It's All About Power (Unfinished)

[JamesMFan]

Yes. Needs more sex though.

[Spuffy]

Naaaaah. I thought my foreshadowing was a little less shadow-y though. bwahaha.

[JamesMFan]

I like how Spike said "I lover her".

Mr Lover Lover!



Reminds me of the days of "Their things brushed..."

[Spuffy]

I really need a beta...but I will never get one! And I was just thinking about your little typo last night! I was about to save my story and then that came into my head so I was like "Okay... I'll reread it." still didn't catch my mistakes though ;P

[JamesMFan]

I've never corrected that mistake to this day. I think it all adds to the charm.

I hate having beta's. It makes me self conscious, and also they take so damn long.

[Spuffy]

Reasons why I'll never get one! And because I don't want them reading my stuff before others have the chance!

[JamesMFan]

I have that concern as well.

Last night I thought about "stray cat" and laughed for the first time at it.

[Spuffy]

hehehheee. Stray cat. I remember when I laughed so hard about that that I cried. ;D It was funny!

[JamesMFan]

It's not THAT funny. Loser

[Spuffy]

It was to me! Spike kicking a stray cat!

[Spuffy]

Chapter 13
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Spike and Dawn had sat there in silence for awhile. They had done some more talking, Dawn even told Buffy some jokes, which gave Spike a good laugh. Now it was getting late though and Dawn seemed to be getting tired. Which was understandable and she proved that theory when she yawned two times simultaneously.

“Isn’t it past your bedtime, bit?” Spike asked her with a rather fatherlike voice.

“No... I don’t have a bedtime. And I’m not tired.” Dawn nodded confidently but Spike only tilted his head to the side and raised an eyebrow.

“Come again?”

“Okay... fine. I am tired.” She finally admitted to him. “Happy?”

“Yes. Why don’t you go off to bed now? Or if you want to stay in here I can go...” He had started to stand, reluctantly of course. He didn’t want to leave Buffy.

“No. It’s alright Spike.” She got out before another yawn struck. “I’ll go to my room. You can stay here the night with Buffy... if you want...”

“Of course I want to.” Spike said quickly, then smiled. “I’d never want to leave her side.”

Dawn smiled back and stood from her seat on the bed. She leaned down and gave her sister a quick kiss on the forehead before making her way over to Spike.

“Thanks again Spike. I’m glad you’re staying with her... and of course I’m glad you’re going to fight for her.”

“With ever fiber of my being. I’ll fight till the end.” He nodded to her before she leaned down and hugged him.

“Goodnight Spike.” She said after pulling away and walking to the door.

“Night, bit.” Once that was said she waved slightly and left the room. Spike turned his attention back to Buffy and scanned the bed.

“Guess it’s just you and me then, pet.” He stood and walked around to the other side of the bed where Dawn had been. There was more room over there for him.

He sat down and just watched Buffy sleeping for a few moments. Before he knew it he was lying back on the bed, still watching her. He reached out and took her hand as he did before and slowly closed his eyes.

Tomorrow would be a long day.

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The master demon growled and threw his fist into the nearby wall. They had attempted to do the final ritual with just the eleven demons who were left, counting him, but it had done nothing. It was merely clouding up the sky. He never did understand what clouds had to do with the apocalypse. But that didn’t matter.

None of his men had found suitable replacements for the two dead members of the Triatekah, which was beginning to anger him. This meant he was going to have to do this whole thing with only ten other demons. It possible could be done, but he still needed more power.

Sure he had gotten a lot from that slayer in Rome. His men had gotten some of it too, but they hadn’t gotten enough and well, they died. The new men he had now had inherited the power of the dead members as things always went with their group. But they were a bit weaker than the original Triatekah. If only the sister and the watcher had not interrupted they would have completely taken her power and the apocalypse for humans would have happened by now.

But no, she had to have people that cared about her. He didn’t like that much.

Then it hit him.

There had been something different about the slayer’s sister. Something unique, something... powerful. What was she? She wasn’t a slayer, he knew that. Perhaps he could use her for a power source. But she was working with Spike now and he’d have to get past him. Oh well.

