Chapter Nine: Privileges and Limitations

The noise of the army's excitement has finally settled into somethin' a little more bearable. Their reaction to havin' bagged the leader of the Slayers was... somethin' to see. 'Course most of 'em are pissed that she's off limits 'cause she belongs to me. Joaquin made a show of remindin' 'em that touchin' other people's property was highly offensive to him, but I doubt their obedience will last for long.

The inside of the warehouse has been turned into an almost proper base. Joaquin's promised to give me a tour once he gets the troops calmed. What I can see all ready is fuckin' impressive.

A large table fills the center of the first floor and chairs encircle it. There are cages along the walls filled with weapons and other equipment of all kinds. Two sets of metal stairs on either side at the back of the warehouse lead to the other floors. I tilt my head back for a sec and note that I can see four landings at least.

I feel B's hand clutch my belt and chuckle silently. She's been livin' in my back pocket since we walked in here. I think she's more than a little freaked. Then again, it ain't natural to a Slayer to be surrounded by vamps and demons.

Now that I think about it, if this is makin' my internal alarms sound, it's probably makin' hers go ape-shit. Unless all the vamp sex has fucked hers up, that is. Ugh, necrophilia jokes ain't good for the mental state.

I feel B stiffen and glance around to see Joaquin approachin' us. I give him a grin.

"Guess they're happy?"

He smirks, "Ah, yes they are. Some are very disappointed that they won't have a chance to play with your pet, but they know my rules."

"Good to know. I'd hate to have to dust somebody for touchin' my property," I growl.

"Not to worry, my young friend. None here will lay a hand on her." He claps his hands together and changes the subject, "Now, about that tour. Are you still interested?"

"Yeah," I grunt.

"Great," He replies enthusiastically.

I follow him over to the cages linin' the left side of the room. B trails along after me, stayin' close to keep some slack on the leash. Now that we're gettin' closer, I can see that the set of cages he's leadin' us to contains metal cases.

He opens one of the cage doors and pulls out a case. He opens it and hands it to me with a grin.

"Now these, are my pride and joy. All of my soldiers are equipped with a set. This set is for you."

I let my eyes drop to the guns in the case and lick my bottom lip. Two of the modified Jericho 941 F's of my very own. I lift my gaze and find his again, what has to be a wicked grin formin'.

I chuckle, "Oh, ho, the bad boys an' girls do get all the fun toys."

"That we do," Joaquin laughs and lets his eyes track to Buffy's.

"That we do," He repeats.

I follow his gaze and lift my hand to trace a finger over her jaw. I can tell B wants to jerk her head away but she knows better. I let my fingertip rest on the center of her bottom lip for a sec and then my hand drops back to my side.

"Yeah," I murmur.

The tone of my voice causes an alarmed look to flash across B's face. I ignore it and turn my attention back to Joaquin. I lift an eyebrow at him.

"All part of the perks, eh?" I ask teasingly.

"And there are so many," He answers.

After a short tour of the contents of some of the cages, he leads us upstairs to the second floor. My mind is still on the firepower they've got. He has a variety of well-maintained weapons and he told me that he's in the process of makin' sure everyone in his army can handle any type.

"As you can see, the second and third floors are simply used as barracks," His voice interrupts my thoughts.

I look up and glance around, my eyebrow archin' at what I see. Neatly arranged bunks line the walls with a set of lockers and a trunk to the left and at the foot of each. I feel a small amount of concern and a good dose amusement at the continued organization of Joaquin's outfit.

"Fuck," Buffy chokes out quietly.

I snort and look at Joaquin to see if he heard her. He did. He's lookin' at her like she's dinner and I really don't like that. I sneer, almost unconsciously.

I look back at Buffy and grab her chin. I lean over and pull her into a harsh kiss before she can stop me. Her mouth parts in startled response and my tongue darts out to tease her lips before I slip it into the wet heat beyond. Her hands come up to my shoulders to shove me off and I wrap my arms tightly around her waist to hold her close as my tongue tangles with hers.

She struggles briefly and then falls limp against my chest as I feel the vibration of a groan in her chest. I slide one of my hands over her hip and up her flat tummy. I feel her squirm closer as I let my hand pause between her breasts and it's my turn to moan at the feel of her heart poundin' beneath the tight white t-shirt she's wearin'. I jerk my hand away and nip her bottom lip sharply before I release her with a harsh shove.

"Keep your mouth shut, bitch," I snarl.

I watch hungrily as she wipes at the thin line of blood streamin' from her lip. She looks at her fingers and then glares up at me. Her nostrils flare as she struggles visibly not to attack me in return.

I blow her a kiss and shrug as I turn to look at Joaquin. His game face is on and the look he's sportin' is disturbin' at best. I suppress a shudder and force my thoughts back to the matter at hand.

"What about the fourth floor?"

His eyebrows furrow and his face settles back into human form. He clears his throat.

"Only privileged members of the army are allowed up there. I'm afraid I cannot tell you more than that just yet." He claps his hands together. "Why don't we return downstairs and join the celebration?"

It's now that the sound of loud rock music and rowdy noise comin' from the lower floor registers. I glance at B for a sec and then pull her along as I follow Joaquin.

"Never could turn down an excuse to party."

When I reach the bottom of the stairs, I stop and look around. Some of the vamps and demons are dancin', some are startin' up games and challenges, and a few are startin' the more fulfillin' festivities. A vamp standin' a few feet away pulls one of the pets to him by her leash and sinks his fangs into her neck.

My eyes flutter shut and I breathe in deeply. The charged scents of lust and blood—need and hunger— hang heavy in the air like a bad mood and a wicked grin forms in response. I reopen my eyes and laugh as I swagger out onto the dance floor. The music is all ready callin' to me and my body responds without hesitation.

Chapter Ten: Did My Time

A new song begins and a wry smile edges my lips as I recognize the openin' to Korn's song, "Did My Time". I pull B to me by her leash and wrap an arm around her waist. The tension radiatin' off her doesn't deter me as I slip a thigh between her legs. I grip her hips and pull her close as I force her to move against me in time with the music.

Realized I can never win
Sometimes I feel like I have failed
Inside where do I begin

My mind is laughing at me
Tell me why am I to blame
Aren't we supposed to be the same?

That's why I will never tame
This thing that's burning in me

This song's the very definition of our relationship. I nip at her jaw and drop the leash as I tangle my fingers in her hair. I force her head aside and drag my tongue up her neck.

I knew I couldn't win the second I met B and saw the devotion almost everyone had to her. I've been a failure since day one and my mind laughs at me over my feelings for her. Everyone blamed me for it all, even though we were both there. We could never really been the same though, 'cause she's always been too afraid to let loose.

I am the one who chose my path
I am the one who couldn't last

I feel the life pulled from me
I feel the anger changing me

I did choose my path, and I didn't have the strength to last as a Slayer. The anger and resentment I felt changed me too much. I recognized it all and never fully accepted the truth until I felt the coldness of death spreadin' through me.

Sometimes I can never tell
If I've got something after me

That's why I just beg and plead
For this curse to leave me

Tell me why I am to blame
Aren't we supposed to be the same?

