Banner by Selene

Chapter 3

It wasn’t hard to find the slayer once they landed in New Orleans. After settling into their respective rooms, Faith had done a quick sweep of the city, hoping to let off some steam throwing down with an evil undead or two. Instead, she came across the slayer in question – a girl who appeared barely out of diapers. Which was an exaggeration on her part, but the pre-teen chick kicking butt and taking names made Faith feel ancient by comparison. 

Scary given that she was on the low end of the twenties spectrum herself. 

Still, the girl could throw a mean punch, especially when riled, and it was only after Faith had taken several pot-shots that she took off the kid gloves and let the younger slayer have it. She was all for reforming Miss Wanna-Be-Bad, but not at the expense of having her face rearranged. 

Faith went on the offense, interspersing pointed remarks about the mistakes the girl was making as she began deflecting each punch or kick that was attempted, following them up with ones of her own… whose aim was far more accurate. It wasn’t long before the younger slayer was tired and out of breath, silently calling a halt to their fight by bending at the waist and resting her hands on her knees as she sucked air into her lungs. 

“Ready to talk now?” Faith inquired, barely winded, and was pleased to see the girl nod – if somewhat resentfully. She stepped back and relaxed her stance into something a little less threatening and commented on the girl’s fighting style to help salvage her bruised ego. 

“Thanks,” the slayer replied warily. “You’re not so bad yourself.” 

“Girl, I wiped the floor with your ass. Of course I’m good. So,” Faith began before the teenager could get her back up again. “You want to tell me why you think you can use your new-found powers for your own benefit… and don’t give me that crap about no one being strong enough to stop you. I wrote the book on that, and I’m a tough act to follow. A very tough act,” Faith added, so the girl would get her meaning. 

The girl looked mutinous and Faith didn’t think she was going to talk. As it was, she just stood up, cocked her hip as she crossed her arms over her chest. Sneered as she replied, “What are you, my mom or something?” 

“Please,” Faith snorted. “More like your guardian angel. I’m your one chance at a get-out-of-jail-free card. If you don’t shape up, and fast, you’re gonna find yourself brought down by a wet team.” 

“What’s a wet team?” 

“They’re like the secret police of slayers. And if you think you can take them on and come out on top… guess again. They’ve got a serum that makes your strength just up and disappear, and they’ll use it too. See if they don’t. Where’s your watcher at anyway?” 

“Off playing the slots most likely,” the girl muttered under her breath. 

“Ahh… one of those,” Faith nodded in commiseration. “Well, come on. I’ll take you to meet a real watcher. Maybe see about finding you a new one. Giles isn’t going to like hearing that yours has a gambling problem.” 

Faith turned and started walking off. 

“What makes you think I’m gonna come with you?” the slayer called out. 

“Because if you don’t, I’m gonna finish giving you that ass-kicking you deserve, truss you up, and sling you over my shoulder,” Faith replied, not bothering to turn around. She hid a smile when the young slayer fell into step beside her. “So, you gotta name?” 

“You’re so smart, don’t you already know it?” 

Faith shook her head and rolled her eyes. Was I ever this much of a pain in the ass? she thought to herself. Then laughed because she knew she was… and then some. 

“What’s so funny?” 

“Nothing,” Faith grinned. “You just remind me of someone, that’s all.” 

“Oh yeah? Who?” 

“Me.” 

“Oh.” 

“And the reason I asked you for your name was because I wanted to give you a chance at a start fresh. Clean slate and all that.” 

The two slayers walked in silence for a time. Neither looked at the other, instead, their senses were tuned to their surroundings, inbred instincts telling them to be on the lookout for anything amiss. It wasn’t until they were almost back to the hotel that the younger slayer spoke. 

“Jessica Underwood. Jessi for short.” 

“Nice to meet you, Jessi. My name’s Faith. Faith Lehane.” 

“Faith, huh? What kinda name is that? Did your mom not like you or something? She one of those religious zealots?” Jessi joked. 

Faith winced. “My mom was an abusive drunk. I skipped town as soon as I could so I wouldn’t have to put up with her shit… It was right after I became the slayer.” 

“Sorry.” 

“Don’t sweat it, kid. It was a long time ago. I’ve got a new family now… sorta. Friends too, I’d like to think. It ain’t perfect, but then, what is? We’ve got each other’s back when it matters.” 

“Must be nice. Everyone I know thinks I’m a freak. The kids at school… they… they laugh at me because I’m… I can’t… I can’t control it. This.” She shook her hands in front of her to emphasize her point. “This strength. Power. Whatever you want to call it. So I…” 

“Do your own thing because it’s easier than trying to fit in,” Faith finished. “Rebel because you think that’s what they’re saying about you anyway. Pick fights with anyone and anything, because at least then, someone is paying attention to you…” 

“Yeah,” Jessi sighed. 