“Men!” He clapped his hands together and the ten demons sitting in the circle on the floor all stopped their chanting and turned to him.

“I have a plan.” He spoke as he began to walk around the group. “As you know, we are two members short and this leaves us weaker than we should be. But I believe if we have a sufficient power source, we will not have to worry about being short a few men.” He saw the others eyeing him curiously and simply gave a small, knowing smile as he continued.

“I have the power from the slayer in Rome, Buffy was her name I believe. She was the original slayer, might I add. And you all have some power from her too. But it’s not enough. You all know that, and I know that. We need more. That’s where my plan comes in. The slayer has a sister. I’ve told you all this before, but it wasn’t until the death of one of our men at that bar was reportedly done by the sister that I was aware that she was... different. One of our men reported the incident to me and said the demons there had sensed power in her. Only a few moments ago I realized that when I met her, I had sensed this as well. This is why I believe she should be our next power source, and so sufficient a source that it will not matter if we have lost two men. We will be more powerful than the original Triatekah, which was I the leader so I know what I’m talking about.”

He had paused behind one of the men and crouched down behind him. “I want you to leak information as to our whereabouts. But make sure only the necessary people hear of it. Such as the sister and that vampire, Spike and others associated with them. I want them to come to us so I can see for myself what the girl is.”

He stood as the sitting demon nodded and then began back towards his seat to watch over them. “Also, I’d like you to do more than make it cloudy. Obviously if we have that effect on the weather unintentionally, we could do some damage intentionally. I want you to make it storm.” He ordered them once he had sat down.

“And I mean now, so get to it!”

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Dawn had awoken a couple times during the night to the sound of thunder, but things had seemed to calm down for a little while. When she awoke again at 6:38am she decided to just give up on sleeping anymore.

She walked to her bedroom window to see just how bad it was outside and just stared for a moment. It was almost pitch black outside. If she didn’t know better, she’d think it was night. Yeah, it had been cloudy recently but it wasn’t THAT dark. It was darker than usual, but not this dark.

She saw lightning hit somewhere that looked to be nearby and then a loud rumbling thunder that practically shook the house sounded. She backed up from the window and started towards the door. When thunder was heard again she heard a scream down the hall and quickly left her room.

The scream had come from Samantha’s room so she headed straight for there.

“Sam?” She knocked on the door. “Sam it’s Dawn. Are you alright?” The door quickly pulled open and inside were Samantha as well as the other two girls. They seemed to hang out together in times of crisis.

“Dawn have you looked outside?” Samantha asked her. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a tornado.”

Janine waved a hand. “I doubt there will one of those. Lighten up. It’s a storm.”

“Me lighten up?” Samantha asked. “Who was the one who screamed last time the thunder went “boom?”

“Well... uh... It wasn’t me if that’s what you were implying...”

“Guys!” Dawn interrupted. “As much as I hate to put a damper on your really interesting conversation, but I was just wondering if you were all okay.”

“Yes. We’re fine Dawn.” Christine nodded. “Just a little freaked out by the storm. It’s bad out there.”

“I noticed.” Dawn nodded back.

“I’ve never seen a storm this bad.” Samantha commented. “It’s like pouring harder than any other storm. I wouldn’t be surprised if a rain drop could simple kill you by hitting you, the way it’s falling out there.”

“That’s highly unlikely.” Christine replied.

“But if it’s supernatural it could.” Samantha stuck her tongue out at the girl.

“Okay, guys, I see I’m not needed here. I’m going to go check on Spike and Buffy.” She stood and left the room, leaving the girls back to their chatterboxing ways.

She knocked on the door to Buffy’s room before slowly opening it and walking in. She saw Spike sitting closer than usual to Buffy and he seemed to have a protectiveness about him.

“Hey...” She said and Spike nearly jumped out of his skin. “Fidgety much?”

“Uh... no... just trying to make sure Buffy’s safe. Sounds like a bloody war’s going on out there. That thunder does a number on the vamp hearing, I can tell you that.”

