So another chapter is here at last. Hope your enjoying this still.

Chapter 22: Prizes

Buffy and Spike stared around at their new surroundings. The portal had deposited them in an alleyway of what seemed to be a 15th century style town. Buffy looked around noticing the bustling crowds of people going about their business. Some were human whilst others were demons of some variety some sporting bone fragments emerging from the head while others had what looked like bat or pig features in regard to the ears and noses mostly. And all of these came in a variety of colours mostly ranging from dull greens to ice blues with the occasional mud brown or orange thrown in.

"Ok. Lets go. Stick close and keep your head down," Spike said leading the way onto the busy streets. In all reality the two stuck out a mile thanks to their unusual clothes but for some reason no one seemed to pay them much attention. Buffy looked around carefully watching the people engage in their daily hustle and bustle. They had apparently entered into what looked like a market place. Stands selling fruits and vegetables some selling live stock or timber amongst other things.

Has they made their way through the crowds A large character to her left caught Buffy's attention. He was wearing armour and had mud brown skin has well has being large and burly. He was talking with a "middle aged woman a house wife and probably a mother to Buffy figured. Whatever the case she seemed human. She was pleading with the guard over something. Buffy strayed away from spike to see what was happening better.

"Please sir that's the last of my money. If I give it to you I'll have nothing left to buy food for my little un's," The "woman pleaded clasping a small coin bag in her hands.

"You know the law all must pay their taxes for prince Phobos," The guard replied in its deep throaty voice. He snatched the bag off of the woman and poured its contents into his large meaty palm to check the amount. "I'll return for the rest tomorrow. If you don't pay your taxes in full by then you'll be going to the castle dungeons," He explained.

"Oh puh-lease! Don't tell me you use that chat up line on every girl you meet?" The guard spun around to see a small blond girl standing behind him. "Blond hair strange clothes. This must be one of the Guardians. He thought to himself.

"Guardian," He snarled. "I'll break you in two," He yelled has he aimed a clumsy punch at the slayers head. Buffy easily dodged the attack catching the guards arm in her own and throwing it over her shoulder causing it to land flat on its back and half unconscious.

"I think this belongs to you," Buffy said picking up the coins and handing them to the woman.

"Why thank you Guardian," The woman answered.

"Oh no I'm not a Guardian," Buffy said slightly embarrassed.

"Your not miss? Then who are you?" The woman asked confused.

"I'm Buffy. I'm a slayer," She answered in a small voice. Has she turned to leave the crowd of people that had gathered began whispering amongst themselves.

The castle.

"Whoa!" Will yelled jumping back slighting in shock when she finally saw her opponents face. The figure was dressed in monkish robes and was mostly human. However instead of eyes there were two symbols cut into the skin. Strangely the eyes didn't even seem to have been removed or the eyelids sown shut they didn't even have eyebrows! It was has if a new layer of skin had simply grown over the eye sockets and somebody had cut these symbols into them.

"Yuck!" Irma yelled getting a decent look at the face of one her opponents.

"Keep going," Will yelled snapping the Guardians out of their shock. After the monks were defeated the Guardians took a moment to get a closer look at their new enemies.

"Man! That is disgusting!" Taranee said shivering slightly. "What are these guys anyway?"

"Looks like Phobos "has start recruiting humans. These marks on their faces must be how Phobos controls them," Will reasoned.

"So they're not vampires?" Hay Lin asked.

"Don't look like any we've seen so far," Cornelia answered.

"C'mon we better go. We'll find a way to help these guys later," Will said. With that the Guardians flew off down the corridor heading towards Phobos's throne room.

Phobos watched the image spread across the throne room floor. Angelus stood at the bottom of the steps staring disinterestedly.

"Uh um. That little Will girl is quite the little firecracker isn't she?" He said smiling cruelly. He looked up at Phobos who seemed annoyed by this. "What's the matter Phoby? You can't tell me you wouldn't wanna give her a good roll in the sack?"

"You will show some respect to prince Phobos vampyr," Cedric said rising to defend his master.

"What's up Phoby? You gonna let your boy friend fight your battles for you?" Angelus said. Clearly trying 'aggravate the prince into responding.

"Enough!" Cedric yelled in anger. He was silenced a moment later by Phobos raising his hand.

"What do you want vampyr?" Phobos asked.

"The redhead," Angelus answered instantly.

"Never," Phobos spat back. "She holds the heart of Candracar and that will be mine and no else's,"

"I get her or else I walk," Angelus responded flatly.

"I don't think so vampyr," Phobos answered. "Unless of course you've forgotten that I hold the power to make you a prisoner in your own body again," He said smiling. "The keeper of the heart will be mine and mine alone!" Angelus growled lowly at his defeat refusing to give Phobos the satisfaction of any form of begging.

"Oh I don't think so," Came a new voice. "One that Angelus instantly recognised. Buffy's voice.

"I think your forgetting our arrangement your majesty," She said strolling up towards the prince with a playful look in her eyes. "The heart was promised to me."

"Who the hell are you? Angelus demanded.

"Id watch your tone in the future Angelus. The Buffy impostor answered. "I'm am the oldest evil in this or any other plane of existence. I am the first,"

"The shell that holds the heart is of no interest to me. But if you really want a trophy to play with after we've beaten the Guardians and the slayer I have something else in mind," The Buffy impostor continued ignoring Angelus.

"And what might that be?" Phobos asked curiosity lacing his words.

"Me," Buffy/the first answered simply. "Or more accurately the slayer," The first explained.

Phobos stared at the girl who was teasing him with her beauty. This slayer was near perfection her shimmering blond hair her flawless face and well proportioned body. "Agreed," He finally answered.

"Cedric see to our guests I don't want them up here until we are properly prepared to receive them," Phobos explained grinning.

And that's the twenty second chapter done with 23 is coming in the next couple of days.