The drive passed in silence, an uneasy tension grew in the car between them.
“So you’re her?”
“What?” Faith frowned.
“Faith, the psychopathic, rogue slayer.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m Anya,” she turned to Faith and stuck her hand out, ignoring the traffic.
“Hi.”
“You can’t have Cordelia.”
“Okay.” Faith said cagily.
“Hurt her, I hurt you.”
Yeah right, her mind snarled. Outwardly, though she said, “okay, I can live with that.”
Anya beamed.
“So your not worried about what I did?” She’d have thought that all the Scoobies would kill her on sight for what she did to Buffy.
Anya shrugged. “I was a vengeance demon for 1100 years, so not really, but…”
“Hurt or sleep with Cordelia, I’m dead.”
“Unless I’m there we’ve enjoyed threesomes.” The car stopped. “We’re here.”
Anya got out of the car, as Faith’s mind replayed that last sentence.
“Are you coming, I want to go home and have orgasms.”
XxxX
Faith shook her head as she heard Anya drive off, the last half hour with the woman had been a unique experience, oddly factual.
She chuckled softly as she remembered her describing the ex-bunker that would now be her home, she opened the file that had been sitting on her bed.
Any amusement died as grainy black and white stared up at her from the photo, Loki’s neat script announced ‘This is my daughter.’
Faith recognised her instantly, and her stomach rolled violently.
XxxX
Willow brushed her hands nervously against her clothes, waiting for the door to open.
She found herself smiling at the blond that stood behind it, she stood there in her overlong t-shirt, its picture advocating the legalisation of a certain herb.
Tara’s grinned back, just as nervously at the other women.
“C-c-come in.”
“Sorry I’m late, patrol, and all that.”
“’S’okay.” She muttered from behind her hair.
Willow immediately brushed the hair away from her girlfriend face. “I got you this.”
She presented Tara with a rosebud, red petals peaked out from its green bud.
“The lady at the store said it meant something, you red, thorn less, and rosebud. I don’t understand, I wanted a proper one, but the lady said if you understood flowers, it was good. It is good, isn’t it I haven’t cursed you have I?” Willow babbled on, she grew scared when Tara didn’t respond, not seeing the little grin on the blonde’s face. “Oh goddess, I’ve cursed you haven’t I, I didn’t I’m sorry, I wanted to say I love you, caus……”
Tara kissed her, her babble dieing abruptly as she melted into the kissed, as the warm body enveloped her.
“Its w-w-wonderful.” Tara stammered, as the kiss broke, “it m-means…”
“Tell me later.” Willow whispered huskily, Tara hands stroked the skin under her shirt, fuelling her desires. Her own hands, tracing similar patterns across the blond skin, caused her light blue eyes to darken with desire.
Tara nodded, grasping Willows hands, she led her over to her simple dorm bed.
Chapter Two: “…one inch of love, is one inch of shadow…”
“Over the mountain watching the watcher,
Breaking the darkness,
Waking the grapevine,
One inch of love, is one inch of shadow.
Love is the shadow that ripens the wine,
Set the controls for the heart of the sun.”3
She’d always been one of those people who would awake before her alarm’s call, early enough to allow her to stretch and warm herself into the day, before the shrill klaxon would force her to confront the new day.
Today though she’d yet to sleep.
Last night she had taken the woman beside her as her lover, it had been their and her first time.
“…pink frog soldiers, pink frogs…” The slim red-head jerked in her arms, the distress of the dream twisting her features.
As Tara gently stroked the fine red hairs, the other women calmed, and snuggled further back into the arms that surrounded her.
“…purple kittens and bunnies…” Willow giggled in her sleep, relaxing again into a deep slumber. It was not the first time Tara had watched Willow sleep, nor calmed the red-head’s dreams, she was sure her lover’s mind raced and babbled even in sleep.
“Willow,” she breathed against the fine hairs on the back of her neck, “Willow, hon, you’ve got to get up.”
Willow shivered as the warm breath touched of an instinctive shudder of desire, as it tickled across her skin.
Tara nudged her, trying to ignore her own longing that rose, as the slim body rubbed against her own. “You said you had to get up.”
“Don’t wanna, warm, comfy.” Willow shifted letting small sliver of cool air float across her back. One green eye cracked open, “Its Friday, don’t hafta.” She shuffled back into the warm cocoon of her lover.
Willow moaned as she became aware of the naked body pressing against her, she turned around in the arms, a lazy, satisfied grin spreading rapidly across her face. She moved up so that their foreheads were pressed together.
