Episode 10- Rescue

Dawn gulped. Experiment? Did he just say experiment? By the look on his face she figured it wasn’t going to be the fun chemistry type of experimenting she had done in class. Her eyes drifted to the dagger in his hands and a small whimper escaped her lips.

“Don’t worry Dawnie,” the Immortal said in a calming tone “This isn’t going to hurt . . .much.”

He made a small laceration on her forearm and held a small vile to the wound, collecting the blood. When he was done he placed the vile and a table and wrapped her wound with gauze. She stared at him bemused. He laughed slightly at her expression.

“I’m not a monster, Dawn. I don’t want to cause you too much pain. Plus your blood is a terrible thing to waste.” He winked at her as he grabbed the vile and walked out of the room.

* * *

“That son of a bitch.” Buffy said clenching her fists. “How the hell did he get in here undetected?”

Giles shook his head. “I’ve no idea. Why would he want Dawn and not come straight for you?”

“He wants to make me pay. Giles he’s going to hurt her. He’s capable of it. We need to find out where he took her.”

“I’ll send a group. But right now we still need to get you to a safe location.”

“Please tell me you’re not suggesting that I run while my sister is still in danger?” Buffy asked clenching her fists.

“Believe me I want to find Dawn, but we also need to keep you out of danger. It’d be foolish for you to run right to him.” Buffy stared at him, trying to control her anger. She knew he was only looking out for her best interest and she was touched that he cared, but she had to find her sister. She pushed passed him and walked into the weaponry.

“Where are you going?” the Watcher asked though he already knew the answer.

“Are you coming?” she asked Giles. She was surprised when he shook his head.

“It’s a deathtrap Buffy and I don’t have a death wish.”

“I’ve got your back Slayer.” Spike said grabbing a battle axe. She nodded, silently thanking him, then looked to Angel.

“Buffy I have to agree with Giles. It’s not safe for you to go fight the Immortal. Spike and I can go alone.”

She shot him a seething look. He held her gaze, but his eyes held pain. She shook her head and laughed softly. She took out a box from the self, opened it up and pulled out the Scythe. She was through playing games, she wanted to end this now. She walked out of the room with Spike in tow.

Angel watched them go and sighed. He grabbed a sword and silently followed the Slayer and Vampire.

“Watch her.” Giles called after him. Angel just nodded.

* * *

“So what the Immortal all of a sudden decided that he was evil and kidnaped Dawn?” Faith asked Willow as she cradled the phone on her shoulder. She was training in the Hotel lobby when Willow called to inform her of their situation.

“It’s slightly more complicated than that. Buffy broke up with him because of what he tried to do to Angel and Spike. As you can image that messed with his ego so he tried to have her killed. Now she, Angel, and Spike have gone out to try to rescue Dawn.”

“Do they know where he took her?”

“Not yet. But Faith I have a feeling this is going to bet really bad, really fast. We need you back here.”

“I can’t. Xander’s doing better, but he’s in no condition to travel. I have to stay with him.” Faith said, though she knew she had to go back to England. Not too long ago she would have blew it all off. Hell, she wouldn’t even have bothered with Xander or Robin, for that matter.

“Faith, I appreciate what you’re doing for Xander, but . . .”

“Yeah, I know. I’ll catch a flight and be there by morning.” She hung up the phone and sighed. She turned to walk up to her room when she noticed Fred coming down the stairs. Faith had noticed that the girl had been doing better the past couple of days. It helped that Illyria was in England with the rest of the group. “Hey Fred.”

“Hi. What’s new?”

“Homicidal ex’s.”

“I see.”

“I have to go back to England to help out. I guess the Immortal kidnaped Dawn and is looking to put the hurt on Buffy.”

“Don’t worry I can take care of Xander for you. I’ve had a lot of experience helping patch up all of Angel’s wounds.”

“Thanks, but you two are coming with me.” Faith told her. She knew that Xander was far from being one hundred percent, but she couldn’t leave them both alone. There were too many forces in LA that wanted to hurt them. “Get your things together and I’ll get Xander ready. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”

* * *

“Buffy, where are you?”Dawn asked softly as she stared at the stark white wall in front of her. She kept imagining Buffy tearing through the door and rescuing her from the Immortal, but she had a sinking feeling that this might be the one time Buffy couldn’t save her. She wasn’t sure how long she had been here, but it seemed like forever. It had also been a long time since anyone had been in to check on her. After the Immortal took her blood a few of his guards checked in every so often, but no one had come in a long time.

She was startled when she heard a loud thud and then a scream. Buffy? Was it her? It had to be. She always had perfect timing. She must be tearing it up with the guards outside right now.

“Buffy!” she scream as she heard more commotion outside. “Buffy I’m in here!”

The door to the room burst open and the Immortal came flying through. He grabbed her neck and pinned her to the wall.

“That bitch isn’t here,” he said, seething. He let go of her and grabbed a container from the table and threw it against the wall. “What the hell is wrong with you? Your blood isn’t enough! Why do dark rituals always have a catch? It should be easy. A few ingredients, your blood, and incantation, then poof! No more damn Slayers.”