That's why I will never tame
This thing that's burning in me

My fangs graze the flushed skin over B's artery and reflexively I bite down. I feel her jerk against me and I tighten my hold. The incredible rush of warmth floods me as her blood travels down my throat and I moan. I can't believe I begged for this cursed existence to end when this feels so fuckin' amazin'.

I am the one who chose my path
I am the one who couldn't last

I feel the life pulled from me
I feel the anger changing me

I force my fangs to retract and jerk away from B, startled at my thoughts. Oh, fuck. God, I can't— I bury my face against her skin and squeeze my eyes shut in horror.

Betrayed
I feel so enslaved

I really tried
I did my time

I did my time
I did my time
I did my time
I did my time

Why did she have to come to me for help? I did my time, paid my dues, whatever you want to call it. Really when it comes down to it, I did both. Prison and then death, both were really harsh punishments if you think about it.

I am the one who chose my path
I am the one who couldn't last

I feel the life pulled form me
I feel the anger changing me

I was doin' just fine 'til she came back. And goddamn it, I think I'm losin' control now. Somethin' ain't right, in any case 'cause I'm startin' to like this. I pull back and look in her eyes, surprised to see concern there. I see her flinch and I grin viciously as I lick the blood from my mouth.

Oh God, the anger's changing me

I pull her into a bruisin' kiss with the hand still tangled in her hair. She chokes back a cry when I force her mouth open with my tongue. I release her waist and grab her jaw with my other hand to hold her in place. It only takes a second for her to realize she's free and she punches me in the gut before she shoves me away.

I stumble back a step and laugh as I straighten. I look at her for a sec, admirin' my handy work. Her mouth's swollen and bruised, and her hair's tussled. Blood's smeared around her lips and a thin red line's tricklin' down her neck to stain her shirt.

I give her a wide grin, my dimples on display and step back into her space. I cup her cheek and trace my thumb over her jaw. Without warnin', I release her and bring my fist back to deliver an uppercut at full strength. She flies backwards and slams into a concrete support post, her head bouncin' off it before she slides down to the ground.

"Stay down," I snarl when she starts to get up.

I wait to make sure she's goin' to do what I say before my attention strays to a nearby vamp with four pets on leashes. He gives me an invitin' grin and I check out the little blonde he's got. Looks promisin' and they're gonna expect me to do it sometime anyway. I turn my back on B and walk toward the vamp as the song comes to an end.

Oh God, the anger's changing me

(Buffy's POV)

I didn't mean to get caught earlier. I was trying to get closer to where they were so I could get a better view of Faith. One of the guards must have sensed something, 'cause the next thing I knew ten vampires were coming at me. I dusted a few and did some damage to the rest before they stopped me.

I've been in an almost constant state of horrified shock since they dragged me in front of Joaquin. I think it was more the sight of seeing Faith's fangs grazing a Slayer's neck that affected me than anything else. I hope Leanne can get over what Faith was about to do to her, 'cause if anyone's going to kick her ass it's going to be me.

I can't describe the jumble of emotions that keep swamping me other than that initial jolt of complete rage and betrayal. I was so angry at her for doing that to me in front of all those people and I felt betrayed for reasons I don't care to examine just yet. I can't deny that having her touch me turned me on, but the time and the place was all wrong.

I'm not too sure I want to understand everything I'm feeling either because it's too much, too strong. Her behavior is scaring the Hell out of me, though. It seems to be getting worse the longer we're here too.

I'm trying not to think too much about everything that's happened so far. If I let my emotions take control, I'll blow everything. I can't let that happen. Not only 'cause I'm not ready to die again yet, but 'cause too much depends on this. I'd also like the chance to decide if I want to stake Faith or kiss her.

I rub the back of my head where a lump is beginning to form. It's throbbing painfully, but I ignore it as I force my eyes open. A gasp escapes me when I see Faith leading a small blonde away from a vamp. The look on Faith's face is disturbing, to say the least.

I'm standing before I can even think. I need to talk to her before she does anything she'll regret. I shove my way through the crowd until I'm right behind Faith. I grab her shoulder and jerk her around to face me.

I see her flinch and I'm probably the only one here who knows how much it took for her to not tear my head off. I've been in her body before and I recognize the tension rippling just beneath the surface. She's terrified, angry, and very much on edge. I have to be careful here or she won't be able to stop from shedding more blood here.

Not like she doesn't have enough of mine all ready. I shake off the images the thought provokes. I really don't want or need to go there right now.

"Didn't I tell you to fuckin' stay down?"

"Yes," I answer weakly.

She smirks, "Then why the fuck are ya buggin' me?"

"I just— I mean," I stammer to a halt and blow out an exasperated breath as I close my eyes briefly. When I reopen them, she has a smug look on her face. God, how I would love to slap it off.

I wince and force myself to choke out, "Please, I'm sorry. Just let me take her place, and I swear I won't cause any more trouble."

She leans closer to me and growls, "And how do I know you're tellin' the truth, Slayer?"

"You only have my word."

Her eyes flash yellow and then she snickers, "And what's to stop me from takin' you and then comin' back for her anyway?"

I clench my jaw and grind out, "I'll do whatever you want if you'll leave the others alone."

It's killing me to have to say these things to her. Yes, I have feelings for her. But that doesn't make it any easier for me to just hand control over to someone else. Since I've seen the others display that same problem, it has to be a Slayer thing.

Her gaze considers me and flicks to the small blonde for just a second before she turns to look at me. A kind of twisted grin forms on her face and I'm forced to suppress a shudder. I can't decide if it disgusts me or turns me on. It's just another thing I'm going to have to wait to think about.

"Aight," She rasps almost inaudibly as she drops the leash and steps into my personal space. "You got it, B. Now give us a kiss to seal the deal."

I have to force myself not to smirk as I step into the circle of her arms. She's just so predictable. I lean up to press my mouth to hers and my eyes flutter shut. Her lips are harsh and unrelenting as she claims my mouth and it's over quicker than I care for.

She chuckles quietly at the little whimper that escapes me and brushes the hair away from my neck. She starts to lower her mouth and I stop her with a hand in the middle of her chest. She looks up at me with an accusing look and I smile reassuringly.

"Not here, please?" I ask only loud enough for her to hear.

She looks like she's going to refuse for a moment before she finally rolls her eyes and sighs in exasperation. "Aight, we can go back to mine."

I kiss her again in gratitude. "Thank you."

"Whatever," She snarls as she turns to search for Joaquin.

Chapter Eleven: The Only One

(Faith's POV)

Joaquin reluctantly agreed to let me stay in my own place for now. He said he could sympathize with my bein' used to bein' alone. But I'll eventually have to move into the barracks when I've settled into the army. I can only hope we won't be here that long.

Damn, this has been one fucked up day. I just keep havin' to push what I'm feelin' away though, 'cause I'll get scared and fuck up if I don't. It's almost too much for me to handle. In a way I'm grateful B's here, 'cause I know she'll keep stoppin' me from fuckin' up big time like I almost did earlier with that girl.

