Angel opened the door to his suite and ushered Dawn inside. She could feel her heart racing. This was it. She was going to die. She refused to meet his eyes even though she could feel the weight of the vampire’s stare.
The room was inviting. He’d lit several tea lights and some taper candles. Some soft music played in the background. She thought it might be Chopin. Odd. It seemed almost like a seduction. Not a killing. Dawn moved to the vanity mirror which was against the wall. She stared into it, looking at her pale face. Then she looked past her shoulder where Angel should be. There was nothing there. It left her cold. She would never again see herself in a mirror. It was such a small sacrifice compared to what else she would give up, yet it seemed to mean so much more to her. It was as if, Dawn Summers, the girl she had always thought she was would cease to exist.
“Having second thoughts?” Angel asked. She could feel a cool hand on her shoulder.
“You could say that.”
“We don’t have to do this.”
She met what she thought would be his eyes in the mirror. “Don’t we?”
His hand moved into her hair, stroking it. “No. We don’t. We could go back downstairs and no one would blame you.”
“I would.” A tear slid down her cheek. “What about those innocent people Glory will kill?”
“Then, you’ve made up your mind?”
Dawn steeled herself. She hastily wiped at the tear. Her face set into harder lines. “I’m sure.”
Angel turned her around. “You look just like Buffy when you set your jaw like that.”
She tossed her head back, her eyes daring him to continue. And he could almost feel the energy of The Key thrumming through her veins. “I’m not Buffy.” Somehow, it was important that he not pretend. She wanted him to be thinking of Dawn, not Buffy when he changed her.
“I know.” He pulled her closer. “Believe me. I know it’s you.” Angel could feel Angelus within him. The soulless demon was stirred to life by the promise of pure human blood taken from a real live virgin sacrifice. It made him reverent and ravenous at the same time.
There was something dangerous about him, Dawn reflected. It was like she was seeing Angelus once more. The intimidating vampire had made nightly visits to all of the Summers’ women. She would awaken to find him at the foot of her bed, his eyes blazing with hunger. “Just do it.” Dawn gritted out.
“I don’t think you’d like that.” Angel said. “This isn’t some minion about to have a late night snack. I’m going to make you my childe. Something I haven’t done in quite a while. This is something to be savored.” He pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back. “Relax.” ***********
“I can’t relax!” Buffy screeched, shooting a malevolent look in Spike’s direction. “I can’t do this.”
“You’re not going to.” Spike pointed out. “They are.” But, he too was anxious. Once again he cursed the Initiative. He should be the one to turn Dawn.
She whirled around. “There has to be another way! I’m not going to let this happen!” The Slayer then started to run up the stairs two at a time.
"Stop!" Willow commanded. Buffy froze in her tracks. "Sit down." Buffy sat down in the nearest chair. "There is no other way. And you know it. Now, if you want to save the world, you only have two choices." Willow's face was a mask of calm. "You can kill your sister. Or you can let Angel do it. One of these is never going to happen. And one of them will let your sister live."
Buffy closed her eyes, defeated. "He's going to hurt her, Will. I remember what it feels like. It hurts."
Willow placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "She's your sister. She's strong."
Ethan stepped into the room carrying the orb of Thesulah and a book. He walked over to Willow, standing closer to her than was completely comfortable. Willow could feel the magic emanating off him. It was different than the power she felt from Giles or Tara. Softer, thicker, darker. Intoxicating. "We're ready."
"Good." Willow looked down at Buffy. "We'll give her back her soul before the demon has time to set up shop. Promise. But you have to stay out of the way. Maybe you should go train for awhile." Buffy nodded, almost imperceptibly. Willow turned to the pacing blond vampire. "Spike, you could help her-"
"No."
"But-"
"I'm not going anywhere. Not until I can see with my own eyes that she's alright. Don't look at me like that, Red. I won't interfere. It's part of my bloody plan." He looked down at his feet. "Besides, I'm through fighting Buffy."
Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Faith and Gunn came walking down, an amicable silence around them. "Who's fighting Buffy?"
"No one." Buffy stated calmly, having pulled herself together for the moment. "I was just looking for a training partner."
Faith tossed her hair over her shoulder as she stood at the bottom of the steps. "I'll try you out, girlfriend."
Buffy's chin lifted slightly. "Let's go then." And without another word, the two turned and headed to the training room in the basement.
"Anyone else wondering if they're both coming back up?" Gunn questioned. Willow, Spike and Ethan each raised a hand.
"Just checking." He paused another moment, then headed for the stairs to the basement, tossing over his shoulder, "I think I'll just keep an eye on things, pass out ice water, bandages . . . ."
Spike continued pacing as Ethan put the supplies down on the table. Willow stared at Ethan, but whether she was focusing on the spell she was about to perform or the dark sorcerer himself was unclear. Finally, Spike had enough. He swirled around. "I'm going to go check on them." He held up a hand to ward of Willow's protest. "I'll stay outside. I just have to be close enough to know if she's ok." His eyes pleaded for understanding. He couldn't comfort Buffy. He couldn't change Dawn. He had no control. He needed to feel useful, to feel close to someone. Willow hesitantly gave her consent, and Spike swept up the stairs, two at a time.
