Chapter 17: Bite Me Part 2
April 19, 2002 – Friday
Amusement Park, Sunnydale
The amusement park was closed for the night. A banner hung from a huge stone archway that read "Opening Weekend!" The park administrator oversaw two armed guards as they loaded the day's gate from the depository building into the back of an armored car.
"All right, that's the last one," said one of the guards as the other sealed the rear door and moved around to the front of the armored car. He wiped at the at the sweat beading on his forehead as he handed the administrator a clipboard with a form to sign. "Quite a haul."
"Always the biggest gate of the year," the administrator told him as he signed the form and then handed the clipboard back. "Don't lose any."
The guards got into the armored car not noticing what was happening to the administrator behind them.
"Want to grab a bite after? I think Ruby's is still..." the second guard said as he threw the armored car in gear and stepped on the gas. But despite the fact that they should have been moving, they weren't. "What the hell...?"
Outside the armored car Warren Mears, one of three people that had been harassing Faith as of late and claiming to be her nemesis, had grabbed ahold of the armored car. As he gritted his teeth he heaved and violently slammed the armored car on its side, knocking out the guards inside.
Andrew Wells smiled as he glanced briefly at Jonathon Levinson. "Man, I can't wait to get my hands on his orbs."
"Yeah. I'm sure he'll be giving them up any second," Jonathon retorted sarcastically just as Warren ripped the thick steel door off the back of the armored car and tossed it aside.
"Is this your bank?" came Dawn's voice.
Warren jerked his head up and saw that Dawn and Faith stood above him on top of the overturned vehicle.
"Because if not, there's going to be a fee for that," Dawn added with a smirk. She watched as her wife dropped down on top of Warren, who caught Faith and flung her away. With a wave of Dawn's hand she used her power on Faith and brought Faith to the ground safely.
Warren strolled towards Faith. "I was wondering when Super Bitch would show up."
"You got a problem with strong women," Faith said.
"Nothing I can't handle," Warren replied as Dawn jumped off the armored car. He laid into Faith, and the two of them exchanged blows as they went toe to toe. No matter how hard Faith hit him, Warren just kept coming.
Faith hit him with a flurry of lightning fast blows. Warren swung at her but easily missed. She grabbed him and flipped him over. She grabbed the steel door he had ripped off the armored car and swung hitting him with it.
Warren sailed backwards and crashed into the base of the archway. He shook the blow off, laughing. "That all you got?" he asked. It was just then a stone cracked above him. When everyone looked up they saw a huge section of the upper arch break loose from the impact. The rubble buried him.
"No!" Andrew yelled out.
Dawn started towards Andrew and Jonathon, her eyes flashing with anger. "There's two ways this can end."
Faith who had not taken her gaze off the rubble saw Warren rise from beneath it. "What's the matter baby?" he asked. "Never fight a real man before." He grinned, ready for round two. He attacked Faith, raining blows down upon her.
Faith countered, spun, and caught him with a devastating kick to the back. Warren sailed into the side of the armored car, denting the steel and landing in a heap. Warren got up again, as he cracked his neck he laughed. "Wow. That almost hurt, kitten," he said.
Faith leapt at Warren and the two of them trade blows, but he's wearing her down. She's quickly forced to go on the defensive.
Andrew's face was twisted in gleeful bloodlust. "Kill her! Kill her!"
Jonathan on the other hand was horrified.
"You know who I am?" Warren said, baiting Faith.
"You really think I care," Faith retorted as she tried to hit him.
"I'm the guy that beat you. And it's not the muscles, baby," Warren continued as if Faith has not said anything. He blocked her attack and smacked her across the face. "It's the brains."
Dawn noticed Jonathon was moving and she quickly intercepted him. "I don't think so," she said.
Jonathon threw a punch at Dawn and as he got close to her he whispered," The orbs! Smash his orbs ."
Dawn looked at Jonathon and then at Warren then back at Jonathon and whispered, "What orbs?"
"At his waist," Jonathon replied.
Dawn turn to face Warren again as he reared back for a deathblow. As he did so, she saw a leather pouch at his waist and with a wave her hand she telekinetically summoned the pouch to her hand. She brought it down to the ground hard shattering the orbs inside.
Faith and Dawn immediately notice a change in Warren. Faith spun and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying back. He landed hard, bloodied and bruised.
"You're nothing but a sad little boy, Warren," Dawn said. "But it's time to grow up and pay for what you've done."
