A/N: I receive no profit from the use of these characters. I bow to the almighty Joss Whedon. No infringement rights intended. I just wanna play with Spike.

Chapter 6

"Are you sure we've got everything?" Joyce asked for the fourth time.

Buffy gritted her teeth. "Yes mom. I'm sure. We're only going to be gone for a few days. The world will not end while we're at the Mansion. I promise."

"There is no need to get snippy with me young lady. I just wanted to make sure. I hate when I go places and realize that I've forgotten my toothbrush or toothpaste," Joyce said.

"You know, Joyce has a good point," Anya said. "Maybe we should all double-check out luggage."

Buffy was ready to pull her hair out. "Oh for the love of Pete! We are not checking the luggage again. We're already 30 minutes late and traffic isn't getting any better.Relax people."

Willow laughed. Buffy was such a stress case. It wasn't like she was driving or anything. Joyce was at the wheel, and Buffy was manning the navigator seat. Willow figured that Buffy might be a bit nervous about her upcoming date with Spike. He called earlier that day and the two arranged a dinner date on Tuesday night.

At the moment, the quartet was on the road, driving out of town to the manor where the weekend was held. It was a two hour drive and between her mother and Anya, Buffy was ready to jump out the window.

"I need to use the bathroom," Anya announced.

Buffy whirled around in her seat. "Anya, we just stopped five minutes ago. Why didn't you go then?"

Anya shrugged. "I didn't need to. Besides, it was a nasty gas station bathroom. There might be springboard pubic lice on the toilet seat."

Buffy sighed. "Look, we're almost there. Hold it or I swear I'm gonna wear my bunny jammies all weekend."

"You don't have to bring up bunnies. Why would you do that?" Anya wailed and buried herself in the seat.

"Will you both just knock it off?" Willow asked.

Buffy opened her mouth to say something, but Joyce beat her to it, turning the radio up and drowning out any words that might have been said.

It was a great relief to everyone when the Mansion came into sight. It was three stories, and looked like a mixture betweena southern plantation houseand a gothic dream. There were graceful trellises with roses and ivy growing up the side. There were also fierce looking gargoyles guarding the corners of the house. The upper windows were large bay windows with delicate black iron balconies extending out. Buffy expected a clap of thunder and a bolt of lightening to flash behind the house any minute.

Joyce pulled into a long drive that ended in a circle at the house. A woman in uniform opened the passenger door. "Welcome to Mayhem Manor. The Lord and Lady await your presence."

Buffy looked over at her mom. Joyce shrugged. Buffy giggled and got out of the car. "Thanks. Uh, tell the Lord and Lady we'll be in shortly."

The woman bowed and turned on her heel toward the house. The other occupants of the car exited and stretched. Willow popped her neck and back, and Buffy looked at her, grossed out.

"How can you do that?" she asked.

Willow shrugged. "Natural talent I guess."

They gathered their luggage and headed toward the manor. About halfway there, they were accosted by several uniformed people with grabby hands. Before Buffy could say a word, her luggage was taken from her hands and whisked away.

"What the hell was that?" Anya asked after the uniformed people disappeared.

Buffy shrugged. "But hey, no more carrying our bags. That's kinda cool."

The four women continued up the path to the house. At the door was another uniform, this time in the guise of a doorman. He gave a stiff bow and opened the door. Cool air blew over Buffy as she stepped into the foyer of Mayhem Manor. To her right was what looked to be a ballroom or dining room of some sort. To her left was a large curving staircase. Straight ahead of her was a large tiled hallway.

"Greetings. You must be Miss Summers, the contest winner," said a male voice.

Buffy looked up. Coming down the stairs was one of the most breathtaking men Buffy had ever seen. He wasn't handsome in the classical sense of handsome. He was more…pretty, she decided, that was the word. His hair was jet black and longish, curling over the collar of his pristine white shirt. From a distance Buffy thought he had blue eyes but when he got closer she realized they were more of a grayish color. He had a delicate bone structure in his face, full lips and his arresting eyes. His body wasn't a typical hard body. He was tall and lithe, reminding Buffy of a dancer. His gait was graceful, as if he walked over the floor instead of on it.

Willow elbowed Buffy out of her daze. "Yes, Buffy Summers, that's me. Hi," Buffy said weakly, extending her hand.

"I'm Eamon, Lord of Mayhem Manor. My wife, the Lady Ophelia sends her greetings," Eamon said, smoothly taking Buffy's hand and kissing the back of it.

Buffy blushed a deep shade of red and withdrew her hand. "Um, yeah. This is my mother, Joyce," she said grabbing her mom's hand and pulling her forward. "And over there are Willow and Anya."

Eamon bowed to Joyce. "Enchanted."

Joyce didn't offer her hand. Instead she merely smiled and nodded. "Pleasure."

Eamon clapped his hands and immediately a young woman appeared from the hallway. "Show them their room and prepare them for dinner," he commanded.

The young girl nodded and dropped into a deep curtsey. Eamon sent a final look at Buffy and Joyce before quickly walking away.

"Right this way," the servant said.

Willow looked at Anya who looked at Buffy who looked at Joyce. Joyce shrugged. "I don't know any more than you. I'm just glad that creepy man is gone."

Buffy had to agree. For all his beauty and presence, Eamon bothered her. Nothing too specific, but something about him was…..off. "Well, at least let's go and see what our room looks like," Buffy said.

"Did he say prepare us for dinner," Anya whispered to Willow loudly as the followed the female servant up the stairs. "Does that mean we're gonna get eaten in the un-fun sense of the word?"