Buffy found herself standing in the cold. There was nothing but wind and white swirling around her. Looking about, Buffy saw an endless landscape of snow and ice. The sun glared brightly from overhead, but its heat was forgotten in this tundra. Looking down, Buffy found that she was standing knee deep in the perpetual white. Though she knew she should be freezing, Buffy felt only a mild chill from her surroundings. The wind, however, felt cool and scrapped across her skin. It tossed her hair about in strong gusts and she felt the cool pricks of ice as the flinging snow stung her face.
She was alone. She could feel the solitude of being the only living creature for hundreds of miles in every direction. Nothing survived in the deep freeze of this land.
Then, as if motioned in that direction, Buffy turned her head to the side. Looking hundreds of yards over the endless white, Buffy saw the form of a man crest a far snow covered hill. She watched him as he steadily strove through the snow toward her. His pace was slow but deliberate as if he knew he had countless more steps to complete and that rushing these few would be pointless. Now, with the man only several dozen yards off, Buffy saw another dark form crest the far off hill behind the first. This man was running and leaping through the snow in great bounds. He rushed forward behind the previous man, desperately looking to catch up.
As the first man approached Buffy, she began to feel that she had seen his face before. Over his tall form he was wearing a long coat which covered most of his body. However, the man's face was clearly visible. As she peered toward him trying to place his features, the swirling snow seemed to part. It was as if the wind and snow were trying to give her and clearer view. Below his short black hair, the man's hard eyes were cast down at the snow before him. He seemed to be in deep contemplation as he forced his way onward.
In a flash of memory, Buffy finally remembered where she had seen this man's face. Buffy recalled earlier when she had first held the strange dagger and had begun to train with the weapon. As she danced about her training pad in the basement of the Magic Shop, Buffy had had a vision. She remembered seeing a dead body suspended in a tank of water. This man was the same man she had seen floating in the tank. As she recalled, Buffy had been sure the body in the tank had been dead. Until he opened his eyes and screamed at her, that is. The image of his face had flashed through her mind more than several times after seeing that vision and each time it had filled her with fear.
Now, watching this man force his way through the snow past her, Buffy felt no fear. In fact, she felt pity for the man. He seemed so distraught and so alone. She wanted to reach out and comfort him; try and give him the hope for the future that she felt he had lost. Nothing could stop him in his path, though. He was a titan of strength that not even the elements of nature could withstand.
He walked past her never looking up and not saying a word.
As she watched him walk off into the distance, Buffy heard the stomping of his pursuer coming up behind her. Not thinking to turn and look, Buffy was startled as an arm reached out from behind her and grabbed her by her neck. Beyond having the wind ripped out of her throat, Buffy was blind by a fierce light searing from the man's skin. After a moment, Buffy could make out a series of symbols running up the arm clasped about her neck. The symbols were as foreign as those on her blade and swirled with a bright multi-colored light.
Buffy was pulled back by her neck and against the chest of her assailant. She could feel the warmth radiating from his body and the labored rasping of his breath. Then a hot gust of breath wafted past her neck and she felt the man's lips by her ear.
"You're lucky the blade is just a tool. Its will for destruction is nothing compared to the madness griping its true master."
Buffy stared forward, seeing only the back of the escaping monolith in his wind tossed, dark robes.
When Buffy awoke, she was lying on the couch in the back room of the Magic Shop. At first, she was confused on where she was and how she had gotten there. Her mind was awash with the fog of dreaming and images of endless snow danced throughout her head. Moments later, however, the memory of the current day came flooding back into her mind and she inwardly cringed at recalling what had happened. Opening her eyes, Buffy was glad to find the lighting was low. Even in the dim light, Buffy's eyes still stung and a raging headache began pounding in her temples. Turning her head, Buffy glanced around the room. The storeroom was still in a bit of disarray after her earlier search for Spike. However, it seemed that someone had gone through and at least righted all the furniture.
Buffy wondered what time it was.
Lifting herself up on her elbows, Buffy cringed with pain as her headache protested her movement. Buffy then turned and swung her legs off the couch. A wave of nausea washed over her forcing her to lean forward and rested her head on her hands. Feeling the smooth cool skin of her forehead with her right hand seemed odd. Buffy realized why; it was because she had hardly felt anything over the past day with that hand but the scaled hilt of her dagger. Thinking of her weapon, Buffy lifted her head and looked about.
She didn't see it anywhere.
There was a small urge dancing in the back of her mind to find the weapon, but Buffy calmed the urge and resisted. She didn't need it anymore.
Thinking back on the past day, Buffy could not believe her actions. She had not only attacked Spike, which, frankly, wasn't too hard to accept, but she had also attacked Dawn and her friends. Buffy realized that the weapon had been using her as a tool instead of her using it. Remembering the rage the weapon felt against vampires sent shivers down Buffy's spine.
The door to the front room swung open and a bright light streamed in from beyond. Buffy cringed away from the light and turned her head.
"Oh, sorry," she heard Xander speak. The light withdrew and she heard the door close. Xander made his way through the debris and over to Buffy's side.
"How are you feeling," he asked looking down at her.
"Like crap," she responded groggily.
"Do ya still feeling like killing everyone," Xander asked, half serious.
"No, that was the dagger, Xander," she answered.
"Well, that's good." He said, falling back onto the couch next to her.
