Fanfiction: A Tale Of Slayers : Part 1-5
CHAPTER THREE
Giles had his hand resting in the battered bucket of ice as his eyes kept darting to the street and back at Buffy, repeatedly in quick succession. Buffy was behind the wheel looking as if she had been doing this for years. Giles saw the excited gleam in her eyes, of someone who was still new to driving, and he was glad she found joy in such a mundane task. So often, he forgot that the seventeen year old was still a teenager under all the battle-hardened experience.
Which is why he did his best to hide his anxiety as she took corners fifteen miles faster than she should have, especially since there was usually a stop sign at them.
Buffy spared a glance at him and he tried to smile a bit, too late. She rolled her eyes. “Giles, if you didn’t want me to drive then you shouldn’t have hurt your hand.”
“And I sit chastised, believe me,” he said the last with a little more emphasis. To his relief, Buffy kept her eyes on the road.
“Besides, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Slayer to have her own car. A vehicle to get her to the demons much faster and not be late to rescue some one on the vampire nightly menu. After all, if Batman can have his ‘mobile why can’t I?
“But it would have to have a cool name. `Slayermobile?” She shook her head. “Nah. Slaymobile?” She grimaced. “Even worse. Sounds like Santa’s car.”
Giles allowed her to go on. Even though she was delighted to be behind the wheel of any car; even one as decrepit and older than she was, he could still see the tension underneath. He knew she, like the others— Slayerettes, as they often called themselves— kept up the light banter as a way of dealing with the severity and danger they faced almost on a nightly basis. But sometimes it was difficult for him to tell if they were actually taking matters seriously.
“Stakecoach,” Buffy exclaimed. “But that’s more suited for the Slayer in the Old West.”
But he had to admit, that the children rarely let him down. Of course, it was more for Buffy’s benefit that they committed themselves to the cause and risked their lives for one another, as her friends, than to help Giles. In fact, he knew the Council frowned upon his unorthodox methods of dealing with his Slayer. Or, as they fondly referred to as, ‘controlling’ the Slayer. As if such a concept were possible, he thought. Allowing the Slayer to have friends, no less letting them find out who she was. The Council never made their disapproval of him apparent but Giles was not fooled. They would congratulate him on the achievements of his Slayer, or Slayers, as the case may be, but then would not hesitate to offer their own opinions to him. He always accepted their words with his usual graciousness, but when he would suggest they offer their advice to the Slayers personally they would find a way to, just as graciously, decline.
Giles hoped he was wrong, but he had a nagging sense that something untoward was just on the horizon in the Council’s regard for him. Or for his Slayers. Maybe they felt he was actually failing in his duty. But then again, he thought, if Faith was dead they may not be far off the mark.
“Giles.”
“Hmmm?” Giles raised his head, not even realizing it had started to droop.
“Welcome back, Giles,” Buffy said, looking at him.
“Sorry.” He straightened in his seat.
“Don’t be. You’ve had a longer night than usual. I’d say you should take a nap, but we’re here.”
Giles saw they had pulled up along the curb of the lonely Crawford Street. It was rimmed with tall trees on both sides but they were able to see the secluded old mansion, which was Angel’s current address. Many conflicting emotions swept through him as he gazed at the mansion. He was still unclear when it came to the soulful vampire. His brain told him that the soul trapped in the vampire body was not the cold-blooded demon who had killed Jenny Calendar last year. But his heart first saw the face of her murderer whenever he thought of, or saw, Angel.
And when Giles had opened his front door to find Angel standing there, a few days before Christmas Eve, Giles hated to reflect how close he really came to putting a crossbow bolt into his heart after inviting him in. Even through his anger, he recognized the young man— relatively speaking— he had known prior to Buffy’s seventeenth birthday. He had considered Angel a friend back then, maybe he still did, for the lad was the same soul before the demon had retaken him, but Giles knew things could never be the same between them. He glanced at Buffy. Just as they would never be the same between Angel and Buffy.
Buffy looked at him for a moment. “Uh, you don’t have to go in, Giles. I’m just gonna go in there and tell Angel what has happened and then you and me can go beat up Willie ‘the Snitch,’ and find out what he knows.” She gave him a smile. “How does that sound?”
“Thank you, Buffy,” he said, with a nod. “But my only concern right now is Faith. And if Angel can help us, then we should both be there to ask for his assistance.”
After a second, she said, “Okay.”
