-
There was no beer in the fridge and that didn’t sit right with Faith. Granted it was too early to be drinking but when the time was right she was going to want to crack open a bottle and chug down it’s contents, preferably after she gets back from a good night of killing. Hopefully there will be something to kill.
Orlando was a great town. There were a lot to do there, at least during the day and there were plenty of clubs to dance at, however it was not a Hellmouth or even two hours away from a Hellmouth like LA was. Demons and other creepy things were few and far between and it was making slaying kind of boring. She hoped for and against another Big Bad surfacing. It would give her something to do. She and Xander were stuck there.
His reason for being stuck in O-town was not the same as hers. Xander had to wait until the semester was over before he and Lyra could fly back to Scotland and get Lyra aquatinted with the other Slayers. Faith can fly to wherever she felt like flying to although she would want to go to one of the other Slayer cells. Except that was the problem. Every airport that is close to a Slayer cell is not flying. It wasn’t just terrorist activity. There was also magic involved. The idea that someone was trying to keep the groups of Slayers from actually meeting up with each other was giving her another headache and she was going to need that beer if it persists or if there is nothing to kill.
“Xander, we are out of beer,” Faith said. She noticed another bottle near the back of the fridge. “We are almost out of beer.” She got no answer from him and closed the door. “One of us is going to have to make another beer run either tonight or tomorrow.” Still no response from him. “Hello?” She walked out into the living room.
Xander was seated in front of the small television set. The light on his Xbox 360 was glowing and there was carnage on the screen of several zombies rushing towards the group of four humans that were trying to fight back.
“Uh Xander?”
“Francis get out of my shot,” Xander shouted at the screen as he mashed against the controller.
“Are you even listening to me?” Faith asked.
Xander gritted his teeth as he continued in his onslaught.
“Xan-der!”
“Can’t talk, killing.”
Faith folded her arms across her chest and glowered at him. She waited until he was done. “Can we talk?”
“Sure,” Xander said as he sat back and relaxed.
“We are low on beer.”
“How low?”
“One bottle left.”
“I think we should at least wait until tomorrow,” Xander said.
“But there is only one bottle left.”
“And?” He looked at her with a semi annoyed expression on his face. “I know you like to unwind with a bottle after you go hunting. You can have that one bottle tonight. Either you or I can go get more tomorrow.”
“Don’t plan to accompany us slaying tomorrow?” Faith asked. She leaned her back against the wall.
“Well if you go slaying it will be solo. Lyra has a date and the other kids have plans as well.”
“I might just go get the beer myself. You will lend me your keys right?”
“Do you know how to drive?”
“I’m the anti Buffy remember?”
“Ah,” Xander smiled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
She sat down next to him. “We don’t talk much anymore.”
“We talk all the time.” He looked at her and then turned his focus back to the TV as some weird and eerie crying was heard.
“We just been talking about fighting.”
“What else is there?” Xander asked. “You a tough nut to crack sometimes.”
“I’m pretty good at cracking nuts.”
“Please don’t say that again,” Xander said as he crossed his legs. “With you its one day we are having sex and the next you are trying to kill me.”
“I’m over that,” Faith assured him. She once thought she was bad and no one understood her, except for Richard. He was almost like a father to her. He nurtured her dark side and that was what she thought she had wanted. Then she took Buffy’s body. She saw things differently. She was still bad. She knew that she was bad and it disgusted her. There was no turning back and was willing to fight to the end.
And then Angel came into her life, or rather she went into Angel’s. She beat up Cordelia and tortured Wesley in hopes that it would bring Angel to her so he could kill her. But he didn’t. He knew there was a spark in her that wanted to do the right thing. He knew she felt guilty for what she had done in the past. He was the only one to understand her, because he was once in her shoes. He still regretted the things he had done in the past.
“That’s good to hear,” Xander said.
“Except for the sex part.”
“That is even better.” He took a deep breath. “Except for sex there really isn’t a lot of common ground.”
“This game looks interesting,” Faith said. “We can bond over it.”
“Are you sure?” Xander asked.
“Very,” she said in her most determined tone.
“I’ll get a second controller his weekend.”
“Thank you.” She placed her head against his shoulder.
-
Charley thumbed through his collection of DVD’s. Tomorrow night was his next date with Lyra and they were going to watch a movie together at her place. She had confirmed it with her parents and they were pretty cool with it, especially since her older brother was going to be home
“Looking for something to do, Charley?” Regine appeared behind him. Her voice sent a shiver down his spine.
“Just looking for a movie,” he answered. He did not want to look at her. An hour ago she used tweezers to pinch at his arms. She would take the ends, grab a bit of skin and twisted.
“You are being a bit blunt with me,” Regine said as she ran her finger down his arm. Charley grunted out of pain. “Still sore I see.”
“Very sore.” His finger had paused at Scream For Your Supper.
“Watching one of your old friend’s movies?”
“It is for tomorrow.”
“Going to see your new friend?” Her lips pulled into a smile. “I noticed an address written down on one of the coffee tables.”
