Heres chapter 25 time for Spike and Cedric to have their little tussle hope you like:

Chapter 25: When old friends meet.

Spike stared up unfazed by his intimidating opponent. A twelve-foot tall snake with a humanoid upper body would have had most quaking in their boots with terror but to Spike this was just another day at the beach.

"Cedric you ol tosser!" He called up to the snake-man has if he were greeting an old friend. "I haven't seen you in ages. When was the last time we met 19th century?"

"1835 I believe," Cedric corrected. "Good to see you again William,"

"I'll thank you to not call me that," Spike said waving his finger. "My name is 'Spike',

"I take it your still Phobos's royal bitch then?" Spike queried with a mischievous grin.

"You will not speak ill of master," Cedric commanded forcefully.

"Oh won't I?" Spike chuckled. "That's funny I could've sworn I just did,"

"You are fortunate," Cedric said has he began to manoeuvre his tail around the vampire. "My master wants you alive," Just then he coiled his tail round to grab his opponent in a vice like grip. Spike leapt out of the way landing a few feet back from the snake-man.

"Sorry mate. A bit late for that," Spike replied. Leaping forward to score a heavy punch on Cedric's cheekbone. Cedric through out his own punch but his large bulk was no match for the seasoned vampire's agility and speed, which allowed him to easily dodge in and out of Cedric's large and clumsy forearms.

He back flipped away avoiding a crushing blow from Cedric's tail.

"Why won't you hold still!" Cedric roared has blow after blow from his tail and fists continued to miss their mark.

"What's the matter mate? Not having fun?" Spike laughed has he continued to dodged in and out of the lethal attacks. Finally Cedric's tail hit its mark and instantly snared the vampyr barely giving an inch to breath (that is of course if vampires breathed in the first place).

"Argh! Bloody hell!" Spike cursed has he tried to work his way free from the vice like grip.

"So this is the infamous William the bloody?" Cedric said mockingly. "The famous vampyr that killed two slayers?"

"Ha! What a joke!" Cedric laughed.

"You know," Spike started has Cedric glared at his snared prey. His right arm was sunk into his coiled tail. Suddenly Cedric felt a huge burst of pain. He watched in shock has a blade… a sword sliced upwards cutting cleanly through his tail severing it from his person.

"ARGH!" Cedric roared in agony and shock.

"You shouldn't believe everything you here," Spike finally finished has he stepped away from the spot 'were he was being pinned. He stared up at Cedric a mixture of fear and rage colouring his face. "Good thing snakes can regrow lost tails," He smiled.

"You'll pay for this!" Cedric hissed shaking his fist covered in green liquor before vanishing into the shadows.

"Yep I'm sure I will," Spike sighed. He took a glance toward the ceiling before continuing along the maze like corridors.

"The throne room.

"Ah! I do so enjoying playing with my toys," Phobos said gleefully rubbing his hands together has he watched the fights that were taking place. "I do hope William did injure Cedric to badly. Otherwise I might have to replace him,"

He waved his hand changing the image. Instead of one though two images appeared. "One showing the slayer and the other showing the keeper of the heart. Both wandering his shifting corridor maze like lost mice.

"How terrible to be lonely," He sighed almost pitifully has an idea struck him.

The castle.

Will continued wandering the lonely corridors. The darkness was driving her mad. Whenever she was in a dark place she always had an unnerving feeling that some kind of monster was just waiting in the shadows to leap out and go for her throat. Of course a few years ago she would have dismissed such thinking has nonsense but after getting the heart she had learnt what really goes bump in the night! She almost wished she were being set up upon by a horde of lurdens or some other monster rather than having to wade through these cursed-id corridors waiting. For what she didn't know but she wished that whatever was coming would hurry up and come so it would be over with.

She could make out a figure in the distance now. She readied herself has her apparent opponent came nearer she could make out blond hair and a decidedly female form.

"Buffy?" she blurted out.

"Will?" Buffy answered the two finally coming close enough to see each other properly.

"What are you doing here?" the two yelled simultaneously.

Ok so once again the stage is set for chap 26 until R&R.