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The Slayer	By : norwalker Category: BtVS AU/AR > FemmeSlash - Female/Female Views: 19613 -:- 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.

Chapter List
- 20
- 21
- 22
The Slayer
By Norwalker
Part 21 of a multipart story.
Summary: What if Faith came first? If she were the slayer before Buffy( if Buffy even became a slayer)? Just my take on what might have happened. AU, of course.
Pairings: Not sure yet. You might be surprised.
Rating: M( R )
Disclaimer: Characters depicted in this story, except for original characters created by the author, are the sole property of Mutant Enemy, Fox and Joss Whedon.

1

Faith finds herself falling. Tumbling and falling. Down a long, dark tunnel.
What the fuck? She wonders as she keeps falling. A cool breeze is blowing up, causing her hair to lift above her head as she falls. How the hell did I get here?
"Dear me, dear me!" Something appears in the air next to her. At first it looks like a large white rabbit, holding a watch, staring at the dial. "I'm so very late!"
She looks closer and sees it's not a rabbit at all, but a guy, maybe 17 or 18, dressed in white tights and a vest. The watch is attached to the vest by a gold fob, and he's wearing a top hat with rabbit ears sticking out of it.
"What the hell? What's going on here?"
The boy looks at her, and smiles. It's a sad, defeated smile.
"Listen to me, there isn't much time," he says softly as they fall, side by side. "Things aren't always like they seem. You gotta be careful who you trust."
"Who are you?"
"Someone who knows…" He starts to fall faster, disappearing. "… someone who cares…" his last words are faint as he disappears into the void.

Ok, this is fucking crazy. Must be a dream…

Suddenly she hits bottom, landing on her feet. She tries to look around, but it's dark, very dark. She can smell a familiar, coppery odor.
"What the hell?" She reaches out, her fingers touching a wall. It's covered with a thick, viscous liquid. She draws her fingers back to her face, to smell them, when a dim light comes on.

Blood. Oh fuck me! The walls are covered with it. Where the hell AM I?

"FAITH!"
Faith whirls around, to see a figure crouching a little ways away. It seems to be squatting near something lying prone on the ground.
She approaches warily. The figure turns it's face to her, and it's Angel. He looks even paler than usual.
"Angel! What's going on? Where are we?"
"I didn't do it, Faith. They're going to blame me, but I didn't do it!" He looks down at the person lying prone on the floor.
Faith notices for the first time there's blood on Angel's hands. She looks at him, surprised. She goes over and looks at the person lying prone… realizing he's  dead now, body full of wounds.  She looks at Angel, confused.
"Dead, he's dead," Angel confirms her suspicions. "I didn't do it…"
"Is he here? Where is he?"  Faith hears a voice behind her. . "I want to meet this … monster, so I can give him my own little gift. "
Faith whirls around, and suddenly she has a sword in her hands. How'd this get here? She sees a small blond woman standing before her, looking angry.
"Where is he? I owe him something."
Faith glances over her shoulder, to warn Angel off. But he's gone. Ok, this is getting weirder by the second.
"He's not here."
"Get outta my way!"
"You can't have Angel. He didn't do this, don't you get that, dummy?" She frowns at Buffy, raising the sword. "It's a lie, all of it."
" Don't listen to her, Buffy. She's evil. She's with Angelus. She wants to kill you."
Faith turns towards the new voice. It's a corpulent man with a mustache and a weasel-like aspect. He's wearing green surgical scrubs, splattered with blood. He's glaring at Faith.
"Who the fuck are you?" Faith shakes her head. "Oh forget it!"
She raises her sword, and sees the blonde girl ready to strike. She can't shake this feeling that she should know this girl. That they're connected somehow. A little distracted, she's almost hit when the girl's sword swishes by her side.

Shit. We'll be connected real good if I'm not careful!

"He killed him. He killed Ford!" Buffy yells at her, slashing out. "Get out of my WAY!"
They start to fight, and Faith is somewhat amazed at how well the other girl is keeping up.  As they move around, she realizes the room has grown lighter, and larger. She looks around, and the setting has changed.
It's not a room anymore, but a courtyard. It's night, but there's a full moon and the yard is brightly lit by the lunar orb.
"Where is he? Give me that fucking killer, or I'm gonna cut your hair starting at the neck," the girl swings a blow at Faith's neck, which she blocks, barely. Shit, she's good. Too good!
"He didn't do it. Don't you get that? You can't have him!"
"Fine, I'll kill you first, then get his murdering blood sucking ass!"
They're all over the courtyard, parrying blows, thrusting to strike, moving up and down  and around, each closely matched.
Faith can feel a sheen of sweat on her body, and she feels her breathing getting heavier. Still, she fights on. She knows if she loses this, there won't be any more fights for her. Ever. Her arms ache with the fires of weariness, but she can't stop; won't stop. It's too important.
She feels her opponent start to flag. She's starting to make mistakes, and Faith takes advantage, getting in some blows. Not enough to stop her, but enough to slow her down, throw her off. Then she gets a strike on her opponents arm.
"I told you. You should've paid more attention during fencing training," The man in the scrubs says, "evidently she did."
Faith feels a hit to her hip. Shit, that hurt!
"Who the fuck are you? What's going on here?"
"Don't you get it yet, Faith? She's a slayer, just like you. And she's really, really mad at you!"
"No shit!" Faith says, delivering a blow to the girl's arm. The blonde's  sword goes flying. Faith brings her sword up over the girl's head. "Look like time's up," She says, ready to deliver the killing blow.
Now, now, pet, that would be cheating, you know!" A voice comes from behind her.
"NOW WHAT?" Faith whirls around in time to see two figures emerge from the shadows. One male, blonde, and one female, brunette. Both are unnaturally pale.
Before she can blink, they're on her, each holding an arm. She drops her sword, and both vamp out.
"Aw, fuck me!" She growls as she struggles against their grip.
"Isn't she just loverly," The female says, in a sing-song voice. "Won't she be tasty? Being a slayer and all."
"Slayer? What're they talking about? I'm the slayer!" Faith feels herself being dragged away. "Fuck, vampires!" The blonde says, starting after them.
Faith hears a scream as she's being dragged away. She struggles, kicking and wriggling, trying to hit whatever she can reach. She's got to get free, or she's toast!
"Bloody useless, that, pet," the blonde vampire says to her. "Face it, your times up. I mean, you know you came with an expiration date, right? Well, this is yours."
"Now, Spike, she's a slayer. She's going to be all wriggly and full of fight. After all, what fun would she be if she just gave up and lay still?"
"True enough, I suppose," Spike grins toothily. "Still, I wish he'd take care of his own messes. This is all so bloody pointless."
The female grabs Faith's chin with her hand, which feels like a vise grip. "Now, dearie, do be good. After all, my little Spikey works so hard to get his slayers. Play nice now." She leans over, licking Faith's neck. "Mmmm… she tastes wonderful, darling."
"Dru, darling. You know she's not for us. Help me out here."
Spike is struggling with a door. A large iron door.
"Hold her while I get this open." Spike shoves Faith into Dru's arms, while he turns his attention to the door.
Faith, seeing her chance, strikes out, elbowing Dru in the gut. She whirls around, her heel connecting with the side of Spike's head.
"OW! Now why'd you go and do that?" Spike complains.
Faith turns to Dru, who has grabbed her arm. She brings the butt of her hand up, striking Dru square in the nose. She backs off, grabbing her nose.
"Ooooo! You bitch! You broke my nose! Bad, bad slayer!" She mutters, holding her nose.
"What are you morons doing?"
Faith whirls around, to see Angel standing behind her.
"Angel! Thank god!  They were about to…"
Her words are choked off as Angel's hand closes around her throat. Her eyes go wide as Angel shakes his head, vamping out.
"Angel," She wheezes.
"You know what your problem is Faith? You really just talk too much!"
Angel pulls her close, grinning evilly as his breath washes over her face. "That's ok. We'll take care of that, once and for all…"
He bends his head to bite her neck!
" Angel ! No…. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She screams, feeling his teeth sink into her neck.

===

Cordelia's eyes are glued to the small TV set as the Blob, now grown large, starts to move down main street, seeking more victims.
She's sitting up in the bed, sheets pulled up around her, a bowl of popcorn on her lap. She's chewing away merrily, enjoying the old horror film on TV.
This is Cordelia's guilty pleasure. She loves the old horror films, especially the ones made in the fifties and early sixties. The more fantastic, the better. More, she almost feels like part of the action when the monster strikes. She can imagine herself in the victim's place; feeling the terror, fleeing hopelessly only to be caught and ravished.
"Run, run you idiot!" She yells at the screen, as the Blob approaches the woman, who seems unaware of its presence. "Don't stand there like a dummy…"
The woman, her ankles surrounded by the gooey mass of the Blob, screams out in horror.
"Angel! No! NOOOOOOOO!"
Faith shoots up in the bed with such force she hits Cordelia accidentally.
Cordelia, engrossed in the movie, almost has heart failure when Faith sits up in the bed screaming. She jumps, and when Faith's arm hits her, she nearly falls out of bed.
The popcorn on her lap goes flying.
"Faith! What the … what's wrong!" Cordelia, half in and half out of the bed, struggles to upright herself.
Faith is still screaming.
"Faith, wake up, wake up baby!" Cordelia rights herself. She grabs Faith and shakes her.
"WHAT? HUH?" Faith, shaken, escapes the last webs of the dream. She looks at Cordelia, frightened and confused. "Where am I ? What's going on? Stop shaking me!" she pushes Cordelia away.
Cordelia, her heart beating fast, retreats a little, frightened herself.
"Faith, you were dreaming and screaming. I just…"
Faith shudders violently. She crosses her arms and hugs herself tightly. She stares at Cordelia as if she doesn't know her.
"Don't touch me!" Faith barks.
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry," Cordelia sounds a little hurt. "I just got scared. I thought…"
Faith shakes her head.
"I'm sorry, I just… " She looks at the bed, now covered with popcorn. "What's going on? Why is there popcorn all over the bed?"
"I'm sorry. When you…  woke up so suddenly, I got scared and well… it kinda went flying."
"What were you doing? What's with the popcorn?"
"I…I…" Cordelia trails off, looking sheepish.
"Cor?"
"I couldn't sleep. So, I decided to watch some TV, and well, I found some tapes… and I started watching… and I got hungry, so I got some popcorn…"
Faith starts laughing. Cordelia feels her muscles relax.
"You are such a goof, Cor," Faith chuckles, looking at the mess. "I swear I've never know anyone who would do what we did, and be so wound up she had to watch movies to relax."  Faith shakes her head, and slips out of the bed. "Well, help me clean this up."
"Are you ok?" Cordelia looks worried, "you kinda well… you must've had a doozy of a dream. You shot up like your butt was on fire."
"Just a dream, no big," Faith walks around to where the bowl is sitting on the floor. "Hey, if you don't get up, I'm gonna make your butt feel like it's on fire. C'mon."
They spend the next 10 minutes picking up whatever popcorn they can find, dumping it in the trash. Finally, nearly back to normal, they get back into bed.
"So, what the heck were you watching, anyway?" Faith asks, bemused.
"Nothing really…" Cordelia crawls into bed, keeping a little distance from Faith.  "Just some stupid movie…"
"Which one?"
"The Blob…" Cordelia braces for more teasing.
"Oh yeah, I love that one."