“I know. Woke me up enough for ten people... or a million.” Dawn shrugged. “I don’t think you have to worry about Buffy though. It’s a storm. It’s sweet that you care that much though.” She began to smile.

“Well, I take caring for the woman I love very seriously. And you never know if lightning will just shoot right down into this room. If it would, I’d want it to hit me, not her.”

“I get ya.” Dawn nodded and then paused a moment. “I can’t believe I forgot to check on Giles. Normally he’d be running around the house by now trying to get us all to the basement as quick as possible.”

“He’s a real saint, that one.” Spike rolled his eyes. “Go check on him. Wouldn’t want him to have a heart attack on us...” He said but there wasn’t a hint of worry in his voice.

“I’ll be back.” Dawn exited the room and went straight to Giles’s door. She knocked. “Giles? Giles you there?” After a few more questions like that and no answer she opened the door. “Giles?” She said again as she made her way inside. But he wasn’t there.

“Okay...” She looked around just to make sure he wasn’t like lying on the floor or hiding in a corner, for God knows what reason, then went back out the door. She checked each of the other rooms on the top floor, even Sam’s room again and that only got the slayers worried. She told them it was probably fine though.

She headed downstairs and started to call for him again. “Giles? Giles can you hear me? Where are you?” She checked the living room, kitchen and first floor bathroom but still, nothing. She then even checked the basement, but he wasn’t there either.

“He’s not here.” She said after returning to Buffy’s room.

“What do you mean he’s not here? He wouldn’t just bloody leave you all here, scared and whatnot. Well, ‘s not like I know him anymore...”

“He’s gone. There’s no note, no message on the answering machine. Nothing. What if he’s hurt? I know I’m not his biggest fan right now but I don’t want him to be dead.”

“Calm down, pet.” Spike stood from his spot on the bed and walked over to her. He put his hands on her shoulders. “It’s gonna be fine. You want me to go out and look for him?”

“Only if I can go with you.” Dawn replied and Spike shook his head.

“You need to stay here with Buffy. I don’t want you to get hurt out there.”

“I’m not a little girl anymore Spike. Buffy would let me go with her if she were going. She knows I can take care of myself.”

“We both know Buffy would argue until you stayed here. She wouldn’t want you out in this storm either.” Spike looked down at her. He really didn’t want her to go out in this.

“Spike just let me go with you. Chances are Giles wouldn’t want to see you anyway, and who knows, you might just be pissed enough at him to hurt him some more.” She pointed out.

He rolled his eyes and sighed while taking a step back away from her and releasing his grip on her shoulders. “Fine. But if you get hurt I get to say “I told you so” got it?”

“Got it.” Dawn nodded. “Now let’s go find him.”

“Just a second.” Spike turned around and walked back to the bed. He leaned down and gently kissed Buffy on the lips. “Be right back, love. Got to go find that wonderful watcher of yours.” He smirked then turned back to Dawn. “Ready.”

The two of them left the room, but before leaving stopped off at Sam’s room to tell them what they were doing. After that they went downstairs, Dawn grabbed a rain coat and an umbrella, Spike simply took off his duster, not wanting to ruin it by getting it completely drenched, then they headed on outside.

The first place they checked was the garage, but his car was still there.

“This isn’t looking good!” Dawn shouted as another crack of thunder was heard.

Spike, who was soaking by now shook his head. “No, it doesn’t... I don’t understand why he’d just leave!”

Dawn looked around and in the distance she thought she saw something move. After a moment she noticed what that something was. “Spike!” She reached over and grabbed his shoulder. He spun around and looked where she began to point.

“Bugger...” There was a demon there that just seemed to be watching them. “You stay back now!” Spike ordered her. “I’m gonna go deal with it.” But as soon as he took a step in that direction the demon began to run. “Oy!”

Spike began to chase after it and Dawn wasn’t content with just standing there so she chased after him. He could tell she was there but didn’t feel like arguing at that moment.