Buffy glanced over at Xander and saw a large gash on his forehead above his left eye. The wound was fresh, but it wasn't bleeding.
"Oh my god," Buffy breathed reaching out towards Xander's wound.
He cringed away from her touch.
"It's alright," he said, lifting his own hand to touch the wound. "It hurts, thank you," he spoke sharply, giving Buffy a hard look. "But it's alright."
"I am so sorry," Buffy apologized, feeling genuinely terrible about the wound she knew she caused.
"It's okay," Xander assured her, "you were under the mojo of that demon dagger."
"How's Willow," Buffy asked, recalling that she had thrown her best friend into a bookcase.
"She's okay, just a little bump on the head."
Buffy dropped her head into her hands again. She felt so angry at herself for letting this happen.
"I don't believe I fell so easily to that thing. I didn't even notice the change." She spoke quietly.
"Well, I wasn't sure at first. All I had was what Spike said. But after you guys got here, I could tell in your eyes."
"I am so sorry," Buffy repeated.
"Don't worry about it. No one blames you. We all know it was that knife." Xander placed his hand on her shoulder, trying to reassure her.
Buffy looked up.
"Where is it, right now," she asked.
"It's in the other room," Xander replied. "Anya found a case for it and put it away behind the counter."
"Why?" His question was asked hesitantly.
"Cause it's dangerous and I want to know where it is," she answered.
Buffy then set her hand on her knees and stood off the couch.
"I guess I should head out there and face the firing squad."
Xander smiled. "I wouldn't worry too much. I happen to know that some of them will try and miss on purpose."
Buffy laughed and started toward the door to the front room.
"The rest of the shots you'll just have to go on luck." Xander stated as he stood and followed her out.
Dawn watched from across the room as Buffy and then Xander exited the backroom. The apologies were short but sincere. After the years spent together fighting the unknown and finding themselves in situations beyond the norm, the Scooby group had grown accustomed to accepting odd behaviors. A few heartfelt sorrys and a lot of hugs and everything was just about back to normal. The only reminders of what had happened were the cuts, bruises, and broken furniture.
Spike was appropriately upset. He had been pushed off a bridge, after all. Buffy handled him as usual and let him know that she wasn't completely sure she had been all that much under the daggers influence when she attacked him.
Of course, Dawn was not left out. Buffy had spent several minutes on her sister apologizing with repeated ferocity. Dawn almost threw herself into the hug to end the scene.
Dawn was genuinely happy that Buffy was back to normal. She had sensed something about her sister when she had gotten home earlier this evening. Buffy had been on edge and very protective. Then Buffy had attacked her when she tried to enter her room. Buffy hadn't been wild with paranoia like she had been here at the Magic Shop, but Dawn had felt the crazed anger while Buffy thought she was protecting that weapon.
As the rest of the gang talked about the recent incident, Dawn began glancing around the room. She tried to remember where Anya had put the dagger. She was pretty sure that she had seen Anya place in some box then walk behind the counter. Dawn eyed Buffy as she spoke with everyone. They were all standing near the table in the recessed area of the shop. Dawn watched her sister, looking for signs that she might be interested in the main counter or even just glancing toward it. Buffy seemed total engrossed in her current conversation.
Dawn was glad to see this. She was afraid that Buffy had just been faking about beating the weapon and was secretly planning to retrieve it. From what she saw, however, Dawn no longer believe this was the case. Happy that everything was back to the quirky normal that they were used to, Dawn stood off the display case she had been leaning on and began to walk down the steps toward the rest of the gang.
After a few steps, though, Dawn stopped as a thought occurred to her.
The blade might not be safe.
It was an odd idea to have after just convincing herself that everything was alright, but Dawn had to admit that her thoughts might be right. Turning back towards the counter, Dawn wondered if just placing the obviously dangerous item behind a counter would be enough to protect everyone. After all, if Buffy was barely able to withstand it, anyone else would probably be completely lost to it. Just having it lying there was probably not the best idea. Dawn decided that she would have to bring this up with the rest of the gang.
Dawn turned back toward everyone still in the midst of conversation and was about to speak when another thought occurred to her.
The blade needs to leave the shop, now.
Dawn wasn't sure why, but she was almost certain that this was the best idea. Turning around once again, Dawn stepped up and behind the main counter. Looking through the contents of the various shelves, Dawn finally found a long white box she had never seen before. Placing her hand over the top of the box, Dawn felt a warm sensation emanating from within the wood. Suddenly, within Dawn's mind, she could see a complete picture of the dagger lying within. The dagger was set lightly on the wood and wasn't secured in any way. The blade was free and could easily cut through the wood surrounding it if jostled.
Lifting the box careful from the shelf, Dawn suddenly had the idea to reach into the box and retrieve the dagger. She could almost feel the warm scales of the wooden handle. The compulsion was so strong, in fact, that Dawn stopped where she stood. Just about to reach inside, another thought popped into Dawn's head.
Don't touch the weapon! It is evil!
Dawn snapped her hand back from lifting the lid. She had seen the danger the weapon could cause and didn't want to fall prey to it. Stepping around from behind the counter, Dawn began to wonder what she should do with the box. Stashing it in the backroom wouldn't be enough. Maybe she should give it to the Spike so he could keep it in his crypt.
Take it out the front door.
Dawn nodded to herself. If she headed out the front door, she could look around for someplace safer to store the weapon. Dawn turned toward the front exit and began walking cautiously toward it with the box in hand. Fearful that Buffy would notice her, Dawn tried to be as quite as she possibly could.