It makes me sick that there's a part of me that's enjoyin' this. There's another part of me that doesn't care that it's happenin', though. And every time I do somethin' violent, those parts only get stronger. I'm feelin' kinda schizo with all this goin' on.

The walk home's given me time to think. It at least calmed me down even if it didn't help me make sense of anything.

I glance to my side where B's walkin' next to me. I don't know what I'm gonna tell her. Or even what I should tell her. She deserves to know everything, but would she be able to handle all of it? Am I even strong enough to talk about what I'm goin' through?

I've never been good at discussin' my problems, obviously. There have been a few times when I had no other choice but to spill, but even then it was almost impossible to get the words out.

We turn down the driveway to my dumpy little home away from home and step up onto the porch cautiously. The boards flex and creak under our weight and we hurry to get inside the house. I shut the door and motion for B to wait while I check the house. I step into the kitchen and let out a groan when I feel B followin' behind me.

I turn to face her and growl, "Why can't you do what the fuck you're supposed to, B?"

She crossed her arms over her chest and rolls her eyes. "I'm not just going to stand by and do nothing, Faith."

"Y'know, I think I'm startin' to understand why demons have it in for ya, B."

She opens her mouth to respond and then snaps it shut again. After a long time, she blows out an exasperated breath and shakes her head.

"We don't have time to fight this out right now, Faith. We need to figure out what we're going to do."

She sighs and adds quietly, "And eventually, we're going to have to have a talk about what happened."

I lower my eyes at that and my anger evaporates. My shoulders slump and I shrug as I turn back to the kitchen.

"After we make sure nobody's in here."

The house was empty, as I'd thought it would be. I just had to be sure first. Now we're sittin' on a pile of blankets with only a small battery operated lantern for light. She's sittin' opposite me and lookin' at me expectantly.

I roll my eyes and lean back against the wall. I don't know how to start this. My eyes fall on the now healing punctures and bruises on her throat beneath the collar. Oh wait, yeah I do.

"Why the fuck were you followin' me tonight?"

She tenses and tries to duck the responsibility, "This isn't about what I did."

"Oh yes it is," I laugh humorlessly. "I wouldn't have had to resort to any of this shit if you'd have kept your ass at home, B!"

"Oh, so it's my fault?" She replies defensively.

I see tears wellin' up in her eyes and groan. Shit, this is impossible.

"No," I growl. "It's not your fault. I'm the one who couldn't think of anything better."

Oddly enough, her shoulders slump and she brings her knees up to her chest. She wraps her arms around her legs and shakes her head.

"It's neither of ours' faults, Faith," She says so quietly I almost don't hear it. "I don't think I'd have done any better."

How can she say that after what I did? I fuckin' raped her in front of our enemy. It doesn't matter that she enjoyed it while it was happenin'. The fact still remains that she trusted me and I violated her—with an audience. And to make it worse, I enjoyed it.

I swallow hard, tryin' to ignore the swellin' in my clit at the memory. I reply huskily, "Sure ya would've, B. I just keep fuckin' up 'cause I'm losin' my fuckin' mind."

"What are you talking about?"

I wince and let my gaze drop to the blankets. I can't let her see how I'm really feelin'. She doesn't need to know right now anyway. She's gotta be able to trust me and she won't be able to if I tell her the truth.

"I don't know. I'm confused and more than a little disturbed right now, B. Playin' this part ain't any easier for me than it is for you."

"I guess you're right," She mutters wryly. "I'm not the one who had to drink someone's blood."

"Exactly," I reply deadpan.

Silence falls and my eyes drift back up. The collar around her throat catches my attention and I wince. I gesture at it.

"Why the fuck do you still got that thing on?"

"I hadn't really thought about it," She chuckles as she reaches up to take it off.

I see that she's strugglin' with the collar and I bite back a few choice words 'cause I know what's gonna come next. She looks up at me with her hands still fiddlin' with the buckles at the back of her neck and I clench my jaw in anticipation.

"Faith, can you give me a hand?"

I get up reluctantly and approach. I've been tryin' to keep my distance 'cause I don't know how I might react. That and I ain't in the mood for another of her punches tonight. My stomach still hurts like fuck from earlier.

"Lemme see it."

I bat her hands away and brush her hair over her shoulder and out of the way. I have to force my eyes not to stray to her exposed neck as I work the leather strap out of the buckles. The heat of her back soaks through my jeans and my hands shake almost unnoticeably. My breathin' sounds unnaturally loud in the silence of the room and I'm prayin' for the stupid fuckin' collar to give all ready.

"So do you have any idea of what we're going to do next?"

I jerk, startled by the sound of B's voice. The last buckle snaps open and I toss the collar to the side as I back up hurriedly. I lean back against the fireplace and let my gaze fall as she turns to face me.

"I have an idea, but ya ain't gonna like it."

I can feel her starin' at me but I can't meet her eyes. Ain't gonna like it is an understatement, she's gonna be pissed as Hell. But we've got a job to do and what we want doesn't mean shit right now. Too many lives are on the line for us to fuck up.

She lets out a breath and I hear the blankets rustle. Out of the corner of my eye I see her stand and come towards me. I tense and cross my arms over my chest.

She stops just an inch or so away from me and tries to catch my gaze. "Look at me, Faith."

I look up at her and bite my bottom lip. I shake my head and release it.

"What is it?" B asks warily.

I drop my arms and shove off from the fireplace. I walk around her and go to the other side of the room. I ignore her obvious confusion and the hurt in her eyes.

"We ain't doin' anybody any good, both of us bein' here."

"What's your point, Faith? It's not like we can do anything about it now."

"You can escape today. Get back to HQ and let 'em know what's goin' down."

I can see it ain't sittin' well with her in the immediate tensin' of her jaw. I ain't givin' in on this, though. I can't. There's too much at stake here.

I'll admit only to myself that I'm scared shitless that I'll snap as soon as she's not around but there are other things that worry me more. If I lose control with her here, she'll be my first target. I love her too much to take that chance. Not only that, but if it does happen, she'd be the only one with a chance of stoppin' me.

I'm also a little afraid that I'll fuck up and blow my cover. I'll be dusted faster than I can react if that happens and then it'll be open season on B. I can't let that happen.

"You can't be serious," She scoffs and her brows furrow.

She approaches me again and I bite back an annoyed growl. I force myself to stay where I am, though. She tends to strike back when she gets hurt.

"I am serious, B. This whole thing is ridin' on our shoulders. I'm the one who has to deal with Joaquin. When everything goes down, you're the only one who can lead our army into the battle."

She stops right in front of me and laughs humorlessly. "You know, I thought after Sunnydale I wouldn't have to deal with this any more. I'm not the only Slayer, Faith! They can handle this without me."

I close the short distance between us and lean forward, gettin' in her face. I snarl, "You're the only one who can do this! The rest of them got the power, but they ain't shit compared to either of us and you know it, B!"

"I'm not leaving," She growls as she shoves at my shoulders, forcin' me back a step.

"Yes – you – are," I answer coolly, tryin' to ignore my risin' anger.

