TITLE: The Replacement Slayer

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or concepts from BTVS and ANGEL, they belong to Joss Whedon, I'm just borrowing them for this non-commercial fanfic, so no need to sue anyone. I do not own the term "Two Winters' Amulet", I found it in an add-on to the "Diablo" computer game and just found the name beautiful. I do not mean to offend anyone in his/her attitudes.

Timeline: This story takes place after Season 1- ANGEL-Episode "Hero", but there is also one reference to BTVS Season 4 episode "The Harsh Light of Day"

Spoilers: Angel season 1, Buffy season 4

Synopsis: Buffy gets seriously wounded in a fight. It becomes clear she will not be able to patrol for weeks, if not months. Someone must be hired to do her job - a Replacement Slayer, called by The Powers That Be. But this slayer is not quite the way Giles and the others imagined. She soon finds out what guarding the Hellmouth really means...

Protagonists: Angel, Spike and -- well, The Replacement Slayer.

Rating: PG

Author's comments: I don't know if you will like this story - I wrote it for a friend's birthday. I used features from her personality for the heroine, 'Susan', The Replacement Slayer. And, before you ask, I used features from my own personality for the character of Mona. The third girl from The Replacement Slayer's gang is partly authentic, too. Of course, the characterisation of the three of us is strongly stereotypical, I consider it important one can laugh about oneself - that's why I finally decided to put this story on the web.

As I said before, the satiric elements are not to offend anyone, it is just that certain members of the religious group the 'authentic Tasha' is in regard the TV shows 'Buffy' and 'Angel' as dangerous to their faith. This 'threat' is what I satirize here.

This did not look good. This was nothing compared to his sheltered childhood back in Iowa. Riley Finn felt intense pain in his spine when he was thrown on the floor. He struggled to get back on his feet. How his back hurt!

"Riley!" he heard Buffy warn him, but it was too late. One of the three two-headed demons they were fighting set out on him.

Buffy moved like lightning. In her effort to help Riley, she did not watch her back as properly as she should have done. Two more demons had emerged of the darkness. As the slayer tore the demon off her boyfriend, who lay whimpering on the floor, she felt their presence too late. Something hit her on the head very hard. That was the last thing Buffy remembered before it got dark around her.

*

"She'll be okay," Giles said as he closed the door to Buffy's room in hospital, "Things could be worse. It was a narrow shave. If you hadn't shown up, she could be dead."

"You're exaggerating."

"No, Angel, I'm not." Giles lowered his voice. "Alone with Mr Finn outthere, the demons would have killed her. One must be a fool to cut off the head of a two-headed demon, every child knows it is growing two new ones instead. Are you sure you do not want me to tell her you're here?"

"Perfectly sure. If she wants to thank someone, the person to be called is Cordy, without her vision of the fight, I wouldn't have come to Sunnydale."

"Well, I'm afraid you'll have to stay here even longer." Giles sighed. The others slowly gathered around them.

"What do you mean?" Willow asked.

Giles cleared his voice. "I regret to tell you our problems are worse than one might expect."

"You said she'd be okay!" Xander protested with an anxious undertone.

"And she will," Giles replied, "But it will take some time. Her injuries are serious, she has lost a considerable amount of blood, three ribs are broken, her left arm and right leg, a concussion, and a lung perforation. Even with her slayer powers, it will take her weeks to recover so she can patrol again, if not months."

"Poor Buffy," Willow said concerned.

"You don't know what you're saying," Anya intruded, "The Hellmouth can't be left unguarded for weeks or months!"

"WE can do the job," Xander said proudly.

Yet Anya did not look convinced. She thought for a moment, then said: "As I mentioned, Giles, the Hellmouth can't be left unguarded for weeks or months!"

As she saw the disappointed look on Xander's face, she added: "Not that I doubt your abilities, honey, I just thought you could use some help."

