AN: I won't tell you too many details, but only that my PC broke down, I got a new one after some weeks and had to write everything new, therefore I didn't have the nerves to write this chapter immediately. But now I have holidays and took the time. This will be the last chapter.

In the part which takes place in the past the Slayer Edith will be called Edward. For explanation see chapter 6. May sound a bit weird at some parts, but I liked it that way. Hope it won't confuse you too much

Chapter 7

"Now you are going to finally die, Angelus."

With these words Dawn ran to the man who still lay on the floor and just like all the others was too shocked to react. But when she was only centimetres away from him he instinctively rolled to the side, so that the katana was rammed into the floor. Now also the others came back to reality and Spike, who stood right beside Dawn tried to get her away from the sword. But she just hit him into the face and sent him flying onto the sofa where Buffy still sat and now helped him up.

"Don't try to stop me. I have waited too long now for this to let you interfere. I deserve it!"

"Dawn! What the hell are you talking about? What has Angel done to you?"

"Not to her", they heard Angel say quiet, but just loud enough to hear it. His expression showed that he began to understand what was going on. "And not me. But Angelus has made her life a living hell. At least until he killed her..."

"Exactly. And he will pay for it now." But before Dawn could get to Angel again, now with bare hands, Spike and Buffy got to her and hold each of her arms. Although they were two against one, they had to use their supernatural strength to hold the girl between them. At this point Cordelia began to speak and she frowned in confusion. "I thought Dawn was this energy thingy till a few years ago. How could Angelus have done something to her?" She looked at Angel, waiting for him to answer. But Anya was the one who gave it to her.

"The monks only created the body for the Key. Even they aren't mighty enough to create a soul. So they had to get it from somewhere else. They took the soul of Edith Hargreaves."

"Edith Hargreaves lived more than a century ago. The Key was formed only some years ago. So how did they manage to get her soul?", Giles asked in his professional-Watcher voice. "Well, that's exactly where I come into play. Edith gave me her soul, therefore she got the chance to take revenge. And I gave it to the monk. You know, we demons and supernatural persons have to help each other from time to time. Like giving a helping hand. One hand washes the other. Or…"

"Anya, we understood. So, Angelus killed Edith, she calls with her last breath a vengeance demon and gives her soul for revenge. How...dramatic. And very un-Slayer like. I never would have done that. I mean, ok, it's not that great to die, I know from experience, but there will be a new Slayer who can kill him. When she gave away her soul she couldn't get into heaven. And that is so not worth it," Buffy added with a sad look.

For the first time since the last minutes Dawn spoke again.

"Oh, it was worth it. After everything he did to me, took away from me, nobody has the right to kill him but me. "Then she laughed out bitterly. "When you have lost everything that's important to you on earth, you don't give a damn about your soul." She gave Angel a hard look, full of hatred. He didn't look away and said only three words. " Please forgive me."

Now Dawns expression softened, and now she looked at him with a sad look. "I can't. I promised her to protect her from you, but I failed. This is the only way to reduce my guilt at least a bit. Before I took revenge for her I can never allow myself any freedom. Or heaven."

He nodded . "I understand. Then kill me." He stood up and walked towards her.

Buffy and Spike didn't loosened their grip a bit and Buffy shook her head. "Nobody will be killed in my house, expect me being the killing one. And now somebody is going to tell the whole story, with everything that belongs to it. I want a nice beginning, a middle part and an ending, and not this mysterious crap I got till now." With these words she let away from Dawn and pointed to the sofa. "Sit. Tell. Now."

Dawn sighed, shook off Spikes hand and sat down on the sofa. Then she began to tell.

London, 1860

After the death of Thomas Cunningham, Edward had been depressive and would have probably withdrawn from the world around her, hadn't she been there to help her. She. Her Lil. She was the only reason for her to go one, the only person in the world who was important to her. First she had tried to shut her out of her life, because she had been afraid to get hurt again. But Lil hadn't give up .Also at the beginning of their relationship it had took her month to gain Edwards trust and her friendship and she wouldn't let her grief get between them now. So one day Edward accepted that she would stay and inside her heart she was happy about it. Four years had gone by since Thomas' death and everything had become normal again. Edward smiled and corrected herself : just as normal as her life could be.