Chapter Twelve: Lies We Tell Ourselves

"No, I'm not!"

She shoves me again and I slam into the wall. I try to move and she grabs my tank top, twistin' it in her fists as she pushes me back against the wall. We struggle, gruntin' in frustration and anger. She jerks her knee up into my groin and I groan at the pain.

I shake my head roughly and try to take a deep breath to calm down but it doesn't help. Countin' to ten doesn't help either.

Aight, that's it! There's only so much someone can put up with before it becomes too much. And I think she just shoved me right the fuck over the line.

I shift to game face and bring my arms up between hers, powerin' through her hold and forcin' her to let go. I shove her back away from me and jump up, kickin' away from the wall to flip over her head. I land and turn just as she comes runnin' at me.

I barely have time to plant my feet 'fore her shoulder slams into my gut and she rams me back against the fireplace. The mantle crumbles from the force of my head crashin' into it and a crack spreads up the wall in the bricks. A sharp ringin' fills my ears.

I waver in and out of consciousness, unable to push away the pain or find the breath that was knocked out of me. Small, deceptively strong hands cup my face and I'm brought back to reality to find B starin' at me, guilt and concern floodin' her expression.

I blink and try to jerk away from her, only to gasp at the jolt of pain that spreads across the back of my skull. I try to reach up to touch it and she smacks my hand away.

"I think you have a concussion. Don't move too much. It'll only make it hurt worse."

"Shit, B," I groan. "I get that you're pissed at me, but couldn't ya have found some other way to show it? I hate concussions."

"God, I'm so, so sorry," She chokes out. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I just got so angry and..." She trails off with a helpless shrug.

"It's just the same old song and dance then, huh?"

I get that I shouldn't be such a bitch. It shouldn't surprise me that we fought, either. I'm lucky it wasn't a lot worse, really. But, fuck, this hurts! I'm dizzy and kinda nauseous too so there's no way in fuckin' Hell I can be nice right now.

Her thumbs stroke my cheeks and her eyes search my face. Her eyebrows scrunch up and she sighs as she lets me go. She blinks and a tear trickles down her cheek.

"I—I can't, I mean, I d—don't..." She trails off with a pained look.

Shit, I can't let this go on. We'll be here all night if we keep beatin' ourselves up. I let out a frustrated breath and reach out, grabbin' her around the waist and pullin' her to me. She stiffens and I wrap both arms around her in a tight embrace.

I ain't too sure what to do here, but I'm gonna play it by ear. I rub her back gently with one hand and nuzzle my mouth against her hair 'til I reach her ear. I take a deep breath and the scent of her fills me, makin' me sigh.

"It's aight, B. We fight sometimes, that's just how we roll."

She relaxes and buries her face in my shoulder. Her voice comes out muffled, "It's not all right, Faith. How can we have a re—" She cuts herself off and shakes her head.

I gently palm the back of her head and prompt her, "Have a what, B?"

'Course I know what she was gonna say, but I really wanna hear her say it. I wanna hear her admit that there's somethin' happenin' between us. I wanna know how she really feels about it, too. I wanna know if it's as amazing to her as it is to me.

She lifts her head and I can tell by the look in her eyes I ain't gonna hear it tonight, though. I shrug and give her a sad, knowin' grin. I get it. Right now ain't the time to get into that and this definitely ain't the place I wanna have that discussion anyway.

I wanna lay on the charm thick when we finally get to that point. And this right here— a rundown house, torn and dirty, sweat soaked clothes? Nah, this shit ain't anywhere near what I consider romance.

She brings a hand up to my face again and gently trails a finger down my jaw. I know we need to discuss the plan, but I'm mesmerized by the look she's given me. It's soft and adorin', and there's this cute half-grin playin' at one corner of her mouth. I don't think I've ever seen her look at even soul-boy this way before.

She leans forward and I can't help but follow. Our mouths meet and my eyes flutter shut at the gentle pressure of her lips on mine. Our lips glide over each other's and she sucks my bottom lip into her mouth, nibbling it playfully.

Her hands find my hips and she pulls me closer. I tighten my hold on her and a moan rumbles in my chest as her tongue laps at my lip. She darts her tongue into my mouth and it twists around mine, makin' my mind create all kinds of images of what else she could do with it. I growl and the kiss suddenly changes, becomin' hard and needy.

She squirms against me, tryin' to get closer and I happily comply. I grab her thighs and hoist her up, lettin' her legs encircle my waist as her arms go about my neck. God, this gets so out of control with us so fuckin' fast. We fuck like we fight— full of passion and determination.

I stumble blindly to the blankets. My head wound ain't even registerin' anymore. The only thing that matters to me now is the blonde wildcat in my arms and the insistent grindin' of her blue jean covered pussy against my lower belly. The wet heat comin' off her and the heady scent of her arousal has both sets of my lips waterin'.

I drop to my knees and lay her back in the pile of blankets, coverin' her body with mine in one fluid motion. One of my hands is all ready grappling with her belt as the other is slidin' up her thigh. I pull the belt from her loops and reach for her fly. Firm hands cover mine, stoppin' my progress and I growl as B forces her mouth from mine.

She pants, "God, Faith. W—we have to stop."

I capture her lips again and murmur against the pliable flesh, "No we don't."

She turns her head away from me and whimpers. "Yes, we do."

I drop my head onto the blankets by hers and grumble, "Says who?"

"Faith," She says exasperatedly.

My shoulders slump and I roll off her onto my back. I get what she's sayin', and I believe it too, but I gotta wait for my body to stop hummin'. She snuggles up to me and I bite my lip as I try to keep from touchin' her. This really ain't helpin' me any.

"I don't want to leave you," She whispers.

I sigh as we're brought back to what started all of this. I push my hormones back for the time bein'. There'll be plenty of time for those later. Hopefully.

I kiss her forehead and let my head drop back onto the blankets. "B, you have to." I lick my bottom lip and savor her taste as I search for a plausible explanation.

Reluctantly, I consider everything that happened. Havin' her at my side comforted me, but it made me tense as Hell too. Maybe I can play it that way.

I blow out a breath. Only one way to find out.

"B, I can't keep my cover if you're still around. I hate what I've had to do to you, and it's only gonna get worse. It'll be safer for both of us if you go back to HQ."

(Buffy's POV)

As angry and confused as I am, I can't stand the idea of her being alone in that place. I hate the thought of leaving her with no one to watch her back. But I know she's right. As much as I hate leaving her alone, I hate the thought of being a liability even more.

Frustrated, I lift up onto my elbow and look down into her dark eyes. Finally, I close my eyes and let my shoulders slump.

"All right, I'll go."

Strong arms wrap around my shoulders and she pulls me on top of her. I bury my head into the crook of her neck and breathe in the scent of her as I struggle not to cry. A sob forces past the lump in my throat and she tightens her hold on me.

"I'll be aight. Don't cry," She whispers over and over in my ear. God, I hope that's true.

