Reminding the Fallen
by zenithar
Chapter 14
[reviews]
Disclaimer: Joss owns it all. grrrr
Everything up to the episode Empty Places has happened, just a few changes from the last season. One: Wood and Caleb did not show up. Two: So obviously much changeings to endings of series. Also the weapon that Buffy got is changed to an actual scythe.
Other places this is found:
http://www.wiffy-dreamverse.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=486
Author's Note: Thanks to Rebelrsr for betaing and idea bouncing. ' ' indicates Buffy's demon. ( ) indicates human thoughts.
Both girls were still hanging on their respective slayers when they left Willy's office and returned to the main area of the bar. Dawn looked over at Willow with an expression that clearly said 'What the hell was that!?' Willow could only look at her sheepishly before looking back at Buffy's lips.
Buffy glanced at Faith then turned her attention on her surroundings, "Why the motion to leave, Faith?"
"Thought I felt something... and to break up your makeout session with Red," Faith said while smirking at Buffy. Her smirk slipped slightly when she saw Buffy was still in game face. "Hey, B, think you could unvamp? Its creapin' me out," Faith asked.
"What?" Buffy responded, not realizing she was still sporting her fangs until her tongue licked a small speck of Willow's blood from one of them. Almost moaning from the taste Buffy quickly reverted to her human guise.
'She tastes so sweet,' Buffy's demon purred. 'We really need to get some alone time with her.'
(No! Willow is not a snack,) Buffy thought angrily.
'Well as amusing as this conversation is, we might want to focus on the scouts in here,' the demon stated and tried to direct Buffy's attention to five vampires in the corner.
The vampires in the corner looked no different from the others in the bar yet Buffy was getting a feeling of... connection with them. Not a friendly sort of connection; it was something closer to a sense of recognition.
(What makes them different?) Buffy asked herself.
'They've been in the presence of our sire,' the slayer's demon supplied. 'You're sensing her aura on them.'
(Want to bet that's what Faith picked up on?) Her demon nodded in agreement. (Thing is though, why are they here?)
'They're probably scouts for Serenity,' the demon thought. 'They were likely sent to all of our possible hangouts.'
Nudging Faith Buffy pointed to the group of vampires in the corner. "I'm going to walk by them with Will. When they follow us, you tag along behind."
Faith grinned at Buffy and nodded, "Just like the old days, B."
"Yeah, just with a few more plans. Remember, keep Dawn behind you," Buffy cautioned Faith. (Why did I even let Dawn come along?)
'Think it had something to do with proving to her you're not suicidal,' the demon pointed out.
Faith watched the turned slayer and her witch leave the room while she and Dawn headed over to bar. Willy hesitantly came over to the pair and got them both beers while Faith continued to watch the five vampires. They still hadn't moved. (Was B wrong?) Faith thought.
Almost as soon as she finished her thought, the vampires stood and headed for the door. Getting up just as soon as the last vamp left Faith grabbed Dawn's arm and followed. "Stay behind me, D," the dark slayer urged. Silently trailing the demons through the door and into the sewers Faith caught sight of them again as they turned a corner. Suspecting the fight was going to start right around that corner the slayer decided to arm herself. Spotting a dilapidated wooden crate in the sewer she went over to it and broke a short plank from it, forming a makeshift stake. Hearing Buffy begin to speak Faith hurried to look around the corner with Dawn right next to her, their backs pressed against the wall. Faith was able to see all five demons clearly because they had Buffy and Willow mostly surrounded. The fallen slayer was once again in game face and looked contemptuously at the vampires near her. Willow was standing slightly behind and to Buffy's right. She appeared to be mumbling something softly and the tips of her hair had a black tinge to them.
"What are you weaklings doing following me?" Buffy asked in her most arrogant tone.
The five demons kept their eyes on the ground, not able to meet the master vampire's gaze. Uncertain on how to act before the powerful master the center vampire spoke up, "T-the Lady requests that you ret-turn to her presence at once." The demon was obviously afraid because it was trying to obey the orders given by an ancient yet there was an incredibly powerful master not three feet from it.
(We should just dust them already,) Buffy thought heatedly.
'As much as I agree with you we need some answers first,' the demon counseled. 'Once we get what we want we can have our fun.'
(Fine I'll play along with them,) the slayer mumbled at her demon. "If you can't tell I don't give a shit what the 'Lady'," Buffy exaggerated the word, "wants. Now are there any more of you here?"
Looking at its compatriots the vampire decided to answer, "There are other parties out searching for you, but we are the only ones in Sunnydale."
Buffy could feel her demon smiling cruelly, 'That's all I needed to hear.'
The slayer vampire's own face quickly mimicked her demon's. "Thanks for the info." With amazing speed Buffy flew at the center vampire and used her fist to rip its heart from its chest. For a moment the vampire looked at Buffy with surprise and confusion before disappearing in a cloud of ash. Willow acted only seconds after and sent a fireball at her the demon on her far right, hitting it square in the chest. The flames swiftly spread to consume its entire body.
Seeing two of their number fall so quickly the other vampires tried to flee from the master vampire and witch but ran into Faith. The slayer grinned as she thrust her crude stake into the closest vampire before it even had a chance to slow down. Faith swung her leg out to catch the nearest vampire in the back of the knee causing it to tumble to the ground. As soon as both her feet were planted again Faith dove for the last one but missed. Landing in the wet sewer Faith called to Buffy to get the last one.
As Buffy moved the vampire put one hand around Dawn's throat. "Hold it right there," the demon growled at the two slayers.
Buffy stopped as soon as she saw the vampire grab her sister. Faith slowly stood up from the sewage. Buffy snarled at the situation until an idea came to her. Looking straight into the eyes of the demon before her she commanded, "Release her." A glazed look came over the demon as it let go of Dawn, who quickly moved to hide behind Faith.
While everyone's attention was on the transfixed vampire, the one that had been knocked to the ground tried to quietly get. It only got to its knees before Faith spotted it and went over to kick the demon in the side sending it back to the ground. "Hey, Red, think you can do something with this one?" Faith asked.
"Sure, but don't you think we need one to question?" Willow walked over to the downed vampire and held her hand open, palm down, over its face. Getting a shake from Faith Willow created a small ball of fire and let it fly into the defenseless vampire's face. A short scream erupted from the demon before its head became ash followed quickly by the rest of its body. "What's Buffy doing with the vamp?" Willow asked Faith.
Faith eyed Willow cautiously, because the black taint in her hair had risen a little more, before answering her, "I'm betting she's getting something to eat."
Both Dawn and Willow looked at Faith strangely before turning their attention to Buffy. They quietly watched Buffy as she motioned for the vampire to come to her. The demon attempted to resist the order yet it still walked up to Buffy. The slayer vampire seemed to coo to the demon now that it was mere inches from her and she reached out to stroke its neck. Buffy pulled the demon closer by placing one hand on its shoulder and another in its hair. Once the vampire was close enough, the slayer gently angled its head so the neck was presented. Smiling evilly Buffy sank her fangs into the vein before her and quickly drained the vampire. Buffy let the vampire fall to the floor once it fell unconscious while she licked the blood off her lips.
'Might not be as good as human blood but sure as hell beats animal,' Buffy's demon commented.
Buffy turned to look back at her friends and found them all staring at her with more than just a little shock and fear. After thinking for a moment she realized what she had done in front of them all. "Oh... um... I guess I should tell you I can drink vamp blood now," Buffy said uncomfortably while wiping the blood that was running down her chin.