CHAPTER 43

Faith spun to look at her. “Hey, B. Didn’t mean nothing by that.” Her dimples popped out. “It was almost a compliment.”

“Some compliment,” Buffy said dryly. Looking past Faith’s shoulder, she nodded at Angel. “Hey, Angel. Thanks for coming. We can really use the help.” She moved up to the side of the van. “We’ve got real trouble.”

Angel didn’t respond. His eyes zeroed in on her hand – and the way it held Willow’s.

Buffy saw his nostril’s flare, too. Suddenly, she realized what trouble Faith had been anticipating, and why the other girl had rushed out to talk to Angel. Letting her fingers slip from Willow’s, Buffy stepped in front of her wife and met Angel’s eyes. “Angel?” It wasn’t a question; it was a softly spoken warning. Buffy didn’t care how he felt about her new relationship. This was business. If he couldn’t – or wouldn’t – let go of the past, she’d make sure he wasn’t a threat.

“Oh, thank God.” Cordelia’s voice interrupted the staring match. “I thought I’d have to beat you off Angel with a big stick. Who knew I’d ever be grateful for Willow.” She jostled Buffy as she climbed into the van and sat leaning against Angel’s side. “I told you she’d be fine with us, you big broody goof.”

***

Angel and Cordy? Willow tried to make sense of that concept. It got harder when Angel turned his head and smiled tenderly at Cordelia. Angel didn’t smile, tenderly or otherwise.

She shoved that aside when she felt Buffy stiffen and green sparks lit her link with Buffy.

“You and Angel?” Buffy demanded harshly. “Are you kidding?”

Willow reached out and gripped Buffy’s hand. Tightly. “Congratulations,” she said, directing the comment at the two now staring in shock at Buffy. “When we aren’t facing certain death and the end of the world, I want to hear all the details.”

Snap out of it, Buffy. The dual conversation was difficult. Head pounding with the strain, Willow worked on staying supportive of her wife. This wasn’t the time to argue about Buffy’s lingering feelings for Angel…or Spike. We have work to do. Be glad we don’t have a fight on our hands over ‘us.’ More than that, Willow refused to give Buffy an inch, be happy for Angel.

The bright flare of Buffy’s jealousy dimmed. However, it didn’t disappear completely. It gathered around their internal conduit, glowing sullenly.

“Oh, do I have details.” Cordelia seemed unaware of the emotions swirling around their small grouping. “Too bad the Higher Powers have been beaming messages into my head. Do you know how irritating it is to be in the middle of a conversation and get a vision? It can take me hours to get back to normal.”

Define normal, Willow almost said. Instead, she smiled slightly. “Why don’t you and the rest of the crew come inside? There are a lot of new faces, Angel. I want to make sure they know who you are and that stakes need to be somewhere else around you. Then Cordy can fill us in on her visions.”

“Just one problem with that, I’m afraid.” Angel gestured to the slight shadows cast by the setting sun. “I’m going to be a little toasty if we go right now. Can you get everyone else settled? I’ll come in as soon as it’s safe.”

Responding to a need to show both Buffy and Angel that she was the superior choice, Willow shook her head. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve got you covered.”

“Will,” Buffy said. Willow heard a note of warning and uncertainty in her voice. “You can’t-“

“Get ready, Angel. I’ll let you know when I’m ready,” Willow said over Buffy’s comment.

Letting her external sight fade, Willow keyed open the gates to her reservoir. Raw power poured through the channel she’d carved through the thick walls of the barrier. Gathering the magical energy between her hands, Willow hardened and shaped it. A thin blue bubble formed and grew as she blew more magic into it. When it was the right size, Willow turned her head and fused her inner and outer vision.

Angel appeared through a haze of power. “Get out of the van.” She smiled in satisfaction at his look of wide-eyed astonishment at her accomplishment.

He and Cordy scrambled out. The bubble surrounded Angel the second he was in range of the fading sunlight.

“Move slowly, please. I have to make sure your protection stays with you,” Willow instructed the pair.

In a tight grouping, they made their way up to the porch. The crowd hurriedly parted for them.

Angel stopped at the threshold of the patio door. “Willow…”

Still needing to demonstrate her power, Willow let him stand there, barred from entering, for a long minute

***

Behind Willow, Buffy felt her wife’s glee at Angel’s dilemma through their link. Issues much, Will? she asked silently.