They got out and started their way up to the mansion. It was one of the longest walks Giles had taken.
They circled to the back of the mansion since Angel stayed mostly on that side of the house, and climbed down the stone steps leading to the atrium. The vegetation was a little overgrown but it was still lovely; despite the memories it held for Buffy, but it seemed like Angel did tend to his home. And she was getting better at keeping her own place tidy, but she winced as she recalled the state she had left her room in. She still couldn’t figure out how he had managed to restore some of the electricity to the place.
As they approached the back entrance; where the pair of newly repaired French doors —thanks to a certain Slayer duo— stood open, they noticed Angel had the fireplace going, as he usually did. They were just in reach of the partially opened curtains when they became aware of the voices inside.
Exchanging a look, Buffy and Giles stayed quiet and crept closer. They were both wondering what sort of company somebody like Angel could have and they peeked around the edge.
They saw the vampire in question sitting on the sofa, not exactly looking relaxed; leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. His attention was on the tall man standing by the fire. Buffy saw he was handsome in a rugged if-Tom Cruise-ever-lost-his-boyish-looks sorta way. And he seemed to favor Angel’s style in dress. Wearing a long trench coat, black pants, and boots. Angel, himself was just wearing a black tank top and the sweats he probably put on after waking up.
Buffy quickly chased away the image of Angel getting out of bed to focus on the conversation.
“You really picked a bad place to spend a vacation,” Angel was saying. “I know the Hellmouth calls to everyone but you don’t have to listen to it.”
The man; obvious to Buffy and Giles that he was not human; maybe a vampire? she thought, looked over his shoulder and gave Angel a smile.
“I did not come here to see the Hellmouth.” He moved toward the couch. “I came here to see you, mon ami.”
Angel looked at him, no expression. “Why?”
The way the man looked at Angel baffled her. It looked almost like affection. Angel and this guy obviously went back a ways, but how far?
“I had heard Angelus was back,” he said, standing in front of the vampire now. “I needed to see for myself.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, Oran.”
She heard Giles draw in a breath. “Oranstine,” he whispered.
Buffy looked at him. “Are you sure?”
“How many Oran’s can there be whom are acquainted with vampires?”
“Point taken like a stake.”
“You are my friend as well, Angel,” Oranstine said.
“Angel was— I— was never your friend,” Angel said, sternly.
Oranstine’s smile grew. “When you start referring to yourself in the third person, I always know you are uncomfortable.” He reached a hand to Angel and Buffy’s jaw dropped as he caressed her former boyfriend’s cheek. “Or perhaps it is this form you are not comfortable with.”
The hand on Angel’s cheek suddenly lost mass and became delicate and smooth, and she and Giles could only gape at the form of the woman who was standing in the spot where Oranstine had been, wearing his clothes, which fitted her a little loosely now.
“Is that better?” she asked the vampire.
“Of course,” Giles said behind her.
“Of course, what?” she asked. “What’s the course?”
“Oranstine is the Two-Faced Demon. I didn’t realize the title was meant literally.”
Buffy said nothing and just watched as the lady Oranstine leaned down, lowering her lips towards Angel’s. Angel stood up, not hurried, and walked the long way around the coffee table away from the demon.
“You used to welcome my company,” Oranstine said, not miffed by the evasion.
Angel had picked up the andiron and was rousing the fire, but did not look back as he replied. “That was almost a century ago, Oran.”
“And now things are different?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“I see.” Oranstine raised the hand she had touched him with to her lips and breathed deeply through her nose. “Ah, I do see. My little Angel has found love! Not even Angelus in all his conquests could find this feeling; while his sired, Drucilla and Spike , found their own twisted love for each other.”
Angel looked at the demon, trying to keep his expression passive, but Buffy saw the pain in his eyes. It mirrored the pain she held in her own heart. The thought of never being able to hold Angel the way they had held each other the night of her seventeenth birthday; the way they had loved each other, was a double-edge sword that cut them both.
“You saw Spike and Drucilla?” Angel asked, trying to change the focus of attention.
“About fifty years ago, in Spain.” Oran smiled. “Of course, they did not recognized me. They do not know me the way you do, Angel. Me and Spike actually became ‘buds’ for awhile.” She chuckled. “We did have some times, though. But, alas, we had a falling out.”
Angel really didn’t seem to care, but he looked at least curious. “What happened?”
“Oh, I tried to seduce Drucilla.”
“I bet Spike did not take that very well.”
