"Blood? There's no blood," I attempted, praying that his vampire senses were wonky and he couldn't smell the fresh blood on my arm.

"Nibblet,"

"I cut myself shaving is all," I knew he didn't believe me. I knew it simply by the look in his blue eyes and how he pulled me close once more, not letting go for a long time.

"I love you, Bit. Never forget that," He whispered to me, before slipping back out into the knight. Collapsing onto my bed, I began to cry.

"Dawn, why are you wearing long sleeves? It's sunny out today?" Janus questioned when I walked into homeroom. I looked at her skimpy tank top and short and sighed.

"Haven't done wash yet," I lied, taking my seat and pulling out my homework assignment. It was only half done and I quickly filled in random answers.

"Dawn, how exactly does x equal Brazil?" I felt myself blush as my teacher Mr. Jones took my paper from me. He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Oh, umm, I'm sorry?" I attempted, blushing even more.

"Dawn, what's been going on with you lately? You've been so much more distant. You're falling behind. I suggest you pull it together," He handed me back my paper and walked to the front of the room.

Lately? I had been like this for a year now. Ever since I found out I was the key. I wasn't real. I didn't matter. No one cared. They pretended to care, they really did. But in the end, when they weren't yelling at me, I was the shadow. The unwanted shadow of the Summers family. Buffy the vampire slayers little sister. The key. The cutter.

The psycho? Was I really crazy or just trapped in this strange reality where I didn't feel anything except pain. Why me? Why was it me that felt this way? What had I ever done? Nothing, I'd never done anything. I wasn't real so I could have done something. A simple shadow.

I was the shadow who leaked tears and blood.

"Dawn, I'm going to the bronze then patrolling. Willow and Tara are out. I'll see you in the morning," Buffy yelled up to me that night.

"Ok, Buffy," I yelled back, silently doing a victory dance in my head. A night alone had many options.

"Spike will be over to baby-sit you in an hour," She hollered before slamming the door.

"Aw, Fuck,"