Huh?

"Huh?"
"Hey, I like old horror movies. Shoot me."
"Yeah, but I mean, don't you like fight this stuff all the time? I mean, it's kind of like working at home…"
"Are you nuts? This stuff is so lame, compared to the real stuff. It's like watching a comedy. It cracks me up." She grabs the remote off the bed. "So, where were you ? In the film?"
"The Blob had just eaten everyone in the diner, and was escaping onto main street…"
"Cool…" Faith rewinds the tape to that point. She settles down, watching the movie. "Well? Aren't you gonna watch?"
Cordelia can't help smiling. She slips down, and insinuates herself under Faith's arm.
Cordy is soon engrossed in the film again, and almost doesn't notice when Faith starts to snore against her shoulder. She gently takes the remote from Faith's hand, and gently lays her down on the bed.
God, she's so sweet when she's asleep. Like a kid.
She leans over and kisses Faith gently on the forehead. Then she turns back to the TV, once again falling under the movie's spell.

2

She runs swiftly down the street, doing her best to get away from the thing following her.  God, what the hell is that? She thinks, feeling her heart pumping fast in her chest. She looks around, but sees no where to hide. Finally, in desperation, she turns down an alley, hoping to lose it.
She scoots down the alley, hoping to hide in the shadows.  Yeah, and that worked so well the last time, didn't it? Still, she's out of ideas; everywhere she's run, everywhere she's tried to hide, it's found her. Shit, the fucking things gotta have eyes everywhere…
When she first saw it, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was huge; larger than any demon or monster she's ever faced. It didn't have a set form. It kept morphing into different shapes, growing arms, claws, mouths, and eyes as it needed them. It moved almost like an amoeba, the whole body changing direction en masse.
Damn, I feel like Steve McQueen in The Blob … this thing just keeps coming after me. And damn, I know I really don't want it to catch me.
It actually had caught her once, and she'd hacked her way free. Shit, the thing didn't even feel it!
She tenses up when she hears a swishing sound at the mouth of the alley. Feeling the panic rising, still she tries to control her breathing, her heart rate… anything it might hear, anything that might bring it after her again.
She hunkers down and waits. And waits. The noise isn't repeated, and she lets out a small sigh of relief. Thank god. It must've moved on. I'll just wait here until I'm sure it's…
Suddenly, the dumpster she's crouched behind is tossed away like a toy. It's here…and damn, it seems even bigger than before. It seems to fill the whole alley in front of her. Whatever, it's blocking her way.
Jumping up, she runs in the only open direction; behind her. The alley is dark, and she can't see … but she runs into a fence at the end.
SHIT!
She starts to climb the fence, dragging herself up and over… and she's stopped. Something grabs her legs, and she feels herself being pulled…she fights it, grabbing onto the chain link fence, hooking her fingers trying to keep from being pulled away.
It's too strong. It pulls harder, and another tentacle, or whatever surrounds her body, pulling on her. She tries to lock her fingers in the fence, but she feels them slowly giving way to the pressure. Slowly, so slowly they bend open, her grip being broken. Finally, her fingers give way, and she feels herself being pulled in.
She turns to confront whatever it is that's pulling on her, and her heart leaps into her throat.
It's Cordelia. Or, it looks like Cordelia. Except it can't be Cordelia, because whatever this is has 8 arms, and all are reaching out, wrapping around her like string on a package. She struggles, but feels herself being dragged down, down, down.
"Cor?" Faith whispers, not believing her eyes.
"Faith, honey. Just come to me, baby," the thing that wears Cordelia's face. "Mmmm… love you so much, I could eat you right up…" Cordy smiles; her smile widens, growing larger, and larger… and larger… until finally, she's just one huge mouth with a lot of arms… and she's pulling Faith in….
Faith jolts awake, snorting.
Then she realizes her arms and legs are tangled in the bed sheets and blankets. Also, she's falling out of bed, and her hands are slipping…
She hits the floor with a crash.
"Faith, are you ok?" Cordy comes into the bedroom, wearing a t-shirt of Faith's, and her thong. "I heard a noise… oh god, you fell out of bed," She rushes over to Faith. Faith is still caught in the web of her dream.
"Got it, got it," Faith says, warning her off. She struggles with the wrapped sheets and blankets. "Just fell outta bed, no big."
"C'mon, let me help you," Cordy squats next to her, trying to untangle the blankets.
"Cor! I got it! I don't need your help, ok?"
Cordelia backs off like she's been slapped.
"Ok, sure… I'll be in there." She points towards the living room. She turns and leaves quickly.
"Shit!" Faith swears, angry with herself. " Arrgh!" She struggles with the bed ware, finally getting herself untangled. She gets up on her feet and follows Cordelia into the living room.
She finds Cordelia sitting at the breakfast bar,  leaning over a cup of something. She smells coffee, and heads for the pot.
"G'morning" She mumbles on passing Cor.  She picks up a cup, and pours some coffee.
"Yeah," Cordy responds, not sounding like anything is particularly good right now.
Faith stands staring at her cup, not wanting to look at Cordelia at the moment.
" Look, Cor, I know I…"
"You always do that. Why do you always do that?" Cordelia complains to her cup, like it's at fault.
"What?"
"You push me away. You make me feel like I don't mean anything. Yeah, ok, I know you've got this real big important thing yougotta do, and my life next to that? Probably nothing. But you think this is easy for me? You think I like feeling like I'm doing something wrong? Especially when I think it's really right? And you make me feel that way, too. Not just my friends and stuff. YOU make me feel it's wrong, cuz you don't think I'm important, or real, or nothing… just a big nothing…"
"Cor," Faith says softly. She puts down her coffee, and comes behind Cordelia, putting her arms around the other girl's waist. "You're not nothing. I'm sorry… I was just freaked from a dream I was having, and…"
"I'm freaked too, Faith," Cordy, despite herself leans back against Faith. "All of this is new to me. I don't know what I’m doing." Just Faith's hands resting on her tummy make her feel tingly.  She feels her heart start to beat faster.  "Sometimes you make me feel so … special… and then you turn around and make me feel like nothing… and I don't know what to do or think or …" The feel of Faith's warm body starts to make her thoughts go crazy. God, Cordy, get a grip!  But she starts to pant, and feels her nipples start to harden."… and I'm kinda freaked and scared not knowing…" She's cut off when Faith kisses her.
She starts to give into the kiss. No, can't do this now. Got to talk. This is too important!  She pushes Faith away, gets up and walks over to the sofa, standing by the arm.
Faith looks like someone just took her favorite toy away. "What?"
"What's going on here, Faith? What do we got here?" Cordy sits down on the arm of the sofa.
"You're asking me?" Faith chuckles softly. "I dunno, Cor. I'm kinda playing it by ear." She looks down at herself. "I can't talk seriously while naked." She looks amused and a little embarrassed. "I'll be right back."
"Faith…"
"I'll be right back," Faith stops, and pats Cordy's knee. "Just give me a sec, here."
She exits, leaving Cordy more confused.
What's going on? Why won't she talk about it? Has she even thought about it at all? I've thought about nothing else! Does she even care about me? Is this one super-sized mistake?  What if she doesn't even…
"Why all the questions, Cor?" Faith says, re-entering the room. She's dressed as she was last night: a pair of boxers and a wife beater. "I didn't ask you to come back, remember? You came on your own." She walks back to the breakfast bar, plopping down on the stool. Her expression is amused. " Didn't you want to? Wasn't it good?"
"I… I…" Cordy finds her mouth dry, all of a sudden. How the HELL does she do that? Cordy suddenly feels like she's treading water. She just flops things right over on me! "I just want to know what we got going here. Does … it mean anything to you at all?"
"Yeah, it means something to me, Cor," Faith says quietly," I just don't know exactly what we have here …" She gets up, going over toCordelia,"… I just know something's happening here…"
"That's not what I'm asking. I know something's going on… I just don't know what you think, what you feel. And sometimes, when I try to get closer, I feel like you're pushing me away," Cordy finds this a lot harder than she thought It'd be. "I just want to know what you think we are? Are we anything? IS there anything?" She looks around the apartment, as if looking for support. She thinks about last night. "Is this real for you? Or…?"
" Real?" Faith looks almost surprised. "Yeah, it's real, Cor. Very real. Are you asking if I care?" She looks directly in her eyes. "Yeah, I care. Do I know what's going to happen now? No, I don't." She says softly. " You know what I am, Cor.  You know what I do, and what can happen to me…" She takes Cordelia's hand, holding it in hers. "Why is it so important to know what this is? It might not even be tomorrow … can't we just enjoy what we have without having to name it?"
" Do you love me?" Cordy blurts out the big question.
"I could lie to you Cor," Faith says softly, letting go of her hand. "I could say that, but it wouldn't be right. Not yet, cuz I don't know what my feelings are for you. I know I care for you, I care about you…"
"That's not the same thing," Cordelia frowns. Give me something! Show me that you need me, and I'm not some substitute for Bree!
"No, it's not. But it could be, but I won't lie to you. I can't do that; I care too much about you to do that." Faith turns, and walks back to the breakfast bar. She sits on the stool. "That's all I can give you right now, Cor. If that's a deal breaker, then I dunno. You have to do what you have to do."
"Faith," Cordelia stands up, walking over to Faith. She stands a couple of feet from her. "I know what I'm feeling for you. I'm scared, ok? This is a big deal for me. I've got a lot to lose…"
