FIC: Faith The Series Season 7 Episode 19
FIC: Faith The Series Season 7 Episode 19
Faith pulled her leather jacket on as she strode out of her office, her heart pounding and mouth dry. Tonight was the night, she was in with the Circle. She just had to make this convincing, if they didn’t believe her, they’d kill her stone dead.
“Faith.” Wesley met her at the door, a worried expression on his face. “There's been another fatality in Funville.”
Faith blinked, Wesley’s voice dragging her out of her reverie. “What?”
Wesley let out a long-suffering sigh. “That abandoned amusement park downtown? Third victim in as many nights. Teeth marks strongly indicate a Boretz demon.”
“Bortezs, nasty monsters.” Faith bit back a groan as Wood strode up, Rona behind him. “Stink to high heaven. Dress as transients to prey on the homeless.”
“And the last victim was a teenage girl, ripped apart,” Wesley pressed.
“Look Wes, it’s a bummer, but I got somewhere to be.”
“Somewhere to be,” Wesley stepped into Faith’s space, the glaring Watcher a far cry from the bumbling buffoon who’d first arrived in Sunnydale four years ago. “We need to find this demon and destroy it before- .”
“Somebody else dies.” Faith shook her head. “Jesus, Wes we can’t save everyone. People are dying every day all over. This girl is just one more statistic.”
“The statistic's name was Stacey Bluth.” Wesley snapped.
“Wes, I got something to do tonight, something that could save a lotta lives.” Faith glanced past Wesley to Wood. “Maybe Rona can have a go?” Faith told herself she didn’t care about the disgust she saw in her friends’ eyes. “Anyway, gotta book.”
* * *
Faith forced herself to remain still as she stood in the middle of the cowled figures, the robed demon striding towards her, its palm glowing with a fiery sigil. The demon reached out and pressed his palm into her bare chest, branding her over the heart. Faith grunted, sweat beading on her forehead as the tattoo burnt into her skin.
“The circle entwined,” droned the demon.
“Embrace our new daughter.” The watching figures replied.
“The thorn draws blood,” continued the demon.
“The thorn is the power, and its power is absolute,” the others replied.
Izzerial pulled down his cowl and stepped towards Faith even as the other demon stepped back and Faith refastened her blouse. “Welcome to the fold.”
“Yeah thanks,” Faith blinked as the lights flickered on, “next time can we skip the topless routine though?”
Izzerial chuckled. “Don’t worry, that’s just for the initiation ceremony.”
“That’s a relief,” Faith half-smiled even as her gaze travelled around the chamber, noting just who its occupants were.
“OK,” Faith allowed Izzerial to take her by her elbow, “let me introduce you around to a few people. Some of these folks you know, some you don't. Of course, you're acquainted with the Archduke.”
Sebassis shot her his trademark arrogant gaze. “Kudos, child. I must say it's gratifying to have you amongst our number. In the spirit of our new alliance, you must allow me to throw a dinner party in your honour.”
Faith smirked. “Always been a party gal.”
“It's nice to see you again,” Bruckner strode up to her.
“Senator. I had no idea you were so well...connected.”
The politician smiled. “Well, I'm not gonna take the White House in 2008 on just my sparkling wit and funding from hostile governments.”
“The things we do for power, right?” Faith agreed.
“Excuse us, Helen. Faith, I've got someone here who'd like to pay his respects.” Izzerial guided Faith over to Vail, the mystic sat in a wheelchair.
“When we first met I never dreamed you’d become one of us,” Cyvus greeted.
“Funny how things work out ain’t it?” Faith agreed. The Archduke’s slave bumped into her side, Faith casually backhanding him away.
Izzerial led her away. “You should be honoured, we have a quite exceptional turnout for your initiation. Everybody's here.”
“Always been a popular gal,” Faith muttered as she glanced around the filled room.
* * *
Rona’s gaze moved constantly as she and her Watcher strode through the shadow-shrouded amusement park, irritation filling her. She didn’t mind being on a job, in fact she loved it, but being sent in Faith’s place because Slayer senior couldn’t be bothered? “What’s up with Faith?” she groused. “I mean she used to be cool!”
Wood shook his head. “I don’t know. I mean you’ve heard the saying ‘power corrupts’?”
“Yeah?” Rona glanced towards to her Watcher. “I never got what that means?”
“Power can create a distance between people,” Wood replied. “Often a person in authority can act ruthlessly either to keep or expand their power, or simply neglect those that are his or her subjects.”
“It was something Artos struggled with, but power need not corrupt if its wielder is strong-willed enough,” Drogyn stepped out of the shadows to the right. “I thought Faith would be a good leader, sadly I was in error.”