"Get away from me!" Warren shouted as Faith and Dawn approached him. He desperately stripped off his jacket, revealing a harness underneath holding sleek little twin rockets. "I swear to god I'm going to take you both down. You piece of.." He thumbed an ignition switch and rocket off into the sky on a pillar of jet exhaust.
"Well played, Slayer!" Andrew said as he ripped jacket, also revealing a jet pack.
"Why didn't I get one of those?!" Jonathon asked shocked at the fact he didn't have a jet pack.
"This round to you. But the game is far from over," Andrew said as he hit the ignition. Unlike Warren he did not have a clear getaway as he slammed into an overhanging roof structure five feet above him. He crashed back to earth, unconscious, his rockets sputtering out.
It was just then that Leo came running towards Dawn. He must have orbed in out of sight. "Dawn," he said. "Buffy and Paige are in the hospital."
Dawn nodded as she glance at Faith. "You think you can handle these two?"
"I'll be fine, baby," Faith said as she kissed Dawn. She looked at Leo. "I'll call for you when I'm ready to come home."
"Okay," Leo said as he and Dawn hurried away.
"What happened, Leo?" Dawn asked.
"Buffy and Paige were bitten," Leo answered.
Suddenly Dawn reeled and fell backwards into Leo's arms as one of Prue's memories surged forth.
February 3, 2000 – Thursday
San Francisco Memorial
"Okay, Prue, the spell," Piper prompted them to action. She noticed Prue hesitate and she took a deep breath. "Come on, you guys, this has to happen," she insisted. Prue didn't move a muscle nor did she even meet her sisters' gaze. "We've already discussed this. For some reason there is no magical out for me but there is for the others… please," she pleaded.
Prue slowly looked up to meet Piper's eyes and then wrapped her sister in a tight hug. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too, Prue," Piper said, tears forming in her eyes.
Prue took a deep breath before she stepped back and took Phoebe's hand. Her other hand rested on Piper while Phoebe's free hand did as well. "What was awakened from its sleep, Must once again slumber deep, Return the disease to whence it came, So life can ease back to the same," she and Phoebe chanted.
Piper collapsed before them and Prue managed to grab her before she hit the ground. Prue dropped to her knees, clinging to her younger sister.
"Get help! Someone get help!" Phoebe screamed. She made a run for the door and knocked as loudly as she could. "Help!" she shouted through the intercom.
Dr. Williamson rushed in at that moment with several doctors behind him. "Help me get her on the bed," he ordered. Several nurses and he lifted her out of Prue's arms and onto the bed in the room. "You girls want to tell me what the hell is going on?" he snapped with a glare at them before turning his attention to everyone. "Get her on the monitor..." Dr. Williamson leaned over Piper. "Ms. Halliwell? Ms. Halliwell, can you hear me?" he called. "Assist in respiration. Begin CPR," the doctor decided when he received no response. "Get a team in stat, I'm losing her," he snapped to one of the nurses. Phoebe and Prue were knocked out of the way as the doctors rushed around.
April 19, 2002 – Friday
Amusement Park, Sunnydale
Dawn snapped awake as her mind returned from the memory. She gasped for air as she looked around getting her bearings. She saw that she was in Leo's arms and they were still in the amusement park.
"Dawn?" Leo said as he held the young woman, a look of concern creasing his face.
"Another memory," Dawn sighed. "Piper in the hospital. I think with…"
"Oroya Fever?" Leo asked as Dawn nodded. He sighed. "How much did you see?"
"Not much," Dawn admitted. "I saw them reversing a spell and Piper slipping into a coma. Doctor's rushing in and that's where it ended."
Leo sighed and nodded. "Piper nearly died that day," he hesitantly told her. It was not one a memory he like to recall because it was a day he almost lost someone he loved dearly. The only reason Piper hadn't died was because he had broken the rules. "It was when I lost my wings temporarily, for saving Piper."
"Why am I seeing her memories, Leo?" Dawn asked. "Really, why? I don't believe the Elders don't know."
Leo looked at Dawn for a moment and sighed. "I don't know," he lied as he looked in Dawn's eyes silently begging her for some semblance of recognition that she knew she was Prue reincarnated, so that he could stop lying. Like the last time she had seen one of Prue's memories he saw no such recognition. "Come on, let's get to San Francisco." He took hold of Dawn's hand and he orbed out with her.
San Francisco Memorial
"So...are we the weirdest case you've ever seen?" a scratchy sounding Paige asked hers and Buffy's doctor seriously.
Dr. Rothman smiled. "I don't know. I've worked the night shift for a while now," he informed them. "Seen some pretty strange things."
Paige scoffed. "Yeah, but these were bats, doc," she commented dryly just as she and Buffy saw Piper and Paige go speeding past her room.