Chapter Thirteen: Dangerous Games

(Faith's POV)

B and I fell asleep in each other's arms after we were done discussin' our plans. We still have plenty to talk about, but the rest has to wait 'til we're done with this shit. I hate havin' to put it off, but I'm not really lookin' forward to it either. She has feelings for me, I know that now, but there's so much between us. Our past, the fact that I'm a vampire, all of it could serve to be the most effective clit blocker ever.

This mornin' was amazin' though. It was the first time I've ever held someone while they slept. I can still feel the phantom warmth of her pressed against me. It's goin' a long way to combat the chill comin' at me from Joaquin.

B snuck out while I was asleep, like we'd decided. That way I could tell him that she escaped while I was sleepin'. We figured that the closer to the truth we stayed, the less complicated things would get. We even set up a few things at the house to match my explanation—thing is, he ain't bein' too cooperative.

I ain't even got to explain it yet. I barely got out the words, "She escaped," 'fore he blew his top and told me to shut up. He sent me outside for a minute and then called me back in as one of his goons left. My guess is he sent that guy to go scope out the sitch and he's waitin' to see if I'm tellin' the truth 'fore he decides to dust me.

That was thirty minutes ago, though. I've just been standin' here in the middle of the warehouse with him sittin' in a chair at the head of the table. Two of his guys have their Jericho 941 Fs trained on me.

I'm surprised he didn't have 'em take mine off me. Then again, it ain't like he knows I could pull 'em 'fore his boys could pop off a shot. I ain't gonna tell him either. I like surprises.

Ah, here his guy comes. He crosses the room and drops the armful he brought with him on the table in front of Joaquin. He clears his throat.

"This is what I found at her place, boss."

Joaquin sifts through the pile of blankets and rope and then glances up at me. "Leave us. I'll send someone for you once we've finished."

I roll my eyes and leave. I can faintly make out the sounds of his lackey's harried voice as I let the heavy door slam behind me. I search through my jacket pockets 'til I find a pack of Marlboro Reds and I take out a cigarette and my lighter. I feel a distinct sense of pleasure as I take the first hit.

This is the first cigarette I've had since we arrived. I didn't wanna hear B bitchin' 'bout the smell, so I just left it 'til now. It ain't like I'm really addicted to it anymore. It's more a habit than anything.

I lean back against the wall and blow a perfect circle into the air. Right about now, Joaquin's probably found the blood on the blanket. I grimace.

We fought about that one. I didn't wanna have to hurt her anymore, but B said it would be more convincin' if there was some of her blood in the house too. Mine had all ready been spilled with my head wound. Then she told me I could either bite her, or she'd just find a knife to cut her hand with to get it done.

Unfortunately, it wasn't common sense that decided it. The vamp part of me took serious affront at the thought of her blood gettin' spilled by anything other than my fangs.

My grumblin' stomach reminds me that it's been six hours since I drank from her and I wince. I don't know how long I'll be able to go without takin' someone's blood. I haven't been able to go long since I finally gave in that first time all those years ago. I swore then that I'd never let myself get desperate enough to go after a rat again.

The door opens and I look up to see one of Joaquin's goons approachin' me. I give him a nod and move towards him.

"What's up?"

"Boss wants you to come back inside," He answers. "You better be prepared to answer his questions, bitch."

My eyes narrow and I slam my shoulder into his as I pass. "Call me bitch again and I'm gonna fuck you up, motherfucker."

I shove the door open and let it slam behind me again as I enter. I ignore the vamps waitin' on either side of the room. Guess they heard somethin' and wanted to see the show.

I stop in front of the chair opposite Joaquin's and put my hands on it as I lean forward. I lift an eyebrow at him.

"So what's the what?"

"Sit down," Joaquin waves towards the chair I'm leanin' on.

"That's aight. I think I'd rather stand."

"All right, have it your way then. But you will tell me exactly what happened when you left here."

I roll my shoulders. "That's what I've been tryin' to do since I got here."

"Then please, forgive my rudeness and do go on."

I smirk. "Aight, I ain't usually into the whole kiss and tell thing, but I'll make an exception for you." That's a lie, but he ain't gotta know it.

He nods. "I would very much appreciate it."

"I took her back to my crib. We fought, I fucked her and drank. Then I tied her up so I could get some sleep."

"All right," He drawls. "Then what happened? I'm really curious as to how she escaped from someone as skilled as you are."

"As surprisin' as it may be, I guess I just ain't as charmin' as I thought," I snicker. "She was gone when I woke up and the ropes had been sawed through. I didn't know there was broken glass in the corner I dumped her in."

"Ah, I see."

His next comment is interrupted by the growlin' of my stomach. I smile sheepishly and shrug at him.

"It's been a few. I came here immediately after realizin' what had happened."

He tilts his head and studies me curiously. After a long, tense second, he smirks and waves to one of his goons.

"Loyalty such as that deserves a reward," He muses. "Bring my friend here one of our broken pets."

I jerk my gaze back to Joaquin's as his goon leaves the room. I really don't like the sound of that.

"Broken pets? Who are they?"

"They are Slayers who've been bled so often that they have neither the energy nor the willpower to present any real challenge."

My stomach drops at that and I struggle to keep my reaction from showin'. Couldn't he have just brought me one of the humans? Why is this motherfucker determined to feed me a fuckin' Slayer?

Thing is, that dark part of me that has me frightened out my fuckin' mind? It's thrilled. The buzz of exhilaration builds in my gut, makin' a twisted grin spread across my lips. I close my eyes briefly as my face contorts into game form. When I open my eyes, I look directly at Joaquin.

"Thank you."

The energy fillin' me increases at the familiar signals my body sends up my spine. I stand as the door swings open and Joaquin's goon comes back in, pullin' a tiny brunette in after him by her leash. I clench my hands in anticipation and meet them halfway.

This is gonna be fuckin' wicked. I jerk the leash away from the goon and pull the Slayer to me as I turn us to face Joaquin. I pause, my eyes searchin' her pale, drawn profile. Her gaze stays on the floor, her entire body screamin' resignation.

I grab her hair in my fist, forcin' her head to the side and exposin' her throat. I study the bruised, scarred flesh impassively. Dark, purple bruises overlap faded yellow ones and slowly healin' bite marks cover scars of old. I smirk.

"You're pathetic," I hiss. "A stronger Slayer would kill herself before lettin' some vamp turn her into his bitch."

She doesn't look at me, but I can see the sudden tension that fills her. Her body almost vibrates with it. I look up at Joaquin.

"What exactly do ya want me to do with her?"

"Drain her."

Gladly, I muse distantly. I laugh darkly as I lunge for her throat. My fangs tear into the soft, supple flesh and I hear her cry out faintly. I wrap my free arm around her waist, pinnin' her writhin' body to mine.

Oh fuck, it's good. So different than B's, but still one of the most exotic things I've ever tasted. Her fear and anger makes it that much better. This could become addictive.

My eyes drift open and I find Joaquin's dark eyes watchin' expectantly, his game face showin'. I know what he wants.

Give it to him, my mind whispers. Bleed her dry.

Oh, I will. I chuckle inwardly as somethin' inside snaps. This is what I am.

