Chapter four

[versislayerfray]

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[ozwolf]

And it's time to check on Melaka again. I have to see if I can get her to come outside. I tap on her door. "Hello?" I ask, waiting.

[_faith_]

I come up behind Oz as he stands at Melaka's door. "What're you doin'?" I ask him, reaching to poke at his side playfully. "You sure she's even in there?"

[versislayerfray]

I fall over from my handstand into a heap on the floor at the sudden sound of tapping at my door, hunh, you'd think by now I wouldn't be so startled be everythin'. Maybe it's Angel come back from his trip? Naw, from the sounds of it there's more than one, an' I'd do me best to ignore 'em or pretend I ain't in, but where else would I be? Plus, the sudden thump wouldda given away I was here.

Reluctantly I get up and open the door, rubbin' my shoulder a bit. It's the Slayer, I mean ... the other one. And the werewolf --I'm still not entirely sure what that even is--"Uh..." I blink. They're nice enough folk, I just never know what to say around 'em.

[ozwolf]

I'd smiled just a touch at Faith, and grabbed hold of her finger that she poked me with, not relinquishing it as punishment for poking me--and to possibly deflect any new attacks before they happen. I was going to answer her when the door opens. I turn towards Melaka. "Hey." I say, nodding to her. "I'm Oz...don't think we were properly introduced. I was wondering if you wanted to come out for a little while?"

[_faith_]

"Casual," I say, noddin'. "That might be the thing. I've never been a girl who likes to over-plan." This could be the most awesome patrol ever-- two Slayers and a werewolf, out in the night.

Melaka's kinda givin' us a strange look. I think. She's a little hard to figure, but then she might feel that way about us. Who knows?

[ozwolf]

I steadfastly don't aknowledge that we're getting strange looks from the time displaced Slayer. It's not like I haven't gotten strange looks before, after all. "Lead on." I tell them both, dropping back just a touch and shoving my hands into my pockets, surrepticiously going on alert mode. Sure I'm with two Slayers who can likely more than handle themselves. Doesn't mean I can't be a little protective.

[versislayerfray]

I smile and bounce a few feet an' then do a cartwheel, I've got so much energy it ain't even funny! And the air, a lot clearer than back home, I gotta say. "Hey, I've been meanin' to ask. What exactly is the Slayer story? I mean, Urkonn told me some but I kinda wasn't payin' attention at the time." I kinda go quiet when I mention Urkonn, I try not to say his name much anymore, especially after what he did to Loo.

And what I had to do to him...

[ozwolf]

Where's Giles when you need'm? I wonder. "Haven't heard the 'one girl in every generation' story yet?" I ask. "....or in our case two....and now possibly three that you're here."

[_faith_]

"I'm goin' after the bitch," I say, annoyed. She shoved me. I was in a terrific mood, but that got me riled up. You don't go shovin' a Slayer and expect to get by with it. That shit don't fly.

I start off after her. Impetuous is my middle name some days.

[ozwolf]

I sigh, then glance to Melaka. "I'll just be following the rash Slayer." I say, and head off after her, hitting a shadow and shifting to wolf form as I do. Easier to not be in the way if I'm smaller, and a hell of a lot easier to hamstring someone.

[versislayerfray]

“Meet you back at the hotel,” I call after them, headin’ in the opposite direction, prayin’ I find somethin’ useful and don’t get myself lost.

You’d be amazed how often that happens, lately.

[slayer_wannabe_]

Fucking Faith… Slayer my ass. I could do a better job without breaking a sweat and who gets the position. It’s not fair. It’s not fucking fair! Damnit, I can’t stop shaking. You’d think I’d get use to it by now. The drugs Knox gave me aren’t doing fuck all.

She’s the one gallivanting around while I do the work, and who gets recognition. Faith. Killing demons isn’t enough, anymore? Worse still, I think that last one I took on broke my arm in three different places. I’d have to check with the med lab, to be sure.

Apparently someone's been neglecting your training, Pet. Darla’s voice is in my ear, I turn and she isn’t there. Nothing but a voice, a memory. I stop and wait, hearing footsteps in the distance. And then continue on, shaking off my thoughts, the throbbing in my skull, which hurts more than my arm. I can’t even begin to describe-constant noise, pulsating, colors all pixelated.

I should go to Darla, see if… does your live girl know, how much you like the taste of ashes? No, no, I shouldn’t. I stop on the corner’s edge, a

[_faith_]

I have no trouble catchin' up to the dark-haired chick, but I hang back some. Ya know, discretion and valor and some shit. There's a quote that goes somethin' like that. I wanna grab her and demand to know who the hell she thinks she is, but I restrain myself. Sometimes it's fun to approach this way. Sneaky-like.

I can feel Oz behind me, keepin' an eye on things. I dunno where Melaka went.

[ozwolf]

Melaka went off, though at least I've got her scent down so if she gets lost I can track her. Wouldn't do for her to lose her way and not find it back. The stench of the vomit hits me and I inwardly grimace. In this form I pick it up even better than in human. Unpleasant.

[slayer_wannabe_]

I quickly turn a corner up ahead, having just about enough of my invisible tail. I wipe some blood from my mouth with the sleeve of my shirt and wait for the Slayer to turn the corner before I slam her against the wall. Hard. Mmm. I force my broken arm into her neck for leverage, hurts like fuck, but right now I’m way past the point of caring.

“Hi,” I almost smile but it comes out as more of a grimace, a wave of nausia englufs me, but I resist the urge to vomit. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I’m having trouble holding her up, but I don’t want her to know that, so I force my arm deeper into her neck. It might stop her from breathing… but now isn’t the time for that.

[versislayerfray]

There’s a fire. Fire so high and bright it’s light’s up the whole damned sky. Jesu. I never seen nothin’ so bright before. I run toward into the burnin’ buildin’, holdin’ my hand over my mouth the whole time. The smoke’s risin’ high an’ the fire’s just about engulfed everything. I run to the nearest body I see and turn him over. Turn it over. It’s a demon, its eye’s are cold and dead

[_faith_]

Oz is the only thing that kept me from runnin' after the dark-haired bitch and knockin' her flat. How dare she touch me, put her lips on me? I'm cussin' a blue streak when we both see fire in the sky.

I turn and start runnin' toward it.

[ozwolf]

I dash in that direction too, easy for me in wolf form to get there fast. I head towards Melaka, who must have come out of the building with as smokey as she smells. I look up at her questioningly, and look back as Faith gets here too.

[_faith_]

I cough as some of the smoke from the fire reaches me. "What happened?" I demand of Melaka. A little winded, I drop to one knee and rest an arm on Oz' furry back.