A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"This must be the place," Buffy said, as the diner came into view. Buffy was about to turn into the parking lot.

"No, Buffy! Keep going straight!" Angel suddenly called from behind her.

"What is it?" she asked, puzzled, but automatically did what he said. She slowed the jeep as they passed by the diner.

"Giles and Willow aren't alone."

She focused her gaze and saw what he had seen. A group of vampires were in the diner and appeared to have their friends trapped. "Damn! They must have been spotted." She quickly shut off the headlights and pulled to the shoulder, away from any street lights. The diner was still in sight.

"We got to get in there!" Xander exclaimed from the back.

"Let's go!" Faith grabbed the handle to the passenger door.

"Wait!" Angel insisted. "If they see us coming they'll definitely make their move."

"Well, I'm not waiting!"

"He's right," Buffy agreed, catching Faith's arm in her hand. "It looks like Giles is stalling for time. But it won't last long. Angel," she glanced in the rearview mirror to look in the back seat before realizing he wouldn't appear in it, and turned in her seat. "Can you get around to the back?"

"Just give me thirty seconds. If you guys can sneak up to the front and wait for my signal?"

"What's the signal?" Faith asked.

"You'll know." Angel threw open his door and he seemed to fade into the night as soon as it was closed again.

"Let's move!" Buffy said. "Xander, arm yourself."

"Way ahead of you, Buff." The teenager was stuffing a stake into the waistband of his baggy jeans and hefted a wooden baseball bat.

"So much for our surprise attack," Faith commented.

The three of them evacuated the jeep and ran in low crouches across the parking lot of the diner, which was only partially lit due to only two dull street lights. But they would not be invisible to a vampire's keen eyesight. Luckily, it seemed they were all focused on the humans inside. Buffy was leading the way and she headed straight for Giles's car parked right in front of the diner. Xander, without the benefit of Slayer efficiency, was falling behind the females.

"Hurry!" Faith called back in a whisper.

"Don't wait for me!" he replied.

The Slayers reached the car and ducked behind the rear bumper. No sooner had they reached it, when all the lights in the diner shorted out.

"That's it!" Buffy hissed, in a whisper.

She and Faith split from each other and charged up the sides of the car straight for the diner.

* * * * * *

The lead vamp shouted, "Take them now!"

There were suddenly seven pairs of yellow eyes glowing in the darkness of the diner as the rest of the vampires put on their `game' faces. Giles braced himself for attack, keeping Willow and Sherri behind him, when one of the large windows exploded inward right in front of them. Amid the shower of glass he saw Buffy land inside the diner catching the lead vamp in a tackle that threw them to the counter. The glass hadn't even settled yet, and she was already lashing out with a back-kick into the nearest vampire, sending him stumbling back into another vampire and the human Tarakan, all the while keeping the lead vamp pinned face-down on the counter top.

At the same time, Faith had crashed through another window, landing behind the group. Just as the closest vampire turned to face her, Faith was also turning in a spinning heel kick that connected with the vamp's face and sent him flying against the counter. A second vampire came at her with a right cross to her face that she deflected with a wave her left palm, causing the creature to step off balance, then she countered with a right ridge-hand strike to his throat. He gagged, clutching his throat, and Faith grabbed two handfuls of the back of his jacket and tossed him toward the front door.

Xander had just reached the Citroen, no longer running in a crouch since seeing Faith and Buffy crash into the diner, and the party seemed well on its way. Once again, fashionably late, he thought. He was heading for the front entrance when a vampire suddenly burst through, sending glass and the metal doorframe onto the parking lot. The vampire stumbled right for him, trying to regain his balance, and Xander broke his bat in half when he swung it across the creature's face. The vampire's momentum kept it moving forward, but Xander saw him do a really cool backflip, from the impact, and land on his chest hard. With the broken handle of the bat in his hand, Xander realized he had a makeshift stake. He dropped to his knees, beside the creature, and slammed the jagged point into the vamp's back. The creature roared in pain and threw the teenager off with a powerful arm. Xander tumbled back and saw the vampire rise to its knees, the bat handle still sticking out of its back.

"Close," it growled at him. "But no heart."

Inside the diner, the trench coat demon hopped onto the lunch counter and ran along the top planning to jump Faith, as she fought against the vampires. But the kitchen door swung open and Angel rushed out just in time to sweep his arm, clipping the demon's legs below the kneecaps. The demon executed a clumsy flip through the air and smashed through one of the booth tables along the side wall.

On the opposite side of the diner, Buffy ducked as the lead vamp swung a back elbow at her face. The momentum brought him face to face with the blonde Slayer and she sent a one-two combo into his face, following through with a spinning backhand that sent him sprawling to the floor. With that foe momentarily out of the way, she turned to face the next threat, and took a hard fist to the face. As she stumbled a step back, she saw a stout, solid looking vampire advancing on her and just barely blocked the front kick aimed at her abdomen.

Xander scrambled to his feet and pulled the stake from his waistband trying to imitate one of Buffy's fighting stances. The vampire charged him, snarling as it flashed its fangs. Xander wielded the stake and aimed for the creature's heart, and he seemed on target, too. But the vamp knocked the wooden weapon from his hand with the swipe of a forearm and the teenager felt pain stab his wrist. He tried to back away but the vampire grabbed him by the front of his shirt and hurled him over the hood of the car, clearing it completely, and came down hard on the other side. Xander pushed himself off the pavement and looked over his shoulder to see the vampire standing on the Citroen's hood, glaring down at him. He threw himself flat on his back, as it dropped down on top of him, tucking his knees to his chest. The soles of his sneakers were planted against the vamp's chest and its fangs came within inches of Xander's face. Heaving with all of his strength, he kicked the vampire off and the creature flew back and could not regain its balance before it fell against the car's large fender. Xander saw the point of the broken bat burst out of the vamp's chest and it didn't even have time to scream when it exploded into ash.

When the diner turned into one big free-for-all, Giles had dove for his weapon bag as the group's attention was divided between the two Slayers, and then Angel had jumped in seconds later, throwing himself into the fray. He reached the table and pulled his bag out of the seat. Then something slammed into him from the side and he lost his bag. It was the human Tarakan, he realized, just before he was punched across the face. He managed to keep his balance, and, miraculously, his glasses, too. The Tarakan came at him again, pulling a large hunting knife from his belt. Giles caught the man's wrist stopping the blade from stabbing him through the chest, but was forced back against the table and the man leaned his weight behind the knife, which was hovering over the Watcher's face. Giles had to use both hands to keep the blade at bay and the Tarakan clamped his free hand around Giles' throat.

Sherri screamed and ran into the farthest corner of the diner, and Willow was suddenly standing by herself. Then she saw a lithe vampire hop onto the counter and jumped high over Buffy and the two vampires she was currently occupied with and land right in front of her. The redhead pulled out her cross as the creature reached for her and shoved it in front of its face. The vampire hissed and brought its hands up to shield itself and unintentionally knocked the cross from Willow's hand, sending it flying across the diner. They both just stood there for a stunned moment staring at each other. Then the creature roared and slammed an open palm against the teen's chest. Willow's feet left the floor and she landed on top of one of the booth tables, the wind knocked out of her. She saw the vampire advance on her and rolled herself down onto the seat, then quickly dropped underneath the table. She reached into the pocket of her overalls and pulled out a small bottle of holy water. From under the table she could see the vampire's legs striding towards her. She pulled the top off the bottle.

Buffy finally gained the upper hand on the stout vampire with a sharp fist to its nose and sent him flying with a hard front kick to the chest. But just as she freed herself of that creature, another vamp was charging her. She side-stepped and used its own momentum to send him flying over the counter, where it shattered the long mirror on the wall, and fell out of sight. The Slayer took in her immediate surroundings and saw Willow disappear under a table as a vampire stalked her. She hurried forward but two powerful arms wrapped themselves around her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides. It was the stout vampire again. Struggling, Buffy knew she wasn't going to be able to break the hold soon enough, and she could only watch as the vampire ripped the table from the wall, stripping Willow of her hiding place.

"Willow!" Buffy shouted.

The skinny vamp grabbed the redhead by the strap of her overalls and hauled her to her feet. Willow didn't make a sound but she dropped something from her hand and it shattered, scattering glass on the floor at her feet. Buffy was helpless to stop the vamp from leaning close to her friend, its fangs aiming for her neck.

Then Willow spit directly in its face. Completely drenching it.

Understanding swept through the Slayer as the vampire began to claw at its own face when its flesh began to smoke, releasing Willow. The redhead pulled out a stake from her overalls and held it with both hands, her chin damped with holy water. She gave a yell and plunged the sharp point into the creature's chest.

Buffy actually giggled in relief as the vamp disintegrated. Then she turned her attention back to the goon that had her pinned. She kicked a leg back and up between the vampire's legs. It grunted in pain and she shoved herself back, slamming it against the counter and she was free.

"Buffy!" Willow shouted and tossed her stake to her.

The Slayer snatched it out of the air and whirled on the vampire. Two seconds later, it was a pile of ashes.

Faith still had her hands full with the other two vampires. Their attack was slowly driving her into a corner and she was a fury of motion as she deflected most of it. A chambered leg blocked a mid-level kick from vamp one and a raised forearm blocked a right hook from vamp two, then she ducked under vamp two's left hook and deflected vamp one's right hook with an open palm wave. But a fist finally snuck by her defenses, as the back of her thighs came up against the corner table, and plowed into her stomach. Then the other vamp punched her across the face, sending her on top of the table. She kicked her legs at them as they moved in to restrain her but they were too close. Then vamp one was suddenly pulled away from her and she saw Angel wrapping his hands around the vamp's neck and flip it over his shoulder in a reverse head lock. The vamp's lower body slammed on the top of the counter and it flopped limply to the floor on its back. This distracted vamp two long enough for her to send the heel of her foot into the vampire's chin and its head snapped back painfully. She hopped back to the floor and immediately drove a knee into its gut, then grabbed its shoulder, as it bent forward, and smashed its face against the table. The vampire slumped there, cheek resting against the wooden surface, and Faith sent a kick under the table that broke through it and the vampire's face. She had nearly broke the table in half and she ripped off a large chuck of the wood that had a nasty looking point, as vamp two fell to the floor. She brought her new weapon up to drive it into the vampire's heart when vamp one got to its feet and charged her. Reversing her hold she let vamp one impale itself on the wooden point. Its ashes were still falling when Faith drove it through vamp two's chest and its ashes left an outline of itself around the piece of wood sticking up from the tiled floor.

No sooner had Angel freed Faith of one of the vampires had the long tentacle wrap itself around his neck and he was pulled around to face the trench coat demon. Having no need to breath, the blockage of his airway really didn't effect him, but he was concerned that its grip could snap his neck, and he struggled to untangle himself. But the demon did not give him time and swung him around in a wide arc until he slammed into the wall. Angel was dazed, but he did not release his hold from the tentacle, and the demon reeled the appendage into its sleeve dragging the vampire to it so it could smash a fist into his face.

Giles drove his knee into the Tarakan's side, making the man waver slightly, and deflected the tip of the knife away from his face and let it bury itself into the surface of the table. The Watcher then headbutted the man in the face, again without losing his glasses, and kicked him off. The Tarakan stumbled back but regained his balance and was about to come after Giles again when Buffy grabbed him by the shoulder. One second later, he was flying over the counter and disappearing from sight.

Buffy turned to her Watcher. "You all right, Giles?"

"Look out!" he shouted.

She turned just in time to duck under the lead vampire's punch aimed at her face and came back up with an uppercut to its chin. But, this time, the vamp shook off her blow and retaliated with a hard left that sent the Slayer spinning. As the lead vamp pressed its advantage Giles came up from behind with his hands clamped together and brought the huge fist down on the back of its head. This succeeded in only getting the vampire's undivided attention and it turned to face the Watcher. Giles took a step back then threw another punch at its face. The lead vamp caught his fist in an open palm. It snarled at him and grabbed the front of his shirt at the knot of his tie lifting his feet off the floor.

There was a loud ripping sound of splintering wood behind the lead vamp.

"Hey, snaggletooth!"

The vampire looked over his shoulder giving Buffy a perfect target to swing the seat of the stool, she had ripped from the floor, across its face. It was as if the vampire was suddenly torn away from her Watcher, and Giles fell to the floor, coughing for air, and he watched in grim satisfaction as the creature flew halfway across the diner.

Meanwhile, Angel was still struggling against the trench-coat demon's hold.

"Hey!"

The demon turned his head and saw Faith standing behind him.

"Aren't you supposed to be dead?" she asked.

Then she slammed a hard round kick into the demon's side. It staggered and its hold on Angel loosened and the vampire freed himself. He came in swinging a powerful fist into the creature's face as Faith pressed her attack and they began to methodically pummel the bad guy. Then it swung its tentacle in a wide arc and swatted them away.

Raising the stool ready to strike, Buffy started towards the lead vamp again. That was when the vampire she had sent over the counter reappeared, and the human Tarakan stood up next to it. The vampire was snarling and flashing its fangs at her, but the Tarakan was brandishing a sleek 9mm Baretta. And he was aiming directly at Buffy.

Buffy threw herself to the floor, falling back, keeping the stool held in front of her and she felt bullets hit the metal stem.

"Buffy!" she heard Giles and Angel yell at the same time as she hit the floor.

The Tarakan swung the gun toward the other end of the diner and fired off several shots, forcing Angel to dive behind the end of the counter. Faith threw herself into the trench-coat demon and swung it around so that its back was facing the gunman and the bullets meant for her ricocheted off the demon's hard back. Then the Tarakan swung the gun back at Buffy.

"No!" roared the lead vamp, still on the floor. "I want the Slayers alive!"

But it didn't look as if the Tarakan was paying attention or was just out right ignoring his orders, and Buffy knew he was going to pull the trigger. This close, there was no way he was going to miss, and she had lost the little protection of the stool when she had hit the floor.

Giles threw himself on top of her, using his larger frame to shield her body.