"Paige!" Phoebe cried as she and Piper back tracked into the room, Leo and Dawn right behind them.
"Buffy!" Dawn cried as she ran around the doctor to Buffy's bed. "Oh my god," she grimaced as she took in her sister's bite-ridden face. "Are you okay?"
Buffy nodded as Dawn took her hand in her own. "I'm okay, Dawnie."
"What happened?" Piper demanded panicked.
"Bats," Buffy revealed with a quizzical look. "Lots of bats."
Piper frowned, glancing at Phoebe whose expression mirrored her own.
"You the sisters?" Dr. Rothman questioned knowingly and Dawn and Piper nodded.
"Yeah," Piper and Dawn snapped impatiently.
"Now answer the question," Piper added.
"Honestly?" Dr. Rothman turned to Piper, Dawn and Phoebe. "If they hadn't been found by somebody in time, both of your sisters may have bled to death."
"But they're going to be okay?" Leo asked tersely.
"Yeah," Dr. Rothman assured them with a smile. "After some rest and rabies shots."
"Ouch!" Paige grimaced, screwing her face up in anticipated pain.
"You got attacked by bats outside of my club?" Piper asked her mother and sister, looking between them both. "That can't be natural," she stated with a frown and Buffy leaned into her pointedly. "Can it?" she amended, asking the doctor.
"Well, bat bites aren't completely unheard of in the city," Dr. Rothman explained. "I have a friend over at County who treated one a couple of months ago."
Buffy glanced at Paige as her daughter winced and frowned. "Right but these were bats. Plural," she reminded him with raised eyebrows.
The doctor made to answer but his pager bleeped loudly, causing both Paige and Buffy to wince and hold their heads in pain. "I'll be right back," Dr. Rothman assured them. "Excuse me."
As soon as he was gone Dawn spoke up, "Could it be friends of Dracula?"
"Dracula?" Phoebe asked.
"Buffy ran into almost two years ago now," Dawn explained. "He tried to turn my sister. Which thankful for all of us didn't happen."
"Spike made it seem like Dracula was the only one that had gypsy powers," Buffy replied with a shrug.
"Vampires? That would be different." Piper said.
"Nosferatu…" Buffy started
"Nosferatu?" Phoebe asked confused.
"There is two sects of vampires. One is of a possessor demon variety, that's Nosferatu. They inhabit a corpse that has been forced to feed from the vampire who sired them. Then there is Vampirus. I don't know much about them. I only fought them as Patty. All I know is that they are part of a hive with a Queen. And as far as I know they can't transform."
"I'm sorry," Dr. Rothman apologized as he re-entered the room, interrupting the conversation. "Lisa here is going to draw some blood, so we can run some tests."
"Does that mean Buffy and Paige can go home?" Dawn asked hopefully as Buffy stared, grimacing at Nurse Lisa and her needles. She patted her sister's arm comfortingly knowing how much Buffy hated hospitals.
"Well, I don't see why not." Dr. Rothman shrugged. "I'm going to start you both on antibiotics and then schedule the first of the rabies shots in the morning," he told them with a nod before leaving once again.
"Okay, now make a fist," Nurse Lisa instructed Buffy, as she uncapped the needle.
"Oh god!" Buffy gasped turning away and the nurse frowned.
"My sister hates anything to do with hospitals," Dawn explained as she stroked Buffy's hair. "She watched our cousin die in one when they both were only eight-years-old."
Nurse Lisa smiled. "I understand," she sympathized. "That kind of trauma at such a young age can stay with you for the rest of your life. I should know. I wasn't much older than you were when I watched my sister get shot and killed by an armed man who was holding up a bank. I go through the drive-thru now, because I can't bring myself to step inside."
"That's it, exactly," Buffy said as she smiled at the nurse for understanding.
Nurse Lisa nodded as she patted Buffy's arm. "If it helps, close your eyes. Then make a fist," she instructed and Buffy did so, squeezing her eyes closed as the needle punctured her skin.
Phoebe frowned as she watched, feeling her stomach flip as blood began filling the tube.
"Now, relax your hand," Nurse Lisa instructed further, offering Buffy a smile. "I'm almost done."
Leo frowned at Phoebe as she swayed. "You okay?" he asked her.
"Yeah, as long as I don't look," Buffy replied, unable to see that the question had been directed at Phoebe.
"I didn't mean you," Leo replied as Phoebe flopped backwards to the ground.
"Phoebe!" Piper cried, springing to her feet as Leo stared down at her.
