P.S.: My apologies to all the Harry-Potter-readers who have me on alert and expect the next chapter of Siriusly In Love – sorry to disappoint you! I got a little bored with the story, in fact with all the Marauders-stuff, and so I decided to stray in other realms for the time being … But, in the immortal words of yet another hero who saved the world: 'I'll be back!' ;- )

Chapter 1: The Ambush

"Oh, fuck!"

The moment the second group of vampires appeared in front of them, blocking the narrow street, Faith knew that they were in trouble. It had started like any ordinary night: They had checked the usual places (cemeteries, crypts and such), had kicked some undead asses and dusted quite a few vamps. When they'd run into a group of seven of them at once, she hadn't hesitated for a sec – seven vampires against two Slayers? Piece of cake! But suddenly, the vamps had fallen back, and for a moment, Faith had thought that they, too, had realized the mismatch … until she saw that really, really big and nasty demon! Eight feet at the least, kind of furry, teeth like a saber tooth and claws like blades, long, thin, and deadly. Of course they could have taken him down – if the vamps would have stood at the sidelines, cheering. So they'd turned and run, something Faith never would have expected to happen, not with B by her side. The pack had chased them through the outskirts of Sunnydale, and now it became clear that they'd run into an ambush: The trap had sprung, and they were stuck.

"Try to break through!" she heard B yell, but there was no time to answer, because three vamps were upon her at once. She ducked a blow, blocked a second and knocked down one of her attackers. Before she could stake him, however, another one, no two, appeared out of nowhere. Faith cursed under her breath, how many were there? No matter how hard she tried to hold her ground, she was forced to retreat, step by step they drove her back, and with all her Slayer-strength, speed, and reflexes, she only barely managed to ward them off.

Behind her, almost back to back now, she could hear B fight, could hear the impacts of blocks and punches, could hear her breath … it was still controlled, Faith noticed impressed, almost calm … B really is one hell of a fighter! But controlled or not, they had to get out here quickly! The demon was slower, all right, but it would take him only a couple of minutes to catch up, and if they were still here then …

She didn't finish that thought, because that moment B shouted: "Switch!" That was something they'd prepared for a situation like this, when they'd be surrounded: They'd switch places, each one would fight the other's attackers, in order to confuse their enemies. And it worked! Surprised at the sudden change, the vamps hesitated a fraction of a second, and when they'd recovered, two of them were gone, and another two on the ground. We'll make it! We'll really … Then she saw the demon.

It's movements were much quicker than she'd expected, and Faith hardly had time to shout a warning when the beast pounced. And with the first fluent movement, when its claws missed her by an inch, she knew that she wouldn't win. She couldn't block its attacks, she couldn't fight back effectively (her punches and kicks seemed to have no effect at all), and she couldn't endlessly evade the demon's attacks, sooner or later it would get her. And in the meantime, B was to handle all the vamps on her own … I have to take it down somehow! She drew her knife. If I cut its throat … But the fraction of a second that movement had occupied her had been too much: One of the demons claws ripped the leather of her jacket and pierced her upper arm, forcing her to drop her weapon. The wound hurt like hell, but Faith ignored the pain, and managed to regain her balance just in time to dodge the next attack. She delivered a powerful low-kick to the knee of the demon, which seemed to hurt, because the beast hesitated … then it let out an blood-curling howl and lunged at her again!

But this time, Faith was prepared, and which was more: She had a plan … well, more some kind of vague idea, but still … she ducked the sweeping claws aiming for her throat, came up behind the demon, kicked its knee with all her might and, when it stumbled, she jumped. She grabbed the head and jerked it back with every grain of power she could master, twisting as hard as she could. I have to … she could hear the joint creak … break … feel the bones bend under the force she applied …its damn … the demon was howling in pain … NECK!

Next thing she knows, she's flying forward, crashing heavily into the ground. Pain sears through her body, and for one moment everything goes black as her head collides with the asphalt of the street. When she's conscious of her surroundings again, the demon is looming over her, his claws coming down with terrible speed and force, aiming for her throat. There's no time to react, no time to cry out, no time to … Suddenly, the demon is hurled back, the deadly attack goes amiss. Faith jumps to her feed, feeling slightly dizzy – and what she sees now convinces her that she must be hallucinating: B, engaged in a full-fledged infight with the monster, close range! She's upon it with fists, knees and elbows, too close for the beast to use its claws effectively, and she diving it back. For a second, everybody is petrified, vampires and Slayer alike: This can't be real …

And in the next moment, a lot of things happen: A tall dark shadow appears behind the vamps and beheads three of them with one sword-cut, a van races down the street and comes to a skidding halt, and out jump the scoobies: Giles, Xander, Oz, Willow, even Cordelia, all armed, and attack the surprised vampires. But Faith doesn't notice. She doesn't hear Angel's warning, doesn't react when a vamp lunges at her from behind and is tackled by Xander and Oz in the last moment possible … she only sees one thing, has one picture burned into her memory: The claws of the demon ripping her sister-Slayer's right side … her crying out in pain, stumbling … and the three long, sharp claws penetrating the body of Buffy Summers.