Mirror | By : norwalker Category: -Buffy the Vampire Slayer > FemmeSlash - Female/Female > Buffy/Faith Views: 8848 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
Mirror
By Norwalker
Part 2
Summary: Alternate Buffyverse. Suppose Buffy didn't win one of those fights? And some Vampire with a wicked sense of humor decided to change things forever?
Pairings: They vary. Nothing is forever. Is it?
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this story are the intellectual property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Fox. All rights reserved by the owners. I'm just using them in the story and not making anything on it. The story is mine.
1
Hunger.
She walks quietly down the alley, her boots barely making a sound. It's dark, but she doesn't need the light. Even wearing sunglasses, she sees as well as in a brightly lit restaurant. She smiles at the way the moonlight makes curious little pockets of shadow and light. She moves swiftly, because she is on the hunt.
Even from this distance, she can hear the noises they make. She listens carefully, like any good predator, waiting for the right time to move amongst the prey. She glides to the door, and testing it, lets herself in.
She waits in the shadows, checking the scene. She moves on the edges. She is not here to be seen, but to see. She doesn't want to be sought, but seeks. The heat, the noise, the emotion adds to the thrill of the chase. Her senses sharp, she catches the tiniest detail. She hears the thump and pound of their hearts, the blood rushing through their veins an arteries. She smells the lust, the desire, the fear each bleeds out through their pores. She can almost taste the life around her; it's rich and warm.
She dresses darkly to blend in the gloom, the spaces hidden from the light. She wears a dark wig, short, to keep from being spotted by those that know her, or knew her. She wears shades, and her lips are the color of deep red blood. Her skin is pale, almost luminescent in the half light of the club. She smiles, revealing white glistening teeth. This is the best part.
She moves as a shadow to their light. Disdaining the stairs, she climbs up to the catwalk, and moves gracefully to her spot. She looks down at the moveable feast below her. Her mouth waters in anticipation. Soon, it will come. She will taste the red in her mouth, feel it burn down her cold throat and warm her. She is patient. She seeks the right one, the ripest one, for her prey.
Need.
In her time as a vampire, she has found that the blood of men and women are different. Men's blood has a bolder, harsher taste. It runs thick in the throat, and is very intoxicating. Like whiskey. Depending on the man, it's either like a single malt scotch, or a blended Irish. Women's blood is different. It is lighter, sweeter, it has a more complex taste. It's like drinking a fine merlot: Soft on the palette, with a sweeter, fruitier taste.
So what did she want this evening? Bold, smoky, harsh, intoxicating? Or lighter, sweeter, complex and rich? She smiled. She felt a need for wine this evening . Having decided, she viewed the prospects below.
As she watches, she feels the hunger grow within her. It throbs through her like her heart that no longer beats. It seduces her, giving her a keen edge, sharpening her senses, honing her need. It tickles her mind with memories of the taste, the dark taste as blood flows warm down her throat. She feels tingling in her nipples, her spine and in her most intimate place. It caresses her and moves her, causes her to want, to need, to feed.
Slipping down off the catwalk, she moves amongst the crowd. Quietly, unnoticed. She breathes in their rich scent and raw emotions, snacking upon it like an appetizer before her meal. She seeks. That one is sweet, but not ripe. That one is … pretty, but not the one. Then she sees her. The ripest, the juiciest of all.
Desire.
She stands just a bit apart. She is tall, but not overly so. Her skin is lightly tanned. Her hair cascades past her shoulders, down her back in warm rich brown waves. Her lips are full but not pouty, her eyes a piercing blue. They scan the crowd, searching, seeking. She is hunting too. But , she is not one of the night. She lives, her blood runs rich and warms through her veins. Her heart pumps in a hypnotic tattoo. The huntress smiles. This one is hunting too, but not to feed. She is here to fill a more sensual, carnal desire.
She sits, watching her prey, enjoying the dance that has already started. She stares at her prey, her mind willing her to look, look, look this way. At first it seems as if this one will resist. She doesn't look towards the huntress. She keeps scanning the crowd, assessing, weighing, judging. She starts to move away, then stops. She turns, her fine profile moving, looking at the one who wants her. Her piercing eyes, blue as sky, seem to beam upon the one who waits. She smiles, and the huntress returns the smile. She moves off a little, as if almost teasing the huntress to follow. But she doesn't. She wants, no needs, the prey to come to her. She waits patiently as her chosen moves this way and that, as if sensing the trap. Finally, she turns, and walks directly towards her fate.
The woman stops, a few feet from the table, assessing the girl sitting there. She is young, has dark hair( or is that a wig?), cut short, the tips barely caressing the edge of her jaw. She is small; she can see that from her hands, and from her legs, which just touch the floor. She's a bit pale; but on her it works. Her skin is almost luminescent. I wonder if it feels soft to the touch? Her lips are red, in a soft bow shape. The kind she adores. The girl smiles at her, revealing small pearly white teeth. She just wishes she could see her eyes. But she can feel them raking over her, caressing her with a soft fire. She feels her body respond; her nipples harden, and she feels a warm moistness in her groin. She likes men and women, both have pleasure for her. But this one… this one could be more than a casual date.
Buffy watches as the woman moves the final few feet to the table. She leans over, and asks in a soft, almost smoky voice:
" Are you alone?" She almost thrusts her bosom in Buffy's face. Buffy suppresses a giggle.
" Not now," Buffy smiles, patting the seat next to her. The woman sits, smiling at her
" I'm sorry, this is kind of rude. I'm sure you're waiting for someone. But I'm kind of new here, and I thought…" She shrugs. " My names Corrine, by the way."
" Buffy, " Buffy smiles at her. " I thought I hadn't seen you here before."
" Do you come here a lot?" Corrine asks her.
"The Bronze? Oh yeah, it's pretty much the only cool place to hang in Sunny-D. Not much town here, I'm sure you noticed. Can't support two cool clubs, I guess."
Corrine laughs." Well, it is kind of small. I'm from L.A."
" Really? I'm originally from L.A. too," Buffy grins. " West side. You?"
" Me too. Santa Monica."
" No, I lived further down. Near Redondo Beach."
" Really? Did you go to Hemery, by chance?"
" Yeah, my first year of High School. Go Hurricanes, Rah!"
" Me too, " Corrine exclaims." Don't tell me you were a cheerleader!"
