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Part 3
' I'm dreaming, I know I have to be dreaming but I can't stop it. I see places and people that I haven’t seen in years, and yet I'm forced to watch the events unfold before my eyes.'
Dru is sitting in the house watching her 5 year old sister play with her dolls. " Anne, how are they behaving? " Anne looks at up at her sister and frowns. " Miss Edith isn't being very good. She should be punished, but I hate to do it. Can you punish her for me, sis? " "Of course, I will send her to her room, and she won't have any cakes. Is that punishment enough? " Dru watches as Anne thinks it over, then nods. " That sounds good. She spoke out of turn and she hit one of the others. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen." Anne hands her Miss Edith doll to Dru and watches as Dru sets the doll in the corner away from the other ones. " Where are mummy and daddy, Dru? They will be back soon won't they?" "Of course, Anne. They should be getting back real soon. Now why don't you go get ready for bed. It is going on 9:00 PM. I'll be sure they check in on you when they get home." Dru watches as the little girl runs off to get dressed, then turns to the front door.
She sees shadows out front and walks up to the door, hoping to greet her mum and dad. She tries not to scream when she opens the door. She sees her dad laying on the steps, his body twisted oddly. Then, she sees her mum. She is in the hands of a monster. It is biting her neck and drinking. Dru looks the monster in the eyes trying to remember everything about it. She finally looks away as she hears Anne walk out. Dru quickly closes the door, and walks back to her sister. "Was that mummy and daddy, Dru?" Anne asks sweetly. "No it wasn't them. Now it is time to get you in bed. Now off you go." Dru goes and tucks the little girl in and walks back to the front room. She sits and stares at the door trying to convince herself that she was just having a nightmare and that she would soon wake up.
The following day, Dru wakes up and goes back to the front door. She opens it and she sees that the bodies are still there so she calls one of her family's friends to come and help her. She sees an envelope near the phone addressed to her, and opens it. It is from a Miss Kathy Howe who wants Dru to come and see her. Dru doesn't recognize the name so she just throws it out without another thought. Dru makes all the arrangements for the funerals for her parents. She also arranges for her and Anne to go stay with her uncle's family.
At the funeral, Dru is approached by a lady who appears to be in her thirties. " Hi, Drusilla, I'm Miss Kathy Howe. I sent you a letter to come and see me. You hadn't done so yet, so I decided to come to you. I want to help you, will you let me? I am sorry to hear about your parents death, if only I had known sooner." Dru shakes her head, "no, I don't need any help. I'm going to stay with my uncle in the country. He is all that I need right now, thanks for the offer though. I have my dreams to warn me. They aren't much, but they are all the protection I need. Even if it is the devil in me that does it."
After the funeral, Dru and Anne were welcomed into her uncle's household. He shows Dru to the library and she just looks around. Her love of books soon makes this her favorite place. She soon runs across a book that seems out of place in his shelves of history and literature. She looks at the title, "Vampyr", and as she looks at it, she feels drawn to it. He tells her that it is a new arrival to the library, as she opens the book and begins reading. For the first time since her parents death, she now has a name to go with the monster's face. She tells her uncle of her suspicions, and he just laughs at them. He tells her that they are fairy tales and that she was just seeing things that night.
Dru isn't so sure, and starts studying up on vampires. She starts wearing the cross necklace that she was given as a present, and she makes sure that her sister and cousin are wearing one too. She checks daily to be sure that they are wearing them. She also starts memorizing ways to kill a vampire our of the book, just in case. She finds out that a vampire can't come into a house unless invited, but once invited they can come in anytime. She discovers that sunlight is very deadly to them. She decides to start enjoying her life in the sun again.
On the weekend evenings, Dru is escorted to the neighboring houses for parties that she can enjoy by her uncle. He felt that she needed to meet new friends to bring her out of the depressed mood she had been in since her parents death. Dru met a young man by the name of Angelus at one such party. He charmed Dru and kept her smiling the entire evening. After a few such parties, he started coming to her house to get her, so that her uncle wouldn't have to keep taking her. Then one evening, her uncle invited him to dinner. Angelus said that he would be unable to make it to the dinner, but would stop by afterwards to get to know the family. That evening Angelus charmed his way into the families' hearts.
Then one day a letter arrived for Dru. She became rather excited as she reads about a party to be given at the house of Angelus O' Brien. She quickly goes to get her outfit ready, since the party is the following evening.