He was catching up to the demon when it seemed to have disappeared. He didn’t catch where it had ran off too. “Well, that’s just dandy...” He turned around to see Dawn struggling with her umbrella as she ran too fast against the wind. He shook his head at her. “Don’t see why you even brought that, bit. You’re still getting wet.”

Dawn had gotten to him and just pouted up at the umbrella before throwing it off to the side. “Guess so.”

“Come on then, let’s go find good ol’ Rupe.”

They wandered around the area for awhile, Dawn sticking close to Spike, and just tried to see if he had gone out but had gotten hurt somewhere nearby. They didn’t find him anywhere so Spike suggested the bar. At first Dawn had made some comment about this not being a time to drink but he explained that it might be a good place to get information if Giles had been kidnapped ro something. The resident demon population normally showed up at the bar and they also usually knew about this kind of stuff.

Once in agreement they soon found themselves at the bar and strolled inside, soaking wet. A few of the customers inside were drenched as well, and some were completely dry. They’d either been there since before the storm started, which would have been a rather long time, or they had been there for a bit and dried up. Either way they had to be there for awhile.

“Whoa, you two look like soaked rats. Get caught in the storm?” Dave asked, walking over to Spike and Dawn as they walked up to the bar.

Spike just ignore the question. “Not in the mood for chat. Got something more important. You know anything ‘bout where...”

“If you’re talking about where those demons were you were asking about the other night, the ones doing the apocalypse, I can tell you what you need to know, for a small fee...” Dave told him.

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Actually I was asking about something else, but this’ll do.”

“But Spike... Giles!” Dawn butted in.

“Later Dawn. I seem to have a feeling stopping the apocalypse is more important then finding a watcher who I don’t personally trust right now.

Dawn was about to say something again but she saw his point and backed off. Plus Spike had said the demons doing this were the same ones who had put Buffy in the coma, or he thought so at least.

“Just pay up Spike and I’ll be glad to...”

Spike grabbed the man around the throat. “How’s staying alive sound to you? Good enough payment?”

“Yeah...” He choked out and Spike let him go. “Right...” He rubbed his neck a moment. “Those demon’s who you asked about the other night, well, there’s been a buzz going around that they have been taking up residence at the old building downtown. That one that they wanted to tear down a few months ago but protestors and stuff stopped them or something... Well, yeah. So that’s what I’ve heard.”

Spike only nodded as Dave spoke. He knew where that building was. “Alright. Let’s go Dawn.” He had turned to leave but stopped. “Hold a sec.” He turned back to Dave. “You got any weapons?”

“I’ve got a baseball bat...”

“That all?” Spike raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve got some sword someone left here once... but that’s it.”

“Bring it to me. That and the baseball bat.” Spike watched as Dave nodded and reached under the counter. He handed the bat to Spike who then handed it to Dawn. “There you go, bit. Hit anything that comes within in an arms length of you and doesn’t look friendly.”

Dave went in back a moment and came out with the sword. He handed it to Spike and he just nodded to him before they both left the bar. Dave watched a moment then began to clean a glass.

“And we’re off.” Spike said as they began to cross the street, leaving the bar behind as quickly as possible.

“Spike, exactly where are we going?” Dawn questioned.

“Downtown, like he said. Old building. I know where it’s at. No worries, bit.”

“Whatever you say Spike...”

After about ten minutes of walking they were finally there. It was amazing how close downtown was to the rest of the town. It kinda reminded Dawn of Sunnydale.

Spike kicked the door open to the building, shattering any lock on the door as he did so. It was dark as he went in, so he held his sword high, Dawn held up her bat.

Luckily once he had gotten adjust to the new space, his vampire sight kicked in and he could see around the room just find. He saw demons sitting in a circle in the center of the room and then scanned further around, but saw nothing else.

“Well, well, well. Look who it is. The vampire and the slayer’s sister.”

Dawn and Spike quickly spun around to see the master vampire standing there. Dawn couldn’t see him well but could see a slightly glow to his eyes and his outline. She also recognized his voice. Spike could see him clearly.

