Lepetitemorte: Thank you for being so loyal to this story. I try really hard on the characterization, although Dawn is my own view of her. I'm trying to show what made her the way she appears. In this chapter, I explained a little fault in Dawn that occurs in Season Five. If you can name the episode, I give you a prize!
Gigi13: The book, one of my personal favorites is: The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. It's well known for the movie version starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. I recommend reading the book and seeing the movie. As for the feelings between Dawn and Spike: at this stage of the game, he's got 'I must protect you' feelings. I just can't see Spike loving an eleven year old "because it's wrong."
Enn-Enn: Hey, sweetie! Thank you for reviewing and being so loyal to this story!
Naughty168420: Thank you! When I received your very long detailed, I was surprised someone would spend this much time writing a review for me. So thank you. The last line was a favorite of mine too, I was so happy with myself when I thought of it. I hope I make you happy again with this chapter!
Bloodykey: Thanks for the compliment and for being a loyal reviewer. Enjoy!
Calex: laughs Yeah, Angelus can be annoying. But I love him. Anyway, thank you for your compliments. It gives me good happy feelings when people love my work. Thank you again!
Spikeaholic101: Thanks so much for your compliments. As a fan of your work, I'm happy to know you are a fan of my work too.
Ammers: Thank you for your comments. I found them delightful. Although I care about Buffy, I also have to admit she isn't my favorite character on the show. So I tend to pick on her sometimes. But I'm glad someone else enjoys my bickering. Thank you for the compliments on the characterization, I try.
Okay, now that I've written about two pages of comments, I'll shut up. As always, read, review, and mostly importantly, enjoy!
Dawn did not like this. The second she saw Drusilla pull out the chains, Dawn wanted to scream. She wanted to run, but where to go? There was no place for her to run to and even if there was, they could catch her easy. She was only a girl. Dawn smiled at the irony. For so long she wanted to be treated like a teenager, but she really was just a girl.
When he came towards her with the chains, she struggled although it was pointless. She screamed although no one could hear her. She glared although it wouldn't do any good. She did all this only because she had to. If she didn't fight, then she had let them conquer her. Then she wasn't Dawn anymore. If she were going to break someday, Angelus would not be the cause.
When Angelus had started to pull her in the direction of the bed, Dawn started to squirm in his embrace as hard as she could.
"Don't get too excited, sweetie. We're saving that for last," he chuckled as he forced her to stand still as Dru came towards her with the chains.
Dawn glanced at the chains pinning her hands above her head and gave them an experimental tug. The chains were thick and rusty. Not even Buffy could break them.
"So Giles, before we begin, are you going to tell me what I want to know?" Angelus said as he pulled out a wicked looking knife.
Giles said nothing, just closed his eyes.
"Silly boy. Must watch the show or else I will be very cross with you," Drusilla hummed in his ear.
Giles forced his eyes open and trained them on Dawn's form.
Drusilla moved toward a box in the corner and brought it closer.
"She looks appealing from this angle, doesn't she?" Angelus said as he moved toward her with the knife. "Now, don't move, Dawnie…"
Angelus slowly trailed the knife down the middle of her shirt. The blade split the material like butter until it hung limply at her sides.
"White," Angelus observed when he looked at the young girl's bra. "Should have guessed. So innocent, my little Dawnie."
"I'm not yours, you big moron!" Dawn growled, her eyes bright.
"Ouch. You certainly are a spitfire. Tell me, Dawn. What do you fear?" he crooned.
"Like I'm stupid enough to tell you," Dawn scoffed.
"You do realize that I could split you open like a rotten fruit?"
You do realize, then, that I could snap you like a twig?
Dawn's eyes flew to Spike's as she recalled his threat. Suddenly, she knew one of Angelus' weaknesses. She turned to Angelus and rolled her eyes.
"Please, like I've never heard that line before. If I had a dime for every time I heard that…"
"Dawnie, back to the point," Angelus said. He opened his mouth to continue but Dawn interrupted him.
"The point is that Spike is more threatening than you. You are a weak little puppy compared to him."
Angelus' eyes flared. "You're kidding me, right? Mr. Cripple is scarier than me?"
"He could make me tremble a lot better than you could."