The green eyes darkened as she looked into deep blue ones, which danced with an equal lust. Tara’s eyelids fluttered as Willow traced her fingers along her pale skin and the embrace tightened.
“Are you sure you want me to go,” Willow drawled huskily, drawing their bodies tight together, shifting them. Tara groaned and shook her head weakly, the redhead captured the deep moan with an eager mouth, hands stroked the fire dancing with a passion to rival the deep kiss.
Tara broke away reluctantly, the annoyed groan of frustration that came from the redhead made the blond smile, revelling in the excitement she aroused in the other women. Fingers began to move of their own volition causing them to gasp for air trying to cool their heated bodies.
“Y-y-you h-h-have a s-s-Scooby m-meeting.” Willow rolled from the embrace, her face twisted into a disappointed, frustrated snarl. She’d forgotten.
“Okay,” Willow harrumphed, “but on three conditions,” the husky drawl returned.
Tara nodded, something between fear and arousal made her shiver at the mischievous, almost dangerous sparkle in her lover’s green eyes.
“First, we’ll shower…together.” Tara nodded, “Second, after class we’re going to have lunch with me, here.” Willow fingers made it clear what she meant by that, her resolve face crinkled at her eyes. “And third you’re coming to tonight’s Scooby meeting.”
Tara’s blue eyes widened with surprise and joy. “A-a-are y-you sure?”
Willow grinned, her warm mouth answering the question.
XxxX
Faith shifted uncomfortably against the vending machine, a baseball cap hung low over her face, a broad sheet paper masking her face, she looked like a P.I. from a trashy ‘30’s pulp fiction novel. She was though, in the one place where she might pull it off: a student lounge.
The Scooby gang was still in the process of arriving. Predictably the watcher arrived first, Faith made a game of predicting his movements: tea, brush chair with paper, sit, coat off, drink tea, wince, read paper, straight for the crossword. She shook her head, an amused grin plastered over it, so who would be next.
She was wrong, a bickering Anya and Cordelia turned up.
“I’m not going to stop slaying.”
“But you’ll get hurt, and we can’t have orgasms.” Anya pouted.
“Their my friends, I won’t let them get hurt.”
“But I worry.” Cordy gave a silly half grin, dragging the smaller women to the large sofa and pulling her onto her lap.
Cordy whispered something in Anya’s ears, and the two had a small tickle fest. Faith felt like laughing, as she saw the Englishman blush, and focus on active not watching.
Faith’s breath left her body in a rush, the world contracted into a blur as the blonde slayer entered the lounge. An annoyed frown on her pretty features, it could have been about anything, from clashing clothes, to a piece of college work even the end of the world, Faith didn’t care she loved to watch that expressive face. The little shifts that made it so open, here it went to a slight twinge of embarrassed disgust at the antics of the amorous couple, it changed to a fond amused grin at her watcher, and the relief that she’d arrived, finally she pouted when she couldn’t see Willow.
“Anyone seen Willow?” She asked as she sat.
“Not since last night.” Mumbled Cordelia through Anya.
Faith knew who she was with, but not where, it was why she was here.
“Perhaps she’s got an orgasm buddy.”
“ANYA.” Everyone groaned.
“It’s a good thing, she’s got over Oz, and she won’t chase Cordy.”
“A-any way,” Giles stammered, he would be happy if the redhead had someone, he just didn’t want to know about it, “I have some news from Angel.”
Faith felt a cold shudder run through her body.
“It would appear Faith is…”
An out of breath Willow rushed towards them, she was flushed and looked as though she had dressed in a rush, a cardboard cup sloshed coffee as she moved, a pastry flaked in her mouth.
“Sorry, I’m late……I er…um…overslept.” She blushed.
Faith and Anya unknowingly smirked simultaneously, definitely an orgasm buddy. The other brunette leaned into her girlfriend and whispered something. Cordy’s eyes narrowed then a knowing grin and nod followed.
“Anyway……”
XxxX
I can see it, I can smell it.
Bitch.
Someone had touched her Willow, it sang from the huge grin, the glazed distracted look, the new feminine smell that clung to her clothes and body.
Some thing had fucked her.
It should have been me.
No it wouldn’t be fucking with her, it would be love.
No love there, the voices sang.
No, fucking, something disgusting, it wasn’t with me.
I can smell the musk of her arousal, she still thinking about that bitch.
Why isn’t it me.
Am I not good enough, I could make her sing, not like some little slut.
I can smell magic, the voices tell me, that’s why.
You must take her, protect her.
But if I only knew who.
XxxX.
