Awakenings Again

Part 1

Red Moon, Book 10

Author: Frau Hunter Ash

Feedback welcome!!
Homepage Addy: http://www.hunterash.com/

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows whom else. Also, I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, etc. I’m borrowing them for entertainment purposes, please don’t bother to sue me, you wouldn’t even get court costs. The storyline, however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

F/F romance: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship between people of the same gender and may even include 3 at the same time <G>. If this offends or is illegal for you, then please leave. Come back when you are older, have an open mind, moved, or changed your laws.

Spoilers: This series starts at Season 4 and branches off.

Summary: Faith is back and raising hell with Rack. The sorcerer has a twist to throw at the Scooby Gang. And in case you couldn't tell, there is a bit of a cross-over with some 'old friends' in this tale. (While it's not absolutely necessary, you might want to read Book 1: Red Moon Rising , Book 2: Wolves, Slayers and Cages , Book 3: Wanted – A Werewolf and a Superman , Book 4: In Thrall, Book 5: Welcome to My Nightmare, Book 6: Family Matters, Book 7: Ripper, Book 8: Dawn, Book 9: Afterlife to find out where things are at in this story. <G>)

Rating: PG-13/12 UK/M Aust.

Pairing: W/B/T, G/J, X/An

Awakenings Again

Red Moon Series, Book 10

Frau Hunter Ash

hunterash@sti.net

www.hunterash.com

Part 1

Tara held Willow as the witch shook and cried. Buffy paced restlessly in the living room of the Summers-Giles home. Willow had stumbled home, mentally yelling for Buffy and Tara along the way.

Slayer and witch had been waiting with open arms for the redhead and she stammered out what had happened between her, Rack and a newly awakened Faith in between sobs.

Giles and Joyce sat off to the side, listening closely but not crowding the young women. Joyce wrapped her arms around Giles as he sat on the floor in front of her when Rack and his threat were repeated.

Giles felt his hands clench into fists.

“Tell Ripper I’m going to use him again and again and he can watch while I have some fun with his daughter,” Willow had said, repeating Rack’s words and Joyce leaned over her husband, trying to comfort him.

Buffy glanced over at her Watcher. His body language and the hatred in his eye worried her. She had seen that anger once, when he attempted to kill Angelus after Jenny Calendar’s death and almost got himself killed.

The Slayer frowned, looking out the front window. They didn’t need Rack back in their lives and they certainly didn’t the Return of the Living Dead named Faith.

“Okay, so we got evil magic and a rogue Slayer,” Buffy said softly. “Dawn knows how to defend herself but maybe they don’t know that. Let’s try and not leave her alone out too often.”

Willow wiped her eyes and sat up, nodding.

“Can you guys counter Rack’s evil stuff?” Buffy asked, her mind whirling.

“I think so,” Willow said slowly. “He just caught me by surprise. I know his magic and energy.”

“I c-can keep her grounded,” Tara nodded. “Not let his darkness pull her in.”

“That leaves Faith to me,” Buffy said softly, her eyes narrowing.

“They’ll know that and switch attacks,” Giles said calmly. “Faith will attack Willow, Tara and Dawn and Rack will go for you, Buffy.”

“Then we’ll have to find them first or keep together,” Buffy frowned.

Giles watched the Slayer and stood up slowly. “You can’t kill her, Buffy. We’re not facing an Ascension.”

Buffy looked up into Giles’ face with a determined expression and then sighed, nodding.

“You’re right, I won’t let her hurt any of you though,” she said softly as he wrapped his arms around her. “We just got you guys back, won’t let them touch you.”

Joyce smiled sadly. It was the first time Giles had reached out, Joyce hated it was because of a threat against her family.

# # #

Anya screamed and launched herself across the small space in the back alley behind the Magic Box, landing on Faith’s back as she hit Xander, holding the barely conscious young man up.

Faith swore and tried to pull Anya over her shoulder, dropping Xander to the pavement. “Goddamn it! Get off me you insane bitch!”

“You can’t hurt my Xander!” Anya screamed back, trying to claw Faith’s eyes out.

Faith yelled and rammed backwards, slamming Anya into the wall of the building. The former demon yelped and released her hold on the rogue Slayer, sliding to the ground.

Faith kicked Anya in the ribs and then turned and kicked Xander in the ribs.

“Touch him again and I’ll forget you’re human,” a voice warned.

Faith looked up with a grin and stepped back from Xander. “Hello, B!” she said cheerfully. “Miss me?”

“Not for a minute,” Buffy shook her head as Dawn watched from just behind her sister, wide-eyed.