"Me too, Cor. I want something with you, I want something with us," Faith says, not looking at her. " Do you really think I like being alone all the time? Moving all over the place, never having a place to call home?" She turns to Cordelia. "That's all I ever wanted, Cor… someplace I could call mine, with someone who loves me  without worrying what others are going to say about that. Can you really say you're ready for that? Think about it Cor, don't just blurt it out. Think about what it'll mean…"
Cordelia stops, and freezes. It means everything. I lose everything. Can I do that? Can I give up everything?
Faith nods, her expression a little sad.
"Not easy, is it Cor? Are you sure enough of your feelings to risk it all on me?"
Cordy stares at the floor, blushing. "I'm sorry, Faith," she says softly.
Faith stands up, and puts an arm around Cordy's shoulder. She raises her chin.
"I'm not mad, baby," she says softly, "I just want to be sure, too." She gently strokes Cordy's cheek. "I don't want either of us hurting here."
Cordy melts against her, tears in her eyes. She buries her head in Faith's shoulder and cries a little. Faith holds her, trying to comfort her.
"It's all right, it's all right."
Cordy pulls away a little, looking into Faith's eyes.
"I've been so unfair to you. I…"
"Shhh," Faith pulls her closer, and kisses her gently.
Cordy responds to the kiss, throwing her arms around Faith's neck. It's a long, warm kiss; each seeks to comfort the other. It deepens, and passions begin to rise.
Without breaking the kiss, Faith scoops Cordelia up into her arms. She carries her over to the sofa, and lays her down on it, laying down next to her. They embrace, and kiss some more, hands wandering over each other.
Things just start to heat up when there's a loud knock at the door.
"Crap!" Faith looks  around at the door. Who the hell? "Go away, busy!" She yells.
The knocking doesn't stop; it becomes more insistent. Faith pushes up off of Cordelia, and both sit up. " Are you DEAF? GO AWAY!"
" FAITH! I gotta talk to you!" Willow's voice is muffled by the door.
"LATER, RED!" Faith yells. "Kinda not up for company right now."
"Maybe I should …" Cordy nods her head towards the bedroom.
"Might be a good idea" Faith sighs. "I don't think she's going away."
There's more pounding on the door. Faith's face gets a slightly exasperated look on it. She looks at Cordelia, who shrugs. Faith gets up, looking for her pants.
The knocking starts again, hard enough to vibrate the door.
"Dammit, Red, hold on. I'm getting dressed!" Faith yells at the door.
Cordelia gets up and walks into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Finding her jeans, she slips them on then goes to the front door. She opens it just as Willow is about to knock again.
"So, what is so important you gotta knock down my door at whatever o'clock it is in the morning?" Faith stares at Willow, with a  none too friendly look.
"Can I come in?" Willow barges in before Faith can answer. She looks and sees bits of clothing still lying about.  Making a face, she heads for the kitchen.
"Please come in," Faith says mockingly, "My casa is your casa." She throws up her hands in semi-surrender.
Willow is standing by the breakfast bar, arms folded across her chest. She isn’t smiling. She stares at Faith.
Faith walks casually over to the sofa, and sits casually on the arm. She stares back at Willow
They spend a minute staring at each other.
"Was there something you wanted?" Faith finally breaks the silence.
"An explanation would be nice."
"Sure. About what?"
"You know about what." Willow stares at her, "Don't play dumb."
"Ok, Red. I'm not a mind reader, ok? Hard NOT to play dumb, when I don't have a clue to what you're talking about."
"Fine, play it that way," Willow walks over, picking up something off the floor. It's one of Faith's wife beaters. "Looks like you were too busy to pick up after yourself last night. Wonder why that is?"
"That's the big deal? You want to criticize my housekeeping skills? Nice one Red. Ok, you got me. I'm a slob sometimes, especially after I've had a hard night…"
"Hard night, huh?"
"Yeah, hard night. Someone almost got beaten and raped last night, and I had to stop it. Got knocked around pretty good. Excuse me if I forgot to pick up my shirt. I was feeling pretty sore…"
Willow goes a little pale. "Oh my god, Faith. I didn't know…" then her expression hardens. "…but that doesn't explain Cordelia Chase showing up on your doorstep last night…"
"It was Cordelia that nearly got beaten and raped, Red," Faith says tightly. "Right after the homecoming game. If I hadn't been passing the gym last night …"
Willow is silent for a moment. Then she shakes her head.
"That still doesn't explain why she was here last night…" She looks at Faith," … practically naked."
"Don't see how that's any of your business, Red," Faith smirks a little. "So, you've taken up spying on me?"
"What? No!" Willow gets a little flustered. "I just happened to be looking out my window…"
"At oh say… midnight?" Faith raises an eyebrow. "That's rather convenient."
"This ISN'T about me!" Willow bursts out, angrily, "Why was Cordelia here last night? I mean, if she'd just gone through what you said, shouldn't she be at home, with her family? Why was she here?"
"I'm guessing you weren't listening. That isn't your business, Red," Faith says quietly. "Who I have up here really isn't any of your concern."
"This is my parent's house, Faith. I have a right to know who comes and goes here."
"You already know, don't you?" Faith shrugs, "so what's the deal?"
"You lied to me!"
"What?"
"Before… when she was here before. You and she…"
Faith doesn't say a word. She just stares at Willow.
Willow flushes angrily.
"So, I guess it's true" Willow says softly, "you're with her." She turns away from Faith, walking towards the breakfast bar. "You've been with her all this time…"
"Yeah, so what?" Faith moves casually into the room. "What's that to you?"
"Are you like, stupid?" Willow spits out. "Or did you forget what she's done to you? And to me? Maybe that head wound of yours never healed."
"I'm not going to sit here and explain myself to you, Willow," Faith sits on the arm of the sofa. "I don't have to. This is my life, and my choice. If you don't like it, well, that's just too bad."
"You owe me some explanation," Willow insists, quietly, "I… we… me and Xander, have fought with you, side by side. What hasCordelia done? Abuse you? Make fun of you? Injure you? Where's the sense there?" Willow shakes her head. "It makes no sense. It's crazy. Why?"
"Maybe I want something, Red. I mean, you have Xander… maybe I want something more than coming home and staring at the TV."
"But why her? Why do you have to be with her?" Willow throws up her hands. "You could have anyone. What about Josh Logan? She's dumped him. Why not him?"
"Yeah, good old Josh," Faith frowns. "Nice guy there, Red."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Josh was the one that almost raped her."
Willow goes pale again. "Josh? Josh Logan? I find that hard to believe! He's like Mr. Level headed…"
"Well, whatever. I was there, I know who was doing what. He tried to kill both of us. Sorry if that doesn't fit your profile of the guy, but he's a nutcase." Faith sighs. "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm with Cordy. If you don't like that, too bad."
"She's trouble Faith. She'll do anything to get her way. I've seen it. I know her a lot better than you do. You're making a big mistake."
"That's my mistake to make."
"That's it?" Willow walks over to her. She stands right in front of Faith. "That's all you got to say? Fine. Well, here's the deal. If you're with her, you can't be with us. I won't pretend to like her, not for yours or anyone else's sake. You choose her, over me and Xander, and we're done."
"That's your game? It's her or you guys?" Faith's lips tighten a little. "You want me to choose?"
"Yeah," Willow nods.
"Ok," Faith shrugs. "Her."
Willow feels like someone just punched her in the stomach. But she doesn't show it outside. Her eye doesn't even flicker. She walks towards the door. She opens it, and turns.
"Fine. Be a moron," She says, a harsh note in her voice," Your choice. She's gonna screw you, you know. She screws everyone, Faith," Willow's mouth tightens. " Good luck." She turns, and leaves.
Faith walks over to the door to close it. She watches as Willow crosses the backyard, not looking back.  She hears the door slam as Willow disappears into her house.
She stands for awhile, looking at the back door on the main house, frowning. Then she steps back, closing the door.
"Are you ok?" Cordy, having emerged from the bedroom, looks at her.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Faith replies, going to her. "Not the first time she's been mad at me. It'll blow over."
"I dunno, Faith. She sounded pretty mad."
"She'll get over it, or she won't" Faith shrugs.
"Still, she's your friend, Faith…"
"She made her choice, Cor," Faith reaches out, pulling Cordelia close. "So did I." She kisses Cordelia.
They kiss for awhile, then Cordelia breaks the kiss.
"I better go…" Cordy frowns." By now, dad probably has half the Sunnydale PD out looking for me."
"Like that?" Faith looks at Cordelia, a little lust in her eyes.
Cordelia is dressed the same as when she came last night. A gold chain around her waist and neck, a very small thong just barely covering her sex,  heels and nothing else but her smile.
"I came here like this," Cordelia smiles. She walks over, and shrugs on her coat.  "Anyway, wasn't planning on stopping anywhere. Going straight home."
"Yeah, don't you have that … prom thing to get ready for?"
Cordelia makes a face." God, I so don't want to do that now. It seems so lame, the Homecoming Dance. I mean, who cares who's Homecoming Queen, anyway?"
"Uhhh… you?" Faith grins. "It's ok, it's important to you. You should do it."
"Yeah. Got an image to keep up, don't I?" She furrows her brow. "You don't think Willow will…?" She looks a little worried.
"No. She's angry, but she's not stupid. She won't blab," Faith grins. "Who'd believe it anyway, right? You and me?" She tilts her head.
"I guess not," Cordy admits. She looks at the door, then back at Faith. "Really not wanting to go."
"Well, ok, but you're going to have to explain it to the Rosenbergs when the Sunnydale police bust down the door…"
"Ok, ok, I'm going," Cordy makes her way to the door. "See you later?"
"Won't you be busy smooching with your date or something?" Faith teases her.
"Oh please. Joe Morgan? Give me a break!" Cordy makes a face, "anyway, dopey, I want to be with you!"
"Well, check in after. Maybe I'll be here…"
"You're terrible!"
"Is that why you keep coming back?"
Cordy makes an impatient noise, then goes over, and kisses Faith one last time. Then she slips out the door.
Faith shakes her head, and heads for the shower.

