When Dawn finished packing her belongings into her huge suitcase, she sighed heavily, as she seemed to not be able to rid her thoughts of Faith's seemingly extreme sexual advances towards her. Dawn couldn't get her head around the idea of being with her, being with Faith, the strong, scary murderer.
She's so hot. I just wish I knew why in the world a girl like her would ever want to be with me? Dawn thought to herself as she turned away from her suitcase, packed with her stuff, to make her way towards her bedroom door. I shouldn't even be thinking these things about her. I mean, I don't even know for sure if I'm gay, straight, or just plain old confused, as per usual, Dawn thought to herself as she frowned at the idea of telling Buffy about the idea of being gay. Like hell am I going to tell Buffy that I think I had an epiphany, and am now gay, she'd totally bombard me with the non-stop questions like, "you think she's hot?" for the rest of my teenage life, that is, if I live that long.
Dawn kept her frown on her young features as she made her way down the stairs to meet a gleaming Faith, who mouthed another silent, "hey" as Dawn blushed at the wild smirk on the slayer's lips.
"Hey, the brat's here!" Faith hollered as Dawn finally made her way down the stairs to walk past Faith to get to the living room to find Buffy, Willow, Anya, Giles, and Xander, all standing around a large pentagram.
"Not a brat!" responded Dawn a little late, seeing that she was having trouble paying attention to one thing at a time as her eyes moved cautiously around the dark, smoky room.
"Ok, I think we've got everything! Check, check and check. Yes, we have everything, it's all accounted for," said Willow as she brushed off the snow-white chalk off her hands as her eyes moved around each point of the pentagram as she spoke.
"So all systems go?" asked Buffy as she moved towards her sister Dawn.
"Yep, everything's good. All we need to do is set the spell." Replied Willow as she eyed Buffy strangely while Dawn watched suspiciously.
"Ok. First, we need Dawn to stand in the middle of the pentagram," stated Willow as she avoided eye contact with the young girl who just stood there eyeing everyone in the room suspiciously since everyone seemed to avoid eye contact with her.
"Come on, brat, hurry up and get with the program," uttered Faith to a suspicious Dawn in a husky voice. Dawn eyed her suspiciously, while Faith's innocent smile grew to an indescribable grin. Dawn felt her knees go weak, as the grin on Faith's lips seemed to remind Dawn exactly what effect Faith had on her. She smiled weakly back as she turned her attention to a seemingly anxious Buffy.
"So where exactly are the potentials?" asked Dawn when she suddenly remembered the fact that the house seemed unusually quiet for once in a long time.
"They went out. Now come on, Dawn, Faith's right. Get with the program and hurry it up," said Buffy a little too fast.
Dawn eyed her suspiciously. That's strange, where are the potentials? And why won't anyone except for the oversexed Faith look me in the eye?
As she was about to open her mouth to voice her question, Willow interrupted, "Hey, Dawnie, there's nothing to be afraid of."
"I'm not afraid," replied Dawn as she now rested her suspicious glare at Willow. Ok, why is everyone so silent? Dawn wondered to herself as she asked, "What's going on with you guys? Where is everybody?"
"They went out to patrol for the night, so that we can have some quality time together," stated Faith casually as she moved from her position resting against the wall to stand next to a confused Dawn.
Ok, something isn't right here, Dawn thought to herself as she studied the calm expression on Faith's dreamy features.
"Come on, Dawn. I promise you'll be safe, I wouldn't let anything happen to you," alleged Faith to Dawn's skeptical look, smiling reassuringly to the young teen.
"Dawn, for the love of all that is right in this world… GET MOVING NOW!" Buffy practically yelled at the young teen, who jumped at the volume of Buffy's voice. She decided that now would be a good time to get moving. As soon as Dawn entered the center of the giant pentagram, she was soon joined by the strong stature of Faith, who stood in front of the young teen inside the center of the pentagram.