Willow’s chagrin colored the conduit a pulsing pink.

Get him inside, baby. Then can you cut back on the chest beating? Buffy blew a kiss through their connection, cooling the heat of Willow’s blush. You don’t need it. I know I acted like an ass when Cordy spilled her secret. I’m over it. I promise.

“Go on in, Angel. You have my permission,” Willow said softly, only an edge of her satisfaction showing in the tone.

Angel moved forward into the house, and Buffy kissed Willow again in thanks.

The shimmering blue bubble surrounding Angel dissipated. “Um…thanks, Willow.” Angel strode toward the center of the cluttered living room.

Slayers, Watchers, and witches poured into the room as well.

Buffy noticed more than a few stakes clutched in teenaged hands, and her Slayer senses indicated there were magical weapons at the ready, too.

“Angel,” she called out, hurrying in his direction, “meet the new and much larger Scooby Gang.” Waving a hand at the crowd, she started the introductions. They took a while to complete. As she spoke, Buffy took a head count. Twelve Potentials, six Watchers, Kirstan and Jennifer, Drew, Tara, Dawn and Faith, Xander and Anya, Giles, plus herself and Willow.

When she finished, Angel smiled at the gathered Scoobies. “Thanks for inviting us. We wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves if the world wasn’t ending again.”

There were a few chuckles.

“Let me introduce my additions to the New Gang.” Four people joined Angel in the middle of the room. “Cordelia. She’s our Seer.”

Anya’s strident voice broke in. “You will not look at her, Xander. You are with me, now.”

The rest of her words were cut off by the hand Xander plastered over her mouth. “Sorry. She gets like that when hot women show up.” He grinned and winked at Cordelia. “Looking good, Queen C. Glad you could make it.”

“What else was I going to do? My nails?” Cordelia buffed her nails on her shirt and peered at them before wrapping an arm around Angel.

The message was clear. Anya didn’t have anything to worry about. Buffy went back to examining the rest of Angel’s crew. The tall black man, Gunn, looked ready for a fight. Fred was a Texas-bred version of Willow.

Then Angel turned to the whiskered, jeans-clad man to his right. “I’m sure some of you remember Wesley Wyndham-Price.”

“That’s Wes?” No way. Buffy took a few steps forward. “Did someone give him a personality transplant?” The last time she’d seen him, he’d been clean-shaven and…well… Wesley.

“Hello, Buffy. So nice to see you again.” The familiar half-smile appeared on his face. “I apologize if this isn’t what you expected.”

For just an instant, his British accent and the clipped words convinced Buffy the change in her former Watcher was cosmetic. Looking into his cool, contact-lens covered eyes convinced her otherwise. This was definitely not the pompous and ineffective Wesley she’d known. This Wesley was a warrior and unafraid of the coming battles.

“Glad to have you back on the team.” Buffy nodded at him before taking a seat in one of the armchairs. “Get comfortable, everybody. Cordy has some news from the PtB. Once she fills us in, we’ll hand out new assignments.”

***

Faith leaned against Dawn and watched Buffy take control. She was glad not to be in charge anymore. Or…was she?

“Regretting the change of command, baby?” Dawn’s question echoed her thoughts so closely, Faith wondered briefly if Dawn was reading her mind.

“Ain’t sure, D,” she answered softly as Buffy ceded the floor to Cordelia. “It was a lot of work, and I was a fucking basket case when B was on her vacation. Kinda hard to go back to being the backup Slayer, though.”

Warm lips brushed hers. “You say that again, and I’ll have Willow teach me how to magically tie your ass to the bed. Got it?”

Faith chuckled, though the Slayer wanted to carry Dawn to the bedroom for a demonstration.

“Excuse me,” Cordelia snapped, “is there something you’d like to share with the rest of the class?”

Barely glancing away from Dawn, Faith answered, “Depends, Queenie. How do you feel about a little slap and tickle?”

“That’s quite enough!” Giles interjected.

This time, Faith did look up. Glasses off, Giles patted his pockets in search of a handkerchief. She grinned. Some things never changed.

Cordelia used his comment to get back to her tale. “Anyway, as I was saying before some people interrupted, I had a vision in LA.” She paused, probably for dramatic effect, Faith thought. “The First is going after Spike. It needs him to open the Seal of Danzalthar.”

What the fuck? Faith straightened, and she felt Dawn go very still against her.