" Naw, just the pep squad. I left after my first year at Hemery. Mom moved here after the divorce."
" Oh. Sorry to hear that."
" Long time ago. I'm over it, " Buffy laughs. " So, I know why I'm here, but what brings you up from Big Bad L.A.?"
" I work for a consulting firm. We have a couple of clients up in these parts. No actual clients here in Sunnydale, but it was getting late, and I saw the sign on the highway, and I'd never been. So I figured, hey, why not. I could maybe pick up a client or two here." She shrugs. " Nothing so far, but hey. It's kinda neat, small town charm and all. And I get to write it off."
"Smart girl. " Buffy smiles at her.
" So, what do you do, Buffy?"
" A little of this, "Buffy shrugs, " A little of that…"
" Between jobs?" Corrine asks, sympathetically.
" Yeah…" Buffy admits, " But I'll find something soon. I always land on my feet."
" I bet you do, " Corrine flirts, just a little.
The band starts up a tune, and Buffy smiles.
"I love this song, " She says, " Would you like to dance?"
" Yeah, I'd like that a lot, " Corrine smiles at her.
They move to the dance floor, and from the first, Corrine is impressed with the way the smaller woman moves. She also can tell that Buffy is taking more than a casual interest in her. The smiles, the little touches at just the right moments pique Corrine's interest. As the first song fades, they move into the next. Buffy becomes more aggressive, moving her body against Corrine's , and Corrine definitely approves of the change. A small heat burns brighter in her, and she begins to return the hip bumps, the butt bumps, and the other intimacies. She's finding she wants Buffy to be more aggressive, more demanding, and almost as if she could read her thoughts, Buffy responds. By the end of the second dance, Corrine finds herself very warm, a little over stimulated, and is covered in a slight sheen of perspiration. She looks at Buffy, who seems as cool as ever.
" Whew, I'm feeling a little warm." Corrine says, fanning herself.
" Would you like to get some air?" Buffy asks. " It's a pretty night out."
" Yes, please. I could use some air."
Buffy takes her hand, and begins to lead her toward the back entrance.
" You have very cool hands," Corrine remarks.
" Well, you know what they say. Cool hands, warm heart."
" Buffy?"
" Yes?" Buffy stops.
" It’s kind of dark in here, but you're wearing shades. Why?"
Buffy smile mischievously. " It adds to the mystery, don't you think?" She laughs softly," and, my eyes are a little sensitive to light."
" Still, I'd kind of like to see your eyes. If you don't mind?"
" Sure, " Buffy says softly. Still holding Corrine's hand, she removes her shades with the other. She smiles.
Corrine takes a deep breath. Buffy has the most beautiful eyes she's ever seen. A very light hazel, almost golden in color.
" You have such pretty eyes. It's a shame to hide them."
" I think you're eyes are pretty too." Buffy touches her cheek.
Once outside the door, the women find themselves in each other's arms. They kiss, and their lips almost immediately part, each seeking the other 's tongue. The kiss lasts awhile, during which Corrine has pushed Buffy up against the wall.
" This is so not like me, " Corrine whispers, feeling a little breathless. " I'm usually not this bold."
" I'm glad," Buffy says, kissing her neck. Corrine shivers slightly from the sensuality of her kiss. " I wanted you since you sat down at the table."
" Really?" Corrine feels her heart beating faster. Her nipples are achingly hard. " God, I've never wanted anyone this badly," She breathes.
Buffy slips from under Corrine, and turns them around, with her pushing Corrine to the wall. She begins to tear at the buttons of Corrine's blouse with her teeth.
" oh my god," Corrine whispers as she feels the cool night air wash over her now bare breasts." Oh god, oh god, oh god," She moans as she feels Buffy's mouth surround one of her nipples. The moist heat in her groin builds as Buffy sucks and nips at her breasts.
" Ow,"
" Sorry, " Buffy smiles. " I got a little rough."
" No. I liked it. Do it again."
Buffy allows her fangs just pierce the skin of Corrine's breast, and this time she moans. She backs off, licking the little droplets of blood running from the wound. Mmmm, she so sweet, Buffy thinks to herself, relishing her the taste.
" oh, god, that feels so incredible," Corrine's voice is a hoarse whisper. " Do it again. Please!"
Buffy moves to her other breast, and taking the nipple, pierces it lightly. Corrine moans loudly, and a small stream of blood flows down Buffy's throat. Buffy doesn't force it, just allowing it to trickle down.
" Oh god, I've never felt anything like that. What're you doing to me?"
Buffy doesn't answer. She moves down Corrine's body, lifting her skirt. She can smell her arousal, and feels her own heat building.
" Oh…yes, please… please" Corrine is helpless, wanting more, so much more.
Buffy slides her face close to Corrine's groin, pulling away the panties in one sharp tug. Her tongue slides along the soft folds of Corrine's sex. She tastes blood. I knew there was a reason she caught my attention.
Corrine moans loudly, her hands coming down to press Buffy's face to her.
" Hey, you're having you're period, aren't you?" Buffy's voice is muffled somewhat.
" Yeah," Corrine replies breathily. " Is it grossing you out? You can stop…" But please, don't!
" Naw, it's cool," Buffy says, enthusiastically. She gets back to business.
Buffy teases and pleases her, her tongue lightly caressing her nether lips. She slips it between them, tasting her sweet honey. She's enjoying this. The taste of blood mixed with her cum is intoxicating. She moves up, and teases Corrine's hood. Her button, already gorging, pops out like a ripe fruit. Buffy takes it in her mouth and sucks it gently.
" OH god, Buffy. YESSSS. Oh, I think I love you! No one's ever made me feel… sooo… hot…"
Buffy smiles to herself. She teases her more, then starts getting serious. She slips her tongue in Corrine's sex, and laps at the mixture of tastes. Her fingers pinch and caress her button. Corrine's hips start to rock, and Buffy can sense her imminent orgasm. She pushes her harder and faster until she feels body stiffen, and her moans change into screams of release. Buffy seals her mouth over Corrine's sex, drinking deep her blood and fluids. I just love to make 'em scream, she giggles to herself.
Corrine is almost limp against the wall. Her hair is damp, and despite the coolness of the night, she's covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Her blouse, still open, reveals her breasts are still dripping a little blood.
Buffy, coming up from under her skirt, leans over and laps at the drops of blood on her chest.
