(LA N)Cleveland ((Actually 'on the road' cont.))

[Maya]

"Aredhel." Charlotte said, relieved to see her as she knew she was one of the closest to Maya, "It's complicated..." She glanced to Ate, who nodded."It might be easier to explain when everyone is here..."
"Have you seen Joshua?" Faith asked sharply.
"Who the hell are you?" Aredhel asked, noticing the two strangers for the first time.
"Faith." Faith replied, "And Willow." She added, pointing to her. "Have you seen him?"

[Aredhel]

So this was Faith and Willow. The Faith and The Willow. They didn't seem so great. But then again, no one looks great when they're standing there worried about their friend and waiting for people to show up at said friend's apartment. I would reserve my judgement on their greatness for another day.

I raised my eyebrows. "Have I seen him?" I repeated, slightly surprised. Of course I hadn't seen him! Not since... well, not for a couple weeks now at least.

"Have you seen him?!" Faith repeated, more firm now. I didn't like her - she was being a bit rude, actually. Then again, she was obviously worried about Maya, as was I.

"Of course I haven't seen him!" I snapped. "He's a bit dead!"

[Maya]

Anyone who knew the brunette slayer well would know she was absolutely terrified, not to mention furious that something was killing Maya- something she couldn't do a thing about. Anyone who didn't know her- like for instance, the elven vampire in front of her- would think she was just really rude and pretty temperamental.
"Look..." Faith found, and looked Del up and down, "Vamp?"
"Ensoulled, elf, good guy." Charlotte said quickly.
"Fine." Faith snapped, "And you know what i mean about Josh! Have you seen... Eva... Ava, whatever she's called!?"

[Aredhel]

"Avalon," I replied easily. "And no, not for a while now. A bit anti-social, that one. Not that I'm complaining. But, if her bragging is accurate, she'll be here soon enough."

I sighed, looking at Maya again. She looked so different now.

"Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot. Seeing Maya like this makes me a bit tense, and I'm sure it does the same thing to you."

[Maya]

Faith sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose,
"Yeh." She murmured. She held out her hand, good to meet you."
"You too." Del replied, then shaking hands with Willow too.
"We just..." Faith began, looking over at Maya's unconscious form- the younger slayer was even paler now, beads of sweat on her forehead, "I dont think we have much time." Faith said in barely more than a whisper.

[Aredhel]

I nodded. "I know," I replied solomnly. "But we have to have hope. Maya's strong, she'll make it. And if you're half the girl she says you are," I looked at her pointedly, "you'll be able to do whatever you have to in what little time we've got."

That was my story and I was sticking to it. It was half true, at least. Maya was strong, and she did put Faith in a good light. But even so, I couldn't silence the nagging voice in my head that doubted. I didn't want Maya to die, but I had to accept it as a possibility, as scary as that was.

[Maya]

"Y'dont get it." Faith said, a little louder now. "Shes been fighting it all week! She hasn't been out of bed for more than a few hours for days!" She turned away from the others as a tear rolled down her cheek, then spun back in frustration, "And there is nothing I can do!"

[Aredhel]

I don't think Faith was expecting what happened next. In fact, based on the shocked look on her face, I know she wasn't expecting it. But the fact remained that my hand connected with her cheeck - in other words, I slapped her.

"For the love of God calm down," I snapped, eyes flashing yellow. "I understand your frustration, I'm feeling it too. Do not make the mistake of thinking you're the only person here who's feeling this. But you won't get us anywhere by freaking out like a petulant child! If you wont calm down for me, or for Willow, or even for yourself, then please, calm down for Maya's sake."

I quieted a bit, taking unneeded breaths to calm myself and maintain my elvish composure.

"There's always something you can do," I said, quieter now. "Often times, it's just a matter of figuring out what that is."

[Maya]

Faith had to physically restrain herself from striking back at the elven vampire. Instead, she said, through gritted teeth,
"You havent been dealing with this for more than five minutes, vamp- i've had this on me for over a week now- I've done the being calm bit over and over already... ok, fine, y'know what? You're right- there is one way i cant stop what's happening, you wanna know what it is?" She asked savagely, just daring Del to answer, "The only way i can personally stop this-" She pointed to Maya, "Is by destroying Joshua once and for all, so unless you want me to go have a shot at that, i'll get back to freaking out now- if thats ok by you?"

[Aredhel]

"No, it's not ok!" I shouted back, feeling myself loosing grip. "Do you think it's easy for me?! Do you think that it's better because I haven't had it on my shoulders for as long as you?! I've been worried sick about her for that whole time, and unlike you, I couldn't even confirm that she was alive, so don't tell me you've had this longer!"

I paused, fire in my eyes. She had no idea. No idea. How many deaths had I witnessed? How many lives had been snuffed out before my eyes? How many had been my fault? It never got simpler, never got easier to handle. Nothing about it ever changed, only me. Only how I reacted.

I had decided long ago that I wouldn't let myself hurt anymore. I wouldn't let myself get close to a mortal. I wouldn't let myself lose another friend. And then I'd come to LA. I'd come, and I'd been pulled in by the people. I'd let my guards down and I'd made friends. And as soon as I'd let that happen, my dead heart began to ache. I worried every day about whether they'd live to see the sunrise. I lived with the pain every day, letting it eat at my soul. What I was going through right now, it wasn't new. I'd been feeling it ever since that day, so long ago, when I'd let Maya in. When I'd decided to break my rule and make friends. And it killed me a bit more each time.

But I'd be damned if I told her that.

My next words were quieter, slow and deliberate. Each was laced with fire and barely contained pain and fury.

"If killing Joshua is what it takes to end this, then you have my blessing."

[Maya]

"Its not that simple." Faith said, suddenly calmed by someone else letting loose. "If i kill 'im, then there is no garuntee that Mai will recover. Ate can sort it- if he gets here in time. If not... Then Maya will die. And if it isn't stopped soon, then Doc and Rogue will go with her. I dont want to kill him, vamp- i dont know if you know my history, but another life on my hands is the last damn thing i want... but if she dies, or he says no to the ritual..."
She didn't need to say any more- they all understood the slayer's meaning.

[Aredhel]

I sighed, glad that she had stopped freaking out at least.

"As long as he gets here in time, Joshua wont say no to the ritual, I can tell you that much," I assured the slayer. "As much as I may have disliked him, he cared about Maya. He wont let anything happen to her."

I paused. "And can you please stop calling me vamp? 'Del will suffice."

[Maya]

Faith nodded, "I thought as much." She said of Joshua. Then she smirked, though it didn't reach her eyes, "Del- lemme guess, Maya come up with that one?"

[Aredhel]

I nodded mutely. "She did," I replied, smirking rather sadly myself. "Too damn lazy to say the whole name Aredhel." It was difficult, remembering things when she was so close to dying beside me. "And to think," I added, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "I'd offered her a drink of acid the first time I met her..."

[Maya]

Faith couldn't help but laugh. The other three were watching the exchange in silence, and Faith was happy to let them. She shook her head,
"Not one to back down from anything is Mai." She said.