Angel saw the true problem. "Even if we were to work together in all our spare time, and even if I could make the time to stay here for, let's say two more months, we still couldn't be Buffy. She's the slayer, she can't just be replaced."

"That is the point," Giles said.

"What is usually done in such a case?" Willow asked curiously, "This can't be the first time in history this has happened. What would the Council do? I mean, if Buffy still worked for it."

"They would replace her," Giles replied. As he saw protest rising, he explained: "Only for some time, of course. Another girl would be called, she would be given the powers of a slayer for a limited time."

"A replacement slayer?" Xander asked disbelieving.

"Do you think that would be possible?" Willow asked.

"I don't know. It might be difficult since Buffy has defied the Council. Yet I still have friends there. If I call on some contacts, they might give me the name of the girl destined for this case of emergency. We could take her to Sunnydale, so she can take Buffy's place until she's well and able to patrol again." He looked at the gang and studied the expressions on their faces. "Before I do this, I have to be sure of your support. You must promise you'll fully accept her orders, integrate her and help her every way you can. If you're not prepared to do this, it is useless. Before you say anything, keep in mind that our replacement slayer might not be what you expect, and by no means a second Buffy. Think of Kendra and Faith. She might be totally different from what you understand by the term slayer. Now give me your answers."

"Buffy's my friend," Willow said, "I won't endanger her by letting her patrol too soon. She needs time to recover, and if the replacement slayer is a help, I will support her every way I can."

"That's what I think, too," Xander said. "Do you think she's pretty?"

Anya pushed him hard in the side. "I'm in," she said to Giles.

"Buffy saved my life," Riley said, "I owe her that. The replacement slayer will have a hard job, anyway, so I'll do for her what I can."

Everyone was now looking at Angel. He felt uncomfortable to be in the focus of attention, so he said quickly: "You know my loyalties. I'll stay here until the new slayer has settled in and gets along with the Hellmouth. She has my full support as long as she needs me."

Giles smiled. "I knew I could rely on you. Thank you all."

*

Riley looked at the file sceptically. "Are you sure THIS is the replacement slayer? I mean, are you SURE this is the RIGHT file?"

Giles looked puzzled. "Yes, why?"

"She doesn't look like a slayer," Riley said helplessly.

"I like her," Willow said.

"You don't even know her," Xander replied. "We should wait till she's here."

"THAT is the next problem," Giles said slowly.

"Why?" Willow asked.

"The geographical situation is rather unfortunate," he admitted, "It will be a long flight until we can talk to her, and with the distance between her home and us, I'm not sure we can persuade her to come to Sunnydale at all. Yet I did order tickets. I'm leaving tomorrow."

"We must try," Angel agreed, "We have too much to lose here. I'll accompany you, if you don't mind taking the night flight." His face turned into the demon visage. "Perhaps this argument can win her to our plan."

*

Once arrived at their destination, it did not take Angel and Giles a long time to spot their target.

"She's born a true slayer," Giles announced proudly, "The local library! According to my information, she comes here quite frequently."

"Are you going to talk to her?" Angel asked.

Giles looked embarrassed. "I must admit, my knowledge of her native language is very limited. I could help with Latin, Hebrew or Greek, but... what about you?"

"I think I can still remember the language, I've been to this country before, in the 70s."

"I thought you had been in America for longer than 30 years?" Giles asked.

"Well, actually in the 1770s, or rather, Angelus was here. He was staying in a city east of here, he had contacts to local artists, especially a young poet. Poor man, he was deeply in love with some girl who disregarded him, he wrote a lot about his suffering, which attracted Angelus. Angelus did everything to increase his pain. I think the poet nearly lost his mind. After his departure, he wrote about a scholar who sold his soul to the devil, something about a perfect moment, I don't quite remember."

"However," Giles said, "If you speak her language, she might react more positively to our offer."

Angel said no more and mentally prepared for his task.

He waited in the shadow of the library entrance. Here he would have to meet her. There she was.

