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[lockless_key]

The spell didn't work.

I can't believe they didn't tell me about it. She was my sister! But no, it's too dangerous for Dawnie, she can't get her hopes up, she's not old enough. I'm almost sixteen, hello! They were planning on raising my dead sister from the grave and I couldn't know. Well, they didn't tell Spike, either, but that was for different

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[soon_to_be_blue]

After sitting with her for what seemed like hours, I leave Cordelia alone in the bedroom that I assumed used to be Buffy's (though I feel it's probably something I shouldn't ask), and walk down the stairs into an empty house.

...or at least I thought it was an empty house.

Since I got here, with Cordy in tow, they have left me alone on more than one occasion, rushing this way and that. Not that I mind. We are kind of intruding, and they have so much going on. I see all the pain they're going through and wish that I didn't have to bring this on them now, two friends dead, and for me to show up just to tell them another one of their friends is in a coma...

...but what else could I do? Angel was gone, and the world of strange magicks and things like that is a small one. The only people I knew who might be able to help we're Buffy's people...and with Buffy gone, I'm not even sure they could.

I sighed.

As I had said, I thought it was an empty house, but when I arrive at the bottom of the stairs, I hear a noise from the dining room

[lockless_key]

I have Willow's laptop in front of me, and it's open, and it's whirring softly, but I can't really bring myself to touch it. It was Willow's. She was the one that was really good with computers. Now all this is good for is surfing the internet and writing papers. There are some code-breaking things on there but none of us could ever figure them out.

I reach out, laying a finger on the return key, but jump and pull back when I hear someone walking down the stairs. Like I'm doing something wrong. Like I shouldn't be touching Willow's things. But it's not Willow's anymore. She left it to us.

Then Fred walks into the room. I glance upstairs, but it's silent up there, well, 'cause Cordy's in a coma, duh. What went wrong? Why is this all happening at the same time? I sigh quietly and look at Fred.

"Yeah, its me."

[soon_to_be_blue]

I cross over to the dining room and pull out the chair at the opposite end of the table and sit.

I decided to give Dawn company, but not sit too close, in case she needs some space. Everything has just come crashing down around this house recently, it was understandable that they were all hypersensitive.

I didn't even know Buffy or Willow, only heard of them, and even so, I felt the sheer gravity of their death.

"I hope you don't my joining you," I say, "You just look like you could use some company right now."

I breathe in.

"Lordy knows we all could."

I nod back toward the stairs.

"Still no change in Cordelia. I'm worried about her. Not just the coma. But that symbol thingy. Since starting with Angel I've come to learn that symbols are never good."

[lockless_key]

"No, it's okay," I nod when Fred sits down. I like Fred. I've never met her before, and it's kind of a bad time to meet new people, but she's nice and sweet and has this kind of energy that calms you down. She's really simple, you can just relax around her. That's something we all need right now.

I glance in the direction of the stairs as Fred talks and nod slowly. "Symbols are never good, especially weird symbols that burn themselves into people's skins right before they go into a coma." I sigh. "In fact, those symbols suck."

I run a hand through my hair and sigh again. "Should we maybe take her to a hospital?" I ask hesitantly. "I mean, I know it's not a natural coma, but maybe they could tell us something there?"

[lockless_key]

I'm still thinking on what to say as the guy talks about someplace called Metropolis that I've never even heard of. You'd think when the monks were making me, they could at least give me all that stuff about geography and whatnot. At least I wouldn't have to go to school then 'cause I'd already know everything. But there are no upsides to this Key stuff, I guess. Just downsides.

So I'm kind of grateful to Fred when she steps in, although my eyes kind of get wide when she snaps at the guy. I mean, she doesn't really snap, but it's kind of harsh. For Fred at least.

"Oh, um, this is Fred," I look from her to the guy and then realize we haven't even introduced ourselves. And now I feel even more stupid. "And, uh, I'm Dawn." And then I stare at him because I don't know his name.

[lucas_luthor]

I raise an eyebrow at the woman who talks down Metropolis. I'd be defensive, but frankly, I'd spent my whole life on the go, so it's not like I had any particular hometown pride or anything...well, except for the fact that my bank account was there.

Ah well.

I grin.

"California, eh?"

I turn and look at the woman who the girl has just introduced as Fred, and shake my head.

"No, I think not. You may be here now, but that's a Texas accent through and through," I chuckle, "You can't fool me, I've done my fair share of travelling."

I turn back to the girl, but keep an eye on this Fred for a second longer before looking back.

"Hi Dawn, Fred. It's a pleasure to meet you both. The name's Luthor, Lucas Luthor."

[soon_to_be_blue]

I smile when he mentions Texas.

"Not bad, cowboy."

How can I not appreciate someone who at least recognizes the great state of my birth? Maybe he wasn't so bad after all. Though, my apprehension was understandable...this being Sunnydale and all...strangers weren't always good.

Then he says his name. Luthor. I look at the suit again he was trying on. Real nice. REAL expensive...

...Metropolis...

...it clicks. I flashback to the Hyperion and the main lobby. The hotel wasn't in operation any more, but we still got the stray magazine subscription in the mail, and back issues were cluttered in the corners of the lobby from the Hotel's heyday...

...and I remember reading an old old issue of Forbes once while waiting for Wesley to break demon code. The Fortune 500 issue from several years ago.

One of the richest men in the world: Lionel Luthor...who owned LuthorCorp, out of Metropolis...

"Luthor? As in LuthorCorp? Are you related?"

I stare expectantly.

[lockless_key]

'Luthor, Lucas Luthor.' What is he, James Bond? I'm about to just smile politely and say something trivial like nice to meet you 'cause I'll probably never see him. Then Fred goes off on something.

I look back and forth between them for a while, blinking, then stare at Fred. "Luthor-what?" I ask her, raising my eyebrows. Related to what? Metropolis, what? I am so confused.