Phoebe and Cole's Apartment
"Damn it," Cole cursed as he paced in the living room. "Where is she?"
"What about the Grimlocks?" Julie asked him, eyes on the small, black notebook in her hands, as her boss passed by her.
"The Grimlocks? You think they attacked her?" Cole walked over to Julie. "If they did, I'll crush their skulls with my bare hands."
Julie shot him a fleeting look and cracked. "Who said romance was dead?" she deadpanned. "We were talking about who we could trust, remember?" she asked and Cole glanced down at the notebook. "Grimlocks, yay or nay?"
"Sorry," Cole apologized. "Uh...yeah. Grimlocks are okay," he answered and she nodded, writing them down as Cole moved away. "Keats is the only one I don't trust," he informed her, pointing a finger just as the phone rang.
Cole turned sharply towards it. "That's got to be her."
"I could only hope," Julie droned uninterested as her boss snatched up the phone.
"Phoebe?"
"Hi honey," Phoebe voice carried down the line.
"Are you alright?" Cole demanded nervously. "I called your cell. You didn't pick up."
"Yeah, well that's probably because I was unconscious."
"What?" Cole gasped at her words, "Did a demon hurt you?"
"No, it was nothing like that I just—I fainted."
"Fainted?" Cole echoed turning to face Julie.
Streets of San Francisco
"Yeah," Phoebe answered her concerned husband as they drove back to the Manor. She sat between Piper and Leo upfront, Leo driving, Dawn behind Piper in the back, Buffy in the middle and Paige behind Leo, both injured women wrapped in a blanket, snuggled up together.
"It was no big deal," Phoebe assured him as a car passed them on Paige's side and both she and Buffy hissed, squeezing their eyes closed: Paige shielding her face with her hand, while Buffy hid her face in Paige's shoulder.
"Oh, why do people got to keep their high beams on?" Paige questioned with a frown.
"Cause they're insensitive bastards," came Buffy's snarky and muffled reply.
Dawn glanced at her sister and niece, concerned.
"Phoebe, people just don't faint for no reason," Cole reasoned through the phone.
"Well, I've been pretty rundown," Phoebe reminded him casually. "And the doctor said I might be anemic so he took some blood to make sure that's all it is."
"Well maybe you ought to get Leo to check the Harpy scratch in case—"
"I already did and he said there's nothing to worry about," Phoebe interrupted her husband with a smile he could not see. "Besides, we have bigger demonic issues that we have to deal with right now," she added, glancing her shoulder at Buffy and Paige. "Mom and Paige were bitten by a bunch of bats."
Phoebe and Cole's Apartment
"Bats?" Cole repeated with wide eyes, looking over at Julie who stood alert and Cole frowned as he heard Paige's voice in the background.
"I'm sure he's all broken up about it."
Followed by what he could only assume was Dawn admonishing Paige.
"They're okay," Phoebe assured him. "Leo's going to heal them when we get home, so you want to meet us there?"
"I am home Phoebe," Cole reminded her. "You called me."
He heard Phoebe wince at her mistake. "I meant the Manor. I'm sorry."
"I'm on my way," Cole told her then ended the call.
Julie walked briskly towards him. "You think it was Rowan?"
"He must be trying to turn them," Cole said almost to himself.
"You can't let them get a Charmed One and the Slayer on their side, they'll be too powerful," Julie insisted urgently. "Just one Charmed One would make them unstoppable. Couple that with the Slayer and they will be invincible."
"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT!" Cole yelled in her face. "Damn it," he cursed striding past Julie. "Gather the faction leaders," he ordered nastily. "The Queen wants a war. She's got one!"
"Where are you going?" Julie called after his retreating form.
"To the Manor," Cole growled. "To help save...those goddamn women!" he spat disdainfully.
Halliwell Manor
"Manticore?" Piper asked as she stood by the book, Phoebe perched on a stool beside her.
"Bites but doesn't fly," Phoebe responded quickly as Leo healed Paige and Buffy behind them.
"Phoenix," Piper tried again.
"Flies but doesn't bite," Dawn shot it down from where she sat next to Buffy.
Piper smacked the next page. "Chupacabra."
Phoebe chuckled. "God bless you," she quipped and Piper smirked. "Flies and bites but only attacks livestock."
"Eh," Piper sighed, tired of getting nowhere.
"What about shape-shifters?" Leo suggested as he left the now fully healed mother and daughter duo.
"What about this being a waste of time?" Paige cracked turning in her chair to face them. "Look at mom and I, we're fine," she assured them, she stood up before pulling Buffy to her feet to prove it, all wounds gone. "Let's just call it a night."
