FATE’S CHOICE

CHAPTER 8: Return

“That was nifty”, Willow said as she started to walk over to help Faith.

“No don’t”, Faith said holding up her hand, as she continued to pummel the demon. He saw his chance and hit her across the jaw throwing her across the room into a chair. As she stood up her shirt fell to the ground leaving her in a sports bra. Her back was covered in gashes of dried blood. Also covering her body were whelps and bruises including a few on her face. She turned her head to the side spitting some blood out before looking up and glaring at him. He just looked around nervously at everyone else staring at the two of them.

“God, Faith what happened”, the redhead asked noticing the brunette’s stomach.

“Willow I want you to unlock it”, Faith demanded as she marched over to the demon.

“Faith you have no idea what that could do. You can’t just…” Willow was cut off. Everyone was still too shocked to do or say anything as they all just stood there.

“The key”, Kavuloq stated happily and shimmered as he disappeared.

“Just do it NOW”, Faith yelled.

“Celector….unvelxor….breaksiet….minot”, Willow spoke as red and yellow lights swirled around Faith. Faith slowly turned around and stalked towards the others.

Buffy gasped as she saw the look in her eyes, they were solid black, “Will what did you do”?

When she got to Buffy her eyes shifted to grey, and for the first time in her life the blonde was terrified of the other slayer. She slowly backed up towards the corner until she bumped into a chair, causing it to fall over. Faith grabbed her by the throat and stared at her intently. Then suddenly let her go pushing her away. Buffy rubbed her throat and coughed before quickly composing herself.

“Faith”, Kennedy yelled.

Faith continued walking to the corner and bent down. She waved her hand slowly in the air, until a very nervous Gage appeared.

“What the…what was that”, Xander gasped.

“I told you not to do that”, Faith said glaring at the small boy. She put her hand against his chest and pushed him back against the wall as they stared intently at each other.

“Get away from him”, Buffy yelled as she rushed towards them but was blocked by an invisible wall. “Willow”, she growled.

“It’s not me”, Willow said shaking her head.

“Well break it or something”, Buffy said continuing to try and ram through it. Buffy got even more frantic when she saw tears on Gage’s face and a knife appeared out of thin air in the hand behind her back.

“Oh god please no”, Buffy spoke as tears weld up in her eyes.

Suddenly the knife was flying through the air towards Buffy, stopping as it connected with its target. Buffy sighed and gasped as she saw the demon now lying beside her with the knife in his head. Buffy hunched over trying to bring as much air in her lungs as possible. Buffy looked up with tears in her eyes to see Faith standing across the room staring at her. Gage who was standing behind Faith snuck his head around to look at everyone. Faith turned her head and glanced down at the boy as a small smirk crossed her face. Hey looked up at her and smiled.

“Is anyone as confused as I am”, Xander before getting a glare from Kennedy and Willow.

“Is he dead”, Gage asked looking at the demon.

“No”, Faith replied turning around to face him. Everyone looked puzzled at Faith’s response. The demon got a knife in the head and wasn’t moving, how could he not be dead. She whispered something in his ear then stood up and picked Gage up and walked to Willow.

“You need to take the others and get out of here”, Faith exclaimed looking at Willow.

“I’m not leaving you here”, Willow answered.

“Yeah, we’re not going anywhere”, Kennedy cut in smirking.

Faith glared at her for a moment, “Fine, stay out of the way and keep them back”, she motioned to the others. With that she turned around glancing at Buffy, who was still in shock, and walked towards the back wall. She put her index finger to the wall and swiped it around making a big box. When she moved her hand back Gage took his little finger and touched the wall in the middle of the box making it glow. He smiled and looked back at Willow, who smirked at him. Faith lifted him off her hip and started to place him through the glowing doorway.

“What do you think your”, Buffy stated yelling and tried to rush over towards the two.

“Buffy stop, trust her she knows what she’s doing”, Willow tried to explain.

“Trust her…trust her…Willow she’s evil. What’s wrong with you”, Buffy shrieked.

“Buffy shut-up”, Kennedy snapped surprising everyone, even more so Buffy, as the blonde glared at her.

“If you hurt him I’ll kill you”, Buffy growled at Faith. Gage glared back at Buffy intently, causing her to shift uncomfortably under his gaze.

“Hey”, Faith said grabbing his chin forcing him to look at her as he stood on the other side of the floating door. “Enough of that……Do remember what we talked about.” He nodded his head.

“She wouldn’t really hurt him would she Willow”, Dawn asked.

“Of course she wouldn’t Gage, he’s her son”, Kennedy said continuing to watch Faith.

Xander choked and started coughing as the others equally as stunned turned to look at Kennedy, as Willow hit her.

“Oww…what, they’re gonna find out anyways”, she defended herself.

“You knew”, Buffy yelled at Willow. “All this time you knew.” Willow looked away.

“Ahh…guys I hate to interrupt but where did the demon go”, Dawn asked. The room went quiet as everyone looked to where the demon was used to be.

“Remember don’t open it unless it’s me. Got it…no one else but me”, Faith said sternly. Gage nodded and backed away as the doorway closed.

“Red”, Faith asked.

“Don’t worry”, Willow responded, motioning for everyone to back up. Everyone was too nervous or scared to question it.

Faith bowed her head and took a deep breath focusing on all the energy inside her. When she brought her head back up her eyes were black once again.

“Let her go Kavuloq”, Faith snarled at the invisible demon, looking towards Buffy. The blonde stood frozen. “This is between you and me”.

Kavuloq made himself visible and brought Faith’s knife to Buffy’s throat. “Give me the key and I spare her life”.

“Kill her”, Faith said surprising the blonde. Buffy started to panic and tried to escape his hold.

“Buffy”, Dawn screamed.