Now she was standing i9n front of his grave and thought these days were over now. A new tragedy had took place in her life and she now had to fear that her only left friend, her love, would be ripped out of her life, too. And again, it was her guilt, she told herself. Some month ago she had seen her old enemy, Darla, with her newest playmate. She had thought that it would go like all the times before: she meets Darla and her child, kills the child, Darla swears revenge and would flee. Of course she had told herself that this time she would kill Darla, too. But it all had been different. She had underestimated this new child. Liam. That was his name. Although Darla called him Angelus from time to time. He was stronger then the ones before and no matter how often she tried, she couldn't kill him. First he had been passive, only reacted to her attacks. But one day he had changed his mind and hid her at her weakest point: Lil. Liam developed some kind of obsession on her and Edward found herself not able to protect her anymore. She had decided to hide her and today was supposed to be the day they fled together. She stood up and made her way back home, not able to stop thinking about Liam. First he had sent Lil little "presents". Dead flowers, letters in which he described how he would kill her and everybody she loved, and also a dead puppy. Edward had always burned them immediately and also burned the letters unopened, but it was enough for Lil to read the first one to become slowly and with each present more nervous. Fortunately Edward could calm her , but only until it happened. Her brother had been found in an alley, his throat ripped open. All his money was gone , so the policemen thought it was robbery. They also found a small piece of paper in his jacket, but didn't understand what it meant, therefore they forgot about it. But Edward understood it just too well. It said: "The first one."

She tried hard to convince Lil's family to hide at the countryside for some weeks, but they just didn't listen . Edward never had been able to tell them her secret, so how should they know about the great danger they were in? And the fact that Lil's father didn't like their relationship, because he thought Edward was a young gentleman who only lived for parties and fun wasn't helping either. So Edward could only try to protect them from a certain distance. She followed them home after nights at the theatre and spend as much time around their house as possible. But of course Lil's father noticed her and forbid her to come to his house again. Some weeks later their house burnt down and Lil was the only one to survive. She was only a nervous wreck from this day on. Edward brought her to her house and hoped that she could protect her now more easily. Three days ago Edward was taught better. Liam somehow managed to get into her house and left another present. The corpse of a young boy who worked in the stable for Edward, holding a picture of sleeping Lil in his hands. Underneath the picture it said: „She'll be mine". Edward immediately let his servants pack a few things for Lil and her and arranged their escape. Today would be the day they fled to a convent near London where she hoped she could leave Lil to go back to London alone and finally kill Darla and Liam. At this moment Edward arrived at her house and was already awaited by her butler. "Master Edward, everything has been arranged for your journey. Miss Drusilla is already waiting at the stables for you."

Edward nodded and followed him to the stables.

Two days later they arrived at the convent. Lil had been very quiet, but Edward had become used to it during the last weeks. And still it hurt her to see the once so happy girl broken. She was only a shadow of her former person, and it was all her guilt. Edward always thought it was her guilt. She was the Slayer. If she couldn't protect the weak, who should?

When Lil began to speak, it startled Edward.

"Look, it's dawn. I like the dawn. Cause it means that the night is over. "She shivered.

"Yes, I know it's not that safe to travel at night, but we had to get out of London as soon as possible, " Edward explained. Then silence followed, and Edward wanted to get into the convent, but Lil didn't move and still looked at the rising sun.

"Do you think I will ever see the dawn again?"

Now Edward turned around. Then she took Lil's hands and looked her deep into her eyes.

"You will see the dawn again, I promise." Lil smiled. It was the first time that she smiled after her brother's death. And it made Edward very happy.

In the afternoon, after they had shared a simple meal with the nuns, and were on their way to their cells, a nun run after them with a worried expression.

"Mr Hargreaves, there is a boy at the stables who claims to be a servant of yours. And he says he has got bad news from your butler Harrison." Without any respond Edward run down the stairs to the stables. There he found the boy and recognised him as John. And he was very frightened about something.