“What about your parents? Aren’t they—?” 

“I don’t know who my parents are.” 

“Ahhh,” Faith replied, as if that explained everything. And it did, really. The girl had probably grown up as a ward of the court, in and out of foster homes her entire life. “Well, we’re here,” she announced a moment later as she stopped before a rundown motel. “Giles is kinda stuffy, but, deep down, the man’s got a heart of gold. Xander is… Xander’s an okay guy too. They just want to help. So do I, so give them a chance, alright?” 

“Yeah… okay.” 

~*~*~*~*~ 

“It’s me again. I come bearing your mark,” Lieutenant Molter announced as she stepped into the clearing. Truthfully, she was rather wary of speaking with Twilight again – especially after their latest setback. 

She’d been informed by her mole that Xander, the Slayer’s new watcher, had gone missing. No one seemed to know where he’d disappeared to, and her man on the inside wasn’t among the Slayer or Willow’s close circle of friends. 

The only thing they knew for sure was that Xander had left not long after Buffy reappeared back at the castle following the Genevieve-Roden debacle. 

“It’s about Xander,” Molter began. “We’ve lost him. He left the compound without anyone being aware. Now he’s off the grid.” 

She felt a chill go through her as Twilight suddenly appeared before her. Even with his mask firmly in place, she could feel the heat of his stare. It unnerved her, but she forced herself not to flinch as he stopped before her. 

“Lieutenant Molter. You disappoint me…” 

“I’m sorry,” she babbled out an apology as Twilight laid a gloved hand on her shoulder. “We’ll find him for you. I can have our guy try and probe the others if you’d like.” 

Twilight paused in meting out his punishment. Though he didn’t tolerate mistakes, he couldn’t keep killing off all his acolytes without consequence; he needed foot soldiers to lay the groundwork for his master plan. Only then could he reveal himself and fulfill his destiny. 

“Very well,” he allowed. “See what the girl can find out, and find me Xander. Now that he’s out in the open, I’m hoping to persuade him to my side.” 

“Yes, sir. Right away. I’ll… uh… just be going…” 

Twilight watched the woman turn away and practically race back to the helicopter that had brought her to him. The rotors whirred to life, and a minute later, the helicopter was lifting off and headed back the way it came.

He mulled over the news he’d been given. 

He should have struck when Buffy and her friends were vulnerable after Sunnydale’s implosion. But being found out before he was ready to reveal himself had stayed his hand. A mistake on his part, because Willow had teleported them to Scotland before he’d been aware and her wards were too strong for even him to penetrate. 

It was one of the reasons he’d allowed Amy to have her fun with Willow. Killing off the powerful wiccan would have made his plan easier to implement. That hadn’t come to pass, however, and now he was back to either Buffy or Xander. 

With Xander outside the protective barriers of their stronghold – or so they could safely assume – he was leaning strongly in that direction. Though born on the hellmouth and having survived seven years in the Slayer’s company, the boy had no supernatural abilities, no penchant for magic. He was human… and fragile. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

The Chinese take-out store wasn’t far from their motel, so Xander felt safe enough leaving for the ten minutes it would take him to retrieve their dinner. What he’d not counted on was the nearly limitless resources of the Initiative – or whatever it was the covert government sect was calling itself these days. 

He forced himself to remain calm when he saw the two men tailing him reflected in the window of one of the shops he was walking by. Even though they wore plain clothes, their haircuts and distinctive bearing gave them away. The sidewalk he was on was fairly crowded, thankfully, and he used that to his advantage as he picked up his pace and ran across the street just before oncoming traffic prevented them from crossing. 

Xander gave up all pretense then, dropping his dinner as he took off running. 

What he’d not factored on was that the two goons behind him had friends. As he passed the next alleyway, he was grabbed by someone in the shadows and hauled further into darkness. Something covered his mouth and nose and Xander could smell something on the rag. 

Chloroform. 

He held his breath, hoping to stave off the effects of the drug – all to little avail. He began to get lightheaded, and spots appeared before his eyes. The world threatened to go black, but just before that happened, something slammed into him and his attacker, sending them crashing to the ground. 

There was a ringing in his ears – probably from the blow to his head – and he heard what he thought was a female voice raised in anger, and possibly some fighting. He tried to hold on, get to his feet and make good his escape while everyone’s attention was diverted. 

He tried… but the ground rushed up to greet him and he passed out.

next 

Want to leave a REVIEW?