"I have a question first." Giles said. "What happened to the Hellmouth today? That wasn't just because of the bomb was it?"

"No, it wasn't." Jessica said. "In considering back up plans for fighting the Mayor, Charles asked me to research potential ways to close the Hellmouth. One way would be to bury it, but that would have destroyed the town. Another was to wait until the energy was at a low point and siphon off more, so the level dropped below a point where it couldn't sustain itself. The Mayor's transformation took alot of power from the Hellmouth. We did a ritual to pull more and called on the gods and goddesses of the sun to battle it. Which had the added effect of dusting the vampires that were present. It worked. The energy has dropped to the needed point. It can't regenerate it's energy anymore. In other words, it's essentially dying. And with it, its effect. Vampires and demons will no longer be drawn to it."

"How did you first become aware of the Mayor?" Wesley asked.

"That was me." Coral said. "We'd known about vampires and demons for a few months. I had to do a history report so I went to the Sunnydale archives, I found a picture of Mayor Wilkins the First. I realized the resemblance was too much to be ignored. I brought it to the groups attention and we started researching. We found out alot, but there was so little we could do about it. We were teenagers and he had alot of power. We heard rumors that he was planning something bad for the centennial but could never get any real information. We've spent more then thirty years quietly fighting a war in the shadows. We've taught our children how to fight because it's the best way for them to survive."

"How long have you known, Xander?" Willow asked.

"Since i was ten. Cordelia, Jesse, Aura and Jonno and I where taught to recognize and fight vampires and demons. I dusted my first vampire when I was twelve. The implication that I can't protect myself or others is ludicrous, not to mention, neither one of you have the right to make such a choice for me. The soldier knowledge I retained from Ethan's little prank, gives me an advantage as well. One that's come in handy more then a few times. You always underestimate me Willow, I never understood why. Or how the two of you managed to convince yourselves I was a problem. Or maybe Angel has been influencing you. He clearly doesn't care if I live or die. Maybe its because it's he knows I don't think he actually loves you."

"How can you say that, Xander? After everything he's done to help us?"

"He only helps you when you can see him helping, Buffy." Jessica said. "We've been watching for quite awhile. He's saved your life twice, from the Three and Darla. Do you know what he was doing while you were marching into the Master's lair? Sitting on the couch in his apartment reading a book and drinking a glass of blood, with his shoes off. If you doubt my word, Jonno can pull up the security feed from the hall outside his apartment. It's a building Charles owns. Xander had to force him to help."

Looking miserable, Buffy looked at her mother.

"We going to agree to the evaluation, Buffy. I want to know, I need to know, if someone's been messing with us."

"Alright, I agree." Buffy said, refusing to look at Angel.

"I do as well." Giles said.

"Myself as well." Wesley said.

"Here too."

"Oz! I'm sure they're wrong. No one's been influencing anyone." Willow protested.

"Willow, do you know anything about evaluations?" Jessica asked.

"No, I haven't studied them."

"I'm going to do a Tirer la Couverture."

"Rotate the foodstuffs?" Buffy asked.

"Pull back the curtain." Willow said. "It's French."

"Buffy, you took two years of French, how you do not know that?" Her mother asked.

"It just didn't really stick, I guess. I knew French and Italian during that Halloween Ethan made us turn into our costumes, but unlike Xander, I didn't remember it. I wonder what that moron is up to right now?"

"Oh, you don't have to worry about him." Charles said. "Xander and Cordelia captured him during the incident with the band candy. Jessica gave him a couple of presents."

"What did you do?" Giles asked, curiosity.

"Stripped him of his powers and wiped his memory."

Wesley eyes bugged. "By yourself? Stripping power from someone takes a lot power of your own."

"I've had thirty to practice Magic and I'm not reckless with it."

"So what's she doing?" Joyce asked, as Jessica settled down crosslegged on the floor.

"She's going to go into a trance. In that state she will be able to see the effects of any spells, as well as signs of the castor." Coral said. "Then she'll do a reveal spell to show us what she saw for ourselves."

Jessica sank into the trance and then opened her eyes and slowly looked at each of them. Until she got to Willow and they abruptly drew in a breath and snapped out of the trance.

"Vincere!" She yelled and a circle of green appeared around Willow.

"What are you doing?!" She yelled.

"You've been infected, Willow. With something dark, probably when you cast that damnable curse. And yes, Angel has been influencing people. He cast a spell on Buffy to bind her vampire sensing ability. Probably so she wouldn't know he was anywhere near her when he was stalking her and a compromise spell. It gets the person it's cast on to reduce their resistance and accept what the caster wants them to accept."