As her struggles lessen, the voice in my head screamin' for me to stop grows faint. All the reasons why I shouldn't do this drift away 'til the hot rush of her blood and the warmth fillin' me are all I know. I can hear her heartbeat slowin' and then it's silent. I tear my mouth away, shreddin' her skin as my fangs retract. I let her body fall to the floor.

I glance down at her corpse dispassionately and then let my eyes lift to find Joaquin starin' at me in surprise. I smile broadly, the blood in my mouth makin' it grotesque.

"Any other fun reindeer games ya wanna play?"

Chapter Fourteen: Let the Games Begin

Joaquin clears his throat and forces his face back to human form. "Ah, no, no, that was all, Troy."

"Good to know," I answer coolly.

He gestures another of his goons forward. This guy is one big son of a bitch. His muscles strain against the tight black muscle shirt and he towers over everyone else. His skin is so dark, it's almost midnight black and he moves with fluidity I didn't expect from someone his size.

"Remove the Slayer's body, Dionne," Joaquin rumbles.

He grunts in answer and pushes his way past the people standin' in his way. He crouches down in front of me and hoists the Slayer up onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He nods at me and then leaves.

I lift an eyebrow. "Interestin' help ya got here."

He grins. "Isn't it though?"

I pull the seat opposite him out and turn it around, straddlin' it. I prop my arms on the back of it and sigh.

"So, how much trouble am I in for losin' the Slayer?"

He rubs his jaw and then shrugs. "Capturing her was simply a bonus, so her escape really doesn't make much of a difference. While I'm not happy that she now knows where our base is located, it changes nothing. I doubt she's stupid enough to try to bring her girls in here."

He stands and moves around the table 'til he's at my side. He leans his hip against the corner of the table.

"There are far too many of us, really."

"Out of curiosity, just how many soldiers do we have?"

"Six hundred," He answers with a wide grin. "The majority of us are vampires, but we are slowly recruiting a few demons here and there. We even have a couple of humans to do our daylight business."

"How'd ya get a human to agree to do anything for us?"

"They are simply pets who enjoy the bite. The promise of turning them keeps them loyal," He laughs.

I smirk. "Yeah, I bet."

He tilts his head and considers me. "So what would it take to keep you loyal, Troy?"

A bossy little blonde Slayer, I force myself not to smirk at the thought. I shrug instead.

"I hate followin' orders," I scowl. "Other than that, I don't got a reason not to be loyal. I get a boss who likes to give me gifts, cool toys, a place to crash."

He laughs. "I think we can make some arrangements to accommodate you. How would you like to be in charge of your own unit? The only person you would take orders from would be me."

"I don't know. What's in it for me?"

His game face contorts his features and he grins. "A front row seat when everything goes down and as much fun as you can handle in the meantime. You get second pick of anything that comes through here."

I lift a lazy eyebrow. "Meanin' what?"

"Meaning that you get the best of the toys, the pets," He leers, "And anything else you desire."

I shift to game face and purr, "Really now?"

He leans closer. "You could even have me if it helps your decision any."

I lick my lips and his gaze trails my tongue. Oh, this fucker is as good as mine.

"Sounds promisin'," I breathe.

The cemetery's empty when I get there, but I can feel her. It doesn't take me long to pinpoint the mausoleum she's in. I pause with my hand on the door and stiffen when my eyes confirm what my senses are screamin'. The shadows near the entrance would hide him from anyone's sight but a Slayer.

I watch him for a minute and then sneak around the side of the mausoleum. I slip between two trees and press up against one, silently pullin' my dagger from the sheath on my belt. I don't have long to wait 'fore I hear the faint rustle of leaves and gravel.

I've had a hell of a time gettin' away from Joaquin the past few days. Tonight's been the first time I've been able to slip away. He's found plenty of excuses to keep me close and I've been kinda encouragin' it in the hopes that it would get us better info. I hope to God what I learned is helpful.

Fuck, I hope I can get this over with 'fore I have to actually let him touch me. I don't know if I'll be able to put him off much longer without raisin' his suspicions further than they all ready are. He hasn't done it since, but I kinda realized that Slayer he had me drain was a test. He doesn't trust me any more than I trust him.

The vamp that's been trailin' me comes around the side of the mausoleum and I grab him. I slam him back against the tree and stab my dagger through his shoulder, pinnin' him to the tree. I slap a hand over his mouth to silence his scream.

I snarl, "You alone?"

He nods rapidly and I smirk. "Why don't I believe ya?"

His eyes widen and he tries to speak. His voice is muffled and he rolls his eyes in irritation.

"You gonna stay quiet, fucker?" He nods again. "Do anything to alert anyone and I'll treat you to a torture session worse than anything you could imagine."

I move my hand and grip the dagger's hilt. I twist it a little to make my point.

He clamps his jaw shut to keep from screamin'. I let my hand rest on the hilt and lift an impatient eyebrow at him.

"My orders were to keep an eye on you and call in every half hour to report. I don't know why, I swear," He chokes out.

I snicker and reach inside my jacket to retrieve my stake. It finds a new home in his chest 'fore he can protest and I catch my dagger, returnin' it to the sheath as I step back out into the open. I tuck the stake back inside my jacket and wipe his ashes from the black leather pants and the dark red silk shirt Joaquin gave me today. I pause in front of the mausoleum and look around once more before I let myself in.

I find Buffy leanin' against a stone pillar in the outer chamber of the mausoleum. Our eyes meet as I saunter across the room. I don't stop walkin' 'til our bodies brush against each other. I lean towards her and pause with our mouths a breath apart, waitin'.

She cups the back of my head and pulls me into a fierce kiss. I grasp her hips and pull her tight against me. Fuck, I missed her more than I knew. I slip my tongue into her mouth and her moan makes my pussy clench.

B pulls back and puts a hand on the center of my upper chest to keep me from followin'. She shakes her head at me.

"We don't have time for this, Faith."

My lower lip juts out and I mumble, "Hate you, B."

"Uh-huh, I hate you too," She giggles.

Our eyes meet again and goofy smiles sprout. We stand there silently for a minute, just baskin' in each other's presence. I wouldn't admit to anyone that I did this, though. I got a rep to protect, y'know?

"Can you give me a report of what's happened the past few days? I need something to take back to our ever curious Giles."

The question causes the smile to slide off my face. I blow out a breath and turn away from her. I study the stone wall in front of me.

"He was seriously pissed when I first told him that you were gone. He had one of his guys go check it out. Then he put me through one of his little tests."

"What kind of test?" B asks after a few moments of silence.

I turn back around to face her and I consider her for a long span of time. Then I tell her, carefully keepin' my voice void of any emotion.

"They hold the captured Slayers as pets for a while before they use 'em in initiations. Thing is, some of the Slayers become broken. They lose the will fight and they're no longer useful, so he gives 'em to his lieutenants to drain."

"What?" She asks sharply.

B's face darkens and she grabs the lapels of my jacket, jerkin' me closer as she leans up to get in my face. She studies my eyes for a moment and then abject sorrow floods her expression. She shakes her head.

"No, Faith. Tell me you didn't."

"I did what I had to," I answer her flatly and jerk out of her grasp.

