Title: Key To The First
Chapter: Evil Incarnate (10/?)
Author: Anna
E-Mail: mostunstableone@aol.com
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: always a helpful motivation when writing :)
Disclaimer: I don't own BtVS… I wish I did… if I could just get Joss to sign the damn papers that give me complete ownership of the show *sigh* maybe once the restraining order is removed…
Note: takes place after 'Storyteller'
Andrew gulped. "Uh-oh."
Annabelle approached the circle. Actually, it wasn't Annabelle. Just the First Evil using her face and her body as a tool. In that second, Andrew had a revelation. Maybe Evil didn't have one true face, but many. That's why it had no true corporeal form, because it lived in everyone. In every person and every animal and every demon. Evil, just like good, lived in everyone.
A small groan echoed against the cave walls as Dawn struggled to stay awake. There was a large gash across her forehead and the blood from the wound poured heavily down her face, obscuring her vision and leaving its coppery taste on her lips.
Annabelle's eyes were bright with hatred and vengeance. She looked deadly and spiteful and every bit of evil she really was.
Andrew drew his knees to his chest as he sat in the center of the circle. "You can't hurt me. Dawn's force field is protecting me."
Annabelle stopped and looked pensive for a second. Just as it looked as if Andrew had a chance, a vicious smile speared on her face.
"Here's my problem." She said to Andrew as she slowly walked around him. "I want to kill you, but I can't. What's stopping me is that force field. The force field was created by the girl currently fighting exhaustion over there in the corner." She glanced at Dawn, "So maybe if I destroy the girl, I destroy the barrier."
"No!" Dawn struggled to stand up, but her dizziness held her in place.
"I guess I thought correct." Annabelle took slow, sure steps towards Dawn. When she reached her, she kneeled down so that she was eye level with her opponent. "Oh, how I pity you." She reached out a hand and pushed a strand oh hair behind Dawn's ear. "But not enough." Quick as lightening, she was standing and before either Dawn or Andrew could react Annabelle kicked the side of Dawn's head and she fell to the ground, limp and lifeless.
The green glow surrounding Andrew faded as Dawn's head reached the ground and he knew he wasn't going to make it out of that cave alive. In his gut, he felt that this was his penance for his evil deeds. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and sadly reached for the dagger lying on the ground near him. He raised it, and that was when Annabelle attacked.
She struck him hard in the face and he stumbled backwards. He swung the dagger but missed. She was too fast for him, and they both knew it. The First decided to take its time and enjoy this.
Andrew swung the dagger again, but Annabelle's quick reflexes allowed her to steal the knife from him with little difficulty.
"Damn," Andrew muttered, "I was never good with stabbing." He ducked a punch but was kneed in the gut, and he went down hard and fast.
Annabelle was about to speak, her mouth was open and an insult was on her lips, but all that came out was a scream.
Dawn, semi-conscious again, had crawled across the cave floor and regained Andrew's crossbow. With her last burst of energy, she fired the weapon and hit Annabelle somewhere near her left kidney.
The dagger fell from Annabelle's limp hands and she turned just in time to see Dawn reload the crossbow.
"Nobody," Dawn said angrily, "messes with my-" she hesitated and shot a glance at Andrew who had his gaze fixed on hers "-potential boyfriend." She shot the crossbow again, and this time she hit Annabelle in the heart.
"No… no! This cant' be… happening. It's…" before she could finish her last words, Annabelle collapsed to the ground. Blood poured from her wounds and a puddle of dark red quickly surrounded her.
There was silence for a moment, as the red puddle of blood grew. Two sets of eyes were fixed on the body on the floor, both searching for any hint of movement. There was none.
Andrew stepped around the puddle and rushed into Dawn's arms. They embraced like they hadn't seen each other in years. Tears streamed down both their faces, from exhaustion and also from the happiness that they had won. Andrew ran his fingers through Dawn's hair, a gesture she knew she could grow accustomed to.
"Oh God, I thought I was going to lose you, Andrew." She whispered.
"I thought I was gonna lose me too," he responded, "but you saved me. You were amazing. Thank you so much."
It might have been the magick after burn of Dawn's powerful spell, but as she leaned in and kissed Andrew, she could swear there were fireworks. She grabbed the back of his head to bring him closer and for minutes they stood there, locked in their passionate moment and oblivious to the world around them. Finally, oxygen was becoming an issue and they both pulled back and rested their foreheads together.
"I think we should continue this," she kissed him quickly, "after we're sure that Annabelle's dead."
"I agree." Andrew said, and kissed her back. "Especially about the continuing part."
They reluctantly broke apart and Dawn retrieved her faithful sword. Confidently, she approached the body and raised her weapon.
"This is for the real Annabelle, and for Andrew, Buffy and Spike, and for everyone else you've ever caused pain to." The sword came down in a flash and Annabelle's head rolled away form her dead body.
Dawn smiled as pride welled up inside her. Tears obscured her vision and she brought her hand to her eyes to wipe them away, but it was then that she realized it wasn't just the tears obscuring her vision. Her dizziness returned in full force and everything grew dim and unfocused. She lost her balance and fell backwards into Andrew's arms. As he caught her, she lost consciousness.
Author's Note: The evil has been defeated, but will Dawn survive long enough to celebrate? What about Buffy and Spike and the potentials? What about Willow, Anya and Giles? What about… other stuff? Tune in next time for the next compelling chapter of *dum dum dum* 'Key To The First'