“We’ve been expecting you.”

[Effulgent]

Its great so far! and yes I want Buffy to wake up! ohh Dawn and Spike just walked into a trap! dun dun duuuuuuuun, I wonder where Giles is.

[Spuffy]

Bwahaha. Another fan. Traps are fun.... ;D

[Spuffy]

Chapter 14


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“You’ve been expecting us?” Spike asked as he arched an eyebrow. “You’ve got some sort of plan involving us?”

“What’d you do to Giles!” Dawn stepped forward, still not completely able to see the demon, but she knew where he was. She lifted her bat again so she’d be ready to swing.

“Giles?” He questioned. “I’ve done nothing to the old man.” He said some word in another language that neither Dawn nor Spike recognized and all of the lights in the room came on.

Dawn and Spike looked around a second trying to figure out what happened and blinked a few times as their eyes adjusted.

“Is that why you’re here?” The demon questioned. “Searching for the watcher? Hmm... Guess we didn’t really need to do this storm then.”

“This was your doing?” Spike asked but thought a moment. That made sense. They had been making it cloud up around there, so a storm wouldn’t be impossible.

Dawn glared at the demon but lowered her bat. For some reason she believed him about not having Giles. But if Giles wasn’t taken by the demons, where was he?

The demon looked at Dawn, a somewhat crooked grin on his face. He looked her over, trying to see if he could figure out what she was just by looking at her. He could sense her power, and it intrigued him further. His eyes then turned back to Spike. “Yes, I told my men to create the storm. Thought it would be a good way to bring you here. Figured you would connect the storm to us and think that we’d gotten further with the apocalypse. But seeing as you were out looking for the watcher, it seems we didn’t need to do this at all.”

“Why’d you want to bring us here?” This time Spike stepped forward, sword ready for an attack. “And I want an answer, not some cryptic shit that you cook up.”

All he got in response was a laugh, then the demon clapped his hands together. The other demons in the room came up behind Spike and Dawn, grabbing them before they could even attempt to use their weapons.

Spike tried to pull away, vamping out in the process, but two demons had a hold on him and there was a third nearby who had stolen his sword. His eyes darted over to Dawn who was being pulled away into a back room by two other demons. Her baseball bat was lying on the floor and she was struggling the whole time as they practically dragged her back there.

“You let her go!” Spike growled, pulling harder to get away. “I don’t care what you do with me but don’t you dare hurt her!”

“Calm down, vampire.” The demon replied rather calmly himself. “This is merely an... introduction of sorts. I’d only like to get to know the girl better. Now...” He motioned to his demons. “Take him away.”

The others did as they were told and did their best to drag Spike into a back room, not the same one they were taking Dawn to, and once inside chained him to the wall and left him in the room alone.

“Bloody hell...” He growled before violently tugging on the chains. He needed to get out, and get to Dawn. Then he needed to kill those demons before they brought on the bleeding apocalypse.

But first, the chains.


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The demons threw Dawn into the room. She landed on the floor and slid a couple feet before they turned and left. The master demon entered the room and shut the door behind him. She scooted back to the wall, trying to get away, but obviously the wall didn’t help much.

“Let me go!” She screamed out at him, he merely laughed as he usually did in these situations.

“Now, now, young Dawn. I thought you’d be happy to see me again.” He grinned at her, moving closer.

“I’d be happy to see you dead! My sister’s in a coma because of you!” She quickly got to her feet but the demon stepped towards her and she backed into the wall again.

“If you hadn’t have interrupted, she would have been dead, you should be happy you got what you did.” There was a hint of bitterness to his voice.

“I won’t be happy till I kill you!” She rushed forwards arms outstretched towards the demon. He rolled his eyes and grabbed her arms before she could do anything and threw her off to the side.

“So violent.” He commented. “I only wish to talk to you.”

“You want to talk?” Dawn groaned as she pulled herself back to a sitting position against the wall. Being thrown two times wasn’t fun.