"Wow," Corrine says hoarsely, her face flushed and her eyes lidded. " That was … so intense. I've never done anything like that. " She starts to straighten up, and notices Buffy licking at the little drops of blood on her chest. " What are you?" She smiles, but is a little freaked by it. " Like a Goth girl or something?"
" You wouldn't believe me if I told you, " Buffy says. She vamps out and grabs Corrine, who screams. Buffy sinks her fangs into her neck.
Corrine feels a sharp pain, but strangely enough, she also feels an erotic pleasure. Her screams turns to moans and mewling as she feels the bonds of life slip away.
Buffy feeds greedily, enjoying the rich taste of her blood. It's all the sweeter because of the hormones racing through her blood. Corrine's body goes limp, and she slips to the ground, Buffy easing her down until she is crouching over her, draining the last drop from her.. Finished, she looks up, her lips and chin covered with the dark crimson of blood. She licks them, savoring the taste.
" Good to the last drop, baby," Buffy addresses the corpse. " Aw, don't worry. You're death isn't meaningless. We still got stuff to do tonight." She lifts the body and tosses it over her shoulder like a sack.
" No rest for the wicked," She chortles.
She carries the body off into the night.
2
" Shit!"
Faith lies restlessly in the hospital bed, cursing everything and everyone she can think of.
She closes her eyes , shutting out the over white walls and too bright lights that remind her where she is. But she can escape neither the incessant beep whirr beep of the machines in the room nor the smell of Pine-sol covering the odors of death and sickness.
It's been two days since Buffy played punching bag with her, and her slayer healing has kicked in. She's mostly herself, the bruises on her face faded; her ribs mended, no longer feeling like someone is blowtorching her lungs every time she takes a breath. The better she feels, the shorter her fuse becomes.
She threw out the others when they came to visit. She was in no mood to talk, no mood for sympathy, no mood for them hanging around staring at her. She was in no mood to be lying around in bed, feeling like somebody's punching dummy.
She was in no mood for anything. Except for driving a stake deep into Buffy's heart.
She was pissed. Mostly, at herself.
'K, stupid. How long does it take you to put this together? You see Buffy, fight her, and then stake her. Simple as that. Don't give a crap about the rest. Do your job! And ya know, fuck this crap. Tired of this place, and getting my ass outta here.
Throwing off the covers, she sits up. Swinging her feet over the side of her bed, she starts to get up when she feels the tug of the IV tube in her arm. Impatiently, she pulls it out, and looks around.
" Ok, bozos, where's my clothes?" She sees a clothing rack up against the wall, her clothes hanging on it. "Score," She says. Grabbing her clothes, she heads for the bathroom, shutting the door after.
She almost makes a clean getaway. Almost.
Just after she enters the bathroom, the door to her room opens, and Willow sticks in her head.
" Hey, " She says. Noticing the empty bed with the IV tube disconnected, she enters the room. Looking at the rack, she notices Faith's clothes missing. " Hey! What's going on here?"
Faith, half dressed, emerges from the bathroom. She looks up and sees Willow staring at her.
" Geeze, Red!" She almost yells. " Warn a girl when you're gonna appear like that, ok? Wanna give me a heart attack?"
" What're you doing?" Willow grills her.
" Getting dressed, Aint it obvious? "
" Yeah, it's obvious, " Willow says impatiently, " but why? You're not supposed to leave 'til morning."
" And how would you know that, Ms. Snoopy?" Faith pulls on her shirt, starting to button it.
" I asked at the nursing station before coming in."
" Whatever." Faith shrugs, "What're you doing here anyway? Didn't I make it clear about not interested in company?"
" I was here anyway. Hey, this isn't about me, it's about you! Why're getting dressed. You're not supposed to leave. Get back in bed."
Faith cocks her head and grins.
" You gonna make me, Red?"
" Uh, no cuz you'd beat me up. But I'll call a nurse. And security."
" And you think they're gonna make me, if I don't wanna?" Faith looks around. " Hey, where're my boots?" She goes over to the clothing rack, and looks around. " Where the hell are my boots?"
Willow grins. " They keep them until it's check-out time. Just so people can't… oh, get up and leave."
"Swell. I'll just go and have a little chat with the nurse about my boots, then," She walks towards the door.
" They won't give them to you, Faith."
" Whatever, I'll walk out of here without them then. I got another pair back at … well, in my bag… at Giles' I guess."
" Faith, why're you being so stubborn? It's only another night."
" Another night without a slayer in the field, right? Another night that Ms. Insane-o cheerleader vampire can go around killing people, right? This is the Hellmouth, Willow. The bad guys are not taking the night off."
" We've been patrolling the last three nights. Nothing's been happening, it's quiet. So get back to bed, and you can leave in the morning."
" Not happening, Red," Faith says, over at the dresser, looking in the drawers for some socks. " Damn, no socks either. Oh well, feet justgotta get cold, I guess. " She looks up, seeing Willow glaring at her. " You still here? Why are you here again?"
" I told you, I was here anyway. I just looked in to see how you were doing. Good thing, considering."
" Hey, doing great, can't you tell? So take off now. Report back to Giles that Faith's being a bad girl. Do whatever you want but get out, " Faith sits on the bed, wondering how she's going to get her boots back. " Wait a minute. Here anyway? What's that about?"
" I was upstairs, visiting Tara."
" Tara. Tara, Wait I know this one, " Faith tries to recall the name. " Oh yeah, that blonde chick you were with at the Bronze when… ummm… I was test driving Buffy. You still with her?" Faith nods, " I guess it wasn't just a phase, huh?"
" No," Willow says quietly, " not a phase."
" Well, cool beans. So, what? Does she like work here?"
" No, doesn't work here, " Willow says in a monotone.
" Oh, she's sick? Well, send her my best. Would drop by, but got places to go, vampires to kill." She starts towards the door, ready to leave. " You comin? I'm pretty sure they'll be wanting to use this room again." She notices Willow seems to be lost somewhere that's not here. " It's not serious, is it. I mean, with Tara? She's gonna be alright, right?" She walks over to Willow. " She's not going to die or anything, is she?"
" Die? No, not die, " Willow says, flatly.
" Ok then. She gets better, you take her home, party, " Faith says.
" She's not going to get better, " Willow seems to be telling herself this more than Faith. " Maybe, never."
"Wait, Red. That's not making a whole lotta sense. What're you talking about?"
