Ok we've entered the final ten chapters and its time for our heroines to battle new enemies and travel to new lands.

Chapter 21: Here's looking at you.

Heatherfield.

Buffy and Spike made their way through the old abandoned warehouse. It was dark having being abandoned for some time now. Bits of concrete and plaster were all over the floor any interior decoration was ruined and decaying and only the most basic of furnishings could be found.

Sadly it was a sight that Buffy was by now all to used to by now. If someone were to have told you were a chosen warrior imbued with the superhuman strength and agility of demon one might assume that you'd be worshipped has hero for all the monsters and evil-doers you'd slay in your glamorous adventures and quests.

And while such things might have proven true in say the 15th century nowadays being a chosen one meant all to often trudging through filthy sewers or abandoned factories and warehouses searching for a demon that was harming and/or likely killing people. Demon beings inherently evil fitted in perfectly with the modern day organised crime like a round peg slotted into a round hole.

"So were exactly is this portal thing?" Spike was asking to a Buffy whose mind was clearly else were.

"Not sure exactly," Buffy answered. "According to Willow it's supposed to be some where in this building. That's all we know,"

"What does it look then?" Spike asked. He got no answer but instead found the slayer staring off to her left in a mesmerised state. Slightly above the ground was a silvery blue and white ring shape surrounding a sort of black hole. "Easily big enough for two or more people to walk through.

"Something like that I'm guessing," Buffy finally answered. The two approached the portal and stood only a few feet away each waiting for the other to move.

"So on three then?" Spike suggested.

Metamoor.

"WHOA! Umph!"

Came the collective yell has the Guardians of the veil made one of their less graceful entrances to Metamoor. Although the girls could fly and had been hopping through portals for nearly four years now they often didn't have enough time to put their wings into gear because of how close to the ground the portals tended to be which all to often resulted in an awkward landing with the Guardians piled on top of each other.

Irma will you please get off my back?" Cornelia said in has calm voice has she could manage through clenched teeth.

"Oops! Sorry Corny," Irma smiled has she obediently picked herself up off of the earth Guardian allowing her slightly ruffled wings to retake their proper shape. Cornelia was sure that Irma deliberately tried to land on her when they went through a portal.

"Knock it off you two!" Will snapped. "We need to get moving. Our best bet for this vampire guy is probably Phobos's castle so let's go," She commanded flying off towards the castle the other Guardians quickly following her.

A few minutes later the Guardians arrived at the palace.

"Hay Lin recon," Will commanded has the group watched the castle from their hiding places.

"Right," Hay Lin replied flying off to scout the castle walls. She looked around strangely finding no Lurdens that were usually employed has Phobos guards. Instead the positions were occupied by what appeared to be monk like characters each dressed in hooded black robes and each carrying a weapon such has an axe mace or sword. A few minutes later she returned to the other girls to report.

"What's it like over there?" Will asked.

"Well no Lurdens Which I guess is a good thing but instead there's these creepy looking monk guys guarding the castle," Hay Lin explained probably speaking a bit faster than she should have really.

"No lurdens?" Cornelia repeated. "That doesn't make any sense. Why would Phobos trade in his muscle guys for a group of monks?" She asked looking at the others for answers. Everyone replied with either a confused look or shrug of the shoulders.

"Lets hope we don't have to find out," Will said flying up into the air with the others following her lead. The Guardians entered through an old sewer tunnel, which brought them up into the dungeons and eventually the many hallways of the castle.

"Ok so which way now fearless leader?" Irma was asking. In response a heavy marching sound could be heard quickly joined by at least two, dozen of the monk figures Hay Lin had mentioned.

"Not that way!" Taranee yelled seeing the monk figures advancing on them. The group took of in the opposite direction of the robed guards but were surprised to see their escape route blocked by another two or three, dozen monks.

"Looks like we're fighting our way out then! Will said grimly. "Guardians go!"

The group quickly dispersed amongst the warriors and soon the robed monks were flying left and right. Will punched one in the stomach knocking the wind out of him. And performed a back kick into another's head. She looked around whenever she got a chance to see that the others were doing ok. Cornelia was pulling down enemies with her plant vines Hay Lin was knocking large groups around like power balls using her air powers And Irma and Taranee were blasting their enemies with their water and fire elements.

One of the monks advanced forward lunging forward in a zombie like fashion to grab at Will's neck. She punched it squarely in the forehead knocking its hood back. When the monk figure righted itself 'Will gasped in shock at the sight of its face has it stared at her. But instead of eyes it had what looked like a magic rune cut into the skin were its eyes should have been!

Chapter 22 will be on its way soon.