CHAPTER 6
Phoebe wiped her face and turned to her sister. “She was crazy in there!”
“Faith?” Piper asked in confusion. The brunette had looked upset, but not out of control.
“Yes, Faith.” Phoebe snapped. “We got in there and it was like I didn’t even know who she was.” The younger girl shuddered, remembering the soulless look in the brown eyes when she hadn’t followed instructions.
Her sister leaned against the passenger door. “Well, you don’t, not really.” When Phoebe looked at her in confusion, she elaborated. “You don’t know her, Pheebes. You spent one night with her, and, great sex aside, you don’t know who she is.”
Resting her head on the steering wheel, the younger Halliwell thought about that. “Alright, point taken. But you should have seen her, Piper. Last night, she was so gentle. In the bar, though, my God! I was terrified.”
“You were in a demon bar trying to get information. Did you really think she was going to give you flowers and sing you a love song?” Piper looked at Phoebe in amusement.
The shorter girl laughed. “I guess that’s a little unrealistic, huh?” She started the car. “Maybe I did overreact a little. Faith warned me she was going to get scary.”
She pulled away from the curb. “Who is she, Piper? I mean, we know what she is, but we don’t know anything about her past.”
Watching her sister intently, Piper noticed she seemed more introspective now. “Leo knows a lot more than he’s telling. Whoever your latest paramour is, she’s on our side. The Elders wanted her here for the fight.” The oldest Halliwell grimaced. “Getting my husband to give us anything more won’t be easy, though. I got the impression this is bigger than anything else we’ve come up against.”
Phoebe concentrated on navigating through traffic before saying, “I think you’re right. The demon in the bar said the new group is led by something that might be the hired gun of the Source.” She looked at Piper. “Faith’s supposed to meet with one of the demon’s thugs tomorrow some time.”
“So, despite your freaking out, she got the job done?”
“Yeah,” came the irritated response. Then, quietly, “Faith mentioned some law firm in LA, Wolfram and Hart. The whole place froze at the name.” The witch gripped the wheel hard, worried about the brunette Slayer. “Faith said she used to work for them, Piper. What if the Elders are wrong, and she isn’t working with us? What if she’s a plant for the Source or his assassins?”
***
Faith stalked down the sidewalk, thoughts dark and angry. She’d known better than to take the witch into the bar. Phoebe wasn’t used to going to the dark side of town. And, she certainly hadn’t been primed for the glimpse of Evil Faith.
Fuck, who am I kidding, I wasn’t ready for a return of the Evil Bitch, either. The Slayer remembered the satisfaction and desire when she’d bent Phoebe over the bar. The witch’s fear had fed the dark part of her, blowing on the embers of the person she’s been in Sunnydale. I can’t do that again. I can’t. The Slayer could feel panic welling up.
A strange tickle ran along her senses. She pulled herself back under control a little and tried to identify the new feeling. It wasn’t a vamp, she was sure. Whatever was following her, wasn’t the usual type of bad guy. Slowing her steps and beginning to move with more purpose, Faith headed for a bus stop and the rusty bench sitting by the street. She stopped and pretended to read the list of buses servicing the stop. A tall blonde man ambled down the street.
Oh, for God’s sake, the Slayer snarled silently. She dropped onto the bench to see what Leo would do next. Obviously, the angel hadn’t expected her to stop moving. He hesitated when he saw her sitting on the bench, a frown creasing his new face. Faith was careful not to watch too closely, but her new Watcher was clueless. With indecision screaming from every part, Leo walked over and joined the Slayer waiting for the bus.
“Hey,” Faith greeted the young man.
Leo studiously ignored her.
The brunette stifled a smile. Her earlier black mood lifted as she contemplated her next move. She turned sideways, pulling her leg up onto the bench. “You live here? ‘Cause I’m just passing through and I’m looking for a good place to party.”
The man’s eyes bugged out and Faith had to work hard to keep from laughing out loud. Where the hell did the PTB get this guy? Inching closer to her prey, the brunette placed a warm hand on his thigh. “Come on, I know you can show me a good time.”
It was just too much. The Whitelighter sprang off the bench. His face was beet red and he looked like he wanted to run away screaming for his wife. “S-sorry,” he stammered. “I don’t know anything, really.”
“That’s right, stud, you don’t.” All of a sudden, the teasing wasn’t so funny. The Slayer felt the depression return full force. “What the fuck are you doing here, Leo? Making sure I wasn’t meeting up with all my demon buddies?”
Realizing his disguise had been uncovered, Leo glanced around. No one else was around so he changed back to his normal features and sat down next to Faith. “What happened in the bar?”
The Slayer wasn’t expecting the direct interrogation and answered without thinking, “I got too rough with Phoebe.”
The angel didn’t say anything for a minute. “She didn’t look hurt. I could tell she was angry…maybe a little scared. Why do you say you got too rough? Tell me what happened.” Leo pushed a little. As Faith’s Whitelighter, or Watcher, he could sense her emotions if they were strong enough. The Slayer’s emotions pounded through him. She was on the edge of losing control.
“What the fuck difference does it make?” She stood up and began to pace. “I just lost control of the situation. I almost did a number on your sister-in-law.”
Leo decided to change tactics. Playing on the fear he sensed in his charge, he leaned forward and grabbed her arm. “Why didn’t you? After all, she couldn’t stop you and the demons would have enjoyed the show. Maybe you needed to feel her fear. Did it turn you on, Faith? Do you like being in control? Making someone hurt?”
“Fuck, no!” Faith broke under the verbal assault. Swinging at the source of her pain, she used all of her strength. If she’d made contact, Leo would have been airborne. However, the angel calmly orbed out and returned unharmed. The Slayer’s fist passed through the spot he’d been, and the force of the punch swung the brunette in a complete circle.
“Not very good for a Slayer. Is that the best you can do, Faith?” he taunted. “I’m surprised the Elders even gave you this last chance. And look how well you’re doing so far. You pick up the first good fuck you find, and now you’re willingly consorting with demons. Right back to your old tricks.” The young man watched the words hit home. He’d found the source of Faith’s anger. The Dark Slayer was afraid of crossing the line again. He smiled to himself. As long as she was afraid of that action, there was still a chance to save her.