She could still hear her sister and friends talking behind her and down the stairs. The tone of their conversation had changed from the initial apologetic and acceptance feel to the now troubleshooting and problem solving mode. Dawn suspected that they were working on the new mystery of the blade she held out before her. Dawn didn't concern herself with exactly what they were saying, as long as they were not paying attention to her.
Finally crossing the store and reaching the entrance, Dawn reached out and placed a hand on the door handle.
She paused.
A faint sound began dancing in the back of her head. It was a musical, almost chiming floating lightly in her mind. The chiming soon rose in volume and Dawn's ideas of leaving the store with the dagger began to drown out. Dawn considered that it might even be best to turn around and return the dagger directly to Buffy.
Suddenly, her previous thoughts pushed through the flood of music and reasserted themselves. Dawn realized that she had no choice but to get the dagger as far away from her sister as possible and that she had no time to waste.
Get out! Now!
With a start, Dawn pulled the door towards her and stepped out into the night.
"I can't believe it took control of you so quickly," Willow commented.
They were all sitting around the currently empty table in the lower area of the Magic Shop's front room. The conversation had been light and muffled. Buffy had been staring at the floor since they all sat down. A feeling of uneasiness blanketed the group and seemed to stunt everyone's speech. Xander and Anya had exchanged a few words when Anya had mentioned the damage to her shop. She had been concerned about the cost of the damages and plainly asked if they should charge Buffy for the damages or the person she was attacking at the time. Xander had, once again, mentioned her incredibly acute sense of bad timing.
Once Willow had spoken, however, everyone set their minds on the true topic at hand.
"I know," Buffy responded meekly. "I…I don't know what it was."
"You were a completely different person," Xander stated.
"Everything was fine until you tried to take the dagger," Anya mentioned. "Then she just flipped out."
"What were you thinking when we tried to take it, Buffy?" Willow asked.
Buffy looked up from the floor. All eyes were focus on her. She looked from one persons face to another, except Spike. Buffy could feel him sitting only a few steps away to her right. She knew he was looking at her but she didn't have the strength to return the gaze.
"It…it has a…a will…a will of its own. I dunno." Buffy toiled over the idea she was trying to express. The words were just not there.
"I could feel it inside me. It…it saw through my eyes, and it knew what I was thinking. And…I could tell what it was thinking but it never actually used any words."
"It possessed you?" Xander asked.
"No," Buffy responded, shaking her head. "But, we had a connection. And it made me faster and stronger and…better than I was before."
"Did you…kill anyone while you were out?" Willow asked, not talking about demons or vampires.
Buffy looked over at her, sensing the meaning behind her words.
"No," Buffy answered, again shaking her head. "Just some vampires and demons."
Buffy lowered her eyes to the floor again. She remembered the small store house she had fought in and the old vampire she had killed.
"I don't need stakes if I fight with that dagger. I can stab a vampire anywhere with the blade and they'll dust."
"Really?" Xander asked, surprised.
"Yeah." Buffy responded still looking at the floor in memory. "Any everything would be fine until I tried to drop the weapon or someone tried to take it from me. I'd…I'd lose it."
"Yeah," Anya spoke sardonically, "and break things."
Buffy looked up at Anya.
"I'm sorry," Buffy spoke sincerely. She then looked around the table at everyone. "for everything. I…I couldn't control myself."
Buffy then looked over at Spike.
He was watching her with a level but pained look. Buffy wasn't certain if it was because she had hurt him or if because, inside, he had sympathy for her.
Buffy's eyes dropped to the floor again.
"I'm sorry Spike." She stated softly. "I know I almost killed you."
There was an agonizing pause after Buffy's apology. Buffy stared at the floor hoping that Spike would say something…anything.
"Yeah," he finally spoke, "it's alright."
After a few moments of silence, Willow spoke up again.
"Well, we should probably find out where the dagger came from."
"The thing I don't understand," Xander started, raising his finger in question, "is why it only affected Buffy and not Anya or Spike."
Xander looked around the group.
"Well, they both held it and didn't feel anything."
"Yes," Anya agreed, "I didn't sense anything about the weapon. It was just cold."
"Well, I dunno about you," Spike spoke, looking at Anya, "but I was damn well affected. I almost killed myself with the bloody thing."
"Killed yourself?" Willow asked.
"Yeah, it put all these images in my head and made we want to off myself. I almost stabbed myself through the bleedin' heart."
"Well, maybe the blade isn't all bad," Xander stated sarcastically.
Spike's only reply was a grimace thrown in Xander's direction.
"Yes," Buffy spoke, "it definitely hates vampires."
"Were going to need more books or something, then." Anya stated, gesturing to the books on the shelves around them. "I went through everything here earlier today and didn't find anything on that dagger. That's why we thought it was a fake."
"Well, it's certainly real." Buffy spoke, followed by a joyless chuckle.
"Well," Willow corrected, "the magic is real. But the dagger could still be one of those fakes. Just because it's powerful doesn't mean it's old."
"Do you think you could find out anything about the dagger?" Buffy asked Willow.
Willow stood from the table and began walking toward the front counter.
"I can try a few spells. If I can't figure out anything about it, maybe I can at least dispel the magic," she stated as she walked.