Willow, in flat, disconnected tones, explains what happened with Glory, Dawn, Buffy and Tara. By the end, Faith looks more confused than when it began.
" Ok, wait a minute. You're telling me that Buffy had a sister, who wasn't her sister but some kind of energy ball that opened the dimensions to hell, and that some Hell goddess named Glory wanted her? And that Tara, you're girlfriend got brain sucked by this Glory chick, and Dawn like … this is something out of a novel, girl. What drugs are you taking?"
" Not funny, Faith. Not funny at all, " Willow says quietly.
" Hey, sorry, but it kinda is sudden, you know? I never heard this before. So… you're girlfriend, Tara is like… ?"
" She doesn't know me. She doesn't know herself, or anyone, ok?" Willow snaps at her. "She can't remember anything. She doesn't talk most of the time, and when she does, it's gibberish. No one can help her. I've tried. For the last 2 years I've been trying to find a way to reach her, but I'm thinking there isn't a way. She just sits and stares, trapped in some prison in her mind, and I've got to watch her. I come every day, hoping that today, she'll see me. She'll know me. I even kid myself sometimes, that she sees me… knows I'm there, looks for me. But it's just kidding myself, you know? She can't. She never will. And each day she's gone, it's another day we don't have each other. It's another day I get to die a little more, because I love her and I hate her and I can't live without her!!!!"
Willow, who's been hoping for so long, has lost hope. She breaks down, and starts to sob.
Faith, who's unused to this, stands awkwardly, watching her. She walks over, and pats her back.
" There, there. There ,there." She says, not know what to say. She's not used to giving or receiving comfort.
Willow tries to collect herself. She sits up, and starts rubbing the tears away with her hands. Faith walks over and gets the box of tissues on the nightstand, handing them to Willow.
" It's not fair, you know, " Willow says, wiping her eyes with a tissue. " She was innocent. She shouldn't have been there. She wouldn't have been there, if we hadn't fought that day. But she was alone at the fair, vulnerable, and Glory just took her. Took her. She stole her from me, and I'm never gonna get her back. It's not fair." She blows her nose, " First Jesse, then Kendra, then Tara and Dawn and… now Buffy. Gone. And you want to go out there, injured, and get yourself killed too." She looks up at Faith. " Hasn't there been enough? I'm tired of losing people. Don't you get it? Can't you just wait at least one more day before you get dead, too?" She turns away, looking down at the floor.
" I'm not gonna get dead, " Faith sits by her. " Red, look at me." Willow still looks at the floor." Willow, look at me." Willow looks up, " Notgonna die, ok? Buffy got the drop on me, because I was stupid. I let my guard down, and she got me. Not gonna happen again. So don't sweat it. I'm gonna find her, and then we'll settle this."
"Settle this," Willow looks away." You mean, stake her."
" No, I thought we'd have tea and cookies. Wait, that didn't work out last time," Faith's tone is harsh.
" Sarcasm isn't helping, Faith."
" You're right. It isn't. Neither is sitting here talking about it, when … she's out there."
" So, you're plan is no plan then. We just rush blindly into it, and beat it into the ground, " Willow nods." Yup, that's gonna work."
"Sarcasm isn't helping, Red," Faith mocks her.
" Neither is using your fists to think with," Willow mocks her back." Buffy's not dumb. She's been a slayer for … a long time. A lot longer than you Faith. This is not some dumb monster we're going after. We can't go in without some kind of plan!"
" Fine. We'll all sit around, talk strategy. Then, I'll go out and finish this, " Faith says. She throws up her hands. " I just hope one of you don't get dead first."
" What're you talking about?"
" She's not coming after me. She wants to hurt me by coming after you guys. Guess you weren't listening when I told you guys that before."
" Was that before or after you threw us out?"
Faith doesn't reply to that. She just rolls her eyes. She gets up and walks to the door. " Coming?"
" You mean now?" Willow asks her.
" No, next week. If we gotta talk about this, then it's now." She starts to walk out the door.
Willow reaches under the bed, recovering Faith's boots. " Don't you want these?"
Faith turns around, seeing Willow holding her boots. She throws her a dirty look.
" You had them all the time?" She mutters.
" Uh-huh. I'm not stupid, either." Willow hands the boots to Faith." The socks are inside. Oh, and whoever heard of a hospital taking your shoes?" She laughs, walking past Faith.
" I hate you," Faith grumbles, " I really hate you."
" Mutual," Willow rejoins.
3
" What the hell?"
As Faith and Willow pull up to Giles' building, they see four police cars blocking the street. The lights are flashing, and there are like a dozen officers milling around. The sounds of two way radios and hushed conversations break the night. As they get closer, they see that a coroner's wagon is also present.
Almost before Willow can park the car, Faith is out the door, running towards the building. Willow hops out, shaking her head.
"God, doesn't she ever think before she just rushes in?" Willow murmurs to herself. She follows behind Faith, a little more cautiously.
When she catches up, she sees Faith talking vehemently to two officers, gesticulating animatedly. They are blocking her access to the building.
" … don't you get it? I got to get in there. I have a friend in there, he might be hurt!" Faith tries to duck around the officers, but they aren't budging.
" Miss, I'm sorry. But this is a crime scene. No one gets in there without permission from the Detective in charge."
A voice calls up from the stairway. " Are you Faith?"
" Yeah," Faith replies. " Faith, that's me."
" Let her through, officer, " Lt. Detective Jack Thomas says.
The two officers part to allow Faith through. When Willow attempts to follow, they close rank again.
" Faith!" Willow calls out.
" She's with me," Faith says to the detective.
" She's ok. Let her in." He barks.
" What's the deal?" Faith asks, as Willow joins them. " What's going on here?"
" We were hoping you could tell us, " Det. Thomas replies cryptically.
" Ummm… I just got here…"
" Giles, Mr. Giles. Is he ok?" Willow asks.
" Tall guy, sounds like he escaped from an English movie?"
" Yeah, that's Giles," Faith nods.
" He's fine."
" What about Angel?" Faith asks, a little anxiously.
" Walking GQ ad?" The officer looks amused.
" That's him."
" Also fine," He replies. " Wish I could say that about the other one."
"Other one?" Willow and Faith look at each other.
" Yeah, the body, " Det. Thomas says.
They reach the lower courtyard leading to Giles' door. Several more police, along with some people from the coroner's office are about, blocking view of Giles' apartment. Giles and Angel are off to one side, seemingly having a discussion.
