Season 2, Episode 3 "Relics"
"Relics" synopsis - page two (back to page one)
The mercenary satisfies himself that the crew aren't demons or vampires by sprinkling a reactive agent on them, and he determines they aren't ghosts by pushing Brian against a wall, not through it. Realising he'd been warned about them, he activates his communicator and speaks to Mr Pipe, Mr Madsen's aide from the last episode. As they wait for pipe to arrive they speak. Cynth is suspicious of Brian's presence, reminding the room that he was a vampire slave (clearly, the memories if being held in a closet are fresh in her mind). Zak is uncomfortable, and Brian distracted. Candy, meanwhile, realises Gom's stuff isn't here at all. The mercenary, who says his name is Blake Simkiss, tells them it's somewhere else. This is just a trap for supernaturals, and they're not going to risk messing with them.
Mr Pipe's limo pulls up. As they leave the building, Candy kicks the overbearing Simkiss in the armoured shin. He roars in anger, and says he's "wrapped up tight and ready to explode!" Candy had better watch out because next time his reflexes might kick in. Candy is not impressed.
Mr Pipe has the driver take them away from the trap. He offers condolences for John's death. As they have surmised, Mr Madsen is trying to eliminate all the untoward supernatural influences from the area. This, in fact, was what they were trying to do when John died - summon the vampire Colnick from the depths using the amulet as a lure, and then kill Colnick and smash the amulet. Mr Pipe also reveals that it was Madsen's men who killed Gom. ("He was a demon." "He was a nice demon!" "There is such a thing?")
Mr Pipe then made an offer. He suggested that Mr Madsen would give Candy, Zak and Cynth scholarships for their future schooling if they agreed to fight against the supernatural on his behalf. There was some suspicion of Madsen's motives. Mr Pipe was asked specifically about R'Thilliach, and said that Mr Madsen was well aware of R'Thilliach's influence and power, and suggested that all knew to be wary of it. When Zak brought up the Golden One, Mr Pipe was familiar with the prophecy referring to it, but had not realised the prophecy had come to pass. He seemed completely ignorant of the concept of a Vampire Slayer. Mr Pipe handed over a draft agreement, about 50 closely-typed pages in legalese, and dropped the group home to think it over.
That night, more bad dreams. Zak, Candy and Cynth were in each other's dreams, in the underground tunnel beneath Langborn. The alcoves on either side of them seemed to be the same as their lockers, with people from school watching them, knowing everything about them. The words were still written on John's locker. On Candy's, "you could have saved him". On Cynth's, "it's your fault". They saw a figure that appeared to be John facing away from them, into the deeper caverns. John didn't hear them calling to him, and they couldn't seem to move over to him. He started walking deeper and behind them they heard the wet flapping sound of the winged spawn of R'Thilliach, getting louder and louder, and they couldn't turn to see it or protect themselves, and it was right behind them as John disappeared into darkness - and they woke up.
So Cynth rang Candy's mobile immediately. It was 2.30 in the morning. Zak heard the ring and crept into Candy's room. Realising they had indeed shared a dream experience, they went downstairs and Cynth came over for an urgent meeting.
Zak reminds them that he only told the counsellor about the mother's sister thing. The group agree that it must be the counsellor, somehow. They don't think he's telling the students, but Candy suggests he might be telling a demon.
Cut to the counsellor: "Oh, the only thing I talk to is this little fella." On his shelf is a demonic figurine.
The figurine was mailed by his brother in Texas, and it represents Huqulaqua, the totem spirit of brotherhood. Suspicious, the group head to research. Candy and Cynth hit the library with Max helping, while Zak makes a sketch and brings his dad in on the matter. They meet at the Stevens-Knight dining table to share information.
It seems Huqulaqua is indeed a benificient spirit of brotherhood. Unfortunately, the figurine represents not Huqulaqua, but his brother-spirit Maiacoquatl. The closest translation of his influence is "hatred". Maiacoquatl is also known in Northern Europe as Huris or the Beast who Sleeps, and it has a great deal of dark power.
They go to Alison's to research more. The place is empty of people and creepy, although the dining room is finished. There is discomfort as Candy and Cynth seem happier to talk about John than Zak is. Books are produced and research continues, and Brian locates the crucial information.
Those under Huris' influence are doomed to have their souls taken apart and consumed piece by piece. It is a long and painful process of digestion. Fortunately, there is a way to become free of Huris' influence, and that is by confronting it in the dream-realm it creates. A ritual is outlined in one tome, and those who go into the dream must deal with whatever they find there, but the important thing is to denounce
Huris and affirm the self.
There's one further catch - only a group can stand strong against Huris, but those who sleep must be protected from danger by stout warriors in the real world. There is much discussion as to how best approach this, and it is finally agreed - all three will sleep and confront Huris, and Brian will be the stout warrior. With a little help.