“Hey, came to introduce me to G-Man’s kid?” Faith asked as Buffy moved closer in fighting position, fists clenched.

“Dawn, get Anya and Xander out of there while I kick this bitch’s ass,” Buffy said firmly, not taking her eyes off the rogue Slayer.

“Language, B!” Faith scolded, pulling out a dagger, one very similar to the one Buffy had stabbed her with before graduation. “You’re supposed to set an example for little step-sister! I mean, I’m surprised you even told her you were a Slayer.”

“THE Slayer,” Buffy snapped. “You’re nothing but a psycho wanna-be.”

Faith’s eyes flashed with anger before she smiled and shrugged. “Keep telling yourself that, B. Just before I bury this in your chest… Next time.”

Buffy shouted with anger and dashed forward when Faith stepped back and the air around her began to shimmer. The blonde Slayer dived right through where Faith had been a moment before. Faith’s laughter echoed through the alley.

“Buffy!” Dawn yelled, rushing to her sister’s side.

“I’m alright, come on, let’s get Anya and Xander to the hospital,” Buffy said wearily.

It had been three long weeks of hit-n-miss with Rack and Faith on one side and Buffy, witches and Watcher on the other. Neither side gaining an advantage but Buffy had the feeling that their side was getting more exhausted than Rack and Faith were.

Giles had been attacked twice physically, left battered and bruised but able to fend Faith off without any lasting damage. Willow had saved Tara from a magic attack by Rack, both sides coming to a draw before the sorcerer disappeared down a manhole and sealing it behind him magically.

Buffy and the others were grateful that Faith and Rack seemed to be ignoring Dawn for the moment, despite Rack’s threats.

The blonde Slayer wasn’t sure she trusted that to last, however.

# # #

Buffy dived for the flying football as Dawn attempted to “tag” her out, both falling into the soft sand and laughing as Dawn took the opportunity to tickle her step sister. Xander laughed and wrapped his arms around Anya, nuzzling her neck as Slayer and sister got to their feet.

Giles and Joyce were sitting on a blanket in the sun, watching everyone else as Joyce held her husband’s hand. After the weeks of tension, Joyce had declared a “Free weekend,” and packed everyone into a van and drove up the coast above Big Sur to get away from Rack and Faith’s constant tormenting.

A day spent driving along the scenic coast line, taking a tour through San Simeon’s Hearst Castle and then having dinner in Carmel had done the family a world of good, the mother reflected. Xander’s ribs were healing and Anya’s black eye was almost faded. Buffy and Giles were relaxing for the first time since Rack and Faith’s return.

The next day they were now spending on the beach near Carmel with plans for a picnic dinner at one of the state parks.

Buffy started to throw the football to Xander and hesitated. Dawn laughed and tagged the Slayer, giggling at Buffy’s confused expression.

“Distraction?” Dawn asked softly.

Buffy blushed and glanced away. “Uh, nothing.”

“Willow and Tara are off making out somewhere,” Dawn smirked, tossing the football to Anya for the next round of flag football.

“What?” Buffy squeaked.

“I know that look,” Dawn giggled as Xander and Anya’s “argument” over football score disintegrated into a kissing moment. “You get that look whenever those two are off making out. And they get the same look when you’re making out with one of them.”

Buffy’s blushed deepened and she glanced around, knowing exactly where Willow and Tara were along the trails in the rocks. She also knew very well through her connection with them that they were isolated and, indeed, “making out” in the warm California sun.

Buffy tried to ignore the sensations coming from her wives as images of Willow clinging to Tara, leaning against rocks, her body moving against Tara’s fingers, filled Buffy’s mind.

The break from Sunnydale was definitely what had been needed, she reflected as she watched Giles napping in the sun.

# # #

Faith watched as Rack cleaned the area once again in preparation for the ritual. The dark haired Slayer was bored. She didn’t understand all the details that went into preparing for a major invocation Rack had been talking about and really didn’t care to learn.

She didn’t care if it worked either. Faith was just interested if it worked and caused hassles for Buffy Summers and gang.

Faith vaguely listened as Rack began chanting and invoking in... Greek, Latin, what was that? The Slayer waited in the hallway, feet kicked up against the wall as she rocked a chair back and forth on two legs.

What Faith did wonder about was the young girl that was bound and gagged in the corner of a room. She may have ideas for revenge against the Scooby gang but... she was still a Slayer deep down. She still went out Slaying at times. Rack wouldn’t tell her what the girl was for either.

The Slayer wasn’t aware of how long the invocations, chanting, incense smoke, pouring of wine and all that took. She was lightly dozing when she fell over in the chair, yelping in surprise.