" This is rather bad, " Giles says, looking again at the crime scene.
" Rather understating it, don't you think, Rupert, " Angel looks worried. " I think Buffy just threw down the gauntlet."
" Yes. She seems to have developed a macabre sense of humor."
" She's taunting Faith. Trying to shake her up."
" Oh? Where do you think she got that idea from?" Giles looks pointedly at Angel. He sighs. " That's not the important thing now, however. How do we tell Faith?"
" Tell me what, guys?" Faith interrupts, coming up to them.
" Faith!" Startled, Giles moves to block Faith's view.
" You're supposed to be in the hospital, Faith," Angel says, frowning. " Why're you here?" Like Giles, he moves to block Faith's view of the scene.
" I was feeling better, " Faith shrugs, " I got itchy. So I got out." She notices the movements, and moves to push between them. " What's going on here? What happened? The detective said something about a body? And, how did he know my name?"
Angel and Giles look at each other.
" Faith, I think maybe right now you shouldn't worry about this, " Angel says, taking her arm, attempting to turn her around. " You're still …"
" I agree, " Giles moves to Faith. She ducks him and shakes off Angel.
" Hold on. Something's up." She pushes them aside, " If my name's being tossed around with this…"
She stops, mouth open, staring at the scene. Her face goes pale.
The body of a young woman has been placed at Giles' door. It appears to have been posed in a sitting position, the arms up in a supplicant's prayer. The chest has been torn open, and the heart is missing. It's been nailed to Giles' door, with a legend over it, written in blood.
I just don’t feel your heart's in it, Faith.
" Geeze, " Faith whispers, feeling her stomach clutch.
" Hey guys, what's going on?" Willow comes up to the group.
" Red, no, don't look, " Faith turns around trying to stop her from seeing.
" Willow , I think you should wait…"
" Willow, this is not a good time…"
It's too late. Willow sees the body, and her eyes go wide. She pales, then turns around, running over and being sick in the bushes. Giles goes over to her.
As Faith is staring at the body, Detective Thomas comes up and stands next to her.
" Pretty gruesome, " he remarks.
Faith nods, not trusting her voice.
" All homicide is pretty gruesome. You'd know that, wouldn't you?" He asks.
" I'm sorry?"
" I saw the name over the body, " The detective points at the door, " and I thought it sounded familiar. There was an alert issued on you, Faith. Seems you were paroled into the custody of one Mr. Rupert Giles. Who, coincidentally, lives there." He turns to her, " I did some checking. Seems you were convicted of second degree murder. Some powerful strings had to be pulled to get you released early." He nods, turning back to the scene." So I've got to wonder who might have that kind of pull, and if you know if they had anything to do with this?"
" I don't know nothing. I just got here."
" That's true, Officer, " Giles puts in, coming over, " she's been in the hospital for the last few days."
" I see," The detective takes out his notebook. " Why would that be?"
" I was…" Faith stops, seeing Giles' look. " … I had an accident."
" Really?" He looks at his notes. " According to the hospital, you had multiple lacerations and trauma. They suspected you were beaten. Or mugged."
Faith shrugs. " Go figure."
The detective looks at her carefully, " You don't look that bad, considering."
" I heal fast."
" So, you have no idea who might have beaten you then?"
" I told you, I had an accident." Faith repeats.
" Mmmm-hmmm" He looks at the crime scene again. " And you have no idea who might have done this?"
" No sir. Not a clue."
" When did you get out of the hospital again?"
" Less than an hour ago."
" I was with her when she checked out, Officer, " Willow comes over, looking a bit green around the gills." I drove her over here."
" I see. And your name?"
" Willow. Willow Rosenberg."
" And you can say for a fact that Faith was in the hospital this evening?"
" Yes sir. I've been with her for the last couple of hours. Visiting, helping her to get ready to leave."
He looks them over, one by one. His expression says he's not satisfied.
" I don't believe you're telling me everything, " he says at last. " I have a gut feeling you're hiding something. But I have no proof, so for now, you are free to leave."
The four of them, as a group, head for the stairs.
" I am however, going to keep my eye on you all. Especially you, Faith. Do I need to say, please don't leave town?"
Faith shakes her head.
"Good then." He turns away, and goes to talk to one of the Coroner's men.
They walk as a group to Willow's car. No one says a word until they've pulled away from the scene.
" Well, that was fun," Faith says with a touch of gallows humor.
" Not funny, Faith, " Angel says.
" Yeah, maybe."
" What are you doing out of the hospital? You weren't due to be released until tomorrow." Giles asks.
" I missed you guys, " Faith says, dryly. " So I thought I'd cut out early, and we'd party. Seems I got there late."
"Again with the not funny, " Willow puts in.
" Well, it's that or I start barfing in the car, Red." Faith looks grimly out the windshield.
Willow goes very quiet.
" So, does anyone in this car need any more proof that Buffy is no longer Ms. Sweetness and Light?"
Faith's remark is greeted by silence.
" Thought not, " She leans back in the seat. " So, where we gonna hold the big pow-wow now? I think Giles' place is out for now."
" I guess we could meet at my place, " Willow says quietly, still a little in shock.
Faith looks at her out of the corner of her eye, and sees how pale and drawn she looks.
" You gonna be ok, Red?"
" Yes," she says quickly. She sighs, then goes on. " No, I don't think so."
" Good, you're honest about it, at least." She addresses the rest to everyone, " So, I guess we call in the troops when we get there?"
" Tonight?" Giles asks, " do you think that's wise? You've just gotten out of the hospital."
" I don't think we got any more time to waste, Giles." She shakes her head. " though this is just a big waste of time, as I see it."
"I'm sorry?" Giles sounds perturbed.
" Look, we can sit around from now til forever, and talk about it. But when it comes down to it, we know what's gotta be done."
" There might be alternatives, you know, " Willow puts in.
" Yeah, well, I'm sure that'll all come up at the meeting, " Faith says, sounding unconvinced.
" You just want to kill her!" Willow blurts out. " You've always had it in for her."
" Red, get this through your head. Last time. That's not her." Faith's lips tighten noticeably. " Thinking that… thing is her, is gonna get you, or someone else, killed."
Willow, upset, doesn't say another word, and the rest of the trip is in silence.
No one wants to say what has to be done.
4
" It can't be done," Anya says dismissively," simple as that." She shrugs as if to say, arguing is useless.
