TITLE: Season 2, Episode 5(Ep. 16 Overall)-And Yet Another Player Enters the Game
SERIES: Faith, Rogue Slayer
AUTHOR: elizafan568
EMAIL: elizfaith568@yahoo.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please.
ARCHIVE/DISTRIBUTION: This site. If you want to post on your site, just ask.
SUMMARY: An elder vampire enters the game with unknown intentions and motivations; Gwen meets a great guy, or so she thinks.
SPOILERS: Buffy season 7 and Angel season 5
CONTENT/WARNINGS: Violence
RATING: R
DISCLAIMER: All character are property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc. I do not own them. Written for fun not profit.
NOTE: Set post-"Not Fade Away".
Season 2, Episode 5(Episode 16 Overall): And Yet Another Player Enters the Game
Several weeks have passed since Faith's last encounter with Scorn. Nothing has been heard from her since. Faith returned to work after recovering from her injuries for the most part and the rest of the gang went back to their somewhat normal lives. Andrew and Lorne having been doing their best to research the demon that had attacked Faith on the roof. They had discovered he was a Varal demon, but as to why he was there or what his plans where, they didn't have a clue. A cloud of dread has begun to fall over the hotel as the fear of yet another big evil brewing crept into all of their minds.
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Gwen was out partying like she has been every night for the past week and a half. She wasn't much for the research and she couldn't stand staying cooped up in the hotel all the time, so she had to cut loose and unwind. She had promised Faith to keep her thieving down to a minimum. So going out and having fun was all she really had to do at this point.
"Alright everyone. Our DJ is going to be taking a short break so feel free to take this time to hit the bar for some food and booze. We'll be back." The club owner announced over the intercom system.
Gwen danced her way over to the bar and sat down, giving the young male bartender a wink. "Hey sexy, wanna get me a drink? Maybe a lime margarita." She said with a smile as the young man swallowed hard and got to work quickly making her drink.
Gwen sat idly, tapping her hands on the bar when a extremely handsome guy walked over and sat down next to her. "Is this seat taken?" he asked, giving Gwen a smile.
*Okay, this guy is definitely looking for some easy piece of ass.* she thought. *But I am bored and he is pretty cute, so what the hell. I'll play along with it for awhile.* Gwen looked up at him and smiled back, "Nope. Have a seat cutie."
As he sat down, the bartender came over and handed Gwen her drink. "I'll have what she's having." he said to the bartender as he then turned his full attention to Gwen. "So, what's a beautiful woman like yourself doing in a place like this?"
Gwen took a sip from her margarita and almost rolled her eyes at the "beautiful woman" line but stopped herself. "Just out for a night of fun. Can't stand staying cooped up inside all day. What about you?"
"The same pretty much. My name's Josh by the way." he said, extending his hand. Gwen looked at it, then at his smiling face that seemed to give no hint of ulterior motives. She took his hand and shook it. "Gwen. Gwen Raiden. Nice to meet you." she said, taking another drink.
"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. It really suits you." he said, really putting on the charm and causing Gwen to second guess herself.
*What is up with this guy? Is he for real? No way is there this hot of a guy in a dive like this and completely honest and nice. That just doesn't happen….does it?* she thought, finding Josh almost dumbfounding.
The bartender returned with Josh's drink as the music cued back up as the DJ returned to his booth. "Alright, ladies and gentle man. Time to get your grooves on" he announced, blaring what happened to be Gwen's favorite song, Curve's "Chinese Burn."
"Hell yes. My favorite song." Gwen said, getting up and heading to the floor, not noticing that Josh was going right with her. Once at the center of the floor, Gwen turned to find Josh dancing right with her, matching her pace and moves perfectly.
"Mind if I join you?" He asked as he cut loose, still smiling that unbelievably handsome smile.
"Not at all, cutie." She said as she danced up next to him, her back to his chest, his hands on her hips as they stole the show, putting everyone else on the dance floor to shame and drawing more than a few looks. Gwen was having the time of her life. She hadn't felt this good in a long while. *Maybe this guy is the real thing after all. He's sure got my attention.* she thought as they danced the night away, Gwen without a worry in the world.
***********************
Connor had cleared out the lobby of all furniture as the lack of action was getting to him as well. Faith had insisted that he not go out on patrol alone with Scorn still on the lose and now this demon with unknown origins. Connor decided that he might as well use this time to get in some training. He had to prove to Faith that he could handle himself in any situation and that Scorn wouldn't be a problem for him.
