Gigi13, bloodykey: Thank you. You have become a loyal reviewer and I appreciate that.
Draco-FutureBF: Haven't heard from you in a while. I'm glad you like it.
Lepetitemorte: Thank you, thank you, and thank you. I have written other Dawn Mix stories all ready. If you look in my profile, I wrote one for School Hard, one for Halloween, and one for Something Blue. Hope you enjoy them.
Spikeaholic101: I know. She is a little mature, isn't she? Well, all will be explained within this story about her maturity. I hope it makes sense.
Enn-Enn: Thank you. That is one of my favorite lines too. I really appreciate how you always tell me what you like about my chapter.
PromegranateQueen, Linz005, Tempete, and PhreakFandom: Welcome, my newbies. As I have said before, thank you for reviewing. I hope you enjoy the story.
Saifai: Your review meant a lot to me. I worked really hard on the Spike/Dawn relationship. In the future, I want them to be together as a couple, but for them to be romantic now isn't right. She's a preteen, she needs more time. I couldn't figure out what to do to show potential for a relationship but then came the chaste kiss. I'm glad you like the fiction and I hope to hear more from you soon.
"Close your eyes, for your eyes will only tell the truth, and the truth isn't what you want to see." –Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera
Buffy felt the urge to run to her sister grasp at her heart but she couldn't. If she took her eyes off Angelus for one moment, who knows what he might do? Instead, Buffy shed her heart, letting her true being take over. Buffy the sister was gone, only Buffy the Vampire Slayer could be seen. She picked up her sword and faced off with Angelus. The time was now.
Angelus smirked, "You almost made it, Buff."
Surprisingly, she returned the smirk. "It's not over yet."
Angelus wasn't too sure what to think about this gesture. "My boy Acathla is about to wake up. You're going to hell."
Buffy just stared at him. "Save me a seat."
Almost like a cobra, Buffy thrust her sword at his chest but Angelus parried her blow and twisted around, attempting a thrust of his own. Unfortunately, Buffy blocked his thrust and continued to fight him. The clinking of the blades set a tempo to their death dance before Buffy ducked a wide arching swing from Angelus' blade. Again, the two enemies faced each other; each determined to kill the other. They kept fighting, but neither of them could manage to reach the other. Angelus attempted to pull another arching swing, but to no avail. Buffy ducked out of the way and sidestepped him as if it were the easiest task in the world. They barely realize that they are now fighting before Acathla, the beast of their destruction. Once again, Angelus attempted the arching swing but Buffy swiftly jumped onto a table before swinging at his head. He barely managed to parry her blow and swiped fiercely at her legs. When his blade met air, he attempted to cut her yet again but she stopped his blade with her own.
Their eyes met for the briefest of moments before the fighting started again, each of them shedding their names and becoming what they were. No longer Angelus and Buffy but a vampire and a slayer, fighting to the death. He tried the wide swing for the last time and the vampire grinned when he managed to cut her. First Blood. Attempting to take advantage of her distraction, he came at her with his sword held high, but she fell to the floor and somersaulted out of the way. The slayer heard the smash of the bowl and barely has time to shudder when she realized that could have been her. Becoming more primal, the slayer kicked out the vampire's legs and scrambled to her feet. The vampire withheld a growl as he spun on his knees, striking at her three times in a swift sequence but cannot seem to catch the slayer's skin. He swung at her again, but the slayer pinned his sword to the table with triumph.
However, the vampire decided that he wasn't going to play clean anymore. Backhanding the slayer across the face, he picked up his sword as she spun away from his blow. He thrust hard at her but she parried it before delivering a solid kick to gut. As he doubled over, she jumped over him into the clearing, needing more room to fight. The thrust and parries begin again becoming more and more desperate before the vampire kicked her sword arm, forcing her to stumble back a few steps. Losing her balance, the slayer fell to the floor but quickly got back to her feet as the dangerous demon approached. She thrust but he parried. She spun around, her moves becoming sloppy, and swung at him, but he just blocked her blow. Her sword fell from her hand. She reached for it, her world slowing down, but the vampire stomped on it before she could manage to raise it and kicked it from her grasp. Deciding to finish her off, he twisted around and elbowed her hard in the face, knocking the slayer back into a stone table.