***
Phoebe pulled the car into the drive and killed the engine. “Wanna freeze everything so I can get into the house without flashing the neighbors?”
Piper looked confused, and the younger girl gestured to her ruined pants. “Oh!” Piper started to laugh. “I hadn’t noticed you went out with easy access clothing”
“Demon bar, crazy girl with a big knife…” Phoebe mumbled. “Please, Piper?”
“No can do, little sister.” Piper hopped out of the car, calling through the open door. “No magic for personal gain, remember?”
“Not flashing the neighbors should not fall under personal gain.” Phoebe scowled at her sister, who’d closed the car door and headed up to the Manor. “Damned rule.” She peered out the windows of the tiny car. It was a beautiful afternoon in the Bay area. She counted a dozen people walking or running on the sidewalk. A couple of the homeowners did yard work or sat on their front porches. Phoebe figured she had two choices: hold the halves of her pants together and run like hell for the door, or sit in the car until dark, hold the halves of her pants together and run like hell for the door.
It would be hours until the sun went down. Opening her door, she slid carefully out, keeping as much of her lower body shielded by the vehicle as possible. Gripping the pieces of material around her left leg, she closed the door with a thud and quickly grabbed the other side of her jeans. Praying to the Goddess for a little aid, she ran up the long walkway. She had to hop sideways at the door to keep from flashing everyone. Pushing open the ornate glass-paned door, she hurtled into the house.
“Glad you decided to come inside,” Piper said calmly from her spot on the couch. She started laughing again when she realized just how much flesh her sister showed. “Damn. Faith did a nice job on those. Why didn’t she just cut them the rest of the way off?”
Not bothering to answer, Phoebe started up the stairs. She stopped halfway as a thought occurred. “Piper, do you think the Elders have sent other Slayers or witches to help our ancestors?”
Lowering the newspaper she was reading, her older sister replied, “I don’t know. Why? You think we could find out more information if we summoned someone?”
“Maybe.” Phoebe took another few steps. “I’m gonna change. You want to meet me upstairs? I’d like to talk to Grams.”
CHAPTER 7
Happy to have undamaged clothing again, Phoebe bounded up the stairs and burst into the attic. Piper stood behind the book while candles marked the vertices of the five-pointed star inscribed on the floor.
“Find anything?” she asked her older sister.
The taller brunette shook her head. “Nothing on Slayers. Sorry, Pheebs.”
“It was a long shot. Maybe Grams will know.” The middle Halliwell lit the candles and used black sidewalk chalk to surround the star with a circle. “I’m ready, how about you?” she directed at Piper.
“Well, I don’t think you’re going to find the answers you want, but I’m good to go.” The older woman moved beside Phoebe. Joining hands, the sisters began to chant.
“Hear these words.
Hear my cry, Spirit from the Other Side.
Come to me.
I summon Thee.
Cross now the Great Divide.”
White lights spun around the circle, slowly gathering form.
“Hello, girls,” Penny Halliwell greeted warmly. The ghost waved her arms, and the candles went out and the chalk-line circle disappeared.
“Showing off again, Grams?” Piper asked, giving the now solid woman a hug. She moved out of the way so Phoebe could do the same.
A deep chuckle filled the room. “Of course not, Piper. Who do I need to impress these days?” Taking her granddaughters’ hands, she pulled them to the couch and sat down between them. “Now, what can I do for you?”
The oldest living Halliwell waved at her younger sister. “This is your show, Pheebs.”
“Right. OK. Um, Grams, have you ever heard of a Slayer?”
The Halliwell matriarch narrowed her eyes at the younger sister. “A Slayer? Why, yes. I met one back in…oh, I guess 1974. A sect of very nasty vampires moved in, and the Elders sent Sara here to help out.”
Grinning in relief, Phoebe said, “So, what was she like?”
“Phoebe, dear, what have you done this time?” Grams’ dry query sent Piper into a fit of laughter.
The younger Halliwell pouted. “Nothing. I didn’t do anything.” Penny raised an imperious brow and waited. Mumbling, Phoebe caved. “I met a woman in P3. She turned out to be a Slayer sent by the Elders to help with the Source. But, she’s a little too mysterious. We-I- was hoping you’d have some information.”
“Phoebe, my dear, you know it doesn’t work that way. If I had known this particular Slayer, I could give you that information. But, we don’t get a newsletter from the Elders.”
“I tried to tell her, Grams,” Piper said sanctimoniously.
The ghostly Halliwell looked at her granddaughters. Something was wrong. “Phoebe, Piper, you know you can’t hide anything from me. Tell me the whole story.”
***
“Should I hang around, meet your new demon friends?” Leo asked.
Faith stopped pacing and stared at her new Watcher. “What the fuck, Leo? That’s twice you made that comment. You really think I’m working for the Source?” Her voice dropped to a near whisper. “I need to get out of here.”
The Slayer’s desire to flee poured into the angel and he grabbed the younger girl’s arm. “Running won’t help, Faith. You have to stay and face this.”
“Face what? The fact you don’t really trust me to play on the right team? Or go home with you and face your sister-in-law? You know, the one I almost tortured and raped in a bar a little while ago.” She wrenched out of his grip and sprinted down the street.
Two blocks later, Leo calmly materialized in front of her. “Stop just reacting, Faith. Start thinking things through.” He watched the brunette carefully. The run hadn’t fazed her, but the situation had her on the edge. Feeling his way, the Whitelighter continued. “Think, Faith. The Elders believe you are on the right path. They wouldn’t bring you here, with a powerful Evil on the loose, if you were a lost cause.”
Reluctantly, the Slayer acknowledged the logic of that statement. “Yeah. Makes sense.” She struggled to come to terms with Leo’s belief in her. “So, you were just saying that shit about me working with the demons, right?”
Smiling, the blonde man regarded his newest charge. The Dark Slayer was quite a contradiction, confident fighter, sexual predator, and scared young woman. “Right. I just needed to prove to you that you hadn’t lost control with Phoebe.” He held up a hand when Faith started to protest. “So you felt the rush from the situation. I hate to break it to you, but all of us have that part of us. You just have to fight a little harder to keep it under control. That’s part of the whole redemption package.”