“What the hell?” she yelled, untangling herself from the chair and jumping to her feet. Faith looked into the room and blinked. “Whoa, heavy.”

The room was filled with smoke, Rack was on his backside staring at the altar. Or what was behind the altar, actually.

Standing at about 6’7” was a huge male... something. He had dark purple skin, yellow eyes, goat-like horns that curled around his head, was muscular as hell and had a mouth full of sharp teeth.

Faith wondered what would take something like that down.

“Not many of this day and age could begin to realize how to summon me,” the figure said in a booming voice. “The few that do know better than to summon a god, especially a god of panic, frenzy, wine, drink and sex.”

Rack got up and went to one knee. “Lord Bacchus, I petition you to hear my plea. I ask not for personal favor but hope that your presence will benefit me eventually. I offer a town ripe for the picking, for the prey. A town that lies over an entrance to Hell, its energies constantly leaking out and drawing those to the darkness.”

“And you wish to feed on those energies, sorcerer?” Bacchus ventured.

Rack jumped up and grabbed the girl from the corner. “Yes, and your bacchae will eventually reach the heroes that work against me.”

Bacchus came around the altar, eyeing the girl closely, with obvious hunger.

“Why should I return to this world?” Bacchus demanded. “Our time in this world is past and not yet ready for our return.”

“The town is perfect for your return,” Rack offered. “Have a vacation on Earth for a bit.”

Bacchus smiled and pulled the girl to him.

Faith’s eyes widened and she stepped into the room as the... whatever bit the girl.

Rack held up his hand, urging Faith to stay back despite the Slayer’s instincts to protect the girl from the... vampire-like thing.

Bacchus released the girl and Rack caught her. Faith was surprised to see her still breathing but looking stunned.

“She will be the first and spread my worship through the female of the town,” Bacchus declared.

“And we will lead her straight to the Slayer’s sister,” Rack smirked. “And wives.”

Faith blinked. “She’s not a vamp, how does that work?”

“Think of it as a slow infection,” Rack grinned as Bacchus went to a huge chair and sat down like a king. “She’ll infect others, they infect others and the disease progresses. Once they are all half bacchae, they gather and drink some of Bacchus’ blood and are bacchae forever. On the night of Yule, that’s the next holiday. The Roman Saturnalia.”

“No munching on me and how do we kill them if they get out of hand?” Faith demanded, pulling Rack into the hallway.

“They can be killed with sword, decapitation or a stake,” Rack said softly. “To kill Bacchus or a full bacchae, it has to be the bone of a dryad. Not something you’ll find around here.”

”So nothing can stop Bacchus and nothing once the bacchae are fully turned,” Faith nodded. “I didn’t agree to Sunnydale being turned into Bat Central, just on taking the Scooby gang down.”

“And if they are bacchae, all they’ll care about is serving Bacchus, in all areas and Bacchus will be grateful to us,” Rack grinned.

“You still want Red in your bed, don’t you?” Faith smirked, remembering breaking his finger once when he wouldn’t take No for an answer.

“And the Watcher,” Rack said softly. “He hides his power, I want it and all of them.”

“Down boy,” Faith laughed. “Be fun to watch B as a sex slave to purple and gruesome in there. Okay, I’m in.”

# # #

The young blonde jumped when the air began shimmering in front of her desk. A familiar... lightshow of flash, sparkle and dancing lights. A figure appeared dressed in... see thru clothing and very little of that.

“Hey, Sweetcheeks!” the young woman giggled. “It’s been ages! You two have promised to visit for years!”

“We will,” the blonde smiled. “What brings you around, Aphrodite or do you prefer Venus?”

“Oh shoot, no one remembers me except lovesick would-be pagans,” Aphrodite shrugged. “Well what brings me ‘round is major like workings of the dark kind. Things are going to be all tossed out of balance and the local heroes won’t know how to handle tall, dark and gruesome with fangs.”

The blonde turned pale. “Bacchus? Where, in this realm?”

Aphrodite sighed heavily. “Yeah, party crashing an already bummer of a place in California. Got your travel shoes around, girlfriend?”

“Always,” the blonde said, shutting down her laptop and closing it. “California, we can be there in a few hours.”

“Look out for the heroes and the bad guys, neither side will stop and listen,” Aphrodite urged and kissed the girl’s cheek. “Take care, bright eyes. I like you doing the fang thing only once a month, not all the time. Those black clothes of the bacchae are so depressing! Later!”

Aphrodite disappeared in a flash of sparkle, glitter and lights.

Gabrielle reached for her cell phone. “Come home, lover, we’ve got a problem from the old world.”

# # #

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Awakenings Again Part 2 ]