PART 3
Dawn was pushed inside the circle. The crowd above screamed for action. The little girl looked at her opponent. He was big and purple with scales all over his body. A large dagger was coming in and out of his arm as if it were a retractable bone. Dawn looked again at the crowd. She spotted Giles, Xander and Willow up there. She tried to scream at them, but no sound came out of her mouth. They just stared at her with surprised looks in their eyes. Dawn could feel a touch of sadness touch her heart as she looked at them. They seemed sad too.
A large "Dong" was heard in the arena. The demon ran towards her with murder in his eyes. He tried to stab her with the dagger. Dawn dodged the attack. He tried to hit her with a one two combination on the face. Dawn blocked the first punch and grabbed the arm as he fired the second. She twisted the member and kicked him in the chest. The demon grunted in pain. She than kicked him in the face. Blood burst out of his nose. The demon growled in pain. All of the sudden the dagger popped out of the hand Dawn held. She yelped in pain as the blade cut through her unprotected flesh. Just as she let go of the demon, he attacked once again with the dagger. This time getting her right in the upper leg. As she grabbed her leg in pain. The demon backhand slapped her across the face. Dawn staggered back ward. The demon kicked her in the chest. As she doubled over for air the monster grabbed her hair and kneed her in the face. Dawn slumped down on the floor. Tears flowed out of her eyes. She was losing.
All of the sudden Buffy appeared in front of her. Dawn looked at her sister with adoring eyes. Buffy returned the stare. "When I said you had to take care of them", Buffy said. "I didn't mean this"
"What did you mean?" Dawn asked as she rubbed the tears off her eyes.
"Not this", Buffy said. "Keep safe. Keep your friends and my friends safe. Hold down the fort" Dawn smiled at her sister. Buffy returned the smile. "One more thing", Buffy said. "Don't let this guy push you around". Those were the last words. The blonde slayer disappeared.
Dawn used her hands as leverage and pushed herself back up. She charged the demon head on. She smashed his face with a one two combination. The monster did not know what hit him. The girl was moving to fast. Soon, he found himself on his knees. The brunette grabbed hold of his head and twisted…
Dawn opened her eyes slowly. She tried to adjust her sight by closing and opening her eyes tightly. She than heard something. She looked towards the door and saw Rick on his cell phone.
"That's right", Rick said to his phone. "Don't worry. I got everything covered. But you better hurry." Rick waited a few seconds. "I tried to call you, but it is hard to get a hold of someone in that place." A few more seconds. "Yes Angel knows." Rick's smile grew wider. "Hurry up". Rick hung up the phone and was heading out when a another vampire entered the room. "Yes?", Rick asked.
"It is time", the vampire said. "Bryan won his fight. That puts him one away".
"Fine", Rick answered. "Listen Dee. I need you to get the boys ready. We will be moving soon. Without the sponsors".
Dee smiled at his master. "We are going solo again?", the vampire said.
"You bet your fangs we are", Rick answered with excitement in his voice. "Any orders the sponsors give you or the boys receive, you ignore. You answer to me only".
"Yes sir", the vampire said as he started walking out.
"One more thing Dee", Rick said. "As soon as things start getting ugly, pack up. Release our friends and bag every cent".
"Got it", the vampire said finally walking out.
Rick sighed and closed the door. His smile had never left his face. He slowly walked towards the bed. Dawn closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. "Rise and shine princess", Rick said. "They are calling for you"
Dawn opened her eyes and yawned. She stood up and stretched a bit. She tried to avoid Rick's eyes. He was staring at her intensively.
"Listen Dawn", Rick said. "Today you are going against a vampire. He is quiet young but very resourceful. Try to end it quickly".
Dawn looked at the vampire and nodded. A few seconds later they were walking out of his room. Rick followed close to the young slayer. He suddenly stopped. Dawn stopped and followed his eyesight. In the balcony overlooking the circle stood three well dressed monsters and a human. "Those are the sponsors", Rick said. "The three demons run small massacres and sacrifices for different occult religions. The man is the suit is the guy you do not want to disappoint though"
"Why is that?", Dawn asked.
"He is a lawyer", Rick said. "His firm has very select clients if you know what I mean. The firm itself sponsors this thing and pays a great deal of cash for it."
Dawn nodded and walked through the caged hallway. As she neared the circle, she saw the vampire and another monster beside him. She stopped suddenly. She looked at Rick for an explanation. Rick looked blank himself as he snapped his fingers. A vampire climbed the cage above him. "What is this?", Rick asked the vamp.
"It is the sponsors," the vampire said. "They want the demon to team up with the vampire."
Rick frowned as he looked at Dawn. He than turned towards the sponsors. "What is this?", he defied. "I am running this contest. That demons is not an authorized fighter".
"We approved him", the lawyer said. "The young slayer is having it all to easy. We want to see a true challenge".
"That is not the point", Rick yelled back. "The point is that I did not approve".
By this time the crowd that surrounded the ring starting to get impatient. The started to throw garbage at the sponsors, at the cage and at the circle. "Let the people decide", one of the demons said. It's head had red horns sticking out from every square inch of it.
The crowd screamed in approval. They waved their thumps up wanting to see the battle. Rick looked at the people in the bleachers. This is not good. He than saw two dark figures. He smiled and looked at Dawn. "All right", Rick said. "The girl will take on both fighters".
