Chapter 10: The Purple Tower
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Xander wasn’t sure what he was dreaming. He just pictured things flying around his head and those images were pretty vague and fuzzy and it seemed to be moving away from him. He would have loved to teach out and grab it if he actually cared. He kind of knew he was waking up. He should wake up but he just wanted to be lazy. He just wanted ten more minutes, just ten more minutes.
“Sun’s up,” Faith came barging into the bedroom. “Time to wake up.”
“More time,” Xander moaned and rolled over.
“Oh no. You are not going to fall of the wagon and go back to being a slackaholic.” Faith gave him a sharp kick in the side.
“Ouch,” Xander grunted and sat up. “She makes her point with pointy shoes.”
Faith looked down on him. “I’m wearing slippers.”
“Slippers?” Xander asked and stared down on her feet. She was wearing a pair of bright green slippers that resembled frogs. “So when you went Slaying you decided to kill Kermit?”
“They’re a gift.”
“From who? Lady Gaga?” He rubbed more of the sleep out from his eyes. “Okay, could you have not kicked so hard?”
“I barely tapped you with my toes.”
“For a Slayer that might have been barely a tap.” Xander rose to his feet. “But for me that was harsh kick.”
“You a little sensitive?” Faith asked. She looked like she was trying not to smile. “Did I wear you out last night?”
“Whoa.” Last night was a bit of a thrill. He could not believe how much stamina Faith had even though she was his first it had been a while since they were together like that. After her tenth climax and Xander’s second he had actually passed out from that ride.
“So I did.” She had a proud smile. “The kids will be over soon. I made you your favorite.”
“A triple stack with bacon, sausages and eggs?” Xander asked hopefully.
She stared at him. “What do I look like, an IHOP?”
“You did say my favorite.”
“Okay, I made your specialty.”
“Cereal and coffee.” It didn’t sound glamorous but it was food. “Let me get washed up and dressed.”
“I’ll be on my second bowl by then.”
Xander went through his routine as fast as he could and wore a towel wrapped around his head as he sat down to breakfast.
“Is it wrong that we are eating cereal that has a vampire on the box?” Faith asked before she ate another spoonful.
“Nothing wrong if it involves chocolate,” Xander said as he sat down. “Unless the chocolate is laced with something.”
“See if I were evil, again, I would do something with the breakfast cereals. Nobody would suspect the breakfast cereals.”
“I still suspect the captain,” Xander said. “I only carry a grudge because I once had a box of Crunchberries that was supposed to have a prize and it did not include the prize.”
“What was the prize?”
“I forgot, but it’s the principal that matters.”
Faith shrugged and shoveled her spoon back into her bowl. “I stab at thee cereal.”
Xander ate a few bites. “I wonder what those other vampires are like.”
“They have souls right?” Faith asked.
“That’s what Willow said.”
“And they don’t have the you know.” She pointed at her forehead.
“That is what I’ve been told,” Xander said and took a sip from his cup. “They have yellow eyes but only their iris’s are yellow and they have fangs but longer and they can turn into bats, wolves and mist.”
“I dunno,” Faith said as she shook her head. “You are used to the one kind and then you find out there is another kind. Your whole worldview is blown.”
“Very blown.”
“Speaking of blown that was great last night.”
“Yeah,” Xander sighed. “We shouldn’t make a habit out of it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to get into anything. I don’t want to get into a relationship. I shouldn’t get into a relationship, not anymore. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“First of all relationships suck. Second of all I’m just in it for the sex.”
“I think Anya just wanted it to be sex at first.” Xander closed his eyes. He opened them when he felt a hand on his arm.
“Friends with benefits,” Faith told him. “That is that and no more. Once we are done here we will go to our separate corners in the world. Then when we meet again we can have fun again.”
“I can handle that.”
“It makes sense.” Faith ate a few more mouthfuls before she continued. “I have needs. You have needs. I like sex and you like sex. There shouldn’t be too much thinking when it comes to the subject.”
“We need to get this conversation out of our system before the kids get here.”
“Conversation is gone. Let’s eat.”
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The kids came around one that afternoon. Lyra entered first while she was in a deep conversation with Ronnie and Tyler brought up the rear. He looked pretty pleased for someone who had to listen to teenage girl chatter for who knows how long. This must mean he had some good news about his Aunt and Uncle’s back room.
“Did we get the place?” Xander asked.
“Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” Tyler said. “Tuesday and Thursdays are for the Wicca group. I already explained about Saturday and Sunday’s is craft night.”
“Nothing sounds like arts and crafts like a magic book store,” Xander commented and wondered if he should have retracted the statement.
“You’d be surprised,” Tyler said “The girls have even better news and I am going to let them tell it. I need to get to work.”
“Take all the time that you need,” Xander said and turned to the girls who were now giggling. “So I heard there was good news.”
“Yeah,” Ronnie said. “I think Charley likes Lyra.”