However, Buffy didn’t seem fazed by the news. “We already got that bulletin. I guess the PtB thought you might be too late or something. They sent Will the same vision.”

“How did we miss this?” Dawn whispered angrily in Faith’s ear.

Faith wanted to know the answer, too, until she put together the timeline of the last day in her head. “I think we were a little busy when the girls figured this out.”

“Busy?” Dawn was confused.

“Yeah. You know, busy.” Faith accented the last word and wiggled her eyebrows.

She knew Dawn had made the connection when her skin turned fiery red from a blush. Hugging her girlfriend a little tighter, Faith went back to the conversation in the middle of the room.

“I wish the PtB had taken that into consideration and left me alone, then.” Cordelia tossed her hair.

“They couldn’t, Cordy.” Angel took her hand. “I was the only one who could put the pieces together.”

“What pieces?” Buffy demanded.

Faith listened more intently. Her sister Slayer looked tense now. Something was going on. Something big.

Angel stood, looming over Buffy, hand still gripping Cordelia’s. “There are only two vampires who can open the Seal. Their blood is part of an ancient and powerful bloodline – the Master’s.”

A/N: A belated note on the AtS crew - I’ve basically ignored all of the Conner portions of canon. Also, although the Beast was summoned, there was no evil Cordy. Mea culpa to the AtS canon enthusiasts.

CHAPTER 44

The Master? Wasn’t that the vamp who’d killed Buffy? Keeping her eyes locked on the staring match across the room, Faith tried to figure out why the tension in the room had jumped up a notch.

“Oh, shit,” Dawn whispered. She pressed back into Faith.

“D? What the hell is going on?” Faith breathed the words in Dawn’s ear. This wasn’t the time to interrupt, not with Buffy and Angel nearly toe to toe.

Buffy broke the tableau herself. Growling and knocking over an end table with a hard thrust, she announced, “I’m not killing you again!”

Eyebrows rising, Faith tried to remember if anyone had mentioned killing Angel.

“You couldn’t, Buffy, even if you wanted to.” Cordelia didn’t seem impressed by the show of force. Head resting against Angel’s arm, she narrowed her eyes at Buffy. “If you’d stop acting like a jealous bitch for a minute, Angel could explain things.”

The sheer shock value of Cordelia lecturing anyone on behavior had Faith biting back a chuckle. She’d certainly pegged Buffy’s actions. Now all they needed was Willow jumping in with a little firepower and it would be the Scooby Soap Opera - live and in color.

***

Only Willow’s grip on her arm kept Buffy from responding violently to Cordelia’s taunt. “It isn’t about your new boyfriend,” she spit out. “It’s about having to stick sharp and deadly objects into my former lovers.”

“Oh, so you slept with Spike, too?” Cordelia shook her head. “Really, Buffy. At least Angel has a soul.” She looked up at Angel while Buffy ground her teeth. “And a sexy smile.”

Angel showed off the smile.

Willow added a second hand in an attempt to hold Buffy in place.

“But Spike? He’s just an evil demon.” Cordelia pulled Angel to one of the couches and sat down.

“Cordy,” Buffy warned. She’d had enough. “Get to the point.” Her nails dug into her palms as she fought the need to smack the smirk off Cordy’s face. She’d always hated that expression. It reminded her too much of her first day at Sunnydale when Queen C had made fun of Willow.

Pouting slightly, Cordelia relented. “Go ahead, Angel. Explain the whole Champion thing. I still get confused with how it works.”

Arm resting on Cordelia’s shoulders, Angel nodded. “You don’t have to worry about me, Buffy. The First can’t touch me – at least, not for the ritual. I’m protected by the PtB.”

The Powers were protecting someone? Since when? And why Angel? “That doesn’t make sense, Angel. How? Why?” Buffy fired off. “They sure as hell haven’t been big with the protections before.” Her dive off the tower came to mind.

“It’s complicated.” Same old Angel. He cocked his head and frowned. “How much do you know about a law firm called Wolfram and Hart?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Buffy caught Faith’s flinch. “Never heard of them,” she said before turning to Faith. “You have, though. Spill.” Buffy didn’t bother asking. She needed to know, and she wasn’t wasting time with niceties.

Faith moved away from Dawn, stopping midway between their position and Buffy’s. “Don’t know much, B. They ah…they hired me to kill Fang when I first hit LA a few years ago. I met three of their employees. Hot shot lawyers with big plans.”