"Okay..." Piper pointed to Paige first. "If you are tired then just go to bed. We'll wake you up if we find something."
"Fine." Paige threw out her arms. "I'll be asleep." And then stormed out of the attic, slamming the door behind her.
"Ow," Buffy winced one hand to her head as the sound reverberated through her head.
"She's a delight," Piper commented sarcastically, as she glared at the door.
"We were attack by a swarm of bats, okay?" Buffy snapped irritably, instantly coming to Paige's defense. "Paige is entitled to be a little pissy."
Dawn blinked at her sister. She had never knew Buffy to take that kind of tone with anyone let alone her, Piper, Phoebe or Paige. "Let me guess, so are you, Buffy?"
Buffy glared at her sister. "You know what, whatever. I feel like crap, I'm exhausted and I'm pissed off!" she fumed darkly. "I'm going to be a bitch, deal with it, Dawn!"
"Maybe you should call it a night, Buffy," Dawn suggested.
Buffy shook her head and crossed her arms. "No. I wouldn't be able to sleep."
Dawn nodded, reaching over to rub her sister's arm, "Okay then um..." she looked at Leo. "Isn't there some way you can help us narrow down the suspects?"
"With every demonic faction in town, it makes it kind of hard," Leo replied, eyebrows arched.
"Okay. So what's going on?" Phoebe questioned with wide eyes. "Is there a demon convention in San Francisco or what?"
"Yes," Piper nodded, her tone obviously sarcastic. "There is a demonic electoral college. They've called a meeting and they're voting in a new Source," she quipped and the room, including her, laughed.
"Oh goddess," Buffy fretted eyes wide.
"You think?" Dawn asked, looking at her sister.
"Well, not the voting part," Piper replied with a shrug. "But maybe, yeah. I mean, there's got to be somebody pretty powerful that's bringing together these factions."
"Which means..." Dawn continued. "Evil may have a new leader."
"Cole," Phoebe brightened slightly as her husband entered the room.
"Honey, I came as soon as I could," He told her, wrapping her in his arms when she reached him.
"I'll be fine," Phoebe assured her husband with a smile. "Don't worry."
Cole glanced around the room. "Where's Paige? How is she?"
"She's sleeping," Leo replied, standing next to his wife. "I healed her, both of them."
Cole turned to Buffy and frowned at her still form, leaning heavily against her sister, eyes closed. "What about you?" he asked her walking forward a little as Buffy cracked an eye open, and scowled.
"How do you think, Cole?" Buffy snapped and he recoiled.
Cole looked at Buffy. This was not the Slayer he knew. Vampirus had definitely infected her. "You sure?" he directed at Leo warily.
"Yeah," Leo nodded. "Why?"
"Do you know what we're up against?" Dawn asked Cole, holding onto her sister tighter.
"Bats that bite can only be one thing: Vampirus," Cole announced certainly.
Phoebe looked up at him, still wrapped in his arms. "No, we ruled them out. Mom thought they didn't transform."
Cole looked at her with a smirk. "Oh they transform. Bats is only one of their forms. They can also do rats, wolves and mist. I've dealt with both Vampirus and Nosferatu," he informed his wife.
"I think he might be right," Piper announced as she gazed down at the book.
"Wait, you dealt with vampires as a demon?" Leo asked him puzzled.
Cole tilted his head. "Well, I wasn't too picky who I dealt with."
"I bet you weren't," Buffy quipped, still scowling.
"Why attack the Charmed Ones and the Slayer now?" Dawn asked worriedly. "What do they want?"
"There must be a power struggle," Cole replied, his eyes on his mother-in-law. "They must be trying to overtake the underworld."
"By killing me and Paige?" Buffy spoke up, finally contributing to the discussion.
Cole looked Buffy dead in the eyes. "No. By...turning you into the Vampirus version of vampires. It's one of the differences between vampires and Nosferatu. Vampires don't need to kill you to turn you."
"Whoa," Buffy proclaimed, pushing out of her Dawn's arms. "I don't feel like a vampire," she told them, her eyes flickering around the room.
"You sure?" Cole asked, advancing on her.
Buffy held her ground. "Yes," she answered sternly. "Maybe I was unaffected."
"How?" Cole asked leaning down to her.
Buffy shrugged. "Maybe because I'm the Slayer?"
"Slayers have been turned before," Cole said. "By both Vampirus and Nosferatu. Have you ever heard of the Slayer Rei Mori?" Buffy shook her head. "She was turned by the Nosferatu who went by the name of Nakamura in the late sixteen hundreds."