“Drogyn?” Wood queried, Rona blinked as a trio of chain-mail hauberk-wearing warriors with short swords scabbarded around their waists stepped out of the shadows behind Drogyn. Rona knew instantly they were total badasses. “Why are you here?”
“I came to warn you.” Drogyn replied. “A Sathari, part of a clan of demon assassins fell upon me two nights ago, I slayed him.”
“And what does that have to do with us?” Wood queried.
“Once I bested my assassin, I tortured him for hours until he confessed who had sent him. It was Faith-.”
“That’s impossible!” Rona snapped then shrivelled under the collective gaze of Drogyn and his formidable companions. Yep, seriously scary badasses.
“I came here to gather allies should I find the Slayer has become lost in the bosom of Wolfram & Hart.” Drogyn looked towards his companions. “My brother knights,” Rona’s jaw dropped, they were other Round Table Knights, “have joined my fight, I ask for your assistance?”
Wood clenched his jaw. “We’ll have to talk to the others, but first we’re here to hunt a-.”
“Worry not about the Bortez,” Drogyn interrupted. “We dealt with the clan before you got here.”
Wood grimaced then nodded. “I’ll have to call some people so we can discuss this.”
Drogyn scowled. “But not the Slayer, her lover or her Watcher.”
“Hey,” Rona snapped. “There’s such a thing as innocent until proven guilty-.”
Rona unwillingly clamped her jaw shut at Wood’s raised hand. “Not the Slayer, her lover, or her Watcher. For now.”
* * *
“And what possible motivation would Faith have for such insanity?” Wesley demanded, eyes burning into Drogyn.
Unsurprisingly the legendary warrior was unmoved by his gaze. “He said Faith was afraid I'd find something in the Deeper Well, something that would uncover the truth about her involvement in helping Illyria escape from her tomb.”
“WHAT!”
Wesley winced at Gunn’s roar, but attempted to carry on. “I thought the release of her sarcophagus from the Deeper Well was predestined.”
Drogyn “It appears I was in error. Illyria's resurrection may have been planned.”
“By Faith,” seethed Gunn. Wesley exchanged a worried look with Wood. They both alone of those in the room knew about the Black Thorns and Faith’s determination to bring them down, but just how far would she go?
“Oh, that doesn't make a lick of sense. I mean, why would Faith want to spring an old one?” Lorne protested.
“I don't think that was the point.” Drogyn replied. “Before he died, the assassin said something about a required sacrifice, someone trusted and dear.”
“Are you saying that Faith was responsible for what happened to Cordy?” Gunn grated.
Drogyn shrugged. “He may not have chosen her specifically, but-.”
“I’m sorry but this conversation is ridiculous!” Lorne interrupted.
“Do you think I gain pleasure in this?” Drogyn snapped. I held Faith an ally, a warrior worthy of regard! I know this is difficult for you, but Faith was involved. The information retrieved from the assassin-.”
“And of course the assassin couldn’t be lying?” Wesley challenged.
“We have certain skills that ensure one does not lie to us for long,” Allith growled.
“Well, put me on the short bus, but I still can't wrap my head around the notion that Faith has anything to do with what happened to Cordy,” Lorne declared.
“Oh come on,” Gunn grated, the black looking angrier and angrier. “Faith’s been acting outta character since we got here. We all know that.”
“Look,” Wesley tried to ignore the churning in his belly. Faith and Giles couldn’t have done this? They wouldn’t sacrifice an ally, a friend to bring down an enemy. “We can’t jump to conclusions. We should talk to Faith and Giles before we-.”
“I wanna do a hell lot more than just talk!” Gunn snapped.
“Yes,” Wesley shot the younger man a warning glare. “That’s just what this situation needs, hot tempers.” Wesley turned to Drogyn. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention, I’d appreciate it if you gave us a chance to talk to Faith before acting.”
Drogyn glanced at his companions. “It is ill-advised to warn an enemy of your hostile intent before attacking.”
“We don’t know for sure if Faith is hostile, we don’t want any misunderstandings do we?”
“True.” Drogyn nodded at Wood’s words. “And if it turns out the Slayer is behind this treachery?”
“Then we’re with you,” Gunn replied before Wesley could temper any response.
Wes shook his head as they reached the parking lot, turning to Wood he whispered. “Keep an eye on Gunn, if he makes a hostile move-.”
“Yeah,” Wood muttered back at him. “If he makes a hostile move against Faith, I’ll help you clean the mess up later.”
Wes sighed as he looked towards Willow. “Willow, can you telepathically contact Faith, Giles, and Xander and ask them to meet us at our old offices.”
“The old offices?” Gunn looked towards him, confusion etched on the former street kid’s face.