“…Faith’s free.” Buffy tense, her voice tightening with alarm.
Faith’s heart sank as she heard the hate bubble under the blonde slayer’s voice. Perhaps though if she’d been closer, or facing the other slayer, she’d have seen the flash of pain and sadness that darkened the slayer’s eyes.
“Yes it would appear so.”
“Anything else?”
“He said it was something to with a law firm, Wolfram & Hart, Angel sounded most upset about it. Perhaps Willow could look into it.” The red haired women in question, perched on the coffee table, sat staring off into nothingness, a small, silly half grin brightened up her features.
“Willow.” Buffy nudged her friend when she didn’t react.
“Umm, sorry. Oh hi. What’s up?” The woman turned a deep scarlet.
“Faith’s free.” Buffy smirked.
“Faith!” She squeaked jumping.
“We were wondering if you could…er…hack, I believe the word is, into her record to find anything else, perhaps the law firm too.”
Willow bristled with pride, “I can be hacker girl.”
‘Okay,’ Faith thought with worry, ‘gotta tell the boss, red’s pretty good at that shit.’
The Scooby gang was winding down, “So Will, is there anything you’re not telling me?” The slayer drawled teasingly.
“P-Pardon.”
“Yes. Who is your new orgasm buddy?” Cordy blurted then blushed, burying her head in Anya’s shoulder. “I didn’t just say that did I?” She groaned, Anya nodded beaming.
Willow blushed, she started to shake her head, then “Yes I have met someone, you’ll meet…”
Faith inched forward, hoping to catch anything more the redhead said. A blur of blue filled her vision with a cheerful: “Hi.” Faith blinked, bringing her extended and ringing senses back to normal. “Would you be interested in…”
Faith looked up at a pretty, hippie style dressed women, “….joining the UCS march against…”
“Fuck off,” Faith muttered, trying to peer round the other girl.
“Look there’s no need to be rude, I was…”
Faith heard the girl’s voice begin to rise, shit, she didn’t want any attention. “Look sorry, bad day, I’m just not interested okay,” she dropped her voice too its huskiest, most flirtatious, trying to placate the girl.
XxxX
“Yes, you’ll meet them tonight, okay.” Willow rushed out. A look of annoyance flashed across her face, her friend wasn’t listening.
At the border of Buffy’s awareness, she heard a familiar warm and husky east coast accent, and she grew tense and ready as she focused on the throaty drawl.
XxxX
She could feel the other slayers accusing eyes through the other girl.
“F-faith?” Buffy murmured, she began to push her way through to the voice.
Shit!
“You know, I’m still kinda new to Sunnydale, visiting a friend, perhaps…” She gently tugged at the girl’s arm, her eyes flicking to the nearest exit and the largest crowd.
XxxX
Buffy moved through the growing crowd, her eyes searching for the form hugging leather and the long curly dark hair.
“Excuse Me, Faith.” She grabbed at a girl spinning her round.
“Hey watch it.” The women snarled, pulling herself from the small blonde’s surprisingly harsh grip.
“Sorry.” Buffy blushed.
She spun round in the shifting crowd, she thought she could feel eyes still on her, but too many people flowed past.
Perhaps she’d just imagined it.
Faith let out a shaky breath, her heart pounded in her chest, rushing in her ears like a river in full flood.
She didn’t notice the smaller blonde move back into the lounge.
XxxX
Faith watched Cordelia, she hid in the alley, its cool shadows masking her from prying eyes, she focused on the former cheerleader, she was barely aware of her breathing, let alone the whirl of her camera.
The Scooby Gang had left the student lounge by the time she gained enough control to return, only the former Queen of Sunnydale had remained. Faith needing to know more about them had decided to follow.
The woman in question had not moved in five minutes, standing in front a shop window, her mouth turned up in a sad, wistful smile. Faith couldn’t see what she was studying, the shops dark, glinting windows hid its wares even through the lens of her camera.
Cordelia shook herself from the daze she’d entered, and Faith saw her give a final longing look at the display, before twisting to annoyance. Cordelia crossed the road, smoothing any invisible creases from her dark, conservative clothes.
Faith calmly shifted back into the shadows, as the women passed her hiding spot, watching Cordelia’s pre-work ritual, the sneer that accompanied her pinning the nametag, and tired fake smile she practised before entering the shop.
XxxX
“Ooph!” Giles’ guitar case clattered to the floor as he collided with the solid body.
“Sorry,” the women mumbled as she helped him to his feet, his surprise showing when he realised it was a women he collided with, it had felt like hitting a moving brick wall.