At the idea of losing the magic of the dagger, Buffy felt a quick pang of indecision. She still craved the power that dagger offered her. Without the dagger's persistent influence, however, Buffy was able to decide that the dagger was too chaotic and dangerous to leave as a constant desire for her to possibly indulge.
Reaching the counter, Willow stepped behind it and looked below the top counter at the shelves below. She then turned and looked behind her, a look of confusion spread across her face.
"What?" Buffy asked.
Willow only answered with the belated, "Uh."
She then crouched down behind the counter and Buffy heard the counter drawers opening and closing. By the way Willow banged the drawers closed Buffy could sense that she was becoming frantic.
"What is it?" Buffy asked as she stood and raced over to the counter.
When she reached the counter, Willow stood from behind it. The confused look had not left Willow's face.
"It's…it's gone."
"Gone?" Buffy heard Xander shout from behind her.
Buffy shoved Willow out of the way and crouched behind the counter. Willow was right; Buffy couldn't feel the dagger. Buffy stood and looked toward the rest of the group now standing around the counter.
Buffy's eyes grew wide.
"Where's Dawn?" she asked.
Everyone scanned the room looking for Buffy's sister.
"Dawn?" Buffy called out.
Xander rushed over to the door to the store room and flung the door open.
"Dawn!" he called into the dark.
Buffy bolted out from around the counter and then raced to the door down into the basement.
"Dawn!" she yelled as she descended the stairs. The room was cool, dark, and empty.
She then heard the bell at the shops front door jingle. Buffy turned to race back up the stairs when she heard Willow call her name.
Emerging from the stairs, Buffy found Willow standing at the front door. Instead of looking outside, however, Willow was staring at the door.
Buffy ran across the room, leapt up the stairs and came up behind Willow. She heard Xander, Anya, and Spike come up behind her. Reaching Willow, Buffy glanced out the doorway and into the dark night beyond. She could see nothing but the dark street and sidewalk outside the shop.
Turning back to Willow, Buffy found her still staring at the shops front door. Willow stood in between Buffy and the door and obscured Buffy's view.
"What is it, Willow?" she asked, voice strained.
Willow stepped to the side.
Hanging from the door knob was a small necklace. The chain was silver and thin, glinting slightly in the dim light. At the end of the chain was a silver pendant set with a small peridot.
Buffy recognized the necklace as Dawn's. The necklace had been their mother's and the peridot had been her birthstone.
Buffy reached down to grasp the necklace. She began fighting inside herself over the meaning of finding her sisters necklace. Many reasons came to her, but only the worst lingered.
As Buffy made contact with the thin silver of the necklace's chain, a small jolt of electricity sparked at her fingertips. There was a sudden rush of noise like standing on a beach and hearing the rising crash of an oncoming wave. Then the wave receded and Buffy heard a deep, familiar voice.
"Slayer, I have your sister and the dagger. Do not attempt to find her. Do not attempt to retrieve her. This is your one chance to keep her alive. I will contact you."
Buffy recognized the voice. It was the voice of the blonde haired man she had chased out Willow's window earlier tonight. She had only heard the voice for a few moments as he had cast his spells in that unintelligible language, but Buffy was certain it was the same.
"What is it, Buffy?" Willow asked.
Buffy lifted her hand from the necklace then touched it again. The "recording" didn't replay.
"There was a spell on the necklace. I heard a voice. He said that he has Dawn and the dagger."
"What?" Xander almost shouted.
"Who?" Willow asked in shock.
"I dunno, but I think it was the same guys that came after you tonight." Buffy answered, lifting the necklace off the door knob.
"Wait," Xander started as he turned to Willow, "who came after you?"
"I don't know." She answered, lifting her hands up before her in abandon. "I was sleeping then there were these three guys in the room and they tried to grab me. Buffy and I got two of them but the third got away."
"Oh," Xander shouted incredulously, "and you just decide to tell us now?"
"Xander, we where kinda busy with the whole knife and Buffy thing. I forgot."
"Oh, right." He responded a bit sheepishly
Spike had been standing a few steps behind everyone, listening to the conversation. Now, however, he stepped forward through the group and stood before Buffy.
"We have to find her." He stated quietly.
Buffy looked up from the necklace to peer at him.
Spike had spent several nights watching over Dawn through the last few months at Buffy's request. Buffy always thought that he had agreed to baby-sit because of his feelings for her, but she began to wonder if Spike had actually grown fond of Dawn.
"No," Buffy responded, "He said that if we come looking for her…he'll kill her."
"Well, we can't just sit around. We need to find her." Xander spoke, visibly upset.
"I know," Buffy responded, "but we have to be careful. If they find out we're looking, they might hurt her."
"Okay," Willow started, "what should we do."
Buffy thought for a moment. Reflecting , Buffy realized that she was probably acting calmer than she should be considering the situation. Dawn had been kidnapped by some unknown group and they had taken the dagger with her. If they knew how to use it, Buffy wasn't sure if she could get it back from them. Despite that, Buffy knew she had to focus on saving Dawn. The dagger was not as important as her own sister.
"Willow," she finally said, "head over to Willy's and ask about the guy we saw in your room. See if anyone recognizes the description. Spike, you're with me. Let's head back to my house and we'll search those bodies in the basement for clues. Let's go."
Willow nodded, walked inside the shop, grabbed her coat, and then set off down the street towards Willy's bar. Buffy grabbed her coat and she and Spike headed out the front door. Xander stopped her at the door.
