Chapter Four: No Deal

Andra stood just at the top of the basement stairs and debated whether she should turn around and go right back down them. So many people about. She was used to a solitary life and all the noise and movement at the Summers residence felt like little bugs crawling in her brain. For two nights now, she’d endured the bickering between Angel and his son, the sappy love fest that was Buffy and Spike, and the glares from the watcher.

It didn’t matter that Angel was leaving in a few hours; the argument was still raging. Faith and Giles thought it would be best for Connor to stay in Sunnydale for a while. For father and son to have some distance. When the idea was first brought up, Connor shook his head, but then Angel had been against the idea and all of a sudden Connor wanted to stay.

It wasn’t that Andra didn’t like Angel. He was all right, despite the pale personality to match his complexion. God, how she missed Torch. But four vampires sharing the tiny basement just wasn’t going to work for another night. It was bad enough that she was cramping the lovebirds’ style, something she planned to do something about very soon. She needed to find her own place to crash during the day.

A heavy object hit the wall near the door and she rolled her eyes. Spike’s deep, clear and soothing voice reached her ears as he tried to diffuse the situation. Buffy opened the door and paused when she saw Andra standing there.

“Sorry,” Buffy said, cringing as there was another thump against the wall. “You don’t want to go out there. Trust me.”

Buffy casually took the stairs down to her room and Andra followed.

They both sat on the couch and Andra waited for Buffy to rub her forehead and lean back before asking, “What’s going on up there?”

“Angel is refusing to go unless Connor goes with him, and Connor is exercising his teenage rights of rebellion.” Buffy shook her head. “Spike has just figured out that Dawn is crushing on Connor, so now he’s on Angel’s side and wants the kid out of the house, though he was smart enough not to say that was the reason in front of Dawn.” Buffy groaned. “We’re going to have a freaking Romeo and Juliet situation on our hands, I just know it.”

Andra smiled at that. “Ah, to be human, to be fifteen and to be in love with the one person you shouldn’t be in love with.”

“You miss him, don’t you?”

“Aye, all the time.” Andra got to her feet and paced, running her hand slowly over the top of the TV. “It had been so long since we’d had that kind of joyful happiness of first and new love, but I never stopped loving him. And something was changing. After Torch met you two, I could sense it. If…if he’d survived, perhaps we could have been happy again.” Agitated by her thoughts, Andra sat back down. “But I should not be dwelling on the past and things that I cannae change. It does no good.”

Buffy shifted in her seat and bit her lip before saying, “So, what do you think of Angel?”

With a sidelong glance, Andra frowned. “You would have no problem with me and your ex getting together?”

Buffy shrugged, paused, and then shook her head.

“Why should I? There’s some nostalgia about the past, but I’m extremely happy. I guess I’d just like to see everyone happy. And it makes sense. You and Angel. Two vampires with souls.”

“That’s verra kind of you, Buffy. To offer your throw away man to me, for the sake of happiness.”

“I didn’t mean it like that!”

Andra chuckled. “I know it. I’m just giving you a hard time.” She put her feet up on the coffee table and leaned back. “Angel is a good sort. He’s attractive enough and you’re right, we do have the soul thing in common, but he’s just not my type. There’s no fire in his eyes, no passion.”

“Dull as a table lamp,” Buffy said softly, with a small smile. When she realized that she’d said it out loud, she straightened and cleared her throat. “Spike’s opinion of Angel.”

“Spot on.”

They were grinning at each other when Spike came down the stairs in an energetic mood. “Come on, love, time to say goodbye to Gramps.”

~ * ~ * ~

Lilah tilted the seat back in the Cadillac, grateful for the tinted windows. She adjusted the earpiece in her right ear and cursed the fact that they had been unable to get a bug inside the Slayer’s residence. With so many people living there, it was never empty. One of Lilah’s operatives did manage to get a highly sophisticated bug planted on the outside of the living room window. She’d been able to get snippets of conversations, along with a whole lot of white noise.

The dark-haired Slayer exited the house with the witch. They stood on the porch, facing each other and Lilah was able to hear every word.

“So,” Willow said, “I’ll meet you tomorrow around two at the Magic Box?”

“I’ll be there.”

Lilah smirked. She liked the Slayer’s style. It was a lot like her own. Forceful, but seductive.

Faith added, “After my training session, maybe we could come back here?”

“That sounds…good.”

The door opened and Lilah had to force herself to stay down in her seat. There she was. Her smirk turned into a wide smile. Andra.

“Sorry if I’m interrupting.”

“No, you’re fine,” Faith said, leaning against the wooden rail.

“Out for a stroll?” Willow asked.

“Actually, I was hoping to tag along with your girlfriend here when she patrolled,” Andra said.

The Slayer groaned. “I really don’t play well with others.”

“Look, you’d be doing me a favor. Spike and Buffy are getting cozy in the basement, and I’m going stir-crazy with nothing to do.”

With a sigh, Faith said, “All right.”