“That’s all right,” he blushed, “I wasn’t looking.”
“Me neither, guess both to blame huh?” She shrugged of his embarrassment, “You need a hand?”
“No thank you,” he nodded as she handed him his guitar, smiling at the young woman’ good manners, if only his charges were as polite.
The girl was pretty, with short auburn hair, dark sky blue eyes sparkled back at him, through a pair of simple glasses, though he had to frown at the crumbled dark clothes, not understanding the fashion of today.
He nodded, smiling at her again, “Thank you very much, and again I’m truly sorry.”
“Its fine,” she began to grin as he disappeared.
Faith ran her hands through her newly short hair, her new look had passed its first test.
XxxX
Stevenson, 214. Thank fuck for a delinquent education, Faith grinned as the door popped.
‘Okay Red, tell me your secrets’.
Which side of the room was the red head’s was obvious, both of the room’s occupants were neat, but there was something anal about Willows, everything had a place, everything was perfect, not even a scrap of paper was out of place.
She was drawn to the other half though, she ran her fingers over the bed, gently picking up Buffy’s stuffed toy, Mr. Gordo, she remembered staying with Buffy after they’d killed Kakistos, he’ll keep you company she’d grinned, at the awkward woman. She could smell Buffy on the toy, the perfume that she loved to wear and the warm smell of her body.
Faith cuddled it, wishing it was its owner.
A picture caught the tearing up Faiths eye, she was level with it, fingers lifted those which covered it.
She gasped.
It was of her and Buffy, Giles had been trying to take a picture of Buffy at Homecoming, Faith had jumped in startling the blond just before the flash. Carefully she pulled it from its pin, sliding into her pocket.
Faith sat back on the bed, fighting back tears.
‘No, you’ve got something to do Faith, her inner voice snarled at her, stop being weak.
Finding something here would not be easy, messy people left important things out in the open so they could always find it, tidy people could put it away, they already knew were it was.
She carefully read through the small piles of papers on the desk, her movements as small as possible, not wanting to give any clue of her presence.
The name Tara, appeared often on the notes, the name carefully outlined in whatever pattern of ink the women had used on her work.
Tell me something I don’t know, Red.
Faith leant back against the toys and pillows propped up on the bed, letting out a frustrated growl.
Nothing.
She’d been through everything, books and papers arranged as if to conform to some complex and precise math problem.
Come on Red give us a clue.
Her eyes narrowed as she went over her searching making sure she’d not left anything out of place.
Come on Faith, think like Red. I’m a genius. I’m going out with a girl. I don’t want anyone to know. Where would I hide it?
No, idiot, where wouldn’t Buffy look, but I look every day.
She ran her fingers over the books again.
Gotcha. She eased out a well worn book.
Only Red would read this book all the way through, most people just had it on their shelves to say I’ve got it, she’d read it.
The book felt awkward, as if hiding something.
She opened it, the front cover held two sheets of paper and a crushed, dried flower. Careful not to damage it, Faith eased the paper out from behind the flower, she pulled out her own pad.
Name of Loki’s daughter: Tara Maclay.
XxxX
Two large vampires stepped in front of her. She could feel her muscles tense, the adrenaline flow, and her heartbeat quicken with excitement.
“Hi their girly, wanna have some fun.”
Faith grinned, oh yeah, she thought wickedly, I am your not though.
She spread her legs into a more comfortable stance.
“W-w-what?” She stammered meekly, “n-n-no.” Their faces shifting, evil grins spreading across their distorted features, as she backed away.
“O-o-oh g-g-god, w-what are y-you?” A stake slide down her arm.
A weight collided with her, knocking her to the floor.
XxxX
Faith watched as Buffy streaked past her, she could feel the tenseness in the other slayers body, the feline grace and strength as the blonde slayer moved in for the kill.
The vampires’ faces flickered with fear as the blonde blur moved in, blocking the first ones arms, spinning in, he was dust before he realised the stake had struck.
Faith gasped at Buffy’s smooth movements, the control that exuded from her every fibre as she moved with predatory skill and calm, ducking and blocking the second vampire’s attack.
He was already dead.
Faiths breath quickened as she watched Buffy, the familiar sense of arousal that always accompanied watching the blonde. She’d fallen in love watching her fight, she could see the real Buffy here, the hunter so in control, an ultimate fighter.
God she was beautiful.
The second vampire backed away dazed as a roundhouse kick rocked him to the core, Buffy buried the stake in his chest, momentarily revelling in the look of shock and anger that passed across his face as he imploded into dust.