"I could make you shake in your little white panties."
Dawn glared. "Don't think for one second you have any effect on my panties."
Angelus laughed. "You're good. And very amusing. Y'know, I think I might just turn you."
Dawn was distracted though. Drusilla was opening the box and playing with whatever was inside it.
Angelus followed her eyes. "A little curious, hm? Well, a little birdie told me what you do fear, innocent."
Dawn clenched her teeth, "Oh?"
Drusilla reached in and pulled out what was in the box. She heard the hiss and felt her heart tighten. She closed her eyes and prayed to God that it wasn't what she thought it was. But her prayers were in vain. Because when Dawn opened her eyes, Drusilla pulled a snake out of the box. Dawn's breath stopped as her eyes grew wide. She was terrified of snakes. Ever since one almost bit her when she was six, she hated them.
Dawn and Buffy had gone on a trip with their father to the Grand Canyon. The drive was long and miserable and all the sisters did was complain, Buffy about loosing the chance to hang with her friends, Dawn about missing Sesame Street. But when they reached their destination, the girls were quiet in their awe. Holding hands, the two had wandered with their tour group all about the natural beauty. At one point though, the two girls had decided to do some exploring of their own. Sneaking off, they walked around other portions of the canyon. At one point, they just decided to sit on the rocks and just soak in the beauty. Dawn had sat down on one of the warmer rocks and started to swing her legs. She felt the sting immediately and pulled away. In horror, she watched as the snake slithered away to a new hiding spot. Running to her sister, she explained what happened and Buffy ran for help. Dawn wasn't sure how long it took her to get to the hospital, but it felt like hours. She had passed out on the helicopter ride. When she came to, she discovered that she had almost died. Ever since, she has been terrified of them.
But she noticed once, once she had quickly run through a section of them to go see the puppies, they all stood at attention, watching her. She had paused, wondering if that was normal. More people came in, but the snakes didn't stop watching her. Somehow, she found herself standing in front of the cobra cage. She placed her hand on the glass and it slithered over to where it was resting, waiting. When she realized what she was doing, she ran out of there like her pants were on fire.
Dawn swallowed as her eyes fell on the snake. Drusilla inhaled deeply and Dawn knew she smelled her fear. Angelus undid Dawn's ties briefly, forcing her to sit down as he chained her to a chair. She glanced at Giles, pleading for him to help her.
"He won't help you, dearie," Drusilla said as she came closer.
"What?" Dawn asked.
"I took a peak inside his head, and he whispered to me lil' things. He told me that the only reason why he cares about you is because you'll affect the slayer's mind. Miss Edith was displeased that a man would treat such a pretty doll so."
Dawn looked down. Her eyes closed as she soaked in what she had been told. Giles didn't care. No, it couldn't be true... could it? One look at Giles face confirmed it. It was always about Buffy with him. She was just the annoying little sister. She was nothing compared to her sister. She had no importance in the world.
Angelus smiled as he watched Dawn. He could almost hear the little snap in the girl's resistance. She wasn't broken, but she had a crack. He kissed Dru on the temple. He was proud of her. He would thank her thoroughly later.
"Did you know that Cleopatra once placed an asp on her breast because she didn't want to die at enemy hands?" Angelus asked as he took the snake from Drusilla.
"No," Dawn mumbled. "She killed herself because her lover had died and she didn't want to be a slave for the rest of her life." Dawn smiled. "In a way she won because death by snakebite was supposed to secure immortality. And her only wish was to be remembered. And she is."
"Well, I don't think this snake is going to secure you any amount of immortality," he said as the snake snapped at him, barely missing his shoulder. "As you can see, it's a feisty one."
"You can't kill me," Dawn said, doubt filling her. "An angry slayer fights harder and my sister will dust you before you can say-."
"Wrong, little miss," Angelus said. "Buffy doesn't even know where you are! She hasn't even come after you. I guess she doesn't really care for her sister much, does she? I mean, after all, you are quite a nuisance. I can't recall a time when Buffy wasn't whining about you. You put her in constant danger, always having to save little Dawnie. It would really be better for her if she just let you die. With you out of the way, her life can return to normal with just her and her mother and her friends. No little sister, no responsibilities, no annoying tag along that interrupt her slaying sessions. Just freedom."