“I guess.” Faith still wasn’t ready to let go of the guilt.
“Did you really think it was going to be that easy?” Leo asked, beginning to walk down the street.
Hunching her shoulders, the Slayer followed along. “Nah, not really. Fang’s been good about explaining the way it’s all gonna go down.” She smirked at Leo’s confused look. “Years of struggle and torment. Crappy dreams and dark urges. He’s a pretty uplifting guy once you get to know him,” she said sarcastically.
Her Watcher laughed outright at that. “I’ve only met your boss once. Uplifting isn’t the word I would’ve chosen.”
“Soul Boy’s OK. Been real good at helping me deal and everything.” She fell silent for a while, and they simply walked side by side. “Leo? What am I really doing here?”
“What do you mean?” Leo stopped and turned to face the brunette.
“Well, any of the new Slayers could do this job.” Thinking of Kennedy, Faith corrected. “OK, most of them…why me? I know the whole probation thing, but come on. The PTB is putting a lot on the line bringing me here.”
The Dark Slayer was no fool. “Ever considered they really think you’re back on the right side?” the angel stalled.
“Hell, no.” No doubt or hesitation in the response. “I killed two people and seriously wounded a bunch of others. That don’t just go away, L. Put me in a situation with too much temptation, I might just give in to that itch. With the new Big Bad in town, that’s a serious risk the guys upstairs are taking. I’m thinking this is all a big plan.”
Leo met unflinching brown eyes, unable to formulate an answer.
“Thought so.” Faith dropped her eyes and resumed walking. “So, they need me because the evil dudes might believe I’ve crossed over again. Am I supposed to? Cross over, I mean.” She tried to sound casual, uncaring of the angel’s response.
“No!” Leo was emphatic. “The Elders did think you were the best candidate because of your background. But they don’t think you’re going to betray us.”
Despite the inner voice whispering warnings in her ear, Faith believed the earnest young man next to her. A slow smile stretched her lips. “Gotcha, L. Wicked cool.”
***
Blushing, Phoebe gave her surrogate mother the rundown on meeting Faith. She glossed over bringing the brunette home, but did dole out a few details of their information gathering trip. When she finished, Penny Halliwell laughed. “You always did pick the bad ones…Although, I never expected a girl in your future.” The older woman stood and moved toward the stairwell. “Let’s go downstairs and talk some more. I’ll need to think about how we can proceed.”
“Sure, Grams.” Piper climbed off the couch and hurried behind the older woman. Phoebe, however, lingered in the attic.
The ghost’s comment stung. She didn’t always pick ‘bad’ boys (or girls), did she? Thinking back on her past relationships, Phoebe came to the depressing conclusion that she had lousy…maybe appalling luck when it came to dates. Still, the time with Faith had felt different. She just needed to be sure the brunette was OK after their trip to the bar. The witch realized she hadn’t reacted well to the situation and had blamed the other woman for doing her job. Running a hand through her hair, Phoebe wandered out of the room in search of her family.
Not surprisingly, the two Halliwells were in the sunny kitchen. For once, though, Piper relaxed at the table while Grams puttered around putting together the ingredients for cookies. “Phoebe? Maybe you should sit down, dear. You look tired.”
“That’s because someone didn’t get a lot of sleep last night,” Piper teased.
“Piper!” the younger Halliwell protested. A blush darkened her tanned skin. “Not in front of Grams.”
“Why, Phoebe, I may be dead, but I haven’t forgotten what young people do together.” Penny joined in the lighthearted banter.
“Grams!” The youngest Halliwell in the room wondered if there was a bull’s eye on her forehead.
Still chuckling, her grandmother finished dropping cookie dough onto a baking sheet. “OK, my dear. Enough fun and games. While I enjoy a good laugh and some peanut butter cookies, you two called me here for a reason.” She put the dough in the oven and joined the two younger women at the table. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you, Phoebe.”
“Sure. Well, after the thing in the bar, I was pretty
wigged. I mean, I was mooning half the demon population of
The older witch looked thoughtful, but any answer she might have made was delayed by the husky voice from the doorway. “You got a way to make that happen, that’d be wicked cool.”
CHAPTER 8
“Faith!” Phoebe shot to her feet and was across the kitchen in seconds. Wrapping the taller girl in a tight hug, she whispered into the Slayer’s neck, “I’m sorry about earlier. I overreacted.”
Standing stiffly in the embrace, Faith glanced around the room. An older woman regarded her with open amusement, and Piper and Leo seemed set for a big welcome back celebration. “Uh, Phoebe, gonna need my arms. Think you could step back so we can get down to business?” She was confused by the witch’s actions. The conversation she’d overheard indicated doubt about her allegiance. What’s with the hug, then, Faith wondered.
Biting her lip, the middle Halliwell stepped back. “Sorry.” The diminutive brunette realized her companion hadn’t handled her enthusiastic greeting well. Quietly, she started the introductions. “Faith, this is Grams.” At the Matriarch’s raised brows, she amended, “Our grandmother, Penny Halliwell. Grams, this is Faith.” She stopped. She had no idea what Faith’s last name was.
Smirking, the Slayer waited to see how the witch would deal with the awkward social situation. However, Grams had a different idea. “You’re the current Slayer?” She extended a hand to the leather-clad girl.
“Sorta.” Faith briefly clasped the warm hand and then moved to lean against the island, making sure she had a clear line of sight to all of her inquisitors. Her Slayer senses showed something not quite right about the silver-haired woman. “There’s a lot of us these days.”
“Hmmm. I thought there was only supposed to be one of you at a time.” Penny shrugged. “It was quite a long time ago, though. It’s very nice to meet you.” She winked at Faith before continuing. “Phoebe’s told me very little about you, but it isn’t often I get to meet her latest conquest.”
“Conquest?” The Slayer tilted her head, examining her date from the previous evening. “Yeah,” she smiled slowly, “not my usual role, but Moonbeam’s hard to resist, ya’ know?”
Grams’ warm chuckle filled the kitchen and drew the attention of a cuddling Leo and Piper. “What’s so funny?” the older sister inquired.