“Ooh, I’m not doing anything. I could come too and—”

“Willow, you have to get up early for classes and…” The Slayer glanced over at Andra who quickly turned her back on the couple. Focusing on Willow again, Faith gave her a hug. “I can’t do my job if I’m worried about you.” Willow started to protest, but Faith cut her off. “I know, you’re powerful and you’ve gone with Buffy a thousand times, but I can’t—look, just go home, okay? Sleep good, go to classes tomorrow and get good grades.”

Faith left Willow on the porch, taking the steps quickly. She called over her shoulder, “You coming?”

Andra waved her on. “Yeah. You go on. I’ll catch up in a minute.” Willow and Andra watched Faith stroll down the street. When Willow turned to leave, Andra stopped her. “Just a minute, if you will.”

“What?”

“I just want you to know that I have no designs on your woman. I don’t lean that way. Even if I did, I’m partial to redheads.”

Willow sighed. “Yeah, well, it seems like Faith is partial to redheads right now too.” She met Andra’s eyes for a brief second. “So, excuse me if I’m a little worried.”

“If you want, I’ll tell her I’ve changed my mind.”

“No. I’m being silly and I have no right to act like this. We aren’t a couple.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“Faith is complicated.”

“According to Buffy, so are you. It’s not easy to move on.”

“She told you about Tara?” Willow said it without anger, just a deep resigned sadness.

“Yes. And I know how hard it is to get over the death of someone you love deeply. Especially when there was time wasted apart and the death was violent and sudden.”

“Your vampire, Torch…you saw him killed right before your eyes, too, didn’t you?”

Even Lilah’s cold heart constricted at the pained expressions on both girls’ faces.

“Yes. I relive the moment in my dreams, every night.”

“Me too,” Willow said softly.

“But you’ve got a second chance. For all of Faith’s prickliness, I can tell. She’s mad about you. She’s scared though, because she’s living in the shadow of a dead woman.”

“I know.” Willow glanced down at her shoes. “You’d better hurry if you’re going to catch up to her.”

Lilah took out her phone and dialed as Andra headed down the street after Faith. She had to stay low while the witch took her time getting into her own little car and driving away.

“This is Lilah Morgan. I’ve got confirmation on that angle we’re working on. Yes. Continue, but wait for my call before setting it in motion. How long do you need? Perfect.”

~ * ~ * ~

Lilah’s patience paid off. She’d followed Faith and Andra at a distance without being detected and after hours of traipsing all over Sunnydale and killing any demons in their path, it looked like Faith and Andra were on their way back to the house. At first, Lilah thought that she was going to have to wait for another night to speak with Andra, but luck was on her side when two blocks from the house, the pair split up.

Andra crossed an empty lot, and Lilah had to skirt around it to remain hidden. She was wishing she’d worn more comfortable shoes, but when she’d dressed earlier in the day she’d had no idea that she would get the go ahead to seek out the ex-slayer so soon.

Main Street was dark and quiet at three in the morning. Andra had slipped between two buildings and Lilah sped up, hoping she wouldn’t lose her. She entered the alley, took ten steps in and realized her error. A dead end. The splash of water behind her that reached her calves, dirtying her nylons, had her cringing.

Slowly, Lilah turned around, putting on a practiced pout. “You caught me.”

With legs wide and hands on her hips, Andra said, “You’d best start talking. I may have a soul, but you of all people should know I have no problem killing humans.”

Lilah smirked. “Yes, yes. Lindsey’s cut throat and lifeless body clearly gave me that message.”

“So…”

“I’m here on behalf of Wolfram and Hart. We’ve been looking for someone like you for a long time now.”

“Someone like…”

Lilah relaxed, even though Andra was still rigid and ready to pounce. “Someone with incredible strength and experience. Someone whose mind is also strong. Who is willing to get their hands dirty on occasion. Someone who doesn’t go with the program.”

“And for what purpose?”

Lilah shrugged. “Our firm has a special projects division. We need muscle. Intelligent muscle that can be on standby and take out those who oppose us or pose a danger to the firm. And…there might be a prophecy about you.” Lilah took a gamble and turned her back on the vampire. “We always thought it was Angel, but you fit the description as well. You fit it better, really,” she said, turning to stare at her again. “Angel is obviously not going to play with us.”

“So, you think because I have no problem putting humans in an early grave that I’m your girl?”

Lilah’s instincts told her it was time to move out. The vampire was not happy, and with Andra’s tilted moral compass that was advantageous to the company, but an immediate threat to Lilah personally. She nodded in answer to the question, but wildly glanced around for a route of escape.

“Well, you can go back and tell your bosses that I am no man’s puppet. I’ll not be playing by any organization’s rules. Good, bad or otherwise. And you’d be wise not to return.”

Lilah nodded again. “I understand. It was worth a try. To offer.”

Andra backed out of the alley and let Lilah pass. “If I see you again, I won’t hesitate to run you through with a sword.”

It took Lilah about five minutes on the highway to get her bearings back. A lazy grin on her face, she picked up her phone.

“Lilah Morgan again. I’m on my way back. She didn’t want to cooperate, so it’s a go. You need to rush this. I’ll be in around nine. Will that give you enough time?” She frowned. “No, I’m not concerned about that. Lessons were learned and we’ll not make the same mistakes again.”