She was wearing a white pullover and black pants, and she was carrying loads of books. Clearly she had not thought about how uncomfortable it would be to transport them. Perhaps he could start a conversation by offering his help.

Angel made a step in her direction to hold the door for her. She thanked him briefly in her language, then their eyes met.

This was the right moment. Angel tried to remember the time in the poet's study. What would he have said in this situation?

"Was?" She looked at him in astonishment.

Relieved, Angel saw that some of the books she had borrowed from the library were in English. She would probably understand him, so he could stop making a fool of himself. "I'm sorry," he said and tried to win her with a smile. "I'm a beginner of German."

"I see. That's why you're quoting Goethe," she replied ironically.

Angel decided on changing the subject and pointed towards her books. "You're interested in quilting. That's what my mother did too, during my childhood in Ireland." He took the first book from the heap and skimmed the pages. He showed a photo of a beautiful quilt to her. "That was one of her favorite motives."

"Yeah, I like this one, too." Her gaze first fell on the photo, and then on his hand. She almost dropped her books as she noticed he was wearing the same ring as she herself. An Irish claddagh ring.

Angel saw it as well.

For a moment, they stared at each other in disbelief.

Some people made their way past them, murmuring reproaches for their blocking the door. "Not the best place for a conversation, why don't we have a coffee somewhere?" Angel suggested.

She looked at him with curiosity. He was charming, good-looking, interested in her hobby, wearing her ring, and, by coincidence, Irish, as if he had known of her affinity to the country --- and he invited her. This was too perfect. From her experience, he was more likely to address a dumb-blonde type if he wanted to have coffee with someone, and that was exactly the opposite of her. Was this a trick from one of her friends? Was he trying to make fun of someone? Was it a bet? Or... this was the most probable explanation, if she gave it a second thought... was he just drunk? With the huge multiplex movie theater beside the library, and its cafés, bars, and restaurants, it was not uncommon to see drunk people at midday. "I already have an appointment," she said. "It was nice to meet you, anyway. Bye."

"You could use some help with the books," Angel protested.

"No, thanks, I'm here by car," she refused and walked away from him, leaving him totally confused and unable to follow, as the sun had come out.

Giles had never seen a woman walking away that fast from Angel. He rushed over to the vampire. "What happened?" he asked.

"I wanted to start a conversation, invited her for coffee, she said no. End of story."

"I warned you. I told you all she might be very different from Buffy."

"That's the exceptional thing about the whole affair," Angel replied, "I feel she has the air of a slayer about her. She just doesn't know."

Giles sighed. "This is getting more difficult than I had feared. Whatever we do now, we must plan our next step more carefully. I suggest we just watch her for a while, perhaps then we will find the best way to approach."

*

Angel had waited patiently in front of the movie theater while the replacement slayer had been watching a movie with two other girls. The night had begun, so he was able to move freely. He could hear the girls chattering as he followed with some distance to their parking lot. He began to understand their language better now.

"... and then there was this stranger. It was an odd situation," the replacement slayer began to tell her story, "He held the door for me, and talked to me in words that haven't been used in German for centuries! He called me Fräulein!"

"That's an insult nowadays," one of her companions confirmed, "Any modern man should know one can't call a woman Fräulein today. We don't say Männlein either, do we?"

"What did you expect from a MAN?" the third girl entered the conversation again. She shook her head so her blond locks flew. "They are idiots, all of them! That's why I'll never marry."

"Never say never, you just haven't met the right man yet."

"What about YOUR 'Mr Right'?" the slayer asked her.

"He's away at his university. He'll be there for another week, preparing for his diploma."

"I see."

"But you wanted to tell us about this stranger."

The slayer looked pensive. "There was something about him I can't explain, something that on the one hand attracted me, and terrified me on the other. Like a dark secret hanging over him. He did not seem drunk, but he said strange things, and it was almost like he had... waited for me."

Thus far she had come with her reflections as a dark figure stepped out of the shadows in front of them and blocked their way. "I've waited for you, too."