“Nothing, my dear. Just discussing some things with Faith and Phoebe.” The Halliwell Matriarch stood and stretched. “I think the cookies are about done. Why don’t you sit down, Faith, and we can talk and eat.”
The Slayer frowned. Cookies sounded good, but she wanted to get to the magic. Phoebe and her family deserved some peace of mind about her role in the Source’s plot. A glance at Grandmother Halliwell showed a hint of steel in her eyes. “I will, thanks. Leo, I need to make a phone call. The demon in the bar is going to check my credentials. I need to let Angel know the call’s coming.”
“Of course,” the Whitelighter replied. “There’s one on the wall.”
Don’t suppose you’re gonna suggest I use the one in the living room. Fuck, I don’t want to have this conversation with an audience. Weighing her options, Faith pushed off from the island and grabbed the phone. Angel’s cell rang a couple of times before he answered. The Slayer turned away from the gathered Halliwell clan, giving her at least the illusion of privacy.
“Hey, Big Guy. Things here are moving fast.”
The centuries-old vampire didn’t hesitate. “What can I do to help?”
“I made some new friends in the demon world. Gave them my Dark Slayer act.” She paused, uncomfortable with the situation. “Could you make sure they know I’m on the Wolfram and Hart payroll? I implied I do some work for you.”
“Faith? Everything OK?”
The brunette closed her eyes. Damn Angel and his ability to read her – even over the phone. “Five by five, Fang. I’m doing a bit of undercover work and I need a convincing background story.”
“I’ll let Harmony know to expect the call. I’ll handle it myself.”
“Cool. Thanks, Angel.” Hanging up, she faced the
Penny placed a plate piled with the promised cookies in front of her. “Who’s this Wolfram and Hart?” Phoebe asked. “You mentioned it in the bar, and it was like you’d cast a silence spell.”
Taking a bite before answering, Faith finally said, “It’s a
big law firm in
“But you aren’t a lawyer.” Phoebe remembered how Faith had reacted to that question in the bar.
“Nah. Like I told the demon, I do some security work. It’s complicated.”
“Complicated causes problems,” Penny interjected. She leveled a stern look at Leo. “I know you think we don’t need to know, but we do.”
“What?” The blond man was clueless.
“Oh, for Goddess sake. Leo, the Elders always keep information back. It’s a bad habit.” Penny shook a finger at the Whitelighter. “The girls need to know everything.”
Stiffening at the unexpected verbal attack, the angel elaborated. “I can’t say anything, Penny. It was an order.”
“Who cares about orders, Leo? Not having all the information could put the girls in more danger.” The older woman stood and began clearing the table. “Since Leo won’t give us a clue, why don’t you, Faith?”
Weighing her options, Faith decided to hell with Leo and the PTB. She needed to know whether the sisters would want anything to do with her once they knew the truth. “Only fair, I guess. There’s a lot of stuff I didn’t tell Phoebe. Stuff you guys need to know.”
Laying her hands flat on the table, the Slayer tried to decide where to start. It all sounded so sordid in her head. Mentally shrugging, she baldy stated, “I didn’t handle the Slayer gig real well at first– went a little crazy. I killed a couple of people.” She stopped. The kitchen rang with silence. “Looks like the PTB have some doubts about me, too. According to Leo, this is my last chance to prove myself.”
“No way!” The middle Halliwell sounded outraged. “You must have misunderstood.” She leaned across the table and grasped Faith’s hand.
The Whitelighter didn’t look happy. “It’s true, Phoebe. I wasn’t supposed to say anything. The Elders wanted Faith to make her own choices, without any outside influence.” He smiled apologetically at his wife.
“It sounds like you know what you need to do,” Grams put in. “However, we’ve missed an important part of the tale, haven’t we?”
The brunette flinched. “What do you want to know?” She met the hazel eyes of the Matriarch.
“Did you mean to kill them?”
“The first time, no. It was an accident.” Slow, shaky breath. “But afterward, I tried to frame a friend for the murder and tried to run. The second guy was a hit for my boss – not the current one. I worked for the Mayor of Sunnydale for a while. He had this mad plan to Ascend and take over the world. I killed a professor at UCS because he had information the Mayor didn’t want anyone to have.”
Sweat trickled down her back. Four pairs of eyes bored into her. Faith refused to look away. “Anything else you want to know?”
Phoebe’s voice sounded small. “Why would the Elders give you a second chance?”
In that moment, Faith knew she needed the witch to
understand. “No reason they should. I screwed up at every turn.” She was going
for broke, laying it all on the table. “After I killed Professor Worth, I tried
to kill Angel. He was working with Buffy and her gang to stop the Mayor.”
Tonelessly, she recounted every stupid thing she’d done in Sunnydale, her
attempt to kill Angel in
No one spoke for a long time after she finished her tale.
“My dear, I think the Elders are doing you a disservice.” Grams stood up and began to clear the table.
“Penny-“ Leo began.
“Hush, Leo. Think about it. Faith has rebuilt her life and is atoning for her actions. In the end, it’s all anyone could ask.” She patted the Slayer’s shoulder. “We need to find out who these demons are and make sure you don’t have to put yourself or my granddaughters in more danger than necessary.” She piled the dishes and glasses in the sink and wiped her hands on a towel. “Now, I’m afraid I don’t have much time left, girls. Let’s go up to the attic and see what we can find in the Book.”
Faith hesitated. “Me and research? Not great friends. If you don’t mind, I’d like to grab a shower and hunt up some clean clothes.”
Phoebe frowned. “Did you bring anything else with you? I didn’t see a bag at the club.”
“Nah, Moonbeam. I travel light. Besides, I didn’t think I’d be here for more than the one night.” She smiled. “Don’t worry. I can rinse everything but the leather in the sink and I’ll be good to go.”
“Faith, we’ve got tons of stuff you can borrow. I mean, hello, three women living in the same house.” Piper patted Leo on the stomach and walked toward the door. “Come on. I think we still have some of Prue’s old things in the back of Paige’s closet. She had this one great leather outfit.”
“Um, sure.” The Slayer followed the older woman up the stairs. “Hey, I’m a little confused here, Piper.”
That earned a surprised look from the witch. “Only a little? You must really be used to a faster pace if that’s the case.”