“I’m curious about you...” He said starting to wander around the room. “You have power in you. It’s a strong power, I can sense it, others can sense it. You could be very useful to us.”

“Useful?” Dawn glared at him from her spot on the floor. “I’d never help you.”

“Oh, after we negotiate some things, I think you will.” He grinned. “But first, I have a question, and let me remind you, you are in no position to ignore said question.”

She just continued her glaring as she sat there, but after a few moments passed, she spoke. “What’s the question?”

“Just a simple one really.” He replied. “What are you?”

Dawn’s eyebrow raised and a confused expression came across her face. “What am I? Um... I’m a girl...”

He rolled his eyes. “Do not try to be funny...”

“I’m not... You asked what I am. I’m a girl...”

“That is not what I meant! What are you, other than your gender. You’re not a normal human. There’s something different about you. What is it?”

Her eyes widened at that. So that’s what he meant. “Um.. I’m special because I’m the slayer’s sister.”

“That has nothing to do with it.” He moved towards her. “Tell me the truth. What are you? The energy within you is strong, ancient. Tell me.”

To tell or not to tell, that was the question. “Uh...”

“You do not want to anger me. I’ve killed one of my own men already for it. I will not hesitate to kill you too.”

“Fine...” Dawn sighed and looked down at the floor. “I’m the... key.”

“The key?” He questioned curiously.

“Yes. The key! Now can I go?” She got to her feet as she did before, but this time wasn’t going to charge at him.

“The key...” His voice was lower that time, as if he were thinking the term over. Then a malicious grin spread across his face. “Perfect.”


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“Gah!” Spike continued to yank on the chains as hard as possible. It didn’t seem to do him any good. All that was really being affected were his wrists where the metal was starting to cut into his skin.

He paused for a moment then tried to run forward, seeing if that would help at all. But, of course, it didn’t.

“Damn chains... Damn demons. They should all just jump off a soddin’ cliff.” He shrugged. “‘Cept Clem. He’s alright. I should call him sometime. See how things are going...” He shook his head. “What the bloody hell am I doing? I need to get Dawn out of here... If I can get out first...”

He began his running strategy again and thought he felt the chains loosen a bit on the wall.

“Now we’re getting somewhere.”


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“Perfect for what?” Dawn asked the demon. Now, she was more worried than before, if that was possible.

“My dear, dear Dawn...” He spoke, walking over to her side and putting an arm around her shoulder. “You were just what I was hoping you’d be.”

Dawn had kept her eyes on him and when he put his arm around her she whimpered slightly and stared down at his hand. “Uh huh...”

“See, you’re power would be very helpful to us...”

“Forget it. I’m not helping you do anything.” She pulled away from him and over to the corner of the room.

“You haven’t heard everything yet.” He stated.

“Yeah, well, I know you want to use me like you did Buffy. You want to like chain me down to the floor and suck the life out of me by some stupid ritual so you can do an apocalypse or something. I’m not helping in the destruction of the world.” She crossed her arms and shot a defiant look his way.

“It’s only the destruction of anything with human blood...”

“Yeah, see? Bad. Not helping.”

“Oh, I know something that will change your mind...”

Dawn rolled her eyes. “What would that be? Money? Don’t think so.”

“Not money. Something more valuable than money.” He paused a moment to let her wonder what it would be. After he saw the curious look on her face he continued. “How about the life of your sister?”


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Spike had managed to pull one of the chains out of the wall, which gave him a few happy moments, until he began with the second chain. It seemed harder than the first one.

He used his free hand to help tug on it, while his feet were up against the wall pushing him backwards. He was basically only held up by that chain now. If it were to come out, he’d hit the floor pretty hard.

But what was more important, saving Dawn or saving his butt from hitting the floor? Dawn of course.

“Come out you soddin’ chain!” Yelling at it wouldn’t really help the situation, but it made him feel a little better.


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Dawn just stood there, stunned for a moment. What could he actually do for her sister? He already put her in a coma. Pretty much all he could do now would be to kill her and that would be a good enough threat as any to get Dawn to do something.

