Blood Red Wine
Dawn had been nervously biting her lip all day, worried about what the evening would bring. She hadn't woken till two in the afternoon and blamed it on the freaky incidents of the previous night. She still hadn't really ventured out of her room except to grab some Fruit Loops and use the bathroom. She glanced at the clock-four o'clock. She sighed and exited the room hoping to find Spike.
Spike had been waiting to see Dawn all day but she was still sleeping. He wasn't too surprised, what happened the night before had clearly freaked her out-and intrigued her as well he remembered. He was watching TV when he heard a door open and feet padding on the ground. Dawn.
"Spike?" he turned to see her standing behind him.
"Hello," he responded, watching her carefully. She took a deep breath, now or never.
"If you're gonna come with me tonight, be ready to leave at seven." She said shortly and turned to use the bathroom. Showering did sound nice.
"Fine then," Spike said to himself, slightly thrown off by her abruptness. Then he remembered. The bitch had said 'her vampire'-they were gonna have to play the soddin' couple. Oh fun. Then he grinned lavishly- well it could be.
Dawn mused over her wardrobe-wonder what to wear. She decided it required a dress, even if that meant there would be restrictions if a fighting emergency arose. The address had-she discovered-been written on invitation-like style and she assumed that meant something. Almost dinner like.
Right because your enemy always invites you to dinner. Or supposed enemy. She eyed her dresses and sighed, wishing she had time to buy something new.
Then a flash of crimson silk caught her eye and she pulled it out. It was a short thing that dipped in the front and was backless. She grinned and knew she found her answer. She fished through her shoes to find a pair of black knee-high boots that she knew she could fight in better than ankle-breakers which had been her next choice.
She slipped on the dress, marveling at the luscious feeling of silk on her bare skin. She smiled a bit at her decision to go sans well…anything remotely like underwear. She consoled herself that she couldn't wear a bra with a backless dress and well…underwear could get bunchy while fighting and no use having any kind of lines. It would ruin the purpose of the dress. To look like second skin.
She zippered the boots and then applied smoky eye shadow and nude lip-gloss. She pulled her straightened hair into a low ponytail to keep it out of her face. She admired her reflection then glanced at the clock-seven! She grabbed her bag (completely clashing with her outfit-but she needed some weapons) and exited her room.
Spike paced in front of the door wearing his usual clothes. It wasn't like he had much else anyway.
"You came," he heard Dawn say and glanced up. She was wearing a short, flimsy red dress that made him swallow, hard.
"Well, you need the Big Bad lookin' over your shoulder," he grinned.
Dawn snorted, "Please I can so handle myself,"
Spike glanced down at her short dress, "In that Bit?"
Dawn put her hands on her hips, "That's why I wore the boots. I can still kick ass," she lifted a foot showing him her black boot.
"And I'm the bloody queen of England," Spike muttered under his breath.
"Alright, let's go," Dawn said and opened the door.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Spike questioned, staring at the penthouse.
Dawn checked the piece of paper, "Uh yeah,"
"Well, let's go in then," Spike said and held an arm out which Dawn gratefully accepted.
"You know we're passing off as a couple right?" Dawn couldn't help but ask.
Spike nodded, "Of course sweetheart," he said a mockingly sweet tone and Dawn smiled.
"Right, let's see what she has for me," Dawn mutters to herself as they walk in.
The first thing she noticed was the décor, it was beautiful dark cherry wood flooring and wall paneling with hints of red. She then noticed a figure emerging from the shadows. Aisha.
She clutched Spike's arm a little tighter, grateful for the "couple" excuse.
"Nervous," he whispered in her ear.
"No," she lied.
"Welcome," Aisha's voice rang out. Dawn eyed her outfit. It was a tiny leather top and a black silky skirt with a slit in the middle, revealing her legs and kitten-heeled black thigh-high boots. And she thought her outfit was daring.