"Giles no!" she screamed, just as the gun went off.

The bullet dug into the floor right next to her head, missing her and Giles by mere inches. Pushing against her Watcher, she saw that the vampire, behind the counter with the Tarakan, had grabbed the human just as he pulled the trigger, deflecting the shot just enough to spare them. But the vamp wasn't done yet. It swung the human around and buried its fangs deep into his neck. The human screamed and tried to struggle as the creature ripped through its neck, not feeding, only killing, and the human quickly went limp.

The lead vamp was on his feet again and was striding towards her. Then the other vampire jumped over the counter and looked down at her as well.

"Giles move!" she shouted.

He rolled away from her and she started to rise. That was when the lead vamp kicked her in the face and she flew back, knocking Giles down again as he was getting to his feet. She shook her head to clear the stars she was seeing and found herself lying across her Watcher.

"We have got to work on our dance moves a little more," she told him.

"Indeed," he replied, as they pulled themselves to their feet.

She was holding his arm, helping him up. The shorter vampire reached them first and swung a fist at them.

"Duck!" Buffy shouted. She planted the palm of her hand against his back and forced him to lean forward and the punch missed him. At the same time she was delivering a side-kick into the lead vamp's chest, who was coming at them from her side, causing him to stumble a couple of steps back. Then she side-stepped her Watcher to slam a front kick into the shorter vampire's stomach. As it bent forward from the pain, she saw the lead vamp coming at them again. Still holding Giles' arm she side-stepped him again, spinning into a roundhouse kick that caught the lead vamp across the face, and Giles took the opportunity to kick the shorter vampire in the face, and both vamps fell to the floor at the same time.

Buffy smiled at her Watcher. "That was better!"

"Indeed."

"Uh, oh," Buffy said, and pushed Giles away from her. He fell into one of the table seats just as the lead vamp slammed into his Slayer, carrying her to the side of the diner.

Buffy struggled for leverage but the vamp had her nearly off the floor, her toes barely touching, and it seemed as if it was determined in driving her into the wall. The lead vamp threw her with, what felt like all of its strength, into the wall and all the wind was knocked out of her and she fell to the table top under her. She was dazed and her vision was blurred, but she saw the tall vamp about to reached out for her again, when it suddenly stopped. It turned its eyes and locked its gaze on Willow, who was kneeling next to the waitress, probably watching over her. The redhead's eyes widened as the vamp looked at her.

"You!" it declared.

And what surprised Buffy was that the vamp actually turned away from her and took a step toward Willow.

A new surge of adrenaline hit her system and Buffy sprung to her feet and leaped off the table onto the lead vamp's back, wrapping her arms around its neck.

"Willow, run!" she shouted.

Willow pulled the waitress to her feet and they made a run for it. The lead vamp reached out for Willow, but Buffy jerked on its neck as hard as she could forcing it to grab at her arms before she broke it.

Willow and Sherri made it out of the vampire's reach and they saw Giles, who was struggling against the only other vampire still alive. The creature was slowly lowering its bloodstained mouth toward the Watcher's neck. Then Xander finally came running into the diner, through the broken doorway, and threw himself at the vampire. The teenager managed to push the vamp away from Giles and slam it against the counter. He had taken the creature off guard, but with its superior strength, it would soon throw him off of itself. Willow pulled out her other stake, just as Giles straightened himself on his feet again.

"Giles!" she shouted, and tossed the stake to him.

He caught the wooden weapon in his opened palm and advanced on the vampire, just as it shoved Xander away. The vamp did not have the time to defend itself before Giles pierced its heart with the stake.

The vampire began to twist itself from side to side, in an attempt to throw Buffy off its back, but the blonde Slayer wrapped her legs around its waist, securing her hold. Then it changed its tactics and slammed itself back against the far corner of the wall, and the wind was knocked out of her for the second time in the past minute, and Buffy was unable to keep herself from releasing her hold and she slid down the wall. But instead of finishing her off, the vamp immediately started to march away, heading with purpose, after Willow again. She didn't know what the creature wanted with Willow, but it was important enough so that it would turn its back on a Slayer, so she was certain that it meant to kill her. Buffy threw herself forward, stretching her body as far as she could, reached out, and caught the heel of the vamp's boot, just before he was out of reach. He hit the floor with a satisfying thud.

The vamp kicked its foot free from her grasp and started to rise to its feet. Buffy forced herself to move and she stood up just a second after the vampire did, and had to quickly duck the powerful fist it swung at her head. She was much faster than the vampire and she came back up leading with an uppercut to its chin, followed by a quick left and right combo. The blows staggered it but did not appear to do much damage. This one was a tough one, she thought, and forearm blocked another punch, then used the same arm to slam a backhand fist across its face and continued with a following left hook, spinning into another right backhand. But the lead vamp caught it by the wrist and yanked her in close to raise a knee into her midsection, then, in an almost casual manner, tossed her into the air. She came down hard on another table, this one before one of the large pane windows. Her body was starting to feel like one massive bruise again and Buffy knew she wasn't going to last much longer if this fight didn't end soon.

Finally deciding that he needed the pesky Slayer out of the way if it wanted to reach Willow, the lead vamp came charging at her, just as she was sliding her legs off the table. Buffy waited until the last second, then dropped under the vampire's reaching arms, its momentum carrying it forward through the now empty space, and she put her shoulder against its thighs. With all of her strength, she flipped the vamp over the table and it sailed through the large window in an explosion of glass.

Catching her breath, she leaned against the table and watched for the lead vamp to return. After a few seconds, it still did not reappear. Buffy stood on one of the seats and leaned closer to the broken window. She was able to see the open yard on the side of the diner, the glass littered on the grass, but the vampire was nowhere to be seen.

Figuring it must have retreated, Buffy hopped down and rushed over to the others, where it looked like they had just finished off the last vampire. Giles was dusting ash from his tweed jacket, a stake in his hand.

"You guys all right?" she asked.

"We're all fine," Giles told her.

Sherri, the waitress was standing close by but kept herself apart from everyone, silent with a unbelieving expression on her face. Poor woman, Buffy thought. But there wasn't much they could do for her right now, and soon everyone's attention turned to the other end of the diner where silence had fell.

Angel and Faith had backed the trench-coat demon into a far corner and when either the vampire or the Slayer tried to move in closer, it would swing its tentacle arm in a wide arc to keep them back. It was pretty much a stalemate.

Buffy saw the large hunting knife imbedded in the surface of a nearby table and pulled it out as she led the others across the diner, until they were all spread out behind Angel and Faith. She saw the worry on the demon's face double as it was surrounded.

"So, are you going to give up?" she asked it.

The demon sneered at her. "You'll just kill me again."

"You bet your ass," Faith said. "And this time we'll make sure you stay dead."

"No, wait!" Buffy shouted, before the demon decided to suicide-charge them. She threw a look at Faith that said "shut the hell up" and took a step closer. "We'll make you a deal."

"Tarakans do not make deals with our targets."

"C'mon. We'll let you go if you deliver a message to the rest of the Order of Taraka."

The demon did not say anything for a few seconds. "What message?" it finally asked.

"There *is* no contract on the Slayers anymore. After tonight, there will be no one around to pay you."

A long moment of silence again. Then the demon swung its tentacle and they all jumped back. But it hadn't been aiming at them and it smashed the closest window to the corner and before anyone could react, it dove out of the diner and was running out into the night.

"I hope that was a `yes'," Xander said.

"It doesn't matter," Buffy said, turning around and they started toward the entrance of the diner. She slipped her new knife into the back of her waistband. "We don't have time to waste on him, that vamp that got away is no doubt on his way to tell Oran that they failed."

"So what do we do now?" Willow asked.

"We stick to the original plan," Faith said.

"We don't have any choice," Buffy agreed.

They all filed out of the trashed diner and gathered close to the Citroen. Giles was the last one out, having retrieved his weapon bag.

"Faith and I will go in first. You guys will follow us to keep any of Oran's henchgoons off our backs. Hopefully, there aren't many left. Angel, stay very close to them."

Angel nodded, his promise in his eyes. Then she looked at the frightened waitress. She turned to her Watcher. "Giles, can--"

He nodded. "I'll talk to her and make sure she's safely on her way."

Satisfied, she turned to Faith.

"Let's load up," the brunette said.

The Slayers marched back toward the jeep to arm themselves.

End of Part Fifteen

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Buffy brought the jeep to a stop in front of the docks and the Slayers got out. Buffy was holding a battle ax and Faith brought out a bat with a large fisherman's hook at the head. They stepped out in front of the jeep as the Citroen pulled up beside it. Giles, Angel, Willow, and Xander piled out and joined them. Beyond the large stacks of crates they saw a frigate docked with its gangplank leading up to the old ship.

"Is that it?" Faith asked.

"Yes," Giles nodded.

"Okay. You guys stay behind us," Buffy said.

She and Faith walked side by side as they crossed to the concrete surface of the docks. The large crates were forming an artificial canyon around them and the back of Buffy's neck started to tingle.

"This would be a good place for an ambush," Faith voiced her thought.

The ship was still in sight and about a hundred yards away, but they were in the middle of the gorge now.

Still watchful of the shadows around them, Buffy said, "Do you feel--"

"Like we're being watched?" Faith finished.

"Yeah."

"Buffy," Angel said. "We're being followed."

"We know," she said, without looking back. "How many?"

"I make out three, but they're pretty far back still."

"Now we have three in front," Faith said.

Three shadowy figures had stepped into view at the mouth of the passage. They were broad and built, two of them were holding clubs that Buffy found familiar, and the third was holding what looked like a machete.

"I was wondering where our girl was keeping these guys," Faith said. Buffy glanced at Faith. "I ran into some of them while I was in the cave. They try to disguise themselves as human but they do a lousy job."

Buffy stopped as the three got closer and she was starting to make out their inhuman features. "It looks like they got over their shyness." Then she got a clearer look at them and her eyes widened. "I know these guys."

"You do?" Faith asked.

"From where?" Giles asked from behind.

"During my time when I was . . . `away'. Remember, I told you about that dimension I was sucked into where those guys were kidnapping homeless kids to make them slaves?"

"These are they?"

"I doubt they're the same guys but they're definitely from the same demonic family tree."

"Who cares?" Faith put in. "We can kill them, that's all that matters."

"And their buddies behind us are getting closer," Xander informed them.

"Keep moving forward," Buffy said, and the group started walking again.

Giles was right behind Faith and Angel was behind Buffy, both had their hands behind their backs, with Willow and Xander bringing up the rear. The three creatures behind them had started to jog after them to close the distant, but the three in front were still closer and they started to charge the group. Buffy and Faith didn't stop but they brought their weapons up, ready to meet the attack.

"Now!" Faith shouted.

She and Buffy smoothly separated from each other allowing Giles and Angel to step out between them, and the Watcher and vampire brought out crossbows from behind their backs and released at the same time. Two of the goons were suddenly lying on the concrete with crossbow bolts protruding from their chests. The third inhuman only had two seconds to look upon its fallen comrades before he looked down at his own chest to see the hilt of the small dagger Faith had thrown. Then it, too, collapsed to the ground.

"You two get going!" Giles told his Slayers, slinging his crossbow over his shoulder. "We'll handle the rest."

"Right." Buffy tossed her battle ax and Giles caught it and turned with Angel to face the other three demons. "Faith."

"Heads up, Xand," the brunette tossed him the hooked bat and the teenager caught it. Angel had handed his crossbow to Willow and she was pulling out another bolt, from Giles' weapon bag on her shoulder, to reload it.

The Slayers hurried off toward the ship again, picking up the dead demons' weapons. Buffy had a club with studded metal spikes, and Faith had the machete. They were out in the open now and the others were lost in the shadows between the crate walls. Buffy hated leaving them behind like this but Oranstine and the Slayer Vampire were even more dangerous and she definitely did not want them facing either of them.

They did not run into any more thugs, so hopefully Oran had finally run out of them. They reached the gangplank and Faith charged up first, but she paused on the top deck to wait for Buffy, weapon held ready, scanning for danger. The ship looked deserted.

"This is the part I hate," Buffy whispered.

"C'mon, B. This is the most exciting part. The anticipation," Faith said. "Should we split up?"

"No. The only way we're gonna beat these two is if we stay together."

"She's really that good?" Faith asked.

"I hate to admit it."

"Only the fact that this chick is invulnerable is what makes her so tough. We get rid of Oran and we should be able to take her down."

They started moving toward the back, looking in through the port holes of the closed doors as they passed. "I just hope we don't have to fight them both at the same time," Buffy said.

"If we do, you just keep fang-girl busy and I'll handle Oran. She's all mine."

They came to the access hatch leading to the lower decks. Buffy reached for the handle and met Faith's eyes. She nodded that she was ready and Buffy jerked the hatch up. They gazed down the steep stairs leading into a narrow corridor filled with shadows. It looked empty.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Oh, yeah," Faith said.

"On the count of--"

Faith stepped out over the hatchway and dropped inside.

"--three," Buffy said, to no one.

She quickly dropped down to the corridor behind the brunette. Faith was already opening cabin doors on both sides of the hall.

"Faith, slow down!" Buffy hissed.

"C'mon, we don't want them to get away, do we?" she replied.

Before Buffy could say anything else, she was cut off when a voice came from up ahead of them.

"Oh, would you two knock it off, already!"

They exchanged another look then walked purposefully to the open portal at the end of the hall. It opened into the cargo hold. There were only a few boxes and small crates stacked along the walls, but for the most part, it was empty. That is, except for the table to one side and the weary looking figure of a man tied to a chair. Oh, and the Slayer Vampire standing right behind him.

They stepped through the portal and stood side by side, weapons held ready.

The young vampire who used to be Noriko Amano smiled pleasantly at them. She had changed out of the street clothes she had been wearing when Buffy had fought her, probably because they had been drenched in the creature's; and some of Buffy's; blood, and was now uniformed in the trademark jacket and attire of one of Oran's minions.