Lorne was sitting at the reception desk with Willow, who had finally started coming out of her room. She still wasn't talking much, but she had been helping with the research and Lorne thought it was a really big step to getting her to open up about her pain and start the healing. She seemed most comfortable around Faith, but since she was out a lot of the time, Lorne made a good stand in for her.
"You wanna take a break, Willow?" Lorne asked as the red head looked up, wearing that ever present somber look on her face.
"No, I'm fine. I like doing this. Keeps my brain busy so I don't think about…..things." She said as she looked back down at her book, turning another page. Lorne smiled and sighed and then looked up at Connor, who was taking out a sword from the weapon cabinet and took stance in the center of the lobby. Shaking his head, he went back to his reading as Connor started practicing with the sword.
Connor was extremely frustrated with Faith and the current situation. He knew she had let him in, all they way at one point, but since this business with Scorn had gotten so deep, she seemed to be distancing herself again. He loved her and he knew she loved him, but it just made him so mad that she was so overly concerned about his well being that she would build up more walls to prevent herself from getting hurt if something happened to her, or more to the point, to try and prevent him from hurting if something happened to her. He understood why she does it, but he still hated it. If he could just get her to keep the walls down at all times and not just in the downtime. He wasn't sure how he was going to do it, but just thinking of what they had and all the more they could still have together, was enough motivation for him to try as hard as he could.
A sudden knock at the door snapped Connor out of his deep thoughts. He walked over to the door as Willow and Lorne looked up to see who it was. "Wonder who that could be this late?" Connor said to no one in particular as he opened the door and then found himself flying backward, coming to a sliding stop at the foot of the stairs.
Lorne grabbed Willow and lead her into the back office out of sight. "You stay here. You're in no condition to try to fight." Lorne whispered to her as he grabbed a bat from behind one of the desks and headed back out to find Connor standing in the middle of the lobby, sword in hand, and a greenish, demonic looking figure walking down the steps from the front door, only a few feet separating him and Connor. "Who the hell is this guy?" Lorne exclaimed from behind the reception desk, bat in hand. He wasn't much of a fighter, but he would fight if he had too.
"Don't know, but he's definitely a vampire. I can smell it all over him." Connor said, his face a sneer as he stared coldly at the being. His skin was green and in weird contortions and shapes. He could tell it was once human, but it only bared a slight resemblance now. He looked as if his face was permanently vamped out, with fangs showing. He wore some long, very old looking trousers with a small shroud wrapped around his shoulders, covering part of his back and chest. A sword was on his back.
"Correct, boy. I am a vampire, but so much more. I am one of the oldest vampires in existence and not to be taken lightly. I would think twice before attacking me, if you value your life that is. It is of little consequence to me." he spoke, his voice somewhat raspy and low, but at the same time very commanding and reeked of evil, albeit an extremely intelligent and proper evil. Much different than any vamp Connor had ever encountered.
"So, you're a master, huh?" Connor said, taking stance and sidestepping a bit.
The vampire laughed at the remark and looked at Connor with surprise and a hint of disdain. "You really are a novice, aren't you boy? I'm no master…I'm much older than that. Besides, I couldn't be bothered with such trivial things as running an order of vampires. Such things do not interest me. I prefer to look at the bigger picture. Which is something you and your friends should consider doing before its too late." He said, still standing seemingly wide open and with no intention to fight.
"Doesn't matter to me?" Connor snarled. "You're a soulless vampire. Probably have killed thousands of innocent people in your time. Nothing you say or do is going to make me see you any differently."
"Millions to be more precise, my boy. Of all shapes and sizes. Men, women, and children. I can guarantee you that they all died quickly with little pain….for the most past anyway, but if nothing I say will cause you to value your life, then attack me. Punish me for my sins, for I am Kain, the vampire, and death is what I deserve, correct?" Kain said with an evil grin, fangs showing.
Connor charged, sword raised as Kain lifted his and an unseen force seemed to strike Connor and knock him back into the steps. "Like I said, I am much more than a mere vampire." Kain said, still not moving. Connor got up again, his back in pain from striking the edges of the steps so hard. Again he charged, swinging his sword which Kain simply sidestepped. Connor swung again and again, but still Kain was able to dodge each strike and the last moment with relative ease.