"The cook has prepared food for us and," her eyes flickered to Spike, "we have a variety of bloods."
"Otter by any chance?" Spike questioned charmingly.
Aisha gave him a smile, "Only the finest," she turned and began walking and Dawn and Spike followed warily.
"You want your answers Key, I assume that is why you came," Aisha spoke and Dawn couldn't help but instinctively respond, "Silver,"
"Pardon?"
"My name is Silver," Dawn said, slightly annoyed by her holier-than-thou attitude.
"Of course. And vampire I assume you have a human name as well?" Aisha questioned.
"Name's Spike," Spike answered gruffly.
Aisha stopped and stared at him, "William the Bloody?"
"One and only," Spike gave her a toothy smile.
Aisha cocked her head slightly and turned to Dawn, "Interesting choice," and resumed walking.
Dawn glanced at Spike who merely shrugged as if to say 'what can I say?'
Aisha led them into a huge dining area and Dawn had to stop herself from gasping at its beauty. Whoa.
A huge wood table took up most of the room and then there was the beautiful Persian rug underneath. The crystal chandelier left small flecks of light to dance around the room by the wall candles. A small bar was set in the corner and the table was set with fine china.
"Sit. The food will be here in a moment," Aisha motioned to the seats and sat down at the head of the table.
Cautiously both Spike and Dawn sat down across from each other. Dawn set her bag by her heel-she wasn't letting that bag go anywhere away.
No sooner had they sat down, when a servers came out with platters. Dawn watched, thrown, as they set a cup of blood down for Spike, gave her some sort of lobster as well as Aisha.
"You eat?" Spike drawled.
"It sustains me, though I have no taste for it," she replied coolly.
Dawn poked at her lobster and took a small bite. Really good.
Spike sipped his blood, pleased at the taste as well. Finally some bloody good otter blood.
"I suppose you would like me to answer your questions," Aisha broke the silence.
Dawn glanced up at her, "Yes,"
Aisha smiled that strange, cold smile, "You are the Key. Energy formed and used to unlock dimensions. You are of great power and for thousands of years people have died to claim you."
Dawn shivered at the memories of Glory's relentless pursuit of her all those years ago.
"Spare me the textbook definition. I want to know where I came from," Dawn said boldly.
Spike was impressed at the way she handled herself, calm and collected but he knew she must be terrified at the memories. It made her even more damn beautiful.
"Can you handle it? The truth? Even if it changes who you are?" Aisha inquired, raising an eyebrow.
Dawn locked eyes with her, "Yes,"
Clearly Aisha had deemed her strong enough to take it, because she began to speak.
"Many, many years ago I was a great ruler. People and demons alike bowed before and trembled in awe of my power, my beauty. I ruled vast lands and worlds so achingly beautiful it burns to see them and worlds so bloody there is no other color.
Then others began to challenge me, doubt me. I was known for my talent of moving between dimensions without a single thought. And my opponents saw that as my weakness. They attempted to steal it from me; use spells to pull the power from me. I knew my kingdoms were falling, traitors at every turn and I decided to find away to keep my power safe, to give it its own life if you will," Aisha paused and glanced at Dawn briefly.
Dawn felt her throat constricting, she knew how this story went, but she didn't say anything.
Aisha continued, "I made it living energy. It was so beautiful, so green. I hid it in a sacred place. A place no demon would look."
"The monks," Dawn breathed and Aisha looked at her, almost surprised, "Yes, a group of holy men who promised to protect the Key, as I named it. I also gave the Key the possibility to be human and gave the holy men a way to create the Key a life, weave memories into the world so it could be-"
"Me," Dawn finished in a whisper.
"Yes. You are the Key, my daughter," Aisha nodded.
Spike was watching them, his eyes narrowed. He wondered if Dawn was even aware that her heart had slowed and her breath was shallow.
"Why…" Dawn swallowed trying to steady herself, "Why'd you find me?"