"Welcome. It's a pleasure to see you both again. How's your side, Buffy?"

"Screw you," Buffy hissed.

Faith glanced at her partner, surprised at the sudden anger coming from the blonde. But then again, getting your ass kicked can cause a little resentment, she thought. The Slayer Vampire continued to smile. From the pocket of her jacket, she pulled out a stake. The sharp tip was stained red. With blood. With Buffy's blood, Faith realized. The vampire brought the tip under her nose and closed her eyes as she inhaled deeply. With a sigh of pleasure, she opened her eyes again and looked straight at the blonde Slayer.

"You have no idea how hungry you're making me feel right now, just looking at you."

"You want to try the diet plan I have for you?" Buffy replied. She took a step to her right and Faith took her cue to step to the left and they started to circle round the vamp's position.

"Uh-uh, none of that." The vampire pressed the tip of the stake over the man's heart, wrapping her free hand around his throat.

The Slayers stopped where they were.

"Who is he?" Faith asked.

"He's her Watcher," Buffy answered. To the man, she said, "Wallace?"

"Yes," he managed to say around the vampire's grip. "Please, stop her. Don't let her go on like this."

The Slayer Vampire faked sorrow. "Wallace, you know you hurt me when you say things like that. I'm still your Slayer." She released his throat and caressed the top of her hand against his cheek. The Watcher closed his eyes and a tear ran down his other cheek. "And soon you will be my Watcher again. A Slayer cannot be without her Watcher." She looked at Buffy again. "This one knows exactly what I'm talking about. Don't you, Slayer?"

Faith saw Buffy swallow hard and she fought to keep her voice steady. "Let him go. This is between us."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Why haven't you already turned him into a vampire?" Faith asked.

The vampire finally looked at Faith. "The master would not allow it. She feared that I was too emotionally attached to him, and if I sired him it may interfere with the master's mark." She nodded toward her left arm where her tattoo was hidden under the jacket. "But I couldn't let him be killed."

"But you're planning on turning him anyway?" this from Buffy.

"Yes. But the only way I can do that is if the master is dead."

"So why don't *you* kill her?" Faith snapped.

"You know as well as I do that we cannot kill the master. Although, now, you can it seems."

"What do you mean?"

"As soon as your connection with the master was broken, she knew about it." The vampire smiled at the memory. "Oh, she was pisssssed. The first human Slayer under her control and she thought she had lost you. But then the connection was re-established, for just a couple of minutes, and she realized that she was only being blocked out by an outside source of magic."

Faith and Buffy looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. Willow's protection spell. Faith willed herself not to look down at the leather pouch hanging against her chest, partially hidden by her half-zipped sweat shirt.

"Why don't you just take your Watcher and run?" Buffy said, to change the subject.

"I would if I could. But there is a range to the master's mark, sort of like a leash. You can only travel so far before something inside you starts screaming at you to return."

"Really?" Faith said. "I never felt anything like that."

"That's because you did not have the mark long enough. That's why the master had you locked up. It takes about a day for the mark to integrate completely with you. I suppose you already know the mark makes you invulnerable?" At Faith's expression, her smile grew wider. "That's one of its first benefits. But if the magic that is blocking the master from you is removed now, you will not be able to refuse her when she calls you. And the closer you are the more control the master will have over you."

Something finally clicked inside Buffy and her voice was full of dread when she spoke. "Where is Oranstine now?"

"Why, she went out with everyone else to go find you two." She looked at them with innocent eyes. "Didn't you see her?"

"Faith, let's go!" Buffy turned toward the portal.

"What!?" Faith exclaimed. "We're just going to leave?"

"Oranstine's our real threat right now. Besides, we can't kill her while Oran's still alive." She looked at the Slayer Vampire once more. "Aren't you worried that you might die when we kill your master?"

The vampire seemed to consider this for a moment. Then she shrugged, nonchalantly. "I'm a vampire. I'm already dead."

Buffy glared at her for a moment then looked at the Watcher. "We'll be back, I promise." She whirled around and strode out of the cargo hold. Faith followed her. Buffy started to run.

"B, what's the hurry?" Faith asked.

"Oranstine knows that Willow was the one who cast the protection spell," she said, as they climbed up the stairs to the top deck. "She was the vampire who got away!"

End of Part Sixteen

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

It had only been about three minutes since Buffy and Faith had hurried ahead to the docked ship and their fight with the three remaining inhumans was well on its way. Being a vampire and the strongest in their group, two of the demons focused on Angel, while the last kept Giles and Xander occupied. Willow already had a bolt loaded in the crossbow Angel had given her, but she dare not try her luck at hitting one of the goons for fear of hitting one of her friends. Also considering that her skills with this weapon were nonexistent.

Angel had started the fight barehanded, but he had managed to relinquish a club from one of his opponents and was steadily gaining the upper hand now. The third one seemed to be holding its own against the teenager and the Watcher. Willow cringed when the demon blocked a swing from Giles' ax and delivered a side kick that knocked Xander to the concrete, but Giles finally got through its defense and buried the blade of the ax into the creature's back, and she turned her head away from the grisly sight. When she looked up again she saw that Xander and Giles were moving in to help finish off Angel's opponents.

"Willow," someone whispered her name from behind her.

She turned and saw a faint outline of someone standing in a narrow space between two of the large crates. "Willow," the figure said again and stepped out of the shadow.

"Buffy!" Willow moved closer. "What are you doing back here? Where's Faith?"

She saw a worried expression on her friend's face. "There's something wrong with her. I don't think the spell's working anymore."

"What?"

"C'mon, I'll take you to her!"

"But what about--" Willow indicated the fight that was still going on.

"They'll be fine. And we don't have time! Hurry!

Buffy disappeared between the crates again and Willow quickly followed, taking care to point the crossbow at the ground while she ran. They came out of the narrow passage and Buffy led her across the open docks leading away from the frigate, actually. Willow wondered what Faith would be doing out this way. Maybe she had run away when the spell failed and was being controlled by Oranstine, and Buffy had been chasing her. Even when they reached her, the young practicing witch wasn't sure what she could do to reinforce the protection spell without any supplies.

Buffy didn't say anything to her as they ran.

"Where is she?" Willow finally asked.

"She was right around that corner." She pointed to the other side of a group of large cargo containers.

They rounded the corner and Willow stopped right beside Buffy, but did not see Faith anywhere.

"Where is she?" she asked again and looked at Buffy. The Slayer was glaring at her with her green eyes. Her expression sent a chill down Willow's back. "Buffy?"

Buffy's hand shot out and clamped around her neck and she gagged as she was slammed against the side of the container. She had dropped the crossbow from the impact and now clawed at the hand strangling her.

"Buffy!" Willow managed to choke out.

Her best friend looked at her with deathly cool eyes. "Now, you will tell me what kind of spell you have on *my* Slayer?"

* * * *

"Giles!"

Giles, Angel, and Xander looked up in surprise to see the two Slayers running towards them. At their feet were the last of Oran's demon henchmen.

"Buffy," Angel exclaimed.

"What's wrong?" Giles asked, as they reached them.

Buffy took a quick look around. "Where's Willow?" she and Xander asked at the same time. Xander had been looking for his childhood friend also.

"She was right here," Angel said. "She was standing just over there."

"What's happened?" Giles asked.

"Oranstine was that tall vampire at the diner. She knows about the protection spell and, I don't know how, but she knows Willow was the one who casted it," Buffy quickly explained going over to where Willow had been standing. She saw the narrow passage between the crates. "I think she already has her."

"We need to go after them," Xander was already moving.

"No. Faith and I will go after them. I need you to watch the freighter, the Slayer Vampire is on board. If you see her leave don't go after her, just come get us."

"Buff--"

Buffy cut Xander off. "We don't have time to argue, please, Xander. I promised Oz I wouldn't let anything happen to her. We'll get her back!" She looked at Faith.

"I'll go this way," the brunette said and started running.

"Be careful," Buffy told the others and disappeared between the crates.

* * * *

"Oranstine!" Willow gasped.

"Please to meet you, child," the demon wearing her friend's appearance smiled briefly at her. Then sneered. "Now, how are you blocking my power?"

"What are you talking about?"

Oranstine tilted her head as she regarded the redhead. "Allow me to repeat myself." She slammed Willow against the container again, the back of her head making a ringing sound on the metal surface.

Willow closed her eyes against the pain but still saw stars dancing under her eyelids. When she opened her eyes several seconds later, she saw Buffy's face smirking at her. She inched her hand to Giles' weapon bag still hanging from her shoulder.

Oranstine didn't take her eyes off hers, but said, "Don't." Willow let her hand drop away from the bag.

The demon said, "If you do not tell me about this spell, I will just take the chance that your death will break it for me, witch."

The throbbing in her head lessened so that Willow was no longer clenching her teeth. She said, "I'm not really a witch."

"Is that right? You honestly do not realize the power you exude?" Oranstine seemed to find this amusing. "The potential you have. It's a shame you will not get the chance to explore your powers more fully."

Willow closed her eyes again, so that she would not see her friend's face saying these things, promising her death. The voice still sounded like Buffy's but not the tone the demon was using, so it was easier to pretend that this creature did not look like her best friend. She felt its hot breath on her cheek as it leaned closer to her.

"If you really are as naive as you say, then I believe I already know what kind of spell an amateur witch, like yourself, would use. Which means I have no need of you, dead or alive."

The hand on her neck adjusted so it was cupped under her chin and she felt the demon's other hand on top of her head. She realized it was going to snap her neck. Just like Ms. Calendar, Willow thought, with dread and a tear rolled out from under her eyelid.

"NO!"

Willow was thrown to the concrete, some of the wind getting knocked out of her. She shook her head and opened her eyes to a bizarre sight.

Buffy, the real Buffy, was fighting. . . well, herself. Dazed, Willow struggled to get to her feet as she watched the two Buffys trading blows. One of the Buffys had an enraged look on her face as her fists battered the other Buffy.

Then that Buffy shouted, "Willow, run!"

Which was great advice, and the redhead took off away from the mirror brawl, securing the weapon bag on her shoulder. She saw Faith running towards them from that direction. She was armed with a machete.

"Oh, shit!" Faith said, as she stopped next to Willow. "Which one is B?"

Willow looked back at the fight, but she could no longer tell which was the Buffy who told her to run. They were identical, even down to the cut above Buffy's brow. "I don't know."

"Damn. I guess we do this the old-fashioned way. Do you have a coin? We can flip heads or tails."

"What!?"

"Just kiddin'. Get back to the others, we'll handle this."

Faith started forward again, leaving Willow behind. She wanted to protest. The Slayer looked over her shoulder. "Make sure Xander doesn't do anything stupid."

Reluctantly, Willow ran away.

Faith was about twenty feet away from the fight when one Buffy slammed a hard fist into the other Buffy's stomach, making her double over, then grabbed that Buffy by her jacket, swung her around, and launched her into the air. The airborne Buffy hit the concrete and rolled to a stop at Faith's feet. The brunette had the machete poised, ready to strike.

That Buffy looked up at her and saw the machete. "Faith!"

"Faith, kill her!" the other Buffy shouted. "That's Oranstine!"

Faith glanced at her then at the Buffy at her feet.

"You wouldn't kill me, Faith," that Buffy said. "Not after what you said to me in the shower."

A smile spread on the brunette's face. She reached down an open palm to the blonde Slayer and helped her to her feet. "You know, I was only joking when I said those things to you."

Buffy mocked a hurt expression. "Why you tease!" They laughed.

Their smiles faded when they turned their attention back to the Buffy Oranstine. She stood with the spiked club Buffy had dropped in one hand and Willow's crossbow in the other.

* * * *

"Shouldn't we be helping them?" Xander asked.

"You've already asked that question," Angel told him.

"No, no. What I said before was: `do you think they need our help?' Okay? This is a totally different question."

"Xander," Giles spoke up. "I'm sure they'll find Willow. She couldn't have gone far." The Watcher managed to put as much confidence in his words as he could, hiding his own concern for the young redhead.

He was still holding the battle ax in his hand, hanging by his leg. They had moved away from the corpses of the inhumans to a better position to watch over the frigate. He resisted the urge to lean against the crate for the temptation to slide to the ground and sit was very strong in him right now. He had been awake now for nearly forty hours and the lack of sleep was finally catching up to him.

"At least we don't have to worry about anymore of Oran's thugs," Xander nodded toward the bodies littering the concrete behind them. He looked at Angel. "Which means you get to participate in the Slayer match after all. Three against one. Makes you almost feel sorry for the Slayer Vampire."

"Don't start feeling sorry for her just yet," Angel said.

Xander and Giles looked in the direction the vampire was looking. They saw a lone figure walking down the gangplank of the ship. From this distance, they could only make out that the figure had long hair and was wearing a jacket.

"Do we follow her?" Xander asked.

"We won't have to."

The figure stepped off the gangplank and marched in their direction.

* * * *

"This is not good," Buffy said. The Buffy Oranstine was pointing the crossbow at them.

"She can only hit one of us," Faith said.

"*That's* reassuring."

"Besides, she wants us alive." Faith narrowed her eyes at the demon. "Isn't that right?"

Buffy never imagined her face could look so evil as it smiled at them. "I would prefer to have both of you, but I guess I'm going to have to settle for just one."

"How are you at catching crossbow arrows," Buffy whispered to Faith, not taking her eyes off her demon reflection.

"Never tried it before."

"Me neither."

The demon continued. "And since Faith already has my mark, I guess you're the one that's going to die." She directed the crossbow at Buffy.

Buffy tensed. If the Slayer Vampire could catch bolts so can she.

"Wait!" Faith shouted. She took a step closer to Buffy. "There's still a way you can have both of us." She dropped her machete and pulled the leather pouch all the way out of her sweat shirt. "This is what's protecting me from your control. All you have to do is take it away from me."

Oranstine seemed to consider this for a moment. She jerked her head to the side. "Step away from her."

