Special Thanks to:
Lepetitemorte: The snake thing was more of a reference to the S5 episode... see the comments for Enn-Enn. Thank you for being a steadfast reviewer.
Calex: And I love you. Aren't I evil? Another cliffhanger approaching!
Spikaholic101: I know… in more of my future redoing fictions, I plan on making her character slowly dissolve. It'll be fun... I have a lot ahead of me to do.
Enn-Enn: As one of my first reviewers, thanks for keeping up the reviews! Appreciated the snake line, did you? I was trying to help explain the S5 episode when the snake found her and why she screamed. I was trying to bridge the gap between my Dawn and S5 Dawn. I don't know if it's working, but I'm trying!
Bloodykey: Are you the owner of the site "The Bloody Key"? Anyway, thank you for being a steady reviewer!
L, Nikki18, Hello, LisaAnne1, Lazy128: Welcome to my fic, first timers. Thank you for reviewing.
K. Lynn Smith: holds up award Thank you! Thank you! cries Would you like my stories if they didn't have the evil cliffies?
The end is near...
"I'm through fighting it, broken, lifeless." -October by Evanescence
Angelus paced up and down the room. Something about Dawn, he couldn't kill her. Every time he went to do the deed, something held him back. Something told him that he couldn't kill her yet just... torture her. Damn it, he didn't understand. Growling to himself, he sat before the scroll yet again. He glanced over the ritual, looking for anything he missed. He did everything right... except, maybe... maybe it had to be pure blood. Maybe the carrier had to be an innocent. Angelus smiled. That's why he didn't want to kill Dawnie. The little tidbit of information wouldn't let him. Wonderful, the ritual would be tonight then. Sundown.
"Dru!" he called to his childe.
Dru sauntered in, licking blood off a knife. "Yes, daddy?"
"Prepare the innocent. Dress her... nicely," Angelus smirked.
Drusilla squealed with excitement, pausing only to hug her sire before rushing from the room.
…
It was only when they left her, a worthless rag doll in the corner that she allowed herself to cry. As she shed tears, she couldn't help crying harder as the sobs wracked her body, pulling at every cut and broken bone. She knew a few ribs were definitely broken because Angelus assured her that he would take great care not to puncture her lungs. Giles had been taken out with them, probably to receive some sort of similar torture. Her body stiffened as she heard someone walking towards her, the steps too heavy to be Drusilla. At first, she feared it was Angelus, but when she spotted the boots, she froze.
"I thought you were in a wheelchair," Dawn whispered, her tears slowing.
"Yeah," she heard the cockney accent. "Don't go telling anyone about this unless you don't want me to save your pint sized arse."
She turned to him, her blue eyes practically dominating her face. He paused when he saw her. Her tears had mixed with the blood from the cuts on her face. She had tears of blood. In her disheveled and painful state, she looked like a twisted Mary. Her eyes shinned with innocence and misery, her body bruised and broken.
Pulling out what he had been hiding in his duster, Spike sat beside her. He gave her credit, she didn't move away. But he recognized her shudder with fear.
"Don't be frightened, nibblet. I won't hurt you," Spike said, pulling out a wet cloth.
"How can I trust you?" she said, her lips trembling.
"Have you really got a choice?" he asked, reassuringly.
He started to clean her wounds slowly, making sure he didn't press too hard. When he saw her wince, he pulled back.
"Did I hurt you?" he asked.
She looked at him, confused. "Why do you care? Why are you doing this?"
I don't know, he thought. But his mouth answered with the easiest lie, "Big sis and I made a pact, see. I get you out of here in one piece, I get to skip town with Dru."
Dawn swallowed. "That's not true."
Spike pulled back. "It is too, I-."
Dawn shook her head, "No, I mean, I believe you. It's just that, there are other ways you could've smuggled Drusilla away. I think you... actually care."
Her eyes met his and he froze. He felt her soul tugging at him, willing him to bare his mind to her. But he had to protect her from Big Bad Evil things like himself. No, she was too young anyway and he was too confused. She smiled at him, her lower lip re-splitting. He decided to say nothing. Instead, he leaned forward. She held her breath as he inched closer. He reached out and held back a smile when she didn't flinch. She was strong. He brushed her long, silky hair out of her face and cupped her cheek. Finally, she closed her eyes as he closed the distance, kissing her on the forehead.
"Spike, I-," Dawn started, but stopped when they both heard the deranged singing coming closer.
Spike moved so fast Dawn couldn't see him. One second he was kneeling before her, the next he was sitting in his wheelchair, sneering at her. Just as Dru walked in, Spike threw the towel that he had been using to clean her up so carefully with right at her face.
"Now clean yourself up!" Spike growled.