“No. That he did not. He actually came very close to killing me. If he had known that I wasn’t a vampire he may not have bothered to try to eviscerate my heart. Did he really face two Slayers and defeat them both?”
Angel turned away. “I don’t think you should stay here very long, Oran. This town is not exactly a safe place for vampires and demons.”
“You mean the Slayer?”
Angel looked up sharply.
“Don’t act so surprised, Angel. There’s hardly a vamp, or demon, who does not yet know this is the Slayer’s hometown. Unfortunately, most of them cannot resist the power of the Hellmouth. Whether this Slayer realizes it or not, she is the spider in the Hellmouth’s web.”
“I’ve been called worse,” Buffy whispered.
“In fact,” Oranstine went on, “I’ve heard this town has two Slayers.”
“Is that it?” Angel asked sharply. “Is that why you’re here?”
“Not directly.” Oranstine moved closer to Angel. “I was rather curious of the stories I have been hearing about the Slayer having allies to assist her in her battles against evil. But more interesting, was that it was said one of those allies was a vampire.” She used a finger to trace an invisible line from Angel’s chin down his neck and to his chest. “A cursed vampire with a tortured soul. Could it be that the love you have is for this Slayer? This little girl?”
Buffy felt her temperature rise a few degrees, and she was suddenly glad that she already had a reason to kill this demon. She thought that it may be about time to make their presence known. But she stopped herself with Angel’s response.
“Jealous?” he snapped.
Oranstine looked into his eyes and smiled broadly. “Oh, there you are, Angelus!”
Buffy just watched as Angel suddenly cold cocked the demonic bitch right in the face. And she knew he hadn’t been holding back. This was rage, and having been on the receiving end several times she knew precisely how much power was behind that punch. And she knew where the anger was coming from, as well. Just a couple of weeks ago, Angel had decided it would be best to walk out into the sunrise than ever risk letting his demon take over his body again. Buffy’d had a hard time trying to convince him his life still meant something to the world, and Buffy was not only glad she could kill this demon, but was now looking forward to it. But the blow sent Oranstine back just a few steps before she regained her balance and smiled again.
This worried Buffy. Not many inhumans could take a punch like that from Angel and just smile back at him. But the demon made no move to retaliate.
“Such passion,” Oranstine said. “The love you feel pales the love Spike and Drucilla have.”
“You better leave, now.” Angel seemed to have gained control of his fury, but it was still there just under the surface. “Leave town.”
“I’ve never known you to challenge me, Angel.”
The demon sounded amused, which served to further infuriate the Slayer and Buffy decided that enough was enough.
Stepping through the curtains, Giles right behind her, she said, “I believe he just asked you nicely to leave!”
“Ah, the Slayer,” Oranstine said, not at all surprised. Damn, Buffy thought. She sure did hate it when her grand entrances fell flat on stage.
Angel however was surprised. “Buffy.”
“Hello, Angel.”
Despite the demonic presence in the house, Angel suddenly felt awkward having Giles in his home. “Giles,” he greeted.
The Watcher nodded to him, but it was clear the bulk of his attention was on the Two-Faced demon. He addressed the demon. “Oranstine, I presume.” She nodded. “No wonder we have been put to task at documenting your travels throughout history. What with you versatile visage.”
Buffy narrowed her eyebrows. “Now try saying that ten times real fast.”
The demon smiled condescendingly at her. “What an amusing child.”
Buffy suddenly reached fever pitch.
“I wouldn’t get her angry if I were you, Oran,” Angel warned.
“Oh, it’s too late for that.”
“I’ve seen her like this. Now, would be a good time to leave.”
“Uh-uh,” Buffy stood directly in front of the doorway. “I have some questions I need to ask your ‘little’ friend, Angel.”
Oranstine no longer looked amused and she crossed her arms as she regarded Buffy. “And just how may I help you, Slayer?”
Buffy gazed at her with cold eyes. “Did you bring the Order of Taraka to Sunnydale?”
Angel shot a look of surprise at her. She never took her gaze off the demon, but he received a nod from Giles.
“No,” Oranstine said.
“Why don’t I believe you?” Buffy fumed.
“Oh, could it be that I’m a demon and all you Slayers have an automatic grudge against our kind?”
“Yep,” Buffy nodded. “That’ll do it.”
“What’s happened, Buffy?” asked Angel.
She answered, not taking her eyes off Oranstine. “The Order of Taraka abducted Faith. Perhaps, even killed her already.”