"Faith, what are you doing?" Buffy whispered.

Faith grinned at her, still looking at Oranstine. "I have no idea." She put her hand on the small of Buffy's back and they locked eyes.

"Watch your back," Buffy said.

"You know me."

Faith walked slowly away from the blonde slayer, her arms down at her sides. Oranstine stepped out into the open with her, keeping the crossbow trained on Buffy.

"Now take it off," the demon ordered.

Faith shook her head and smiled. "That's not how it works, Man-E-Faces. If you want me you're gonna have to take it from me."

"I'll kill her." Oranstine raised the crossbow an inch for emphasis.

Faith gave a shrugged. "Then kill her."

She didn't see Buffy's jaw dropping as she looked at her with wide eyes.

"But you might miss," Faith added quickly. "Buffy's pretty fast, you might not be able to hit her, and then you'll have to deal with both of us." Faith lifted the pouch once more. "Now, if you can get this away from me, I'll be in your control and then it will be you and me against Buffy."

Oranstine only took her eyes off Buffy just for a second to take in Faith's shit-eating grin.

"C'mon, whadda ya say?" Faith said.

Still looking at Buffy, the demon started to walk towards Faith.

"I'll take that as a `yes'," Faith said, tossing the leather pouch over her shoulder, so it hung down her back, and charged the demon.

Oranstine dropped the crossbow, focusing all her attention on Faith and charged the Slayer, still armed with the club.

As soon as the demon dropped the crossbow, Buffy was also running , but she knew immediately that she wasn't going to reach them before they clashed. And what happened next occurred so fast Buffy wasn't sure what happened, despite the fact that she had been looking directly at it.

Faith had leaped into the air at the last instant, and Oranstine launched herself to match her move. They collided in midair and the next instant Buffy was falling back to avoid Faith as she flew straight at her. As she hit the concrete, she watched the brunette slam against the side of the cargo container and flop limply to the ground.

"Faith!" Buffy cried, as she scrambled to her fellow Slayer.

She dropped to her knees and turned her onto her back. Faith let out a cry of anguish and Buffy gasped. There were three long bloody slashes running diagonally across her chest, starting from the top of her left breast, reaching to her right shoulder.

"Oh, my God!"

Buffy heard laughter behind her and looked over her shoulder and saw her demon reflection smiling at her. The spiked club was lying at its feet, broken in half, but there was blood painted on the long talons that had sprung from the demon's right hand. "If you want her to live you'll have to. . . ."

Oranstine faltered, a look of confusion crossing her features and she looked down and noticed the handle of the large hunting knife sticking out of the center of her chest. The knife Faith had slipped out of Buffy's waistband and kept hidden along the inside of her forearm. With a stunned expression, Oranstine dropped to her knees. She looked up at the Slayers.

"Well done, my child," the demon said, smiling weakly. "But now, it looks like you are going to die after all."

"I got her!" Faith managed to say through her pain. "I got her, B!"

"Yeah, you did." Tears were suddenly filling Buffy's eyes as she cradled the dying Slayer in her lap.

"Tell Giles . . . I did good." Faith coughed and blood came out of her mouth and dripped down the side of her cheek.

"He'll be so proud of you," Buffy said.

"Looks like you . . . and Angel . . . are gonna have to deal with . . . fang-girl without me."

"No."

More laughter made Buffy look at the demon again and her anger flared as she watched the demon laugh at them. Green blood was flowing steadily from around the knife in its chest but it wasn't dead yet.

"I'm gonna finish what Faith started, you--" Buffy stopped and just stared at Oranstine for a couple of seconds. Then she looked down at Faith again. She saw the leather strap still around the brunette's neck. Buffy grabbed it and pulled the leather pouch out from under her. Buffy glanced at the demon again, still alive, then the pouch. She yanked the pouch and snapped the leather strap from Faith's neck.

Almost immediately, Faith's fatal wounds stopped bleeding and slowly began to mend themselves.

"Thank God," Buffy breathed. She looked over her shoulder again and saw that the dying demon was no longer laughing. "As long as you're alive, she can't die."

Buffy saw her own eyes glaring back at her. Oranstine said, in Buffy's voice, "An excellent idea. . . . child. But you . . . did overlook one minor detail." The demon was getting weaker but its eyes flashed a luminous green.

Buffy gagged as her air passage was suddenly closed off. She looked down and saw Faith, the brunette's hand wrapped around her throat, and her eyes were lit up with the same green brightness as the demon's. The slashes in her chest were still healing themselves but they were still gaping wounds.

"F--" Buffy tried to say, but the grip tightened around her neck and she started to feel her strength leave her.

Oranstine was laughing again, but it was more labored now. "You now have a choice, Slayer."

Buffy tried to pry Faith's hand off her throat but the brunette grabbed her wrist with her free hand and pinned it to the concrete as she forced Buffy down. Soon Faith was straddled across the blonde Slayer, looking down at her with those glowing green eyes, a sneer on her face. No doubt matching Oranstine's expression. But Buffy's other hand was still free, the one she had been holding the leather pouch in, which she realized she had dropped. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw it laying about three feet away from her and she reached for it, the tips of her fingers just brushing against the leather.

Oranstine continued. "What will it be, Slayer? Will you save yourself and let your friend die. . . .or will you let your friend live and kill you instead?"

Buffy strained harder to grab the pouch, but she couldn't do more than touch it with her fingertips.

"Yes," Oranstine said, humor in her voice. "Reach for it."

* * * *

"It is her," Giles breathed.

The young vampire had entered the mouth of the canyon created by the large crates and was striding purposefully in their direction.

"The Slayer Vampire?" Xander asked.

"Yes."

"Giles!"

The three of them turned at the sound of Willow's voice and saw the redhead running towards them. Her face took on a mask of disgust as she weaved her way through the inhuman bodies littered across the ground. Xander rushed to her and gave her a huge hug, nearly lifting her feet off the ground.

"Will! I'm so glad you're alive!"

Willow made a gagging sound under his strong embrace and he quickly released her.

"Where're Buffy and Faith?" Giles asked, though obviously relieved that she was alive, as well.

"They're fighting Oranstine, right now. It was freaky! Oranstine was disguised as Buffy, she looked exactly like her." Willow looked past the three men. "Uh, who's that?"

"I call her trouble," Angel said, the only one who had not taken his eyes off the approaching Slayer Vampire. "Giles, get them out of here. Now!"

The vampire took a few steps forward readying himself to face the creature. The Slayer Vampire was close enough so that they were able to see her clearly now.

The young vampire stopped just a few feet in front of Angel and glared at him. "Normally I'd welcome the chance for a quick meal, but the master is calling me now, and even though I don't want to, I have to go to her. So back off!" The last she said with a growl.

Angel didn't budge and there was anger in his eyes. "You're the one who hurt Buffy."

She smiled at him. "What? Are you Buffy's boyfriend? Well, I'll be sure to give her my condolences over your death. And I'll give her a kiss for you, too."

With that, she roared, her fangs springing forth, and leaped at him. Angel roared also, his vampire features sliding into place, and leaped forward as well. The two vampires collided and the Slayer Vampire went sailing through the air and slammed into the wall of crates. She hit hard and fell to the concrete but quickly sprang to her feet. There was a surprised look on her face.

"A vampire!" A wicked grinned formed around her fangs. "Why didn't I smell it before?"

Angel was facing her, ready for another attack.

"Angel!"

Angel looked over his shoulder and caught the battle ax Giles threw to him. The Slayer Vampire thought this was amusing.

"Good idea," she said. "You're definitely gonna need that."

* * * *

Darkness was starting to creep around the edges of her vision but the bright green coming from Faith's eyes pierced through. Buffy knew if she didn't do something, like right now, she was going to loose consciousness and she would not be waking up.

She wasn't sure how, but she managed to get her nails into the leather of the pouch and dragged it just a centimeter closer to her, which was enough to get a better hold on it. She closed her fist around it and was about to slam it against the top of Faith's hand. She stopped herself at the last instant. Through her blurring vision she could still see that the slashes had not yet closed completely, if she reestablished the protection spell they would surely start bleeding again.

"What's the matter, Slayer," she heard Oranstine say. Buffy wished she would lose her appearance or at least change into someone else. "Aren't you . . . going to save yourself?"

She had the pouch just hovering over Faith's hand, and it was getting heavier and heavier with each passing second. Buffy tightened her grip around it so it wouldn't slip out of her hand, but even that was now a chore. She was no longer able to struggle to free her other hand, that was pinned to the concrete, but Faith did not let it go. Buffy was trying to keep her eyelids from closing but they were also too heavy and she succeeded in only keeping them partially opened.

"It. . . looks like it's. . . all over for you," she heard Oranstine.

A flash of anger coursed through the Slayer, but in her weakened condition it only allowed her to open her eyes again. But it was enough. She saw Faith's wounds were just fading scars now. Miraculously, she was still holding the pouch and she willed her hand to move. Her hand just fell limply and the leather pouch landed on top of Faith's hand just as darkness finally filled her vision.

When Buffy opened her eyes again, she saw Faith falling back, the green light disappearing from her eyes and the brunette landed next to her, one leg still across her lower body. Savage coughs shook Buffy's entire body as her lungs clawed desperately for air.

Unable to move, Buffy let her head fall to the side and saw Faith lying there with her eyes closed.

"F. . . .th." Buffy could barely hear her own voice. < Faith >

Faith's eyes fluttered and opened. She was looking directly at Buffy but didn't seem aware of what she was seeing. Then she lifted her head and her eyes focused.

"Buffy?" she said, softly.

Buffy managed a smile. Faith raised herself to her knees and Buffy thought that was really unfair. Here she was with a nearly crushed windpipe and Faith was acting like a slow morning person.

"Are you all right, B?"

"y. . .," she tried to say. < yeah >

"Oh, man." Faith helped her to a sitting position and had to hold onto her to keep the blonde from collapsing. "I'm sorry, B. I didn't mean to do that. I didn't have any control. She was inside my head. I could hear her."

Buffy put a weak hand on her shoulder. ". .on't orry. . . 'out 'at," she said. < Don't worry about that >

Red, abrasive bruising was forming around Buffy's neck in the shape of Faith's hand. She rubbed her hand tentatively against her throat. It was hurting her just to breath, but hopefully that, usually, reliable Slayer healing will start to work.

She turned her gaze to where she last saw the demon. Oranstine was now sitting, slumped on the concrete looking very weak. She was still wearing Buffy's appearance and the Slayer did not want to admit just how disturbing it was to see herself, right in front of her, with a large knife sticking out of her chest. However, the green blood still flowing from the wound helped to dispel the surreal image. Then her eyes fell on the leather pouch on the concrete next to her leg. She picked it up and gave it to Faith. It didn't seem like Oranstine had the strength left to take control of Faith again, but she wasn't about to bet what little life she had left on it.

"Congratulations, my children," Oranstine sputtered, and her lips were damped with blood. "You are very. . . .resourceful indeed. You won. After four centuries. . . .it's finally my time. . . .to die."

"Oh, stop being so dramatic," a voice cut through the night.

Buffy, Faith, and Oranstine turned their heads in the direction the voice came from. A silhouette of a person wearing a long trench coat was walking towards them.

"I truly hate the way you're always posturing," the silhouette said. It was a female voice. "I don't remember you being this bad when we were together."

The person was clearly visible now and she was standing to one side between the Slayers and the demon. Buffy's mouth dropped again as she recognized the woman.

The woman looked at her. The woman she had met last night in Angel's mansion. The shapeshifter whom they thought was Oranstine. The Lady Oranstine saw Buffy's expression and smiled at her.

"Hello, Buffy," she said. "It's nice to see you again."

Buffy tried to say, "F. . . me. . ." < you know what she said >

End of Part Seventeen

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Now who the hell is this?" Faith asked.

Buffy couldn't say anything, and not just because of her injured throat. She just stared unbelievingly at the woman.

The demon reflection of Buffy looked as surprised as the real one as it too gazed at the woman. "You?! What are you . . . doing here?"

The woman looked back at Buffy and smiled knowingly. "I was visiting a friend."

"This is none of your . . . concern," the demon said.

The woman looked at the demon again. "Oh, I think it is, my dear. When the humans *and* the Slayers start seeing me as a threat because of your nefarious projects, it concerns me a great deal. I cannot move around freely while you make life difficult for the both of us."

Since she couldn't shout, Buffy had resorted to raising her hand as if she were in class. "Excuse us," Faith said for her.

The demon and the woman turned to the Slayers. "Yes?" the woman asked.

"Twins?" Buffy managed to say in a hushed voice.

The woman considered that for a moment. "You could say that." Seeing Buffy's expression she continued. "I apologize, Slayer. I told you, you had no idea what you were dealing with. And I *was* telling the truth when I said I was here to see Angel. But I'm afraid I did lie when I told you the Order of Taraka took my head." She paused for a moment. "Oh, they did take my head, but . . . you see I didn't actually grow a new head. I grew a new body."

The Slayers just stared, dumbfounded expressions on their faces.

The woman nodded to the demon on the ground. " *She's* the one who grew a new head."

"So, you're Oranstine, too?" Faith said.

The woman started to walk toward the Slayers. "Yes. But I'm not your enemy, as I told Buffy last night.

"How?" Buffy asked.

"I knew long ago that I could not die unless both my heart and my head were removed, so I wasn't concerned when the Order of Taraka killed me. They only wanted my head. But imagine my surprise when my head did not die and I was not resurrected in my own body again, that I grew a totally new body instead." She stopped just a few feet away from them and glanced over her shoulder at the demon. "But that does not compare to my shock when I discovered that my body did not die either."

"There are two Oranstines," Faith stated.

"Please, call me Oran."

Faith sneered at her. "So she's not going to die?" She nodded to the demon on the ground, still looking like it was dying.

"No," Oran said. "In about a day or two she'll be completely regenerated."