She turned to where the girl had been, she’d gone.
“How rude,” she muttered.
The girl had seemed familiar though. She shook it off, she was starting to see Faith everywhere.
XxxX
Faith blinked back the tears, putting it down to the smoke that lined the club.
“Fuck the Scoobies,” she snarled to herself as she approached the bar. The lingering images of the other slayer danced in her mind, moving sensually to the beat that hummed in her body.
The dark clubbed moved with bodies, tight hot and sweaty, the heavy music heightening the atmosphere, the flickering strobes hypnotising, promising anonymity.
“Scotch. Rocks.” She shouted at the barman.
“Hi,” a voice purred in her ear, the voice turned husky in smoke and drink, lust danced in the eyes.
“Hi,” Faith grinned, the women was short, thin and blonde, she could feel the desire pouring from her, “what’s your name?” Faith drawled, moving in close, letting her body move close letting the beat take her.
“What do you want it to be?” The women slurred the corny line slightly.
Faith grin, hooking her hands around the woman’s waist pulling her tight.
XxxX
She entered with a blonde.
Her eyes sparkling with a deceitful lust and fake love.
Their bodies reeked of sex and magic.
Filthy.
Disgusting.
Mine.
“Hi everyone,”
I love that voice.
It should be mine.
It will be mine.
“this is Tara, my girlfriend.”
My enemy
Bitch.
Chapter 3: “…A Hunger Still Unsatisfied.”
“Encumbered by desires and ambition,
There’s a hunger still unsatisfied,
Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon,
Though down this road we’ve been so many times.”4
I can hear her voice again. She talks with a voice of the angels, but with words as twisted as the night’s shadow.
She tells me truths that I alone can understand.
Even though I don’t want to.
For my Willow is gone.
She’s been corrupted by her. So the passion that flickers in her red gold hair is enflamed not for me, but another.
A witch. Who whispers words of magic to ignite a false love, and potions to spark passion.
It’s a lie!
She shows me the fake lust, and deceitful magic, it hangs on them like an obscenity.
I can barely stop myself, stop my hate when I smell her evil.
I will be a knight upon a crusade, I will slay the dragon that holds my love hostage, I will rescue her from evil, and make her mine.
Forever.
XxxX
Faith tried to focus on the dorm’s main entrance, but something nagged at her stomach, she wished she could put it down to a hangover, but she knew what it was, her old friend guilt. Memories of the previous night jumped into her mind, like time frozen in the beam of a strobe light, warmth against her skin, the taste of another’s body rocking with pleasure lingered in her mouth, the sigh of her name on another’s lips they all jumbled against her senses. Her guilt came from the pleasure she’d felt, the enjoyment of the way that small slim body had felt against her own, and the betrayal she felt when she’d called out a different name to the one her mind had screamed.
Two recognisable figures stepped from the dorm’s main entrance, breaking into Faith’s thoughts. Red looked over the moon, Faith recognised that half grin that was plastered on Willow’s face, nothing was going to impact on her good mood that day, she really should’ve been bouncing with every step. The blonde was a different picture, an underlying tenseness betrayed the truth behind her happy smile, even at this distance Faith recognised worry tracing itself around her eyes.
Willow kissed the blonde’s hand, and the smile became genuine for the briefest of seconds, murmuring something against the pale palm.
A man in blue approached them, a small white box under his arm and a clipboard tapping in a bored fashion against his thigh as he walked.
Willow smiled as she opened the box, a large single pale red rose appeared in her hand. She turned to Tara kissing her soundly and giving her, what looked like, an air stealing tight embrace. It softened as the red head kissed the blonde more gently, once again whispering into her ear.
Willow missed the look that crossed Tara’s face, Faith didn’t.
She hadn’t sent that flower.
XxxX
Faith yawned.
God, were Scooby meetings always this boring! She hadn’t really noticed before, usually she’d spent meetings staring at Buffy, or if she not been there she’d ogle Cordelia, or hell even read, as long it involved not listening to a watcher.
Neither were currently in Giles’ house, so with no distractions she had to listen to Giles prattle on about the different parts of a Frankenstein-like monster.
He really was dull!
She fidgeted uncomfortably.
“…on another point, it would seem Faith is indeed in Sunnydale. Angel acquired some information from the law firm, and Faith is employed by one of the senior partners, his source was unsure of her real purpose, the senior partner gave him false information. We must be on constant alert, but knowing Faith she make herself known, keeping a low profile was never her strong point.”
Faith bit her cheek desperately trying not to laugh.
The door creaked open.