"You guys need help?" he asked.
"Xander, you and Anya get some sleep. We all can't stay up all night. You guys can help in the morning when the rest of us collapse. We'll come get you if we find anything."
She was alone. She could feel the solitude of being the only living creature for hundreds of miles in every direction. Nothing survived in the deep freeze of this land.
Then, as if motioned in that direction, Buffy turned her head to the side. Looking hundreds of yards over the endless white, Buffy saw the form of a man crest a far snow covered hill. She watched him as he steadily strove through the snow toward her. His pace was slow but deliberate as if he knew he had countless more steps to complete and that rushing these few would be pointless. Now, with the man only several dozen yards off, Buffy saw another dark form crest the far off hill behind the first. This man was running and leaping through the snow in great bounds. He rushed forward behind the previous man, desperately looking to catch up.
As the first man approached Buffy, she began to feel that she had seen his face before. Over his tall form he was wearing a long coat which covered most of his body. However, the man's face was clearly visible. As she peered toward him trying to place his features, the swirling snow seemed to part. It was as if the wind and snow were trying to give her and clearer view. Below his short black hair, the man's hard eyes were cast down at the snow before him. He seemed to be in deep contemplation as he forced his way onward.
In a flash of memory, Buffy finally remembered where she had seen this man's face. Buffy recalled earlier when she had first held the strange dagger and had begun to train with the weapon. As she danced about her training pad in the basement of the Magic Shop, Buffy had had a vision. She remembered seeing a dead body suspended in a tank of water. This man was the same man she had seen floating in the tank. As she recalled, Buffy had been sure the body in the tank had been dead. Until he opened his eyes and screamed at her, that is. The image of his face had flashed through her mind more than several times after seeing that vision and each time it had filled her with fear.
Now, watching this man force his way through the snow past her, Buffy felt no fear. In fact, she felt pity for the man. He seemed so distraught and so alone. She wanted to reach out and comfort him; try and give him the hope for the future that she felt he had lost. Nothing could stop him in his path, though. He was a titan of strength that not even the elements of nature could withstand.
He walked past her never looking up and not saying a word.
As she watched him walk off into the distance, Buffy heard the stomping of his pursuer coming up behind her. Not thinking to turn and look, Buffy was startled as an arm reached out from behind her and grabbed her by her neck. Beyond having the wind ripped out of her throat, Buffy was blind by a fierce light searing from the man's skin. After a moment, Buffy could make out a series of symbols running up the arm clasped about her neck. The symbols were as foreign as those on her blade and swirled with a bright multi-colored light.
Buffy was pulled back by her neck and against the chest of her assailant. She could feel the warmth radiating from his body and the labored rasping of his breath. Then a hot gust of breath wafted past her neck and she felt the man's lips by her ear.
"You're lucky the blade is just a tool. Its will for destruction is nothing compared to the madness griping its true master."
Buffy stared forward, seeing only the back of the escaping monolith in his wind tossed, dark robes.
When Buffy awoke, she was lying on the couch in the back room of the Magic Shop. At first, she was confused on where she was and how she had gotten there. Her mind was awash with the fog of dreaming and images of endless snow danced throughout her head. Moments later, however, the memory of the current day came flooding back into her mind and she inwardly cringed at recalling what had happened. Opening her eyes, Buffy was glad to find the lighting was low. Even in the dim light, Buffy's eyes still stung and a raging headache began pounding in her temples. Turning her head, Buffy glanced around the room. The storeroom was still in a bit of disarray after her earlier search for Spike. However, it seemed that someone had gone through and at least righted all the furniture.
Buffy wondered what time it was.
Lifting herself up on her elbows, Buffy cringed with pain as her headache protested her movement. Buffy then turned and swung her legs off the couch. A wave of nausea washed over her forcing her to lean forward and rested her head on her hands. Feeling the smooth cool skin of her forehead with her right hand seemed odd. Buffy realized why; it was because she had hardly felt anything over the past day with that hand but the scaled hilt of her dagger. Thinking of her weapon, Buffy lifted her head and looked about.
She didn't see it anywhere.
There was a small urge dancing in the back of her mind to find the weapon, but Buffy calmed the urge and resisted. She didn't need it anymore.
Thinking back on the past day, Buffy could not believe her actions. She had not only attacked Spike, which, frankly, wasn't too hard to accept, but she had also attacked Dawn and her friends. Buffy realized that the weapon had been using her as a tool instead of her using it. Remembering the rage the weapon felt against vampires sent shivers down Buffy's spine.
The door to the front room swung open and a bright light streamed in from beyond. Buffy cringed away from the light and turned her head.
"Oh, sorry," she heard Xander speak. The light withdrew and she heard the door close. Xander made his way through the debris and over to Buffy's side.
"How are you feeling," he asked looking down at her.
"Like crap," she responded groggily.
"Do ya still feeling like killing everyone," Xander asked, half serious.
"No, that was the dagger, Xander," she answered.
"Well, that's good." He said, falling back onto the couch next to her.
Buffy glanced over at Xander and saw a large gash on his forehead above his left eye. The wound was fresh, but it wasn't bleeding.
"Oh my god," Buffy breathed reaching out towards Xander's wound.
He cringed away from her touch.