Dru giggled and Spike turned around, 'surprised' to see his love standing there.
"Dru," he crooned. "I was just cleaning her up for you."
"Leave me alone with the dolly. It's not proper for you to see her yet."
Spike tried to hide his reluctance as he left the room slowly.
Dru smiled, "Time to prepare the lil' one for the time draws near."
She inched closer to Dawn and instinctively, Dawn backed away. Last time Drusilla had been in here, Dawn really learned how insane Dru was. All illusions and sympathy she felt for Drusilla or Angel was stripped from her. Drusilla enjoyed what she did. And whoever she was before Angelus turned her head was long dead. And Angel deserved to be brooding all the time. She didn't know if she could ever forgive him for this if he got his soul back.
Drusilla did the strangest thing then, she smiled. She got down on her knees and placed her head at Dawn's feet. "No need to be frightened of me, great one. The stars have finally revealed your secrets to me. I was wondering why I could never really see you, just green and black. But they told me you are really a naughty lil' one. Made to do evil and be just like me."
Dawn shook her head furiously. "Stop with the lying, okay? Go away, you, you, you PSYCHO!"
Drusilla whimpered. She lifted her head off the ground and touched Dawn's cheek tenderly. Dawn looked at her in the eyes and saw the brown depths. She felt them tug at her like before, telling her to watch and wait. But she pulled away, instead choosing to stare at her breast. She wanted to make sure she would remember where to stake her when she had the chance.
"Come now, star. Time to dress you," Drusilla said, gently picking Dawn up like she weighed nothing.
"I am dressed," Dawn said obnoxiously.
"No, you have to be dressed for the blood letting," Dru said. "Then all the dark secrets flow out so easy..."
"No! NO!" Dawn said, struggling. "Let go of me! Let me go! No! Please!"
Dru squeezed on Dawn's neck and soon she was still and quiet.
Drusilla sighed, "Much better." She lay Dawn on the bed, next to all her dolls.
"My Dawnie, you shall soon learn, just like all the others, one does not talk out of place. If you are a bad girl, you cannot have tea and bloody crumpets with the others."
Drusilla opened a trunk and searched through the various dresses she had. "What's that Miss Edith?" she asked as she turned to her beloved doll. "Now, now, don't insult the new child. She hasn't learned the rules yet. I take it upon you to set her straight, naughty girl that she is."
Drusilla selected one of her various pure white baby doll dresses. Laying it out carefully, Drusilla took a knife and cut Dawn's clothing off, leaving only her undergarments. She was careful not to knick her, she was her new doll now, and she had to be careful. She didn't want to break her.
She slowly bathed the rest of the blood off her new doll. Pleased with the results, Drusilla squealed. How lovely her new toy was! Finally, she delicately put the dress onto the unconscious girl. In this state, Dawn really did look like a doll. Pale, motionless, and empty. If Buffy had seen this, she would have thought her sister all ready dead. But right now Buffy had more on her mind.
…
Giles grit his teeth. Moving was impossible now, and breathing felt like the most difficult activity in the world. He didn't even bother to raise his head when the door opened.
"Well, Rupert ol' man, the cat is out of the bag," Angelus said as he walked into the room. "But, I have to give you points for not telling me yourself. Good man," he smiled, patting Giles on the back roughly.
"What?" Giles whispered, fear collecting in the pit of his stomach.
"That's right, Rupert. I figured it out. I should have known, I mean, it's so simple. All through history an evil person is never sacrificed, only the innocent. I should have known before."
Giles froze. Angelus thought that an innocent had to be slain. He was wrong; the world would be spared another few precious minutes. Just long enough for Buffy to find them...
…
Whistler walked into Giles' kitchen and looked around. His eyes lit up as they landed on a bottle of sherry. He grabbed it and took a sniff, frowning when he discovered it was empty. He put the bottle back down and reached for the nearest cabinet. Buffy walked into Giles house and stepped back when she noticed someone in the kitchen. However, her expression of surprise quickly dissolved into one of annoyance when she spotted the demon. But as annoying as he was, Buffy conceded the fact that Whistler knew what she didn't.
"Whistler. What did you mean 'the sword isn't enough'?" Buffy asked, drawing closer.
Whistler didn't bother looking up. After he checked out the refrigerator, he pulled out a bottle of beer.
He sighed, "You know, raiding an Englishman's fridge is like dating a nun. You're never gonna get the good stuff."
Buffy grit her teeth. Why did the Powers ever speak in a straight answer? Or at least give the answers to someone sane?
"Tell me how to use it," Buffy bit out.