" What makes you an expert, Anya?" Willow replies, irritated." As I recall, you needed me to help you with a simple retrieval spell."
" I was new at being human, and I was disoriented. As I remember, that little spell of yours didn't go so well. Kind of like your track record with spells."
Willow gives her a look that even rocks the ex-vengeance demon back on her heels.
" Ok, no need to get hostile about it."
” Will, " Xander puts his hand on Willow's shoulder, " maybe we should step back, and think about it awhile."
" Right, take her side, Xander. I don't care if she's an 1100 year old vengeance demon, she doesn't know everything."
" I know this, " Anya says, " I know that the restoration spell was written for Angel. It's very specific as to its target. And since Angel still has his soul… don't see the point."
" We could adapt it!" Willow says, " I'm sure between Amy and I…"
" I don't know about that, Willow, " Amy puts up a hand. " This magic… is very gray area stuff. A misplaced word, leaving something out, could have some strange results. Results like I don't think you're looking for."
" Giles!" Willow appeals to her last hope.
Giles cleans his glasses.
" I'm sorry, Willow, but much as it pains me, I have to agree with Anya in this instance. The spell of Restoration for Angel is very specific in it's scope and content. Without the transliteration annals of the rituals for the dead, there's no telling what effect the curse would have on Buffy. It might cure her; on the other hand, it might make things worse."
" So you're saying there's no hope then?" Willow doesn't sound like she's ready to accept that.
" Well, FINALLY, someone is saying it, " Faith, from the corner of the room, interrupts.
" Faith!"
" No, I'm sorry, but I've been listening to this crap for the last hour, and frankly, it's a load. All of it." She turns to Joyce, who's sitting a little away from the group, hands clenched in her lap, looking at the floor." Joyce, I'm sorry, but facts are facts. I know why you did what you did, and having some time to think about it, " She rubs her jaw, which is still tender, " I get it. You were just trying to protect your daughter. Thing is, that thing isn't your daughter. I'm sorry, but it's playing you, and it nearly got me…" She stops, shaking her head, " Get it clear, all of you. Buffy is gone. Whatever that is in her body? Isn't her. You can talk all the mystical hoodoo- voodoo crap you want. But end of the day, there's only one way to stop the killing."
" From the mouths of killers. " Xander grumbles, giving her a look.
" Yeah, Xander, I was a killer, ok? I know that. I also know I've changed. I have a soul, and I can change. Not easy, and baby, it never goes away, what you've done. But you atone for it. Buffy… or that thing pretending to be your friend? Isn't going to change. It has no soul. It's a monster, a killer. That's its purpose. That's what it does. It can't ever change…" She looks at Angel, and grins ruefully, " Ok, once, but you all just said, that spell was written for him. Alone. I don't need you monkeying around with magic to just make things worse." Her voice lowers, " it's gonna be hard enough, as is."
" So, we just give up on her, Faith?" Willow shakes her head. " No, I won't. She's my friend. She was our friend. What happened to her wasn't her fault. I won't just give up on her. "
" Yeah, " Faith says with an edge of acrimony," I betcha if that were me out there, instead of her, there wouldn't be any discussion about restoring nothing. Break out the stakes and torches, Faith's back , and she's a vampire."
" That's harsh, don't you think?" Angel asks her.
" Is it, Angel? Look at them. Look at their expressions. They don't like me, " She nods, " and ok, I can respect that. They hate me, and well, so? Not going to lose sleep over it. Matter of fact, they can hate me for the rest of their lives, you know? Don't care, as long as they have long, happy lives with lots of fat grandchildren around them to hate me with." She looks around the group, " I'm done here. You know where I stand. Go ahead and do all your plotting and crap, and get back with me, ok?" She starts to walk out of the room, " but when it all goes to hell, I'm gonna stake her." Faith leaves.
" Faith, wait…" Angel says. He starts out after her.
" Well, the murder squad is leaving, good on that, " Xander cracks.
Angel stops. He turns around and comes over to Xander. " You know something, Harris? You should try growing up. Get over the fact that she boinked you and tossed you away, already. You're pathetic."
" She tried to kill me, moron," Xander pushes him away, " or did you forget that one?"
" And I saved you from being a dead jackass, if you remember, Harris. It was your massive ego, thinking you could ' win over' Faith, that nearly got you killed," Angel glares at him. " Seems I heard you're the eyes of the group, you see everything. Well, try opening your eyes and seeing she's changed." He turns, and follows Faith out.
" Well, that was helpful, Xander, " Willow says, arms crossed.
" What? What?" He looks around for support, " do only the mass murderers get an opinion around here?"
" Opinion? Or are you just venting you’re spleen, Xander?"
" I was sticking up for you, Will. Faith pretty much was calling you a fool."
" Xander? I can stick up for myself. Don't help!" she turns away, " We've got more important things to do."
" When did you join the Faith Fan club, Will?" He walks over to her, " What's the deal? All of a sudden you're all don't pick on Faith, but I can't believe you weren't thinking right along what I said!"
Willow looks at Xander and frowns. " You know something, Xan? Angel was right. Grow up."
"What?!!"
" Back when it mattered, you treated me pretty shabbily, Xander Harris. You did things that hurt me a lot… a LOT. You never saw me as anything but your side kick. You're buddy-who's-a-girl. You never even got that I had feelings for you. You went after Buffy, then made out with Cordelia. But the worst? Was that you would sleep… with her…" Willow points in the direction Faith went, " … even when you had a clue as to how I felt. I pretended it didn't hurt, but it did. Thing is? I grew up, and got over it. You're still stuck in high school Xander. Get over it! We don't have time for the petty crap anymore."
Xander grumbles, but subsides.
" Ok, then. We still have to figure out what we're going to do, " Willow turns to the whole group. " Giles, is there any way to research the Restoration Spell? I don't want to give up on that. This is…was our friend… we have to …"
" Guys?" Amy speaks up, " I'm thinking there might be another way."
---
" … there's no other way," Faith repeats to herself, almost like a mantra, as she idly kicks at a post on the front porch.
"It’s sorry.”
Faith looks up, and sees Angel standing close by. She frowns at him, perplexed.
" What?"
" The post. It's sorry. It wants to give up now."
Faith shakes her head, and can't help a small self deprecating laugh. She leans against the post.