“Oh that’s lovely.” Giles handed the girl in his garden her pay, he shook of the niggle of familiarity the young student gave off, specially that mischievous, almost knowing grin, she was currently giving him. “Can you come again.”
“I’ll have too check my timetable, but sure I could do with the cash.”
“Yes I remember my student days too. You can use the sink to tidy up.”
“Cheers.” Anya almost started choking when she saw Faith walk through Giles’ living room.
Faith winked at her. “Hi.” Willow jumped up to meet the new girl, “Giles says you go to Sunnydale.”
“Yeah just trying to earn a bit of extra cash ya know.” Willow smiled in sympathy, “Tell me about it books, fees just so expensive.”
“Nah just too many parties.” She grinned as the comment stumped the red head.
“W-w-what a-are y-you s-studying?” Tara stuttered.
“Earth science,” she said giving the subject her previous nights companion had said, “hence the gardening. Just heading back.”
“Us too,” Willow blurted.
XxxX
“I’m on the next floor.” Faith said as they walked up to Tara’s dorm room. She had been nervous when the two had said they walk her back, they’d seen through her as Buffy. The redhead though was wrapped up in the blonde, while the blonde seemed to jump between nervousness and happiness.
They were Faith decided far too cute.
Tara stopped, she and Willow kept moving for just a few steps.
Pinned to her door was a single yellow rose, behind it sat a small card, a strange but intricately drawn black flower was its only decoration.
“Someone like ya huh, Red got competition.” Faith quipped weakly, then she noticed that the colour had drained from the witch. “Hey you okay?”
Tara seemed to snap, ripping the flower and the card to shreds, tearing the soft yellow petals from the green stem, ignoring the thorns that scrapped soft fingers.
She stopped.
Willow fingers caused Tara to jump, her eyes blank for a second, before collapsing into her girlfriend’s worried arms.
“L-look I’m gonna go.” Faith stuttered into the silence that followed.
Willow nodded weakly. She didn’t notice Faith finger the small card that had accompanied the flower.
XxxX
The bell tinkled as Faith entered the small florist.
“…so that’s possible then?” Faith recognised the voice immediately. Shit! “That’s great.” She heard the relief in the girls voice.
Faith tried to disappear into the over hanging leaves, but the other girl hardly noticed her. Brown eyes lingered over the petite form as it pressed past them, the way the bright summery colours seemed to suit the blonds small, feminine frame. She felt her breath catch as she watched those curves move gracefully passed her.
She often wondered how people didn’t see what Buffy was, the way she moved, the threat that hidden beneath the surface of girl exterior. The strength in the legs and arms that would reveal the hidden truth behind Buffy, like a cat really seemingly lazy and playful, but really a deadly hunter
The bell tinkled as the blond exited the shop.
Faith sucked in her breath rapidly, not realising she’d been holding it, and desperate to catch any of the blonde’s faint scent, before it vanished into the background masked by the perfume of the shops contents.
“Can I help?” A slightly accented voice called.
“Yeah, do you recognise this?” She showed the old man the card.
“It looks like an orchid, I’m sorry I don’t recognise the breed, perhaps a specialist could help you.”
“No,” stupid her mind snapped at her, “I know what the flower is, do you recognise the card.”
“Yes, I had to make up a delivery with this card attached.”
“Can you tell me who?” Faith leaned forward eagerly.
“Are you with the police?” The old man frowned.
“No.”
“Then I can’t help you.”
Fuck! “Look its real important, please.” She almost pleaded. “It was sent to er my sister, she just wants to know who, to say thanks okay.”
The old man shook his head, Faith could tell he knew she was lying. “I can’t help you.” He spook firmly.
“Thanks,” Faith spat as she left the store. “Fuck!” She spat under her breath, kicking a bin. “Fuck!” She spat again, leaning against a nearby wall.
“…Look I told you never too contact me again. I don’t give a flying fuck if it is important, we’re never to…” Faith inched closer the voice, recognising it as Cordelia’s voice.
XxxX
Fuckwit!
He shouldn’t be talking to me like that.
Grabbing me!
I’m going to kill, ram a silver blade into his gut, let him die real slow, in real pain.
Teaching him for hurting Willow.
No, the voice tells me, I need him.
Yes she’s right! She always right. That’s why I listen to her.
Good, she says.
Remember Willow, you must save Willow.
But he touched her, fucked her.
He’s unclean, He was unworthy.
Later, she coos. Calming my hate, my fire.
Yes later.
Then I can see him die.
Good.
