Spike walked into his crypt, a contented smirk on his face. He had thought about staying out, but after his dance with the little bint, he'd grown sick of all the other women staring at him, wanting him to ask them to dance.
He knew he shouldn't have pulled her away like that; had to hide his feelings if he didn't want Buffy to stake him, but after seeing that same wanker trying to seduce his Dawn...it had been too much.
When he'd first seen her there at the Bronze, he'd hardly believed it was her. She looked so much like his dark princess, with her ebony locks. Her eyes stood out, they were gorgeous; he'd wanted her so much. He hadn't been able to take it, seeing that other bloke with his hands all over her.
He'd seen the alarm and anticipation in her eyes when she'd recognized him, smelled her fear and arousal. And when she'd started dancing after those first hesitant moments, dancing in a way he didn't even know she could...he thought he would go crazy with not touching her.
All he'd wanted was to feel her beneath him, to make her scream with pleasure. He knew if he stayed, he wouldn't have been able to control himself. So he'd left. He knew she'd been confused, but it was better that way. Before he'd done something he'd regret. He sighed and glanced down at the bulge in his pants, then smiled, imagining all the things he'd love to show her.....
* * *
Over the next month, Dawn was swamped with schoolwork and rarely had time for anything. When she wasn't doing homework, she was secretly practicing the magicks behind her locked door. She had gotten quite good. With her extra birthday money she had bought several spell books and was now actually incredibly powerful. She thought Willow suspected, but she wasn't sure. And she hadn't seen Spike since that night at the Bronze. She missed him.
It was now December; Christmas was only a little more than three weeks away. Dawn had already gotten gifts for the rest of the Scooby gang. She was sure they would love them. The question was what to get Spike.
She knew that, being a vampire, he probably didn't celebrate the birth of Jesus and all that; but then again, Willow, being Jewish, didn't either. So what was the difference?
Thinking hard, she toyed with the chain around her throat. She still didn't know who it was from, but she had come to treasure it anyway.
I'll decide later, she thought, and began to practice her magicks. It had become a small obsession of hers lately, plus, most of the power came naturally, like the ability to read foreign tongues. She still hadn't figured out the source of her power, but, whatever, it's not like she ever really thought about it. She could now make objects move whenever she wanted to, and her spells always came out right, unlike Willow or Tara's. She could even levitate things. Her power made her giddy.
After a while, she sighed, bored. She stood up and pulled her dark hair into a tight ponytail, then went downstairs. As she passed Willow, the other witch tugged on her hair.
"I just can't get used to your hair, Dawnie! It's just so different."
Dawn smiled. "Hey, I'll be back, ok, Willow?"
"Okie, I'll tell Buffy if she asks."
"Ok."
* * *
Dawn walked slowly downtown, enjoying the night air. She breathed deeply, feeling calm and relaxed. When she heard the crunching of tires behind her, she turned. It was Robert.
"Hey, Dawn. Want a ride?"
"Uh, sure...I was gonna go shopping."
"Ok, I can drive you."
He unlocked the door and she slid into the passenger's seat. He looked over at her, then turned his attention to the streets. They rode in silence, Dawn occasionally glancing over at him. He was wearing a black sweatshirt and some faded denim jeans. She smelled the faint scent of his cologne, it was nice, she inhaled again. When he noticed her staring, he grinned, "What?"
"Oh, nothing." She turned away, looking down when his hand brushed her thigh, but before she could react he retracted it and said nothing.
When Dawn hopped out downtown, he shut off the engine and said, "I'll come with you."
As they walked, the sound of their shoes hitting the pavement was the only thing that broke through the silence. Dawn sped up, wanting to hurry and get into a shop. She said, "Let's cut through the alley, it's shorter."
"Alright," he agreed, his hands stuffed in his pockets as they walked slowly through the alley. Robert commented, "I haven't seen you at the Bronze lately. You're a good dancer."
"Thanks," she replied, still uncomfortable with the unusual silence.
"So, who was that guy?"
"What guy?"
"That one dude who you danced with. The one who just pulled you away..."
"Oh, uh, just some guy."
"Oh," He paused and Dawn turned to look at him. Without warning, he pushed her against the wall and kissed her. Shocked by the sudden gesture, she pulled back.
"W-what are you doing?? Don't you have a girlfriend?"
"Andy? Yeah...she won't find out."
"So?" Dawn whispered urgently. "It's still wrong."
"Come on, Dawn," he breathed, kissing her collarbone. "Loosen up."
She put her hands on his shoulders, enjoying the feel of his lips, but wanting him to stop. "Don't," she said, weakly attempting to push him off. She began panicking when she felt his hand roving under her shirt. "Stop!" she said loudly, pushing him harder. Ignoring her pleas, he continued to kiss her; his lips were soft, but his kisses were rough. Dawn struggled, beginning to feel sick.
When he began undoing his jeans with one hand, still groping her with the other, she cried out. Why did I come with him? Am I stupid? He's a senior and his girlfriend's a whore. He expects stuff like this!! Oh, god, help me!!
Why are you doing this?" she whimpered.
"Because I can...you know you want it," he panted.
"No! Don't..." she pleaded. When he didn't stop, she screamed again.
With the fear wild within her, she felt the power that she had begun to be accustomed to surge inside of her. Her eyes glowed white and she uttered softly, clenching her fists, "esaec Utuoy dnamm Oci." Robert paused, and a moment later an invisible force hit him in the chest and knocked him back against the opposite side of the alley. He slid to the floor, unconscious.
Hurt and confused but what had just happened, Dawn sank to the floor and began to sob. She couldn't believe he'd tried to- I thought he was nice...I thought...
She cried out, gasping, choking on her tears. She felt lost and alone, and, not knowing what to do, continued to weep. She knew she had to leave, before he woke.
Trembling, she got to her feet and stumbled towards home. As she reached the end of the alley, she felt a hand on her shoulder and whirled around, screaming, "No!" and lashing out blindly.
Spike caught her hand just as it neared his face. Dawn tried to tug away, but his grip remained firm. "G-get away, Spike," she sniffed. "I need to be a-alone."
He pulled her against him in a reassuring hug. "Dawn? What happened, Nibblet?"
"It, it was.....R-robert, he-he...' she trailed off, unable to finish as fresh tears poured down her face. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her head and her eyes went out of focus; then she knew no more.
* * * * * * * * * * *
I got many reviews for my last chap. I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. Please continue to R & R!!