"Master Edward, it's horrible! Harrison send me to warn you. He said that those men who threatened you are searching for you. They somehow got into the house and already begun to kill some of the stuff. Harrison could bring me to the stables unnoticed so that I could warn you. Oh my god, they are all dead by now" and with these words the boy fell to the ground and began to cry.

These were the worst news Edward could imagine. Probably Darla got the name of the convent with the help of torture out of her servants and was on her way here. She just hoped that her staff hadn't had to suffer long. Then she picked up John. "Come on, boy. There is no time for grief. We have to get inside the convent and prepare for the attack." When he still didn't move, she just grabbed his hand and pulled him with her. She dragged him to the cell in which Lil was still waiting for her.

"Lil, you have to come with me. Darla and Liam are on their way to the convent. We have to warn the nuns and then prepare for a fight."

"Fight? Edward, they are all nuns! How should they fight!"

To her astonishment, Edward smiled. "Lil, do you really think I would have brought you to an ordinary convent? No, the sisters of this convent have helped and protect people against demons since centuries. They are no fighters, I'm afraid. Their only weapons are their faith and the knowledge they have collected trough the centuries."

Two hours later Edward had spoken with the mother superior. She had offered them their help and promised to hide them, but she didn't want to bring the nuns into any danger. Therefore she offered them to hide with them in one of the secret chambers of the convent. But Edward refused. She wasn't a person to hide, she was a fighter, a warrior. And there was also the danger that the vampires would just wait until they ran out of food or would search for them in the whole building. And once they had found them, they would massacre them all. So when the nuns went into the chambers they only took John with them. Edward and Lil remained in the chapel. Edward had tried to convince Lil to stay with them, but she had explained that the vampires were searching for her and that she would face their enemies just like Edward. Now she was sitting in front of the altar, praying prayers she was taught when she had been a small girl. Edward had fetched some weapons from their cell, some crosses, holy water and of course her katana. While waiting she thought about her time with Lil. She had fallen in love with this girl, years ago, and the thought of loosing her hurt in a way that wasn't bearable anymore. She would tonight try to protect her, kill everybody who tried to do any harm to her. And if she died while protecting her love, it would be alright. That would be a good death, just as long as she was able to take those demons with her into hell. When she heard the whispered prayers, she thought about praying, too. But then she dismissed the thought. God probably wouldn't listen to a prayer from somebody like her. From somebody who had killed so often. Anyway, considering everything that had happened during the last years, it didn't seem as if god was on her side at all.

Then it began.

She heard the noise of horses coming nearer and after a time also the laughter. With her senses she could make out, that there were only about five people outside. But that didn't mean it would be an easy fight. Darla and Liam on their own were strong enough to bring her into trouble. The door of the small chapel was flanged open and Darla walked in, a devilish smile on her face. „Enough of the hide and seeking. Now we'll do a real fight, and I promise you: it won't last long. Get her!" She yelled the last command. Three big vampires walked around her straight to Edward. And although she new that they weren't going to be serious opponents, she also knew that they were only some kind of sick foreplay and time gainer for Liam who already glanced at Lil with a predatory smile. That made Edward so furious that she didn't wait for the three men to come to her but run to them with a yell on her lips and now cut off the first head. The second vampire was prepared for her sword, but not for the kick she gave him straight into his groins. The third one tried to grab her from behind, but she let herself fall to the ground so that he instead bumped into his friend. Two quick stabs and they were dust. Edward couldn't rest long, cause Darla was already in front of her, wishing Liam much fun with his new toy. Hearing these words, Lil began to pray even louder and more desperate. But Edward wouldn't let that happen. She tried several times to stab Darla into the heart, but the demon managed to get out of the way each time. So she changed her tactic, feinted to attack again and then turned to get to Liam, knowing that Darla would follow her. And so she did When Darla tried to jump onto her back, Edward ducked to the side. But she wasn't fast enough and Darla managed to take her with her. Edward lay now half on the women, her sword laying beside her and took the chance to punch her several times into the face. It was hard enough so that the demon didn't move anymore. She immediately sprung up and ran to Liam. Not too late, cause the Vampire had already Lil in his arms and was trying to bite the girl who was too frightened to make any noise. Edward reached him and kicked him down from her love. "Don't you bastard dare to ever touch her again!"