Dawn looked at her sister, if Buffy was in the process of being turned then so was Paige. "Someone should check on Paige," she said as she glanced at Piper and Phoebe then to the door and their eyes widened.
"PAIGE!" Piper yelled loudly striding forwards, Phoebe in front of her. "You stay here," she ordered her mother, shooting her aunt a look to which Dawn wrapped her arms around Buffy, keeping her in place.
"PAIGE?" Piper called again as they reached her room, walking into the darkness and flipping on the light, only to find it empty. "Where'd she go?"
Phoebe glanced around the room then shrieked. "OH MY GOD! Paige!" she exclaimed catching site of her sister hanging upside down from the ceiling.
"Watch out!" Cole warned as the youngest Charmed One turned into a bat and flew straight toward the nearest open window, out into the night.
"What the hell was that!" Piper exclaimed her mouth agape as she pointed to the window.
With all eyes from the group on him Cole answered, "That was a Vampirus vampire."
"Oh my god!" Phoebe cried, hand to her mouth as she shook her head. "What do we do?" she asked her older sister helplessly.
"We check the book," Piper answered turning on her heels and striding out of the room.
"MOM!" Piper bellowed as she threw open the attic door. "We have a….problem?" she finished, her voice an octave higher than normal.
Dawn drew her eyes from his sister's statuesque form, staring stoically out the open attic window. "Damn right we do," she replied tensely, hands on her hips.
Piper and Phoebe traded wary glances before approaching their mother slowly.
"Be careful," Cole warned seriously.
Dawn threw her hand behind her dismissively, silencing her nephew-in-law. "Uh…Buffy? Are you okay?"
In a dreamy voice Buffy answered, "Nice night isn't it?"
"Mom?" Phoebe and Piper both questioned at the same time.
Buffy turned to them slowly, her once green eyes a dark coal black as she smiled wickedly at them.
Phoebe's eyes widened as she gripped Piper's hand. "Uh-oh."
Suddenly Buffy leapt up onto the window sill and jumped out.
"BUFFY!" Dawn yelled jerking forwards to grab his sister.
Piper and Phoebe bolted toward the window and looked down, expecting to see their sister on the ground but were instead met with the sight of not one, but two bats screeching loudly as they flew off into the night.
"Oh god!" Piper cried, grimacing as she spun to face her brother-in-law, her aunt and her husband. "Oh god!" she exclaimed again.
"No." Phoebe shook her head, holding up one finger. "No, no "oh god" this is, this is, this is okay—we can, we'll—this is—we can handle this," she stammered laughing bitterly as she didn't quite believe it herself.
"My sister is a vampire!" Dawn growled, her hands balled into fists at her side.
Piper and Phoebe jumped at their aunt's tone, Piper walking closer and rubbing Dawn's arm, "It'll be okay," she assured Dawn chewing on her lip. "Not quite sure how, but it'll be—"
Dawn brushed her niece's hand away as she marched toward Buffy's corner of the attic. She threw aside the curtain and opened the chest that stood at the foot of the bed. "Leo, go to Sunnydale. My wife is going to have to slay my sister."
Piper and Phoebe slowly walked up beside Dawn and pulled their aunt into their arms. Dawn looked between her nieces and then folded into them her head resting on their shoulders between them, tears falling down her cheeks.
"We'll find her, Aunt Dawn," Piper whispered into Dawn's left ear.
"Piper's right," Phoebe said whispering into Dawn's right ear. "We're not going to let mom or Paige stay that way. We're going to find a way to turn them back."
Dawn looked at her nieces faces and nodded. She stepped out of their embrace and walked over to the book as Piper and Phoebe followed her. She began flipping till she found the page on the Vampirus vampires. She read the page and blinked, not once but twice. She looked at Piper and Phoebe who had similar reactions.
Dawn turned and looked the men and sighed. "We can't let Buffy become a full on Vampirus vampire. The Slayer part of her…"
"Full on?" Cole questioned from his spot across the room.
"Yeah." Piper nodded, not taking her eyes off the book. "It says here to become a full Vampirus vampire they will have to feed, kill," she informed her brother-in-law and husband with a grimace.
"That's your window," Leo told them, one hand on his wife's back, the other on Dawn's, comfortingly. "If they drink human blood, we'll lose them forever."
"Literally," Phoebe commented
Dawn suddenly staggered and fell back into Piper and Leo's arms and for the second time that day she was pulled into a memory. Unlike earlier this was not one of Prue's memories, but one of her own.
September 26, 2000 – Tuesday
Streets of Sunnydale
"Okay. That's cheating," Buffy said frustrated as Xander, Willow and Dawn come up behind her.