Faith's and Buffy's eyes fell on the machete that was lying on the ground just beside Oran's feet. Oran bent down to retrieve it. Faith glared at the woman.

"So you're here to save `yourself', huh?"

Oran met the Slayers' eyes calmly. "No, I am not."

She turned around and started to walk back to the Buffy Oranstine. The demon watched her approach.

"What are. . . you going to do . . . with that?" it asked.

"My dear, Oranstine," Oran said. "I'm afraid the novelty of the `Two-Faced Demon' has lost its charm on me. I very much prefer being an only child."

Oran was standing right next to Oranstine now, the machete still hanging by her side.

"You can't kill me!" Oranstine shouted, blood dripping from its lip. "If I die, you die!"

Oran sighed deeply. "That argument is also very old. Two hundred years ago that may have been true, your heart was still a part of me, even though you got to carry it." She put her free hand over her chest. "But, I've been with my *own* heart for two hundred years now. I think I'll survive without *yours*."

"Wait!" Oranstine shouted.

The demon's body shimmered and the form of Buffy it was wearing melted away, revealing its true, faceless, self. It was still wearing the long dark robe when Faith had first met the demon, the hood down and the lapels hanging open to reveal the hunting knife piercing the center of the large tattoo on its chest. Oranstine's skin was a stone gray and its body was shaped like a human body. But it's face was devoid of any features. At least any exterior features. There was a thin gray membrane of transparent skin pulled over its entire head with no openings. Underneath, the Slayers were able to see the demon's true face. Two round black spheres swirling in the eyesockets of its skull, no nose, and just a small opening that moved when it spoke.

"I am you!" the demon shouted.

Oran raised the blade over her head. "And I really do detest myself."

With that, she brought the blade down and smoothly separated the demon's head from its shoulders. Buffy made sure not to watch the head as it tumbled across the concrete, but she was still able to hear it bouncing along. She usually didn't shy away from such things, but the way she was feeling right now, she wasn't sure if she could keep herself from throwing up.

"Is she dead now?" Faith asked.

Oran was still looking down at her former body. She dropped the machete. "Yes. Finally," she said, in a soft voice. She put a hand to her chest again, as if to assure herself that her heart was still beating. Sighing, she smiled.

Buffy turned to Faith. "And you're still alive, too." Buffy was able to make each word understandable.

"Which means, so is fang-girl." Faith looked down at the small leather pouch in her hand. "I guess I don't need this anymore." She was about drop it when she stopped herself and looked at Oran. Buffy knew what she was thinking.

Oran saw their expressions. "Do not worry, Slayer. When I --when we-- were `separated,' Oranstine got to kept the tattoo."

"But you both can shapeshift," Buffy stated.

"That is our natural ability. I acquired the tattoo about a hundred years before I was . . . spliced."

Faith pulled down the tattered sweatshirt from her shoulder revealing her left arm. The tattoo was no longer there. She let the pouch fall to the ground.

"How long did you know Oranstine was here?" Buffy was asking Oran.

"As soon as I arrived. Back at Angel's I told you that."

"But you didn't tell us who it was," she accused.

Oran smiled at her. "No I didn't." She saw the look Buffy gave her. "Come now, Buffy. I'm still a demon. You know, evil and all. Besides, didn't you have more fun this way?"

"Yeah, barrels of funnies," she replied, disdainfully.

Faith helped Buffy to her feet even though the brunette was the one covered in blood. "So, what are your plans now?" Buffy asked.

Oran nodded down to the demon corpse. "I'll dispose of that." She looked at Buffy again. "And there is that little matter of our bargain. I did promise to leave Sunnydale and didn't."

"Enlight of things, I think we can overlook it this time. But after the funeral you will be leaving?"

Oran smiled pleasantly. "Of course. Say good-bye to Angel for me?"

Buffy didn't respond and turned away.

"We should be getting back to the others," Faith said. "We're not done yet."

Buffy moaned as they started walking away. She paused to pick up the crossbow Oranstine had dropped, its bolt was still loaded. Her whole body, which had not completely healed from her injuries this morning, was once again aching with those and new ones. "That's easy for you to say, you're the one who just had the free power-up."

"You try getting your chest sliced open and tell me if it would have been worth it?" Faith replied.

Before Buffy could say anything they saw Xander running towards them.

"Buffy!" he shouted. He stopped when he was close enough to see Faith more clearly. And all the blood. "Faith. Are you--"

"Don't worry, it's not-- Well it *is* mine, but I'm all right."

"Xander," Buffy said to get his attention.

Xander looked at the blonde. A forlorn look on his face. He opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. Buffy hadn't seen him like this since the time he had told her Willow was in a coma.

"What is it?" Buffy said, dreadfully.

"It's Angel."

* * * *

Buffy was no longer feeling the pain from her injuries and actually beat Faith and Xander back to where he had left them. Her heart leaped into her throat when she saw Giles and Willow on there knees around Angel who was lying on his back on the concrete.

"Angel!" Buffy cried.

Giles and Willow saw her coming and her Watcher moved away and Buffy dropped to her knees the instant he left the spot. Angel's face was a mask of pain and he looked up at her with weak eyes. Giles' tweed jacket was bundled up and Willow was pressing it against the side of Angel's neck. Buffy couldn't see how bad it was but there was a puddle of blood still spreading on the concrete under him.

"Bad?" Buffy asked Willow.

The redhead looked at her with sorrowful eyes. "It's really bad."

"I'll live," Angel said in a weak voice. "I can't die from this."

"But you haven't fed all day. You've lost a lot of blood," Buffy told him.

"I can manage." He tried to sit up.

Buffy put a hand on his shoulder and easily kept him down. "What the hell are you doing? You might not die, but if you do that again I'll kill you myself!"

Angel stopped struggling and looked up at her. "You're hurt." He raised a hand to her neck. She grabbed it and held it in hers.

"It's nothing. I'll live through this." She looked at Willow. "What did she do?"

"She bit him." Willow's face blanched as she talked, seeing it again in her mind. "She was just ripping into him, she wasn't even feeding. She said that her master was calling her."

"And you just had to get in her way, huh?" Buffy said, trying to be stern with him.

"But Angel was able to get in a few good licks, wasn't he," Faith asked. "Softened her up a little for us?"

"She went totally `Tyson' on him," Xander said without humor.

"He only managed to keep her at bay for a couple of minutes until she closed on him," Giles offered. Buffy saw he was absently wiping blood off his hands with a handkerchief.

"We wanted to help," Willow said, and Buffy gave her an alarmed look.

"But Angel wouldn't let us," Xander added.

Buffy looked down at him again. She was stroking her hand through his black hair. "He was right. She would have killed you all."

"Hey, not that I'm not glad to see you all alive, but why *didn't* she kill all of you?" Faith asked.

"I don't know," Giles said. "It was in the middle of, uh, well--" He indicated the wound on Angel's neck. "When she suddenly stopped. She let him go and just ran back to the boat."

Buffy looked at Faith. "Oranstine must've been too weak to keep contact with her."

"So, Oran's dead?" Angel asked.

"Yeah, well, it's kinda complicated. I'll explain everything later."

"Uh, guys," Xander said. "I think our girl has decided she no longer wants to keep our company."

They looked to where he was pointing and they saw a couple of small figures who had untethered the thick ropes tying the ship to the dock and walk up the gangplank. Soon they were pulling it in.

"She's leaving," Willow said.

"We have to stop her," Faith said.

"You guys look after him," Buffy told the others. "Try to get him as far away from here as possible, I don't want any of you getting in the cross-fire."

She was about to stand when Giles grabbed her arm. "Buffy, you might as well let her go. It's too dangerous to go after her."

"What?" Faith exclaimed.

"Giles, this may be our only chance to stop her," Buffy said. "And Wallace is on that ship."

"Wallace? Her Watcher is still alive? That vampire in the diner, uh, or I should say, Oranstine, told us he was dead."

"What can I say, Giles? She lied. Evil demons do do that sometimes. We have to at least try to save him. She wants to turn him into a vampire, it's why she wanted Oranstine dead, she wouldn't let her turn him. And now that she's free it's probably the first thing she's gonna do."

"A Slayer and Watcher vampire team, how scary does that sound?" Xander said.

"But Faith . . . " Giles said, noticing all the blood on the brunette.

"I'm completely healed," she reassured him. "I traded in all my health points before Oranstine kicked."

Giles looked from one Slayer to the other, then he looked out to where the frigate was preparing to leave. He raised his eyes to his Slayers again. "Both of you be careful. If anything were to happened to either--"

"We know," Faith cut in. "You'll take away our TV privileges for a week. C'mon, B, let's move."

Buffy picked up the crossbow from where she had dropped it and Faith grabbed up the battle ax that was lying several feet from Angel. It was nearly broken in half. She ripped the halves apart and let the double bladed ax head fall to the ground and tested her grip on the two-foot long stake the handle made.

Together, the Slayers took off in a run. Faith quickly realized that Buffy was starting to fall behind. She slowed down just enough for the blonde to keep pace. This was not good, she thought. It seemed like even with all the healing Buffy had done throughout the day, that she was right back where she was when she woke up in the library. At least she was still able to move. Probably just the adrenaline still coursing through her Slayer metabolism. Faith prayed it would last long enough to deal with the Slayer Vampire.

The frigate was just raising its anchor as they came along side it and it slowly began to steam forward. On the top deck, standing by the railing, the Slayer Vampire looked down at them and smiled.

"Sorry," she called down to them. "But you just missed the boat. But by all means, if you think you can make the jump up here, give it a shot."

Buffy and Faith jogged along side to keep pace with it. It was slow in gathering speed but would soon pull away from the dock. The space between the ship and the dock was wider than Faith would have been able to clear, and she was certain Buffy couldn't make that jump.

"What's the matter?" Faith shouted. "I thought you were a tough girl. You're not afraid of two weak Slayers are you?"

"I thought you weren't going to leave without tasting the blood of a Slayer?" Buffy put in.

"When I was human, Wallace taught me the value of patience," the vampire said. "I think it's time I started taking his advice more often. And now that I'm a vampire, I have all the time in the world. I can even wait for the next Slayers to be called if I wanted."

"But with Wallace still alive, you know we'll come after you," this from Buffy.

"If that's what you're worried about." The Slayer Vampire looked over her shoulder. "C'mon out. Show the little girls our arrangement."

Faith and Buffy were running faster now, but not flat out, to keep up with the boat and Buffy stumbled when she saw Wallace escorted to the railing by the trench-coat demon, but he was no longer tied up.

The Slayer Vampire said, "I told the Tarakans that Oranstine was dead. I knew the instant it happened. Well done, by the way. I knew you could do it. And the bounty died with her, but they were good enough to offer us a ride out of the country."

"Wallace jump!" Buffy shouted.

"Thank you for your concern," Wallace said, and smiled at them. "But I've decided to stay with *my* Slayer if you don't mind."

"But--" Buffy began, then realization sank in with a sickening feel to her stomach. "No."

Wallace let his vampire features slide over his face and his fangs punctuated his smile.

"Bitch!" Faith shouted. "I'm gonna cut off your head!"

"But you didn't have time to change him!" Buffy shouted, trying to deny what her eyes were showing her.

"You have Faith to thank for that, actually," the vampire said. "Her escape distracted the master long enough for me to spend plenty of quality time with my Watcher. And since I wasn't allowed to play with you two, I had to find other ways to pass the time. It wasn't too hard keeping it a secret. You two fell for it."

The Slayer Vampire turned to the trench-coat demon. "Let's get out of here. Sunnydale is suddenly a very boring place."

With a nod, the demon turned and walked out of sight, heading for the main control cabin.

"There's no need to give up all hope," she said to them. "I might get tired of waiting and come back for both of you." She shrugged. "You never know."

Buffy picked up speed and got ahead of the frigate. Then she stopped and swung the crossbow up in her hands, aiming for the Slayer Vampire. The vampire watched this with little concern. Buffy kept her sights centered on her as the ship began to pass her by and Faith stopped at her side.

"You know that won't work against me, Buffy," the Slayer Vampire said, condescendingly. "I'll just catch it. And I wasn't even prepared the first time." She raised her arms out from her sides, providing a clear target at her heart. "But if you feel like you got something to prove, be my guest."

"Thanks," Buffy said, and adjusted her aim slightly and let the arrow fly.

The vampire's eyes went wide as she realized the bolt wasn't coming at her. She lunged for her Watcher, reaching out with her hand, but was just a split second too late to keep the shaft from piercing his heart. Wallace stumbled a step back from the impact and stared blankly down at his chest. Then his eyes met his Slayer's and he started to fall back to the deck.

"NOOOO!" the Slayer Vampire screamed as she fell to the deck with him, out of Buffy's and Faith's sight. They heard the sound of Wallace combusting into ashes a second later.

Buffy lowered the empty crossbow as she and Faith watched the frigate pass by. It angled away from the dock and was gaining speed. The Slayer Vampire remained out of sight.

"Damn," Buffy muttered.

"It was a nice try, B," Faith offered. "We'll just have to get her next time." Buffy's mood didn't change. "Hey, look on the bright side. We got rid of a bunch of vampires and one powerful demon, who wanted to make more chicks like her." She pointed to the frigate. "Not to mention saving me from becoming her servant." Still no reaction. "C'mon, B! It was a good night for the good guys! Even Darth Vader got away in the first movie."

Buffy finally looked at her and smiled half-heartedly. "Yeah. I guess. We better get back to the others. I'm worried about Angel."

They turned their back on the departing frigate. Faith unzipped her sweat shirt, grimacing at all the blood on it and herself. "And I definitely need another shower. This--"

They were stopped in their tracks as a titanic roar ripped through the night and pounded their eardrums. Their eyes were locked on the frigate again and they saw the Slayer Vampire stand up, the bright yellow glow in her eyes. Then she started to run straight for the Slayers, never mind that there was a sixty foot gap of water between the ship and the dock. She didn't even hesitate, never lost any speed, as she stepped up onto the top rail at the rear of the boat, and launched herself into the air. As she arced downwards, it seemed like she was going to come up just short of the dock, but then she landed, both feet slamming right on the edge.