Faith smiled at the young girl as she released the tight grip of her fist around the form of a small silver necklace that had a silver chain holding a beautifully designed cross in the center. "Here, Dawn, it's for you. It's already blessed," said Faith as she moved to place the silver necklace around Dawn's neck, while Dawn tried to resist the temptation to pull the slayer closer.
"Thanks," replied Dawn, as she took a minute to study the silver cross with her young fingers as Faith watched happily.
"Ok, guys, I'm gonna need you two to stand completely still, and I'll need you two to hold hands," said Willow as she walked over to Dawn and Faith while spreading incense salts in a circle around the pair.
"Sure thing, Red," responded Faith as she grabbed Dawn's hands and held them lovingly in her own. Dawn blushed at the feel of Faith's strong hands holding hers, and blushed even harder when she could feel Faith's thumbs caressing the back of her hands lovingly. Dawn tried to keep her eyes away from Faith's eyes.
"Ok, luckily Anya and I have already gone through most of the spell, so all we need to do is release the white energy. This should only take a few seconds," stated Willow as she again avoided any eye contact with Dawn, and she seemed to be a little shaky and anxious. Dawn was again confronted with the undeniable feeling that there was something not right going on, so she brought her attention back to Faith, who was watching her closely.
"Ah, Faith," whispered Dawn then waited for Faith to reply.
"Yeah, brat," replied Faith with a gleam in her eye.
"Ok, number one…not a brat! Number two: is it just me or is everyone acting really strangely?" asked Dawn as she let her eyes roam over Faith's body as she tried to control another uncomfortable gulp when she heard a husky chuckle from Faith.
"What makes you think that?" replied Faith in a whisper as she watched Dawn cautiously.
"Because nobody's telling me anything," responded Dawn in a whisper, as she suddenly felt Faith move closer to her.
"I'm sure everything will be fine, Dawnie, you'll be just fine," said Faith as she gave Dawn's hands a squeeze then smiled at Dawn's look of confusion.
"Faith, do you know what's going on?" asked Dawn as she bit her lip and watched the slayer's face for any sign of a break in her grinning features.
"All I know is, that I'm gonna have to baby-sit a brat for God knows how long," responded Faith with a smile on her face.
Dawn frowned at Faith's never ending nickname for her. "Whatever," replied Dawn as she tried to ignore Faith's husky chuckle, feeling it rattle every nerve in her body. Dawn looked away from Faith to pay more attention to the great plate of white angel hair, but probably not, food coming their way. "I don't have to eat that, right, Willow?" asked Dawn as she tried to jerk away from Faith's hands to make a run for it before being forced to swallow the unidentified substance
Faith held Dawn closer as she chuckled while saying, "You're not going anywhere, brat."
Willow responded to Dawn's question. "No, Dawnie, you're not going to eat this. It's just an offering to the Gods, like everything else here." Willow stopped for a moment to point out to the different plates filled with gross looking objects, which were already placed on three of the four points of the pentagram. "The only thing that you're going to have to do besides…"
"Standing around looking hot!" interrupted Faith.
Dawn gulped uncomfortably, as she felt a little too close to Faith at the moment.
Willow blushed at Faith's comment and struggled to continue. "As I was trying to say, the only thing you'll have to do is stand there holding hands with Faith before drinking a cup full of potion to seal the deal. And that's it. The most powerful protection spell ever will be cast and you will be safe."
"That sounds easy enough for me," stated Dawn as she felt herself tremble at the feel of Faith's hands holding hers.
Wait a minute, why is Faith being this openly flirtatious in front of everybody. Oh shit! Where's Buffy? Dawn thought as her eyes went bug-eyed for a moment, as she remembered all the suggestive moments that went on during this time. "Where's Buffy?" asked Dawn out loud and waited for only a moment before she heard a voice coming from behind her.
"Right here," replied Buffy.
"Oh, hi," responded Dawn as she hoped to God that Buffy wouldn't go ballistic on Faith after this.
"Hey, Will, can we get this spell over and done. Got a long day ahead of us, especially for Dawn," responded Buffy as she moved to rest herself against the doorframe.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Dawn just as Willow began to chant the opening verse for the spell.
