Recombination

Dawn spun around as she heard the piercing screams emanating from the shop her attention was momentarily diverted from the creature behind her. She was rooted to the spot, her heart racing. That had been Anya she heard, Anya screaming in pain; Anya screaming on a rip or in anger she was used to but never, ever had she heard her make noise like that. Those screams pierced straight through her, they were the types of screams she never expected nor wanted to hear and for a painstakingly long minute they horribly intrigued her.

A minute was all it took; she felt them move close to her but it never registered until a sharp pain lanced her shoulder and she pulled away realizing a second too late that the weight from her back was removed. She froze looking up at the blind servant of the First who held Annemarie in his scabby hands. Annemarie was twisting this way and that trying to escape but he held her firmly on his hip and as Dawn stepped forward several others began to circle them. The creature behind her laughed and she turned and glared at him as the blind servant took the child to him. Annemarie screamed as he gave her a quick once over. "Cute kid, you her mom?" the Warren-clone asked smiling easily at Dawn.

Dawn shook her head. "No, not exactly, a friend is. Give her back to me, please?" she almost begged him, her voice catching at the last word as horrific images of the tortured child danced in her mind.

Warren smiled. "No I didn’t think so. And no sorry, I’m intrigued by her." His smile widened "Why don’t we just cut the crap Dawn? I know who you are and what she is, and so I’m taking her. You can either try and fight or you can try and run, either way, you’re going to die." He singsonged the last part and turned to the small child "Shush shush don’t cry, Uncle warrens just-"

"Leave her alone!" Dawn clenched her fists and moved closer freezing as the First’s men did too.

"Now, now Dawnie, we wouldn’t want anything bad to happen now would we?" Warren sneered as the man holding Annemarie slowly held up a knife. Dawn stilled, every part of her was screaming to grab for Annemarie but she knew it was fruitless, she could only watch as he spoke to Annemarie. The tears welled up in her eyes.

"Bet you're feeling kind of lonely aren’t you?" Warren asked as the servant held the child up to his face. "But don’t worry…" the tones melted into the chillingly familiar feminine ones as the First’s features twisted and warped, "Mummy’s going to look after you now. We’re going to get what we came for and then go back. Mummy’s going to teach you all kinds of things." Darla smiled and nodded at the Bringer who hoisted Annemarie up under his arm and moved off into the shadows.

Dawn gasped and swallowed hard as Darla turned back to face her. "Don’t worry darlin’ your time will come, but first…" She smiled again and clicked her fingers. Two of the mad-men moved into the magic box; an ear splitting shriek coalescing in a childish whine followed them back out as they dragged an unconscious figure with them.

"Spike!" Dawn cried desperately wanting to go to him, torn between wanting to run and wanting to stay.

The First in Darla’s form closed its eyes and savored the victory. "Sorry honey, but I need the vampire too." She licked her lips and sighed again in pleasure. "Right on time." She closed her eyes and then reopened them; “Those pompous British bastards have had it this time." She turned back to Dawn. "Not that you’ll be alive for much longer to appreciate it." Her smile grew wicked. "I don’t think I’m content just to wipe out the chosen, I think I’ll go for their families too." It sighed and surveyed an imaginary watch. "Gotta go, demons to raise, soulful vampires to torture and oh yes children to teach." It smiled, laughed throatily and disappeared.

Dawn stood stock-still, too shocked and confused to know what to do. This was new to her; she was the one they were all relying on now, and she had no idea what to do. She tensed, preparing to fight as the men grew closer, she was outnumbered and outmatched; she felt a sob escape her throat as they moved closer raising their knifes and wished her sister was there to help her.