" Ok, Angel. Why're you out here? Am I in for another " You really should try to get along better" speech?"
" Yeah, a lecture on being social from the guy who likes to sit alone in the dark and brood? I don't think so, Faith. I just came out to get some air. It was kind of getting thick in there," His tone softens, " You ok?"
" You mean, am I gonna go out now and kill a couple of people to work off the stress? Naw, don't think so. Been there, done that, have the t-shirt." She laughs darkly, " anyway, prison blues? Just not my color."
" Faith, I really wanted to know if you're ok. You look a bit frazzled."
" Sorry I didn't have time to primp for our little soiree. Guess I forgot the Cover Girl back at…" She looks up and sees Angel's expression, and slumps, "… sorry. This whole week's got me freaked. First the welcoming committee, then Buffy using me as a punching bag, then that body tonight. And now they're talking like they can make it all good again using some magic mojo to restore her soul…" She looks up at him, " do they even get what this is doing to you? How much this is tearing you apart?"
" Doesn't matter, Faith, " Angel says brusquely," we've got to deal with this, whether we can bring her back or not. We can't let her go on killing…"
" But it wouldn't break your heart if they could pull it off."
" I don’t know, Faith." Angel sighs, " thing is, I'm not sure I'd wish this on Buffy. I love… loved her, Faith. You know what she's like. Can you see her loving the darkness? Living out of the sun, brooding about her crimes. Buffy and deep thoughts… that alone is almost an antithetical …"
" Huh?"
" Polar opposites."
" Oh," Faith chuckles briefly." Still, wouldn't you want her…"
" Not like that. I mean, I wouldn't want her to live through the pain. I'd rather she … I'd rather you staked her, frankly."
" Angel," She says softly, holding his arm.
" She's already gone, Faith. They don't get that. She wouldn't be the same, even with a soul. I'm not the guy I was when I died… not now."
" Yeah, you're not a drunken, womanizing lout. You're right, what a disappointment."
" It's not the same, Faith. The light… that thing that … I loved about her… would be gone. She couldn't have a normal life, any hope of that would be gone… hope would be gone. I wouldn't want my curse for her…" he smiles ruefully, " the worst is the loneliness, Faith. You can't ever give yourself to anyone. You still feel the emotions, the feelings, and you can't act on them… because you know what'll happen if you do… and all the time the demon is down there, urging you on, because it knows if you slip… it'll be free. No. It's worse than death, Faith."
Instinctively, she hugs him, sensing his need. While holding him, something in herself breaks, and the tears start to flow down her cheeks. She doesn't cry, or sob, just tears.
"I'm really scared, Angel." She says, quietly.
" Faith?" He looks at her face, and feels a sinking in his stomach, " Faith?" he repeats.
" I didn't tell you everything that happened that night."
" What do you mean?"
" When Buffy caught me, she didn't go right in and start using me as a punching bag."
" I don't get it."
" She wanted to make a deal. If I didn't get in her way, she wouldn't get in mine."
" You can't make deals with vampires, Faith. They lie."
" No shit? I didn't take the deal. You think she gave me the love taps because I did?"
"Ok, sorry. So you didn't take the deal. That's good."
" That's not it, " Faith says, " after that, she tried to seduce me…" Faith looks away.
" Excuse me?"
" We're not teenagers here, Angel. You know what seduce means, " Faith sighs, " the thing is Angel, I wanted it."
Angel's expression becomes solemn.
" Not for a long time, but for a minute there, I saw what she was offering me. The freedom from guilt, the power, the darkness. I saw it, and I wanted it. Wanted it more than anything, " a sly little grin comes on her face, " and I have to admit, what she was doing was turning me on…"
" Faith, " Angel coughs, a little embarrassed.
" Don't get all 18th century on me, Angel. You know this kinda thing happens, " Faith sighs. " Thing is, what scared me is my wanting it so badly, Angel. I almost said yes. I wanted her to do it. I think it was only the fact it was Buffy, and she annoyed the hell out of me by being so … Buffy… that I just rebelled. But …" She looks bleak.
Angel hugs her, pulling her close. " The thing is, you didn't, Faith. You didn't give in."
" What about next time, Angel?" Faith looks up at him, " I'm so fucking weak. This being good crap? Really hurts. I might not be so strong next time…"
" Worry about next time, next time, " Angel says quietly, " I've been doing this for 100 years, Faith, and it's not any easier. One crisis at a time, Faith, that's all you can do. One step at a time."
" This sucks."
"Ahem."
Angel and Faith pull apart, seeing Giles standing on the porch, looking at them. The only clue to his thoughts is a slightly arched eyebrow.
" We need to see you two inside. We may have found a way to save Buffy." He turns and walks inside.
Angel and Faith look at each other, a little confused, and follow him in.
---
Buffy, sitting on the roof overhead, chuckles quietly to herself. " So, Angel, honey. You'd rather see me dead? Now, that really hurt my feelings. Yeah. I guess before this is all over, I'm just gonna have to find a stake with your name on it."
She starts to giggle, but stops when she hears something. Climbing quietly over the roof, she looks down into the backyard.
"Well, this just gets better and better. Xander and Anya in the backyard. And look at those lovebirds go at it. Hmmm… maybe I should go take a closer look…"
Buffy climbs down the roof, getting close to the edge. She listens quietly.
" I'm glad we got out of there, " Xander says as they break the kiss, " all that magic stuff starts to give me the wiggins."
" That's rather odd, Xander, considering you fight demons and vampires as a hobby, " Anya says," I'd think by now you'd be used to it, especially since your best friend is a witch."
"Ever since I had Amy cast that love spell over Cordelia… I've been really freaked by magic," Xander shudders at the memory.
" Oh yeah, where every woman in Sunnydale had the hots for you? Oh, that must've been just terrible, Xander, you poor boy!" Anya teases him.
" Hey, half of them wanted to kill me. Even Buffy, when I rejected her, wanted…"
" Buffy! It always comes back to Buffy. Geeze, Xander, she's like an obsession with you. Buffy this, Buffy that. You even want to quit fighting, now that Buffy's a vampire. I'm thinking you don't really want to take care of this at all!"
" Anya, of course I do! Where did this come from?" Xander moves over, putting his arms around her, " You know I only love you, honey. And I don't need a love spell for that!"
" Isn't that just like a guy? You change a little tiny bit, and all of a sudden, they aren't interested anymore!"