Buffy and Faith could only stare as the creature stood up straight again and locked her gaze on them. She was only twenty feet away and they saw the tears streaming down her face, from her yellow eyes. Even though she did not have any visible vampire features other than the fangs, the rage chiseled on her face was more frightening than any vampire Buffy could remember.

"Okay, B," Faith said, not taking her eyes off the vampire. "Now you did it. Now she's really pissed."

End of Part Eighteen

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The three Slayers just stood there in silence. It was only for a few seconds, but it seemed to stretch for eternity. Faith and Buffy gazed at the Slayer Vampire as the creature returned it, the hatred multiplied several times over. Tears stained the vampire's cheeks and Buffy realized that Noriko Amano had really loved her Watcher when she had been a human. She recalled how the vampire referred to the Watcher by his last name. No `Mr.' before Wallace. The same way Buffy and the others called Giles just Giles. The demon that took over Noriko when she was turned into a vampire remembered everything from her life, as well as the love she held for the only father figure she had.

And right now that love drove the Slayer Vampire towards one goal. Revenge.

Behind the vampire, the frigate continued on its way fading into the night of the sea. If the remaining Tarakans on board knew their passenger had jumped ship they must not feel obligated to return for her. Just as well, Buffy thought. They were about to have their hands full with just her.

Beside her, Faith adjusted her hold on the broken ax handle. All Buffy had was the empty crossbow. She let it drop and it clattered on the concrete.

The noise broke the silence and sent the Slayer Vampire in motion. She sprang forward, running directly towards Buffy, as if she didn't even notice Faith standing there.

The brunette saw this too and took advantage, stepping into the vampire's path and met the creature with a round kick to its head. But the vampire suddenly reacted to the attack and ducked smoothly underneath Faith's leg and she was now standing between the two human Slayers, launching its own attack at Buffy. Buffy deflected its lightning fast punches aimed at her chest and head, and Faith came at it from behind. Without looking back, the Slayer Vampire blocked Faith's right hook with a back elbow, giving Buffy the opening to counterattack. The vamp ducked as Faith swung the handle, at the same time blocking Buffy's front kick. She stood back up to forearm block Buffy's right cross and side stepped Faith's front kick from behind.

No matter how the two Slayers attacked the vampire, she succeeded in blocking all their strikes, but she never took her focus off Buffy. The blonde was hard pressed warding off the vampire's attacks on her, and the creature wasn't even striking back at Faith, just defending against the other Slayer. Buffy found herself shuffling back as the vamp's efforts increased.

Buffy began to retaliated with a punching combination, but the Slayer Vampire grabbed her wrist on the first punch, twisting it, causing her to step off balance, and snapped a round kick to her face. She held onto Buffy and without lowering her leg, sent a back-kick at Faith, who blocked it with the ax handle. Then she sent the leg forward again this time kicking Buffy across the stomach, and the Slayer fell to her knees. Now she did release Buffy and went into a half-spinning kick that knocked Faith's stake out of her hand as the brunette swung it at her. The vampire quickly stepped into a side kick that slammed into Faith's chest and sent the Slayer off her feet. Faith hit the ground and flopped back on her stomach, the wind knocked out of her.

Momentarily free of both opponents, the vampire turned her attention back to Buffy, her main target. The blonde Slayer was trying to rise from her knees when the vamp kicked at her face. Buffy brought her forearms up to block the kick but the vampire followed with a hammer fist that hit her just below the back of the neck. The blow dazed her, almost falling forward, and the vamp's next kick did hit her in the face, knocking her on her back.

Before the Slayer Vampire could press her attack, Faith jumped on the creature's back, wrapping her arms around its neck. Buffy rolled away and began to pull herself up, forcing her body to move with the speed she knew she did not have. The vampire immediately drove an elbow back into Faith's midsection, slammed the back of her head into Faith's face, and flipped the brunette over onto the concrete at its feet. She drove a fist straight down at Faith's head and the Slayer barely dodged the blow and a small explosion of concrete erupted under the fist. Still on her back, Faith lashed out with a kick that connected with the vampire's face and it stumbled a couple of steps back, as Faith kicked herself to her feet. She was facing the vampire again when it came at her with an assault of kicks and punches.

Buffy was on her feet again, and began circling the fight since Faith's back was closest to her. Her fellow Slayer seemed to be holding her own for the moment, but she knew it would not last. Noriko was a very technical fighter, but, at the same time, was not afraid to improvise, she was just unfamiliar with Faith's streetfighting style. And the brunette was taking total advantage of it. She managed to score a series of punches and backhands that made the vampire stagger back again, farther from Buffy. The vamp regained her balance just as Faith pressed her attack, and blocked every strike this time, retaliating with a front kick that hit the brunette in the stomach. The creature followed through with an inside crescent-kick that spun the Slayer in place, then continued into a spinning heel kick. But Faith ducked that kick then immediately threw herself into a handstand back flip sending both feet up against the Slayer Vampire's chin. Faith landed on her feet again just as the vampire landed on her back, but it quickly scrambled to its feet. Just in time to take Buffy's flying kick in the chest.

This sent the vampire flying and she hit the dock hard, rolling into a semi-controlled tumble. She succeeded in using the momentum to spring back to her feet but her back slammed against a nearby wooden crate.

Buffy and Faith were in hot pursuit. Buffy reached the creature first and it blocked her punches, countering with a palm strike to her chin. The vampire blocked Faith's round kick, as it sent a front kick into Buffy's midsection, then used the same leg to kick the side of Faith's supporting leg. Buffy fell to the ground as Faith's knee buckled. Grabbing her by her brown hair the Slayer Vampire smashed a hard knee into her face.

The vampire let Faith fall and stalked Buffy again. The blonde Slayer was halfway to her feet when she was grabbed by her bruised neck, and the vamp lifted her to her feet. Before she could do anything, a powerful fist hit her in the face and when she opened her eyes again she was lying on her back, looking up as the vampire approached her. A few yards behind the creature she saw a dazed Faith struggling to her knees. Buffy rolled onto her stomach and tried to push herself off the concrete, but the vampire reached her and kicked her in the midsection, sending the Slayer rolling across the ground.

Hugging her stomach, trying to regain the wind that was knocked out of her, Buffy willed her aching body to move. She hadn't even made it to her knees before the vampire reached down and grabbed her by the lapels of her jacket. She was suddenly looking into the Slayer Vampire's yellow eyes.

"I want to kill you so bad I can't contain myself," she sneered in her face.

She smashed Buffy in the face with a vicious headbutt, and the Slayer could have sworn she heard her nose breaking. The vampire was the only thing keeping her on her feet now, and she was only able to open her eyes halfway.

"But I think I'll allow you to live just a little longer," she said. "It's only fair. You took my Watcher, I'll take yours."

This allowed Buffy to open her eyes all the way, but she was still too weak to do much else.

"Don't worry," the vamp said. "I won't kill him. I'll make him *my* Watcher."

"NO!" Buffy screamed and threw a punch across the creature's face. It had no effect, there had been no power behind it.

The Slayer Vampire smiled at her and buried a fist into Buffy's stomach, making her gasp, then she shoved her hard. Buffy flew backwards and crashed into the side of a metal cargo container. She collapsed to a heap on the ground.

Her entire body felt like dead weight but she raised her head to look at the vampire.

"I'll also make sure your boyfriend is dead and I will kill the rest of your friends. Too bad you can't stop me. I'll see you later, Buffy."

Behind her, Buffy saw that Faith had finally got back to her feet and was running towards them, a little unsteady, but still able to fight. The Slayer Vampire started running to where they had left Giles and the others, and Buffy prayed they had already gotten out of there. It would buy them some time, at least.

Faith immediately gave chase but the vampire was much faster and she would not be able to catch her. The brunette came to the empty crossbow still lying on the ground and snatched it up without slowing down. She went into a running throw and flung the weapon like a Frisbee. At first, Buffy didn't think she was going to hit the creature, but then the crossbow slammed into the back of her legs and the bowhead tangled itself between them. The Slayer Vampire tripped and hit the concrete hard, the crossbow getting shattered in the process.

Faith had not stopped running and reached the vampire just as she was rising to her knees. She put all her strength behind the kick that hit the Slayer Vampire in the face. The creature staggered back from the impact and Faith wasted no time, unleashing a devastating punching combination, pummeling the vampire back towards a large wooden crate. Then the creature suddenly ducked under one of her right hooks, then blocked a left hook. She lashed out with a low kick against the side of Faith's legs and they were both swept out from under her, and as she fell sideways the Slayer Vampire slammed a hard fist into the Slayer's chest. The impact sent the brunette through the air and she hit the ground in a rough tumble. She came to a stop on her back gasping for air, clutching her chest.

She saw the vampire just standing there, glaring at her. Then the creature wiped the blood trailing from her mouth with the back of her hand. Faith was amid the scattered remains of the crossbow and she quickly selected a piece that made an adequate stake. On her feet again, she rushed the vampire. She came in with a midlevel front kick following through with a downward stake strike. The vampire blocked the kick then caught her stake hand by the wrist. Faith immediately punched her across the face with her free left hand and the vamp released her. She tried another stake strike but it was deflected with a forearm and Faith quickly spun into a spinning backhand. The vampire ducked the swing and came up with round kick to her stomach, making Faith double over. She grabbed the Slayer by the back of her sweat shirt and slammed her into the wooden crate. Before Faith could recover, the Slayer Vampire grabbed her again and slammed her face first once more into the crate. This time she lost the stake. She kicked the brunette in the back of the knee causing it to buckle. As she knelt in front of the crate the vampire slammed a knee against the back of her head, smashing her face into the wooden surface, cracking it.

Faith left a bloody smear on the cracked area as she fell limply to the ground.

Oh, my God, she's dead, Buffy thought as she labored her way toward the fight. She had just watched Faith fall and lay there unmoving. Buffy was only half running due to the pain throughout her body, but she was moving as fast as she could. But seeing her fellow Slayer fall sent a surge of adrenaline through her that allowed her to pick up a little more speed, but it would not be enough if Faith was already dead. She had retrieved the broken ax handle on the way and hoped Faith would keep her distracted long enough to sneak up behind her.

Now the creature turned to face her, its back to Faith's body. The blonde Slayer stopped. She was just ten feet from the Slayer Vampire and the creature looked at the battered Slayer.

"One down," she said.

"You're not gonna win," Buffy said, through clenched teeth.

"Do you think you can stop me? You can barely stand."

"I look worse than I feel."

"You look dead." The vampire took a step forward. "I just have to make it so. And I will have your Watcher."

Buffy glared back at the vampire. "As I said before, over my dead body." Buffy's eyes flickered. "Or should I say, over our dead bodies."

Behind the Slayer Vampire, Faith had stood up. Her face was scratched up from being slammed into the wooden surface, but they were all shallow cuts. However, there was blood flowing steadily from her nose. She raised her hand and was holding the stake she had dropped.

"Now that hurt," she said, and plunged the stake into the vampire's back before she could react.

The Slayer Vampire arched her back and roared in pain. Then she clutched her chest. She turned and swung a hard backhand across Faith's face that sent the Slayer spinning into the crate again and the brunette slid to the ground. Buffy charged forward as the vampire staggered.

"No!" the creature screamed. She swung a fist at the approaching Slayer.

Buffy blocked it with her free forearm then slammed the ax handle into the vampire's chest. Buffy let go and the vampire fell against the crate, clutching at the stake. Faith was sitting against the crate close by and watched as she sank to the ground. By the time she reached the ground, the Slayer Vampire's skin had darkened to a brownish gray and her flesh exploded in a cloud of ash, leaving behind a blackened skeleton. The skeleton just sat there.

After a still moment, Buffy walked over to Faith and slid down next to her, opposite of the skeleton. They both just stared off into space in front of them.

After a another moment, Buffy finally said, "So how ya doing, kid?"

"I think I'm still alive," Faith replied.

"That's good."

Faith nodded numbly. "You?"

"I guess I should be grateful to still be alive. But I know I'm gonna wish I was dead in the morning."

"I hear you."

Faith and Buffy just sat there in silence, trying to catch their breaths. Then Faith slowly reached a hand to the skeleton. With a flick of her finger the skeleton crumbled to dust.

End of Part Nineteen

A TALE OF SLAYERS Part Twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY

"I don't hear anything," Willow said.

"That's a good thing, right?" Xander said, softly, as he walked beside her.

"I hope so."

"Well, if there was noise that would mean that Buff and Faith were still fighting the Slayer Vamp." He glanced nervously over his shoulder in the direction they just came from. They were following the path the Slayers had taken when they chased off after the departing ship. "No noise means that the fight is over."

"Yeah," Willow agreed, trying to sound less worried as she fidgeted with the cross in her hand. "Or maybe there was no fight," she said, hopefully. "Maybe she got away."

"Hey, yeah," Xander said. "But then why didn't they come back?"

"Uh," Willow's face fell. "Oh, maybe they were tired and they needed to take a break? They did look tired, didn't they?"

"Yeah," Xander said, but it was obvious he didn't believe that any more than she did. "But even if they did fight her, she wouldn't stand a chance against *two* Slayers."

"Right!" Willow put conviction behind those words. "She got her ass kicked!"

"I mean, who cares that she took down Angel in less time than most Tyson fights."

"Right!"

"Let's face it, when it comes to fighting Slayers, Angel is the expert in getting his ass kicked. Buffy, herself, kicked his ass when he was trying to awaken Acathla."

Willow nodded. "And, and when Kendra first met him, she knocked him around some."

"Yeah, I almost forgot about that. And Faith nearly killed him just a couple of months back." Xander scoffed. "When you think about it, Angel really isn't all that tough."

"Yeah," Willow agreed. "It's just that whole stoic, tough guy, imposing image he puts forth."

"It's the dark coats," Xander said.

"That too."