Angel stepped closer to the demon. “Oran, do you know anything about this?”
“Why should I know something about this?”
Buffy sneered. “Oh, I don’t know. Could it be that you’re a demon! And your kind seem to hang out together.”
“You must admit that it is an odd coincidence that a group of demonic assassins show up roughly the same time that the Two-Faced Demon arrives into town,” Giles offered.
“So, I’m the prime suspect.”
“And getting primer with each second.” Buffy started to move towards the demon. Giles stayed right behind her. Angel took a step behind the demon’s shoulder. Oranstine took the situation with a stoic expression.
“As I told our Angel,” Oranstine said, “I did not come here for you, Slayer. It was merely a personal visit.”
“Somehow, I doubt that,” snapped Buffy.
Oranstine shrugged. “Suit yourself. Now, if you’ll excuse me….”
The demon started to walk a path to take her around Buffy, but the young Slayer moved directly in front of her. She looked the girl in the eye and Buffy backed down not an inch.
Before Oranstine could speak, Buffy put in, “If you’re about to say something like `you have no idea what you’re dealing with,’ save it! I have heard it all before, and believe me when I say I have some very wild ideas. After the year I’ve just had you’ll have to do something very big to get my attention.” She put her hands on her hips. “So, go ahead. Impress me.”
Oranstine regarded her for several seconds, neither one flinching. Slowly, a small grin appeared on the demon’s face and her voice was dripping with serious.
“And what a glorious battle it would have been.” This made Buffy frown, and before she could respond, Oranstine went on. “You might want to look around some of the caves close to the harbor.” She looked over her shoulder at Angel. “When I arrived, I felt a gathered aura of mystical energies that could have been from your demonic group of assassins.”
Buffy glanced at Angel. The vampire said, “I believe her, Buffy.”
Oranstine smiled and turned her gaze back to the Slayer as if to say, “Satisfied.”
“Why?” Buffy asked. “Why help us at all?”
“I have never had a qualm with any Slayer throughout my existence. Humans just really hold no interest for me.”
“But you are a demon, remember?”
“Yes, and as such, I do unspeakable and evil things just as all demons do.” Buffy tensed slightly, readying for attack. “But I get no satisfaction with the suffering of humans. No challenge.” At the look Buffy gave her she smiled and added, “Til now, of course.”
“If you don’t target humans, then who — ?” Buffy stopped herself and looked at Angel again. His expression gave away nothing but his eyes told her all she needed to know.
“You’re sick,” she said with venom.
“Is it any different than you humans killing each other?” Oranstine asked in a mild tone.
“And I just bet you’re real popular with the other monsters?”
“Popular enough so that some of them actually hired the Order of Taraka on her head,” Angel informed them.
“So you did bring them here!” Buffy declared.
“No. Not at all. Two hundred years ago, I was their bounty, and for a decade they followed me where ever I went. I’m sure I killed half their ranks before they finally gave up on me. Even to this day, their numbers have not recovered.”
“The Order of Taraka does not give up until they’ve collected their bounty,” Giles spoke up.
Oranstine nodded. “You are correct, Watcher. But they did collect their bounty. They finally took my head.” She smiled as she spied their faces. “Oh, I grew another. It was much more convenient than trying to get it back.”
Buffy was speechless. She looked at Angel and saw that he believed what the demon said. Obviously, this was the first time he’d heard this story. She quickly found her voice.
“All right. We appreciate the information. In return, we’ll leave you alone, provided you jump on the next barge out of the country.”
“I’ll agree to leave Sunnydale. Anything else would require further `negotiation.’”
Buffy didn’t like the sound of that, but her only other choice would be to kill the demon. And she wasn’t sure if she could actually do it. Normally, she wouldn’t be so hesitant, and Angel was here to assist her, odds that were usually in her favor. But Oranstine did succeed in giving her a wiggins, just with the shapechanging alone; and if the Order of Taraka couldn’t kill it—. On top of all that, her primary mission was to find Faith, and she couldn’t do that if she was dead or incapacitated.
Without a word, Buffy stepped aside. Oranstine bowed her head slightly and walked by. When she was halfway outside she turned. “‘The Two-Faced Demon.’ Is that what they’re calling me now?”
“That is the more popular name for you,” Giles answered.
The demon smiled at them. “You have no idea.” She glanced at Buffy. “Sorry. I had to say it. Because…you really don’t.”
With that, she stepped out into the night.