PART 19

Buffy: Ok. Who called Radu?

Allison: Cool. Reject castle.

Xander: Hey Buff, we’re right at home here!

Ares: This place reeks of death. I like it.

Scene:

The trippers are standing in front of Evan’s Island Resort. It’s an old castle that looks like it came from a bad horror movie.

Silia: (Yawns and picks up her bags.) Come on lets go check it out.

Stealth: Aren’t you going to take precautions?

Silia: Done. I did a psi scan, aura search, and even a spell for danger. Not a thing. (She walks towards the door singing ‘Information High’)

Allison: Wait for me! (She catches up to Silia and joins in her singing.)

Xander: If she says it safe then mote it be. (Gets funny looks) What? I heard it on tv.

Buffy: Oh brother. Let’s go.

Stealth: (muttering) I don’t like this.

__________

Scene:

The Unreal backyard. Wolverine, Ashley, Quinn and Terry are playing a game of poker.

Terry: ….Damn! (Tosses his cards on the table) Fold.

Quinn: (his cards already turned over.) You too?

(They watch as Ashley and Wolverine watch each other intently as if they are looking for some hint of what they have.)

Ashley: I see you’re 50. I raise you 200.

Terry: Holy..

Quinn: Good god.

Wolverine: (His face twitches and folds his cards) Damn. You win.

Ashley: (Gathers her chips eagerly) Of course. (She tosses her cards down to reveal an absolutely lousy hand.) Was there any doubt?

Wolverine: (Whistles softly) You’re better than Guthrie.

Ashley: You’re the one who folded that two pair.

(The guys stare at Ashley their eyes narrowing.)

Terry: How would you know what he had?

Ashley: (casually) X-ray vision. No one called the no powers rule. (She grins) I’ll accept checks, cash, all major credit cards and healthy internal organs.

Jubilee: WOLVIE!!

(Wolverine stands up to be tackled by a very excited Jubilee. As they get up, Bobby steps in to the back yard grinning as he sees Ashley.)

Wolverine: Hey there darlin. How’ve you been?

Jubilee: Cool. Wait till you hear what goes on here.

Bobby: Oh you’re going to love it. You’d love Ares.

Wolverine: The Greek god of..

(Wolverine is cut off by Jubilee who drags him away babbling about stuff.)

Ashley: Hi Bobby! I know our date isn’t until tonight but I just had to come see you. Well.. that and Cat wanted to check me out.

Bobby:  Check you.. (his eyes glaze over.)

Terry: And Drake’s mind degenerated in under 5 minutes. I win the bet.

Quinn: (mutters something and hands Terry some money.) This isn’t my day.

(The two of them wander off leaving Bobby and Ashley behind.)

Ashley: Check out as in a check up. She’s my physician.

Bobby: Oh… oh. Oh! Okay. Sorry I..

Ashley: You’re forgiven. (She takes his arm.) Lets go inside.

____________ 

Scene:

The foyer of the castle. The doors open in to an enormous hall with all the modern conveniences. On each side of the doors are nifty looking medieval armor with weapons. Straight ahead from the door is an ancient stairway made of marble and stone. Basically the place is amazing on the inside freakish on the outside. Kinda like this kid I used to know except the other way around..uh.. never mind. Alli and the gang are staring in awe of the place. Jeremiah Mercury strolls down the stairs with a strange look on his face.

Jeremiah: Welcome! I hope you find this place hospitable.

Allison: This place looks fantastic!

(Suddenly Silia screams in pain and falls to the floor unconscious. Alli and Buffy run over to her.)

Allison: Sil? (Shakes her) Wake up!

Buffy: (Checks for a pulse) She’s alive.

Stealth: (to Jeremiah) What did you do?

Jeremiah: I’m merely making this vacation much easier to enjoy.

Ares: No one gets to hurt her but me. (He tries to conjure a fireball but can’t) DAMN IT!

Jeremiah: My apologies but we have taken all your powers. Your godhood. (Motions to Ares.) Buffy’s slayer strength, Allison’s metalworking, and Silia’s powers. I hadn’t realized she’d react that way..

Allison: You idiot!! She IS her powers! You’re lucky she’s not dead! If she dies so help me.. I will kill you and EVERY FAMILY MEMBER YOU FREAKING HAVE!!!!

Xander: Alli, calm down. I’m all for kicking this guy’s ass but he kind of has an edge.

Jeremiah: Some one with some sense? How interesting.

(He walks down the stairs and his older looking form seems to melt away. He now looks like well.. um.. a male supermodel. He strolls over to Alli.)

Jeremiah: Little one..

Allison: (Scrambles away from him) Stay away from me. (He grabs her arm and she screams.)

(The air shimmers around her and she glows a bright green. When the glow fades she’s in her 17 year old form. Luckily her clothes transformed with her. Isn’t the villain considerate this time?)

Jeremiah: I think this will make it easier for you, girl.

Allison: Son of.. (She swings a punch at him and he dodges easily. She falls back and gets in a kenpo stance.)

Jeremiah: Ah, ah.. you aren’t that g..woulf!!

(As he was talking Buffy kicked him in the chest. Jeremiah stumbles back and is caught in a headlock by Ares. Jeremiah struggles a bit and stops as Stealth holds a sword to his throat.)

Stealth: Don’t even twitch.

Ares: (Tightens his grip) Don’t listen to him. Move. I want to see some blood.

(Jeremiah smiles and suddenly both Stealth and Ares are forced away from him. He straightens his suit and continues to smile.)

Buffy: What is you’re deal??

Jeremiah: Excuse me?

Silia: (leaning on Xander) She means.. why are you doing this?

Jeremiah: Oh! Well, I’m a game master of sorts. This is a test to see how you all survive here.

Allison: Hey game boy, this will be a piece of cake. I mean.. oh. You have things planed to happen don’t you.

Jeremiah: (miffed at the ‘game boy’ comment) Don’t all villains? Enjoy you’re stay. (He walks away and slowly fades away)

Xander: Now what?

(Silia steps away from Xander and slowly works her way to the stairs.)

Silia: (Talking as she starts upstairs) We find our rooms. Get some sleep and enjoy our vacation.

Buffy: Sil… this is a game for him shouldn’t we do something?

Silia: (stops and leans against the railing tiredly) Why? We can deal with things as they come. (She smiles weakly) Can some one carry my bags? I seem to be a little tired.

Xander: Some one should carry you. You can barely walk.

(Ares grins suddenly and bounds over to Silia. He reaches out to her and she shoves him down the stairs.)

Silia: DON’T TOUCH ME! I do NOT need your help. Especially since there’s a catch with every move you make.

Ares: Grr.. What catch? (Fake innocence) Can’t a guy..

Silia: Not when it’s you. And I do NOT need your pity. (She turns around and heads up stairs.)

(The others just stare at each other. Alli picks up her bags with a shrug and follows her guardian.)

Xander: Looks like our date has to wait Buff.

Buffy: (shrugs) Silia said to try and enjoy ourselves. So I say we go anyway.

Xander: Really?

Buffy: (Smiles) Yes. Come on. (She drags him up the stairs)

Stealth: (Shakes his head) Am I the only sane one here? (He follows the others leaving Ares alone.)

Ares: Enjoy myself? How can I do that when there aren’t any women??

Keep those hands out of my pockets.