The following evening, She is picked up by a friend of Angelus's and taken to the house. His friend explained that some unforeseen business would delay Angel for a while. He then showed her to the room where the rest of the guests had gathered and introduced her to a few of them. About an hour later, Angel showed up at Dru's side. He apologized for being late. He pulled her to the dance floor and started dancing with her. After a few dances however, Dru started having a feeling of dread that just wouldn't go away. She looked around the room trying to clear her head, but the room seemed to be swimming in red, blood red at that. She started feeling ill, and asked Angelus to take her home. He agreed, and told her to call him Angel. He made some quick promises to a few of the other guests. He helped her into the carriage outside and took her home.
Once at her house, she hurried to the door. She found out that the door wasn't locked, which is odd this late at night. She went in and started checking the house over for her family. She found the body of her cousin in his room. It looked like some wild animal had gotten to him. His throat was torn to shreds. When Dru seen this she started crying, but was determined to find the rest of her family. She went room to room slowly with Angel staying close by in case she should need him. She found her aunt on the bed in the master bedroom. Her neck was broken, and she was laying in almost the same way she had found her dad the night the monster killed them. She found her uncle stuffed in the closet. His neck had two little round holes in the side of it, and his blood was drained. "Anne, I have to find my sister. Angel you have to help me find her please?" Dru's eyes were full of tears and pleading with him. "I'll help you don't worry. And once we find her, you and she are both going to stay with me till we find the rest of your family."
"This is the rest of my family. After this, Anne and I are alone." Dru was very upset and took off towards Anne's room praying that she was all right. As Dru looked around Anne's room, She noticed that Miss Edith was missing and that there was no sight of her sister. So Dru headed to the only room she hadn't checked, hers. Dru walked in and turned on the light. She seen Anne on her bed hugging Miss Edith. Dru walked over and checked on her. She saw that Anne was unharmed. She let Anne sleep as she packed a bag full of her clothes, and Anne's went into another. Angel walked in and placed a hand lightly on Dru's shoulder. She was crying quietly. This was the second family she had lost in the last few months. Angel pulled her towards him, and tried to comfort her. She eventually stopped crying and watched as he picked up her sister. He carried her from the house and Dru followed quietly with two small bags along with Miss Edith under her arm.
Dru and Anne spent the next few months happily at Angel's. Dru never questioned the reasoning behind the heavy curtains that covered every window in the house. She and Angel watched as Anne played with the dolls and other toys that Angel had bought for her. Dru felt herself falling in love with Angel rather quickly. He had stuck by her through all the tears and nightmares that she had been having, and she loved him for it. One day she finally told him of her feelings for him. He expressed that he had the same feelings for her. Their relationship continued to grow for the next few weeks, but then one night, everything changed.
Dru went to get Anne ready for bed, and she found her with Angel. Angel was holding Anne in an odd fashion. Dru questioned it and tried to get him to let go of her. He just laughed at her and then killed Anne as Dru watched. Dru screamed, and tried to run, but he caught up with her. He turned her to face him, with game face on. She saw the monster that killed her mum and dad. She had been staying with him for months, and never knew it. The book never said that they had two faces. Dru screamed and finally got away. On her way out of the door, she grabbed her sister's doll, Miss Edith.
Dru ran all the way to town and to the convent. She finally convinced them to let her in, and she started studying to become a nun. Months later, on the day she was to take her holy orders, she had a visitor, Angel. He attacked her and she screamed and started running again. When he caught up to her, he bit and changed her.
I woke up screaming. I watched as Angel ran into the room and tried to comfort me so that I wouldn't wake anyone else that lived near the mansion. I cried softly in his arms for a while, then looked up at him. He was watching me and speaking softly to me. He didn't know what had caused me to wake up like that, but he was trying to comfort me all the same. I finally calmed down enough to where I could answer his questions. I told him about what I could remember of the dream that I had. I was surprised by how hard it was to remember it. He told me not worry to much about it and to try to get some more rest. I could tell that he knew the dream was about him, and what he had done to me. It upset him, and I could see it. He still remembered everything because of his soul. I wanted to tell him I forgive him, but how can I forgive him for killing my whole family? It just wasn't right, he wasn't the same person anymore. I knew this, but I couldn't say that I forgive him. I laid back down and I noticed that he didn't leave right away. He seemed to be watching me. I curled up and slowly dozed off after I heard him leave the room.
It's been about three days since Willow first came and seen me at the factory, and still no word as to why things are changing for me. I have been staying at the mansion with Angel since the night that Spike showed up. In the past couple of days, my rest had been interrupted by the same dream. I always seem to wake up just as he changes me into a vampire. I don't know why, but when I wake he's there comforting me just like he did the night he killed the rest of my family. At least now when I wake, I remember what the dream is about. He hasn't said much to me about my not telling him what I dream, but I can tell it is hurting him. I should let him know that I remember, but I just can't. Buffy shows up daily, just to make sure that we haven't killed each other I guess. They always patrol together after she arrives and leaves me alone at the mansion. Buffy doesn't say much to me, but I can tell she still isn't to happy with me being back in town.