“Giles bought them from himself under an assumed name earlier in the year so we’d have somewhere clandestine to meet up should we require it.” Wesley looked towards the others. “Our cars may well be bugged, so I suggest we walk.”
The exercise might even give some of them time to calm down. Although Gunn looked like he’d need a century.
* * *
Faith looked up as the basement office door swung open, Giles and Xander sat opposite her. “Hey guys,” Faith greeted. “Good to see ya. What’s the sitch?”
“The situation is what the hell did you have to do with Cordy’s death?”
Faith’s eyes narrowed as she rose and glared up at Gunn even as Rona, Wood, and Wes got between the two of them. “Take the bass outta your voice when you’re talking to me pal,” Faith growled. “And what the hell are you talkin’ ‘bout?”
“Our friend Drogyn's in town.” Wesley said, his tone scarcely more measured than Gunn’s.
Faith blinked. She still had no idea where this conversation was going. “So?”
“So somebody tried to have him killed.” Wood put in. “Know anything about that?”
Faith’s jaw dropped. “Say what? Why would I?”
“He says the assassin was hired by you,” Gunn snapped.
“And why in the hell would I do that?” Faith demanded.
“Because you’re the one who organised Illyria’s resurrection!”
Gunn’s accusation was like a slap across the face. “I loved Cordy!” Faith’s fists clenched, a hot rage threatening to turn her into a raging inferno.
“Perhaps I can interject a little bit of sanity,” Giles stepped between the two of them a half-second before she left hooked Gunn into unconsciousness. “I’m the one who hired the assassin.”
“SAY WHAT!” Faith’s gaze snapped to her father.
“And the Brit’s just taken a facefirst dive off the deep end,” Lorne commented.
“I knew that Drogyn would be more than capable of defeating the assassin I sent,” Giles appeared unruffled. “I also knew that the Battlebrand was more than capable of discovering this, and also of Faith’s supposed motivation for hiring him, namely to hide her supposed involvement in Illyria’s resurrection. And I also knew that Drogyn would come here seeking retribution, giving us yet another ally.”
“And what if Drogyn had gone after ME?” Faith squealed.
“I was confident in your ability to non-lethally deal with him.”
Faith shook her head, eyes filled with disbelief. “Have you seen that guy with a sword? The one in his scabbard, not the one in his pants.” Faith tried for a joke that fell flat.
“Well Drogyn didn’t come alone,” Wesley said. “He brought friends. Three of them.”
Giles’ eyes filled with wonder. “More knights?”
“I believe so,” Wesley nodded.
“Which ones?” Giles queried.
“Can we get back to the matter in hand?” demanded Gunn, his expression if anything growing darker. “Why did you spread a rumour that Faith was behind Illyria’s resurrection?”
“So that anyone hearing the rumour would believe her extremely ruthless and capable of anything,” Giles replied. “Which would further solidify her reputation with some very ruthless, very powerful players.”
“And why in the hell would you want to do that?” Gunn snapped.
“You recall when Wesley, Wood, and Xander went off on their little trip?” Giles continued at Gunn’s gruff nod. “What they discovered was that the First Evil is an ancient invention of Wolfram & Hart and that the law firm is run by a secret cabal called the Circle Of The Black Thorn, and that their plan for bringing us here was so that they could wipe out and ultimately control the Slayer Line.” Giles paused. “The reason Faith has been doing many of the objectionable things you’ve all noted over the past few weeks, besmirching a senatorial prospect, jury-rigging a trial, and the baby selling, have all been to one end.”
“One end?” Willow asked.
“Getting Faith into the Circle so she can find out all the members are, so we can eliminate them once and for all,” Giles replied.
“And how’s that going for you?” Gunn demanded.
“Had my first meetin’ with ‘em last night,” Faith declared. “Got some wicked body art in the process.”
“S…so you know who they all are?” Tara squeaked.
Faith scowled. “I know who they all are.”
“So when are we gonna take these fools out?” Gunn demanded.
Giles stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Faith, Xander, and I were discussing that very matter before you got here.”
“I vote for soon, ‘cause I really don’t wanna have to spend more time doin’ these shit-heads’ biddin’ than I already have,” Faith gloomily added.
“Well not tonight, as it’s not long until morning,” Giles commented.
“Stealth works better in the dead of night with shadows to conceal an army’s passing.”
“As cheery as ever,” Giles cast Illyria a wary look before glancing towards Wesley. “Where do you have Drogyn and his men hidden?”
“Where we found them, in Funville,” Wesley replied.
“Excellent.” Giles scooped up his car keys and threw them to Wesley. “If you could bring them here?”
Wesley stared at the car keys for a second. “Very well, Gunn if you wouldn’t mind?”