The younger brunette smiled slightly. “Yeah, SunnyD was hopping.” Faith tried to find the words for her next question. “I overheard the last part of your conversation with Phoebe. I can’t see how my life story helped make you feel better about my loyalties. Why not just show me the door and get on with finding your other sister?”
Piper pushed open the door to Paige’s room. “Simple. Phoebe saw you take a hit meant for Leo. We may not always know why things in her vision happen, but we know that they eventually will happen. Plus, I think Grams is right. You’re trying to do the right thing now.” She looked at the younger girl as she opened Paige’s closet. “Besides, my sisters and I may be the Charmed Ones, but we haven’t always been little angels ourselves.”
The Slayer waited for more as her guide started flipping through the clothes in the closet. When Piper didn’t elaborate, she muttered, “I still don’t get it.”
“Just go with it, Faith. We trust you. Trust yourself.” She found the leather pants and the matching vest and held them out. “These should let you blend perfectly with the seedier crowd. We’ll steal some of Paige’s jeans and a top for normal wear.”
Faith examined the outfit closely. “Wow. Whoever Prue was, she had wicked good taste.”
“It was really out of character for her.” The older woman smiled sadly. “It’s a long story for another day. She was our sister; she died not too long ago.”
“Whoa! I didn’t mean anything-“
“It’s OK.” Piper shook off the sudden gloom. “We don’t talk about it much.” She pulled more clothes from the closet. “Let’s get you cleaned up. I’ll head upstairs and help with the research.”
“Thanks, Piper.” The Slayer watched the other woman head for the stairs before entering the small bathroom and climbing into the shower.
***
“Grams, I don’t even know what I’m looking for,” Phoebe whined, slamming the Book closed.
“Did you see anything in the vision that might help us out?” her grandmother asked, taking the Book and flipping through it.
“Yeah, one of the vampires had a tattoo. Faith asked me to sketch it, but I never got around to it.”
“Phoebe!” The younger witch flinched at the tone. “Make time. How do you expect to find the Source’s army it you don’t know what to look for?”
Barely managing to keep her eyes from rolling, Phoebe sighed and searched a bureau drawer for paper and pencil. Finding a dull golf pencil and a scrap of paper, she dropped to the floor and tried to draw the markings she remembered from her vision. The final image didn’t do justice to what she’d seen, but it wasn’t going to get any better. She climbed to her feet and held out the scrap to Leo. “Look familiar?”
Her brother in law peered at the pencil sketch. “Maybe. I can’t put a name to it though.” The Whitelighter stood and walked to the eldest Halliwell and both of them began comparing the drawing with images in the Book of Shadows. “I’d go to the Elders, but they weren’t very helpful the last time I checked in. I get the feeling they want us to figure this out on our own.” He sounded irritated and confused.
All three looked up when Piper entered the room. “Faith’s getting cleaned up. She’s got an outfit for the demon meet and greet tomorrow and something less scary for today.” She stood in front of the Book . “Any luck?” Three dispirited nods answered. “OK, then. What’s next?”
Leo’s eyes widened. “I’d say take care of the demons behind you.” He pushed Penny out of the way as a fireball zoomed their way.
Piper whirled and flicked her hands. The three demons froze in their tracks. “Now that’s more like it,” she quipped. “Pheebes, it’s your lucky day.”
“I’ll say,” her younger sister commented. “I don’t think my drawing was even close.” She walked up to the unmoving trio and peered at the tattoo that covered the right side of each face. “Leo,” she waved at the Whitelighter, “take a look at this.” The largest of the trio had different markings. The basic tattoo was the same, but a grouping of small diamonds embellished the design.
Leo peered at the markings and shook his head. “I still don’t recognize it.”
“Well, I don’t either, but if you’ve got a camera, I know
someone who can help us look.” Faith strolled into the room, hair still damp
and clinging to her shoulders. “Red and her girl are in
CHAPTER 9
“I’m not sure we should bring anyone else into this, Faith.” The Whitelighter frowned. “We don’t usually bring in outsiders.”
He looked up, shocked, at the brunette’s snort. “Yeah. I’m familiar with the concept. Red’s the best. If anyone can find your demons, it’s her.” Faith wandered around the frozen vamps and grinned at the assembled crew. “Man, wish you’d been in Sunnydale. Coulda taken out the First, no problem. Freeze ‘em and stake ‘em.”
“Makes me feel useful,” Piper quipped. “So, how are we going to get this friend of yours a copy of the tattoo?”
“Take a picture and email it?” the Slayer asked.
Phoebe waved a hand in the air. “Do you think a camera phone will be OK? And then I can download it onto my laptop.”
“Hell, Moonbeam, Red’s some kind of computer genius. Just get a snap, and she’ll do the rest.” Faith watched the witch take the picture, and asked her sister, “How long will they stay like that?”
The older Halliwell sister shrugged. “It depends. If I notice them starting to move, I can freeze them again.”
“Nice.” The Slayer bounced in place for a minute. “You ready yet, Phoebe? Maybe we should give Red a call before we send the info. Leo, you wanna take care of that?”
The angel looked confused. “Why don’t you call?”
“Well,” Faith hesitated, “we did alright the last time I was in SunnyD, but me and Red do better with lots of distance between us.” At his stern look, she slumped and muttered, “Fine. I’ll be in the kitchen.” She stomped toward the stairs.
“Just a minute, dear,” Penny called after her. “We still haven’t helped you with your question.” She waved airily at the frozen demons. “Take care of those things and come here. I need to get back very soon, so we’ll do the spell right now.”
Faith nodded and grabbed a pencil from an end table and made quick work staking the vampires. “Um, sorry about the mess,” she told a glaring Piper. “I’ll clean up after your grandmother does her mojo.”
Penny laughed. “Don’t let Piper scare you, my dear.” The Matriarch moved into the center of the room and took Faith’s hand. “Stand here and don’t move,” she instructed. “Girls, we need to form a Circle.” The other two witches joined her and they held hands, surrounding an increasingly nervous Slayer.
“So, um, what exactly are you doing?” Faith asked.
The older woman smiled reassuringly. “The spell will ensure that you answer our questions truthfully.”