“Embarrassment city hello,” Lyra gasped and that was followed promptly by another smile. “He likes me.”
“Ah teenagers,” Xander sighed. “Don’t ever change.”
“So how was the date with Unicorn boy?” Faith asked.
“Unicorn boy?” Xander blinked. “Does he turn into a unicorn?” After all he has seen and experienced he would not be surprised if people can turn into magical creatures.
“Big F is just riffing on his name,” Lyra explained. “It was great. I introduced him to Studios and their Choconilla drinks. We talked. I know more about him and he knows more about me and things went well. Right up until a group of vampires showed up and attacked us.”
“Now that sounds like my kind of date,” Faith said. “Did you kick their asses?”
“We both did.” Lyra’s smile faded. “But they know I’m a Slayer. That was why they attacked me. They probably know Faith is a Slayer.”
Faith shrugged. “It happens.”
“Yeah, but not anymore,” Lyra said. Her voice took on a determined tone. “We are going to find their nest and flush them out and crush them.”
“She’s starting to sing my tune,” Faith said in a satisfied tone.
“How?” Xander asked. “I hate to be the Debbie Downer on your take charge attitude but how?”
“Charley mentioned that they reported to a Maxine in a purple tower,” Lyra said.
“And I did the research,” Ronnie said. “The Purple Tower is the name of a perfume store. They sell all kinds of perfumes, scented lotions and even bubble bath. The store is two stories. On top of that is a seafood restaurant and on top of that is a living quarter that is owned by Maxine Barrow. She also owns the perfume place and is a favored assistant to the Mullo Strix.”
“The magician?” Xander asked.
“Exactly,” Lyra said. “Although he probably doesn’t know she’s a vampire.”
“Wait is he one?” Faith asked.
“Can’t be,” Ronnie said. “He has a reflection.”
“So we are going to this Purple Tower and take out Maxine?” Xander asked. “I don’t know why I’m asking. Of course we are.”
“The questions are how and when,” Ronnie said.
“Yes,” Xander pointed at her. “Thank you. We all need to do research. Find out when Maxine will be home and then take her down.”
“Sounds like this is a job for research girl,” Ronnie said as she set down her laptop. “Defending against the uninformed and unaware.”
“Sounds good,” Xander said. “You research your way. I’ll do it my way.” He pointed to the two Slayers. “You train.” They have plenty to do.
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Charley cringed against his bindings. Both his legs and arms were stretched out and his wrists and ankles bound. Half of his body was covered with strips of duct tape. As soon as he rose from his coffin he stumbled into the kitchen and drank what blood he had in his thermos. The second he had swallowed the last droplet he was knocked out from behind. When he came to he was tied down and Regine was applying the silver metallic strips.
“You didn’t think that I would forget, did you, Charley?” Regine asked. She removed the strips. Some slowly and some quickly. No matter what, it was all painful.
“Never,” Charley grunted. “No matter how much I want to.”
“Exactly,” Regine tore off another strip. “And why am I doing this?”
“Because I deserve it.” He decided to avoid the long drawn out conversation. “I deserve it for what I have done to your brother. I murdered him and I have to be punished for what I have done.”
“You have learned well.” She peeled another strip and was about to grab another when Charley’s cell went off. “I wonder if that is your girlfriend.”
“She’s a friend,” Charley said and licked his lips. “Just a friend.”
“You never really had another friend who as a girl,” Regine said as she removed another strip. “Not since Alexandra.”
“I’m not going to let you hurt anyone else,” Charley said between gasps. Each time she removed a strip it felt like she was removing a strip of his skin. “I didn’t want you to do to anyone else what you have done to Alex and Peter.”
“Oh don’t worry,” Regine said as she brushed her fingers against the side of his head. “I like Lyra. She has her charms. I think she will make a lovely addition to our family. She seems to be in to you and you like her. Don’t you, Charley?”
“We are friends.” He closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to be anything more than friends with Lyra.
“Of course,” Regine said in a condescending tone. She ripped off two strips at the same time.
Once she had the strips completely removed she balled up the tape and gave it to Bosworth to dispose off. She removed the shackles from Charley before she went off to retreat into the bedroom that she chose for herself. She was probably going to turn into a bat and fly out the window to hunt.
Charley staggered to his feet and gradually put on his clothes. His skin still burned and he bled a little from some of the places. He needed a little more blood to drink but what he needed was to hear Lyra’s voice. He checked his phone to see who called him, hoping it was her and it was. He called her back.
“Lyra,” he managed to get out.
“Charley?” Lyra greeted.
“Sorry. I was tied up a bit.”
“That’s okay. Is it safe place for you to speak?”
“Pretty much.” He had no idea what she was talking about unless it had something to do with those demonic creatures. “Why?”
“We know where the Purple Tower is located,” Lyra said. “We are going to take out the Big Bad on Saturday. Will Chaz be needed?”
“I don’t think so,” Charley told her. “Why?”
