When a key is not a key ((for Harry))

[slayers_desire]

It has started a few weeks ago, with the disturbing nightmares that forced April to wake up in the middle of the night. Nightmares that while connected to her voices, were so real and visual, that it was like she had been there in the moment.

In the moment of a death. It was not like most deaths that she saw through her voices... instead, it was like the person has disappeared. And April knew each time it happened it was like a little piece of the universe had been stolen.

Clark had advised her to go to the research library hidden in Lorne's bar. And that was where she was, when a commotion was raised from the meeting area of the Scoobies. Coming out of the library, she saw her father, Spike, placing Dawn onto a couch. The young girl was flickering... disappearing and reappearing... it was so shocking, she thought she was dreaming again.

"Someone help her! I am nothing without her!" Spike called out.

April frowned. Something was seriously wrong. And her intuition was telling her that whatever was going wrong, had to do with some serious magic. Returning into the library, April used her PINpoint to call up Harry Dresden. Hopefully he could provide some insight...

Comments

[thepizzalord]

"I got an ugly feeling we've just found out what happened to the Keys," Harry says in a low voice.

[slayers_desire]

"They were made into books?"

[thepizzalord]

"Might be metaphorical, but yeah. These are life stories draining away into nothin', and the compass is convinced Dawn is in this stack of books."

[slayers_desire]

April looks through the books again, paying special attention to each one in the pile. Until she holds up one in particular... a soft purple one. "This one tells Dawn's life story. As she would remember it."

[thepizzalord]

"Hell's bells." What a quandary. Harry has to think fast. "Wonder if we could take it back to her and pour it back in as fast as it's coming outta her."

[slayers_desire]

The ground shakes, and a voice cries out, "Do not touch my books...."

[thepizzalord]

"Kinda too late, we've already skimmed 'em," Harry calls out. He holds his sword a little tighter, keeping aware for any signs of their host.

[slayers_desire]

A very old flame-lady appears at the edge of the stacks, her fingers claw a the wooden edges. "Do not take what was lost... for there will be consequences."

[thepizzalord]

"Wasn't lost, it was stolen." After years and years of dealing with powerful supernatural beings, he still hasn't learned not to snark at them.

[slayers_desire]

"They were lost..." The old lady slithers around the book shelves, hissing and growling. "They stay here!"

[thepizzalord]

"Any chance we could bargain? Pay you for 'em?" He's pretty sure the answer is no, but he might as well ask.

[slayers_desire]

"They need to stay until they are regained by their true owners. Which is not you..."

[thepizzalord]

Harry narrows his eyes at her. "So if we brought one of the rightful owners here, could she take it?"

[slayers_desire]

"The rightful owner has to claim what is lost... if she can find it."

[thepizzalord]

Well this is a pickle. Harry wonders if they could bring Dawn here, and have her claim her book, stopping her from disappearing. But on the other hand... that might be what the bad guys want. It could be a trap.

He looks over at April. "Whaddya think?"

[slayers_desire]

"I don't think taking the book will help our problem. There is something... not right about this..."

[thepizzalord]

"Gotta agree with that." He looks back at the fiery old woman. "We'll be going, then." He's fully prepared to resist, with force, if she says no.

[slayers_desire]

"Yes... leave..." The old woman just wants them gone, so won't stop them.

"At least we know where the Keys went..." April smiles softly.

[thepizzalord]

"Yeah, for all the good that did us." He stays especially alert as they travel back to the opening in the Ways, just in case.

[slayers_desire]

"It will take a different path to find the right solution, but at least we know our end goal."

[thepizzalord]

"Apparently." He waits for April to go through first, then hops through, quickly sealing the Way behind him.

[slayers_desire]

Nothing has changed when they return to the real world, Dawn is still on the couch, and Spike and Wes are waiting for their return. April takes a seat at the bar. "Thanks for everything Harry. I know it was not what you expected..."

[thepizzalord]

"Not even close, but Hell, we know where they are now." But now there's still the question of what to do about Dawn.

[slayers_desire]

"Will Dawn be okay in your protection for a couple of hours, until we can figure out our next plan of action?"

[thepizzalord]

"Yeah, but like Blondie said, she's still gotta eat and drink," Harry says, nodding at Spike. "I wouldn't wanna keep her cooped up too much longer than that. I guess if we have to, we can take her into another universe and see if that cuts her off."