“Not hers,” Charley told her. It didn’t matter if she knew the exact address or not. Regine had been at Lyra’s place.
“Then who does it belong to?” She stared deep into his eyes as she brushed her fingers across his forehead and stroked his chin. “Tell me, Charley.”
“Xander Harris,” Charley answered. Even if he didn’t want to tell her he couldn’t resist her when she did that. That little act reinforced her hold on him.
“Ah. I should pay him a visit, but I should call him first. What is his number?”
“I don’t have it.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have it or you don’t want to give it to me.” She stroked his chin again.
“I don’t have it.”
“Does Lyra have it?”
“I think she might.” He closed his eyes as he tried to resist.
“Perhaps you should call her and ask for it.”
“No.” Charley tried to crawl away. “I won’t let you.”
“You wont let me what?” Regine asked. She grabbed his arm and held it hard, causing him even more pain.
“I won’t let you do to Xander what you did to me.” He gritted his teeth as he pulled away. “I won’t let you hurt Lyra.”
She laughed a condescending laugh. “I only plan to turn Xander into one of us for pleasure. I will not harm him at all. All that pain and torture is just for you. I won’t do it to Lyra either. Lyra will be all yours.”
“I’m not going to turn her,” Charley said in a determined tone.
“Oh yes you are. Think of the fun we will all have. I plan on sharing a bed with you and Xander at the same time. I’m certain you would want to do the same with Lyra and me.”
“She stays human.”
“You are such a silly boy,” Regine stroked his chin. “Now call her and ask for Xander’s number.”
Charley grimaced as he weakly reached for his phone.
-
Xander stared at the Two-Way in his hands. He only heard the chatter that went on between Faith, Lyra and Tyler. There was not much slaying going on tonight so far. Tyler was even considering coming back to the car since it was a slow night.
“Sounds like a good idea,” Xander told them. “One of you should walk Tyler back”
“I can come back on my own,” Tyler said. “There is nothing out here.”
“Still need to be on the cautious side,” Xander said.
“I’ll do it,” Faith suggested. “I think Little Star can watch her self for a few minutes.”
“Slayer Star,” Lyra corrected.
“She’ll just keep her radio on and we will come back.”
“Sounds pretty sound,” Xander told them. He set his radio down once they stopped talking to him. He could hear Faith and Tyler talking to each other and Lyra talking to herself.
“You know,” Ace said from the driver’s seat. He had been playing a game on his DS. “If things are going to be pretty slow then we can go out and do some patrolling.”
“He’s right,” Ronnie said. She was reading a book and writing down notes. “I know I’m getting some extra study time and all but we feel so useless.”
“You two are pretty useful,” Xander told them.
“How?” Ace asked. “I’m just the guy with the wheels and Ronnie is research girl.”
“It’s dangerous,” Xander said. He felt like slapping himself. Danger did not keep him and Willow from helping Buffy in the past. “Okay next time we go out we divide into two teams and everyone goes out.”
“Sounds fair,” Ronnie said and went back to her studying.
“Okay dokay X-man,” Ace said.
“Please don’t call me that again,” Xander told him. He felt his phone buzz.
“You let Faith call you that,” Ace pointed out.
“She’s Faith,” Xander said and answered the phone. “You have reached the line of Alexander Harris.”
“Hello Xander,” the woman’s voice sounded quite familiar.
“Hello?” Xander asked. He knew he should know her but her name had slipped his mind.
“This is Regine. You do remember how we danced the other night.”
“Oh yeah,” Xander said and hoped he didn’t sound to excited. He could not believe Regine called him. He didn’t know if she had his number. “I appreciate this call, but I’m curious on how you got my number.”
“Lyra gave it to Charley who gave it to me.”
“That would explain everything,” Xander said as he leaned back. “What do I owe the pleasure?”
“You don’t owe me anything,” Regine said. “I was thinking about the party and how I enjoyed dancing with you and I thought about how I could possibly reach you.”
“You wanted to talk to me?” Holy crap. The Regine wanted to speak with him. He hoped he didn’t gush like a schoolgirl.
“Of course I do, Xander,” her voice was like honey and music. “I just wanted to know if you would like to do something together.”
“You mean a date?” Xander could not believe this was happening.
“I was thinking more along the lines of getting to know each other,” Regine said.
“Yeah. Hey that would be great. I mean of course. I mean that sounds like fun.” Harris, restrain yourself. You are no longer a silly teenager with hormones out of whack. He was now a silly adult with his hormones out of whack.
“We can discuss the details now if you would like.”
“Sure maybe a dinner and a movie sometime?” Dinner and a movie, could he sound even more unoriginal and stupid?
“Perhaps it would be better if I come over to your place. We can talk more then.”
“I love you. I mean I’d love to.” He could not believe this was happening.
“I hope to hear your voice again,” Regine said. “Have a good evening, Xander.”
“Good night,” Xander said and hung up. He stared at his phone. “What just happened?”
“You are so cool,” Ace said. There was no trace of sarcasm in his voice. He actually believed it.
Tyler approached the vehicle. Faith was still standing at the edge of the cemetery. She seemed to be both bored and annoyed.