XxxX
“What do you mean we’re having him back. He betrayed us, sold us to that bloody vampire…” Loki ranted at Holland, towering over the older human, rage sparkling in his black eyes.
“I have great faith in the boy.”
“Really, if this is any indication of your instincts, you’re obviously a liability, perhaps I should have your contract revoked.” Loki spat, Holland paled, fear crossed his normally calm and reserved face. Excellent, Loki grinned internally. “Some in this firm may think you deserve promotion Holland, remember I don’t.”
He paled even more.
Calming Loki sat back down into his soft leather seat, “Do you have plans for retrieving the scrolls.”
Loki rather enjoyed seeing Holland pale and flinching.
His intercom buzzed, “I’m sorry to disturb you sir, but you have a phone call.”
“I’m in a meeting.”
“It’s from Sunnydale.”
“I’ll take it, put her through.” He looked up at Holland, his face almost back to its normal colour, his scheming mind back into high gear. “Goodbye, you have three days, or I’ll take a personal interest in how special ops works, a number of contracts are still in their trial periods.” Holland paled again, understanding the threat.
“I-I’ll get on it s-straight away.”
“Excellent. Hello Faith,” his voice softening immediately as the slayer was patched through. “How can I help.”
XxxX
“Something’s definitely going on here boss…No idea why, got an idea who though…No, nothing definite…One strange thing, Tara’s been receiving little cards with a blackbell on them.” Faith frowned a familiar smell twitched in her nose, despite the other bodily ones lingering in the phone box.
XxxX
“A B-blackbell, are you sure?” Loki paled as the news sank in. “I-its probably just a sick joke…No, its doesn’t mean anything, understand nothing. Just focus on protecting Tara okay.” Loki put the phone down, trying to control the shaking in is hands.
How? He thought.
XxxX
“Nothing my ass!” Faith whispered to the dial tone crackling in her ear.
The familiar smell grew stronger, and a glimpse of light material drove thoughts of the card from her mind.
Buffy!
XxxX
“Sorry.” Tara mumbled, casting her eyes downwards, unable to meet Willows as the spell collapsed into a cloud of acrid, grey smoke. Willow lifted up her face, gently stroking back the long dishwater blond hair.
“Its okay, I’m kind distracted too.” Willow was worried, she’d never seen her girlfriend react like that to anything before nor so afraid, even when Jonathan’s monster attacked her. “You know, I keep thinking that I’m sitting here with a really sexy blonde, and spells just poof don’t seem to work.”
Tara looked down, this time in embarrassment. “I even couldn’t concentrate in my lecture…”
“L-liar.” Tara mumbled.
“What me?” Willow said in mock indignation.
Tara nodded, “y-you h-had computing, nothing d-dis…distr…n-nothing gets I-in the w-way of y-you a-and computers.”
“Are you calling me a nerd?” Willow whined, her heart fluttered when Tara finally looked up, a small teasing sparkle flittered behind her blue eyes.
She nodded, looking around the room, she picked up a well worn book. “I t-think you’re the only p-person, who h-has t-this as t-their favourite b-book.”
Willow pouted. “I like it.”
Something fell from its cover. “You k-kept t-them.” Willow grinned.
“Yep my favourite things all in one place.” Willow picked up the papers, and opened the front of the book, “the first flower you gave me.”
Tara blushed. “And there are things that are better than computers.” Willow breathed heavily as she began to nuzzle Tara’s neck. “For example,” Tara moaned as she watched green eyes darken. “This.”
Willow captured Tara’s lips with her own.
XxxX
Later they lay snuggling on Willows bed, trading soft delicate kisses, hand tracing contently over each other bodies. The threat of Buffy coming back at anytime stopped the passion building too far.
Willow felt Tara relax. “Hon.” She breathed.
“Hmm,” Tara paled when she saw Willows look.
“W-what happened t-this morning?”
“N-nothing.”
“Please.”
“I g-got some f-flowers.”
“And.” Willow pressed.
“A bramble and a yellow rose.”
“Both with that card?”
Tara nodded.
“And…”
Some one knocking at her door stopped any further discussion.
“Hi Willow,” her Dorm’s far too cheerful RA called as she opened the door, “got a package for you.”
“Thanks.” She said absently, closing the door on him. It was another flower, one she didn’t recognise.
“Tara, thanks but what is it.”
“E-enchanter’s n-n-nightshade.”
“Oh.”
“W-willow, I d-didn’t s-send it.” The redhead turned a frown creasing her brow.
XxxX
Hands grabbed her, and the world span, Faith blindly struck out, her arm colliding weakly with an arm. Something clumped to the floor.
