Prey
Dawn was sitting at her desk in her bedroom, busy diligently doing her homework — she was a good student, and wanted to remain one, if only to reduce her mother's stress : no way she was doing anything that could harm her health ! — when she heard a scream in the Summers house.
It was her mother's voice. It was dark outside. Buffy wasn't home.
Dawn jumped up and ran to get the things she always kept in her schoolbag, just in case, because you can never be too careful when you're living on a Hellmouth.
In the kitchen, Darla had just bitten the Slayer's mother and was savoring her blood when she was suddenly interrupted in her meal.
«Leave my mother alone!»
The vampire involuntarily recoiled, dropping her unconscious victim to the ground like a rag doll, and turning toward the enemy who was threatening her with a large wooden crucifix.
She was just a child, though. A tiny thing, no more than ten years old. Defenseless. She bravely brandished the crucifix in her right hand, trying to put on a brave face, but Darla could sense that she reeked of fear. It was... appetizing. After a good meal, a delicious dessert.
«Get out.» the child said firmly.
The vampire couldn't rush headlong toward a crucifix : let alone touch it ; the terror inspired by the sign of the cross was enough to repel her. But Darla was fast. One sideways movement, and it would be easy for her to get her hands on the little girl, disarm her, and then savor her. It reminded her of the good times, with Angelus, in Europe...
The vampire sprang into action, trying to sidestep the child, and the girl's left hand arced out, spraying her assailant with a liquid from a small vial. Darla recoiled again, searing with pain. Holy water!
«Get out ! Get out ! Get out !» the little girl screamed, a hint of hysteria creeping into her voice.
Darla made as if to give in, took two steps back, but suddenly grabbed a plate and threw it at the girl. The improvised projectile struck the girl's right hand, knocking the crucifix off her, and it landed under a piece of furniture.
With a scream of fear, Dawn ran to retrieve her only mean of protection, but it was in vain. Driven by her predatory instincts, Darla lunged forward. Dawn tried to escape, but a little girl didn't stand a chance against a vampire : the creatures of the night inspired terror in humans for a reason. The vampire was too fast, too agile, too strong. Dawn was defenseless prey, and Darla had no intention of letting her escape, because now she was furious : the child's resistance had driven her into a terrible rage. In a mere instant, she had caught the little girl, whose scent of fear was more appetizing than ever.
She was about to bite... and suddenly found herself face to face with Angelus, who had just burst into the house.
«Let her go!» he ordered.
Darla smiled cruelly and held out the defenseless, terrified little girl to him like a treat.
«Isn't she delicious ? A child, still a virgin... Why don't you take a bite ? I know you're dying to eat her ! Remember, when we were traveling through Europe, you feasted on girls no older than her...»
Angel froze, a look of confusion and horror slowly changing to reveal his demonic features, and Dawn, her cheeks bathed in tears of fear, unable to utter a word, felt as if he were staring at her throat, hesitant but tempted.
And suddenly, Dawn's heart leaped, and the terror within her gave way to hope.
«I'm home !»
That voice was that of her heroine, the one who had always protected her and who would never, ever, ever let anyone hurt her.
«Buffy ! Help !»
Her Slayer instincts merging with her big sister instincts, Buffy lunged forward. The stake seemed to materialize in her hands as if by magic. Dropping the child, Darla tried to flee, but in vain. A vampire didn't stand a chance against the Slayer : the mythical executioner inspired terror in the creatures of the night for good reason. The Slayer was too fast, too agile, too strong. Darla was nothing but defenseless prey, and Buffy had no intention of letting her escape, because now she was furious : seeing her cherished sister in danger had driven her into a rage. In a mere instant, she had reduced Darla to dust.
Then she turned to Angel, whose features had returned to human form, and who was staring at the pile of dust. He looked bewildered.
«Buffy, it wasn't him,» Dawn said, her voice still trembling with retrospective fear. «It was her... He didn't do anything...»
She refrained from mentioning that he hadn't done anything to help her either, focusing more on the urgency of the moment:
«Buffy, quick ! We have to get Mom treated, she's hurt !
– Dawn... She almost...»
Buffy was clearly still in shock. With an unsteady gesture, Dawn grabbed a clean towel and knelt beside her mother to staunch the blood seeping from her throat.
«Call for help, quick! And then... Then, Buffy, you'll have some explaining to do.»