He looked like a beggar, but Angel realized at once he was a vampire. His tension rose.

"Well, THIS one is DEFINITELY drunk," the slayer said, "Come on, let's get to the car."

The vampire went up to her. "You're wrong, I haven't had a drink tonight, and so haven't my friends. Guys..."

Two more vampires appeared, threatening the girls.

Angel was ready to fight.

The slayer was faster.

She rushed up to their leader and threw him on the ground with a few direct hits even Buffy could not have done better. Then she reached for a broken branch lying on the floor, which had been torn off by the thunderstorm the day before. She jumped on his body and drove the wood into his heart.

Under the surprised eyes of the girls, the vampire turned to dust.

"Shit, the slayer!" one of the two remaining vampires screamed as they fled into the safety of the darkness around them.

The replacement slayer slowly got up and cleared her clothes of the vampire's dust. She looked at her friends, who stood paralyzed before her, astonished, shocked, a bit frightened, unable to say a word.

"Was that... ME?" the slayer asked in confusion.

"How did you do that?" the blonde asked, "You never told us you knew Martial Arts or self-defence."

"Actually, I have no idea about that," the slayer admitted, even more confused.

Angel decided it was time to interfere. "Perhaps I can explain that,... Susan."

*

She tried to look like the incarnation of scepticism, but inside she was not so sure that what Angel and Giles had told them was really nonsense. "So you're telling me there is a slayer, hunting down vampires, and she's been hurt, and I am to help you --- as a REPLACEMENT SLAYER?" she summed up their report.

"Plainly, yes," Giles said.

"It is important you come with us," Angel added.

"Why should I believe you? Because you know my name, address and interests?"

"No," Angel said, "Because of what happened at the parking lot. Susan, allow yourself to believe it. I know you are open to supernatural things."

"Is that in my file by that Watchers' Council of yours, too?"

"I know this is hard to accept. You were attacked by a vampire, and you dusted him. When one of his companions ran away, you heard him scream 'Shit, the slayer!'. Do you need more evidence?"

Susan knew he was right. Some instinct told her she had indeed killed a vampire, and the same sense had told her how to do it. She didn't want to be The Slayer, not even for a short time, it was dangerous, foolish... and she could never do it. "Even if it was true --- I'm not suited for the job," she finally said.

"Don't worry. It's just for a limited time, and we can give you instruction and training," Giles suggested.

"You've known me for a few minutes. I've known myself for my whole life, and I'm telling you I can't be your Chosen One you want to see in me - I go with Mr Churchill – no sports."

Angel smiled. "You already have it in you. You must learn how to listen to your inner voice when you fight."

"Strange that you're trying to persuade me – you as a vampire." Susan didn't know which instinct told her he was, she just knew.

"It's true," Angel said and avoided her eyes, "I am a vampire. But I'm on your side."

"If you join us," Giles explained, "we'll tell you everything you need to know. Please. Sunnydale needs you. You would do a great service to mankind, in fact. Of course, we will pay for all your expenses, anything you want."

Susan reflected about it for a moment. How could she possibly survive all the dangers ahead of her? For so many years, she had been watching mystery shows on TV, read books on the subject, wondered how much of it was fiction, and whether there was some truth in it. Now she had the chance to see it all by herself, experience it, and be part of something she felt was truly great. And if they were right, and she had a duty, did she have any right to refuse it? Did she have a choice at all? She sighed. "How am I to explain to my parents I'm going away in the middle of my vacation term when I should be looking for a job?"

"You have found more than a job in Sunnydale," Giles said solemnly.

"Of course, I could tell everybody I was getting working experience at an American company. But there's one more thing. I won't go to Sunnydale alone." She glanced at the other girls. "Pay the tickets and the stay for my team as well, and we can talk about it."

Giles looked doubtful. "You have been named by the Council, not them."

She raised her eyebrows. "If I got this right, your slayer... what was her name, Buffy? works independently from the Council. And she has a team, too. Listen, Mr Giles, I'll only say this once: They're in, or I'm out."