The Slayer took a step back. “Whoa! That ain’t a good idea. I mean…” she broke off, panicking. “I ain’t ready for that.”
“Don’t worry, Faith. The effects are short-lived, and I’ll keep the questions on point.” Penny waited while the brunette considered that.
“OK.” The husky voice wavered a bit, but the brown eyes met Grams’ without hesitation.
“Let’s get started, then.” She raised her linked hands and began to chant:
“Ancient Spirits, I call on thee.
Grant your aid so we may see
What lies inside this Slayer’s heart.
Tell us now her fated part.”
Faith felt something, some kind of energy, surround her. However, when she tried to ask what was happening, her voice didn’t work. She stood motionless, watching the trio of witches.
Grams spoke first. “Faith, are you working for the Source?”
Unseen power gripped the brunette and pulled the answer out. “No.”
Piper took up the Inquisition. “Are you planning on betraying us by going to work for the Source?”
This time, Faith fought the power. Shaking, the Slayer gritted her teeth and tried to remain silent. She didn’t last long. “No!” The single word burst from her lips, but was soon followed by others. “Not planning, but I’m afraid I’ll be tempted and give in.”
Everyone paused to absorb that statement.
“In the demon bar, were you tempted?” Phoebe wanted to know, had to know.
Brown eyes met brown eyes. Faith wanted to plead with the witch, but couldn’t refrain from admitting, “Yes.” The power pushed harder. “I wanted to take you right there; show the crowd you were mine.”
Penny interrupted before things got too graphic. “Was it more than just the need to mark your possession? Were you tempted to lose control, really hurt Phoebe?”
For a minute, Faith thought the spell had faded. There was no immediate press to answer the question. Just as she relaxed, the power seized her again. “The Slayer part wanted to mark its mate. There was some temptation to go back to the before time, unleash the violence.”
The Halliwell Matriarch didn’t falter. “Were you in control the whole time?”
“Yes.” The answer surprised Faith, who remembered the scene differently. “The need to gorge on the darkness was strong, but I wouldn’t have given in. I would have killed myself first.”
The room was still. Faith saw the glint of tears on all three witches’ faces.
Finally, Piper choked out, “Do you still believe you are a threat to us?”
“Of course.” At least this statement was one the Slayer could agree on. “I will always fear losing control. I can hear the darkness inside me, clamoring to get out.”
Faith could feel the power ebbing. She waited to see if the trio had anything else for her. They did. Piper murmured, “If the urge gets too strong, will you trust us to help you deal with it?”
There was a push to tell the truth, but Faith resisted it. Then she sighed and said, on her own, “Yeah. If things get outta hand, I’ll talk to one of you or call L. I promise.”
Penny released her granddaughters’ hands. “Wonderful. Anyone still have doubts?” She leveled a stern look at Faith. “Not you, dear. It’s normal for you to have them. It keeps you on the right side this time around. Piper? Leo? Phoebe?”
“No, Grams. No doubts,” Piper said.
Leo smiled. “I told Faith earlier she had my support. The Elders wouldn’t have assigned her to me if they’d been all that afraid of the outcome.”
Only Phoebe hesitated, and the Slayer wondered what the witch was thinking.
“Pheebes?” Piper prodded.
“I don’t have any more problems with Faith’s loyalties,” the short brunette stated. “But…”
The Slayer couldn’t take it anymore. “It’s OK, Phoebe. I understand.” She shoved her hands in her pockets and slouched. “I shoulda made sure you stayed at home when I went to the bar. It ain’t a big deal.” Faith tossed a look at her Watcher. “Since I’m going to be here awhile, I need to find a cheap place to crash and a good gym. Demons and vamps are cool for burning off energy, but Fang got me hooked on a more regular workout.”
The angel looked sympathetic when the Slayer changed the subject and turned away from Phoebe. “I don’t know what’s around gym-wise, but you can stay here. We’ve got the room; there’s no reason for a hotel.”
“Nah. I’m gonna need a place of my own.”
“I didn’t mean you had to stay away.” Phoebe sounded upset. “Look, we really need to talk.” She glanced at her family. “Without the audience.”
Still in defensive mode, the Slayer merely shrugged. “Whatever. The room’s in case the Evil Army has me followed. Won’t do my cover any good if they find me shacked up with the good guys.”
Penny interrupted the planning session. “Well, all, I think my time here is done.” She held out her arms and Piper and Phoebe grabbed her in a hug. “Oh, my dears, I do so enjoy visiting.” Releasing her granddaughters, she held out her hands to Faith, who took them hesitantly. “Faith, welcome to the family. I can’t wait to see how you liven things up. It’s been quite staid here lately.”
“Grams!” Piper exclaimed.
A warm laugh greeted her words. The Matriarch stepped back and smiled at the room. “See you later, girls.” She waved her hand and faded until only shimmering golden light marked her place. The light hung in the air for a few seconds before rising into the air, disappearing when it reached the ceiling.
“Neat way to travel,” Faith remarked, staring after Grams. “Bet she saves a bundle on gas.”
“She’s a ghost.”
Faith stared at Phoebe. “Wanna try that again? It sounded like you said your grandmother’s a ghost.”
The brunette witch smiled widely. “And I thought you’d seen it all. She is a ghost. We can summon almost any member of our line. The spell grants them actual form for a short period. Sometimes, the Elders even send her and Mom down to help with demons and stuff.”
“Wicked cool. Maybe Red woulda left B on the other side if she had that option.” At Phoebe’s confused look, Faith put her off. “Long, unpleasant story. Let’s go take care of the vamp photo and then I’ll motor. Need to find a place before dark. I want to do a little patrol.”
“Sure.” Her companion bit her lip, obviously wanting to say more. She didn’t, however, and they walked downstairs in silence. “You go make the phone call. I’ll get the picture downloaded. As soon as you have an email address, I’ll send it off.”
“No problem.” At least, Faith hoped it wasn’t. She picked up the phone in the kitchen and took a deep breath. Punching in the numbers to the Council’s Cleveland Headquarters, she waited for someone to answer.
“The Academy. We train the next generation. How may I help you?”
“D?” the Slayer asked.