“Why would a law firm want Angel dead?” How did they even know about him? Buffy was confused and not happy about it. Glaring at Faith then Angel, she tried to make sense of everything going on.

A throat cleared behind her, breaking her concentration.

“Can we get back to the vision and Spike?” Jennifer asked. “I think it’s more important than Buffy’s love life and Faith’s checkered employment history.”

A flush crawled up Buffy’s cheeks. “Sorry,” she mumbled. Laser-like green eyes bore into her. “Got sidetracked for a minute.” Turning to Angel and Cordelia, Buffy asked flatly, “Why are the PtB protecting you? And is there anyway to get Spike out of Sunnydale without a dustpan?”

“The PtB have plans for me that don’t include being a sacrifice to open the Seal, Buffy.” Angel stood and paced restlessly across the room.

Buffy turned slightly so she could follow his progress. She felt Willow move with her, pressing into her and wrapping an arm around her stomach. Buffy’s head automatically dropped back to rest on Willow’s chest, her breathing slowing and deepening as the contact calmed her.

“So they’ve what? Granted you immunity or something?” Willow’s question vibrated through Buffy’s body.

“Yes.” Angel didn’t seem inclined to offer more. He went on, changing the subject. “That leaves Spike as the only surviving descendant of the Master. Without him, the First can’t complete the ritual.”

Buffy frowned. “Aren’t you missing someone? What about Dru?”

Eyes cold, Angel answered tightly, “Gone. Permanently.”

Cordy sat forward before Buffy could comment. This time, Buffy didn’t see any signs of the former Queen C. She was all business. “If my vision is correct – and the PtB don’t usually waste time on jokes – we don’t have a lot of time. It was hard to piece together, but I thought I caught a glimpse of the full moon.”

“Precisely.” Feeling like a spectator at a tennis match, Buffy looked from Cordelia to Wesley. “I was able to do some research on the trip here,” Wesley continued. “The First has only a small window in which to complete the ritual. There is a lot of very complex magic involved; he will have to expend huge amounts of his personal energy stores to open the Seal, even with Spike’s aid.”

Buffy stiffened. “His aid? You make it sound like Spike is volunteering to give up his blood.”

Her words rang in the quiet room.

“Forgive me, Buffy. However, that is an irrelevant detail,” Wesley told her bluntly. “Our only concern at the moment must be to keep the Seal from opening…no matter the cost.”

***

This was getting them nowhere. Too many old wounds and not enough clear heads. Awash in the anger and bitterness rising in the link, Willow stepped in. “Sweetie, why don’t you take Faith and a few of the new faces into the den. We need information on the Scythe and how to find it. I can work with the LA crew on Spike and the Seal.” She didn’t wait for Buffy to argue. “You said it yourself, Buffy. You’re too close to this.”

It didn’t seem to be enough at first. Buffy remained stiff and still against her.

Maybe it was time to show Buffy, too, that she wasn’t the same old Willow. Starting to pull in power, Willow thought about what to do. Fireballs were out. That was for Faith – and it was overkill. After all, she didn’t want to hurt Buffy, just motivate her a little.

She’d forgotten that her wife could sense the energy surge through their conduit. Chest beating and now spousal abuse? Willow might have worried about that internal comment if she couldn’t also hear the laughter in Buffy’s mental voice. “Right. I did.” Buffy’s regular voice was clipped and angry.

The dichotomy confused Willow for a moment…. Until a warm invisible hand stroked her cheek.

“Thanks, sweetie.” She left it open to interpretation whether that was for the agreement or the caress. “I’d take a minimum of one Watcher. You’ll need at least one person dedicated to research.”

There were grumbles from Potentials and Slayers alike at that.

Willow smiled to herself as the mood in the room shifted, the earlier aggression now gone. “Mama,” she asked, looking at Jennifer, “can you and Tara give us a hand with the Seal problem? I’d like some more witchy experience on the team when we get to the blowing up of the ‘Bringers part of the plan.”

Jennifer nodded while Tara simply moved closer and dropped onto the floor below Angel and Cordy.

People were streaming out of the room or finding places to sit. The research teams had been chosen. Willow made sure Buffy was out of the room and did her best to filter the entrance to their bond. “OK, Angel. Spill. What’s the deal with Spike and the First?”

