Dawn's spirits the next day were only dampened by two things: the fact that she still hadn't found her missing necklace, and something that occurred near the end of the day.
She had gotten a bathroom pass during last period, knowing that if she'd been in that class a minute longer, she would have fallen asleep. Her teacher, Mr. Myers, would have yelled at her for 'not being dedicated to the organization'. What organization? It was just math class.... Then he would've sent her to the office.
After she had made her way up and down the halls several times, attempting to shake the sleep from her system, she decided to head back to class. As she passed the locker room, she went in to get a drink, desperate for anything that would keep her away from ax+bx=c a second longer. When she rounded one row of lockers, she jumped, startled at the sight that met her eyes. Robert and his girlfriend, Andy, no doubt cutting class, were leaning against a locker, making out. When she looked a little closer, she saw they were doing more than that, but both so caught up in the moment that they didn't even notice her presence.
As she stalked determinedly past, keeping her eyes averted, Robert glanced up and glared at her. "What are you doing here?" he asked in a cold voice.
"Getting water," she rolled her eyes. "In case you haven't noticed, this is a girls locker room." She paused. "Glad to see you're back with your ho and off the attempted rape scene."
"Ho?" Andy's eyes flared. "Listen, bitch-"
By this time, they had readjusted their clothing and were no longer in any compromising positions. As she started towards Dawn, Robert grabbed her arm. "Nah, Andy. Don't."
"What, Robert? You're just gonna let her call me a ho?" she demanded in a nasal voice that perfectly matched her frail body.
"Nah, it's just-"
"And what does she mean, attempted rape? You're just gonna let her say this crap about us? Or is it true?"
"No!" he stroked her cheek. "It isn't true." He turned to stare malevolently at Dawn and said, "She's just pissed off cuz she asked me for a ride the other day. I gave her one and she asked me to walk through this alley with her. She was afraid. So we're walking, and all of a sudden she's all kissing me and just, all over me. So I told her I had you, and that it wasn't right, and it's like she went crazy...begging me, saying no one had to know....So I just left her there, and now here she is, trying to twist everything around..."
"Me?" Dawn asked incredulously. "Like that's the truth. If I hadn't...if Spike hadn't come and kicked your sorry ass, you would have raped me. And if you had-" she gave a choked laugh. "It would've sucked for you, because then, you would've had to deal with my sister."
At that, Robert burst out laughing and Dawn had an urge to pummel him herself, or give him another taste of what she had done Saturday. She felt the unseen power course through her blood and worked to calm it.
"Listen, you little slut," Andy piped up. Dawn took a deep breath and fought to keep her cool. "Just stay the hell away from my boyfriend. Like he'd ever want a-" she looked Dawn up and down with a smirk. "-loser...like you.
"Yeah?" Dawn retaliated, calmed, but somewhat hurt. "You just stay away from me," she glared at Robert and turned to leave.
She paused at the door, about to say something to Andy, but then she felt a twinge of pity for the girl. She obviously trusted her boyfriend and thought he was a good guy. It wasn't her fault he... Dawn glanced back at the pair of them, knowing they would leave her alone. Before, their comments would have made her cry, but not now. She was...different. In more ways than one; and tonight, she was going to try and find out why.
* * *
Dawn had spent the afternoon at the Magic Box, trying to find clues as to where her strange power had come from, but there had been nothing. She knew that if she expected to find anything else, she'd have to go to places that were more...dangerous.
So that night, when Buffy had gone out to slay, and Tara was out with Willow, Dawn went out. First she went to a demon bar, and pushed past several baddies who just leered at her. She crinkled her nose at the acrid scent of smoke and liquor. Not exactly sure what to do, but knowing Buffy always came here for information, she walked boldly past, figuring she could, too.
She went up to the counter. "L-listen," she said, turning as someone jostled her, rudely brushing past. "I need to know where I can find someone who knows about magic...maybe...a witch or warlock. Something..." she murmured, feeling slightly stupid.
"And you're looking in a bar?" He laughed.
"Well, no," she said, feeling a stab of annoyance. "But I figured, you could tell me where I could find someone... experienced."
"Need a love spell, little lady?" he grinned condescendingly at her.
"Love spell?" her eyes flashed, allowing him a glimpse of the extent of her power. "I don't think so...now do you know anything or not?"
"Well, yeah," he said, an abrupt change evident in his demeanor. "There's this guy...Rack. But his place is cloaked. You can't find it unless you've got magic or...but anyway, I think you can take care of that. You'll-you'll feel it. It should be downtown somewhere. It moves, so ya have to find it....Ya know, you look familiar. Where've I seen you before?"
Dawn shrugged. 'Dunno...thanks, though." She turned to leave when his voice rang out behind her.
"I know! You're the Slayer's little sister!"