“This is gonna be one hell of a conversation,” Gunn grunted as he nodded.
* * *
“I do not appreciate having an assassin sent after me!”
Giles forced himself not to quail before the angry knight stood before him by reminding him of the monsters he and his companions had defeated in the past. “An assassin I knew a renowned warrior such as yourself could defeat with ease.”
“You juggle with subtleties,” growled one of Drogyn’s companions, “you remind Myrddin, man!”
Giles smiled slightly. “I find the comparison to Merlin, flattering, but I assure you I’m the spawn of any demon.”
“Could have fooled me.”
Giles glared at Faith then returned his gaze to Drogyn. “I trust I’ve satisfied you to our motivations?”
After a second, Drogyn nodded. “Your motivations are no longer in question, your methodology on the other hand remains dubious.”
“Nevertheless,” Giles licked his lips, “you agree that going after the Circle of Black Thorn is a worthy goal?”
“Aye,” Tremain rumbled, “many are the dark rumours surrounding that foul cabal, but never before have we known their members.”
“So you see we have an opportunity here?” Giles pressed. “If we work together….”
“Agreed,” Drogyn nodded. “How do you intend that we proceed?”
“Xander, Gunn, the Senator has an office on the main street which she works out of,” Giles began. “I want that office closing down.”
“A den full of vampires.” The two men exchanged high fives. “Just like old times.”
“Rona, if you’d join me, I’d like to get that baby back from the Fell Brethren,” Giles raised a hand at Wood’s opening mouth. “Robin, I have a job for you too. I want you, Lorne, and Wesley to take of Cyvus Vail. Illyria, I want you to kill Izzerial.”
“His death will be a thing of legend,” the statuesque blue-haired woman promised.
“One certainly hopes so,” Giles tightly replied before looking towards Faith. “Our secret ally will be waiting outside the office, once Hamilton enters the building, he’ll follow him and help you deal with him.” Giles’ gaze turned to Drogyn. “As for you, I want you and your companions to deal with the Sharvin Clan.”
“And what do you want us to do, ooooo!” Willow began jumping excitedly on the spot. “Ooooo! The Archduke!”
“No,” Giles glanced towards Faith. “He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s already dead. Faith grazed the slave he drinks off with a slow-acting poison, the next time feeds he’d be killed.”
Willow pouted. “So what do you want us to do?”
Giles glanced from Willow to Tara and back again. “Guard the Potentials and,” he reached into one of the crates stacked at the room’s rear, “use this,” Giles pulled out Meriones Merus and passed it to Willow, “to turn those Potentials into Slayers.”
“Wait!” Gunn grunted. “Say what?”
“Ever since we discovered the sword last year, I’ve been working on a theory that the power within this blade is intrinsically linked to that of the Slayer,” Giles replied. “Its power can be used to fuel a spell that will turn the potentials into Slayers. It’s been a project of mine and Wesley,” he nodded towards the younger Watcher, “to work out a ritual.”
“Yeah, but what about Potentials throughout the world, they don’t have a choice,” Gunn objected. “Like slavery, forcing a Slayer’s life on them.”
“I’m given to agree,” Giles conceded. “Fortunately the spell’s force will be limited by distance. While Willow is a considerable power, if Tara puts up a shield, only Potentials within the town will be affected.”
Something dark flickered in the red-haired witch’s eyes but then was gone as Willow nodded. “Yeah, sure that’s right.”
“And you must bear in mind the girls in this town are directly in danger from Wolfram & Hart, this spell will give them the power to fight back,” Wesley pointed out.
“Does everyone know their places?” Giles queried.
“And after the battle?” Drogyn demanded. “Wolfram & Hart will not sit quietly for the annihilation of its leaders.”
“That’s why we need the Slayers,” Giles replied. “I’ve also purchased the Crawford mansion. We’ll meet behind there, Xander,” Giles glanced at Faith’s boy-friend, “has been working on a few surprises for our friends.”
“Then I suspect we’re ready,” Wesley replied.
Giles took a breath. “Indeed.”
“Can I have a moment with Giles on my own?” Faith queried. Faith turned to Giles the moment the last of their friends had filed out of the basement, her expression unreadable. “This could get tricky, couldn’t it?”
Giles forced a smile. “Tricky’s one word.”
“Well if I,” Faith paused, tears springing into her dark eyes. “If anything happens.” Faith licked her curved lips. “If anything happens, I just,” Faith took a breath. “I just wanna you to know that you’re the best dad I could have ever wanted.”
“Ohhh.” Giles fought back tears as he flung his arms around Faith and pulled him into her, whispering in his ear. “Every day you make proud to be your father. Every bloody day.”