A family again and a sad awakening
Dawn was sitting in an old chair by Tara's television set watching the Sunnydale news. The anchorwomen was always different for some reason. Before, she was a brunette and rather young for such an adult job. But that happens when you hear horror stories about the local fast-food franchises serving human meat in the burgers. With her job, Dawn thought, she could get national recognition. Who wouldn't if you reported live from the Hellmouth.
But like many before her, she had mysteriously went missing and turned up dead the next day with severe neck injury. What was the diagnosis? Gang related members on PCP. Now a young blonde woman, who looked an awful lot like the weather woman, took her place. Dawn shrugged off the natural occurrence and continued to watch and listen. Drusilla didn't seem to take any interest in what was going on in Sunnydale.
Dawn turned and saw Drusilla humming and dancing like a little girl with an imaginary friend. The way she glided back and forth disturbed Dawn because of her inhuman speed grace as she thrusted herself back and forth moving her hands in a synchronized motion. But I guess that is to be expected for Dawn knew that with Dru being a demon, she was most likely to appear inhuman. Well that and the things she had seen being sister to the Slayer. Her attention was diverted by the television as the woman began to speak.
" Also in follow-up from our news-breaking story from earlier today, we have found out that the suspect in the fatal shooting today that left one woman dead and another injured was found dead today in a local cult shop. The man's name will be withheld by request of the suspect's parents. We can however release the name of the victim earlier today. Willow Rosenberg was fatally wounded and later was found dead in her home. Her parents have been notified but that funeral and memorial service dates have not yet been scheduled. In addition to suspect of this murder, the man was also on the suspect list for a murder four months ago in the case of Katrina. It seems justice, for the meantime, is served. As for the mourners, our hearts go out to you and it seems that yet another dark cloud hangs over Sunnydale."
A tear began to form and slide down the side of Dawns cheek as she remembered Willow and the last time she saw her. They were tears of eternal sadness that soon turned to tears of hate. Warren came into mind and made her evermore glad but angry that Drusilla had first grabs with him.
"Oh pet. Surely you don't feel that way, why if I had known I would've kept him for you to play with."
It annoyed Dawn to know that, even though she did agree to join in their version of the trio, she had no privacy to even think. She turned and glared at Dru. Dru seemed to fill with glee at Dawn who was so angry with her eavesdrop.
"Oh, ruff! You're a mean little poodle…I think I like it. How about you Miss Edith?"
"Damn it Dru! What I can't have my own thoughts without a commentary? I might as well be a DVD."
"Ruff! Bad little puppy!"
Suddenly Drusilla began to act very strangely, she whimpered and began to cower. Tears formed in her eyes as she sunk down to the floor. Her expression went vacant for a moment. Spike and Angelus often saw this expression often; she was having a vision. Dawn was scared, she had never seen Dru act like this before.
"Dru? You alright?"
"The light…it's screaming at me! My Spike…my child, my crying child. Something's wrong, horribly wrong! I can't abide it any longer!"
Drusilla quickly turned, now fully vamped out and got a harsh grip on Dawn's neck and began to choke her. Dawn gasped and struggled to plead with the angered vampiress. But it only made Dru squeeze harder. Then she began to shout.
"It was you! You're the one that's done it! You! It was your doing!"
Faintly, Dawn pleaded for release of the deadly grip around her neck. She was barely audible.
"Stop…please…ugh…Drusilla…stop! Please…I can't breathe!"
A clash of lightening that filled the silent room startled Drusilla as she tried to finish Dawn off. She turned and saw an angry Tara glaring at her.
"What did I say?!"
Drusilla dropped Dawn and stammered to speak,"But I, she…"
"I said do not harm her while I was away. I am almost tempted to take this back where I found it." Tara pointed at a now whimpering Spike. He was screaming illogically at the floor and broke down in tears. Drusilla rushed over from where she had been strangling Dawn over to her once dark poet. She began to weep with him when she aided him to stand, for she realized that he now had a soul. He was the screaming light.