"Hey Buff. What's up?" Xander called out to her.
"Yeah, you look like you saw a—" Dawn said looking at her older sister.
"Willow, Xander," Buffy said urgently. "Get Dawn out of her, now!" She watched as Dracula appeared behind Dawn, Willow and Xander.
"Fine. I was going to give you a sip of my double mint mocha but—" Xander started.
"Behind you!" Buffy yelled as she pulled Dawn into her arms as the three of them turned to face Dracula.
Xander took a look at Dracula, he couldn't help but be amused. Willow, on the other hand, swallowed hard, immediately cowed.
"Hi," Willow squeaked out as she and Xander backed up while Dracula slowly advanced on them.
"Nice. Look whose got a bad case of Dark Prince envy," Xander joked.
"Leave us," Dracula ordered with a slight hypnotic suggestion.
"No," Dawn said as she shrunk into her big sister. "I'm not leaving my big sister!"
Buffy looked at Dawn and smiled. While her sister could always be a brat she was happy at the fact that Dawn was being brave in the face of this danger.
"No," Xander agreed, "we're not going to Leabbb you. And where'd you get that accent, Sesame Street?" he asked. "One, Two, Three, Four—four victims! Maw ha ha!"
"Guys, I'm pretty certain that's Dracula," Buffy said.
"Really?" Dawn whispered to Buffy as she slowly moved behind her sister. Not so much in awe of meeting the famous vampire as much as fear at meeting the famous vampire.
Xander took a moment to digest what Buffy said. "Wow. Really?" he stammered nervously. "Hey, sorry man…I was just, jokin' around…"
Dracula ignored Xander as he turned to Buffy. "This is not the time. I will see you soon."
April 19, 2002 – Friday
Halliwell Manor
Dawn snapped awake as her mind returned from the memory. She gasped for air as she looked around getting her bearings. She saw that she was on the couch and that Phoebe sat beside her. "What did you see?" Phoebe asked.
"What?" Dawn said confused.
"You had a premonition didn't you?" Phoebe asked. "That's what it looked like to me and Piper."
"No," Dawn answered. "I don't get premonitions. Usually when that happens I've been pulled into a powerful memory."
"Another of Prue's?" Leo asked.
"You knew about this?" Piper asked her husband.
"Yes," he replied. "And it wasn't my secret to tell, it was Dawn's."
"I've been seeing Prue's memories," Dawn said.
"The Elders don't know why," Leo lied. "They say Dawn doesn't have premonitions and isn't Prue reincarnated. So they are stumped on why she is seeing them."
"We'll help you figure it out," Phoebe said soothingly.
"It's alright," Dawn said. "It's a little disorienting but I'm getting used to them. Besides its nice seeing them. You know I get to see some of what you guys were like before Buffy and I came into your lives."
"So what memory did you see this time?" Leo asked.
"My own actually," Dawn answered. "It was when I met Dracula. I understand why I am seeing Prue's it's coupled with whatever is happening at he time." She looked at Piper and Phoebe. "Just like the last of Prue's I saw was when you were in the hospital, Piper."
"When I lost my wings," Leo said looking at his wife and sister-in-law, both of whom nodded in understanding.
"I figure I saw that because Leo had just told me Buffy was in the hospital." Dawn shrugged. "I figure what triggered my own memory this time was realizing why a vampire would want to turn my sister." She looked at Cole. "Slayers who are turned retain their Slayer abilities don't they when they gain their vampiric ones."
"Yes," Cole answered.
Dawn nodded as she looked toward Piper and Leo, both of whom still stood at the book. "So…how do we change my sister and Paige back?" she questioned.
"Kill the Queen." Leo answered simply.
Piper narrowed her eyes and glanced back down at the book, scanning the page, "Oh uh…With the Power of Three."
"Of course," Phoebe chuckled bitterly. "Can't anything be easy?"
Piper snorted then continued. "Oh it gets worse," she informed her sister and aunt curtly. "Vampirus are immune to witch powers."
"Which means our best defense…" Dawn said.
"Is Aunt Faith," Piper and Phoebe concluded.
Dawn stood and walked back over to Buffy's weapon's chest. She began rummaging through it. "Okay," she said as she piled things on Buffy's bed. "Buffy has various weapons; swords, axes and the like. She even has a crossbow. There are stakes, crosses and a few potions here, that I assume are fire based." She pulled out an empty jar and frowned. "Apparently she is out of holy water."
"Okay so, what do we do about the holy water?" Piper asked.
