Disclaimer: Just remember, I do not own these characters. I wish I did, but I don't.
It hadn't even been a full day since her father left for the fair and Riley was already at her door. Riley was considered to be the most handsome demon around. Buffy couldn't see it. Sure he was tall and muscular and his red skin seemed to suit him, but Buffy could not see why all the girls in the village were hoping Riley would ask them to be his wife. Riley's personality was harsh. He didn't care for others and especially not for those that he considered below himself. Buffy leaned her head against the door for a moment, taking a deep breath, before opening it.
"Hello Riley, what can I do for you?" Buffy asked; hoping to hurry him from her house.
"Well you see Buffy, I have not yet claimed a wife, and until I do, I think you would make the perfect house maid," Riley stated bluntly.
Buffy was shocked that Riley would walk into her house assuming she would want to be his maid. Before Buffy could object, Riley was once again speaking.
"Is your father around? I would like to talk to him about price."
Buffy was furious, Riley did not just want her as his maid, but he wanted her as his slave. Buffy once again took a deep breath. When she felt her body calm and the pure rage leave her she looked Riley in the eyes and said,
"Riley, my father is not home. He is at the fair. In fact, he won't be home for a week. But do not bother coming back; I have no desire to work for you." Buffy paused taking a breath letting the anger again leave her body before she continued speaking, "Now if you could please excuse me," Buffy moving to open the door, "I have to get back to my chores," Buffy gestured her arm out the open door.
Riley just smiled and left whispering to himself, "You will be mine."
Buffy walked into the field behind her house and began to read. Buffy loved to read, when she read books she was able to escape the world she was in and imagine that one day she too could live a happy life. Buffy began to doze off under the warm sun with the cool breeze lulling her to sleep.
Buffy could feel herself being nudged. As she opened her eyes, there was her father's horse. Philippe was a loyal horse who would never leave her father's side. Buffy knew something was wrong. She quickly jumped up and ran into the house. Buffy only grabbed her cloak before leaving the cabin.
Buffy quickly saddled herself on Philippe and he wasted no time in galloping away. He flew into the woods, moving side to side avoiding the branches that loomed in their way. Buffy knew something was terribly wrong. Philippe was a great pull horse, but never once had he exercised such speed or agility. Philippe only slowed as they came to the rod iron gates of a castle.
Buffy looked at the castle. She recognized it from the book her father had shown her; it belonged to the vampire family who had disappeared. She was scared. The castle was tall and gloomy. Its grey stones blended into the fog that surrounded the structure. The lifeless ivy that clung to its walls seemed to foretell a horrid fate for any that dared to enter. Buffy took a deep breath and started to slide through the bars of the gates.
She let out a scream, when she felt something tugging at her cloak from behind. When she turned to look back, there was Philippe holding her from completely moving through the gate. Buffy sighed and let out a little laugh before moving back to Philippe. She placed her face against his as a sign of reassurance before slipping through the gates onto the castle grounds.
Buffy slowly made her way to the large castle doors. The fog that surrounded her seemed to get thicker and thicker as she approached the stone steps that led up to the castle doors. Buffy knocked on the large wooden door, but no one came to answer. She tried the door and when it opened, Buffy moved into the castle to peak her head inside.
"Hello?" She called into the empty castle.
When no one answered her call she made her way farther into the castle. She began to look around and then she spotted a light and heard a faint voice off in the distance.
"Hello?" Buffy called again.
This time the voice stopped. Buffy made her way to the light, not noticing the figure that was watching her from the balcony above. As Buffy got closer to the light she noticed the door held a set of stairs that would lead her to the light. As Buffy moved down the stairs the figure that had been on the balcony followed her slowly and quietly.
When Buffy reached the bottom of the stairs she was shocked to see her father behind bars. She ran over to him sliding down onto the floor.
"Giles, are you okay?" Buffy asked, worry staining her voice.
"Buffy, you need to leave, get out of here it is not safe!" Giles pleaded.
"I can't just leave you here. Who put you here?" Buffy asked.
"That would be me."
Buffy turned around at the sound of the deep, mysterious voice. Buffy could make out the slight outline of someone in the shadows. Buffy was frightened, but she refused to let it show. She had to be strong to get her father out.
"Who are you?" Buffy asked.
"Don't you know little one?" The figure spoke, this time his voice held a level of malice that Buffy had never heard before.
Buffy spoke again, this time her voice wavered in fear, "I don't know who you are, but please let my father go."
The figure stepped into the light. Buffy gasped and slid closer to her father with fear and recognition. In front of her stood the man from the book her father had given her. It was definitely Prince Angelus, but his features were no longer handsome, they were terrifying. His eyebrows were no longer smooth, but formed hard, high ridges above his eyes. The warmth of his eyes brown eyes had also disappeared and was replaced cold eyes that glowed gold. Lastly, his teeth were now pointed fangs. The only thing that remained was his dark brown hair that remained tied back.
Prince Angelus stepped forward and sniffed the air. He smiled, but it was not reassuring, rather it only served to terrify Buffy further.
"This cannot be your father, my dear. I would know your scent anywhere; you're human." His smile intensified as he stepped closer to Buffy, but stopped when she stood up and faced him with confidence she did not know she possessed.
"You cannot just go locking people up!" she screamed at him "He is a great and caring demon, he does not deserve this. Take me in his place! Let him go!"
For a moment the prince was taken aback by the slight girl that stood in front of him. However, his shock did not last long as rage surged through his body. No one had ever dared to speak to him that way before. The prince grabbed Buffy's arm pulling her into his chest. With an evil smirk he leaned down and whispered into Buffy's ear,
"Your wish is granted"
Buffy closed her eyes because she was sure in that moment she was going to die. She was so shocked when she felt herself being moved that she opened her eyes. The prince threw her into the cell next to her father, slamming the door shut. Buffy for a moment thought he was just going to leave them both here, but the prince quickly opened the cell her father was being kept in. He grabbed Giles by his neck, picking him up and carried him away.
Giles cried out for her, but Buffy remained silent. She knew she owed the little green gobbling her life. He had taken her in and accepted her when no one else would. She was proud to have saved his life, but she was deeply saddened that she never got to say goodbye. When the dungeon door slammed shut, Buffy broke into to tears. Her sobs soon racked her whole body. Buffy cried through the night and only when the sun started to rise and only when a few of its faint rays made into through the dungeon wall did Buffy drift to sleep.
A/N: This chapter was a little bit longer. I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review. It lets me know you are interested in reading my work.