3

Cornell looks into the oracle pool with a faint smile on his face.
Interesting. Seems my dear little girl has had an unexpected side effect. Splitting the slayer's friends from her. I knew I could count on her to be helpful.
This almost made up for the failure of Josh Logan in his mind. Almost.
He'd been 'playing' with Josh Logan's mind for awhile now. Planting thoughts, manipulating events, he'd brought the boy to a place of rage. All for a purpose.
He'd wanted him to attack his daughter. Just as he had.
He knew that if Cordy were confronted violently; truly feared for her life, she would've accessed her dark side. It would've brought out her demon heritage. Something that to this point had been subsumed. Something that he wanted, needed to come out.
Then that interfering little bit of a slayer had to show up. Ruined everything!
He wouldn't have actually let Cordelia get hurt. Not much, anyway. At any time he could've reached out and fried the boy's brain like an egg in a skillet. The boy didn't matter; he was only a tool. How Cordelia reacted; that was the point. But before she could reveal her true self, before she could change and tear the boy to shreds, that meddlesome slayer had shown up.
How? How did she know to be there at that time? She's only a human! Damn her!
Still, something positive has come out of this fiasco. He doffed his robe, carefully hanging it on the hook by the oracle pool. This whole episode might not be totally wasted. It seems her friends are about to desert her. All because of my dear little girl. Hmmm… this might work out all right, after all.
Still, there's the matter of Cordelia's awakening. I need her to come into her heritage. I need her to be ready to betray her lover at the most opportune time. Now that this Logan fellow is out of it, I'll have to find another way to awaken her true self.
Ah well, a father's work is never done! I'll just have to think of something else.
I always do!
Whistling a cheery little tune, Cornell walks out of the chamber.

4

"Where've you been, Cordelia?"
"Daddy! Hi!"
Oh, crap! I almost made it too. How'm I gonna explain this one?
Cordelia turns around, on the first riser upstairs to her room. She looks down the hallway to see her father at the door of his study. He looks  somewhat angry. Sighing softly, she comes downstairs.
"Daddy, I'm sorry. I was at a friends house. I should've called you." Well, that isn't ENTIRELY a lie. "I'm really sorry, daddy."
Cornell Chase frowns, looking unhappy.
"I need to see you in my study, young lady."
Oh crap. 'Young lady'. Majorly badness.
"Ok, dad, if I can just go up and change…"
"Now!" Cornell turns, and goes into his study.
I'm so in for it. Damn. Damn. Damn!!!
Cordelia meekly follows her father into his study.
Cornell is sitting behind his desk. He is fighting back a smile, trying to do his best to look severe.
"Have a seat, Cordelia. Oh, and take off your coat, please."
Oh… shit!
"Daddy, really, I'd rather not. I'm kind of cold."
"Cordelia Chase. Haven't I taught you better than that?" Cornell stares at his daughter. "You weren't raised in a barn. We don't wear coats or hats indoors. Now, please, remove the coat." He waves at the coat rack by the door.
"Daddy! I can't…" Cordelia stands there, red faced. Oh, god, if he sees how I'm dressed, he'll have a fit!
"Cordelia, you're being a child! Remove that coat at once!" He slams his fist on the desk. "Why're you being so defiant, young lady? You're in enough trouble already!"
"I wasn't being…"
"Don't you take that tone with me. Now, remove that coat immediately!"
Cordelia lowers her eyes, and starts unbuttoning the coat. She opens it and starts to remove it when Cornell widens his eyes, looking surprised.
"I see," Cornell says, voice sounding shocked. He stares intently at his daughter, his eyes slowly raking over her dress… or lack of same.
He stares at her for such a long time, and with such interest, that Cordelia begins to feel extremely uncomfortable.
What is he looking at? Cordelia has an extremely squicky reaction to Cornell's gaze.  Why is he looking at me like that? It's almost…
"So, would you like to explain this? out all night, dressed like that! This is… shameful, Cordelia!" He stands up. His expression is severe and disapproving.
Cordelia notices, however, that he seems to be bending a little forward, as if trying to hide something.  Oh god, is he like… getting turned on… looking at me? She feels intensely creeped out.
"Daddy, I…" Cordelia sits, feeling ashamed. And dirty. Her father's gaze has definitely made her feel dirty. God, why?
Cornell comes from behind his desk , and walks over to her. He stands behind her, putting his hands on her bare shoulders. Cordelia shivers, feeling very strange and wigged.
"After all that went on last night? I had the police here for hours, going over what happened at the gym. I thought you'd be sensible enough to stay home after an experience like that, but I guess that's what I get for thinking. And to top it off, you go out of here, dressed like a common hooker. This is…" Cornell shakes his head.  He squeezes her shoulders, sending chills through her. "… beyond acceptable, Cordelia!"
"I'm so sorry, Daddy," Cordelia says in a small voice.
"Sorry? That doesn't make it better. Imagine how I felt when I discovered this morning you were gone! I thought all sorts of things might have happened to you. I was about to call the police again when you showed up!" He walks in front of her, and stares at her again. Stares intently at her nudity.
Again, Cordelia gets the odd feeling that looking at her is making her father … Ok, that's just sick, Cordelia Chase. God, how can you even think something like that about your own father!!!! It's  so …perverted!
Finally, Cornell, seeming to come out of a dream, rears back and slaps his daughter.
Cordelia cowers, holding her cheek where he slapped her.  She looks up at him with wide, frightened eyes. "Daddy… you've never hit me before." She says, in a low voice.
"Who is it, Cordelia? Who's the one you dressed up like a whore for?" Cornell turns red with anger. He hovers over her  "Tell meCordelia! I want the name of the boy who you disgraced us with!"
"There wasn't a boy," Cordelia cries out, "I didn't do anything!" She lies.
"You go out like this," He gestures at her, and his hand brushes against her breast. Cordelia shivers."… and expect me to believe you didn't do anything?" Cornell barks, "What kind of fool do you take me for, Cordelia? Who was it?!"
"There wasn't a BOY!" Cordelia yells. She pushes out of her chair, to get away from him. "Leave me alone!"
She runs for the door, and opens it. He quickly follows her, and catches her arm. He pulls her around, bringing her close to himself.
She can feel something poking near her stomach. She looks down to see her father's pants tented out.
Oh, my god he is turned on! He's … oh god, this is horrible!
"You're not going ANYWHERE, young lady," Cornell pulls her back in, and shoving her along, pushes her down into the chair. "I want answers, and I want them now!"
"It's my life! I'll do what I want!" Cordelia replies angrily, and confused "You can't force me to tell you anything!" She crosses her arms over her chest, covering herself. God, I can't take him looking at me like that!
"You don't understand, do you Cordelia?" Cornell switches tacks, calming his voice. "You're not just free to do whatever you wish. You're a Chase. You have certain … obligations, responsibilities." He comes and again, stands over her. He lightly strokes his fingers along her bare shoulders. " I blame myself for this. Obviously, I've spoiled you terribly. I thought, after your mother died… I just couldn't bear to see you upset…"  Oh, this is good! Get the violins."… I should've been firmer with you. I should've seen you needed some discipline…" He pinches her skin, causing her to start"… I made mistakes,  but that still doesn't excuse… this…" Cordelia swears she hears lust along with disapproval in his voice. "I'm afraid things will just have to change around here…"  Cordelia can't see the lustful leer on his face, or she'd probably run as fast as her legs would carry her "… you have the family name to uphold. You're a Chase. That means something."
Cordelia feels ice forming in her stomach. " Change?" She asks, not liking the sound of that.
"Yes, change. I see I'm going to have to take a much firmer hand with you from now on…" He squeezes her shoulders firmly. "I'm going to have to take a more hands on approach in your life from now on, I think."
"Daddy, I… really, I'm so very sorry I worried you. Couldn't we just …forget this?" Cordy pleads. Vague images  float in her mind. Things she hasn't thought about in years… things she hasn't wanted to think about. Things that frighten her.
"I'm sorry, Sugarpop," Cornell says, releasing her, and walking towards the study door. "I've let things go for too long. Much too long."
Cordelia sits silently, feeling fear, real fear, of her father for the first time in a long time. Fear and something else. Something she's never felt.
Shame. Over what she's done. And something else. Something dark and terrible. Something that makes her shiver, not entirely in fear.
"No my dear," He smiles, almost as if he can read her reactions, " I think it's time you learn something of your family history. Of your responsibilities of being a part of this family…" He starts to close the door. "After all, Cordelia. Privilege has its price."
Smiling smugly, he closes the study door.