Aisha paused before answering vaguely, "Something is coming."
Spike rolled his eyes, "Everyone knows that pet,"
Aisha whipped her head to Spike, "Are you insulting me half-breed?"
Spike glared at her, "Name's. Spike."
Dawn nervously watched the interaction between Aisha and Spike, hand on her bag. Her head was pounding and she it felt like there was cotton in her ears and mouth. Everything seemed so far away. Her mind was reeling: this…woman was her creator. The one who formed her and disturbing called her daughter.
She had never felt so much like thing as she did now.
"I'm sorry, I have to go," Dawn stood up and wobbled slightly as she walked away.
Spike quickly jumped up to follow Dawn to avoid pummeling the fucking soddin' bitch lady.
"Something's coming, Key. I hope you'll be ready. I'll be waiting," Aisha called after them.
Her words drilled into Dawn's head. As she exited the building, Spike at her heels.
"Bit, slow down," Spike said trying to catch up with her. Dawn ignored him and proceeded to walk even faster, almost running.
With a sigh, Spike jogged up to her and pulled on her arm.
Dawn snarled and yanked her arm back, "What the fuck? Don't touch me!"
"Nibblet-" Spike didn't finish his sentence as a large yellow demon with green horns appeared from the shadows. It made strange gurgling noises and charged at them.
"Fuck," they both swore and braced themselves for the attack.
Dawn gracefully moved out of the way, and made kicked it in the back, making it stumble. Spike joined in as well and they worked well, complimenting each other's movements. A team.
Minutes later it was a dead demon at their feet.
"Nice job," Spike nodded at her.
Dawn didn't say anything. Her head hurt, her body ached and she really just wanted to sleep. Spike watched her, her tense face and worn body. The bitch's words had hit home.
"Come on, did you really believe her?" Spike scoffed.
"Spike-how could I not?" Dawn demanded.
"She's lying," Spike said with confidence.
"No she's not!" Dawn yelled.
"Oh come on, who hasn't claimed to be the creator of the Key?" Spike retaliated.
Dawn scowled, "No one,"
"Piffle," Spike said with a wave of his arm.
"Spike," Dawn said so seriously that Spike looked right into her eyes, "She sought me out for a reason and not for mother-daughter bonding,"
"You bloody well can't stay here," Spike announced.
Dawn glared at him, "Why not?"
"If she sought you out…"
"She knows where I live," Dawn finished understanding what he was thinking, and then frowned, "If she found me once; she can do it again,"
"It'll delay her," Spike countered. The thought of Dawn getting hurt bothered him more than he'd like.
"Hello! She created me; she'll find me no matter where I go!" Dawn yelled. Why was he being so insistent? Besides if Aisha had wanted to keep her, there was no doubt in her mind that she could.
"Why'd it take her five years to soddin' find you?" Spike yelled back, furious at the brunette's stubborn behavior.
Dawn paused, feeling pain as she said her words softly, "Because she didn't know I was human."
Now it was Spike's turn to be silent and then he managed to speak, "What about the apocalypse?"
"What about it?" Dawn muttered.
"Red and the Pouf are going back to Sunnydale to stop it,"
Dawn drew in a shaky breath, he wasn't implying… "You suggesting something?"
Spike shrugged, "Gotta go somewhere, Bit and I'm pretty sure the Pouf's boy is tagging along,"
"Are you?" Dawn asked.
Spike chuckled, "To save the bloody world? Not really my style pet,"
"Figured," Dawn said with…disappointment?
"But if you wanted me to…" Spike trailed off.
Dawn locked her eyes with Spike's, "You would?"
Spike shrugged again, "Nothing else to do,"
There it was that powerful feeling as they stared into each other's eyes.
"Then I'm asking," Dawn's voice was barely a whisper.
Spike looked straight into her eyes and Dawn couldn't help but shiver at the intensity of his cerulean gaze.
"Then I'm saying yes."
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