Dawn stared at him as he rambled and threw things. He was losing it and it frightened her. He was capable of anything, but when he was crazy he didn’t have his normal logic and resolve that stopped him from doing something drastic, like killing her.

Her fears were realized when he grabbed a knife and held it to her neck. “Tell me the secret. I know you know what little part of the spell I’m missing. Tell me and I won’t hurt you”.

“Tell me!” he screamed when she didn’t answer.

“I-I don’t know.” Dawn whispered shakily.

She felt the knife press harder on her neck, then it fell to the ground, along with the Immortal.

* * *

“I should have known he would have come back here,” Buffy said staring up at the mansion. “He’s not like the smart villains who hide out. Nope he always goes for the swanky obvious places.”

“Is this the gonna be one of the charge in and make our presence known rescues or are we going to

sneak in and out without them knowing?”

“Well I think we are going to have to try the latter,” she said turning to Spike “But knowing him, he has a lot of people guarding this place so we’re probably in for a fight.”

“I’m always ready for one,” he said winking at her.

“I think we should go in through the window over there,” Angel said jogging towards them “I was looking for the best way to get in and I think that’s it. Plus I think they are keeping Dawn on the other side of the castle because that’s where most of the guards are.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

The trio walked quietly towards the castle, climbed a tree next to the window, and jumped in. They started down a corridor. The hallway was eerily quiet. A chill ran down Buffy’s spine and she shivered.

“Are you alright?” Angel asked in a whisper.

“Yeah. I-It’s just . . . I think we’re getting close.”

They reached the end of the corridor and were met by two doors.

“Isn’t this just perfect?”

“I’ll take this one” Buffy said pointing to the one closest to her “You to go that way. Remember get Dawn, then get out.”

* * *

“Ugh. I should have taken Dramamine.”

“Motion sickness?”

“Yeah,” Xander replied “It doesn’t help having a gaping wound in my stomach either.”

“It’s not that bad. You’re getting better. I think you’re just a baby,” Faith smiled.

“Yeah, but a cute one,” Xander said returning her smile. Faith had surprised him the last couple of days. She had looked after him and actually stayed with him most of the time, which surprised him because it wasn’t really like her. Although, he had to admit that the Slayer had changed from the person he first knew. Despite himself he could feel come old feelings for the brunette resurfacing. Before she had killed the deputy mayor he thought that he might actually have a chance with her and he was starting to feel the same way again.

His gaze shifted to the other brunette sitting across from then. Fred was curled up in her seat, fast asleep. He hadn’t really known her that long, but he could tell that this girl was very different from the person she had once been.

“How’s she doing?” he asked Faith.

“As well as someone could do in this situation, “ she replied lifting her eyebrows “I think she still feels that this is all not happening.”

“Have you talked to Buffy?” he asked changing the subject.

“No. When Willow called she, Angel, and Spike already left to find Dawn. I have a bad feeling about this. I just hope we get there soon.”

****

It hadn’t taken Buffy long to find The Immortal. Once she had parted with Spike and Angel she followed a corridor that led her to where she was now. It was a large white room, a stark contrast to the rest of the house which was painted and decorated with rich colors. From what she could tell The Immortal was performing some sort of spell, but she couldn’t get close enough to hear what he was saying.

As she watched him , he seemed to become more agitated. Buffy heard him scream and throw something against the wall. He stared at a guard who was standing in front of the only door in the room, then he stormed through it.

She crept quietly into the room, behind the guard, and speared him to the ground. They fought for a moment, but she quickly got the upper hand and knocked him out. Buffy ran to the doorway and threw the scythe at the Immortal.

“Dawn are you okay?” the Slayer asked as she stepped over the fallen body of The Immortal and unchained her sister.

“Is he dead?”

“No. But he’ll wake up with a hell of a back ache. He doesn’t heal as fast as I do, but it’s nearly impossible to kill him.” she stated as she picked up the scythe and headed out of the room.

“Nearly?” Dawn asked as they ran out of the room and down a corridor.

“Well I know there’s a way to, I just don’t know what that is. Keep an eye out for Spike and Angel.” Buffy saw her sister out of the corner of her eye. She looked worried. Buffy knew the feeling. She was worried about Spike and Angel and finding a safe way out of here. Surprisingly they were getting close to the window where they came in, but there was still no sign of her two vampires. She couldn’t just leave them here, but she knew she couldn’t risk keeping Dawn here any longer.

“Damn,” Buffy said as she got a plan. It was risky, she knew, but it was the only way she knew of reaching Angel and Spike. She used the tip of the scythe to make a little cut an her palm. As they reached the window she touched her palm to the sill.

“What are you doing?” Dawn asked staring at the blood running from her sisters hand.

“Praying that the Immortal doesn’t have many vampire guards.” The Slayer explained as she half guided and half pushed her sister out of the window. Before following her out she took one last look down the corridor. “Come on guys.”