I sit down in a chair outside Anya's room after pacing for the past few minutes.
This could be bad. This could be really bad. I came back to Sunnydale to see Joyce, which I still haven't done thanks to B, and now there could be an even bigger problem going on. I guess someone didn't like what happened to their big bad dead demon. Then again, we don't actually know that this is related to Omega's former cult just yet.
I run my hands through my hair.
I hope Giles gets here soon. He was about to leave his place to come here when I called and told him what Anya said. He decided to check The Book of Karameth and a couple other books that mention Omega's cult before coming here. I'm not sure whether to hope he's found something or not. If he finds something, that means that whatever's happening could be prophesized and that something even worse is coming. But at least we'd see it coming. If he doesn't find anything then there's no telling what could be happening. I don't know what to feel.
"Faith?"
I look up and Buffy is standing a few feet from me, and that cold stare plastered on her face.
"What the hell are you still doing here?"
I'm about to say something when I notice someone coming this way, it's Giles. I point to him.
"I'm waiting for the big guy, B."
I get up and wait while he travels the last few meters this way.
"You don't have to be here."
I keep my eyes on Giles as I respond.
"I know... but I am."
Giles looks at both of us separately as he stops.
"Buffy... Faith, are you both all right? How is Anya?"
"She's fine."
Buffy looks back and forth between Giles and me.
"You knew she was here?"
I turn to B.
"I called him after what Anya said, asked him to check out anything that might tell us what's going on."
"Why?"
"Because I was hoping he might be able to find something."
She doesn't look at me.
"No, I mean how could you not tell me you knew Faith was back in town?"
Giles doesn't say anything.
"Did you know she was here before she called? Did you know she was coming?"
There's a moment of silence.
"Yes, I did..."
"Why didn't you tell me? You should've tried to stop her."
"Buffy... as much as I abhor what Faith has done, I believe she may be of use."
Her steely gaze seems to transfer to Giles.
"Use? How EXACTLY is she going to be of use?"
"She is a slayer. She can patrol when you can't."
"Since when can't I patrol?"
Giles takes a breath.
"You haven't patrolled in over a month, which is understandable, given the situation with your mother. She comes first, but someone has to be out there, and Faith is the obvious choice."
She scoffs at him.
"And if Omega's cult truly has returned, then we may need all the help we can get."
She turns to me, anger boiling behind the steely gaze.
"We don't need HER help. Every time she helps, someone winds up dead."
I just look at her.
"Not EVERY time B."
"Still don't need your help bitch."
God damn it...
"You know B..."
Giles steps in to stop us.
"Buffy, while I understand how you feel. We must consider what's best for the world. Even if these vampires aren't involved with Omega, they still may pose a serious threat, particularly if they choose to focus on you and your friends."
Great point...
"And I can help with things like that."
She looks to Giles and then glares at me for an extra long second.
"No..."
Well, I saw that coming.
"No, I will NOT let her help."
Buffy turns away from both of us for a split second.
"I can do this on my own. I can do it and no one else will get hurt because she won't be a part of it."
There's an extra long pause.
"I... I have to go check on my mother."
She heads off without another word.
"Things are going well I see."
I turn to Giles.
"Very well..."
I glance to where Buffy ran off.
"She's got a lot of anger in her, most of which is directed at me."
"But you understand why, don't you?"
I take a deep breath and move to stand beside him, staring down the hall.
"I do, she has every right to be angry with me. But it could get her killed if she goes up against these new vamps. Anya said after she woke up that the vamps were talking about hurting her in the name of Omega. There's a pretty good chance they used to work for him."
He doesn't say anything for a moment.
"She'll need your help."
I let out a heavy sigh.
"That's why I'm here... to help."
And hopefully see Joyce while I'm at it.
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