"You took someone's life, Faith!" She chokes out. "How can you just stand there and act like it doesn't matter?"

I laugh bitterly. "Whatever it takes, right, B? Least that's what you said before."

"T—that was..." She trails off and her face crumples as tears leak from her eyes.

"That was 'fore ya knew just how much of the demon I really am," I finish for her with a sardonic grin and turn to leave.

Chapter Fifteen: Gotta Have Faith

(Buffy's POV)

Incredulously, I watch as she turns away from me. I knew she might have to do things like that, but having it actually happen is something else entirely. I hate this so much. It reminds me too much of what happened when we killed Finch.

I never should have let her convince me that she'd be better off if I left. It seems to me that she's in more danger now than ever. I blow out a breath and shake my head. I don't have time for this.

"Faith, wait," I call out. "We're not finished, yet."

She pauses with her hand on the door handle. "Yeah, we are, B."

"I need the rest of your report."

She turns to look at me and snorts. She crosses her arms over her chest and leans back against the door.

"I've been gettin' close to him like Giles asked me to. I've learned a few things, but nothin' too helpful. I need a few more days."

I force my mind to move past her first statement. I can't dwell on just how close she might be getting with him. Jealousy is no one's friend.

"What have you learned so far?"

She shrugs. "He's gatherin' troops right now. He's got around 600 at this point. They've got some humans on their side and a few demons too. Most of his people are vamps though."

"Oh," I mutter.

Damn, that doesn't sound promising for us. I think it might help that there are mostly vampires on his side. It gives us at least one edge over them. It disturbs me that that creep has humans helping him though.

"Can I go now? It's gettin' kinda late," She interrupts my thoughts anxiously.

"Yeah, Faith," I answer slowly. "But we really need to consider getting you out of there."

"Whatever."

I watch her leave and then I let out a shuddering breath. It takes every ounce of strength I have not to start crying. There will be plenty of time for that later when I'm alone in my room. Right now, I need to go talk to Giles.

"Oh dear lord," Giles mutters.

"Will you stop saying that?" I ask sharply.

"I'm sorry, Buffy. I'm just a little worried," He snaps.

"Could you at least tell me why?"

He tosses the notebook he was writing in onto the desk. "From your description of her behavior, it seems that we may very well have given Joaquin the weapon he needs to defeat us."

"No!" I shout. "She'll come through for us. You have no idea what it's like in there for her!"

"We've heard all we needed to, Buffy," Angel interrupts. "She's letting her demons take control."

"She can regain control," I choke out. "She just needs a little time."

I can't accept what they're saying. I understand that she's having trouble right now, but there has to be something we can do. We've been through so much and now that we're finally getting past everything, this is it? No, she's stronger than that.

"Buffy—"

"Please," I beg, cutting Will's sentence off. "There has to be a chance."

Giles clears his throat uncomfortably. I look at him and he takes his glasses off as he starts to speak.

"There is one, but it depends entirely on Faith."

"What is it?"

I hate that I sound so desperate, but I am. I want to explore what I'm feeling, what she feels, everything her eyes have promised and the things her hands have hinted at. I won't be able to do that if I have to stake her. That's kind of a relationship breaker.

"She would have to go into a meditative state to allow her mind to slip onto another plane of existence where the vampire and the slayer will be able to fight for control. The outcome can go either way."

"How do we get her to do that? Is it some kind of spell?"

"No," He answers simply. "In this type of possession, the host and the spirit have to have a companionable relationship for it to work. If not, then the antagonism will eventually force a confrontation between the two.

"In Faith's situation, the vampire is now the host. The Slayer demon is the spirit. The confrontations will only ever be able to temporarily cage the vampire if the Slayer wins."

His gaze drops. "However, if the vampire wins, the demon's spirit will leave and Faith will be unreachable. It's all in Faith's hands now."

I nod slowly and stand. "Is there anything else you need from me?" I choke out.

"I just have one more question. When will the two of you be meeting again?"

I run my hand through my hair and answer absently, "We decided on every three days instead of the original every other day meetings."

I leave the room without waiting to see if there's anything else. I can't take anymore tonight. As I reach third step on the stairs, I hear the door open and shut behind me. I sigh and let my steps falter.

"Wait, Buffy," Willow calls out.

I turn and look at her. "I can't deal with this tonight, Will. I need some time to myself."

She stops at the foot of the stairs and looks up at me in concern. "You haven't told us everything have you?"

I sigh again and drop my gaze. I hadn't wanted them to know that Faith did more than drink from me. I didn't think they needed to know the personal bits yet. But lying to her now won't do any good.

"No, but it doesn't have anything to do with the mission."

"I'm not asking as a member of the council, Buffy," Willow answers, hurt. "I'm asking as your best friend."

I lift my eyes and smile sadly. "I know, Will. And I swear to you, I'll tell you once this is over. But I can't afford to think about the personal stuff right now."

"I'll hold you to that," Willow answers.

"I know."

"Go on to bed, Buff," She jerks her head towards the upstairs. "I'll be here if you change your mind."

I'm almost at the top of the stairs when she calls my name again. I turn to look down at her.

"Yeah, Will?"

"If it helps any, I think Faith's strong enough to beat the odds. She's done it before," My redheaded friend says earnestly.

"Maybe," I reply.

"You just gotta have Faith," She adds with a smirk.

"Oh, God," I gasp through my laughter.

That was so Faith-like that I can't help but laugh. It feels so good to find something funny tonight, too. It won't last for long, but for now I'll enjoy it.

My body still tingling from the release I just found at my own hands, I collapse back onto the mattress. I curl into a ball and bury my face into the pillow. I squeeze my eyes shut and silent tears soak the soft, cotton fabric.

I long for those few short hours I had in Faith's arms. Her strength was more of a comfort to me than anything I've ever experienced. I just wish it had been longer.

More to the point, I wish she was here with me now. I need her to reassure me that she's going to be all right again. Maybe Will's right, though. I just gotta have Faith—in more ways than one.

Chapter Sixteen: Blood on My Hands

(Faith's POV)

I look around the alley at the group of vamps waitin' for my orders. Joaquin let me pick 'em all myself, 'cept that big dude Dionne. He arranged for him to be in my unit for a while to show me the ropes. At least, that's the reason he gave.

I think he just wanted someone to keep an eye on me. He ain't asked, but I think he knows I dusted that vamp in the cemetery yesterday. Or he suspects it anyway.

Tonight he sent us on a raid. I think it's just another test 'cause he didn't give any specifics on what to get. He just told me to take my unit and loot a local pawnshop. He said I could get first dibs on whatever we brought back since this is my first raid.

I gesture for my group to back up and I approach the backdoor. I'm happy to find that it's a flimsy lock. It doesn't take long for me to jimmy the lock and ease the door open.

Dionne slips around me and rips the alarm out of the wall, wires and all, 'fore it can go off. I look at him sharply and he shrugs.

"It'll give us a little time. Not much, but more than it would if it had gone off and a neighbor called the cops."

I snort and wave the rest of 'em ahead of me. "Grab anything that looks valuable. That means weapons, jewelry, and cash. We ain't got time for electronics so don't even think about it."