To be continued

The Slayer
By Norwalker
Part 21 of a multipart story.
Summary: What if Faith came first? If she were the slayer before Buffy( if Buffy even became a slayer)? Just my take on what might have happened. AU, of course.
Pairings: Not sure yet. You might be surprised.
Rating: M( R )
Disclaimer: Characters depicted in this story, except for original characters created by the author, are the sole property of Mutant Enemy, Fox and Joss Whedon.

1

Faith finds herself falling. Tumbling and falling. Down a long, dark tunnel.
What the fuck? She wonders as she keeps falling. A cool breeze is blowing up, causing her hair to lift above her head as she falls. How the hell did I get here?
"Dear me, dear me!" Something appears in the air next to her. At first it looks like a large white rabbit, holding a watch, staring at the dial. "I'm so very late!"
She looks closer and sees it's not a rabbit at all, but a guy, maybe 17 or 18, dressed in white tights and a vest. The watch is attached to the vest by a gold fob, and he's wearing a top hat with rabbit ears sticking out of it.
"What the hell? What's going on here?"
The boy looks at her, and smiles. It's a sad, defeated smile.
"Listen to me, there isn't much time," he says softly as they fall, side by side. "Things aren't always like they seem. You gotta be careful who you trust."
"Who are you?"
"Someone who knows…" He starts to fall faster, disappearing. "… someone who cares…" his last words are faint as he disappears into the void.

Ok, this is fucking crazy. Must be a dream…

Suddenly she hits bottom, landing on her feet. She tries to look around, but it's dark, very dark. She can smell a familiar, coppery odor.
"What the hell?" She reaches out, her fingers touching a wall. It's covered with a thick, viscous liquid. She draws her fingers back to her face, to smell them, when a dim light comes on.

Blood. Oh fuck me! The walls are covered with it. Where the hell AM I?

"FAITH!"
Faith whirls around, to see a figure crouching a little ways away. It seems to be squatting near something lying prone on the ground.
She approaches warily. The figure turns it's face to her, and it's Angel. He looks even paler than usual.
"Angel! What's going on? Where are we?"
"I didn't do it, Faith. They're going to blame me, but I didn't do it!" He looks down at the person lying prone on the floor.
Faith notices for the first time there's blood on Angel's hands. She looks at him, surprised. She goes over and looks at the person lying prone… realizing he's  dead now, body full of wounds.  She looks at Angel, confused.
"Dead, he's dead," Angel confirms her suspicions. "I didn't do it…"
"Is he here? Where is he?"  Faith hears a voice behind her. . "I want to meet this … monster, so I can give him my own little gift. "
Faith whirls around, and suddenly she has a sword in her hands. How'd this get here? She sees a small blond woman standing before her, looking angry.
"Where is he? I owe him something."
Faith glances over her shoulder, to warn Angel off. But he's gone. Ok, this is getting weirder by the second.
"He's not here."
"Get outta my way!"
"You can't have Angel. He didn't do this, don't you get that, dummy?" She frowns at Buffy, raising the sword. "It's a lie, all of it."
" Don't listen to her, Buffy. She's evil. She's with Angelus. She wants to kill you."
Faith turns towards the new voice. It's a corpulent man with a mustache and a weasel-like aspect. He's wearing green surgical scrubs, splattered with blood. He's glaring at Faith.
"Who the fuck are you?" Faith shakes her head. "Oh forget it!"
She raises her sword, and sees the blonde girl ready to strike. She can't shake this feeling that she should know this girl. That they're connected somehow. A little distracted, she's almost hit when the girl's sword swishes by her side.

Shit. We'll be connected real good if I'm not careful!

"He killed him. He killed Ford!" Buffy yells at her, slashing out. "Get out of my WAY!"
They start to fight, and Faith is somewhat amazed at how well the other girl is keeping up.  As they move around, she realizes the room has grown lighter, and larger. She looks around, and the setting has changed.
It's not a room anymore, but a courtyard. It's night, but there's a full moon and the yard is brightly lit by the lunar orb.
"Where is he? Give me that fucking killer, or I'm gonna cut your hair starting at the neck," the girl swings a blow at Faith's neck, which she blocks, barely. Shit, she's good. Too good!
"He didn't do it. Don't you get that? You can't have him!"
"Fine, I'll kill you first, then get his murdering blood sucking ass!"
They're all over the courtyard, parrying blows, thrusting to strike, moving up and down  and around, each closely matched.
Faith can feel a sheen of sweat on her body, and she feels her breathing getting heavier. Still, she fights on. She knows if she loses this, there won't be any more fights for her. Ever. Her arms ache with the fires of weariness, but she can't stop; won't stop. It's too important.
She feels her opponent start to flag. She's starting to make mistakes, and Faith takes advantage, getting in some blows. Not enough to stop her, but enough to slow her down, throw her off. Then she gets a strike on her opponents arm.
"I told you. You should've paid more attention during fencing training," The man in the scrubs says, "evidently she did."
Faith feels a hit to her hip. Shit, that hurt!
"Who the fuck are you? What's going on here?"
"Don't you get it yet, Faith? She's a slayer, just like you. And she's really, really mad at you!"
"No shit!" Faith says, delivering a blow to the girl's arm. The blonde's  sword goes flying. Faith brings her sword up over the girl's head. "Look like time's up," She says, ready to deliver the killing blow.
Now, now, pet, that would be cheating, you know!" A voice comes from behind her.
"NOW WHAT?" Faith whirls around in time to see two figures emerge from the shadows. One male, blonde, and one female, brunette. Both are unnaturally pale.
Before she can blink, they're on her, each holding an arm. She drops her sword, and both vamp out.
"Aw, fuck me!" She growls as she struggles against their grip.
"Isn't she just loverly," The female says, in a sing-song voice. "Won't she be tasty? Being a slayer and all."
"Slayer? What're they talking about? I'm the slayer!" Faith feels herself being dragged away. "Fuck, vampires!" The blonde says, starting after them.
Faith hears a scream as she's being dragged away. She struggles, kicking and wriggling, trying to hit whatever she can reach. She's got to get free, or she's toast!
"Bloody useless, that, pet," the blonde vampire says to her. "Face it, your times up. I mean, you know you came with an expiration date, right? Well, this is yours."
"Now, Spike, she's a slayer. She's going to be all wriggly and full of fight. After all, what fun would she be if she just gave up and lay still?"
"True enough, I suppose," Spike grins toothily. "Still, I wish he'd take care of his own messes. This is all so bloody pointless."
The female grabs Faith's chin with her hand, which feels like a vise grip. "Now, dearie, do be good. After all, my little Spikey works so hard to get his slayers. Play nice now." She leans over, licking Faith's neck. "Mmmm… she tastes wonderful, darling."
"Dru, darling. You know she's not for us. Help me out here."
Spike is struggling with a door. A large iron door.
"Hold her while I get this open." Spike shoves Faith into Dru's arms, while he turns his attention to the door.
Faith, seeing her chance, strikes out, elbowing Dru in the gut. She whirls around, her heel connecting with the side of Spike's head.
"OW! Now why'd you go and do that?" Spike complains.
Faith turns to Dru, who has grabbed her arm. She brings the butt of her hand up, striking Dru square in the nose. She backs off, grabbing her nose.
"Ooooo! You bitch! You broke my nose! Bad, bad slayer!" She mutters, holding her nose.
"What are you morons doing?"
Faith whirls around, to see Angel standing behind her.
"Angel! Thank god!  They were about to…"
Her words are choked off as Angel's hand closes around her throat. Her eyes go wide as Angel shakes his head, vamping out.
"Angel," She wheezes.
"You know what your problem is Faith? You really just talk too much!"
Angel pulls her close, grinning evilly as his breath washes over her face. "That's ok. We'll take care of that, once and for all…"
He bends his head to bite her neck!
" Angel ! No…. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She screams, feeling his teeth sink into her neck.

===

Cordelia's eyes are glued to the small TV set as the Blob, now grown large, starts to move down main street, seeking more victims.
She's sitting up in the bed, sheets pulled up around her, a bowl of popcorn on her lap. She's chewing away merrily, enjoying the old horror film on TV.
This is Cordelia's guilty pleasure. She loves the old horror films, especially the ones made in the fifties and early sixties. The more fantastic, the better. More, she almost feels like part of the action when the monster strikes. She can imagine herself in the victim's place; feeling the terror, fleeing hopelessly only to be caught and ravished.
"Run, run you idiot!" She yells at the screen, as the Blob approaches the woman, who seems unaware of its presence. "Don't stand there like a dummy…"
The woman, her ankles surrounded by the gooey mass of the Blob, screams out in horror.
"Angel! No! NOOOOOOOO!"
Faith shoots up in the bed with such force she hits Cordelia accidentally.
Cordelia, engrossed in the movie, almost has heart failure when Faith sits up in the bed screaming. She jumps, and when Faith's arm hits her, she nearly falls out of bed.
The popcorn on her lap goes flying.
"Faith! What the … what's wrong!" Cordelia, half in and half out of the bed, struggles to upright herself.
Faith is still screaming.
"Faith, wake up, wake up baby!" Cordelia rights herself. She grabs Faith and shakes her.
"WHAT? HUH?" Faith, shaken, escapes the last webs of the dream. She looks at Cordelia, frightened and confused. "Where am I ? What's going on? Stop shaking me!" she pushes Cordelia away.
Cordelia, her heart beating fast, retreats a little, frightened herself.
"Faith, you were dreaming and screaming. I just…"
Faith shudders violently. She crosses her arms and hugs herself tightly. She stares at Cordelia as if she doesn't know her.
"Don't touch me!" Faith barks.
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry," Cordelia sounds a little hurt. "I just got scared. I thought…"
Faith shakes her head.
"I'm sorry, I just… " She looks at the bed, now covered with popcorn. "What's going on? Why is there popcorn all over the bed?"
"I'm sorry. When you…  woke up so suddenly, I got scared and well… it kinda went flying."
"What were you doing? What's with the popcorn?"
"I…I…" Cordelia trails off, looking sheepish.
"Cor?"
"I couldn't sleep. So, I decided to watch some TV, and well, I found some tapes… and I started watching… and I got hungry, so I got some popcorn…"
Faith starts laughing. Cordelia feels her muscles relax.
"You are such a goof, Cor," Faith chuckles, looking at the mess. "I swear I've never know anyone who would do what we did, and be so wound up she had to watch movies to relax."  Faith shakes her head, and slips out of the bed. "Well, help me clean this up."
"Are you ok?" Cordelia looks worried, "you kinda well… you must've had a doozy of a dream. You shot up like your butt was on fire."
"Just a dream, no big," Faith walks around to where the bowl is sitting on the floor. "Hey, if you don't get up, I'm gonna make your butt feel like it's on fire. C'mon."
They spend the next 10 minutes picking up whatever popcorn they can find, dumping it in the trash. Finally, nearly back to normal, they get back into bed.
"So, what the heck were you watching, anyway?" Faith asks, bemused.
"Nothing really…" Cordelia crawls into bed, keeping a little distance from Faith.  "Just some stupid movie…"
"Which one?"
"The Blob…" Cordelia braces for more teasing.
"Oh yeah, I love that one."