"It's alright," he said, lifting his own hand to touch the wound. "It hurts, thank you," he spoke sharply, giving Buffy a hard look. "But it's alright."
"I am so sorry," Buffy apologized, feeling genuinely terrible about the wound she knew she caused.
"It's okay," Xander assured her, "you were under the mojo of that demon dagger."
"How's Willow," Buffy asked, recalling that she had thrown her best friend into a bookcase.
"She's okay, just a little bump on the head."
Buffy dropped her head into her hands again. She felt so angry at herself for letting this happen.
"I don't believe I fell so easily to that thing. I didn't even notice the change." She spoke quietly.
"Well, I wasn't sure at first. All I had was what Spike said. But after you guys got here, I could tell in your eyes."
"I am so sorry," Buffy repeated.
"Don't worry about it. No one blames you. We all know it was that knife." Xander placed his hand on her shoulder, trying to reassure her.
Buffy looked up.
"Where is it, right now," she asked.
"It's in the other room," Xander replied. "Anya found a case for it and put it away behind the counter."
"Why?" His question was asked hesitantly.
"Cause it's dangerous and I want to know where it is," she answered.
Buffy then set her hand on her knees and stood off the couch.
"I guess I should head out there and face the firing squad."
Xander smiled. "I wouldn't worry too much. I happen to know that some of them will try and miss on purpose."
Buffy laughed and started toward the door to the front room.
"The rest of the shots you'll just have to go on luck." Xander stated as he stood and followed her out.
Dawn watched from across the room as Buffy and then Xander exited the backroom. The apologies were short but sincere. After the years spent together fighting the unknown and finding themselves in situations beyond the norm, the Scooby group had grown accustomed to accepting odd behaviors. A few heartfelt sorrys and a lot of hugs and everything was just about back to normal. The only reminders of what had happened were the cuts, bruises, and broken furniture.
Spike was appropriately upset. He had been pushed off a bridge, after all. Buffy handled him as usual and let him know that she wasn't completely sure she had been all that much under the daggers influence when she attacked him.
Of course, Dawn was not left out. Buffy had spent several minutes on her sister apologizing with repeated ferocity. Dawn almost threw herself into the hug to end the scene.
Dawn was genuinely happy that Buffy was back to normal. She had sensed something about her sister when she had gotten home earlier this evening. Buffy had been on edge and very protective. Then Buffy had attacked her when she tried to enter her room. Buffy hadn't been wild with paranoia like she had been here at the Magic Shop, but Dawn had felt the crazed anger while Buffy thought she was protecting that weapon.
As the rest of the gang talked about the recent incident, Dawn began glancing around the room. She tried to remember where Anya had put the dagger. She was pretty sure that she had seen Anya place in some box then walk behind the counter. Dawn eyed Buffy as she spoke with everyone. They were all standing near the table in the recessed area of the shop. Dawn watched her sister, looking for signs that she might be interested in the main counter or even just glancing toward it. Buffy seemed total engrossed in her current conversation.
Dawn was glad to see this. She was afraid that Buffy had just been faking about beating the weapon and was secretly planning to retrieve it. From what she saw, however, Dawn no longer believe this was the case. Happy that everything was back to the quirky normal that they were used to, Dawn stood off the display case she had been leaning on and began to walk down the steps toward the rest of the gang.
After a few steps, though, Dawn stopped as a thought occurred to her.
The blade might not be safe.
It was an odd idea to have after just convincing herself that everything was alright, but Dawn had to admit that her thoughts might be right. Turning back towards the counter, Dawn wondered if just placing the obviously dangerous item behind a counter would be enough to protect everyone. After all, if Buffy was barely able to withstand it, anyone else would probably be completely lost to it. Just having it lying there was probably not the best idea. Dawn decided that she would have to bring this up with the rest of the gang.
Dawn turned back toward everyone still in the midst of conversation and was about to speak when another thought occurred to her.
The blade needs to leave the shop, now.
Dawn wasn't sure why, but she was almost certain that this was the best idea. Turning around once again, Dawn stepped up and behind the main counter. Looking through the contents of the various shelves, Dawn finally found a long white box she had never seen before. Placing her hand over the top of the box, Dawn felt a warm sensation emanating from within the wood. Suddenly, within Dawn's mind, she could see a complete picture of the dagger lying within. The dagger was set lightly on the wood and wasn't secured in any way. The blade was free and could easily cut through the wood surrounding it if jostled.
Lifting the box careful from the shelf, Dawn suddenly had the idea to reach into the box and retrieve the dagger. She could almost feel the warm scales of the wooden handle. The compulsion was so strong, in fact, that Dawn stopped where she stood. Just about to reach inside, another thought popped into Dawn's head.
Don't touch the weapon! It is evil!
Dawn snapped her hand back from lifting the lid. She had seen the danger the weapon could cause and didn't want to fall prey to it. Stepping around from behind the counter, Dawn began to wonder what she should do with the box. Stashing it in the backroom wouldn't be enough. Maybe she should give it to the Spike so he could keep it in his crypt.
Take it out the front door.
Dawn nodded to herself. If she headed out the front door, she could look around for someplace safer to store the weapon. Dawn turned toward the front exit and began walking cautiously toward it with the box in hand. Fearful that Buffy would notice her, Dawn tried to be as quite as she possibly could.