Dionne nods. "That's a good idea this time around. When we leave we need to split up and meet at the warehouse, though. Is that aight with you, Troy?"

"Yeah, we can do that," I mutter.

I ease into the shop and let the door swing shut behind me. I stand back and watch 'em for a while to make sure everyone's doin' what they're supposed to. Satisfied, I walk to the front of the shop where a few of the display cases are at.

I punch the display case, shatterin' the glass. I reach in and retrieve the silver sheathed knife that had caught my attention. I draw the blade and trace the twin grooves down the center with a negligent finger. My inspection is interrupted by the sound of someone callin' my name.

I return the blade to the sheath and slip it inside my jacket. That one, I'm takin' with me. I walk over to the tall, skinny vamp who called for me.

"What's up, Ty?"

He lifts his find for me to see and I grin. A tray of gold jewelry winks at me in the dim light shinin' in through the barred windows. I nod at him.

"Yeah, grab those."

Another voice calls for me and I look around 'til I find the culprit. I catch sight of what's caught her attention and shake my head in exasperation as I stroll over to her. She's the only female vamp on my team. The rest I picked for their strength, her I picked 'cause I'd thought she'd make a capable second in command.

I was obviously very, very wrong. I smack the remote out of her hand and snarl, "What didn't ya understand in my instructions? I said not to think about the electronics, Liz."

"But this stereo's really—"

I clamp a hand around her throat and shake her. I ignore the hands clutchin' at my arm and pull her face to mine.

"Forget the fuckin' stereo. If you can't follow simple fuckin' instructions, I'm gonna fix it so you ain't a problem for me anymore, got it?"

She nods as best she can. "Yeah, I got it," She chokes out.

I let her drop and turn away in disgust. "Go help Ty clear out the display cases."

She scrambles to her feet and hurries around me. I shake my head and return to the display cases I was searchin' earlier. Nothin' else really catches my attention, so I just grab a bunch of the knives and slip 'em inside my jacket.

I've just moved to one of the other sets of cases when a flash of lights outside the storefront window catches my eyes. My lip curls into a sneer and I wave at the others.

"Let's motor 'fore that cop makes the circuit and sees that the lock's been popped."

I'm surprised when they simply follow the orders. No one's rushin' to do anything as we leave. They just stuff whatever's in their hands in the bags they're carryin' as they go out the backdoor. Dionne's the last of my unit to leave and I slip out behind him.

Dionne gestures for us to hang back as he creeps to the mouth of the alley. I watch him peak 'round the brick buildin' and then he waves me forward. I stop at his side and clasp his shoulder.

"What's up?" The question's barely audible.

"I think we can sneak 'em out one at a time. The pig's fuckin' someone in his backseat."

I stifle a chuckle. "Aight, do that. Tell 'em to meet us back at the warehouse, too."

I move back and shove Ty forward. I watch Dionne give him his instructions and then Ty disappears around the corner. A couple of minutes later, he waves for another one and I shove someone else forward. I make a mental note of who it was and wait.

When the other four are gone, I shove Liz forward at Dionne's signal. When Liz is gone, Dionne gestures me forward and I approach him again.

"You go on, D. I'll wait to make sure the coast is clear, aight?"

He looks at me. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, go on."

He nods and waits a couple minutes 'fore he edges around the corner of the buildin'. Barely a minute passes 'fore I hear a door open. I ease forward and look to the front of the shop where the cop's car's parked. A low snarl escapes at what I see and I feel sick.

The cruiser's back passenger door's open, lettin' the interior light illuminate the scene. A young girl, maybe thirteen or fourteen, is leanin' against the side of the black and white car. This big brute of a pig's pawin' at her and kissin' her.

I clench my fists and force myself back into the alley. My nails dig into my palms as I struggle to stay calm. Frustrated, I slam my fist into the trashcan beside me. I tense at the loud clatter of the can hittin' the cement and rollin' towards the back of the alley.

I strain my ears to hear what's goin' on. A surge of excitement takes me by surprise and my face morphs. The footsteps come closer and I slip further into the shadows between two dumpsters as I wait.

His shadow stretches the length of the alley and the beam from his flashlight dances across the cement just inches from where I'm crouchin'. He slows to a stop in front of where I'm hidin' and looks around in confusion.

"What the Hell—"

I straighten and lunge for him. The flashlight hits the ground and shatters as my hand claps over his mouth, cuttin' off his startled scream. I pull one of his arms behind his back and jerk it upwards, pullin' his shoulder out of joint. I slam him into the wall face-first and pull his uninjured arm up just enough to keep him from strugglin'.

I hiss, "Stupid pig, ya should've stayed where ya were."

He groans and tries to wiggle away from me only to let out a high pitched squeal as I slam my knee up between his legs from behind. I take a moment to appreciate the fact that I've never heard a man hit that pitch before. Then I chuckle humorlessly.

"Do y'know what we used to do to sick fucks like you back in Southie?"

He shakes his head. I let go of his mouth to rip his radio mic off his shoulder and toss it aside. I grab his neck and smash his face into the bricks.

"We'd get 'em alone in the alley and the boys would gangbang 'em, then they'd cut the guy's dick off and let him bleed out."

"Oh, God, please don't," He chokes out. "Please don't."

"I ain't God," I laugh harshly and shake my head. "And somehow... I really don't think he's listenin' to you anymore."

I kick his legs out from under him and shove him onto his back on the cement. I give him the chance to see my face 'fore I move. His eyes widen and he freezes.

"Oh shit. What the fuck are you?"

I retrieve my new knife from my jacket and give him a wide grin, lettin' my dimples wink at him. "I'm the newest big bad, baby."

Not wantin' to delay my own gratification any longer, I straddle his chest and pin him to the ground. I toss the knife sheath to the ground by his head and study the blade curiously. I look down at him.

"You gonna be good for me or am I gonna have to get rough?"

He nods and chokes out, "Y—yeah, I—I'll be g—good."

I grin and twist at the waist, lettin' the knife spin through my fingers. I stop with the point down and smirk as my hand darts forward. The blade slices through the fabric at his groin as I clamp my legs tight around his torso and then I let the downward motion carry the blade through flesh to the cement. His body jerks violently in response to the pain shootin' through his lower half as he screams.

I ride out the motions of his agony by the strength in my legs. It doesn't take long 'fore it overwhelms him and he stills, his screams silenced by unconsciousness. My shoulders slump in disappointment and then I smirk as I glance down into his pale face.

I tear his shirt collar away and lower my mouth to his neck. My fangs tear through his skin to let the blood flow freely down my throat. The taste is so much weaker than a Slayer's, I muse in disappointment as I feast. It lacks the burn.

His heartbeat fades and then stops. I let him go and retrieve my knife before I stand. I wipe the blade off on his shirt and return it to the sheath. I look down at him again.

The vague disquiet I've felt since that first kill has all but disappeared. In its' place is an overpowerin' sense of satisfaction and hunger. I roll my shoulders and leave. The kid's gone when I step out into the open and I try to ignore the pang of disappointment.

Next