"My lost kitten, don't fret. Mummy is here my poor little Spike."
Drusilla began to rock him back and forth in a comforting pattern as she purred at him. Tara stood silent for a moment and then spoke at Dru.
"Dru, leave him be. We need to go now."
"What?"
"Now!"
Dru whimpered as she walked away from Spike. She looked back at him and said," Don't worry. Mummy will come back and we'll be a family again. You can have tea and cakes with Miss Edith." As soon as she was directly beside Tara, Tara snapped her fingers and as she did chains and shackles formed around Spike's hands and feet. Drusilla gasped as she saw what happened but knew that he had to be contained.
"Come."
Drusilla followed Tara towards the door but were stopped by Dawn whom both had seemingly forgotten in all the chaos. Dawn stood from the chair she had been sitting and interrupted their exit from the dorm.
"Tara?"
She looked back at Dawn and gave her a suspicious look.
"Yes Dawnie."
"I want to come too."
"So are you with us?"
"Yes."
Drusilla clapped her hands and giggled.
"It's true, she belongs to us now."
Tara gave Dawn a warm smile, which had shocked her because she had not seen that look on her face since Willow had been alive. While Tara was leaving her dorm she sensed a familiar presence making it known. At first she didn't recognize it but then somehow on the spirit winds she could hear it.
I lived my life in shadows never the sun on my face….
Meanwhile at the Magic Box not long before… "Giles I still don't know how this can even work. How…what exactly are you going to do?"Giles gave her a quick glance, but was obviously too busy to remain and talk. So he kept a fast pace as he talked."We are going to summon her from the ghost roads and use her knowledge of magic to help us defuse the situation."
As Anya grabbed the thick spell book Giles had hidden for emergencies, she scoffed at Buffy's lack of faith. She read what appeared to be Babylonian for the ingredients she needed to gather. She nodded in confirmation and walked over to a shelf to get a sage stick and an animal skull. She remembered all the spells and curses she had preformed in the last thousand years that required an animal skull and they were usually only required for the dark stuff. Really old magicks that take an enormous amount of skill. She was a little worried because she thought that sure Tara could pull this off no problem, but Giles's inexperience made her uneasy.
"Giles, you better be knowing what the hell you're doing this time, and this better not be another bunny conjuring book. If I see one floppy hoppy bunny I swear you'll pay."
Giles rolled his eyes at her and gave her a sarcastic look. He then went over to a glass case and pulled out the slug candles that Anya had been trying to peddle off since he had last been there overseeing the shop.
"Now listen up every one, light your candles and try not to let them blow out before I finish the chant, that means you Xander."
"Hey! That is just a little mean with a side of condescending. Why do you think I would do that?"
"Aside from your inability to take shallow breaths, you did almost become a Queen to Broadway Beelzebub solely by the fact that his talisman was shiny."
"Pretty things make Xander happy."
Anya shhed Xander as Giles began to chant the spell. He picked up the lit candle and placed a now burning sage stick over the animal skull that Anya had place there earlier.
"Ayala, Goddess of the nether. Our path is clouded an answer we seek. We yearn, we plead, let he spirit we covet appear. Our candles light the way, we implore you, let her cross."
A howling wind that usually accompanies such a spell burst in a heavy gale through the shop. The animal skull of a very undistinguishable origin began to glow. A flame rose and blazed out of the eye sockets. The wind quickly overpowered the blazing flame and as the last struggling flame fizzled out, a fog began to form. Lights began to emanate from where from where the skull was once visible. A clash of what sounded like thunder filled the room as the familiar sight of red hair came into view. Buffy stood in awe and the thought that was in everyone's mind came out of her mouth.
"Willow?"
Within a matter of seconds, Willow had fully materialized in front of the old gang and shocked even Giles. She had a radiant glow around her face that made it seem like she had a halo over her head. She looked like a goddess, a divine spirit that had appeared to them. But suddenly she appeared to be weeping. Her tears were like streams of golden light. All she said is all they heard.
"Tara, oh god what have you done?"