Dawn

There was a man with Spike. That was the first thing that I thought when he came through the door. I suppose it was natural that I thought that, I mean he wasn't suppose to bring anyone back. Though the stranger was attractive but he was old enough to be my father. He looked around thirty-five. And he was beautiful, not a single line marred his white face.

He was pale when compared with Spike. Which is strange, but I don't think they get much sun here. He looked at me strangely. When his eyes met mine I felt like I was an open book, which isn't a feeling that I particularly like. Then his eyes jumped back to Spike who was talking.

"You have seen Lestat?" His voice sounded well educated, and he had a very slight accent that I couldn't quite place.

"We have." Spike answer. I have never heard him talk quite like this all, well professional like. I suppose that he has some sort of a plan. I decided to stay out of the was so that I didn't do something to spoil it. "He has something of ours. We want it back." The man looked a Spike again, said nothing just studied him.

"I don't know a thing about what he has done to you, I only know that I need him back. It is imperative that I find him." That was all that I needed to hear. He didn't know where she was, you could tell. He wasn't lying of anything, he had absolutely no idea.

I rushed towards my room, colliding with Willow on my way. "I'm going to bed." That's all I said in the way of an apology.

I'd never been in a hotel like this before. Actually I've never really been in a hotel before, not that I can remember anyway. We had a set of rooms here which was nice, I had privacy. I went into my room and locked the door. I put my hair back in a sleek ponytail and threw on a dark jacket, before throwing open the window and climbing out.

I was sitting on the windowsill looking down when the fear took hold of me. I guess that's why they tell you to never look down. I rose to my feet shakily. Here I was in the same city as Buffy and all I could think about was how high up I was. This couldn't of been much higher then Glory's tower. So I inhaled deeply and started inching my way along the side of the building.

A few feet more and I was there, I looked straight ahead and jumped off the building, onto the fire escape. For a moment I throughout that I wouldn't be able to make it, but I did. I pulled myself up and over the rail and collapsed in a heap on the other side gasping for breath. I lay there for a moment trying to calm down. Then after a few more deep breaths I stood up and started climbing down towards the city. I started climbing down towards Buffy.

The city at night wasn't what I expected, I really didn't think that she would be out amongst the people on the ever busy streets. I went to the less populated areas. I climbed through closely parked cars and pushed my way past strange people. I was so worried about Buffy that even the dark alleys that I should have been terrified of seemed unthreatening.

I was walking through one of these particular alleys when I heard a noise. I spun around to look behind me and there was nothing so taking shaky breath I started walking forward again. I was still looking behind me so I walked right into a person standing in my path. I think I let out a little squeak as I looked up to see who it was I had collided with.

I was in love.

It was like I was seeing and angel, a living angel. My voice caught in my throat and I don't think I could have spoken. It was a boy. Only he looked as if he were only slightly older then me, he was dressed in clothes that looked like they belonged in a different era. He wore a strange suit topped with a deep red velvet cape. His wavy, shoulder-length, auburn hair hung loose around his shoulders, framing his young face. His eyes were huge and brown, and he appeared to be out of breath. His chest was heaving, his cheeks were ruddy, and his lips were moist and red, hanging slightly open as if he were about to say something.

I was frozen to the spot. I couldn't move all I could make myself do was to look at him, I wouldn't even blink in fear that if I did he would just disappear. My hands were pressed against his chest from when I had walked into him, and now he took them in his own gloved ones. He lowered them down but never relinquished his hold. He lent his head down and kissed me on the forehead softly. His lips stayed there a moment and when he pulled them away I think that I must of made some sort of a sad murmer.

He smiled at me and dropped one of my hands down keeping hold of the other. He started walking, guiding me along. I had no problem going with him I fell into step as he lead me out of the alley and back onto the street.

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He had taken me to some sort of a bar. We slid into a booth near the back of the place and the waiter came and brought us both a glass of some sort of amber liquid 'on the house'. I was surprised neither of us looked old enough to be here and they were serving us. I didn't really want to drink it because it smelt foul and looked like some sort of booze. I was feeling very uncomfortable here. The smoke hung in the air, and the lighting was very poor, it was very much like Willies.

I was just gathering up the courage to try and leave when he spoke and I doubted that I could as much as stand at the melodic sound of his voice.

"So tell me what a pretty young girl like you was doing in that alley." I took a moment to make sure that my voice would be steady before I tried to reply.

"Walking." Was all I could get out before breaking out in a coughing fit. I tried to stop the coughs be taking a gulp of the drink in front of me. It didn't help, all it did was burn it's way down my throat. Then due to my coughing, much to my mortification it proceeded to come out of my nose. My companion quickly flagged someone down who came with napkins and water. By the time I was under control I wanted to go curl up under my blankets and never come out. My face was glowing bright red, the only positive thing about the whole experience was that now he was rubbing my back slowly.

I took a few shaky breaths before flashing him a lopsided grin, which he returned with a warm smile.

"How about I walk you home" He asked running his fingers lightly through my hair. The same way Buffy would when I was upset about something. My eyes got all blurry and he got up out of the booth, he extended his arm and I gladly took it pulling myself out.

We left the bar and started walking home. He never moved his arm from around my shoulder, and I felt so good with him leaning against me. We walked in silence but that was perfect. It took us around an hour to reach the hotel and he offered to walk me to my room. We went up the elevator and down the hallway until we were standing right in front of the door.

He turned around to face me and asked if I would tell him my name.

"Dawn. Dawn Summers"

He then told me his and it was perfect. His name was unique and it seemed to work very well for him. He wrapped one arm around me and before I knew what was happening his lips were descending on mine. It was amazing his mouth felt so smooth and when his lips dropped down to my neck an incredible burning sensation leapt through me. I felt him kiss the same spot his tongue running over my skin cooling it, before his lips returned to my mouth. I felt very week as if I would fall down if he wasn't holding me up. My whole world revolved around the sensation of his lips, so much that I didn't even notice the door opening. I did however notice him pulling away from me.

I heard angry voices but I couldn't make out what they were saying. Someone grabbed me and pulled me inside. The man, Marius, looked like he knew my friend, they seemed to be having a heated conversation while Spike yelled. Everything started spinning and I couldn't keep my eyes focussed. It got darker and darker until the voices were gone and I was alone, surrounded in the dark.

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