Ab origine
Ab incunabulis
Ab initio
A man usque admare
A mensa et thoro
A posse adesse
Abasino lanom
Just then, the lines that made the pentagram began to glow a beautiful and blinding light. Dawn wanted to look around and admire the scene forming around her, but found that her eyes could not leave the eyes of the women in front of her. It didn't matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to look anywhere but where Faith, who was looking back at her and smiling happily, stood.
Why is she smiling? Dawn thought as she felt another wave of suspicion over come her. But as quickly as the feeling came, it was gone. Willow continued the chant, with by the lights around her getting brighter.
Ab hinc
A priori
Ab imo pectore
Ab intestato
Abista omen
Ad astre
Ad augusta per angusta
Abene placito
A capite ad calcum
Dawn stared deeply into Faith's eyes and she wanted more than anything to be even closer to her. But finding that the only action she could do was watch the slayer with intensity. She felt the slayer's hands hold hers tighter and Faith's smile grew happier and soulful as the light surrounding them began to brighten with each passing moment. Then out of nowhere, out came at least ten balls of light, soaring beautifully around the pair as Willow raised a silver chalice high towards the ceiling while the balls of light flew past her.
While Willow stood as tall and as strong as she could, the ghost of Tara appeared out of nowhere appeared on the other end of the pentagram with more offerings to the gods and goddesses, to replace the old offerings. As soon as the ghost of Tara placed the new offerings in the right places on the pentagram, more flying balls of light came from nowhere and began to fly around Dawn and Faith in a fast whirlwind of bright light. As Dawn and Faith stared longingly at each other, Willow held the silver chalice in her hands and her hair instantly changed to a bright white color while her eyes turned to black. She smiled and laughed happily as the good energy flowed through her naturally and she continued her chant, with the silver chalice held out for the gods and goddesses to bless as she yelled the last of the chant.
Consunctis viribus!
Per impetus!
Per amor!
Per vinculum!
Per amicitra!
Per fides!
De profundis!
Per volo!
Per indigeo!
Per orexis!
Per ieiuntas!
Per amor!
Just as Willow completed the last line, the silver chalice raised itself from her powerful hands and magically went in-between Dawn and Faith. Faith smiled and with all the happiness in her eyes, she mouthed the word, "drink" when the chalice went from Faith's hands to Dawn's. Dawn held the chalice in her hands after being forced to let go of Faith's hands to accept the mighty chalice. She held it unsurely and paused at the sudden and more powerful feeling of suspicion.
I have never seen Faith look so happy before…something's not right!
"Dawn, drink, please," mouthed Faith with a hint of worry in her eyes as she waited for Dawn to take the chalice to her lips.
"Why?" mouthed Dawn back as she looked to Faith with suspicion in her eyes.
"Please, Dawn, trust me…" pleaded Faith as everyone in the room looked on with worry.
"Buffy, she has to take the chalice and drink from it. She has to do it NOW!" yelled Willow out to Buffy, who watched in worry.
"Dawnie, please…trust me…drink!" mouthed Faith back, being careful as to not disrupt the mood of the spell with her voice.
She wants me to trust her…why do I feel as though I have to? My head tells me to not trust her…while my heart tells me to drink 'til there's nothing left. What do I do? Dawn asked herself as she held the chalice in her hands loosely; ready to let it drop to fall to the floor.
Dawn was about to let the chalice drop to the floor when she heard a mysterious voice enter her mind, "Drink, Diluculo, drink! You must Diluculo, drink!" Dawn raised her head to see the look of sadness in Faith's eyes, the same look that she swore that she never wanted to see again. "I'm so sorry, Faith," mouthed Dawn back to a saddened Faith.
"Dawn, trust me…please, trust me!" mouthed Faith back with determination.
"Why?" Dawn asked again in a whisper as the voice muttered softly into her mind, "Drink, Diluculo, drink! You must, Diluculo, drink!"
Faith stared in wonder at Dawn's lost look as she tried to muster all the power in her to say the words that could haunt her for the rest of her life.