Dawn looked at him with surprised look. That is until she saw him wink. He than pointed with his eyes at the crowd. Dawn looked in that direction. On the seats Angel sat. He had a worried look on his face. Dawn was surprised. She than realized that Rick had called him.
"If the girl loses", Rick said to the crowd. "We will scream for her death". The crowd cheered. "But", Rick continued. "If she wins, she will be one victory away instead of two from emerging victorious".
The crowd cheered in approval of the statement. Rick smiled at the sponsors and shrugged his shoulders. He than walked towards Dawn and whispered in her ear. "You can do this", he said. "There is a sword right under the sponsors. Under the dirt. Use it".
"I can't fight a vampire and a demon", Dawn said flatly.
"Yes you can", Rick said. "Your sister's blood runs through you. She has killed stuff you can't imagine. Just let instinct take over. Besides… Angel is here. He is not going to let anything happen to you".
Dawn felt her heart thump faster. She took a deep breath and entered the circle. She looked back to see Rick lock the door and run up the ramp. He soon was standing next to Angel and another dark haired human. He raised his hands in order for silence. He looked at Dawn and winked. "Joyful followers!", Rick yelled. "Welcome to The Circle! It is the first of the 21st century as you all know and this past week has been one of the greatest you have ever witnessed!". The crowd cheered. "Tonight will be no exception! Or beloved female fighter, who is the first slayer that has stepped into the circle since 1947, will defeat these demons. Demons that want to be recognized! That think they are worthy in stepping into our champion circle!"
Dawn looked at the beasts. The vampire was afraid. But the demon. He looked at her nastily. She stood in a defensive stance. She knew the demon would attack first.
"BEGIN!", Rick yelled. A loud dong was heard as the vampire sat down and looked at his sides.
Dawn waited for the beings to attack first. She didn't wait long. The beast closed in on her and fired a high kick for the face. Dawn pushed the leg away and foot sweeped him. The demon fell with a thud. Dawn stomped his face and headed towards the vampire. The vamp tried to punch her in the face. The girl grabbed his arm and twisted it. She than pushed him towards the metal fence. The vampire screamed in pain as his face smashed itself against the steel. Dawn kneed him in the kidneys twice before turning him around. She fired a right hook that got him on the temple. The vampire staggered to the side. Dawn was about to follow him when she felt the other demon grab her by the neck. He pushed her against the fence. Dawn grunted as he pulled her back and pushed her again. The slayer this time was prepared. As she neared the structure she lifted her feet. As the soles of her boots found the fence, she walked on the side. Using the beast's momentum she flipped right over him. As the demon crashed into the fence, Dawn kicked him right below the neck. The demon's head smashed against the fence. Orange liquid gushed out of the wound. As the demon turned around, he was met with a jumping spin kick. The heel of Dawn's boot scared the monster on the cheek. As he was going down. Dawn kneed him in the face. The demon slumped against the wall sliding down.
Dawn smiled softly and turned around just in time to see the vampire fire a left jab to her face. Dawn grunted as the fist collided with her face. She did not see the vampire fire a kick into her midsection. Dawn doubled over grabbing her sore section. The vampire grabbed her hair and straightened her up. Dawn yelped in pain in response to the punishment. The vampire smiled evilly at her. Dawn smiled back and kneed him in the crotch. As he doubled over, she fired an uppercut bringing the vampire down.
As the demon fell over, Dawn ran towards the far end of the circle. She rapidly kneeled down and dug. There was the blade. She pulled it out and turned back her attention on the demons.
As the blade shone with the spotlights above, a vampire among the crowd stood up. "She found the hidden weapon!", he exclaimed. "KILL THEM!". The crowd cheered the idea on standing up and waiving their thumbs downward. The sound was deafening.
Dawn swung the sword in deadly arcs. She noticed the demon near the fence was slowly getting up and walking towards her. Dawn looked rapidly to see the vampire one foot away. She brought the sword down into the vampires neck. The vampire screamed and turned into ashes. As the screams of support grew louder, Dawn looked up to see the demon flying towards her with a kick. The blow got her in the chest. She screamed in pain as she staggered back into the fence. With sword still in hand she tried to recover. The demon was upon her in an instant. He fired a downward punch that hit her right in the jaw. Dawn fell to one knee because of the impact.
The demon grabbed her hair and straightened her up. He than snapped a punch into her unprotected belly. Dawn grunted at the impact. She felt the sword slip away from her hand. She grabbed hold on to it tight. The demon fired another, and another. The demon than jumped and kneed her in the chest. The demon felt the slayer's body go limp. He let go of her hair and pushed her forward. Dawn walked slowly. Her feet were dragging themselves. The demon smiled at himself. At that moment, Dawn turned around rapidly and let go of the sword. The blade flew of her hand a pierced the demon's skull, going right through it and sticking into the fence. The demon's body hung lifelessly on the side.
The crowd cheered at the gore. They were standing up now and clapping their hands. Dawn slowly walked towards the Circle entrance. Rick waited for her there. "You ok?", he asked. Dawn nodded as she grabbed hold of Rick's shoulder. "Come on", the vampire said and helped her up the ramp. Soon, the cheers dimmed away.