"Faith likely would have some in Sunnydale," Dawn said. "Leo, you probably should go get my wife anyways."
"You know, that stuff and getting Faith is only going to um...help you fight off the vampires," Cole stated casually. "It's not going to change your Buffy or Paige back."
"Yeah," Piper agreed looking back down at the book. "I'm working on that. According to the book, if you kill a vampire Queen, then all her little vampires die with her."
"Really?" Cole perked up with a smile. "Interesting. They certainly don't like to spread that around." He chuckled.
Dawn shook her head as she walked toward Piper. "But won't that kill Buffy and Paige too?" she queried, arms folded across her chest.
Piper pointed a finger at her aunt. "No, not if they haven't bitten anyone yet, since the transformation only takes place after blood has been spilled, or in this case sucked, they won't be affected by her death."
"Okay so…we have to kill the Queen," Phoebe concluded. "And fast but…"
"How do we do that when we're down a sister?" Piper cut in and Phoebe nodded. "No idea but...we'll figure it out."
"Well, I'll get Faith and the holy water once I fill in the Elders about the new Source," Leo assured them as he orbed out.
"New Source? There's a new Source?" Cole questioned as he cleared his throat nervously.
Phoebe looked over in his direction and answered. "Yeah we think so."
"Any idea who it is?" he asked hoping they hadn't caught onto him already.
"No, not yet," Phoebe said shaking her head.
Cole relaxed a bit and smiled, relief filling his eyes.
"Okay let's just focus on finding Buffy and Paige," Dawn admonished.
Dawn, Piper and Phoebe started picking up Buffy's supplies as Phoebe asked, "What do you think they're going to do?"
Piper smirked. "Kill us, what else?" she quipped and a small chuckle escape from both Dawn and Phoebe's lips .
"So if you were undead where would you be?" Piper thought aloud, throwing her hands out.
"Same place Buffy would go," Dawn concluded. "A cemetery. The question is, which ones. One of the ones in Colma or the only two left in San Francisco?"
"I would say, Colma," Piper answered. "Let's go. We don't got a lot of time and we got a bunch of them to check out—"
"Well Phoebe…" Cole called after his wife, walking forward, scratching his neck anxiously and Phoebe turned back to him. "I don't want you to go," he told her sheepishly and Piper gawked from behind him.
Phoebe's eyes widened and her eyebrows rose. "What?"
"Well it's...too dangerous," Cole explained. "What happens if you faint again, but this time in the middle of a vampire attack?" he asked cautiously and behind him Dawn and Piper frowned.
Phoebe's frown fell and her expression became one of sympathy and love. "Aw, baby, that's not going to happen."
"How can you be sure?" Cole countered. "I don't want to lose you."
Dawn's features darkened and she went for Cole, Piper snatching her aunt's hand and pulling her back shaking her head.
Phoebe's frown returned and she sent him an incredulous look. "I don't want to lose my mother or my sister." Phoebe shook her head. "I—I don't understand. Weren't you just telling us that we had to save them?"
"Yeah." Cole nodded. "But that was before I had all the facts. You need the Power of Three and I'm sure Paige is not going to be in a rhyming mood."
Piper squeezed Dawn's hand as Dawn's jaw clenched. Piper addressed the brother-in-law that was currently pissing and her aunt her off. "So, what do you suggest? That we let them spend eternity as vampires?"
"They're still my mother and my sister," Phoebe stated, drawing his attention back to her. "And that doesn't change because I happen to be sick," she told him firmly, holding his gaze as she added. "Or because I'm your wife."
Dawn watched as Piper and Phoebe walked out of the attic and then she spun on Cole and swiped with her hand, telekinetically throwing him on Buffy's bed. "Be glad I threw you where you would land softly. But you try and stop us again and I will throw you into a wall next time, repeatedly."
Cole frowned as he looked at Dawn. "You need to get them back fast, Buffy especially. If they don't already know she is a Slayer, they will soon. Then they will press for her being turned quickly. Do you know how many Slayers it took take down Rei Mori after she was turned? Five different Slayers went after her. The final one only managed to kill her by sheer luck. Do you remember my asking Buffy if she recognized the name?"
"Yeah," Dawn said. "Why?"
"The Slayer that took out Rei Mori was Buffy's predecessor. You see India Cohen and Rei Mori killed each other. So time is of the essence. If they turn Buffy."
"Between her Slayer abilities and her vampiric ones she would become a serious threat," Dawn sighed. "One that even Faith might not be able to stop."
"Exactly."
"Aunt Dawn!" called Piper from downstairs. "Are you coming?"
"Coming," Dawn called back.