Dawn closed her eyes when she felt tears filling them. It wasn't true her sister loves her. But what if he's right? Wasn't Buffy so much happier when she was gone? Wouldn't her life be better without Dawn in the way?
"Now, now, lil' one," Drusilla crooned in her ear. "I can tell you this much. You just give in, and I'll be your mommy," she said, with a smile growing on her face. "I would never neglect my childe so. I'll pamper you and feed you, and you get to sleep between Spike and me, just as I planned. Oh, and think of all the dresses I'll buy you!"
Dawn grit her teeth. She had to stop this, this feeling of longing. Buffy never did spend time with her anymore... she was always out with her friends. She never cared about her! But, if she gave in. if she gave in she would be sacrificing the world for a happiness she wasn't even sure existed.
"I'm sorry, Drusilla," she said softly, "but I must gracefully decline."
Drusilla's lower lip trembled before her forehead wrinkled. "You've made me very cross!"
"Uh-oh," Angelus said. "You know what they say, 'when she was good, she was very very good, but when she was bad she was horrid.'"
Dawn managed a glare, "You think that one up all buy yourself or did you have to look into a book of nursery rhymes for inspiration?"
"Still a little spitfire, even in the face of your own death," he smiled. "Well Giles, you going to reveal any of those little secrets?"
Giles remained frozen in indecision. "I-."
"BZZT. Time's up Rups!" Angelus cried as he tossed the snake onto Dawn's lap.
Giles cried out as Dawn's high-pitched scream echoed through the building. Without meaning to, Spike almost stood from his chair. However, he caught himself at last minute and withheld his guilt. They couldn't really be planning on killing the lil' bit, would they? Not this quickly... it wasn't Angelus' style.
Dawn held her breath and remained completely still. Ironically, with her stiff body and glazed eyes, she looked like the doll Drusilla wanted her to be. Dawn swallowed slowly, waiting for the snake to strike. But it didn't. Instead, it stared at her, almost as if reading her gaze. She got lost in its gaze somewhere, and suddenly all she could see was green. But then the snake moved. Still hypnotized by it's gaze, she didn't feel the snake slither into a more comfortable position. When she finally managed to blink, Dawn stared confused down into her lap. The snake was relaxed into a coil on her lap, apparently settling in for sleep.
Angelus took a step back, "What?"
"Didn't plan for this Peaches, did you?" Spike chuckled.
"Shut up, Wheels. And don't call me that!"
Drusilla started humming. "Serpents eye sees only power, and chooses to respect it, like I have."
"All right, guess I have to do this the old fashion way," Angelus said as he stalked towards the littlest Summers.
Dawn's eyes met his at the last minute and just as he reached for her throat, the snake snapped up and bit into him, coiling tightly around his arm.
"Ow! God damnit!" Angelus cried.
Dawn looked mystified at the whole experience but said nothing. Suddenly, as if wakened from a dream, she started to struggle wildly in her chains. The clanging noise created a merciless beat to her desperation and she fought harder. Goddamn her weak body! She fought painfully, managing to twist a chain around so she had easier access to it. Wishing desperately for some kind of an escape, Dawn vowed to learn how to open locks with bobby pins after this was over. If this was ever over…
Angelus finally flung the dead snake away from his arm, obviously pissed.
"What did you do, bewitch it?" he said.
Dawn didn't stop struggling. She didn't care if she died with one arm out, as long as she had that one arm out.
"I said, what did you do?!" the vampire cried, clutching Dawn by the upper arms.
Dawn stopped and spat into his face. "And I recall telling you not to touch me!"
Angelus slowly wiped the spittle off his face and smiled at her. "You know, I wanted to play it easy on you but now that I think about it, I'm actually glad you made me do it the hard way."
Dawn glared, "Just kill me and get it over with, Soul Boy. Or are you too stupid to do that?"
"Oh believe me, sweets. When I'm finished with you, you'll wish I had just killed you."
Dawn was about to reply when the world of oblivion claimed her again.
What will happen to Dawn? Will Angelus really kill her? Will Buffy save her in time? Found out next time if you review!