She could still hear her sister and friends talking behind her and down the stairs. The tone of their conversation had changed from the initial apologetic and acceptance feel to the now troubleshooting and problem solving mode. Dawn suspected that they were working on the new mystery of the blade she held out before her. Dawn didn't concern herself with exactly what they were saying, as long as they were not paying attention to her.
Finally crossing the store and reaching the entrance, Dawn reached out and placed a hand on the door handle.
She paused.
A faint sound began dancing in the back of her head. It was a musical, almost chiming floating lightly in her mind. The chiming soon rose in volume and Dawn's ideas of leaving the store with the dagger began to drown out. Dawn considered that it might even be best to turn around and return the dagger directly to Buffy.
Suddenly, her previous thoughts pushed through the flood of music and reasserted themselves. Dawn realized that she had no choice but to get the dagger as far away from her sister as possible and that she had no time to waste.
Get out! Now!
With a start, Dawn pulled the door towards her and stepped out into the night.
"I can't believe it took control of you so quickly," Willow commented.
They were all sitting around the currently empty table in the lower area of the Magic Shop's front room. The conversation had been light and muffled. Buffy had been staring at the floor since they all sat down. A feeling of uneasiness blanketed the group and seemed to stunt everyone's speech. Xander and Anya had exchanged a few words when Anya had mentioned the damage to her shop. She had been concerned about the cost of the damages and plainly asked if they should charge Buffy for the damages or the person she was attacking at the time. Xander had, once again, mentioned her incredibly acute sense of bad timing.
Once Willow had spoken, however, everyone set their minds on the true topic at hand.
"I know," Buffy responded meekly. "I…I don't know what it was."
"You were a completely different person," Xander stated.
"Everything was fine until you tried to take the dagger," Anya mentioned. "Then she just flipped out."
"What were you thinking when we tried to take it, Buffy?" Willow asked.
Buffy looked up from the floor. All eyes were focus on her. She looked from one persons face to another, except Spike. Buffy could feel him sitting only a few steps away to her right. She knew he was looking at her but she didn't have the strength to return the gaze.
"It…it has a…a will…a will of its own. I dunno." Buffy toiled over the idea she was trying to express. The words were just not there.
"I could feel it inside me. It…it saw through my eyes, and it knew what I was thinking. And…I could tell what it was thinking but it never actually used any words."
"It possessed you?" Xander asked.
"No," Buffy responded, shaking her head. "But, we had a connection. And it made me faster and stronger and…better than I was before."
"Did you…kill anyone while you were out?" Willow asked, not talking about demons or vampires.
Buffy looked over at her, sensing the meaning behind her words.
"No," Buffy answered, again shaking her head. "Just some vampires and demons."
Buffy lowered her eyes to the floor again. She remembered the small store house she had fought in and the old vampire she had killed.
"I don't need stakes if I fight with that dagger. I can stab a vampire anywhere with the blade and they'll dust."
"Really?" Xander asked, surprised.
"Yeah." Buffy responded still looking at the floor in memory. "Any everything would be fine until I tried to drop the weapon or someone tried to take it from me. I'd…I'd lose it."
"Yeah," Anya spoke sardonically, "and break things."
Buffy looked up at Anya.
"I'm sorry," Buffy spoke sincerely. She then looked around the table at everyone. "for everything. I…I couldn't control myself."
Buffy then looked over at Spike.
He was watching her with a level but pained look. Buffy wasn't certain if it was because she had hurt him or if because, inside, he had sympathy for her.
Buffy's eyes dropped to the floor again.
"I'm sorry Spike." She stated softly. "I know I almost killed you."
There was an agonizing pause after Buffy's apology. Buffy stared at the floor hoping that Spike would say something…anything.
"Yeah," he finally spoke, "it's alright."
After a few moments of silence, Willow spoke up again.
"Well, we should probably find out where the dagger came from."
"The thing I don't understand," Xander started, raising his finger in question, "is why it only affected Buffy and not Anya or Spike."
Xander looked around the group.
"Well, they both held it and didn't feel anything."
"Yes," Anya agreed, "I didn't sense anything about the weapon. It was just cold."
"Well, I dunno about you," Spike spoke, looking at Anya, "but I was damn well affected. I almost killed myself with the bloody thing."
"Killed yourself?" Willow asked.
"Yeah, it put all these images in my head and made we want to off myself. I almost stabbed myself through the bleedin' heart."
"Well, maybe the blade isn't all bad," Xander stated sarcastically.
Spike's only reply was a grimace thrown in Xander's direction.
"Yes," Buffy spoke, "it definitely hates vampires."
"Were going to need more books or something, then." Anya stated, gesturing to the books on the shelves around them. "I went through everything here earlier today and didn't find anything on that dagger. That's why we thought it was a fake."
"Well, it's certainly real." Buffy spoke, followed by a joyless chuckle.
"Well," Willow corrected, "the magic is real. But the dagger could still be one of those fakes. Just because it's powerful doesn't mean it's old."
"Do you think you could find out anything about the dagger?" Buffy asked Willow.
Willow stood from the table and began walking toward the front counter.
"I can try a few spells. If I can't figure out anything about it, maybe I can at least dispel the magic," she stated as she walked.
At the idea of losing the magic of the dagger, Buffy felt a quick pang of indecision. She still craved the power that dagger offered her. Without the dagger's persistent influence, however, Buffy was able to decide that the dagger was too chaotic and dangerous to leave as a constant desire for her to possibly indulge.