“I’m listening.”She looked him straight in the eyes. She wanted to be able to see his face when he said whatever it was he was going to say. She wanted to see if he was lying.

“I knew you would be.” A smug smirk played on his lips and he clasped his hands together. “If you don’t help me, I’ll find a way to get your sister and take the remaining life in her that should be mine... She will be dead and I’ll simply have to find two more men to begin the apocalypse.”

Ah ha. She knew it. He was threatening to kill her sister.

“But...”

There was a but?

“If you do agree to help, I can bring your sister out of her coma. We’d simply give her energy back to her, then use you as our power source.”

As she stared him in the eyes she didn’t see any hint that he was lying, but he was a demon so who knows if he was or not.

He had said he’d get Buffy out of the coma though, should she take that chance?

“How do I know you’re telling the truth? And even if you are, you’d be using me to kill all humankind. I don’t really want that, and then everyone would be dead, so there’d be no point in me saving my sister. Either way you look at it, no matter what choice I make, you said you’d get the power somehow and we’d end up dead.”

“Ah, yes, but don’t you like the second option better? You save your sister, then who knows, perhaps she’d use her new found strength to stop us. Wouldn’t that be wonderful for you?”

Dawn turned her gaze down to the floor. Back when Buffy had first went into the coma she had promised she’d do anything to get her out of it. This did count in the category of “anything.”


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Spike grunted as he continued to pull on the chain. His feet had walked further up the wall, pushing back harder. His wrist was bleeding now more than it had before, but the pain didn’t seem to phase him.

He closed his eyes, sighed a moment, just pausing to take a breather, even if he didn’t need it. Then with one quick yank, it came out and he hit the ground with a “thud.”

“Ow.” He sat up and rubbed the back of his neck. He shook his head then looked down at the chains still attached to his wrist. He had to get them off somehow.

His eyes scanned over the shackles on his wrist and used his right hand to tug at the shackle on the left wrist. It wasn’t having any effect so he looked over again. On the bottom of each shackle he noticed a small button. He figured it was what you pushed to open it after using the key to unlock it. They were probably locked, but it was worth a shot. So he pushed.

And the shackle opened right up and fell off his wrist.

Spike glared and then began to laugh, somewhat insanely. “I spend all this time pulling them out of the bloody wall and they weren’t even locked... Could’ve just pushed the buttons and walked right out... no hassle... Dammit!” He threw the chain that had come off across the room then removed the other from around his wrist.

“Why does this world hate me so much?” He sighed and stood up, dusting himself off before heading towards the door of the room

Finding that the door was also unlocked didn’t seem to surprise him now. But the fact that the demons who chained him up and had dragged Dawn off somewhere were just sitting around in a circle, chatting or something, did surprise him.

“You’re not even going to try an stop me?” He asked, watching them as they just sat there. “I’m walking over to you right now... Sword raised... I’m gonna chop your heads off...” He raised an eyebrow as he saw no reaction. That wasn’t any fun. He really would have done it too had it not been for the fact that he didn’t have his sword anymore and didn’t know where to find it in here.

“Sure are an interesting lot...” He turned around towards the direction he had seen them taking Dawn in. He saw the door to the room she was probably still in and hoped to God they hadn’t done a thing to her. If they did, there’d be hell to pay.

He stopped a bit away from the door then kicked it open, he liked doing that.

“Why hello. Just dropping by to pick up my girl.” Spike said as he entered the room. He waltzed straight over to Dawn who was in the corner and nodded to the demon.

“You alright?” He asked her, looking her over for any possible wounds.

“I’m fine, Spike.” She nodded. The demon was watching them both, but not doing a thing to stop them.

“Let’s get out of here then.” After she nodded once more in agreement the two of them walked past the demon, but before leaving Spike turned back.

“Just so you know, we will be back. With weapons, and we’ll put an end to all of your delusions about ending humankind. Got it?”

“Got it.” The demon replied, a smirk on his face. He looked to Dawn as Spike turned back around and winked at her. She quickly turned and the two of them exited the room, and soon the building.