But when she was just pulling a stake out of her jacket to turn him to dust, her own katana was rammed into her heart from behind. The vampire underneath her now grinned devilish. "And how exactly do you want to hinder me?" Edward slide down from his body and took deep breathes. The pain was so big it filled her whole vision.. Everything around her began to turn and it started to become black in front of her eyes. She pulled herself together and tried to stand up. She came onto her knees, only to see in horror how Liam hold Lil in his arms and bite her. Her loves screams filled the whole chapel, and before Edward fell onto the floor again she murmured: "I want revenge."

It seemed like only seconds had past, when Edward woke up again. She sat up and saw a women sitting beside her. "So, you want revenge? Good, I am the right person for you."

But Edward didn't listen to her and instead grabbed her at the shoulders. "Where is she? Is she dead? What the hell happened?"

"No reason to hurt me. I want to help you. I'm afraid, there's nothing I can do for your friend. But I can help you to get your vengeance."

Now Edward gave her her attention. "How can you help me? And who are you?"

The women smiled. "Now you are speaking my language. My name is Anyanka, and I'm a vengeance demon. I can give you the chance to kill the murderer of your love. But you will have to give me something in exchange."

Edwards expression hardened. "I'd do verything. Everything for her."

Now the demon grinned. "Good."

Then a green light surrounded Edward and she lost consciousness again.

Sunnydale, 2003

"Well, that's everything I can remember. I don't know what happened to me after that. What happened until I woke up on this sofa." Dawn ended her long speech.

The people around her were silent. Everyone, expect Angel and Anya, who got their memory back either, were shocked.

Buffy was the first to speak again. "So, who are you now? Dawn, or Edith?"

Dawn frowned. "I don't know. I now have back Edwards memories. But the ones of Dawn are there, too,… at least some. But I feel more familiar with Edward. Edith was a girl who died long before Edward."

"Why did Dawn, or Edith, get her memory back anyway? And why have you and Angel lost yours, too? What have the monks done with the soul? And who is she now? Dawn or Edith?" Buffy now kept on at Anya.

"Hey, I don't know everything, too. After I got the soul out of the dying Slayer I gave it to the monks. I guess they stored it somewhere until they needed it. But, somehow its strange, cause I didn't remember that even before the Key came, and that's something I can remember now, you know?"

"I think," Giles begun, his glasses now in his hands." I think you are right. They stored it, and after they created Dawn, put it in her. But when they created Dawn, they gave her false memory, just like they gave us new, too. Anyas memories had to be changed twice: one time after she had brought the monks the soul, and a second time, when she was human and living with us."

"Yeah, but what about Angel?"

"Well, he wasn't living in Sunnydale anymore, but he knew about the Slayer and when he came back here for any reason he would have recognise her."

"And if I happened to be Angelus at that time, I would directly have gone to this Hell God and tell her," Angel added. Then he turned to Dawn. "What are you going to do now? Do you still want to kill me?"

Dawn looked at him a long time, then answered. "No, I don't think I want to kill you anymore. You..have changed. So did I. Now I only want to order my life. Find out who I am."

Buffy took her sisters hand. At least she hoped that somewhere inside this girl there was still her sister. "Tell us, how can we help? What will you do next?"

Dawn smiled at her. "Thank you for the offer. But I 'm afraid I have to do this on my own. I am neither Dawn nor Edward , but somehow both of them. I'll have to find out which parts of them are there still. And I think I will begin my journey in England.

End of Part One

AN: Like the last line slightly hints at, there will be following parts. But I have decided that I will write the whole story before I post it, cause I made the experience that I'm not that good with posting every week or so. I never know what will happen( especially to my PC…) So I'm afraid it will take some time till I post it. But that's the chance for you to bring in some of your ideas. I will try to bring in some of them.

Very important: I have decided that I need a beta. I have red some of the first chapters and I think I could definitely use a beta. Any volunteers?