"Faith, get her to drink! We don't have much time, the Gods and Goddesses are getting angry!" hollered Willow at Faith, who nodded her head in response before looking Dawn in the eyes.
"Dawn," Faith called out.
"Yes?" responded Dawn as the voice still chanted over and over again in her mind, "Drink, Diluculo, drink! You must, Diluculo, drink!"
"I love you," replied Faith with all the feeling that she held for Dawn, vocalizing and making each of the three words undeniable. Dawn gasped at the confession then smiled while responding joyfully,
"…I trust you, Faith." And with that, Dawn brought the chalice to her lips and drank lovingly of the sweet nectar that was the wine of the mysterious spell.
Consummatam est!
The very second after Willow chanted the last part of the spell, the voice inside Dawn's head quieted down to a voiceless shadow as she continued to drink the entire contents of the potion. Once finished, Dawn dropped the chalice to the floor and smiled joyfully at Faith, who smiled lovingly back at her.
"Faith…did…you…wow…wait a minute," stated Dawn as she suddenly began to feel weak and tired. "What's happening to me?" she asked as she glanced up at a guilty Faith, who reached out to grab onto a wobbly Dawn as the light around them started to die down.
"Dawn!" exclaimed Faith as she tried to grab on to the young girl, but failed when Dawn pulled away.
"I'll be ok...just a little tired…" Dawn tried to continue, but was interrupted by the sudden attack of almost fifteen white balls of light that harshly entered her body, releasing harsh gasps of pain from the young teen.
"Dawn! Hey, Red, you said she wouldn't feel anything! What the hell is this?" screamed Faith as the light that surrounded them died down, and seemed to enter Dawn just like the balls of light did.
"Everything's happening like it's supposed to. Don't worry, Faith, she'll be fine later." responded Willow as her white hair and black eyes began to change back to their natural state.
"You better hope you're right, Red, that's all I'm gonna say," responded Faith as she tried to hold down the jerking teen. "Dawn, come on, brat, control yourself," pleaded Faith with the teen as she waited for the jerking to calm down.
After a moment more of waiting, the jerking died down to reveal a tired and weak Dawn looking up to a relieved Faith.
"Faith…" Dawn called out with a weak voice.
Faith responded, "Hey, brat, you alright?"
"Yeah…just a bit…tired…" replied Dawn, before passing out with exhaustion.
"Is she…?" Buffy called out from her standing position.
"…Out like a light…yeah. She'll be out for awhile," replied Faith as she cradled the unconscious teenager in her arms, making sure that the girl's head was comfortably supported.
Authors Note: In case anyone wanted to know what the English meaning to the Latin spell that Willow is chanting in this chapter, I have the translations here. I'm not completely sure if this is all right, but pretty close, considering I don't speak the language. lol
Ab origine- from the origin
Ab incunabulis- from the cradle
Ab initio- from the beginning
A man usque admare- from sea to sea
A mensa et thoro- from board and bed
A posse adesse- from possibility to actuality
Abasino lanom- wool from ass (donkey you may presume, lol), blood from a stone impossible
Ab hinc- from here on
A priori- from what comes before
Ab imo pectore- from the bottom of the chest (heart)
Ab intestato- having made no will
Abista omen- no offence intended
Ad aster- to the stars
Ad augusta per angusta- to the high places and narrow roads
Abene placito- at ones pleasure
A capite ad calcum- from head to heel
Consunctis viribus!- with united powers
Per impetus! - with passion
Per amor! - with love
Per vinculum! - with bond
Per amicitra! - with friendship
Per fides! - with trust
De profundis! - up from the depths of misery
Per volo! - with want
Per indigeo! - with need
Per orexis! - with desire
Per ieiuntas! - with hunger
Per amor! - with love
Consummatam est! - it is completed
Diluculo - this word means Dawn in English…I thought that it would be cool to have the mysterious voice use the Latin term for 'Dawn' when it was trying to get Dawn to drink from the chalice. I was trying to find the correct word for 'drink' in Latin, but I couldn't find it, so I just stuck with the English word instead.