The younger Summers’ voice chilled. “Hello, Faith. Need bail money?”
Damn. The kid still hadn’t forgiven her for laughing when Red had told the gang they were seeing each other. Closing her eyes and resisting the urge to bang her head on the wall, the number two Slayer pushed on. “Naw, Dawnie. I’m good. Thanks for asking, though. Hey, Fang’s got me out on a big job. Is your girl around?”
“
OK. Time to get insistent. Wish the fuck Leo wasn’t so
big on me handling everything. “Look, Dawn. I ain’t playing. This is big.
Maybe apocalypse big. So, trot your cute ass into the board room and let
“I’ll see what I can do.” Muzac poured through the line, and Faith nearly growled. Damn it. She hadn’t meant to be rude. The announcement had been a shock, and B’s reaction had been hysterical. It wasn’t like she’d tried to keep them apart or anything. She’d just laughed. Couldn’t the Scoobies ever cut her some slack?
Finally, the line opened again. “Faith? What’s wrong?”
At least Red was being more mature. “Not sure. That’s kinda part of the problem. We’ve got a big vamp crew being led by a demon. We can’t figure out who the leader is, but we’ve got pictures of a tattoo his followers are sporting.”
“You need me to do some research?” The redhead’s enthusiasm for books never seemed to dim.
“Yeah. I’ve got a friend here who can email ‘em to you. Just, I don’t know your address.” Faith hadn’t paid much attention to the crew when they’d started talking about reviving the Council and setting up a Slayer’s Academy for the new girls.
“Oh! I thought we’d left all that with Angel. I’ll have to make sure that gets fixed.”
Faith felt unaccustomed tears fill her eyes. The witch just accepted her as part of the team; the past shelved and locked away. Fuck. I’m turning into a sap. “I’m ready, Red.” The Slayer readied her pencil/stake and a scrap of paper she snagged from the counter.
A smile warmed the voice on the line. “It’s willow.rosenberg@theacademy.org. You can just change the name and get in touch with any of us here. Giles would love if you checked in and let him know how you are doing. He worries, you know.”
“Yeah. I’ll do that.” Giles worried about her? “Thanks for the help. I’ll get those photos off to you in just a minute. Hope you can find something cause I’ve got a big info gathering meet with their recruiter tomorrow. Ain’t wanting to go in without a plan.”
“Wow.” Now Faith heard a teasing note in the witch’s voice.
“The Dark Slayer planning. What is the world coming to?”
Mumbling another thanks, Faith hung up the phone and tried to regain some emotional control. It seemed she had more than just the sisters at her back this time.
CHAPTER 10
Feeling a bit more stable, Faith shoved the scrap of paper into her pocket and wandered into the living room. Phoebe sat hunched over a laptop on the couch. “Got Red’s address. You ready with the picture?”
“Yeah. It’s all uploaded.” Faith read off the address, and watched the witch smile in satisfaction. “Done. You really think this friend of yours can help us?”
“Red’s the best. She’s kinda too bubbly for me, but when the world’s about to end, she always manages to find a way to get us through.” Now that the immediate job was over, the Slayer didn’t know what to do. Phoebe had made it pretty clear she still didn’t trust her. Maybe it was time for some space. She needed to think, about what the PTB had in mind, how she would handle the thing tomorrow, and the witch sitting in front of her. “I’m gonna look for someplace to stay,” she said abruptly.
Phoebe looked sad. “Faith, I am so sorry. It came out wrong; don’t-“
“It’s no big, Moonbeam.” The urge to run poured through her. Fuck, I hate this emotional shit. “I’ll let Leo know where I’m staying, OK?” She backed away, stomach churning at the tears in the witch’s brown eyes. Spinning on her heel, Faith strode to the foyer snatching Phoebe’s keys from the table before wrenching the door open and fleeing.
***
Phoebe slammed her hand into the couch as Faith all but ran from the house. Why hadn’t she just kept her mouth shut? It wasn’t like she still believed the younger girl was a threat. Just, that comment about the Slayer and her mate had thrown her. The witch needed an explanation from the intense brunette.
A chirping from her computer interrupted the internal monologue. Mail from Faith’s friend.
I got the picture. Wow. Ugly is not harsh enough. Why
can’t they make vamps that are attractive? *grin* We got a big research party underway
and should have something for you soon. Tell Faith Dawn says “sorry.”
-
Phoebe was surprised at the lighthearted email. Didn’t this
“Where’s Faith?” Leo wanted to know.
“Phoebe-“
“Save it, Leo. I screwed up.” The brunette shrugged. “Just a normal day in the Phoebe Halliwell Romantic Saga.” She turned away and trudged to her bedroom. Stepping inside hurt. Bedclothes dangled from the rumpled bed, and the room reeked of sex. “Great. Just great,” Phoebe complained to the empty room. Climbing into the high four poster, she hugged the Slayer’s pillow, and slowly drifted off.
***
Faith drove the borrowed car with only half her attention.
The rest struggled to make sense of the last twenty-four hours. The Slayer was
used to performing odd jobs for the AI crew, so the trip to
Taking a downtown exit, the Slayer sent the Volkswagen careening onto a surface street, looking for parking. The Bay Area sucked for empty spaces. After driving around the block a dozen times, she managed to cram the car into a space built for a tricycle and climbed out. She’d found one of the city’s business districts. Steel and glass soared above her. Well, there might be some places to stay around here, but she needed something more in character. Fuck. Looks like I need to call Fang again. He’s gonna get worried and come up here to ‘save my ass’ if I ain’t careful.
Five phone booths later, Faith found one that still had the handset attached. Mumbling under her breath, she dialed Angel’s direct line.
“Hello?”
Damn, why can’t Angel answer his private line. What the hell is Wes doing in Angel’s office? “Hey, Wes.” Even though they’d reached a tentative peace in regard to the past, Faith still wasn’t comfortable talking to the Englishman. “Is Angel around?”
“I’m afraid not, Faith. Is there something that I can assist with?”
The Slayer hesitated.
“Faith? Are you alright? Do we need to join you in
“No. No, Wes. I’ll be fine.” Faith took a deep breath. He might be a stuffed shirt, but he’d been her Watcher once, and he was trying hard to be her friend now. “I just wanted to talk to Angel about some stuff going on here.”