The demon waited until he heard the front door of the building slam shut for him to speak to his men. Once that happened he exited the room himself and took his normal seat out there.

“I believe I have the girl right where I want her. Before long she will be returning in hopes to bring her sister back. I believe her love for family will cancel out her worry for the world. Foolish humans. Serves them right to be banished from the face of the Earth.” He finished his statement with a hearty laugh, followed by the laughs of the others.


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Dawn and Spike walked down the street, no longer worried about Giles but more just wanting to get home. Hopefully finding him would just be icing on the cake.

“I don’t understand those demons at all...” Spike spoke as they walked. “They chained me up, but didn’t lock the chains or the door. It’s like they didn’t really want to keep me in there. They could have killed us if they wanted.” He hated not knowing what was going on. He liked to be up to date on things. But he hadn’t been up to date in a long time.

“Did that demon tell you anythin’?” Spike glanced over at Dawn. “He seemed to be the leader. You were shut up in the room with him. I doubt he just stood there speechless the whole time.”

Dawn shrugged, she was still thinking over the decision she’d have to make. “He didn’t say much... Just brought up bad memories... tried to get to me and all of that not so fun stuff.” She knew she was lying, but she didn’t want to tell him the truth. Chances were he wouldn’t let her do it, if she chose to that is.

Spike narrowed his eyes. She was either lying or leaving something out. That in no way could be good. “There something you’re not telling me?”

“What? No. I told you what happened. Really. He didn’t say much else. There was the whole “You’re going to die I’m going to rid the world of humans” thing but not much else.”

“Alright. Whatever you say.” And that was the last thing spoken between the two of them as they headed back to the house.

They hadn’t even commented on how the storm had stopped. Apparently the demons felt no need to continue it after they got their guests to show up on schedule.

The both of them were still soaked though, and would have to dry up after they got home.

Spike and Dawn arrived home shortly and Dawn quickly took off her raincoat, leaving it outside on the porch to dry out. Once inside Spike picked up his duster from where he’d left it and draped it over his arm. They both then began their ascent up the stairs, heading to Buffy’s room as usual.

Spike had suggested that Dawn go change and dry off while he went in but she had insisted on going in with him. Spike just wanted to be near Buffy but Dawn seemed to have a reason he couldn’t put his finger on.

If he had known she had two reasons, one to be with her sister because she loved her of course, but the other was to just see if this would all be worth it. She wanted to see her sister, see if she could get an answer or sign somehow that would tell her which decision to make regarding the whole demons getting power thing.

Spike opened the door first and had been looking at Dawn at the time, but when he looked ahead, he in no way liked what he saw.

Giles was standing over Buffy, injecting something into her arm.

Once he had heard the door open, though, he had looked back at them, gulped and finished up. He sat the syringe down on the bedside table and turned to Spike and Dawn. “Now if you’d just let me explain...”

Dawn didn’t wait for another word as she rushed over to her sister’s side. Spike stood glaring at Giles and then rushed forwards, throwing his duster to the side, then grabbed him tightly around the neck and slammed him against the wall.

“I told you if you got within twenty feet of this room you’d regret it...”

“Spike... I...” Giles choked out, his hands trying desperately to pull Spike’s hand from around his neck.

“Guys...” Dawn said, a tone of sadness and worry to her voice.

Spike pulled Giles back from the wall, paying no attention to Dawn, and slammed him once more. “I’m going to bloody kill you if you did something to her. You shouldn’t even have been in this room! And don’t give me the “let me explain” bull. I’m not going to listen!” He growled.

“Guys...” Dawn said once more.

“Put... me... down...” Giles was finding it harder and harder to breath with Spike crushing his windpipe.

“GUYS!” Dawn finally screamed it that time and Spike and Giles both looked that way. Tears had began to stream down the girls face.

“She’s... she’s... dead.”

And with that Spike let go of Giles neck, dropping him to the floor.

“Buffy’s dead.”

[Spuffy]

Is it good that I'm happy one of my reviewers is unhappy with my latest chapter?