Finally after a few days, I decide that it is time to talk to Angel. It may be the only way to make these nightmares stop. I walk into the library and I see Angel sitting in a chair reading. He hasn't noticed me yet. I continue on into the room and sit down across from him. "Angel, " I begin, "can we talk?" "Of course, Dru. What did you want to talk about?" I watch as he closes the book he was reading and sets it off to the side. He sits back and looks at me. "I'm ready to listen to whatever you have to say."
I take a deep breath and try to figure out how to begin. This is tough, because I am still not certain why this is happening to me now, but I know he can help me. "Angel, you know about the nightmares, and I haven't been completely honest when you question me about them. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the nightmares are about you." I look at his eyes, trying to figure out what he's feeling. He looks away and I feel bad for even telling him. After a few minutes of silence, I continue. "They've been about my family, and what you did to them. I'm not sure why you did what you did, but I know that you aren't the same person now. If you were, you would have been very angry with me for hiding this from you. I can see that you aren't angry, but I do know that you are upset. Angel, I have been thinking about this for the last couple of days, since the first one actually. You have been by my side, and trying to comfort me. I know how hard it must be for you to even have me here. You changed me back when you didn't have a soul, and before that you tried to drive me crazy. It kinda worked, but I really hadn't totally lost it till after you changed me. I just thought that it was time you know that I remember what you did to me, and I forgive you. There was a demon guiding everything you did, and you couldn't stop it." I get up to walk away, when I feel him grab my hand. I stop and wait, not sure of what he is going to do.
"Dru, I'm not sure what to say, but you wanted to talk." He guides me back to where I was sitting, and he hands me a glass to drink from. "Now that you have said what you did, it's my turn."
He is interrupted by a knock on the door, and I watch as he answers it. It's Buffy. He grabs her hand and brings her into where we were talking. She sees me, and turns to leave. I watch as he stops her and says something that keeps her there. I can sense that she is very angry, but is willing to do as he asks. He guides her to a chair that sits near him, and away from me. Her eyes go from him to me and back again. She seems to be trying to figure out what is going on, but then Angel continues. "Buffy, I told you a little bit about what I did to Dru in the past. Well, she has been having nightmares about it. She wakes from them screaming, and I have spent the last few nights comforting her, and trying to calm her much as I would a child. That is what Dru is to me, my child." I watch as her eyes go over to me. I wonder if she can see what I have been feeling. Her eyes don't move from mine for a few minutes. I watch as Angel takes her hand in his and tries to reassure Buffy that I have done nothing to ruin their relationship. I think about leaving, but I just stay seated and wait.
"Buffy, Dru came to me tonight, and told me what her dreams were about. She has also said that she forgives me. I know you don't like her being here, but I think it is time you and her both try to get along, at least while you are together here. She hasn't fed from another human while she has been in town. You know I would have told you if she had. Plus she released you the night that Spike showed up, that has to mean something. I am not sure of what has changed in her, but it is starting to show. I have explained some of what she has told me with you the night you brought her here. I'm not asking you to like her, or to even trust her, but I do think you and her should try to come to some sort of a truce."
Buffy looks at Angel and weighs his words. She nods, slowly. "OK, Angel. I'm still not very fond of the idea of her being here, but as long as she behaves herself, I'll deal. But if you stray just once, you will get introduced to Mr. Pointy. Agreed, Dru?" I nod. "Agreed, Slay.... Buffy. I will behave myself. I'm not so sure I want to meet Mr. Pointy."
Buffy gets up slowly and moves towards me, at first I am afraid that she is
going to still going to introduce me to her friend. As I back away from her
slowly, I notice that she has stopped. " I just wanted to thank you for
giving me a way out of the factory the other day, and for not biting me. I
wasn't sure what to expect, but you surprised me. I'm not sure what is
happening to you, but I will try to help you find out. Willow said to let
you know that she will be stopping by tomorrow evening to talk to you. I
plan on joining her, but I may be running a little behind with patrol and
all. You take care, and I'll see you then." I watch as she leaves, with
Angel close behind. But before Angel leaves the room, he turns and looks at
me. "Thanks for forgiving me Dru. I never thought you would if you
remembered what I did. I'll see you after patrol, and get some rest." He
leaves, and I close and lock the door behind them. I feel better now that I
have spoken to them. I head towards my room, with a book I borrowed from
Angel's library. ' I hope he doesn't mind, I'm not tired yet. This will
probably help me to fall asleep though. ' I lay down across my bed and start
reading. It is a very good book, and I'm finding it difficult to pull myself
away as I start becoming tired. I keep promising myself just one more page,
but my eyes are slowly closing, drawing me into a deep sleep.