Faith stood up on top of her regulation metal bed to watch the sun set through the small window in her little cell. She’d been tossed into the solitary section that was reserved for the more dangerous criminals several months ago. Though, she was far more dangerous than they would ever now. Given the circumstances, she was a model prisoner. She’d only given some black eyes, broken a couple of arms, and knocked someone’s teeth out since she’d been incarcerated. All were in self defense, she’d exercised monumental restraint.
The sun finally set leaving a purplish black glow in the night sky. She gave a wistful smile as she recalled her summer days in Boston. She’d leave their pitiful apartment behind to go down to the lake with her friends and play all day. At night, they’d all run into the water to swim at sunset. The water seemed steamy compared to the chill in the night air. She loved to drift there on her back, staring up at the star spattered sky and imagine a day when she’d be free of that small town. Little did she know that one day she’d be staring at the same sky wishing herself back home.
Reluctantly, Faith climbed down , inadvertently catching a glimpse of herself in the small mirror on the cement wall. It was cracked in the middle, presenting two sides of her face. She walked forward and traced her image with her hands. Ancient eyes in a child’s face. She looked harsher somehow. More rumpled by the world. Faith ran a hand down her body, she was supple with added muscle. She was in the best physical shape of her life because there was little else to do in this place but sculpt her body. She enjoyed escaping her cage for a few hours so she could forget herself in the movements of her body as she boxed or lifted weights.
She raised her arm, staring at the small cobra curled on her bicep. She’d allowed another girl to do the homemade tattoo to commemorate her birthday. It was a painful gift but one that she cherished nonetheless. In many ways, she thought she resembled the snake. Coiled and ready strike at those who would harm it. To others, it appeared a dangerous but beautiful animal.
Faith crossed to her bed and hopped up on it, letting her eyes drift closed. She wanted her consciousness to slip away so she could lose herself in world of her own making. Every night, she visited warm, safe places. Places like that lake from long ago. The apartment the mayor had bought for her. Or even the Summers’ household. She’d often felt safe there. Maybe, in the end, that’s what made it so threatening. Faith had an instinctive fear of safe things. They could always be taken from you.
“Pssssst!” She heard from the hallway. Faith peered through the bars and into the shadowed hallway. It was lit by one anemic lightbulb.
“Who’s there?” She demanded.
“Angel.” The voice said again as it drew nearer.
“Angel?” She stood up, moving to the door of her cell. “It IS you!” She said in a hushed whisper. “Why are you here? What’s wrong?”
“I’ll tell you in the car. But now, you have to come with me. I’m busting you out.”
“Busting me out? But I still have ten more years to do.”
“I know. I need you to come with me now. I don’t have time for questions. Reinforcements are on the way.”
“ I thought you wanted me to work on my redemption. That’s why I’ve been here a year, to make amends for–“
”I know. But there’s something else that needs your attention right now.”
“Like what?”
“An apocalypse.”
“Again?” She groaned.
“We’re all tired of it, but it keeps happening.”
“B isn’t up to the job?” Faith asked in disbelief.
“She’s up against a hellgoddess.”
“Figures. God damn Hellmouth. Why doesn’t she just move?”
“Well, I’m not living apocalypse free these days either. Who knows, maybe this happens everywhere. Even in places like Milwaukee.” He rummaged around in his pockets. “But we should be going. We’ve got to get you out.”
“How did you ever get in? This place is seriously secure.” She whispered.
“Turns out that Willow is packing a lot of power these days.” Angel said, his eyes lighting with admiration. “ She has a sleeping potion you place in a thin glass bottle. You throw it at someone’s feet and they fall to the floor asleep! A ha!” He produced keys from his leather jacket and fit one into the lock on her door. “Maybe I should offer her a job.”
He unlocked the door and Faith was free. She stepped into the hallway and took a deep breath. “They’ll be looking for me now.”
“No, they won’t. Giles called the Watcher’s council and an. . .understanding was reached. They said that they would ‘take care of it,’ whatever the hell that means.”
“It means they’re going to do something shady. And why would they help me anyway? They were trying to kill me the last time I saw them.”
“That was before a hellgoddess started making trouble. It seems that they’re kind of attached to living in this dimension. Ergo, you have become useful to them.”
They looked around, seeing the coast was clear. “Alright, Angel, let’s get out of here.” They made their way down the hall. In the guard booth, the corrections officers were slumped over their donuts and coffee. They hadn’t even had an opportunity to draw their weapons. Faith smirked as she and Angel walked right through the inner gate. A series of slumbering guards littered their path. Faith walked behind him, that’s when she noticed several bullet holes in his coat. “They shot you?”
Angel gave a sinister chuckle. “Yeah, the guys in the watch towers did. Freaked them out when I didn’t die.” He smiled in a very Angelus-like way. “Being a vampire rocks.”
“Ohhhkay. Are you feeling alright, Angel?”
“Epiphany,” he said, as if that explained everything. Faith mentally shrugged, filing it away for later consideration. He looked back over his shoulder at the holes in his back. “But I really liked this jacket.”
“It’s a damn shame to ruin leather.”
“At least Spike got the worst of it.”
“Spike?”
“Yep.”
“Evil undead guy who kidnapped Willow once? William the Bloody?”
“Used to be. He can’t bite anymore.” Angel chuckled again. “He’s defanged. I’ve known about it for a year and it’s still funny.”
“I see. Did he get bullet holes in his jacket too?”
“No, he left his in the car.” Angel explained. “He said he wasn’t getting any ‘bloody holes in his coat for a bloody stupid vampire slayer.’”
Faith laughed, liking the vampire’s principles, despite herself. “He doesn’t sound half bad.”
“Yeah, well, you haven’t met him yet.” *************
Giles swirled the brandy around in the snifter he was holding. He still couldn’t believe he was going to do this. Especially in a place called “The Necromancer’s Nightclub.” He crossed his legs and then ran a hand down the crease, calming himself with the meaningless gesture. It was a gross understatement to say that he was not looking forward to this meeting. He sat further back in his chair and watched the crackling fire in the hearth. Holding out a hand, he was surprised to not feel any heat from its welcoming glow.
“It’s spirit fire, Ripper.” Ethan Rayne said, taking the adjoining chair. He looked Giles up and down, noting the tweed. “You didn’t have to wear your costume. You could have just hung a sign that says ‘Sedate Librarian’ around your neck. It would have been more subtle.”
“At least I don’t look like a lounge lizard.” Giles gestured to his companion’s shiny silver shirt and outrageously tight black jeans.
“You really have been spending too much time with those books of yours, old chum.” He raised his hand and an identical snifter full of brandy appeared in it. “What are we drinking to?”
“The end of the world?”
“Another apocalypse?” Giles nodded and Ethan raised his glass. “Here’s to the end.” Then, he took a sip of his brandy.