They fell silent. After a moment the worry returned to their expressions and they continued onward.

Giles had been very vocal when Xander had suggested that he should go check to see if Buffy and Faith were all right. He became even more vocal when Willow agreed and said she would go with Xander. Xander and the Watcher had managed to carry Angel back to the cars. The wound on his neck had almost stopped bleeding, but the vampire was still extremely weak. Giles had not been sure what would happen if he lost too much blood. Better not to find out. Maybe he feared that Angel would succumb to the blood need and go into a feeding frenzy, Xander thought.

It could be the reason he finally agreed to let them go after Faith and Buffy. It might be safer than staying with a starving vampire. And despite being three for three in getting Slayer-whipped, Xander had to admit that Angel could rumble with the meanest of demons. And the Slayer Vampire was definitely one of the meanest to come to Sunnydale. He just hoped Buffy and Faith could take her. He knew Buffy hadn't been completely healed from this morning, and she had taken a few hard hits since then. Faith seemed to be in better shape, even though she had been covered with blood. The Slayer Vampire, however, despite her brief clash with Angel, would pretty much be in top form.

They had just passed the spot where the frigate had been docked, originally, but they weren't able to see very far along the dock because of the deep shadows surrounding the pools of light from the tall lightposts.

"Xander," Willow said, grabbing his arm. "Do you see that?"

"What?" he asked, then strained his eyes to where she was pointing.

A few spotlights ahead he did see a figure stepping into one of the pools of light. As they walked further, he realized there were two figures close to each other, supporting each other.

"That's them," he shouted.

He and Willow broke into a run. As they neared they saw that it *was* Buffy and Faith. Both Slayers looked as if they had gone a round in a Tyson fight. With several Tysons, actually. And it was hard to tell which Slayer was assisting the other.

"Are you guys all right?" they asked as they reached them.

"I thought I told you guys to get away from here," Buffy tried to make her voice firm, but didn't seem to have the strength.

"We were worried about you," Willow said, defensively. "You were gone for a long time."

"I'm sorry," Buffy said. "How's Angel?"

"He's fine. The bleeding finally stopped."

"And the vampire chick?" Xander asked.

"Dust," Faith spoke up.

He suddenly noticed just how bad the younger Slayer really looked. In fact, this time she looked worse than Buffy, and she was actually leaning against the blonde.

"Here, let me help."

He went to Faith's side and put her arm across his shoulders. The brunette didn't say a word as he pulled her away from Buffy.

"Thanks," Buffy said, then looked at Willow who was standing in front of her. "Will?"

Before Willow could say anything, Buffy fell forward and the redhead grunted as she caught her in her arms. Buffy regained some of her balance and Willow was able to help her stand. The four teenagers began to walk slowly along the dock.

"So I take it this was a hard fight," Xander said, after a while.

"Oh, yeah," Buffy said.

"We're talking Pay-Per-View worthy," Faith added.

"But you're both still alive," Xander pointed out.

"That's the important thing," Willow added. She was silent for a moment. "What about the Watcher?"

Buffy and Faith exchanged a look and she and Xander saw their expressions.

"Oh," Willow said, softly. "I'm sorry."

Willow worried about the Slayers' solemnness, and she didn't think it was all from just the fight, and fatigue. It must have been disquieting having to fight and kill a demon that was a Slayer. Seeing what would happen if either of them were turned into a vampire.

"So how are you doing?" Buffy asked her.

"Me?" she exclaimed. "I'm fine. You're the one who looks . . ." She stopped when she saw how Buffy was looking at her. "Okay. It was a little disturbing having you almost kill me. But I knew right away that it wasn't you. That it was Oranstine. I mean, you would never in a million years ever try to kill me." Then she looked at Buffy. "Would you?"

"No." Buffy smiled.

"Just double-checking."

"Xander, if you try to carry me like a baby I swear I will kick your ass," Faith said.

"Okay, okay. You just seemed kinda tired, that's all."

"I can make it," she declared.

Buffy and Willow smiled at the exchange. Then Willow's face grew serious again. "Uh, Buffy?"

"What is it?" she said, when Willow hesitated.

"Uh, back in the diner, before you guys rescued us. . ."

"Yeah?" Buffy prompted. Xander and Faith were also listening now.

"Well, Giles . . ."

"What about Giles?" Xander asked.

Willow took a deep breath and started talking as they continued along the dock.

* * * *

"Sorry about the car," Angel said.

"Don't worry about it."

Angel had been sitting on the ground with his back against the side of the Citroen. Giles and Willow had bandaged his neck before she and Xander had went in search for Buffy and Faith, but the blood covering his shoulder had left a stain on the car's door. With Giles' help he was now standing, although still leaning against the car. He said it would be best if he kept the wound as elevated as possible above his heart, to keep most of the blood in his veins away from his neck. Giles, not knowing as much about vampire first aid as Angel, couldn't argue with him, even if he still thought it was a bad idea.

"I hope they're all right," Giles said, not for the first time, sweeping his gaze across the docks again.

"I'm sure they're fine," Angel replied, not for the first time. He stood there regarding the Watcher for a moment. He knew that the man loved Buffy, probably as much as he did, but as a daughter. Giles may even know her better than Angel did. There were few relationships that bonded two people closer. Two lovers, husband and wife, brother and sister, father and daughter, Watcher and Slayer.

Being Buffy's Watcher had become more to Giles than just his duty. In some ways, he had to endure as much pain as Buffy did. When his Slayer suffered, he suffered as well. And he had also lost a lot, himself.

"I'm sorry," he finally said.

Giles looked at him. "It wasn't your fault. You did your best. That creature was just too strong. Even Buffy could not stop her by herself."

"That's not what I meant," Angel said, softly.

Giles turned his head. He took off his glasses and took a deep breath. "I know." He was silent for a long time. Angel waited for him to say something, giving the man as much time as he needed. The Watcher finally looked at him.

" *That* wasn't your fault, either."

"If there had been some way I could have stopped it--"

He fell silent when Giles raised his hand. "I know that it wasn't really you. And I'm sure Jenny knew that--" He had to stop to clear his throat. "But my heart keeps telling me otherwise. But . . . I'm sure that voice will quiet after a while. It will be just a matter of time."

Angel nodded, understandingly.

Giles turned away again, putting his glasses back on. He saw Buffy, Faith, Willow, and Xander emerge slowly from between a storage building and a high stack of crates.

"There they are," he said.

Angel tried to push himself away from the car and nearly collapsed. Giles steadied him and the vampire decided to wait for the others to come to them.

He saw that Willow and Xander were supporting Buffy and Faith as they walked. They both looked like hell, Faith probably just a little worse off, though Buffy was still nursing injuries from this morning.

As they drew nearer, Buffy eased herself away from Willow, and walked a little unsteadily toward them. He instantly recognized a determination in her stride that told him something was not sitting well with her. He wondered what it could be.

"Thank heavens you're both safe," Giles breathed with relief as they reached the car.

Buffy looked at her Watcher but walked passed him without a word and went straight to Angel. The cut above her brow was open again, and her nose had been bleeding. Faith's face had more cuts, but none of them looking as severe.

He wrapped an arm around Buffy as she hugged him.

"Noriko, is she . . ?" Giles said.

"She's gone," Faith answered for the group. Angel noticed they were all looking at the Watcher a little strangely.

He looked down at Buffy who had her cheek buried against his chest. "What's wrong?"

She looked up at him, but didn't say anything. She pulled away and stepped to her Watcher. Giles, finally sensing the uneasiness coming from the teenagers, looked at her questioningly.

"Buffy?"

His Slayer was now standing directly in front of him. There was a fire in her eyes that Angel could not exactly call anger, but she was obviously upset about something.

"Back at the diner," she began. "What did you think you were doing?" Her voice was hard and cold.

Giles just stared at her, uncertain, as the words sank in. Then realization came to his eyes and he glanced at Willow. Willow was now lending her shoulder to Faith, who was standing between her and Xander. The redhead looked away, unable to meet his eyes. Slowly, he looked at his Slayer again, her eyes still pinning him with their gaze.

"If Oranstine had accepted your offer to let Willow and the waitress go and keep just you, tell me you weren't planning on killing yourself?" Her eyes suddenly filled with tears as she whispered, "Please. . ."

Giles had to clear his throat. "Buffy, there are, uh, certain obligations that a Watcher has. The most important one is to ensure the safety of his or her Slayer. I could not allow--" He stopped when he saw the pain in Buffy's expression.

"You mean to tell me, that when Angel had you prisoner, when he was torturing you . . ."

Angel couldn't stop himself from flinching at her harsh words, but he knew the anger wasn't directed at him.

"If you had the chance, you would have tried to kill yourself then?"

He did try to kill himself, Angel thought, suddenly remembering something from the demon Angelus' memories. He had already tortured the Watcher for hours, trying to get him to reveal the correct ritual to awaken the demon Acathla and it had seemed Giles was ready to confess all. Angel had leaned in closer to listen to Giles' words.

`In order to be worthy,' his voice had been very weak and tired. `You must perform the ritual . . . in a tutu. Pillock!'

Of course, this had enraged Angelus beyond reason, and he actually would have killed Giles if Spike had not stopped him from putting the chainsaw to the Watcher.

But Angel kept this to himself. Right now, Buffy did not need to know this. In fact, he would never tell her.

"If it would have kept them from awakening Acathla," Giles was saying, bluntly, to his Slayer, meeting her gaze, "then, yes. I would have."

"Bullshit!" Buffy shouted at him. She grabbed him by his shirt and shoved him up against the car, none to gently. The tears were streaming down her cheeks now. "Don't give me that `Watcher's obligation' crap!"

Concerned, Angel put a hand on her shoulder, which she roughly shrugged off, but she never took her eyes off her Watcher.

"I came for you!" she declared. "Xander got you out of there while I kept the vampire's busy! None of my friends are gonna die if I can save them, do you hear!"

"Buffy--" Giles tried to say, but Buffy shook him with rage.

"No! And you will not kill yourself! I will not let that happen again!"

Now everyone, including Angel, was looking at Buffy, not knowing what she was talking about.

"Again?" Willow asked.

Buffy did not turn her attention from Giles. "Do you know what happened to Merrick? Do you know how he died?" she demanded.

"I know he was killed by the vampire lord Lothos," Giles said.

"No! Lothos didn't even touch him!" Buffy was shouting again. "Lothos had me under his spell! He would have taken me! But Merrick had a gun and distracted him so I could get away! I ran away while he faced a vampire alone, with a gun! But Lothos didn't get him because he saved the last bullet for himself!"

Angel saw the stunned expression come over Giles' face. He opened his mouth but was speechless.

"You are not going to do that!" Buffy told him. Then it seemed as if all her anger was spent and she sagged against his chest. "I won't let you do that!"

"I never," Giles started to say. "I didn't realize . . ." The Watcher put his arms around Buffy as she cried into his shirt.

"Promise," Buffy said. "You promise me, that no matter what happens, you will always wait for me." Buffy was pleading now. "I will find you. I will rescue you. Just promise me."

Angel just stood there, wanting to comfort her, and knowing that he couldn't. Not this time. He glanced at the others, standing together, also watching in silence. They knew this was between Buffy and Giles, but their emotions were evident on their faces. Willow's face was damped with tears. There were no tears in Faith's eyes but she actually looked closer to tears that Angel could remember.

"Promise me." Buffy's voice had dropped to a whisper.

Giles was fighting the tears in his own eyes, but he lost when one ran down his cheek. He managed to keep his voice steady.

He gently told his Slayer, "I promise."

End of Part Twenty

A TALE OF SLAYERS Epilogue

EPILOGUE

After.........

Buffy had taken Angel home so the vampire could replenish the blood he had lost. Knowing Angel did not like having humans around while he fed, Buffy assured the others she would be fine taking him by herself.

"Now when you say you're taking him home to feed," Xander had said, "you're not going to offer yourself as an appetizer, right?"

Buffy rolled her eyes and informed him that Angel kept a refrigerator well stocked with nonhuman blood. Giles had told her to be careful, especially, in her current condition. Buffy nodded and opened her mouth to say more, but then closed it again when no words would come to her. After telling him she would meet them back at the library, they drove off, in different directions, away from the now quiet docks.

Even though she wasn't feeling very strong right now, she insisted on helping Angel inside the mansion, who was still weaker than she was. She led him to his bedroom and helped him out of his bloodied, coat and shirt. She replaced the dressing on his wound, which was healing but still looked savagely horrid, and cleaned the dried blood off his skin.

She left the room to get the blood from the refrigerator, giving him privacy to finish undressing. As instructed, he was sitting up in bed, under the covers when she returned. She set the 32 ounce plastic cup, with sealable lid, on the night stand, within his reach, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"No straw?"

Buffy looked at his impassive expression and couldn't fight the grin that spread on her face. "Somebody's getting spoiled. You must have really lost a lot of blood if you think I'm gonna be babying you again until you get better."

He tilted his head as if disappointed, even though he didn't know how to pout. The only person who had fewer expressions was Oz. He indicated the cup. "A couple of these and I'll be fine."

Buffy eyed the cup. "I'm definitely not gonna be able to look at a `Big Gulp' the same way ever again. And I didn't know how much to warm it up, I figured you wouldn't want it cold, but I didn't want the cup to melt either, I guess vampires wouldn't want cold blood, since when they feed on a human their blood is pretty warm, not that you like drinking warm blood because it reminds you of feeding off . . . just that it tastes," she frowned at her own words, "better."

Angel was just looking at her, his eyes soft.

"Oh, I know." she groaned. "I'm babbling." She put a hand to her forehead. "It must be the concussion I don't know I have, yet. It's making me all--"

"Go talk to Giles," Angel simply said.

"I don't think I can face him right now." She shook her head, letting her eyes fall. "The way I blew up at him. . ."

"It's what you were feeling," he told her.

"He probably thinks I've finally lost it. His next entry in his diary will probably read, `And today the Slayer blew out her porchlight. I think I'll make some tea.' "

"You know he doesn't think that. He understands."