Dawn noticed how cloudy the room was getting. Her head felt heavy and she herself, felt very tired. However, a sharp pain brought her to reality. She felt as if something were burning inside her chest. Letting out a moan, she managed to turn her head to the stone statue. Her eyes became so large; it was as if her entire face was made of the clear blue pools. Fear filled them as she watched Acathla stir. A growl emitted from it, like a bear waking from a long winter. The burning in her chest seemed to grow, as the beast seemed to stare at her, beckoning her to join him.
Spike didn't notice the noises. All he knew was that Drusilla was loosing consciousness and that meant she was coming with him. He let out a sigh when she fell limp at last in his arms.
"Sorry baby. Wish there were another way."
He caught her as her unconscious body fell forward and possessively snatched her up into his arms. He headed toward the exit but the light on the blade caught his eye. He glanced briefly into the atrium and saw Buffy backing away from Angelus without a sword and Angelus, deliberately stalking towards her slowly with his.
"God, he's going to kill her," he said, sounding almost concerned. But the moment passed when he merely shrugged and left, his prize in his arms.
Dawn reached for him as he left, but it was too late. Her savior was gone, the slayer was going to die, and she was as good as dead. Dawn wished she had enough energy to sob, but no tears came, as the burning grew worse.
Buffy, at the moment, indeed feared for her life. Her slayer self seemed to have disappeared for the moment, and know she felt helpless as she stared up at Angelus, unarmed.
Angelus toyed with the sword before pointing it at Buffy. "Now that's everything, huh? No weapons, no friends, no family, no hope."
Buffy closed her eyes, waiting for what was to come. She had made it this far, why was she giving up now? But what did she have left to fight for? But once she heard Angelus' next taunt, she knew.
"Take all that away and what's left?"
He drew back the sword and prepared to deliver the killing blow. He thrust his sword at her face but Buffy struck back. Moving quicker than she ever had in her life, Buffy saved herself by catching the blade between her palms, millimeters from her face.
Her eyes snapped open and met his. "Me."
She shoved the sword away from her face and the hilt of the sword smashed into Angelus' nose. He staggered back, clutching it as Buffy jumped to her feet and roundhouse kicked him in the chest. He stumbled back again and Buffy picked up her sword. She was ready now. She knew it was time. She could kill him, at last. She wasn't afraid anymore.
She turned and thrust her blade at him, Angelus barely able to deflect it. They exchange several thrusts, but it slowly becomes obvious that Buffy now had the upper hand, not Angelus. Spinning around again, she swung her sword down from above her head, but he managed to block her. However, the shock of her blow sent him to one knee as she swung at him again. After he blocked her blow, she twirled around and kicked him hard in the side and he collapsed to the floor.
Spike was just about to turn the key in the ignition when he realized he was missing something. After making sure Drusilla would be out for another few hours, he draped her carefully across the back seat and returned to the mansion.
Buffy kicked Angelus even harder, and he flew through the air, meeting the ground. He barely managed to get to all fours before Buffy thrust at him again. Only his quick reflexes saved him from death as he managed to get back to his feet. After a few more swings, Buffy smiled as she managed to draw blood from Angelus' hand. Angelus dropped his sword and cradled his hand. Buffy, not feeling an ounce of sympathy, delivered a high kick to his face. Angelus fell backward into Acathla and landed on his knees before the victor, Buffy.
Before Buffy delivered the final blow, the room seemed to shake for a second as the barest echo reached her ears.
ACUM!
Buffy glanced down and watched as Angelus' eyes glowed a bright orange before he fell toward the floor, weeping. Buffy stared down at him, not daring to believe it.
Angel, not Angelus, met her eyes. "Buffy," he said softly before choking on a sob. "What's going on?"
She looked at him, her eyes filled with confusion. However, she wasn't so sure this wasn't Angelus' last trick. Angel glanced around frantically before he got to his feet.
"Where are we? I don't remember," he stuttered, looking more confused than she was.
And suddenly, realization dawned upon the slayer. The curse worked, Angel was back and Angelus was gone. Finally, she lowered her sword.
"Angel?" she asked softly.
However, Angel's eyes had settled on her new wound. "You're hurt."