Willow heaved a sigh, leaning against the wall next to the counter. There was so much for her to keep together in her head, so much to consider. Deep inside her, the magic was screaming to be used. It was whispering to her of power. It whispered to her about Ethan, and the power that he possessed. It begged to find out what he was made of. She could feel Giles' worry every time Ethan came near her, could see his concern as he realized just how powerful she had become when he wasn't paying attention.
And yet, she could feel the magic emanating off Giles as well. She could see how his had been mixed with Ethan's in the past and she could sense the part of him that yearned to do it again. It made her wonder what she could do if she worked with Ethan, what the three of them could do.
Suddenly, as if reading her thoughts, the magician was in front of her, his palms pressed flat on the wall on either side of her head. "Ahh. Finally, we're alone, my dear. Care to tell me what's running through that pretty red head of yours?"
Willow met his eyes, nervously licking her lips. He was close enough that she could feel his body heat warming her, his breath tickling her face. "No, not really."
"Oh, so you weren't thinking of how it would feel to join our power together? Anticipating the casting we're about to do?" He quirked an eyebrow at her, moving impossibly closer. "You weren't wondering if maybe we should see how we mesh before performing such a serious spell?"
"Maybe just a little." She stared up at him, transfixed by the depth of temptation swirling there. "But we shouldn't."
"What? Afraid Ripper might find out?" Ethan scoffed. "He and I . . .well, we won't get into all the things we did. But even he knows not all magics go together. It's only sensible to take precautions." She bit her lip, unsure. He whispered in her ear. "C'mon Willow. You know you want to." Willow narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious. He grinned. "What's the matter? Don't think you're strong enough to handle me?"
Willow's eyes sparkled with outrage, starting to blacken. "Why don't we find out?" *************
"How should we do this? I mean, should we do it standing? Or, or, y'know, like laying down?" Dawn babbled nervously. "I've never done this before. Well, obviously--- what do you think? I mean, how did you do it before?"
Angel reached out and stroked her hair. "However you want to, Dawn."
"Well, lying down seems kind of-I don't know." She blushed, not knowing how to say it made it seem more like a seduction scene than it already was. "Standing up I guess. Oh! But what if I get queasy? I might fall-"
"I'll catch you." Angel cupped her face in his hands. "I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, I promise."
"A-angel?" Dawn bit her lip. It hadn't seemed this big of a decision last night, when she was just going to do it and not think about it. But, now, with all the preparation and ceremony, she was a little scared. "Will it hurt?"
"Only a little. I'll make it as painless as possible." Angel's undead heart was breaking. This little girl was prepared to give her life for her sister and friends. Such bravery, and she wasn't even a Slayer. It wasn't her destiny to save the world.
"Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be." She gave a little laugh. Then she took a calming breath. "Yes."
Angel looked at her. Every muscle in Dawn's little body was tensed. She was trembling, her knees shaking, her hands twisting. Her face, though, in all it's innocent beauty was the very picture of calm, except for her eyes, swirling with fear, doubt and anticipation. Gently he took her hands in his and led her over to the bed. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes." She nodded carefully. And despite her fear, she did. "I do."
"Let's try this, then." He sat down on the bed, propping a few pillows on the back board and leaning against them. Gently he drew her onto the bed and she crawled over his outstretched legs and sat beside him. "Come here." He whispered softly. She moved a little closer and he picked her up and moved her onto his lap, tenderly circling her waist with one arm.
Dawn shifted a little, leaning her weight into his arm, away from his chest. She took one more deep breath, then lifted her hair from the side of her neck and pushed it across the other shoulder. "Ok."
"Put your arms around my neck." Angel lightly cupped her neck, stroking his thumb down her jawline, tilting her head to expose her throat. He pressed a reverent kiss to her forehead. Inside, Angelus was tense with impatience, a surge of possessiveness overtaking him as he contemplated making another childe. Angel kissed her cheekbone, the corner of her jaw, then chose the place he would bite and pressed his lips to the blue skin of her vein. Dawn's heart was racing, her blood pounding as she held her breath. "Relax." He murmured, lapping at her neck.
"That tickles." Dawn breathed, easing up just a bit. She could feel his responding smile. "Close your eyes." She did so, and as carefully as he could, without prolonging the pain, he bit into her vein and let her blood flow into his mouth. Angleus shouted in exultation, forcing his demon face to the front. He rolled to his side, half pinning her underneath him and continued to drink. Her blood was sweet, powerful, innocent, ageless and human at the same time. He took care to support her neck, and to keep his weight from crushing her.
Dawn had tensed back up at first, but now, whether from blood loss or something else, she was soft and pliant in his arms, her small hands digging into his shoulders. Dawn was lost. There was something surging through her veins, making her blood tingle, increasing in it's ferocity. At first it felt like the pins and needles that she got in her feet from sitting Indian style too long. But less painful, and more fun. She dug her hands into Angel's shoulders, a feeling of tenderness and affection sweeping through her. She moved her hands to cradle his head against her neck as she became dizzy, sleepy. She could feel herself drifting away. The part of her that was Dawn Summers cried out in alarm. She was dying! But the sleepy part of her told her to shush, that it was alright. That Angel would catch her and she was going to be fine.
Angel pulled back and looked into her eyes. He could feel Dawn's heart slowing, and his began to ache. Gently, he sat up, cradling her listless body in his arms. Then he scratched one nail across his neck, and pressed her mouth to wound. "Drink, sweetling. Dawnie?"