Anya and Xander look up at the roof, wide-eyed and stunned. In a flash, Buffy leaps down and is in front of them.
" Hi, guys!"
---
" Exorcism?" Angel looks at the others like they've gone mad.
" Ok, explain this. How do we think pulling a Linda Blair is going to help restore Buffy? In simple phrases for the not- a -Wicca crowd, " Faith adds.
" We're not entirely sure it will help Buffy, " Giles admits, " I'll have to do some research, see if it's even possible. But Amy reminded us that a slayer is more than human. She has the essence of a demon in her…"
" And you guys wondered why I went bad?" Faith cracks.
" Faith, please, this is serious, " Giles admonishes her, " The slayer has the essence of a demon placed in her by the original watchers, as a way to fight off the demons and vampires. To give her , well, her power. What if, however, it's more than the essence, as Amy surmised, it's an actual separate entity within the slayer. That passes from slayer to slayer as one dies…"
"Whoa up, Giles. I'm seeing a truck size hole in your theory…" Faith interrupts. " If that's the case, once Buffy died when fighting the Master, and Kendra was activated, Buffy should've been back to shaking pom poms for a living…"
" I thought of that, too. But what if the essence from Slayer A doesn’t so much pass to Slayer B, but rather, just activate the potential demon essence already within the slayers? That would explain why there could be two slayers at once, which has never happened before. But then, a slayer has never been brought back from death before."
" But if her demon essence passed on, she wouldn't be a slayer anymore."
" Normally, I'd agree. But the way she died, and was brought back to life , was like a rebirth. And I suspect, that also meant a rebirth of the demon inside. Already being active, it continued."
" Kinda shaky, Giles, " Faith says.
" Possibly, but I can't account for the possibility of two slayers any other way, " Giles muses, " With the right spell, it would be I suppose, possible to activate every potential in this generation. An army of Slayers."
" Ok, now that's just … weird. One slayer, two slayers… that's freaky-deaky enough. A slayer nation?" Faith shudders." But ok, Monty, I'll play. Let's say your right. What's this got to do with saving Buffy?"
" Awhile back, we fought a demon called Toth. It had a device that would split a person into two. That is, there was two of the person, each taking on different aspects of the person. It was going for Buffy, because it wanted to split her into two, one part a completely human Buffy, the other the essence of the slayer. By killing the human Buffy, it would destroy both."
" Ok… and?"
" That leads me to think that possibly, when Buffy was turned, the Slayer portion of her was turned. The demon in her was corrupted, and made a vampire. It being a dominant part of her, being the slayer, it manifested as the vampire, overwhelming her human self. Buffy, the human Buffy, is in there somewhere. She's just being controlled by the corrupted demon slayer essence. If we could find a way to exorcise the demon…"
" I get it. The human Buffy would emerge. A little shaken, probably needing a drink, but not a vampire, " Faith nods, as if understanding, " That sounds… nuts."
" Rupert, that's all very good, but what about her soul?" Angel says, " I've never heard of any being having two souls."
" Slayers are hardly what you call a ' natural' being, Angel. They were created by magic, a duality in one physical form. I suspect the demon and the person have separate souls within the body."
Angel shakes his head. " I think you're wrong."
" What if we're right though?" Willow asks, speaking up for the first time, " is it right to kill Buffy if she's still alive in there, because her demon self went… evil? Do we just turn our back on her after all the good she's done?"
"And if you're wrong?" Angel asks.
" If they're wrong, if she's still a vamp, I stake her."
" Wait a minute…" Willow starts to protest.
" No, no wait a minute. I shouldn't even be taking this deal. But I'll give you a chance. That's fair. Go ahead, do you're little Scooby thing and figure out how to exorcise her. I'll give you that. But she stays bound until after the whatever you're gonna do is done, and then, if she's still of the pointy tooth crowd, if this doesn't cure her, she's dust. Take it or leave it, that's the deal." She looks around. " Any questions?"
She's greeted with silence.
" I'm taking that as a yes, then. So, get to it, whatever you're going to do. Incentive? If you remember, she's coming after you guys first…" She gives them a hard look. " And she's not kidding."
" Very well, then," Giles speaks up, " Amy and Willow? I want you to look into exorcisms. There are a lot of different rites. Check them out, see what might best fit the situation. Xander, I'll need you to… Xander?" Giles looks around , " Where is Xander? I know he was here earlier…"
" He…uhhh… well, after the little discussion he and Faith had earlier, he thought it best to be elsewhere until everything was settled in here. He and Anya went out back, " Willow moves towards the kitchen, " I'll go get him." She exits through the kitchen door.
" What? Did he think I was gonna come in here and hit him or something?" Faith looks a little insulted.
" You have to admit, Faith, sometimes you're a little less than diplomatic, " Giles puts in.
" Yeah, well, sometimes subtle doesn't work when you're trying to get through…"
They hear a scream from the back. Willow's scream!
Even before the other's react, she's running towards the kitchen. She's the first out the back door, and almost run directly into Willow.
Willow is staring at the edge of the porch, where a swing is set up. On it is sitting Xander and Anya. At first glance, they appear to be in a lover's embrace. Until you see the blood trickling down their necks.
Faith's stomach turns over.
" Go back in the house, Red," She says brusquely.
Willow just stands there, staring. She acts as if she doesn't hear her.
The others spill out of the house.
" What's going on?"
" Are you alright, Willow?"
" Oh, good lord!"
" Take Red back in the house, now!" Faith barks. " all of you, back inside!"
Giles , accompanied by Amy, surround Willow and usher back in the house. Faith starts towards the swing. She notices Angel moving with her.
" You too, Angel, back inside!"
" She's gone, Faith. "
" I guess, I can't sense a presence, except you." Faith sighs. " Dammit."
She walks over, and looks at the bodies. She almost loses it when she realizes Buffy didn't only kill them, but took the time to arrange them so it looked like they were making out on the swing. The creep factor made her want to vomit.
It got worse. On the wall, Buffy had left another message:
Xander and Anya, sitting on a swing
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
Two down. Ready to play?
" Why is she doing this?" Faith growls softly.
" She's trying to shake you, Faith. Get you to act before you're ready, don't do it. Don't let her get to you."
Faith turns to him, her face a mask of cold fury. Her lips are tight and her eyes narrowed. The only fire you see is in her eyes.
" Too late, Angel. Way too late."
To be continued
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