Huh?

"Huh?"
"Hey, I like old horror movies. Shoot me."
"Yeah, but I mean, don't you like fight this stuff all the time? I mean, it's kind of like working at home…"
"Are you nuts? This stuff is so lame, compared to the real stuff. It's like watching a comedy. It cracks me up." She grabs the remote off the bed. "So, where were you ? In the film?"
"The Blob had just eaten everyone in the diner, and was escaping onto main street…"
"Cool…" Faith rewinds the tape to that point. She settles down, watching the movie. "Well? Aren't you gonna watch?"
Cordelia can't help smiling. She slips down, and insinuates herself under Faith's arm.
Cordy is soon engrossed in the film again, and almost doesn't notice when Faith starts to snore against her shoulder. She gently takes the remote from Faith's hand, and gently lays her down on the bed.
God, she's so sweet when she's asleep. Like a kid.
She leans over and kisses Faith gently on the forehead. Then she turns back to the TV, once again falling under the movie's spell.

2

She runs swiftly down the street, doing her best to get away from the thing following her.  God, what the hell is that? She thinks, feeling her heart pumping fast in her chest. She looks around, but sees no where to hide. Finally, in desperation, she turns down an alley, hoping to lose it.
She scoots down the alley, hoping to hide in the shadows.  Yeah, and that worked so well the last time, didn't it? Still, she's out of ideas; everywhere she's run, everywhere she's tried to hide, it's found her. Shit, the fucking things gotta have eyes everywhere…
When she first saw it, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was huge; larger than any demon or monster she's ever faced. It didn't have a set form. It kept morphing into different shapes, growing arms, claws, mouths, and eyes as it needed them. It moved almost like an amoeba, the whole body changing direction en masse.
Damn, I feel like Steve McQueen in The Blob … this thing just keeps coming after me. And damn, I know I really don't want it to catch me.
It actually had caught her once, and she'd hacked her way free. Shit, the thing didn't even feel it!
She tenses up when she hears a swishing sound at the mouth of the alley. Feeling the panic rising, still she tries to control her breathing, her heart rate… anything it might hear, anything that might bring it after her again.
She hunkers down and waits. And waits. The noise isn't repeated, and she lets out a small sigh of relief. Thank god. It must've moved on. I'll just wait here until I'm sure it's…
Suddenly, the dumpster she's crouched behind is tossed away like a toy. It's here…and damn, it seems even bigger than before. It seems to fill the whole alley in front of her. Whatever, it's blocking her way.
Jumping up, she runs in the only open direction; behind her. The alley is dark, and she can't see … but she runs into a fence at the end.
SHIT!
She starts to climb the fence, dragging herself up and over… and she's stopped. Something grabs her legs, and she feels herself being pulled…she fights it, grabbing onto the chain link fence, hooking her fingers trying to keep from being pulled away.
It's too strong. It pulls harder, and another tentacle, or whatever surrounds her body, pulling on her. She tries to lock her fingers in the fence, but she feels them slowly giving way to the pressure. Slowly, so slowly they bend open, her grip being broken. Finally, her fingers give way, and she feels herself being pulled in.
She turns to confront whatever it is that's pulling on her, and her heart leaps into her throat.
It's Cordelia. Or, it looks like Cordelia. Except it can't be Cordelia, because whatever this is has 8 arms, and all are reaching out, wrapping around her like string on a package. She struggles, but feels herself being dragged down, down, down.
"Cor?" Faith whispers, not believing her eyes.
"Faith, honey. Just come to me, baby," the thing that wears Cordelia's face. "Mmmm… love you so much, I could eat you right up…" Cordy smiles; her smile widens, growing larger, and larger… and larger… until finally, she's just one huge mouth with a lot of arms… and she's pulling Faith in….
Faith jolts awake, snorting.
Then she realizes her arms and legs are tangled in the bed sheets and blankets. Also, she's falling out of bed, and her hands are slipping…
She hits the floor with a crash.
"Faith, are you ok?" Cordy comes into the bedroom, wearing a t-shirt of Faith's, and her thong. "I heard a noise… oh god, you fell out of bed," She rushes over to Faith. Faith is still caught in the web of her dream.
"Got it, got it," Faith says, warning her off. She struggles with the wrapped sheets and blankets. "Just fell outta bed, no big."
"C'mon, let me help you," Cordy squats next to her, trying to untangle the blankets.
"Cor! I got it! I don't need your help, ok?"
Cordelia backs off like she's been slapped.
"Ok, sure… I'll be in there." She points towards the living room. She turns and leaves quickly.
"Shit!" Faith swears, angry with herself. " Arrgh!" She struggles with the bed ware, finally getting herself untangled. She gets up on her feet and follows Cordelia into the living room.
She finds Cordelia sitting at the breakfast bar,  leaning over a cup of something. She smells coffee, and heads for the pot.
"G'morning" She mumbles on passing Cor.  She picks up a cup, and pours some coffee.
"Yeah," Cordy responds, not sounding like anything is particularly good right now.
Faith stands staring at her cup, not wanting to look at Cordelia at the moment.
" Look, Cor, I know I…"
"You always do that. Why do you always do that?" Cordelia complains to her cup, like it's at fault.
"What?"
"You push me away. You make me feel like I don't mean anything. Yeah, ok, I know you've got this real big important thing yougotta do, and my life next to that? Probably nothing. But you think this is easy for me? You think I like feeling like I'm doing something wrong? Especially when I think it's really right? And you make me feel that way, too. Not just my friends and stuff. YOU make me feel it's wrong, cuz you don't think I'm important, or real, or nothing… just a big nothing…"
"Cor," Faith says softly. She puts down her coffee, and comes behind Cordelia, putting her arms around the other girl's waist. "You're not nothing. I'm sorry… I was just freaked from a dream I was having, and…"
"I'm freaked too, Faith," Cordy, despite herself leans back against Faith. "All of this is new to me. I don't know what I’m doing." Just Faith's hands resting on her tummy make her feel tingly.  She feels her heart start to beat faster.  "Sometimes you make me feel so … special… and then you turn around and make me feel like nothing… and I don't know what to do or think or …" The feel of Faith's warm body starts to make her thoughts go crazy. God, Cordy, get a grip!  But she starts to pant, and feels her nipples start to harden."… and I'm kinda freaked and scared not knowing…" She's cut off when Faith kisses her.
She starts to give into the kiss. No, can't do this now. Got to talk. This is too important!  She pushes Faith away, gets up and walks over to the sofa, standing by the arm.
Faith looks like someone just took her favorite toy away. "What?"
"What's going on here, Faith? What do we got here?" Cordy sits down on the arm of the sofa.
"You're asking me?" Faith chuckles softly. "I dunno, Cor. I'm kinda playing it by ear." She looks down at herself. "I can't talk seriously while naked." She looks amused and a little embarrassed. "I'll be right back."
"Faith…"
"I'll be right back," Faith stops, and pats Cordy's knee. "Just give me a sec, here."
She exits, leaving Cordy more confused.
What's going on? Why won't she talk about it? Has she even thought about it at all? I've thought about nothing else! Does she even care about me? Is this one super-sized mistake?  What if she doesn't even…
"Why all the questions, Cor?" Faith says, re-entering the room. She's dressed as she was last night: a pair of boxers and a wife beater. "I didn't ask you to come back, remember? You came on your own." She walks back to the breakfast bar, plopping down on the stool. Her expression is amused. " Didn't you want to? Wasn't it good?"
"I… I…" Cordy finds her mouth dry, all of a sudden. How the HELL does she do that? Cordy suddenly feels like she's treading water. She just flops things right over on me! "I just want to know what we got going here. Does … it mean anything to you at all?"
"Yeah, it means something to me, Cor," Faith says quietly," I just don't know exactly what we have here …" She gets up, going over toCordelia,"… I just know something's happening here…"
"That's not what I'm asking. I know something's going on… I just don't know what you think, what you feel. And sometimes, when I try to get closer, I feel like you're pushing me away," Cordy finds this a lot harder than she thought It'd be. "I just want to know what you think we are? Are we anything? IS there anything?" She looks around the apartment, as if looking for support. She thinks about last night. "Is this real for you? Or…?"
" Real?" Faith looks almost surprised. "Yeah, it's real, Cor. Very real. Are you asking if I care?" She looks directly in her eyes. "Yeah, I care. Do I know what's going to happen now? No, I don't." She says softly. " You know what I am, Cor.  You know what I do, and what can happen to me…" She takes Cordelia's hand, holding it in hers. "Why is it so important to know what this is? It might not even be tomorrow … can't we just enjoy what we have without having to name it?"
" Do you love me?" Cordy blurts out the big question.
"I could lie to you Cor," Faith says softly, letting go of her hand. "I could say that, but it wouldn't be right. Not yet, cuz I don't know what my feelings are for you. I know I care for you, I care about you…"
"That's not the same thing," Cordelia frowns. Give me something! Show me that you need me, and I'm not some substitute for Bree!
"No, it's not. But it could be, but I won't lie to you. I can't do that; I care too much about you to do that." Faith turns, and walks back to the breakfast bar. She sits on the stool. "That's all I can give you right now, Cor. If that's a deal breaker, then I dunno. You have to do what you have to do."
"Faith," Cordelia stands up, walking over to Faith. She stands a couple of feet from her. "I know what I'm feeling for you. I'm scared, ok? This is a big deal for me. I've got a lot to lose…"