Reaching the counter, Willow stepped behind it and looked below the top counter at the shelves below. She then turned and looked behind her, a look of confusion spread across her face.
"What?" Buffy asked.
Willow only answered with the belated, "Uh."
She then crouched down behind the counter and Buffy heard the counter drawers opening and closing. By the way Willow banged the drawers closed Buffy could sense that she was becoming frantic.
"What is it?" Buffy asked as she stood and raced over to the counter.
When she reached the counter, Willow stood from behind it. The confused look had not left Willow's face.
"It's…it's gone."
"Gone?" Buffy heard Xander shout from behind her.
Buffy shoved Willow out of the way and crouched behind the counter. Willow was right; Buffy couldn't feel the dagger. Buffy stood and looked toward the rest of the group now standing around the counter.
Buffy's eyes grew wide.
"Where's Dawn?" she asked.
Everyone scanned the room looking for Buffy's sister.
"Dawn?" Buffy called out.
Xander rushed over to the door to the store room and flung the door open.
"Dawn!" he called into the dark.
Buffy bolted out from around the counter and then raced to the door down into the basement.
"Dawn!" she yelled as she descended the stairs. The room was cool, dark, and empty.
She then heard the bell at the shops front door jingle. Buffy turned to race back up the stairs when she heard Willow call her name.
Emerging from the stairs, Buffy found Willow standing at the front door. Instead of looking outside, however, Willow was staring at the door.
Buffy ran across the room, leapt up the stairs and came up behind Willow. She heard Xander, Anya, and Spike come up behind her. Reaching Willow, Buffy glanced out the doorway and into the dark night beyond. She could see nothing but the dark street and sidewalk outside the shop.
Turning back to Willow, Buffy found her still staring at the shops front door. Willow stood in between Buffy and the door and obscured Buffy's view.
"What is it, Willow?" she asked, voice strained.
Willow stepped to the side.
Hanging from the door knob was a small necklace. The chain was silver and thin, glinting slightly in the dim light. At the end of the chain was a silver pendant set with a small peridot.
Buffy recognized the necklace as Dawn's. The necklace had been their mother's and the peridot had been her birthstone.
Buffy reached down to grasp the necklace. She began fighting inside herself over the meaning of finding her sisters necklace. Many reasons came to her, but only the worst lingered.
As Buffy made contact with the thin silver of the necklace's chain, a small jolt of electricity sparked at her fingertips. There was a sudden rush of noise like standing on a beach and hearing the rising crash of an oncoming wave. Then the wave receded and Buffy heard a deep, familiar voice.
"Slayer, I have your sister and the dagger. Do not attempt to find her. Do not attempt to retrieve her. This is your one chance to keep her alive. I will contact you."
Buffy recognized the voice. It was the voice of the blonde haired man she had chased out Willow's window earlier tonight. She had only heard the voice for a few moments as he had cast his spells in that unintelligible language, but Buffy was certain it was the same.
"What is it, Buffy?" Willow asked.
Buffy lifted her hand from the necklace then touched it again. The "recording" didn't replay.
"There was a spell on the necklace. I heard a voice. He said that he has Dawn and the dagger."
"What?" Xander almost shouted.
"Who?" Willow asked in shock.
"I dunno, but I think it was the same guys that came after you tonight." Buffy answered, lifting the necklace off the door knob.
"Wait," Xander started as he turned to Willow, "who came after you?"
"I don't know." She answered, lifting her hands up before her in abandon. "I was sleeping then there were these three guys in the room and they tried to grab me. Buffy and I got two of them but the third got away."
"Oh," Xander shouted incredulously, "and you just decide to tell us now?"
"Xander, we where kinda busy with the whole knife and Buffy thing. I forgot."
"Oh, right." He responded a bit sheepishly
Spike had been standing a few steps behind everyone, listening to the conversation. Now, however, he stepped forward through the group and stood before Buffy.
"We have to find her." He stated quietly.
Buffy looked up from the necklace to peer at him.
Spike had spent several nights watching over Dawn through the last few months at Buffy's request. Buffy always thought that he had agreed to baby-sit because of his feelings for her, but she began to wonder if Spike had actually grown fond of Dawn.
"No," Buffy responded, "He said that if we come looking for her…he'll kill her."
"Well, we can't just sit around. We need to find her." Xander spoke, visibly upset.
"I know," Buffy responded, "but we have to be careful. If they find out we're looking, they might hurt her."
"Okay," Willow started, "what should we do."
Buffy thought for a moment. Reflecting , Buffy realized that she was probably acting calmer than she should be considering the situation. Dawn had been kidnapped by some unknown group and they had taken the dagger with her. If they knew how to use it, Buffy wasn't sure if she could get it back from them. Despite that, Buffy knew she had to focus on saving Dawn. The dagger was not as important as her own sister.
"Willow," she finally said, "head over to Willy's and ask about the guy we saw in your room. See if anyone recognizes the description. Spike, you're with me. Let's head back to my house and we'll search those bodies in the basement for clues. Let's go."
Willow nodded, walked inside the shop, grabbed her coat, and then set off down the street towards Willy's bar. Buffy grabbed her coat and she and Spike headed out the front door. Xander stopped her at the door.
"You guys need help?" he asked.
"Xander, you and Anya get some sleep. We all can't stay up all night. You guys can help in the morning when the rest of us collapse. We'll come get you if we find anything."