“Welcome back,” Ronnie said as soon as Tyler climbed into the vehicle.
“What did I miss?” Tyler asked.
“Regine asked Xander out,” Ace said. “He is so cool.”
“You guys are pathetic,” Ronnie said.
“I better tell Faith to go back,” Xander said. He was about to press the button when he heard someone else speaking to Lyra and it wasn’t a voice he had heard before.
“Faith,” Xander addressed her. “You have to go find her.”
The Slayer didn’t need to be told. She had already taken off.
-
Lyra stared at the three vampires that had approached her. They already had their game face on, but they also appeared to be a bit confused. They kept looking her up and down.
“Good evening gentlemen,” Lyra decided to break the ice.
“A little early for Halloween?” One of them asked.
“The stores don’t think so,” Lyra answered.
“What are you supposed to be?” Another asked as he circled around her.
“I’m Slayer Star,” Lyra explained. “I kill vampires. It’s what I do.”
The three vampires stared at each other and started to laugh. “She think’s she’s a Slayer.”
“Uh yeah,” Lyra said. She shouldn’t be surprised. She had expected some of them to laugh. On second thought this might be to her advantage. “You evil creatures should beware for I am your worst nightmare.” That set them off even more.
“Oooh we should beware,” one said and wiggled his fingers.
“Whatcha going to do?” Another one asked.
Lyra pulled out her stake. She stepped forward and shoved it onto the chest of one of the vampires.
“Holy shit,” one of the remaining ones said.
The other growled and lunged for her. Lyra ducked and grabbed at him when he came close. She tried to pull him over her and to her surprise it actually worked. She slammed him down on the ground.
The other vampire tried to grab her. Lyra blocked his advances with a few kicks before she grabbed him by the arm and slammed her stake through his heart.
“You are a Slayer,” the vampire said before his body turned to dust.
“And now for the last one,” Lyra said. She turned to where she had thrown him. He had gotten up and was running away. “Oh no you don’t.” She fired a bolt from her hand gun and missed. “Damn it.” She ran after him.
She had chased after him for a few minutes before she was about to catch up. She held up the gun again and was about to fire when someone stepped out of the shadows and grabbed the vampire by the neck. The figure thrust something at the demon and his body turned to dust.
“Faith?” Lyra asked. “Xander? Charley?”
“None of the above,” the man said. He looked like he was in his early thirties with light brown hair trimmed neatly and eyes like steel. “May I ask what you are doing out here?”
“Killing vampires,” Lyra explained. “Like you were.”
“You think what I just killed is a vampire?” The man asked. He was wearing a suit.
“One kind of vampire,” Lyra answered. “I heard there were two kinds.” She walked closer to him and stopped when she saw the large object between her and the man. On a second glance she could see it is a dead body. “Oh.” She stepped back as she kept her eyes on the corpse. Her eyes widened when she saw that it didn’t have head. “Oh.” While it wasn’t flowing she could see the blood. “Oh god.” She closed her eyes and inhaled.
“I’m sorry if I frightened you,” the man said.
“That was also a vampire?” Lyra asked. She opened one eye and stared at the corpse. The blood wasn’t flowing. It wasn’t going to hurt her. She kept repeating those words in her head and forced her other eye open. As she stared at the neck she could see the two puncture marks.
“That was my meal,” the man said.
“You’re a vampire?” Lyra asked. She noticed how different the puncture marks were in comparison to the ones Tyler had received. “You’re the other kind.”
The vampire nodded. “My name is Rick Calders. I’m a detective. That man that I killed is a mobster, or was a mobster.”
“A vampire detective?” Lyra asked. “Like on that show?”
Calders nodded.
“Shouldn’t you have arrested him and gone through proper justices and all that?”
“I have but they failed,” he frowned. “Due to his team of lawyers he got off easy. This man is responsible for many deaths of the innocent.”
“Okay.” Lyra wasn;t sure what she should be doing. She knew she had the duty of killing vampires, but this one wasn’t evil. “So you are a good vampire? You have a soul?”
He nodded. “That other kind didn’t?”
“That’s what I’ve been told.”
“Then how do they walk around? Vampires, or the kind I am are souls that are trapped in corpses.”
“Isn’t that what humans are?” Lyra asked
“Humans are alive. We are not. Sorry if I frightened you.”
She shrugged. “I should be used to it.”
The detective looked at his watch. “Not all of us are good. We are like people there are some good and some that are bad. I have been informed that there is another like me in the city and they are not someone you would want to be friends with. I have to leave. Take care young vampire killer.” He leaped into the sky and after a few seconds he had shifted into a large bat like creature and flew away.
Lyra watched as he flew. She didn’t know someone was behind her until they grabbed her shoulder. She screamed and spun around.
“Sorry.” It was Faith. She looked up. “What was that?”
“That was the other kind of vampire. He’s a detective.”
“Like in that show?” Faith asked. “So he’s a good one.”
“I think so.”
“We should get back. Good job on killing those vamps.”
“No problem,” Lyra told her. She took one last look of the sky before she turned around and followed after her.
-