Connor backed off, breathing hard. *What the hell? I've never seen a vamp move so fluidly. How can he read my moves so easily?* Connor thought as he gritted his teeth and came at Kain again. This time, however, as Kain dodged a strike, Connor brought up his kneed, catching Kain in the stomach, causing him to double over. He followed up with slamming the hilt of the sword into the back of his head. He tired to knee Kain in the face but he caught it with one hand. Connor brought down the swords blade at Kains' neck but it was caught in mid-swing as well, drawing a little blood from Kain's hand. "Well done, boy. Looks like I'll have to take you a little seriously after all."
Kain squeezed the sword's blade tightly and then snapped it in half. He then pushed Connor away, down to the ground. Connor tried to get to his feet but found himself being lifted off the ground by the same unseen force as before. Kain, arm outstretched and palm facing him, was sneering at him. Not seemingly taking any joy from the fight, but in total control.
As Kain moved his arm up and down, Connor found himself slamming into the ceiling and then the floor, over and over again. "Physic power is my dark gift. You would do will to learn suck things before blindly attacking an unknown opponent. And don't even think about it, Pylean. You have no chance of harming me." Kain said as Lorne stopped in mid-stride, bat in hand. Lorne watched as Kain continued to slam Connor around the room, his yelps of pain filling the hotel. "Now tell me, where is the Dark Slayer….Where is Faith?" he asked as he dropped Connor on the ground.
Connor spat out some blood onto the ground. He could feel that he had a few broken ribs and he was in major pain, but there was no way he was going to help this guy get to Faith. "Go to hell." Connor spat as he again tried to get to his feet.
"Pity." Kain remarked as he pushed Connor back into the stairs again with another physic push. Connor screamed in pain and spat out more blood as he hit them. He could feel his consciousness slowly start to leave him as the pain overtook his body. He couldn't move a finger, no matter how bad he wanted to.
Kain approached Connor's prone body, slowly and deliberately. He grabbed him by the neck and lifted him into the air. "Such a pity. You could have proved useful." Kain said as he started to squeeze Connor's neck to the point of cutting off his oxygen.
"Put him down, now." a voice from behind said, loud and commanding, full of anger. Kain dropped Connor and turned to find Faith standing in the door way, starting at him with an icy glare. Her obsidian eyes filled with hate. "You made a huge mistaking coming her and attacking the people close to me, whoever you are." Faith said as she walked down into the lobby, facing off with Kain.
"Don't jump to conclusions, my dear. I didn't come here to fight. Your friend there attacked me. I was simply defending myself. True I was going to kill him, but he had the same plan for me so I'm sure you understand. Now, I need to talk to of important matters." Kain said, his voice plain and conversational.
"Talk, huh? You're a vampire. You come in her and nearly kill my boyfriend, and you just wanna talk. Like I'm supposed to just trust a soulless bastard like you." Faith spat at Kain, utter disdain in her tone and expression.
"Your anger and disdain is understandable but I'd put it aside for now. I know you have much anger in you that you struggle with everyday. You know what happens when you lose control of it and allow it to rule you and you never want to go down that path again. I really don't see the problem with killing humans and why you chose to make things so hard on yourself by denying a part of you is beyond me but it doesn't matter. I need your assistance and its obvious you need mine." Kain said, still and seemingly unassuming.
A look of surprise crossed Faith's face that she quickly shook of and replaced with her game face once again. "How do you know so much about me?"
Kain laughed slightly and then responded, "Oh, I make it a habit to follow all those players of the grand game who are both interesting and have large roles to play. Everything that has happened to you thus far has only been a prelude to your true purpose in this world. I have been watching you for years, waiting for the right time to approach you. That time is now."
Faith softened her expression and stance slightly. She trusted this guy less than she could throw him, but if he had information, she was all ears. "Alright….Talk." she commanded.
"Charming." Kain remarked as he walked over and sat down on the couch, taking the sword off his back and sitting it next to him.
"Lorne, take Connor upstairs and see to his wounds. Take good care of him and stay up there. I'll deal with this." Faith said, not taking her eyes off of Kain.
"Sure thing." Lorne said as he noticed Willow come back out from her hiding place. He motioned to Connor, and the two of them helped him up off the ground and up the stairs. Connor wanted to protest but he was in no shape to argue and it hurt just to think right now.
Once she was sure they were out of earshot, Faith stood on front of Kain and spoke, "Talk…and this better be good, and even if it is, I won't forget what you did to Connor." she said, staring down at him while Kain seemed to be oblivious to her anger.
