Chapter 3
Sometimes I forget how young Dawn really is. Though I know she is far from sheltered, when she sleeps she takes on an innocence that I feel was taken from her much to soon. Being a mystical key and sister to a slayer would force anyone to grow up to quickly.
Even as she sleeps, worry creases her brow. I often wish Dawn could live in a world where her biggest troubles included what to wear on Friday night or if she passed her latest exam. She could live in a world where she would be safe, like the Walgreens' one displayed repeatedly on the telly. Then again, maybe I'm too selfish for that. I like having Dawn around. With her, life is never boring.
We have to find Buffy and Spike. I don't know if Dawn could handle otherwise. She's had too many letdowns in life, and I refuse to let this become the next one. I'll look through every book on the planet and speak to the lowliest creatures if I have to. If only so many resources hadn't been lost when the council blew up. Who knows what information can't be remembered.
"Eureka!" Kourtnee shouts, startling Dawn out of her brief but very welcome nap. "I think I found it….Oh." Everyone rushes to her side, but Dawn pushes them all out of the way.
"The Chamos are a very rare species," Dawn begins to read, rolling her eyes. "Though little is known about the species, we have been able to discern a few key properties in regards to how there powers function. Blah, Blah, Blah, Can't any of you watchery types ever just get to the point?" She looks at me when she speaks.
It's my turn to roll my eyes, as I grab the book from her. " Thanks in most part to a Goulash demon, we have compiled the following inventory of characteristics. Firstly, the Chamos are a lower breed of demon known to have the ability of time travel, but not much else. While the Chamos are able to slip through the lines of time, they are considered merely mischief-makers. It is difficult to say however, how their trickery effects the timeline if much at all."
Dawn snapped her fingers at me. Her way of reminding me time was of the essence. "Yes, well…though it is only myth and there are no proven cases that we have as of yet to find, it is said that if a non-everto tempus is caught up in the Chamos' portal field the creature is lost. The hitchhiker, if you will, would be stuck wherever the Chamos' destination was last. Being that the hitchhiker clung to part of the Chamos' essence, the Chamos is also said to be stuck in that period of time. The only way for either or the prisoners to be freed, is for one of them to die. Unfortunately, due to the tied essences, the Chamos and the hitchhiker appear visually to each other as one. Without the ability to see one another, they are unable to battle. The Chamos on average are said to live eons so they only have to wait for the hitchhiker to die off before moving on; a small percentage of time when compared to their life span.
Dawn sank into a chair as I finished reading, a look of total desolation upon her face. Poor girl. "Dawn, we'll keep searching. If we found this, there could be more. Don't give up hope so soon."
With a shaky voice and watery eyes, Dawn looked up at me, silently pleading with me. "Thanks Wes. I think I'm gonna just go lie down for a bit." Before I can say anything, she's out the door.
As I watch her leave, everyone has their eyes on me. "What are you all doing? Get back to searching." Before getting back to my book I notice Xander comforting Willow as she cries. Standing, I walk over to them. "We will find them. We will get them home safe. Now stop this nonsense and get back to researching. We will not let Dawn down!"
I can feel their eyes piercing the back of my skull as I sit back down. They are upset and think me heartless, but at this point I could careless. Crying wont bring Buffy and Spike home, and at the moment that is my top priority, their emotions be damned.