Faith in the Darkness
folder
M through R › Pitch Black
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
17
Views:
2,870
Reviews:
3
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
M through R › Pitch Black
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
17
Views:
2,870
Reviews:
3
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Pitch Black, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
10
“Riddick?”
He didn’t turn, didn’t move and Jack approached the captain’s chair very slowly, cautiously. It was dark in the main cabin and in the dimness, she could see the shine of Riddick’s eyes reflected in the computer screen in front of him. Her throat felt tight and her hand shook when she reached for his shoulder.
“Don’t.”
His voice struck her like a blow, harsh and angry and she froze. He still didn’t turn and she took a breath, releasing it slowly.
“Riddick, please, I-“
“I don’t want to hear it, Jack. It was a merc’s trick. You tried to kill her.”
“You taught me to always go for the win, the kill, never to lose,” she said, confusion laced with anger in her voice. Riddick spun on her, grabbing her by her upper arms, his fingers biting cruelly into her flesh.
“You weren’t fighting for your life, Jack. Faith isn’t someone to beat.”
“What is she then?” Jack spat back, true anger heating her blood enough for bravery.
“She’s my- She’s mine, dammit!”
Jack’s voice was barely a whisper in the dark.
“But I love you, Riddick.”
~*~
Riddick froze, her words striking him like a physical blow as he realized his mistake. She’d been a child when they met, when he’d protected her and taken her to safety. He’d come to care for her, as much as a man like him was able to care. She was his family, the only family he had and that was why he’d gone after her on Crematoria. Jack was his baby sister, his daughter, almost, but she didn’t see it that way.
“Jack, no-“ he began, but she was wrapping her arms around his neck, raising her face to his. He felt her lips brush against his and he turned his head, gripping her shoulders and setting her firmly away from him. He could see her clearly in the darkness, her eyes wide and vulnerable, her face, so young, so trusting and he shook his head.
~*~
“No, Jack.” His voice was softer than Faith had thought it could be and she watched the hope on a young girl’s face shatter as Riddick’s words found their mark. She stood silently in the galley and watched Jack pull away, her teeth biting into her lower lip. She spun away before her eyes could tear up and ran through the doorway into her cabin. There was silence for a moment.
“You saw,” he finally said. It wasn’t a question, but Faith nodded anyway, even though Riddick wasn’t looking at her. His eyes were still glued to the doorway where Jack had disappeared.
Faith stepped out of the galley, moving through the darkness of the cabin, toward him. The stitches in her side ached, but she ignored it. She’d take a painkiller later. When she reached his side, Riddick’s eyes turned to her at last. There was something on his face, something like hurt, but it quickly melted away, as if he’d suddenly realized it was showing.
“She’ll get over it,” he said. He met her gaze and she nodded, slowly.
“Right.” They were both silent, staring at one another. Finally, Riddick turned away, toward the console.
“We’ll be docking soon. The vampires are still following us. They’ll scent your blood the second you step off the ship. Be ready for it.”
Faith sighed. She hadn’t thought of that. Angel was going to know she’d been injured on Riddick’s ship. He would naturally assume Riddick had done it and then pull his hero routine, challenging Riddick. One of them would die, she was sure. With an inward groan, she went back to Riddick’s cabin to pull on a jacket and try to figure out how to stop the impending fight.
~*~
The space station was small, crowded and perfect for those who wished to remain anonymous. That included mass murderers with bounties on their heads, time traveling Slayers, escaped convicts and vampires.
Angel heaved a sigh as he followed Spike to the doorway of the ship. He’d had little luck trying to come up with a convincing enough argument to get Faith to do what he wanted. Usually, when she set her mind to something, trying to change it was equivalent to beating one’s head against a wall… pointless and sometimes dangerous.
The smell of Faith’s blood hit him like a slap in the face and he felt his features begin to transform as rage rose in his chest. He sought out her form, standing beside Riddick, just outside their ship, with the girl, Jack, just behind them. The look on Riddick’s face was unreadable, his eyes hidden behind goggles, as usual. Faith, however, was staring right at him and there was something like apprehension on her face. He started toward them.
~*~
“Easy there, mate,” Spike warned, as the other vampire’s pace quickened.
He’d smelled Faith’s blood the moment he stepped off the ship and he’d been waiting for this. Angel was going to go all righteous on him and attack Riddick. Faith didn’t look hurt though, didn’t look like she wanted to get away from Riddick. Spike was willing to bet that Riddick hadn’t been the one to hurt her. The girl, on the other hand, Jack, she was sporting some nice bruises on her throat and face and the look in those green eyes was defensive and wary. She looked kind of like she’d pissed off a Slayer.
Angel ignored Spike’s warning and brushed past him, moving toward Riddick with a purpose. He watched the man step away from Faith and Jack, widening his stance. Riddick’s body tensed and his hands lingered near the sheathed blades at his sides. Spike didn’t smell fear, only a faint hint of excitement. Riddick was ready and waiting for the fight.
“Bloody hell,” Spike muttered and picked up the pace, following quickly behind Angel. Vampire though Angel was, he could still be killed and if a mortal man was able to do it, Riddick would be the one.