A phone call is made and the group shift to the kitchen of the Stevens-Knight household. Meryll is visiting the Papageorgio household. The doorbell sounds and Brian lets in Blake Simkiss, Mercenary. Blake has Ovaltine, with extra sugar. With everything in place, Candy lying on the floor in the centre wrapped in a duvet with Zak and Cynth either side, surrounded by a protective circle, Brian reads latin from a dusty tome and sleep comes...
The trio are in the corridor again. And in the room at the end is... Heather! She doesn't react to them, the doors slam shut, and when they force the doors open she's gone and John is there. Zak is standing next to him. John says that one of them must go through the doors. Zak warns him that he'll die. John says one of them must go. Zak assents, and John steps forward. The doors slam shut.
Cynth is pressing against the doors, looking through the barred windows. John is saying Candy is in deeper, that she needs help. Cynth tells him to go. He walks off into the darkness.
In the kitchen, the three sleep fitfully. Brian is wary, and Simkiss is saying nothing. There's a knock at the door. Brian goes to answer it, talking through the door. It's Selwyn. He thinks he's meant to be there, he has a headache. As Brian peers through the spyglass, Selwyn's eyes bulge out of his sockets in long grey spindles...
Candy is on the wall of the cave, wrapped up by the spawn of R'Thilliach. She holds the amulet in her hand. John is below, telling her to throw it down. Candy refuses, raises her dagger, but the creature's tentacles tighten, darkness comes...
Black creatures emerge from under the door, start populating the corridor. Brian falls back to the kitchen. He speaks to Simkiss: "Are you afraid of the dark?" Candy shudders and squeals, and Brian bends to her, soothing her. She calms down. He looks up. Simkiss is in action, slicing at the creatures with his blade, holding them back, moving like a whirlwind. Brian swings the mace he took from Alison's and one of the creatures falls back. The stout warriors hold firm.
Cynth and Zak look back down the corridor. They see Heather there, walking away from them down the corridor. They follow her into an alcove, which becomes the girls bathroom at school, and Heather is in the end cubicle, bent over the bowl, looking up surprised and ashamed and wiping her mouth... The door slams shut and they're back in the corridor, they're starting to come to pieces...
One of the creatures forces its way through the ring of protection and latches onto Zak like a leach. Brian knocks it clear, but Zak is retching, moaning in pain. In the dream, Zak collapses, overwhelmed by a succession of painful images, faces, his parents, his aunt, Candy, Meryll, John... "Who am I anyway!" he cries, and Cynth is at his side, begging him not to say that, that's what Huris wants...
Candy is on the wall of the cave, wrapped up by the spawn of R'Thilliach. She holds the amulet in her hand. John is below, telling her to throw it down. Candy curses herself and does so, screaming for John not to smash it, telling him to give it to the creature as it releases her and flies to him. John meets her eyes and she sees the future there. If the Spawn acquired the amulet and woke R'Thilliach.... John smashes the amulet and the creature grabs him up.
But Candy is ready. She sprints over the cave floor and leaps on the creature's back, climbing on to it as it soars into the air. On its back, it reaches the top of the cave and as Candy watches, it drops John and he falls, he falls forever out of sight.
And Candy's eyes snap to her side where something stands watching on a ledge. It is wearing a tattered brown robe with hood down, the chin is bone, there is blood smeared on the teeth. And the winged creature starts to fly off.
In the kitchen, Brian and Simkiss are inside the ring, all around them is a wall of shadows, a dome, pressing against the protection, forcing their way in. Brian stands over Zak, Simkiss over Cynth, fending off the assault feverishly, but the odds are impossible...
Candy demands the spawn takes her to her friends. She tumbles to the side of Cynth and Zak, who are splitting apart, spreading away from each other. Candy screams as her body is attacked, and Zak calls for her and goes to her, and the three of them join hands as the world splits at the seams. There are huge eyes. A glowing pinky-white presence fills reality, glaring down at them with hatred. They hold each others' hands tightly, as Brian and Simkiss battle furiously, and Candy, exhausted, sinks against the others and Zak looks to her in concern and it is Cynth who steps forward, who sets her eyes and heart and mind against the hatred -
And they wake up, and the shadows clear.
Wyn, feeling better, comes in for a coffee.
The next day. Sunshine. Candy runs up to Max and Cynth and Zak, and Max is pleased to announce they beat the test. Then Lolly appears, to farewell Candy for the summer - she's not coming back for the last couple days, going on an early family holiday to the Rocky Mountains instead. (Max is staying behind, he's got drama club.) The girls are in high spirits, and Lolly says she's ecstatic that she won't have to look at any of their ugly faces for three months. She turns and stalks away with Steph and Heather following. The foursome are not concerned. The last words to ring in the air are Cynth's: "I hope you have fun with your friends, the bears!"
Closing credits roll.