Whistler took a swig from the bottle before taking his first glance at Buffy. "Angel's the key. But he's not the only one. His blood will open the door to Hell. But the other..." Whistler stopped, closing the refrigerator. "You're learning too soon about the other." He shook his head. "Poor kid..."
Buffy looked confused. "What?"
Whistler shook his head again. "Never mind. You will learn in time. It's too soon." He looked at her again. "Acathla opens his big mouth, creates a vortex. Then, only Angel's blood will close it. One blow will send them both back to Hell. But I strongly suggest that you get there before that happens 'cause the faster you kill Angel, the easier it's gonna be on you."
Buffy looked away, "Don't worry about me."
Whistler raised his eyebrow. "It's all on the line here, kid. Including your kid sis."
"She wont get hurt, I can feel it. I can deal with Angel…" she turned towards the door. She paused, and spoke sadly. "I got nothing left to lose."
She left, the door shutting echoing quietly in the silence. Whistler shook his head again. "Wrong, kid. You got one more thing."
…
Giles' felt some sort of relief before Angelus' words came back to him. "An innocent... surely you don't mean-."
Angelus smiled. "I know. Isn't it so convenient to have little Dawnie here? All innocent and pure. After the ritual, I'm sure I could find a way to thank her for ending the world."
Giles couldn't look at him. Dawn was going to die but the world would be safe. These are the sacrifices that had to be made.
Angelus smiled. "Aw, don't look so sad, Rupert. I'll be sure that you and Dawnie get to share your last minutes together."
Angelus laughed before walking out into the lobby. It was time.
…
Buffy walked quickly toward the mansion. She had to get there quickly, before it was too late. She was so focused on her destination; she didn't hear the noise in the bushes until it was too late. A man ran out of the bushes and into the road in front of her.
"Xander!" Buffy breathed, startled.
Xander smiled at his best friend. "Cavalry's here. Cavalry's a frightened guy with a rock..." he paused to show his rather large rock, "but it's here."
Buffy sighed and held out a stake. Xander dropped the rock and took the stake from her.
"That's better," Xander said.
Buffy barely heard him, "You're not here to fight."
She continued to walk quickly, Xander practically skipping to keep up.
"You get Giles and Dawn out, and you run like hell, understood? I can't protect you or them." Finally, she removed the cloth from the sword. It was time she faced what she had to do. "I'm gonna be too busy killing."
Xander glanced at the sword. "Now that's a new look for you."
"It's a present for Angel."
"Willow." Xander stopped. He should tell Buffy. "Uh, she told me to tell you..."
Buffy stopped, a bit impatient. "Tell me what?"
Xander froze. No, Angel deserved to die after all he had done. "Kick his ass."
Without a word, Buffy continued to her destination. Xander hesitated, feeling the weight of what he was doing before following her.
…
"Acathla... Mundatus sum... pro te necavi. Sanguinem meum... pro te effundam... quo me dignum... esse demonstrem. I will drink... the blood will wash in me, over me, and I will be cleansed. I will be worthy to free Acathla."
Angelus paused to look at Spike who was smirking in his direction. However, underneath his arrogant façade, Spike was a nervous wreck. He had overheard that Angelus wasn't going to drain her, just in case it didn't work. They would still need her for Giles. But Spike still wasn't sure. He glanced at Dawn and almost dissolved at her look of absolute fear. Up until this point, Dawn had been strong and consistent. But to know that she might end the world finally broke into her wall. She was a trembling leaf. Drusilla had problems calming her before, and now had problems holding her still. Dawn wasn't crying but she was scared. And there was nothing he could do. Not until Buffy was here. Until then he had to sit tight and suffer.
"Bear witness..." Angelus continued as he walked slowly towards Drusilla and Dawn, "as I ascend."
The second he morphed into his game face Dawn finally broke down. "Please, no... somebody stop this, someone HELP!"
Angelus just smiled as Drusilla handed him the dagger. "As I become."
"Now, hold still Dawnie..." Angelus crooned as he pulled out her right arm.
Dawn immediately started to squirm. "Don't you dare, don't you dare!"
Spike held his breath as he watched her porcelain skin part, the thinnest red line springing forth into the air. He barely noticed his face changing, the smell of her blood reaching him. It was different. It smelled spicy, a mix of innocence, slayer blood and... something else. There was this element of untamed power that made it so alluring.
Dawn let out a cry as the knife penetrated her skin. She struggled wildly as Angelus bent his head to his arm. She cried out in surprise and disgust when she felt Angelus' tongue skid across the cut, taking in a small amount of blood. Pausing at this fountain of innocence, he felt the need to drink on. The need to consume himself, to drown in the secrets her blood held. But he restrained himself as he pulled back. Angelus put pressure on her arm, making more blood spill out. He slowly coated his hand with her blood and gave her a smile. With her last ounce of defiance, she jerked fiercely against Drusilla's arms.
