In most towns the busiest time is during the day, when workers rush to their jobs, students hurry to school and the streets are packed with life. In the Hellmouth cursed city of Sunnydale, however, the darkest period of night was filled with an unholy sort of life, the creatures outside of humanity teeming on the darkened streets. "Shit," the vampire cursed, his long brown hair falling into his eyes as they tried to bolt. There was a sense of great age about him, even with his youthful beauty, and a sinister aspect shimmered in his eyes. He looked like a killer, someone so drenched in blood that he no longer cared at all. "We've got to keep ahead of them, Scott," the woman said a bit breathlessly as the two raced through the darkness. "I don't think we're going to be able to manage that, Claire," Scott said as they smoothly went up and over the chainlink fence in just two bounds. Claire smiled back at him grimly, her short black hair falling into her eyes as she grabbed a nearby trash can, tossing it back towards their hunters with incredible force. She hadn't died all that long ago, and so still looked just like your typical teenager, not a monster, as long as you didn't notice the occult aura. "How did they...?" she growled. Striding after them with a kind of relentless focus around them was the slayer and her shadowy vampire ally, both eerily beautiful in the dim light of the few streetlamps. "You might as well stop running," Buffy yelled, her dirty blonde hair falling into intense eyes. "All you're doing is delaying the inevitable," Willow agreed, the reddish-brown haired woman keeping up with ease, her smile showing a bit of fang. Buffy smiled grimly as she called out to them, "Do you really think I was going to let you get away with trying to blow us up? I saw you in that mob, and now we want answers." Scott raced around a corner, waiting a moment for Claire then they ran on. "Do you think we can get away?" he asked urgently. "We have to try," Claire said softly, "we must warn the mistresses that the Slayer and the abomination still live." Scott reached out to her, "Stop a moment." "Eh?" Claire looked over at him impatiently, well aware they only had a small lead.. only to be felled with a single powerful blow to the head. "I'm sorry," Claire could hear Scott talking almost like it was far off in the distance, "but one of us has a better chance of fleeing them than two. Good luck." With that he was gone, racing off out of her line of sight. "Son of a bi..." Claire slurred as she tried to pull herself up, then feeling her hope entirely fade as the slayer found her. "They always betray one another," Buffy noted wryly as the tough young woman yanked Claire to her feet, "it's so predictable." "It relates to the demon side, I think," Willow said dryly. Seeing the impotent fury flickering in Claire's eyes she smiled slightly, "Don't worry, he won't get too far." Scott ran feeling a surge of joy when he saw the Slayer and her vampire pet lingering over Claire. The faintest twinge of guilt nudged at him but he ignored it, determined to just save himself. As fast as he could he turned onto another street only to hit what felt like a wall with immense force. Faith grinned ferally, her long black hair shimmering under the street lamp. "Looks like B saved me something," she purred, hefting her stake. "Don't, please," Scott tried to shuffle away, "I can tell you things! Just let me live." "G-man?" Faith looked over at the older man curiously, her voice dripping with a deadly sort of eagerness. Giles kept a careful distance, his glasses gleaming as he smiled grimly. "Talk quickly," he said, "I can't restrain her easily, but I will keep her from killing you if you tell us all you know." With that he practically babbled, spilling everything he knew about the two vampires that had so suddenly taken over the area. "Well, well," Faith murmured, her eyes faintly disturbed as she yanked Scott to his feet. "What's wrong?" Giles asked politely. "He says Drusilla and Amy are running things," Faith said grimly, "Tara's lover was named Amy... and she was killed by a vampire a while back." "Disturbing," Giles said as he took a stake from Faith and hefted it knowingly. "Wait," Scott squawked as Giles neared, "you said you weren't going to hurt me!" "I said Faith wasn't going to hurt you," Giles struck smoothly, "not I." The vampire's outraged expression lingered a moment, then he crumbled to dust. "Not bad, G-man," Faith said as they walked towards where they figured Buffy and Willow would be, "I didn't know you had it in you." "Thank you," Giles said dryly, "I think." "No prob," Faith smirked. As they neared they could hear Buffy quizzing the female vampire, playing bad cop to Willow's good one. "Just tell me where they are or I'll..." Buffy growled threateningly. Willow gave Claire a sympathetic look as she tugged Buffy back, almost as if they were both just vampires caught up in events outside of their control. "If you help I might be able to slip you away," she offered, "save you from the Slayer." "Good news guys," Faith called as they neared, "the other vamp sang like a bird.. we know the local vamps are being led by two female vamps named Drusilla and Amy." "That little weasel," Claire breathed out, eyes glowing blood red a moment. Buffy hefted her stake with deadly intent as she purred, "Does that mean we don't need this one any more?" "It's likely the information on the vampiresses will be available through the Watcher's council," Giles conceded, "we don't need her for that." "Last chance," Willow said gently to Claire, "give me something good I can use to save you." Claire looked up at her, her expression momentarily indecisive, then decided to try to save her own life. "The Mistresses... are in a cavern beneath the high school," she revealed. Giles looked shocked, "There is a vampire warren so close?" Claire nodded, "Once it belonged to the Master, then it stood empty until his death. Only the most powerful vampires will dare claim it." "How do we get in?" Faith asked eagerly. "Tunnels connect it to the sewers, but they are well guarded," Claire said with a defeated air, "you will be destroyed if you attack." "Oh, I think we'll figure out a way," Buffy exchanged a grin with Willow. "The mistresses will destroy you," Claire burst out, "Drusilla has unearthly gifts of vision, and despite her youth Amy commands powers of magic!" "Magic?" Faith asked, dropping her voice. "I wasn't there myself," Claire conceded, "but I've heard how Amy made Dru's last lover bust into flames when Spike grew jealous of the two of them." "Sounds like a challenge," Willow murmured. "You're both fools... you're already as good as dead, you just don't know it yet," Claire said softly, eyes burning with hatred. Faith met Buffy's eyes in silent agreement then she said, "I think we're done." Swiftly Faith hauled Claire up then struck with a wooden stake, driving it home and turning the stunned vampire into a swirling cloud of dust. Without a word the group headed out, staying close together and ready to strike. "I'll messenger the Watchers about any details on Drusilla," Giles said briskly. "Makes sense," Buffy nodded, "do we know anything about this Amy?" "According to her Amy is a young or newly made vampire," Giles noted as they passed the bronze and headed towards the school. "Which doesn't mean she's going to be a pushover," Faith added. "You're being all moody suddenly," Buffy looked at her lover worriedly. "Just wondering if one of my past sins has finally come back to haunt me," Willow shrugged a bit uncomfortably. "Huh?" all three looked at her in surprise then growing awareness. "Shortly after I was turned by the Master I attacked the coven, killing and infecting many," Willow said flatly. "One of my victims was a witch named Amy," she looked haunted, "who was particularly gifted in using fire." "The name could be a coincidence," Buffy offered tentatively. "Probably isn't, though," Faith said softly. She winced, "I wish I didn't have to tell Tara..." "I could," Giles volunteered uncomfortably. "Thanks, G-man, but I'd better," Faith sighed. "Though I have no idea how to tell my girlfriend that her dead former girlfriend is maybe now the head of the city's vamps."
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