"I'll get right to the point as I don't like to stay in one place too long. The demon that attacked you a few weeks ago is a member of a group know as the Dark Assembly. They're demons of different races that have come together for the single purpose of gaining more power and influence. Currently they are trying to buy themselves into Wolfram and Hart, to become their new Circle of the Black Thorn." Kain stopped, letting his words sink in.
"Circle of the Black Thorn? Isn't that the group that Angel took down before he…?" Faith said, thoughts of Angel's death swimming through her head and bringing a sense of sorrow to her once again.
"Yes, it was. That act cost them a lot of money and face. Several of their biggest operations have been brought to a halt and they are desperate to replace them but at the same time, they are being much more cautious in their dealings and will not move back into LA while your still here. That is the Dark Assembly's bargaining chip to buy they're way in. Your life is their currency." Kain said as he looked at Faith in the eyes, his own seemingly devoid of anything except utter conviction in his plans and purpose. Nothing more.
"How many guys are we talking about?" Faith asked, her interested peaked at last. The idea that is was soulless demon telling her all these seemingly forgotten.
"Eleven now thanks to you. The one you killed was however the weakest member of the group. The others will prove to be much more difficult to deal with. This is where your true purpose begins. And if you wish to achieve it and find the redemption you so desperately seek, then tread carefully, Things are going to get very difficult very quickly." Kain said as he got to his feet, returning the sword to his back and heading for the door.
"Wait! Where the hell you going? There's gotta be more to it than that." Faith exclaimed, not liking being told only part of the story.
"Oh there is much more, but for now that is all you need to know. I must be going before daybreak but I'll be in touch." With that, Kain was out the door and out of sight. Many questions where swirling around in Faith's head. Who was this vampire? What was his stake in all this? How did he know all this? Faith had no idea but she knew that things were going to pick up once again, not to mention Scorn was still out there, somewhere.
Faith plopped down on the sofa and let out a long and deep sigh. She laid down and stared up at the ceiling. Whatever happened next, she was going to have to be ready for anything. She just hoped that they all made it through this. She loved this family she had made and would do whatever it takes to keep it.
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Gwen had stayed at the club with Josh until it closed at 4am, dancing the night away. Gwen had had the time of her life and she was hating seeing it come to an end as they stood outside, waiting for a cab that Josh had called for her. "Well, I sure had a hell of a time tonight." she said, giving him a smile.
"Yes, I did as well. You're an unbelievable dancer." he said smiling and looking into her eyes. Gwen shifted uncomfortably, the thought of this guy actually liking her and wanting to take things further made her nervous. She had never been in a relationship before and had no idea what the hell she was doing. So far, however, she liked him and definitely wanted to take things further.
"I try, I guess….So, will I see you again?" she asked, her voice trying and failing to hide her apprehension.
"I sure hope so." he laughed. "Here, let me give you my number and we can set something up…Maybe meet one day for lunch or something?" he said, pulling out a little notepad and pen, scribbling his name and number on it and handing it to Gwen.
"Can I see that?" she asked, motioning to the pad. He handed it to her and she wrote down her name and number as well and then handed it back to him. "My first exchange of numbers. Feels kinda good." she said with a nervous laugh.
"I think I know something that'll make you feel even better." he said as he bent forward and kissed Gwen on the lips. She jumped back slightly at first, taken by surprise, but then relaxed and let him run the length and depth of this kiss. She opened her mouth and allowed his tongue entrance, deepening the kiss. It was slow and passionate and took Gwen's breathe away.
As the cab pulled up, Josh pulled away from a starry-eyed Gwen. "Your ride's here gorgeous. You better get going but don't worry. You'll be hearing from me soon." He said with his ever present smile and charm.
Gwen smiled as an extremely girly feeling took over her. He got into the cab, never taking her eyes off of Josh and he did the same to her. His eyes followed the cab until it was out of sight. Afterward, he turned and walked down the street, making a turn down a dark alley.
Once out of sight from the street, Josh's body began to change and morph. His skin turned a shade of dark blue and a horn protruded from his head. His hair grew to shoulder length and changed to a light green color. His teeth morphed into very sharp and serrated fangs and his muscles grew. "oh yes, my dear. You will be hearing from me soon indeed. No woman, human or otherwise, can resist the charm of Valgaav. Your love, my dear, will be Faith's undoing." he said as he vanished in a flash, A low laugh echoing throughout the alley.
Gwen smiled as the cab took her home, her heart warm and with a young girl's glee of love. She had no idea that her loyalties were about to be tested and that love was never that simple.
End of Episode.