“I know you have a good rapport with Angel, but will I do? I’ve been trained to listen and offer suggestions and strategies, you know.”
The Slayer bit back a laugh. “Well, OK. You have a minute?”
Papers rustled and Faith heard a chair wheel squeak. “Of course, Faith. Whatever you need.”
“Thanks, Wes. I’m kinda having a hard time with things.” Getting comfortable on the tiny metal seat in the booth, the Slayer tried to put her feelings and questions into words. “Did Fang tell you why I’m up here?”
“No. Are you there on AI business?”
“Sort of.” Deep breath. “Not really. The PTB wanted me here. They’ve got some big demon with his own personal army. He’s fronting for some Evil. Get this, calls himself the Source of All Evil. Now, that’s bad enough, but the guys upstairs are giving me one last shot at being a force for Good.” Her voice cracked. “I don’t think I get to retire to the Motherland if I screw this one up.”
There was silence from the other end of the line. “Faith? You aren’t suggesting…”
“Ain’t a suggestion, Wes. Got a connection to the PTB, an angel, if you can believe it. He’s kinda like my new Watcher; only, I think he’s supposed to be making sure I pass all their tests, too.”
“Bloody hell.”
Despite the fear and uncertainty roiling in her mind, Faith
laughed. “Man, they sure know how to talk dirty in
“Oh, Faith…” Wes stopped, and the Slayer could just see him sitting behind Angel’s huge desk at Wolfram and Hart, trying to find just the right thing to say. “My dear, the PTB are bloody pillocks.”
Faith grinned. It didn’t matter she had no idea what a pillock was. The sheer venom in her ex-Watcher’s voice was enough. “Maybe so…” She needed to ask, but wasn’t sure if Wes could help. Voice quiet, she murmured into the phone, “How do I go into the job and still keep control, Wes?
“My dear,” Faith heard the strain in his voice. What was that about? “Faith, you have to start trusting yourself. I dare say you are the only one, right now, who thinks you are a danger to anyone other than the Evil set.”
“What is this shit? Did all of you get together and script this?”
“Faith, what are you talking about?” The Englishman sounded stunned at the change in mood.
The Slayer realized she was now standing and that the passersby were giving her phone booth a big safety zone. She dropped gracelessly onto the seat. “Sorry, Wes. It’s been a fucking long day. So, you’re telling me not to worry?”
“No. I’m telling you that we trust you. Angel has said it often enough. Redemption is never easy and there is always the risk of failure. But you are aware of the risk and of your own weak spots.”
“But-“ Faith stopped, confused and a little angry. Didn’t anyone understand? “What if the temptation’s too much? I don’t want to be evil again, Wes. And, if I slip, the PTB are gonna put an end to the whole deal, me included.”
Responding to the frightened girl, Wesley said bracingly, “Faith, if you start to feel like you are falling back into old patterns, you call us. We are here for you. But we can’t help unless we know there’s a problem.” He paused, waiting…When the Slayer didn’t say anything, he continued. “Think about this…in Sunnydale, did you ever tell any of us how you felt? Did you ever even consider it? You aren’t the same girl, Faith. You’ve changed almost beyond recognition.”
He was right. She’d fallen off the path in Sunnydale because she hadn’t believed anyone could help her. “OK, Wes. I-thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome, my dear. Please call whenever you need an ear. The Council may have disowned me, but I will always consider myself your Watcher.”
“Rather have you than this Leo character. Man, he’s big with the pep talks and morals.” As she’d hoped, Wesley chuckled. “OK, Watcher-guy, I’ve got another favor.”
“I seem to be on a roll. I believe I’m ready for anything.”
The Englishman might not be able to see the dimples, but they were in full force. “I need a place to stay in the Bay Area. I could stay with Leo and his girls, but I don’t want to blow my cover if the demons start poking around.”
“That’s easily arranged. Where are you now?”
“Um, not really sure. Hang on a sec…” Leaving the handset
dangling, she stepped of the booth and walked up to the imposing building
behind her. The address was listed along with the names of its occupants. She
returned to the phone. “Looks like
“Let me check with Harmony. I am positive the firm has a penthouse or suite there.”
“’K.” Faith listened to the tasteful music and closed her eyes. She needed sleep, soon.
Wes came back a few minutes later. “Faith? Are you on foot or do you have transportation?”
“Borrowed a car from a friend.” Well, maybe she’s a friend.
The Englishman rattled off an address in the
“Nah. You’ve already done a bunch, and Red’s doing some legwork for me. Tell Angel I’m OK.” Hanging up the phone, the brunette smiled slowly. Damn. The Slayer gig wasn’t so scary with a support staff.
***
Phoebe sighed and rolled over. The nap had been a waste of time. She’s tossed and turned and kicked herself for pushing Faith away. If the Elders really were testing the Slayer, she was going to need allies, not more enemies. She’d handled the situation all wrong, and the witch only hoped she’d have a chance to make it up to the other brunette.
Thinking about Faith gave Phoebe an idea. Getting up, she searched for the Slayer’s discarded clothing from the previous night. It wasn’t as good as hair or blood, but Phoebe was sure the leather pants would give her enough of a link to scry for Faith. Discovering the supple garment in her closet, she exited her room and ran up the stairs. Sure enough, when she dangled the scrying crystal over their map of the City, it connected with the intersection of Fillmore and Jefferson. Dashing downstairs, the witch was surprised to see her car keys missing. The surprise lessened when she found her car wasn’t in the drive. Faith must have taken it. Damn. She was going to have to ask Leo for his help.
“Leo?” she called quietly.
The angel was in the house, so no orbing. He came out of the living room, TV remote in hand. “What’s up, Phoebe?”
“I need to go downtown.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Faith?”
Deciding she wasn’t going to get his help without at least some explanation, she offered, “I want to talk to her about my comment from earlier.”
“OK. Just be careful with her. I think she’s pretty fragile under that act she puts on.” After getting the exact location, Leo took her hand and the witch suddenly found herself in the living room of an elegantly appointed apartment. Leo smiled and disappeared, giving her the privacy she needed for this talk.