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“H-Hello?” “Buffy?” Giles shouted. “Giles, hi.” “We discovered more about this orb. It’s called the Dagon Sphere and it has a history going back many centuries.” Buffy was listening, but only partially. “Um, what’s it do?” “It’s a protective device, used to ward of ancient primordial evil.” “Any word on what this evil looks like?” She closed her eyes and saw Spike leering at her. Was he working for this new evil? He couldn’t be… or maybe he is the evil. No, no he couldn’t be. He is a vampire, you idiot. Why did you think he wasn’t evil in the first place. Buffy opened her eyes and saw Spike staring at her a few feet away, concern and fear mingled together on his face. “Buffy? Are you there?” Giles asked. “Y-Yeah,” she replied. “I think I should go back to the factory where I found it. Whoever planted it must have the answers.” “You’ve heard me say this before, but do be careful. Anything that goes unnamed is usually an object of deep worship or great fear – maybe both.” Buffy nodded, her eyes still on Spike. “By the way, have you completed the trance? Seen what’s harming your mother.” She opened her mouth to respond but Dawn and her mother appeared behind Spike. “Nothing,” she said. “What?” “I-It didn’t work. I’ll talk to you later.” She hung up the phone. Joyce gave her that look that she remembered so much from her years in high school. That piercing gaze that told her she was in trouble. “Buffy, what is going on?” Buffy looked from her mother to Dawn and Spike and felt nothing but fear. She couldn’t trust them. They weren’t… She had to leave. But she couldn’t leave her mom here with two people who weren’t what they seemed.
“I have to go,” she said suddenly, grabbing her jacket. “Buffy,” Spike said impatiently, following her towards the door. “What happened up there, luv? What did you see?” She saw Spike leaning down to bite her mother. No, he would never do that… “It was nothing. I just got a little confused. I-I have to go.” He put a hand on her shoulder but she shrugged away. Buffy could see on his face that he was hurt. She turned to look at Dawn and her mother. “I’m sorry. I’ve got to go.” “To the factory?” Spike asked. “You’re not going alone. I’m coming along.” Buffy sighed and walked through the door. Spike caught it before it closed and ran after her. “Buffy! Buffy!” He ran in front of her and stopped. “What’s wrong? What did you see?” “Nothing, leave me alone,” she said, pushing past him. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her back, but she turned around and swung her fist, hitting him in the nose. “Ow! No, stop it!” “Look,” she said. “You can come with me—” “Like I’d let you go alone…” “—But you… just stop.” She turned sharply on her heel and started walking. Spike followed her in confusion but didn’t say another word. They entered the old, abandoned factory to find a semi-conscious monk tied to the chair in the center of it. “Whoa,” said Buffy, running to his aid. Spike stood behind her and watched as she loosened his restraints. “You’re the one who planted the Dagon Sphere, right? Don’t worry, I got it.” “Hey,” said a sharp voice behind her. Buffy turned around to witness a blonde woman in a red dress rear her arm back and slam Spike through the factory window and out onto the street. “Spike!” She whipped around. The blonde woman grinned. “What’s the matter, sweetie?” she asked, smiling. “Not what you expected?” * * * * Spike groaned and rolled onto his back. He had landed hard on his side in the street outside of the factory, shoving glass into his arm and his side. “Bugger.” He slowly stood to his feet, limping slightly to his left. He turned his eyes to the window through which that blonde beast had thrown him through. “Buffy!” he cried out. Spike fought to steady himself as the ground shook beneath him. The old building was caving in down the center, bringing everything down with it. “Buffy!” he shouted, backing away as some of the rubble traveled towards him. “No,” he muttered as he ran towards the heap, now still. She was in there, and she was alive. Spike would find her, and he’d get her to the hospital. Everything would be alright. * * * * “Many more will die… if the Key is not protected,” the monk sputtered. He didn’t have much time left, but Buffy knew that neither of them stood a chance if they waited for that blonde bitch to return. “What does it do?” “The Key is energy. It’s a portal. It opens the door…” “The Dagon Sphere?” “No. For centuries it had no form at all. My brethren, its only keepers. Then the… abomination found us. We had to hide the Key, gave it form, molded it flesh... made it human… and sent it to you.” Buffy’s face fell as what he said sunk in. “Dawn?” The monk nodded. “She’s the Key.” “You put that in my house?” she spat angrily. “We knew the Slayer… would protect…” “What about my memories, and my mom’s memories…” “We made them.” “Well unmake them!” Buffy shouted, grabbing the man by the front of his robes. He began coughing heavily and she backed off. “We didn’t know if you… could handle the task alone. So we molded… an ally… from the form of your hated enemy.” “What?” She didn’t understand. “You mean… Spike?” “The vampire. He is merely a vessel… to protect… the Key…” “I don’t love him?” she said quietly, tears streaming down her face. “Why would you do that?” “You cannot… abandon…” “Dawn’s not my sister?” “She doesn’t know that.” “And Spike?” “Will protect her. You must…” The man gasped before exhaling deeply. His last breath. Buffy merely stared at him in shock. “Oh my god.” “Buffy!” Spike shouted frantically in the distance. She didn’t hear him; all she could hear were the monk’s words. Dawn wasn’t her sister, and Spike wasn’t her lover. Buffy dropped her head into her hands as she wept. “Buffy!” Spike exclaimed once he caught sight of her. He ran towards her and put his arms on her shoulders. “Buffy, luv, are you hurt? Did she… did you kill her?” She looked up at his face. How could it all be a lie. “No,” she replied softly. “The monk is dead.” “Yeah, I see that. Let’s get out of here, alright?” Buffy let him lead her away from the scene, his arms around her as they walked towards her house. She laid her head on his shoulder as they walked, thinking beyond her memories and calling upon her instincts and emotions. Part of her always knew that Spike wasn’t exactly a good guy, but everything she knew… no, it’s a lie. And Dawn… whenever she was around her, she felt like she was home. Dawn was a part of her, she knew that, and no matter what her memories told her, she knew that she loved her sister, and she knew that she needed Spike. When they arrived Spike opened the door for her. “Home sweet home.” “I don’t think you should come in,” she told him once she’d stepped inside. Spike stepped back, a pained expression on his face. “You’re hurt… Mom would worry.” Spike nodded. “Right, then. I’ll just bugger off.” He turned swiftly on his heal and headed out, and Buffy did not call after him. She wanted to apologize for being so harsh, but she couldn’t trust herself. Did she really want him to love her, or was it the spell? She shook her head and closed the door. She didn’t have time for this now. She had to speak with Dawn.
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