"Now Acathla, you will be free. And so will we all," Angelus finished as he took one step toward the giant beast.
Dawn raised her eyes slowly, wanting to witness what she has caused. However, a single stitch of hope filled her as she caught the movement of a familiar blonde as she decapitated a vampire. The sound of ash touching the floor sent Drusilla and Angelus spinning, turning to face the Slayer.
"Hello lover," Buffy said, her voice unwavering.
Angelus sighed, clearly bored. "I don't have time for you."
"You don't have a lot of time left," she threatened as she stepped forth.
"Buffy!" Dawn cried, renewing her struggles against Drusilla's form.
Buffy glanced at her sister, trying not to let her fear of Dawn's well being get in the way of her goal: kill Angel.
"Coming on kind of strong, don't you think?" Angelus asked, his poise arrogant. "You're playing some deep odds here. Do you really think you can take us all on?"
Buffy smirked. "No. I don't."
Spike grinned. It was finally his turn. Stepping out of the wheelchair with a determined look on his face, Spike hit Angelus as hard as he could with the andiron. When Angelus cried out, Spike held in a chuckle. He felt empowered as he continued to beat the crap out of Angelus.
Buffy started for Drusilla, wanting to get her sister out of there ASAP. However, a minion decided to pounce on her instead, managing to distract her from her goal. Drusilla lightened her grip on Dawn, intending on running to her master's aid. However, Dawn had a different idea. Using all of her strength, she elbowed Drusilla in the ribs, knocking the air out of her. Drusilla bent over and Dawn, grabbing the nearest heavy object, smashed it over the back of her head.
Dawn quickly ran from the vampiress but managed to trip over her long dress. She slid across the floor, stopping at the foot of Acathla. Dawn hit her head on the statue, leaving her dazed on the floor. Buffy managed to knock the vampire off of her back, intending to run to her sister but the vampire grabbed her back, sending her flying into a chair. Making the chair splinter with her blow, Buffy scrambled to pick up a suitable piece of wood as Xander finally entered the room. Tapping the vampire on the shoulder, he surprised it with a hard punch to the face, sending the vampire to the floor. Not seeing Dawn prone on the floor, he ran to find Giles.
Drusilla finally managed to get up and attacked Spike, sending the two flying to the floor. Spike rolled so he was on top of her, pinning her legs down.
"I don't want to hurt you, baby," he said.
Growling, she grabbed him by the throat, digging her nails into his flesh. Just as he felt the first trickle of blood leave his shoulder, he punched her hard in the face.
"Doesn't mean I wont," he sighed.
Xander stumbled upon Giles after the third room he searched. The sight of Giles made Xander nervous. The sudden need to kill Angel filled him as he ran to the fallen watcher.
"Giles!" Xander cried.
Giles moved slowly, his head tipping toward Xander. The movement gave Xander hope as he moved behind Giles to untie him.
"Giles," he said again, to reassure himself.
"Xander?" Giles asked, confused.
"Can you walk?" he asked in return.
Giles nodded, "I think so. Is Buffy-?"
"Fine and kicking evil butt."
"Let's go," Giles said as Xander hoisted him up.
"Come on," Xander said as he managed to half drag, half support Giles out of the mansion.
Dawn slowly shook her head, managing to move her body. She glanced up slowly, and gasped loudly when she saw she was at the feet of the monster. Slowly backing away, she hit the far wall. Closing her eyes, she prayed for the best and waited.
Drusilla raised her hand and swiped at Spike's cheek, leaving three parallel lines. With her other arm, she swung hard, sending Spike to the floor.
Angelus blinked once, then twice. Noticing where he was, he remembered all that had occurred. Ignoring the pain he felt, he stood quickly, reaching out with the hand thoroughly coated in both his and Dawn's blood. Taking the last steps towards his destiny, Angelus grabbed onto the sword attached to Acathla. At the same moment, Buffy jammed the stake home into her victim.
Angelus felt the power fill him. It was different than last time, stronger. He only hoped that his blood wouldn't taint Dawn's. However, when he felt the sword loosen in his grip, a smile formed on his face. As a light burst from the statue, Buffy looked up just in time to witness Angelus pulling the sword from the chest of Acathla.
Drusilla looked up, her eyes widening in happiness. "Oh... here he comes!"
Spike came up behind her, his arm wrapping around her throat, choking her.
Dawn watched from the corner, her eyes widening in fear. "Too late."
…
The end is approaching…What will happen to Dawn? Will she need to use her blood to close the portal? Will Angel die? Review and find out...
Yours Eternally,
CS