* * *
All around them, chatter stopped. A demon grunted in a gruff voice, "The Slayer's sister? We could have some fun with her..."
"Yeah?" she questioned, and remarkably, there was no hint of fear in her voice. "And have Buffy kick your ass later? She could kill all of you...then what?" She placed her hands defiantly on her hips, knowing she could probably get away if she had to. She noticed the demons around her contemplating her words.
One of them said, in a voice full of bravado, "I'm not scared of the Slayer!" He stalked towards her menacingly.
"enot sE serss," she hissed, and suddenly the demon was powerless, unable to move.
Bewildered, the other demons stirred. "A witch..."
She saw a few of them change their minds about attacking her, but not all, and now, instead of one, there were ten approaching her. She tensed, she couldn't fight, and she couldn't use her powers on all of them at once...
Two moved to block her escape, and her fists clenched. She closed her eyes, trying to prepare herself for pain, when behind her, someone said calmly, "Now why would you want t' tear her apart? This could be my dinner..No sense in wasting it. I think I'll have 'er for myself." A hand grabbed her arm roughly.
"Spike, who says you should have all the fun?" another vamp grumbled.
"Let me think.....me."
He dragged Dawn towards the door, squeezing her arm hard enough to make her squeal, so as to keep up pretenses. As they exited the bar, the same vamp who had complained followed them out. "Hey, Spike, I think we should share, buddy. You're not the only one who's hungry."
"And I think she's mine."
"Oh, yeah? Well, can't say I didn't offer," he said, lunging at Spike, who released Dawn's arm. Spike landed a hard punch against the vamps cheek, bone cracking audibly, and the other demon stumbled back, growling. A kick from Spike sent him soaring against a nearby wall.
"Got anything wooden, pet?" Spike called nonchalantly over his shoulder. Dawn quickly looked around, then pulled out one of the chopsticks she had used to put up her hair and tossed it to Spike.
He sauntered over to the demon huddled against the wall and picked him up by his throat. "No one," he growled, his voice full of protective fury, "messes with my Dawn." The vampire turned to dust and Spike turned to Dawn. "Will you be wanting this, pet?"
Dawn, still shaking her hair out, crinkled her nose and shook her head. Spike walked towards her, tossing the hairpiece over his shoulder and raising one eyebrow. "What were you doing in there?"
"I was....looking for you," she supplied weakly.
He stepped closer and looked down at her. "Dawn, I saw what you did to that one bloke. Where the hell did you learn things like that? Has Red been helping you?"
Once again, Dawn felt her skin begin to tingle in anticipation of his touch. She wanted to feel the way she had the night before...but she could tell he wanted answers. Besides, she still had to go find that Rack guy... "Well what were you doing in there?"
"Well, luv, in case you forget, I am a demon," his face took on its vampiric visage and he leaned down, letting his fangs graze her neck.
She gasped, but not with pain...it felt...good. "I-I know that. I was, just asking..some..questions."
"About?"
"N-nothing."
He stared into her eyes as she gazed back into his, making her feel like he could see into her soul. They were unfathomable, intense cerulean sapphires...they were hypnotic. Blinking, wondering how they could capture her that way, she broke their fiery gaze and said, "Listen, Spike. You promise you won't tell Buffy?"
He raised an eyebrow again, as if to confirm. When he still said nothing, she continued. "Well, I've had this-this power lately. Like magic power. I think Willow knows...but anyway, it like, just came. Like it was there all along, and I just hadn't...you know, realized it. I dunno. So I was trying to figure it out. And so I'm going to this guy, Rack. He can help me."
He blinked in alarm. "No, bint, that guy's dangerous. I can't let you go there."
"And you can't stop me either, Spike," she said, looking challengingly at him. "So I suggest you come along and protect me." Her voice was teasing, much the way she had talked to him before....whatever it was they had going on. A relationship? She wasn't sure...This really wasn't a time to be contemplating her love life, so she pushed the thoughts aside and tried to focus on the task at hand.
She started walking away, but he caught her arm, pulling her back and pinning her against the wall. "There are other ways, pet. Shops more dangerous than the old watchers, but places you can go without getting yourself killed." He paused, holding her against the wall with his hips, on hand on her arm, the other caressing her hair.
Her eyes fluttered closed as she let the sensations wash over her. "Stop. Stop trying to distract me, Spike," she protested, at the same time wrapping her arms around his neck.
If her eyes had been open, she would have seen him grin, but then he pulled away and grabbed her hand. "Alright, then. Let's go." To her dismay, he released her hand and started off down the street, leaving her to follow behind.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hey, I know this chap took a bit longer than the others to get up...sorry about that. Once again, thanks for all the reviews! I treasure each and everyone, so keep it up, people!! The sooner you review, the sooner I update!