"Me too, Cor. I want something with you, I want something with us," Faith says, not looking at her. " Do you really think I like being alone all the time? Moving all over the place, never having a place to call home?" She turns to Cordelia. "That's all I ever wanted, Cor… someplace I could call mine, with someone who loves me  without worrying what others are going to say about that. Can you really say you're ready for that? Think about it Cor, don't just blurt it out. Think about what it'll mean…"
Cordelia stops, and freezes. It means everything. I lose everything. Can I do that? Can I give up everything?
Faith nods, her expression a little sad.
"Not easy, is it Cor? Are you sure enough of your feelings to risk it all on me?"
Cordy stares at the floor, blushing. "I'm sorry, Faith," she says softly.
Faith stands up, and puts an arm around Cordy's shoulder. She raises her chin.
"I'm not mad, baby," she says softly, "I just want to be sure, too." She gently strokes Cordy's cheek. "I don't want either of us hurting here."
Cordy melts against her, tears in her eyes. She buries her head in Faith's shoulder and cries a little. Faith holds her, trying to comfort her.
"It's all right, it's all right."
Cordy pulls away a little, looking into Faith's eyes.
"I've been so unfair to you. I…"
"Shhh," Faith pulls her closer, and kisses her gently.
Cordy responds to the kiss, throwing her arms around Faith's neck. It's a long, warm kiss; each seeks to comfort the other. It deepens, and passions begin to rise.
Without breaking the kiss, Faith scoops Cordelia up into her arms. She carries her over to the sofa, and lays her down on it, laying down next to her. They embrace, and kiss some more, hands wandering over each other.
Things just start to heat up when there's a loud knock at the door.
"Crap!" Faith looks  around at the door. Who the hell? "Go away, busy!" She yells.
The knocking doesn't stop; it becomes more insistent. Faith pushes up off of Cordelia, and both sit up. " Are you DEAF? GO AWAY!"
" FAITH! I gotta talk to you!" Willow's voice is muffled by the door.
"LATER, RED!" Faith yells. "Kinda not up for company right now."
"Maybe I should …" Cordy nods her head towards the bedroom.
"Might be a good idea" Faith sighs. "I don't think she's going away."
There's more pounding on the door. Faith's face gets a slightly exasperated look on it. She looks at Cordelia, who shrugs. Faith gets up, looking for her pants.
The knocking starts again, hard enough to vibrate the door.
"Dammit, Red, hold on. I'm getting dressed!" Faith yells at the door.
Cordelia gets up and walks into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Finding her jeans, she slips them on then goes to the front door. She opens it just as Willow is about to knock again.
"So, what is so important you gotta knock down my door at whatever o'clock it is in the morning?" Faith stares at Willow, with a  none too friendly look.
"Can I come in?" Willow barges in before Faith can answer. She looks and sees bits of clothing still lying about.  Making a face, she heads for the kitchen.
"Please come in," Faith says mockingly, "My casa is your casa." She throws up her hands in semi-surrender.
Willow is standing by the breakfast bar, arms folded across her chest. She isn’t smiling. She stares at Faith.
Faith walks casually over to the sofa, and sits casually on the arm. She stares back at Willow
They spend a minute staring at each other.
"Was there something you wanted?" Faith finally breaks the silence.
"An explanation would be nice."
"Sure. About what?"
"You know about what." Willow stares at her, "Don't play dumb."
"Ok, Red. I'm not a mind reader, ok? Hard NOT to play dumb, when I don't have a clue to what you're talking about."
"Fine, play it that way," Willow walks over, picking up something off the floor. It's one of Faith's wife beaters. "Looks like you were too busy to pick up after yourself last night. Wonder why that is?"
"That's the big deal? You want to criticize my housekeeping skills? Nice one Red. Ok, you got me. I'm a slob sometimes, especially after I've had a hard night…"
"Hard night, huh?"
"Yeah, hard night. Someone almost got beaten and raped last night, and I had to stop it. Got knocked around pretty good. Excuse me if I forgot to pick up my shirt. I was feeling pretty sore…"
Willow goes a little pale. "Oh my god, Faith. I didn't know…" then her expression hardens. "…but that doesn't explain Cordelia Chase showing up on your doorstep last night…"
"It was Cordelia that nearly got beaten and raped, Red," Faith says tightly. "Right after the homecoming game. If I hadn't been passing the gym last night …"
Willow is silent for a moment. Then she shakes her head.
"That still doesn't explain why she was here last night…" She looks at Faith," … practically naked."
"Don't see how that's any of your business, Red," Faith smirks a little. "So, you've taken up spying on me?"
"What? No!" Willow gets a little flustered. "I just happened to be looking out my window…"
"At oh say… midnight?" Faith raises an eyebrow. "That's rather convenient."
"This ISN'T about me!" Willow bursts out, angrily, "Why was Cordelia here last night? I mean, if she'd just gone through what you said, shouldn't she be at home, with her family? Why was she here?"
"I'm guessing you weren't listening. That isn't your business, Red," Faith says quietly. "Who I have up here really isn't any of your concern."
"This is my parent's house, Faith. I have a right to know who comes and goes here."
"You already know, don't you?" Faith shrugs, "so what's the deal?"
"You lied to me!"
"What?"
"Before… when she was here before. You and she…"
Faith doesn't say a word. She just stares at Willow.
Willow flushes angrily.
"So, I guess it's true" Willow says softly, "you're with her." She turns away from Faith, walking towards the breakfast bar. "You've been with her all this time…"
"Yeah, so what?" Faith moves casually into the room. "What's that to you?"
"Are you like, stupid?" Willow spits out. "Or did you forget what she's done to you? And to me? Maybe that head wound of yours never healed."
"I'm not going to sit here and explain myself to you, Willow," Faith sits on the arm of the sofa. "I don't have to. This is my life, and my choice. If you don't like it, well, that's just too bad."
"You owe me some explanation," Willow insists, quietly, "I… we… me and Xander, have fought with you, side by side. What hasCordelia done? Abuse you? Make fun of you? Injure you? Where's the sense there?" Willow shakes her head. "It makes no sense. It's crazy. Why?"
"Maybe I want something, Red. I mean, you have Xander… maybe I want something more than coming home and staring at the TV."
"But why her? Why do you have to be with her?" Willow throws up her hands. "You could have anyone. What about Josh Logan? She's dumped him. Why not him?"
"Yeah, good old Josh," Faith frowns. "Nice guy there, Red."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Josh was the one that almost raped her."
Willow goes pale again. "Josh? Josh Logan? I find that hard to believe! He's like Mr. Level headed…"
"Well, whatever. I was there, I know who was doing what. He tried to kill both of us. Sorry if that doesn't fit your profile of the guy, but he's a nutcase." Faith sighs. "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm with Cordy. If you don't like that, too bad."
"She's trouble Faith. She'll do anything to get her way. I've seen it. I know her a lot better than you do. You're making a big mistake."
"That's my mistake to make."
"That's it?" Willow walks over to her. She stands right in front of Faith. "That's all you got to say? Fine. Well, here's the deal. If you're with her, you can't be with us. I won't pretend to like her, not for yours or anyone else's sake. You choose her, over me and Xander, and we're done."
"That's your game? It's her or you guys?" Faith's lips tighten a little. "You want me to choose?"
"Yeah," Willow nods.
"Ok," Faith shrugs. "Her."
Willow feels like someone just punched her in the stomach. But she doesn't show it outside. Her eye doesn't even flicker. She walks towards the door. She opens it, and turns.
"Fine. Be a moron," She says, a harsh note in her voice," Your choice. She's gonna screw you, you know. She screws everyone, Faith," Willow's mouth tightens. " Good luck." She turns, and leaves.
Faith walks over to the door to close it. She watches as Willow crosses the backyard, not looking back.  She hears the door slam as Willow disappears into her house.
She stands for awhile, looking at the back door on the main house, frowning. Then she steps back, closing the door.
"Are you ok?" Cordy, having emerged from the bedroom, looks at her.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Faith replies, going to her. "Not the first time she's been mad at me. It'll blow over."
"I dunno, Faith. She sounded pretty mad."
"She'll get over it, or she won't" Faith shrugs.
"Still, she's your friend, Faith…"
"She made her choice, Cor," Faith reaches out, pulling Cordelia close. "So did I." She kisses Cordelia.
They kiss for awhile, then Cordelia breaks the kiss.
"I better go…" Cordy frowns." By now, dad probably has half the Sunnydale PD out looking for me."
"Like that?" Faith looks at Cordelia, a little lust in her eyes.
Cordelia is dressed the same as when she came last night. A gold chain around her waist and neck, a very small thong just barely covering her sex,  heels and nothing else but her smile.
"I came here like this," Cordelia smiles. She walks over, and shrugs on her coat.  "Anyway, wasn't planning on stopping anywhere. Going straight home."
"Yeah, don't you have that … prom thing to get ready for?"
Cordelia makes a face." God, I so don't want to do that now. It seems so lame, the Homecoming Dance. I mean, who cares who's Homecoming Queen, anyway?"
"Uhhh… you?" Faith grins. "It's ok, it's important to you. You should do it."
"Yeah. Got an image to keep up, don't I?" She furrows her brow. "You don't think Willow will…?" She looks a little worried.
"No. She's angry, but she's not stupid. She won't blab," Faith grins. "Who'd believe it anyway, right? You and me?" She tilts her head.
"I guess not," Cordy admits. She looks at the door, then back at Faith. "Really not wanting to go."
"Well, ok, but you're going to have to explain it to the Rosenbergs when the Sunnydale police bust down the door…"
"Ok, ok, I'm going," Cordy makes her way to the door. "See you later?"
"Won't you be busy smooching with your date or something?" Faith teases her.
"Oh please. Joe Morgan? Give me a break!" Cordy makes a face, "anyway, dopey, I want to be with you!"
"Well, check in after. Maybe I'll be here…"
"You're terrible!"
"Is that why you keep coming back?"
Cordy makes an impatient noise, then goes over, and kisses Faith one last time. Then she slips out the door.
Faith shakes her head, and heads for the shower.