~*~
The vampire wanted a fight and Riddick was ready. He’d never fought the undead before. His fingers skimmed over the hilts of his shivs. Maybe a vampire would actually be a challenge. The fight took on a new appeal. It had been a long time since Riddick actually considered the possibility of losing.
~*~
“What’s going on?” Jack asked, her eyes darting from the oncoming vampire to Riddick, and back. Angel and Riddick were facing off, moving away from Faith and Jack, starting to circle each other. The crowd in the space station was wisely making room for them, most standing around to gawk and watch the show.
“They’re going to try and kill each other,” said Faith, the calm in her voice belying the inner turmoil she was feeling. Riddick and Angel were fairly evenly matched and she didn’t particularly want either one of them to die. They were both too proud to back down. Anger simmered up at the thought and she grabbed hold of it, an emotion she was comfortable and familiar with. She grasped the rage and let it take her.
“Why?” Faith slowly turned to face Jack, her eyes flashing, angrily. Before she could speak, Spike joined them
“Because Riddick’s about to take the blame for you, Jack. Vampires can smell blood a mile away and seeing as how he’s spilled a fair bit of it, Angel knows the scent of Faith’s pretty well. This should be exciting.”
Faith sent him a searing look and turned back to the two men circling one another.
~*~
The adrenaline rushing through him did little to help Angel keep his calm. Losing control around this man could prove fatal. He saw Faith out of the corner of his eye, standing with Spike and the girl, Jack. She looked angry, and he had a split second to wonder which of them she was mad at before Riddick made his move.
~*~
The vampire was fast. He’d jumped backward just in time for the tip of Riddick’s shiv to barely slice his shirt. He saw Angel’s eyes focus on him, saw the animal inside start to rise in the vampire and Riddick smirked. He had a monster of his own inside and it had been far too long since it had been unleashed.
~*~
Their movements were too fast, almost a blur. Jack’s eyes were wide and she knew she was gaping, but she didn’t care. Riddick, her hero, her teacher, had finally met someone who could challenge him. A vampire.
She’d never considered vampires before, as opponents, or friends. She’d just never thought of them. They had supposedly been all but wiped out on Old Earth, but here one was, right in front of her.
Two, she amended, her glance flicking to the blond one who stood beside Faith. She wondered why he wasn’t out there with his friend, ganging up on Riddick. The Slayer seemed just as important to him as to the other one. As if he felt her glance, Spike turned and the look in his eyes was unreadable. He met her gaze for a mere second and it felt like hours. A smirk twisted his lips and he turned back to the fight. Giving herself a mental shake, she returned her attention to Riddick.
~*~
He didn’t turn, didn’t move and Jack approached the captain’s chair very slowly, cautiously. It was dark in the main cabin and in the dimness, she could see the shine of Riddick’s eyes reflected in the computer screen in front of him. Her throat felt tight and her hand shook when she reached for his shoulder.
“Don’t.”
His voice struck her like a blow, harsh and angry and she froze. He still didn’t turn and she took a breath, releasing it slowly.
“Riddick, please, I-“
“I don’t want to hear it, Jack. It was a merc’s trick. You tried to kill her.”
“You taught me to always go for the win, the kill, never to lose,” she said, confusion laced with anger in her voice. Riddick spun on her, grabbing her by her upper arms, his fingers biting cruelly into her flesh.
“You weren’t fighting for your life, Jack. Faith isn’t someone to beat.”
“What is she then?” Jack spat back, true anger heating her blood enough for bravery.
“She’s my- She’s mine, dammit!”
Jack’s voice was barely a whisper in the dark.
“But I love you, Riddick.”
~*~
Riddick froze, her words striking him like a physical blow as he realized his mistake. She’d been a child when they met, when he’d protected her and taken her to safety. He’d come to care for her, as much as a man like him was able to care. She was his family, the only family he had and that was why he’d gone after her on Crematoria. Jack was his baby sister, his daughter, almost, but she didn’t see it that way.
“Jack, no-“ he began, but she was wrapping her arms around his neck, raising her face to his. He felt her lips brush against his and he turned his head, gripping her shoulders and setting her firmly away from him. He could see her clearly in the darkness, her eyes wide and vulnerable, her face, so young, so trusting and he shook his head.
~*~
“No, Jack.” His voice was softer than Faith had thought it could be and she watched the hope on a young girl’s face shatter as Riddick’s words found their mark. She stood silently in the galley and watched Jack pull away, her teeth biting into her lower lip. She spun away before her eyes could tear up and ran through the doorway into her cabin. There was silence for a moment.
“You saw,” he finally said. It wasn’t a question, but Faith nodded anyway, even though Riddick wasn’t looking at her. His eyes were still glued to the doorway where Jack had disappeared.
Faith stepped out of the galley, moving through the darkness of the cabin, toward him. The stitches in her side ached, but she ignored it. She’d take a painkiller later. When she reached his side, Riddick’s eyes turned to her at last. There was something on his face, something like hurt, but it quickly melted away, as if he’d suddenly realized it was showing.