She glanced down at her cut and closed her eyes at the feel of his gentle touch. She ignored the wound and looked up into his eyes, leaning into his embrace. His arms wrapped around her slight form and hugged her tightly.
"Oh, Buffy... God!"
Still unsure of whether this was possible, Buffy closed her eyes and decided to enjoy his embrace.
Spike couldn't help sneering at this. He had entered from another passage way and was now making his way towards the younger Summer sister. It seems that everyone had forgotten about her. Slowly, he settled at her side and stroked her cheek.
"Hey," he said softly.
Her head turned and her bright blue eyes met his. He had to get her out of here. She was scared and hurt.
"My chest," she whimpered.
He glanced down at it and noticed the most peculiar thing. Her chest was glowing. He realized that Acathla was calling her to him. But Spike wouldn't have it. He fought so hard for her safety, he wasn't about to loose her now.
"Come on, pidgin. Let's fly," he said as he gathered her limp body into his embrace.
He noticed how much lighter than Drusilla she was. She barely had any meat on her bones. He felt something tighten in his chest when she snuggled into his embrace, immediately falling into unconsciousness. Quickly, he left the room, leaving the lovebirds behind.
Buffy and Angel missed the entire transaction between Dawn and Spike. Even after all this is over, Buffy still never figured out how Dawn got out of the mansion. Although she never saw Xander after he left with Giles, she always assumed that her friend had come back in and left with her sister. However, within moments, nothing would matter to her anymore.
Buffy glanced over Angel's shoulder when she heard a low groan. Her eyes lit up with surprise as Acathla's features shifted. His brows angled down and his eyes glowed red as his mouth opened grotesquely as the portal to hell appeared. It was small at first, merely a speck but it grew rapidly in size and emitted a deep, red glow. Buffy didn't want to do this. But she had no choice. Suddenly she realized she did have something else to loose.
Buffy pulled away from Angel and looked up into his face, cupping his cheek.
"What's happening?" he asked, confused.
"Sh," she hushed reassuringly. "Don't worry about it."
She caressed his face, memorizing it with her touch. First his lips, before letting her palm settle on his cheek. She stepped toward him, kissing him softly on the lips. He returned her soft kiss, but it quickly became more passionate. Angel felt as though he hadn't kissed her in months. Buffy could barely stop herself from sobbing into his mouth. This was the last time she was going to kiss him. The last time she was going to hold him. The last time...
She ended the kiss and let go of him. It was time. She couldn't cry. She noticed the portal grew to about her size and knew that she couldn't delay it any longer.
"I love you," she whispered and meant it.
"I love you," he whispered back.
She touched his lips again, "Close your eyes."
He looked confused but did as she said. He felt her sadness and briefly wondered why she could be so upset. She felt the tears welling in her eyes as she kissed him one last time. Before she can stop herself, she stepped back and thrust her sword into his chest, pinning him to Acathla. His eyes shot open in shock and pain as a bright light emulated from the sword. She stepped away, not being able to be close to him. She couldn't accept what she had done. He didn't want her to go, he reached for her. He glanced down at the sword that has run him through before looking at Buffy with a mixture of betrayal, confusion, and love. He looked so confused as he reached for her beseechingly. She couldn't meet his eyes and face what she had done. The only thing she could see was the sword buried deep inside her lover's chest. She stepped back again, not wanting to admit what she had done.
"Buffy..." Angel pleaded, looking at his only love.
Behind him the power of the sword began to swirl into the vortex. Buffy still didn't look at her lover's face, only staring at the sword. Angel reached out as far as he could, ignoring the pain. The vortex suddenly made contact with his body, and he disappeared with the vortex into the mouth of Acathla. Only when the flash of light disappeared did Buffy finally come to understand. She suddenly wished she had looked into his face, into his eyes. She wished she had died. She wished she were with him. A glimmer of comprehension appeared in her eyes as she stared long and hard and the demon before falling to her knees. What had she done?
"Oh God... no!" she cried as her heart broke in her chest. "Bring him back... bring him back! Bring him back..."
…
Note: THIS IS NOT THE END! I'm not that mean. There is more. Now, where was I?
What will happen to Dawn? Will Buffy still run away? Will Buffy kill herself? Review and find out…
Yours Eternally,
CS