“Shit!” Faith froze.
Buffy pressed the girl into the wall, trying ignore the burst of electricity that shivered along her system as she held the girl by the neck.
“I’m sorry.” The girl pleaded, fear touching at her voice. Faiths mind raced at the speed of light, she was going to get caught, she was going to die.
“I know you?”
Oh god! Faith tried to calm herself, but she could feel water on her cheeks, acid in her belly and electricity shocking her nerves. “Y-you s-saved m-me l-last night. I wanted to say t-thank you.” Faith tried, fortunate that the emotion wrenching through her body making her sound almost believable.
“Oh right, you know yo……” The girl’s sky blue eyes ate into her own, they were the wrong colour, but they radiated the same depth, both of pain and life, that only belonged to one other, the curve of the face, the voice…oh god. “Faith.”
“P-pardon,” Fuck! Shit! Fuck! “N-no E-emily.”
Buffy eased up, the moment lost.
“Y-you dropped something.” The girl nodded to a small bag on the floor.
“Shit!” The girl forgotten she grabbed at the bag, holding it close as if it were a precious metal. “Look, erm, I’m sorry, you just made me jump okay, reminded me of a friend that all.” Buffy babbled.
“I-its okay, I’m sorry, b-but thanks.”
“Its fine,” Buffy waved absently, leaving the alley.
Faith slumped as if every bone had suddenly left her, her body shook as if detoxifying violently from drugs, her skin was pale and her breath was fast and ragged. Her stomach lurched as tears fell freely down her cheeks.
XxxX
Loki’s hands shook as he opened the cabinet, jerky movements splashed the amber liquid unevenly into the glass.
He gulped it down, hardly aware of the sharp burn the alcohol caused as it trickled down his throat.
He poured another.
He brought his arm up in a wide arc.
An ancient looking split, humid air hissed into the warm office.
A plant crept all over the cool surface, its long twisting stems clinging to the smooth walls like magnets, a multitude of small black orchid-like flowers hung from the creepers. Just hidden behind it was a small clear box, each with a card, an impression of the flower that held them imprinted upon each.
“How?” Loki moaned.
XxxX
Its disgusting.
They fawn over each other like lovers.
The lie broadcast to the world.
Feeding each other.
Touching each other.
Comforting each other.
As if the love was real.
But I know the truth.
It’s a lie.
Can’t she see I know, Can’t willow see my love, my message.
But the witch’s spell must be strong.
I must break it.
She must see my love, my protection.
Perhaps my next gift will.
XxxX
Anya was not happy. Cordelia was late, she’d left early and now wasn’t home.
It was wrong.
Heavy banging on the door interrupted her brooding sulk.
If that’s Cordy, I’m gonna…
“What this mean?” Faith pushed the small card into Anya face, pushing her way into the small apartment.
XxxX
Willow wished she didn’t have to leave Tara, her girlfriend was upset, the flowers were terrifying her, but their afternoon classes were at the opposite end of campus. She pushed the key into the door.
It swung open, and Willow first vision was of purple and yellow.
XxxX
Tara backed out of her room, fear and confusion marring her face, her room was filled with orangey-yellow flowers, stuffed into her small room till her dark occult walls were now a sea of the ugly flowers. They were everywhere draws, shelves, walls, floors and they even bulged out from her books.
Sitting proudly like a great work of art was a blown up version of the card, clearer now in its complex pattern of twisted green stems and delicately drawn black flowers.
Tara could feel the tears fall down her cheeks.
XxxX
“Cordelia will be back soon.” Anya stuttered.
“Yeah well perhaps she and I could have a little talk.”
“You hurt her…”
“Whatever, the flower, what is so important about a black orchid.” Faith loomed over Anya, her body language nervous. “Tell me.” She growled again.
“Its Loki’s symbol, it’s the symbol of the daywalker. Someone knows who Tara’s father is.”
“But why would it scare her? I thought she couldn’t know.”
“She can’t, but Loki never plays by the rules he sends a birthday present to his daughters every year, the card too. Okay.” Anya snapped.
“T-to his d-daughters?”
“Yes can you go now.” Faith nodded.
A key twisted in the lock.
“Shit, hide.”
“Hi Honey I’m home.” Cordelia called. “Anya. You in.” Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief, quickly moving to a small cabinet she hide a small book behind a small clock.
“Whatcha doing?” Anya called stepping into the living room.
“Jeez woman.” Cordy jumped, “you scared me.”
“Sorry.”
“Heh what’s wrong?”
&nbs