“She’ll get over it,” he said. He met her gaze and she nodded, slowly.
“Right.” They were both silent, staring at one another. Finally, Riddick turned away, toward the console.
“We’ll be docking soon. The vampires are still following us. They’ll scent your blood the second you step off the ship. Be ready for it.”
Faith sighed. She hadn’t thought of that. Angel was going to know she’d been injured on Riddick’s ship. He would naturally assume Riddick had done it and then pull his hero routine, challenging Riddick. One of them would die, she was sure. With an inward groan, she went back to Riddick’s cabin to pull on a jacket and try to figure out how to stop the impending fight.
~*~
The space station was small, crowded and perfect for those who wished to remain anonymous. That included mass murderers with bounties on their heads, time traveling Slayers, escaped convicts and vampires.
Angel heaved a sigh as he followed Spike to the doorway of the ship. He’d had little luck trying to come up with a convincing enough argument to get Faith to do what he wanted. Usually, when she set her mind to something, trying to change it was equivalent to beating one’s head against a wall… pointless and sometimes dangerous.
The smell of Faith’s blood hit him like a slap in the face and he felt his features begin to transform as rage rose in his chest. He sought out her form, standing beside Riddick, just outside their ship, with the girl, Jack, just behind them. The look on Riddick’s face was unreadable, his eyes hidden behind goggles, as usual. Faith, however, was staring right at him and there was something like apprehension on her face. He started toward them.
~*~
“Easy there, mate,” Spike warned, as the other vampire’s pace quickened.
He’d smelled Faith’s blood the moment he stepped off the ship and he’d been waiting for this. Angel was going to go all righteous on him and attack Riddick. Faith didn’t look hurt though, didn’t look like she wanted to get away from Riddick. Spike was willing to bet that Riddick hadn’t been the one to hurt her. The girl, on the other hand, Jack, she was sporting some nice bruises on her throat and face and the look in those green eyes was defensive and wary. She looked kind of like she’d pissed off a Slayer.
Angel ignored Spike’s warning and brushed past him, moving toward Riddick with a purpose. He watched the man step away from Faith and Jack, widening his stance. Riddick’s body tensed and his hands lingered near the sheathed blades at his sides. Spike didn’t smell fear, only a faint hint of excitement. Riddick was ready and waiting for the fight.
“Bloody hell,” Spike muttered and picked up the pace, following quickly behind Angel. Vampire though Angel was, he could still be killed and if a mortal man was able to do it, Riddick would be the one.
~*~
The vampire wanted a fight and Riddick was ready. He’d never fought the undead before. His fingers skimmed over the hilts of his shivs. Maybe a vampire would actually be a challenge. The fight took on a new appeal. It had been a long time since Riddick actually considered the possibility of losing.
~*~
“What’s going on?” Jack asked, her eyes darting from the oncoming vampire to Riddick, and back. Angel and Riddick were facing off, moving away from Faith and Jack, starting to circle each other. The crowd in the space station was wisely making room for them, most standing around to gawk and watch the show.
“They’re going to try and kill each other,” said Faith, the calm in her voice belying the inner turmoil she was feeling. Riddick and Angel were fairly evenly matched and she didn’t particularly want either one of them to die. They were both too proud to back down. Anger simmered up at the thought and she grabbed hold of it, an emotion she was comfortable and familiar with. She grasped the rage and let it take her.
“Why?” Faith slowly turned to face Jack, her eyes flashing, angrily. Before she could speak, Spike joined them
“Because Riddick’s about to take the blame for you, Jack. Vampires can smell blood a mile away and seeing as how he’s spilled a fair bit of it, Angel knows the scent of Faith’s pretty well. This should be exciting.”
Faith sent him a searing look and turned back to the two men circling one another.
~*~
The adrenaline rushing through him did little to help Angel keep his calm. Losing control around this man could prove fatal. He saw Faith out of the corner of his eye, standing with Spike and the girl, Jack. She looked angry, and he had a split second to wonder which of them she was mad at before Riddick made his move.
~*~
The vampire was fast. He’d jumped backward just in time for the tip of Riddick’s shiv to barely slice his shirt. He saw Angel’s eyes focus on him, saw the animal inside start to rise in the vampire and Riddick smirked. He had a monster of his own inside and it had been far too long since it had been unleashed.
~*~
Their movements were too fast, almost a blur. Jack’s eyes were wide and she knew she was gaping, but she didn’t care. Riddick, her hero, her teacher, had finally met someone who could challenge him. A vampire.
She’d never considered vampires before, as opponents, or friends. She’d just never thought of them. They had supposedly been all but wiped out on Old Earth, but here one was, right in front of her.
Two, she amended, her glance flicking to the blond one who stood beside Faith. She wondered why he wasn’t out there with his friend, ganging up on Riddick. The Slayer seemed just as important to him as to the other one. As if he felt her glance, Spike turned and the look in his eyes was unreadable. He met her gaze for a mere second and it felt like hours. A smirk twisted his lips and he turned back to the fight. Giving herself a mental shake, she returned her attention to Riddick.
~*~