“I don’t know everything, Willow,” he said earnestly. “Between Cordy’s vision and some rushed bookwork by Wes, we know that the Master’s descendants carry some kind of key to the Seal. Exactly what or how it works…” Angel grimaced. “That we didn’t find.”

Tara quietly held up her hand. “We can worry about that later,” she said. “Cordy mentioned the full moon. That’s only a couple of days away.”

“Two days?” Willow tried to sound confident. Inside, she was screaming, Two days? That’s all they had? “That’s a lifetime in Scooby years.”

Blonde hair drifted forward in a familiar gesture. “Maybe, but you’ve forgotten all of the Wiccan training I tried to give you.” Although Tara’s voice was soft, the reproof was evident. “In spell casting, the three days just before the full moon carry almost as much power as the actual night itself. We may not have as long as you think – especially if the First finds out we know about the link to Spike.”

CHAPTER 45

“That means we have to move fast.” Jennifer jumped into the conversation. “Can we get to Spike before the First finds him?”

Willow glanced at Cordelia. Both of their visions showed Spike already taking part in the ritual. “Cordy? You’re the expert on PtB messages. What do you think?”

“Nothing you’re going to like.” Cordelia shifted on the couch, pressing closer to Angel. “Sometimes we’ve had enough time to get to the victim before the demon, but…it looked like Spike had been there for a while.”

All the wounds and the blood. Willow closed her eyes, remembering. “So, if we don’t get there first, we only have one option.”

No one said the words, yet they hung heavily in the air.

“Even k-killing Spike might not b-be enough, Willow,” Tara said softly. “If we arrive after the ritual has st-started, his blood will have already unlocked the Seal. We need a way to c-close up the Hellmouth again.”

“Ah…” Willow looked up at a very uncomfortable-looking Dawn. “Experience says that what opens also closes,” Dawn said, meeting Willow’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Will. I really am. Spike isn’t going to walk away from this one.”

Staring at her clenched hands, Willow accepted the truth of that statement. “You’re right, Dawnie.” She’d simply have to find a way to break it to Buffy. “We know how to close the Seal. We know where the ritual is taking place.”

“And we know the First’s timetable.” Angel stood and smiled. The tips of his fangs gleamed. “Anybody up for a trip to Sunnydale?”

“I’ll go.” Willow’s head nearly came off it snapped around so fast. “You’ll need an experienced witch for this,” Jennifer said firmly. “It may have been a long time since my last fight with evil, but I’m sure I remember how it works.”

Narrowing her eyes, Willow prepared for a fight of her own. “Sorry, Mama. I’ll be the one going. You can…”

Suddenly, she was talking to an outthrust palm.

“You can’t go, Willow,” Jennifer responded calmly.

Willow sensed more than saw the people around her edging away. “Yes, I can.” She leaned forward, hands on knees. “In fact, I’ve got way more experience than you and every other witch on this ranch. I’m going.”

The edging away became outright fleeing. Soon, only Willow and Jennifer remained in the room.

“Listen up, daughter mine. You aren’t going.” Jennifer moved closer and dropped to her knees in front of Willow. “The First was in your mind. It hid there, nearly overloading your reservoir and maybe leaving hooks into your power. I’m not letting you head for a face to face meeting where it might be able to use those hooks to its advantage.”

“The First isn’t in my head any longer.” Willow was up in a heartbeat. Glaring down at Jennifer, she refused to even consider the thought. “You were the one who told me my mind was clean. Were you wrong?”

Jennifer dropped back to rest on her heels. “Is it worth the risk to find out?”

The quiet question stopped Willow cold.

“You and Buffy aren’t alone in this one, Willow. You have a family now – both of you.” Jennifer stood and kissed Willow’s cheek. “I’m going; you’re not. It isn’t up for any more discussion.”

Willow numbly watched Jennifer stride away.

***

The small den where Buffy taken her nap a couple of days ago was crowded. Perched on the arm of the sofa, she surveyed the research team. Giles held court at the desk by the window. Faith leaned against his shoulder, peering at the open book in front of him, while the rest of the group sat on chairs and the floor around them.

“There is frightfully little to go on, I’m afraid.” Giles tossed his glasses onto the book and rubbed his eyes.

Faith reached out and moved them. “What about this?” she asked, pointing to something.

Buffy sighed. Research. Did it ever end?