“We are going to need every fighter and against the part of me that doesn’t want to get any civilians involved I know you can fight. You have the experience.”
“I’ll be there. Where are we going to meet?”
“At Xander’s apartment. Let me give you the address.”
Charley found a scrap of paper and pen and wrote it down. He hung up after he thanked you. He might be a bloodthirsty creature but he was still a fighter. He was still a killer of evil creatures and these so called new vampires were as evil as they came. He just needed to get some more weapons. He ran upstairs to his own room and ran to the one large trunk that was in the corner of his room. After opening it he removed the false bottom. In the real bottom were the weapons that Peter and Alex used when they tried to rescue him.
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“I don’t get why we are all going to a perfume store,” the driver of the black Kia said as he drove Charley, Xander, Faith, Lyra and her friends to the building that held the Purple Tower.
Charley studied the others. All of them were wearing large coats like him. The coats helped conceal the weapons they carried. Xander carried two long stakes under his. Faith had a crossbow she had brought from Boston that is if she did come from Boston. Lyra had her stake and the hand held stake shooter that Charley gave her. Ronnie carried one of those jumbo pump action water guns that was filled with holy water. Tyler had his weapon that looked like two stakes that were connected together by a small chain plus several small silver weapons.
“I have heard good things about the restaurant on top of the store,” Tyler told him.
“So we are going for the food then?” The driver asked.
“Well the girls are going to want to shop a little bit,” Tyler said. “And Mr. Harris said he wanted to get a gift for his sister.”
“Yep,” Xander agreed. “Buffy likes the exotic fragrances.”
“Buffy?” Charley mouthed. While he was glad that Xander was going along with the ruse he wished he had picked a real name.
“Buffy?” The driver asked out loud. “Is that her nickname? That can’t be her real name.”
“Actually it is,” Faith said. “We’ve met.”
“Okay we are going shopping and then food. Sounds like a plan.”
Charley leaned over to Lyra. “Did you want to get him involved?”
“No,” Lyra whispered back. “We needed his car. We are going to make certain he sticks with Ronnie and Tyler while the rest of us take on Maxine.”
“Won’t they be defenseless if they are left alone?”
“Tyler has a black belt,” Lyra answered. “And he’s been the one making our weapons.”
“That is good. I hope,” Charley said.
The driver had parked the vehicle and the seven of them got out and approached the building. Everything was open although there were a few customers in the store.
“Ace you should stay close to Ronnie and me,” Tyler said
“Why?” The driver asked.
“Cause all of us third wheels should stay out of the way of the two couples,” Ronnie said and rolled her eyes.
Xander and Faith stared at her and then at each other before Faith smiled and Xander shrugged. The two of them went inside first.
“Do we know what this Maxine looks like?” Charley asked as he and Lyra entered.
“Tall and slim with barely any chest,” Lyra described. “She has long sleek black hair that goes all the way down to her butt. Her lips look like she had an allergic reaction to something. I want to say she OD’s on collagen, but I don’t think vampires go for the plastic.”
“I have never heard of them using it,” Charley told her. Regine would often scoff at actresses that would resort to that.
“Might as well look like we are shopping,” Lyra said. She picked up one of the bottles and looked at it before she sniffed the tester. She handed it to Charley for him to sniff. It was a sweet fragrance, a little too sweet for his tastes.
They walked around the first floor looking at the merchandise in the fashion. Twice they passed by the group of Lyra’s friends. At first they were arguing about something. The second time they were laughing. They passed by Xander and Faith while Xander was at the mixing station where people could try and design their own fragrances. What Xander had created smelled a lot like Regine’s favorite fragrance.
“I don’t want to alarm you but people seem to be suspicious of us,” Lyra said. She pointed at the sales people who were whispering and pointing at them.
“Well we are kind of dressed suspiciously,” Charley said. In addition to their large coats they were both wearing pairs of sunglasses.
“Sorry folks,” one of the employees announced in front of the registers “But we are closing in ten minutes.”
“Hey wait,” Ronnie strode up to him. “According to the sign we got a couple more hours.”
“We have a bit of an emergency on our hands,” the employee said.
“What kind?” Ronnie asked as she folded her arms across her chest.
“Ronnie stop,” Lyra whispered. “She’s going to expose us.”
“The owner feels threatened,” the employee said. “We are closed now.”
“Sounds like BS to me,” Ronnie said.
“I don’t think the restaurant is,” Ace said as he approached her. “I want to eat.”
“Well so do we,” the employee said and his face shifted.
“What the hell?” Ace asked as Faith and Xander removed their coats and came charging up to the vampire.
The floor in front of the registers dropped open and Ronnie, Ace, Xander and Faith fell through.
“Guys?” Tyler asked. He came up to Lyra and Charley
“We got to rescue them,” Lyra said.
“Uh we got our own problems,” Tyler said as several more vampires were enclosing on them.
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