The group entered the living room, Angel automatically checking the room for any
potentials dangers. They checked the doors and windows and found them all locked
securely.
“No way out,” Cordelia said in despair.
Xander pulled her in a hug, caressing her hair and whispering words to comfort
her. Angel and Willow moved to the table in the center where small white treasure boxes
laid. They looked them over, their hands grazing over them, emitting a different glow on
their hands as they each touched one. Willow picked up a paper at the end of the table and
read it a loud, their ten minutes having gone down to eight.
“Each box contains powers of your choosing, one per person, except when needed
to combine. The game shall consist of a maze in the mansion, in doors as well as outdoors,
prepare yourselves, your life shall depend on it.”
“Well, if it puts it that way, I really want to win,” Xander commented, still holding
onto a shaky Cordelia.
“We’ll get through this,” Angel told him, hiding the worry he felt for all of them,
especially Willow.
Willow reached out for his hand, holding onto it tightly, not able to surpress the
fear she had. Angel tugged on it, giving her a small smile. Willow returned it, able to feel
the warmness he was sending her over the link.
“We have to choose,” Cordelia told them, as she pulled away from Xander’s
embrace and looked at their selection.
Willow read them off, her mind already working on which ones would best suit
each person.
“Protection, Invisibility, Nature, Illusion, Shapeshifting, Telepathy, Clairvoyance,
Telekinesis, Strength, Charm, Power, Light (Fire), Copy, Sound, Color, Beams,
Absorption, Teleportation, Mind Reading, Dark, Truth and Fear.”
“Can we share the Protection one?”, Xander asked.
“No, it might need to be combined with another”, Willow replied, understanding
what the light had said.
“Then who gets the protection one?” Cordelia asked.
“Angel,” Willow replied.
“What? Why?” Xander asked a bit mad.
“I can place protection spells on us. I haven’t learned one for vampires yet.”
“Willow, you should take the one for Power. It might make you stronger when
you cast spells.”
Willow agreed, taking the box from the table.
“I’ll take the one for Fear,” Xander said.
“But you can’t fight, Xander. You need one that will help you sneak up on them,
just like what we do when we’re patrolling,” Willow pointed out.
“Then what about Invisibility?”
“I think it would scare people more if we could see a bunch of you,” Cordelia
commented.
“Illusion?”
“That sounds the best,” Angel commented.
“What about Cordelia?” Xander asked as he took his box.
“Invisibly?”
“You shouldn’t get something that someone has a similar to,” Willow commented.
“Any of the ESP?” Xander suggested.
“Telekinesis might work best out of all of them.”
“She did mention we would be outside too, what about Nature?” Cordelia asked.
“Completely different from the rest. It should work,” Angel agreed.
Cordelia reached for her box as Willow thought over Cordelia’s comment.
“If we’re outside...Angel...the sun....,” Willow said a bit terrified.
“Maybe a can call on the clouds or something,” Cordelia said.
“But what if we need the sun or something. That’s Angel’s weakness,” Xander
said, impressed that he had made the observation.
“Then take the box of light, Angel. Protection against light (fire),” Willow told
him.
Angel looked at the group and they all nodded in agreement. He grabbed both
boxes hesitantly. They weren’t even sure it would work, but they encouraged him to take
it.
“A minute left,” Cordelia said as she looked at the clock on the mantel.
“Who’s the leader?” Xander asked.
“Angel, he has the two boxes,” Cordelia told him.
Angel expected some form of protest to begin, but to his complete surprise none
came. They all seemed glad to see him take the roll.
As much as Xander still harbored some ill feelings towards him, he knew Angel
could do the job best, even maybe save their lives in the process. If ever their was a time
to trust him, it was now. They all settled he was the best for the job, and took a final look
at their powers, acknowledging they had made correct choices.
They stepped out into the entrance way and waited for the light to appear. It did
not disappoint as the light come into sight in a matter of seconds.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes,” Angel replied as he stepped forward.
“You are the leader?” she asked.
“I am.”
“Then, show me your powers so that I may grant them for you, Angelus.”
Angel held out both arms, the small treasure boxes in his open palm, offering them
to her.
“What is it that you ask for?”
“Protection against the Light.”
The song of an ancient chant began, as the group stood in complete amazement as
they saw Angel’s body rise from the floor and a soft warm red glow entwined with a blue
one, engulfed his body. Moments later, a flash appeared, hurting their eyes. When they
opened them, Angel lay on the floor still. Willow rushed to him, trying to feel something
through the link. Her worry began to fade as she sensed a warmness in him. She smiled,
thankful he was all right.
“Xander, come forth. What is the gift I shall grant?”
“Illusion.”
In moments, Xander was engulfed in purple light. Cordelia was relived to see
Angel wake, as she kneeled by Xander, taking his unconscious head in her lap.
“Willow, come forth. What is the gift I shall grant you?”
“Power.”
Willow was the next to lay on the floor, after the white and yellow light around her
disappeared. Angel remained by her side, until she regained consciousness. Cordelia was
the last of the group to receive her gift.
“What is the gift you ask for Cordelia?”
“Nature.”
“Then let it be so”
Xander held onto her unconscious body after a green light had engulfed her. Their
attention was turned to the white light as it spoke once more.
“With these powers granted, the game shall begin.”
A bright light hit them and then everything went
dark.