“Yes, thank you, Faith.” Putting his glasses back on, Giles bent back to the book. “Yes, that’s it exactly.”

Excitement edged out the boredom. Straightening, Buffy stood and stretched. “You got a location on the Scythe?”

“No,” Faith and Giles said in unison.

“Then what’s with the ‘that’s it exactly,’” she mimicked. “And since when did you start replacing Will as Research Gal?” Buffy demanded of Faith.

Drew waved a hand. The Willow-like gesture distracted Buffy.

Turning, she tilted her head. “You got the location?” Please, she mentally added. All this sitting was driving her mad.

“Maybe,” Drew answered. “When you and Willow were going over the dream, she mentioned Restfield. Since it was a Slayer dream, doesn’t that mean the Scythe is there?”

It couldn’t be that easy.

Buffy shot Giles a pleading look. “Is she right, Giles? Does that mean we should try Restfield?” The excitement was back. The Slayer woke slightly, energy coursing through Buffy in a tingling rush.

“Well, I…” Buffy knew where Giles was headed as he stumbled over the words. “…I suppose that might be the case. There hasn’t been an in-depth study on Slayer dreams before, you know.”

“I know. I remember you saying that the first time I had one.” Buffy managed a small smile to take the sting out of that comment.

“Restfield’s a rather large cemetery, is it not?” Buffy didn’t recognize the tiny woman next to Drew. That didn’t mean she didn’t immediately think ‘Watcher’ from the accent and the Tweed patches on her elbows.

Nodding, Buffy agreed. “The biggest, actually. Why?”

“Did you intend to simply wander around, peering behind headstones in the hopes the Scythe would be in plain view?” the woman asked derisively.

A rumble began deep inside. The Slayer didn’t like this woman any more than Buffy.

Drew’s hand waved again.

“Kid, we ain’t in school. If you got something to say, just spit it out.” Faith sounded as frustrated as Buffy felt.

“Sorry.” Drew blushed and shrank back on the couch. “Um…Buffy, did you and Willow see anything else in the dream? I mean, we just got the highlights, I’m sure. If you remember any of the details, it might help.” A tiny grin flickered across her lips. “Fewer headstones to peer around.”

Buffy bit back a laugh as the unknown Watcher frowned, lips pressing together tightly.

“She’s got a point, B. You remember anything we can use?” Faith leaned against the back of Giles’ chair.

“Maybe.” Closing her eyes again, Buffy replayed the dream. It had never faded. The details were as bright and crisp as they had been the first time. “We were walking through Restfield, talking about going to the mall,” she mumbled, lost in the memory. “I heard something and went running off. There were a couple of vamps. I dusted them just as Will caught up.”

She could see the row of tombstones and one large mausoleum in front of her. There was a name etched in to the stone. It was…

“Aaronson!” Buffy’s eyes popped open. “The Aaronson mausoleum. That’s where I got the Scythe.”

***

“Then what the hell are we waiting for?” Faith pushed away from Giles’ chair. “I’m ready for some fucking action. Been sitting around talking way the fuck too much.”

She stopped after just a few steps when no one else moved.

“Surely you don’t think we’re letting you go alone?” The woman had been irritating when she’d questioned Buffy. Now, though…Faith gritted her teeth to keep from growling as the nasally voice droned on, “There should be at least one Watcher with you.”

Faith vowed right then that she would ask Wesley along before this woman volunteered.

As if he’d heard her thoughts, Wesley stood up. “Well, then, ladies. I think we need weapons for our trip.”

Resuming her trek to the door, Faith called out, “You want a sword, B? I think I saw some in the training barn earlier.” Not waiting for an answer, she picked up her pace. Prison hadn’t been big on vampires or demons, and the Bringer had been over too quickly. Nearly dizzy from the rising anticipation, Faith almost careened into Kirsten in the hallway.

“Watch where you’re going, little girl! You came close to skewering yourself,” Kirsten snapped.

Faith looked down. The deadly tip of gleaming steel was less than an inch from her stomach. “Fuck.”

It dropped as Kirsten lowered her arm. “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

“Sunnydale,” Faith announced. Her eyes tracked the sword until the blade rested on the floor. “Why are you running around with that? We got trouble on the way?”

“No,” Kirstan replied with a snort. “Not yet, anyway. Grab your gear and your crew, though. The vans are leaving in a few.”

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