3

Cornell looks into the oracle pool with a faint smile on his face.
Interesting. Seems my dear little girl has had an unexpected side effect. Splitting the slayer's friends from her. I knew I could count on her to be helpful.
This almost made up for the failure of Josh Logan in his mind. Almost.
He'd been 'playing' with Josh Logan's mind for awhile now. Planting thoughts, manipulating events, he'd brought the boy to a place of rage. All for a purpose.
He'd wanted him to attack his daughter. Just as he had.
He knew that if Cordy were confronted violently; truly feared for her life, she would've accessed her dark side. It would've brought out her demon heritage. Something that to this point had been subsumed. Something that he wanted, needed to come out.
Then that interfering little bit of a slayer had to show up. Ruined everything!
He wouldn't have actually let Cordelia get hurt. Not much, anyway. At any time he could've reached out and fried the boy's brain like an egg in a skillet. The boy didn't matter; he was only a tool. How Cordelia reacted; that was the point. But before she could reveal her true self, before she could change and tear the boy to shreds, that meddlesome slayer had shown up.
How? How did she know to be there at that time? She's only a human! Damn her!
Still, something positive has come out of this fiasco. He doffed his robe, carefully hanging it on the hook by the oracle pool. This whole episode might not be totally wasted. It seems her friends are about to desert her. All because of my dear little girl. Hmmm… this might work out all right, after all.
Still, there's the matter of Cordelia's awakening. I need her to come into her heritage. I need her to be ready to betray her lover at the most opportune time. Now that this Logan fellow is out of it, I'll have to find another way to awaken her true self.
Ah well, a father's work is never done! I'll just have to think of something else.
I always do!
Whistling a cheery little tune, Cornell walks out of the chamber.

4

"Where've you been, Cordelia?"
"Daddy! Hi!"
Oh, crap! I almost made it too. How'm I gonna explain this one?
Cordelia turns around, on the first riser upstairs to her room. She looks down the hallway to see her father at the door of his study. He looks  somewhat angry. Sighing softly, she comes downstairs.
"Daddy, I'm sorry. I was at a friends house. I should've called you." Well, that isn't ENTIRELY a lie. "I'm really sorry, daddy."
Cornell Chase frowns, looking unhappy.
"I need to see you in my study, young lady."
Oh crap. 'Young lady'. Majorly badness.
"Ok, dad, if I can just go up and change…"
"Now!" Cornell turns, and goes into his study.
I'm so in for it. Damn. Damn. Damn!!!
Cordelia meekly follows her father into his study.
Cornell is sitting behind his desk. He is fighting back a smile, trying to do his best to look severe.
"Have a seat, Cordelia. Oh, and take off your coat, please."
Oh… shit!
"Daddy, really, I'd rather not. I'm kind of cold."
"Cordelia Chase. Haven't I taught you better than that?" Cornell stares at his daughter. "You weren't raised in a barn. We don't wear coats or hats indoors. Now, please, remove the coat." He waves at the coat rack by the door.
"Daddy! I can't…" Cordelia stands there, red faced. Oh, god, if he sees how I'm dressed, he'll have a fit!
"Cordelia, you're being a child! Remove that coat at once!" He slams his fist on the desk. "Why're you being so defiant, young lady? You're in enough trouble already!"
"I wasn't being…"
"Don't you take that tone with me. Now, remove that coat immediately!"
Cordelia lowers her eyes, and starts unbuttoning the coat. She opens it and starts to remove it when Cornell widens his eyes, looking surprised.
"I see," Cornell says, voice sounding shocked. He stares intently at his daughter, his eyes slowly raking over her dress… or lack of same.
He stares at her for such a long time, and with such interest, that Cordelia begins to feel extremely uncomfortable.
What is he looking at? Cordelia has an extremely squicky reaction to Cornell's gaze.  Why is he looking at me like that? It's almost…
"So, would you like to explain this? out all night, dressed like that! This is… shameful, Cordelia!" He stands up. His expression is severe and disapproving.
Cordelia notices, however, that he seems to be bending a little forward, as if trying to hide something.  Oh god, is he like… getting turned on… looking at me? She feels intensely creeped out.
"Daddy, I…" Cordelia sits, feeling ashamed. And dirty. Her father's gaze has definitely made her feel dirty. God, why?
Cornell comes from behind his desk , and walks over to her. He stands behind her, putting his hands on her bare shoulders. Cordelia shivers, feeling very strange and wigged.
"After all that went on last night? I had the police here for hours, going over what happened at the gym. I thought you'd be sensible enough to stay home after an experience like that, but I guess that's what I get for thinking. And to top it off, you go out of here, dressed like a common hooker. This is…" Cornell shakes his head.  He squeezes her shoulders, sending chills through her. "… beyond acceptable, Cordelia!"
"I'm so sorry, Daddy," Cordelia says in a small voice.
"Sorry? That doesn't make it better. Imagine how I felt when I discovered this morning you were gone! I thought all sorts of things might have happened to you. I was about to call the police again when you showed up!" He walks in front of her, and stares at her again. Stares intently at her nudity.
Again, Cordelia gets the odd feeling that looking at her is making her father … Ok, that's just sick, Cordelia Chase. God, how can you even think something like that about your own father!!!! It's  so …perverted!
Finally, Cornell, seeming to come out of a dream, rears back and slaps his daughter.
Cordelia cowers, holding her cheek where he slapped her.  She looks up at him with wide, frightened eyes. "Daddy… you've never hit me before." She says, in a low voice.
"Who is it, Cordelia? Who's the one you dressed up like a whore for?" Cornell turns red with anger. He hovers over her  "Tell meCordelia! I want the name of the boy who you disgraced us with!"
"There wasn't a boy," Cordelia cries out, "I didn't do anything!" She lies.
"You go out like this," He gestures at her, and his hand brushes against her breast. Cordelia shivers."… and expect me to believe you didn't do anything?" Cornell barks, "What kind of fool do you take me for, Cordelia? Who was it?!"
"There wasn't a BOY!" Cordelia yells. She pushes out of her chair, to get away from him. "Leave me alone!"
She runs for the door, and opens it. He quickly follows her, and catches her arm. He pulls her around, bringing her close to himself.
She can feel something poking near her stomach. She looks down to see her father's pants tented out.
Oh, my god he is turned on! He's … oh god, this is horrible!
"You're not going ANYWHERE, young lady," Cornell pulls her back in, and shoving her along, pushes her down into the chair. "I want answers, and I want them now!"
"It's my life! I'll do what I want!" Cordelia replies angrily, and confused "You can't force me to tell you anything!" She crosses her arms over her chest, covering herself. God, I can't take him looking at me like that!
"You don't understand, do you Cordelia?" Cornell switches tacks, calming his voice. "You're not just free to do whatever you wish. You're a Chase. You have certain … obligations, responsibilities." He comes and again, stands over her. He lightly strokes his fingers along her bare shoulders. " I blame myself for this. Obviously, I've spoiled you terribly. I thought, after your mother died… I just couldn't bear to see you upset…"  Oh, this is good! Get the violins."… I should've been firmer with you. I should've seen you needed some discipline…" He pinches her skin, causing her to start"… I made mistakes,  but that still doesn't excuse… this…" Cordelia swears she hears lust along with disapproval in his voice. "I'm afraid things will just have to change around here…"  Cordelia can't see the lustful leer on his face, or she'd probably run as fast as her legs would carry her "… you have the family name to uphold. You're a Chase. That means something."
Cordelia feels ice forming in her stomach. " Change?" She asks, not liking the sound of that.
"Yes, change. I see I'm going to have to take a much firmer hand with you from now on…" He squeezes her shoulders firmly. "I'm going to have to take a more hands on approach in your life from now on, I think."
"Daddy, I… really, I'm so very sorry I worried you. Couldn't we just …forget this?" Cordy pleads. Vague images  float in her mind. Things she hasn't thought about in years… things she hasn't wanted to think about. Things that frighten her.
"I'm sorry, Sugarpop," Cornell says, releasing her, and walking towards the study door. "I've let things go for too long. Much too long."
Cordelia sits silently, feeling fear, real fear, of her father for the first time in a long time. Fear and something else. Something she's never felt.
Shame. Over what she's done. And something else. Something dark and terrible. Something that makes her shiver, not entirely in fear.
"No my dear," He smiles, almost as if he can read her reactions, " I think it's time you learn something of your family history. Of your responsibilities of being a part of this family…" He starts to close the door. "After all, Cordelia. Privilege has its price."
Smiling smugly, he closes the study door.

To be continued
- 20
- 21
- 22
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The Slayer

Ok, this is fucking crazy. Must be a dream…

Blood. Oh fuck me! The walls are covered with it. Where the hell AM I?

Shit. We'll be connected real good if I'm not careful!

Huh?

Ok, this is fucking crazy. Must be a dream…

Blood. Oh fuck me! The walls are covered with it. Where the hell AM I?

Shit. We'll be connected real good if I'm not careful!

Huh?