The amulet was very closely related to those used by vengeance demons; where theirs were aligned to hone in on and guide the wearer towards pain in keeping with the individual’s specialty, however, the Iemlenu was aligned to pinpoint an individual’s signature.  Anya had explained to her captivated audience how each individual being had its own unique signature, or aura if you will, and that no other being in any of the multitudinous number of worlds and dimensions carried the same signature. Even doppelgangers, did not share a signature, given that each was an individual life-form capable of existing independently of the other. 

Creating the amulet had not been particularly difficult; it had, however, required that several hours of rituals and blessings be performed on the recipient stone, hours that had tried Buffy’s and Spike’s patience almost beyond the limit. The ritual had required some of Dawn’s hair; retrieving her hairbrush from the Summers’ house had at least given them an excuse to escape for a while and burn off some of the edginess that the seemingly overlong delay was producing.   

Whilst Anya and the two witches had worked on the amber, Buffy and Spike had memorised the words required to activate the amulet. Once they were both decreed to be adequately proficient, they had pored over the books with Giles and Xander, trying unsuccessfully to find the demon responsible for kidnapping the Slayer’s sister. 

Giles had explained to them both that the different dimensions they could visit may well be as alike to their own as walking outside the door at that moment, or as different as waking to find themselves in the middle of the Sahara. At his words, Buffy had expressed concern that they could possibly find themselves without shelter from the sun; as her travelling companion tended to barbeque a little in the sunlight, that was a situation she wanted to avoid at all costs. 

“There must be a spell, like a magical umbrella or something?” she offered weakly, concern creasing her features as she looked at Spike. “Please, Giles, there has to be a way to make sure that Spike is safe from the sun. If only Angel hadn’t destroyed that ring.”  The last was mumbled quietly to herself, and none but preternaturally enhanced ears could have made out her words. Spike had smiled silently to himself, basking in the knowledge that she would even consider allowing him the use of something as powerful as the Gem of Amara, especially seeing as it had once been such a source of contention between them.  Granted, at the time, he had been making use of its power to try to kill her.  

Giles spoke quickly as Buffy drew breath to continue her tirade. “There is no need,” he assured her. “My research shows that Spike will be perfectly safe in the sunlight of any dimension but our own.” 

“Research?” Buffy looked quizzically at her watcher. “You have research on this?” 

Giles gave her a small, discomfited smile. “While you were… what I mean to say…” 

“Giles, it’s ok, you can say it you know. While I was dead. Yeah, ok… what?” 

“Yes, indeed.  While you were—dead—I found research to be a somewhat welcome distraction.” 

“Ok, I get that.  But why this?  I mean, there are lots of things you could research, so why this particular thing?” She shrugged her shoulders.  “Just seems like an odd thing to be doing research on, you know?” 

“Oh, yes, I see.” Giles’ eyes lit up as he warmed to his topic. “It seems that Angel and his co-workers had occasion to visit an alternate dimension in the weeks before you… passed.  Willow mentioned to me in passing that, while in this dimension, Angel had been unaffected by sunlight.  I found it interesting enough to delve further into the reasons. From what I gather, it has something to do with the molecular structure of the vampire in question, in much the same way that amulet knows the difference between our Dawn and any other dimension’s Dawn. The sun from the vampire’s own dimension is, in fact, the only one that will adversely affect it.” 

“So you’re saying I’ll be able to stand in the sun in these other dimensions?” Spike asked tentatively, a wistful look on his face. 

“Yes, that is precisely what I am saying.” Giles frowned as he answered Spike. “That does not, however, mean that any of your other—vulnerabilities—will be removed; a good stake to the heart will still cause you to become dust. I suggest you remember that.” 

“Giles!” Buffy admonished. “What was that all about?!” 

“I don’t trust him, Buffy, and I would feel considerably better about this if you were not taking a renowned killer with you.” 

“Oi!” Spike complained indignantly. “’s been a bloody long time since I have made any sort of move to hurt Buffy, or any of you lot for that matter.” 

“Giles, you know Spike wouldn’t hurt me. He’s been working with you guys all summer. And looking after Dawn. How could you say that?!  Besides, would you prefer I went alone? Spike is strong, and we fight well together.” 

Giles gave a long, defeated sigh. “No, I don’t suppose that I would prefer that you go alone. I just... well, I worry.” 

“I know that, but you don’t have to. I know Spike has my back. I’ll be fine,” Buffy assured him. “We’ll be fine,” she added firmly. 

They had spent some time packing a backpack for each of them.  Several stakes and other easily concealed and transportable weapons, as well as food and a change of clothing filled Buffy’s pack; into Spike’s went additional weapons, several bags of blood, and he had thrown in some extra food for Buffy.  After that, it had simply been a matter of trying to be patient until the rituals were completed, ignoring the barely-veiled insults Xander aimed at Spike whenever the opportunity arose, and not allowing themselves to give in to the almost overwhelming fear that gripped each of them whenever they allowed themselves to dwell on Dawn’s possible fate. 

Finally, the time had come for them to be on their way. 

tbc