When Buffy woke up, she thought she was being hauled off to a Shadow
Man prison for eternal frost torture. Julian was looking down at
her. Dawn, Xander, and Anya were all starting to wake up as well.
"What happened?" She asked Julian.
"Your Watcher and your witch did a spell to pull you out of the
dimension. For some reason when I had a hold of Dawn I was pulled
out to. Possibly because I have already gained access to this
dimension."
"Tell me something." Buffy began, sitting up and looking at him
face to face now. He was sitting on a side walk of some street
unfamiliar to her. "Why were you the only Shadow Man who was not
hideous?"
Julian actually laughed. The sound was beautiful, and still
sinister. "I am the youngest of the race. That is how I could look
after sucking on the souls of mortals and after centuries of evil,
nasty deeds."
"So soul-sucking not good for the complexion?"
"Not so much."
"Buffy?" Dawn said, sounding worried. "Where are we?"
"It appears to be Eastman Avenue." Julian told her, pointing out
the street sign. "I'm guessing they couldn't control where they
brought you out at. Which means this is a good hot spot for in
between dimensions."
Buffy glared at him. "I hope you aren't suggesting continuing the
game because it is past sunrise and we are out of the game, fair and
square."
Julian put his hands up in a defensive motion. "No, no, no. Of
course not. You won the game. I said I would leave you alone if it
happened. I just hope that if we ever cross paths again you will see
me as an ally and not as an enemy."
"Julian. I don't ever want to cross paths with you again. No more
Sunnydale for you. Go home. And a word of advice for picking up
chicks, act human. Do what humans do."
"Slayer." Julian said sternly. "You aren't going to try to kill
me?"
"Well I don't know how to get the carvy rune thingy of life to carve
you out of, so no. Plus, I owe you one for saving my sister." She
smiled gratefully. Xander and Anya were listening along with Dawn
now. Everybody stood up on the side walk of this deserted street.
"Julian?" Buffy asked.
"Yes?" He looked pained, but yet like he had something up his sleeve.
"Do Shadow Men have souls?"
"That would be telling." He said with a wink and a bow, and he was
gone.
The Scoobies all glanced at one another and turned to find either a
pay phone or a bus stop. A building that was actually open and not
closed down would be nice to.
"Hey Buffy." Xander said. "Where the hell are we?"