Buffy let her eyes wander the room. "I don't know. I just can't imagine my life without Giles being there." She looked at him. "Any more than I can be without you."

Angel took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"He gives so much and I just take and take. How does he put up with me? And now he has to look after Faith, too."

"You don't think he can do it?" he asked.

"He *is* doing it. I just don't know how he's doing it. Faith is more of a handful than I ever was." She looked into his eyes. His expression was still the same. "Don't look at me like that. I'm really not as bad as Faith." His expression remained the same. "Okay, okay! Maybe I did give him a hard time. But that was a long time ago. I've grown since then, had time to mature," she insisted.

She looked at him and they were silent for a long moment.

Finally, she said, "I'll go talk to Giles." He nodded. "And I should go so you can eat. I can hear your stomach growling." She leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

She stood up and walked over to the heavy curtain covering the doorway. He still made no move to reach for the cup. Buffy looked over her shoulder. "I'll check on you tomorrow."

"I'll be here," he said.

"Don't get too excited. I didn't say I would be here early." She gave him a smile. "As soon as I get home, I think I'll fall into a nice coma."

"Good night," he said as she disappeared through the curtain.

* * * *

Throughout the entire ride back to the library, Giles had not said a word. In the back seat, Willow and Xander were also quiet. Without any idea how to break the uncomfortable silence, Faith remained quiet as well. It wasn't until they entered the library that Giles spoke up, asking Faith to go to his office so he can look over her wounds. The Slayer just nodded and complied. She heard Willow and Xander say they'll start cleaning up the library so that it would be ready on Monday. Business as usual, she thought.

While Giles cleaned the scrapes on her face, he still said very little, except to ask if she was feeling any pain. She told him her left arm was giving her problems, and she removed her sweatshirt to let him examine it. The Watcher's touch was gentle. He wasn't "the Watcher", she thought, Giles was *her* Watcher, too. So what if Buffy had him longer, she was just as much his Slayer as B was.

And it didn't seem as if the Council was in any big hurry to assign her a new Watcher any time soon. Maybe those old folks were still adjusting to having to deal with two Slayers, she wondered. She had been in Sunnydale for six months now, living in that crappy motel room, which she didn't really mind, actually. And Giles did make sure she didn't have to worry about paying for it, and kept her stocked with plenty of weapons, and he even said nothing when his eyes would bug out at the receipts she would give him after shopping for clothes.

He pretty much gave her a lot of space.

Maybe too much, she thought. Maybe the Council decided it would be easier to just dump her with Giles. Hey, he was already here, and he was well experienced with dealing with a Slayer already, let's let him deal with the other one.

Was that what she was? she wondered. Just the other Slayer? Buffy has been a Slayer for three years, so Faith was still the new kid on the block. And did Giles feel any resentment for having her dumped into his lap? He never said anything that would make her believe that he did. And didn't Buffy tell her once that Giles had requested to the Council that he would watch over her? She couldn't really remember.

Maybe she should try to get to know him a little better. The way B knew things about him. Hell, the rest of the scoobys knew him better than she did, including Cordelia, and he was supposed to be her Watcher. He did share with her his past-experience, when he was younger, and how he and a few of his old friends had gotten in trouble with that Eyghon demon, who came after them all last year. Not that she would admit it to anyone, but he probably did save her life by stopping her from going after Oranstine and fang-girl by herself.

But then, he knew that Buffy would not be able to face them by herself, he told her as much. She couldn't help but wonder if he had stopped her from going out so that Buffy wouldn't have to fight the demons alone. She decided to put that thought out of her mind.

It turned out that her shoulder had been badly sprained, nearly pulled out of socket, Giles said. He fixed her up with a sling for the arm, despite her protests that it wouldn't go with any of her clothes. But she didn't put up too much of a fight and let him take care of her.

When he was done, Faith was trying to find the words to thank him. She wasn't really used to thanking people, was unable to recall the last time she actually told someone "thank you." But it seemed like the right time to say it. Especially to him.

That was when Buffy walked into the library. She exchanged quick pleasantries with Willow and Xander and came straight into the office, as Faith knew she would.

"How you doing?" Buffy asked, standing at the doorway.

"Giles was able to put me back together again." She indicated her new sling. "And he didn't even need all the `Queen's horses and all the Queen's men.' "

"And if I tell you to take it easy for the next few days, will I be ill-advised not to worry that you'll do something to aggravate your injuries?" Giles asked.

Faith gave him an innocent look. "Do I look like somebody who wouldn't listen to her Watcher?" Faith couldn't help but put a little emphasis on `Watcher.'

"Do you really want me to answer that or should I just glare?" Giles said, with a minute trace of a smile.

Over his shoulder she saw Buffy smile knowingly at the remark, and gave Faith a look that told her she heard this before. It made her feel a little better.

"So we're done?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Good." Faith headed for the door but picked up Giles' weapon bag with her free hand. "I'll just put away the rest of the arsenal."

"That's all right. I'll take care of that," Giles assured her.

"No. It's no problem."

Buffy stepped further into the office to allow Faith to leave.

When Buffy was sure Faith would not be able to hear them, she met Giles' eyes. Before she could say anything, however, he motioned her to sit down. She did so and he immediately started to clean the bruises on her face. After cleaning the cut on her brow, he used a butterfly Band-Aid to keep it closed.

"Buffy--"

"Giles--"

They said at the same time. They smiled at this. Giles let her go first.

"Giles, I'm sorry I blew up on you out there," she said sheepishly. "And in front of everyone."

"And I am sorry, too." At the looked she gave him, he continued. "I should have known more about the details of Merrick's death."

"Please don't be mad at Willow. She was just worried--"

"I know. And I'm not. She's a good friend and she felt that she should tell you. And she was probably right in doing so." He removed his glasses. "She usually is, about these things."

Buffy was silent for a moment. Then in a more serious tone. "But I did mean everything I said out there."

Giles met her eyes. "I know."

"I just don't think I could go through that again." She rolled her eyes as tears started to form. "Look at me. It seems there's a lot I can't go through again. I was barely able to make it through them the first time."

"But you did," he told her. "You made it through. We were here to help you. Willow. Xander. Myself. We will always be there for you, Buffy. The same way you've always been there for us."

"I lost Angel, but somehow I got him back. If I lose you, Giles, I can't get you back."

"Well, I'm not planning on going anywhere."

They sat there in silence for a moment. Then he put his glasses back on. "We really should call it a night. It's been a rather interesting twenty-four hours." He glanced at his watch and frowned.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"It's almost five minutes to the time the Council called me last night to inform me of Noriko's activation as a Slayer."

"She was only a Slayer for just one day."

"No, Buffy," Giles said, softly. "The young girl who was Noriko died when she was turned into a vampire. She was never a Slayer."

"So when we killed the Slayer Vampire, her death won't activate another Slayer?"

"I don't believe so. As a vampire she was already dead."

"Oh. But she still cared about her Watcher," she told him. "Even as a vampire, her whole motivation was to keep her Watcher with her. That's something we have in common."

"They can both rest, now."

She nodded. She stood and headed for the door as Giles put away his first aid materials. She stopped and looked back at him. "You'll remember your promise, won't you?"

He nodded. "I shall." Giles prayed he would be able to keep that promise to her.

It really didn't take much time putting the weapons away, considering that they had used most of them up earlier. She was just closing the book cage when she saw Buffy and Giles step out of his office. Willow and Xander had also finished putting the rest of the books back in place and came down the stairs to join them.

"We've made this place as presentable as we could," Xander commented. "Ready for school on Monday. But I doubt anyone will notice since we're probably the only ones who come in here."

"Well, you all did an excellent job tonight," Giles said, putting on yet another tweed jacket. Three jackets in one night. Faith wondered if that was a personal record for him. "And I for one am looking forward to a Sunday spent in bed."

"Curled up around a good book?" Willow asked.

"I'm sure I'm bordering on blasphemy when I say, I would rather not see another book for the rest of the weekend."

Buffy raised her eyebrows at the comment. "Boy, Giles. That didn't hurt, did it? You definitely need to lie down if you're starting to talk crazy like that."

"Yes," the Watcher said. "Anyway, can I give anyone a ride home?"

"B, you're going to pick up your mom, right?"

"Yeah. And then there's still that demon puddle I need to scrub off the floor of my house."

"Mind if I come with you?"

"No. I could use the company." She smiled. "And this way Mom can see that you look as bad as I do, this time."

"Then I'll take Xander and Willow home." Giles looked at the other two teenagers.

"I still need to call Oz and tell him everything went all right with the slayage," Willow said. "He doesn't show it, but he really is an old worry-wart."

"And be sure to tell him how you took down that vampire single-handedly," Buffy told her, and the redhead beamed with pride. "I'll see you Monday, Giles," Buffy said.

"Monday," he said. "Sleep well."

"I'll be right there, B," Faith told her as the blonde Slayer started for the door. Buffy nodded.

Faith looked at Willow and Xander.

"Hey," Xander said, to Giles. "Will and I will wait for you in the car." They quickly followed Buffy through the double doors.

Faith watched the doors close, then turned to Giles.

"Yes, Faith?"

Faith tried to find the words she wanted to say. "Look, I know we don't really know each other very well." She hesitated. Giles waited, not rushing her, even though he must be anxious to get to sleep. "Uh, you and Buffy already have a history. God," she whispered, she knew she wasn't good at this, so she just came out and said what she was thinking.

"I've already lost one Watcher to the demons, and the other one, Mrs. Post . . . . Well, she was evil."

"Faith," Giles started to say, but she stopped him with a raised hand.

"I didn't say anything before --B was pretty much on a roll-- but I guess what I'm trying to say is, I would really feel bad if something were to happen to you." She fell silent, letting her words sink in.

Giles said, "I feel the same way. I mean if something were to happen to you. However, I will do my best not to let you down, Faith."

Faith nodded. "Okay. Then . . . I'll see you later."

"Of course," he smiled at her.

Faith nodded again and headed for the doors. Giles stayed behind and pulled his keys from his pocket to lock his office door. Just as Faith was about to push through the doors, she turned to look back at him.

"Giles?"

"Yes?"

"When the Watcher's Council called, to tell you about the new Slayer," she paused. "Was Buffy with you?"

"No. I was here alone."

"So, you didn't know which one of us was dead?"

"It terrified me," he admitted. But Faith's questions were starting to concern him and he wondered where she was going with them. "Why do you ask?"

Faith met his gaze and didn't flinch away. "Who did you try to call first?"

She saw the confusion on his face then watched the realization settle in his expression. He was about to reply, but Faith stopped him. She already had her answer.

"Never mind." She tried to smile. "It doesn't matter."

She pushed through the double doors and let them swing behind her.

******

End of A Tale of Slayers

Began: January 20, 99 -- completed: June 9, 99

******

AFTERWORD

Whewwwww!!!!!!! Finished at last! First of all, if you're reading this, then you finished the entire story *unless you're just one of those people who skip all the way to the end to spoil the story*. I want to thank you for reading my very first fan-fic. I hoped you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Oh, if you don't want to read this section I perfectly understand, it's just that I spent five months writing this story I just feel the need to talk about it a little bit.

But first, propers. I like to thank the archive's AleXander whose transcripts proved invaluable to this story. It also saved me from having to dig out episodes from my own video library. And to Anya for "Misery Loves Company." It just happens to be the very first fan-fic, Buffy or otherwise, that I read. And of course to all the Buffy fan-fic writers, who this story is dedicated to, for the inspiration to actually finish my first original story.

About "A Tale of Slayers". . . .

In simple terms this is a story about the bond between the Slayer and her Watcher. The title comes from Dickens' book "A Tale of Two Cities" which I am now ashamed to admit I have never read. I removed the "Two" because, as you know, there are three Slayers in this story, but I still need to give Dickens his due. For the story itself, I was inspired *ripped it off* by "Lethal Weapon 4" the fight scene at the end with Danny Glover and Mel Gibson against Jet Li, at the time the coolest fight in movies. But with three Slayers!!!! Oh, and it's a total coincidence that both fights take place at the docks, I had originally thought it would take place on the beach, but I had to change that when Buffy first fought the Slayer Vampire on the beach. The rest of the story took shape with having to figure out how to make a third Slayer.

Another important reason for me to write this story was that at the time there were no fanfics I could find where Faith was spotlighted. By the time this story makes the archive I'm sure there will be plenty of stories with our favorite bad girl. And, as stated before the prologue, I started writing this story before Faith turned evil, but I continued to love her even after she turned evil. Don't misunderstand, I am and always will be a Buffy's man but I love writing for Faith.

Endings..... Endings are very important to me. Sometimes an ending can make or break a story for me. When I say "ending" I mean the last few words spoken by a character, or just the last paragraph. By the time I finished writing the prologue, I already knew how this story was going to end. That last exchange between Faith and Giles, that never changed. And it also works with her eventual fall to the dark side. Not that I'm trying to ride on Joss's coat tails there, the catalyst for Faith's fall will always be her killing the deputy mayor, but maybe this will provide a little more background character for her.

Action..... Oh, yeah. What's a Buffy story without a little action. Now if someone reads this and goes away thinking it was a cool action story, cool!!!! That's a compliment. But no amount of action would mean anything to me if there isn't a story there, a reason to feel for the characters, to increase the tension of the action. I was just starting on chapter fifteen and feeling good about my fight scenes and especially my Slayer fight scenes, when "Graduation Day part 1" comes along and Joss puts me in my place and shows me how it's done. And it didn't help my confidence that two days later I saw "The Phantom Menace" and saw the BEST fight scene in a long time!

Please!!! Feel free to give me some feedback. Comments, thoughts, even if you really didn't like it. No flames. A dull candle burn, maybe.

And, once again, thank you for reading it. And I apologize for my ego-trip.

I think I'm gonna go read a "A Tale of Two Cities" before I start on my next fic.

Peace.