*

"Welcome aboard the British Airways flight Frankfurt-Los Angeles. The emergency exits are on both sides of..."

Susan leaned back in her seat and sighed.

"What's wrong?" Angel asked her in a low voice.

"Nothing, it's just that I've heard it a thousand times."

"Not as often as I," he answered.

Susan began to giggle at the answer.

Angel looked at the stewardess apologetically. At least Susan was in a good mood now, it would be hard enough for her at Sunnydale anyway. Did she realize the dangers? And did the others? By now he had understood the names of her companions, but he and Giles had taken to call the three Tasha, Susan and Mona, for convenience. Obviously the girls preferred these variations to their real names pronounced with an accent. Before their departure, Tasha had said something like "I still think they're mad, but if their madness grants me a free vacation under Californian sun, I won't prevent them!" This did not sound like someone who understood the consequences of being The Slayer, if only The Replacement Slayer. The stewardess reached the part that everyone was to follow the instructions of the staff in case of emergency. Angel supposed they hadn't changed that text since the Wright brothers' time.

*

"So, what do you think of the gang?" Mona asked as they were walking on the campus. Giles had arranged accomodation there for the three girls and had helped to take their baggages to the dorm rooms.

"To be honest, I think Xander's kind of strange, and that girlfriend of his seems like a nympho. Well, I'm prepared to replace Buffy as long as I don't have to take her boyfriend as well..."

"For someone who studies psychology, Riley's rather clueless," Tasha agreed, "Not that it would surprise me."

"Willow seems very enthusiastic about helping us," Susan continued, "But I guess I'd better not put too high expectations in her. For my personal taste, she doesn't care about Buffy's condition enough for a best friend. Since our arrival, she has hardly said a word about her, though she talks all the time."

"In contrast to Angel," Mona said.

"Angel's a completely different subject," Susan replied.

"I find him uncanny," Tasha declared, "I'm almost afraid of him, and that melancholy in his eyes makes me feel depressed. I want to enjoy my stay here!"

Susan kept to herself that she did not expect the stay to be enjoyable. She was still reflecting about her reasons for being here when a sharp voice behind them called her back to reality.

"Can I trust my eyes? The Club of Losers has won some new members!"

Giles had hoped to avoid this encounter until Susan had got used to the situation, and certainly had not planned they would meet Spike even before their first patrol. He felt uncomfortable as he introduced them. "Susan, this is Spike."

"He's---"

"Yes, you're right, he's a vampire, but he is no threat at the moment."

"Thank you for mentioning that," Spike chided.

"Spike, this is Susan, she is replacing Buffy during her reconvalescence."

Spike looked at her critically. "The Replacement Slayer!" he finally said, then burst into laughing. "Giles, what did you have in mind when you brought her here, adding a new slayer to my record? It was a proof of your... intelligence taking someone to the Hellmouth who has absolutely no experience as a slayer!"

They were still talking when suddenly a group of demons attacked. For Spike, it was a welcome opportunity to fight. He knew he was not exactly making friends in the underworld by hunting down other creatures of the night, yet he could not keep from fighting, and since they were the only beings he was able to attack without pain, he seized every chance.

That day, however, he was not to spoil his reputation among demons. Under the puzzled eyes of the others, Susan quickly took care of the attackers. Spike was clearly impressed, but tried not to show. "Beginner's luck," he remarked.

Susan herself stood in wonder for a moment. Again, she had not thought about it, she had just known what to do. Susan hoped she would get used to this. She tried to sound as normal as possible. "So what are we doing now?"

"The Bronze," Willow suggested.

"I still have plenty of work to do, for the training tomorrow," Giles excused himself.

"What is the Bronze?" Tasha asked.

"THE place to go at Sunnydale," Xander explained in anticipation.

Tasha looked sceptical, yet she did not want to exclude herself.

The proposition was accepted by everybody else, so there was just one more matter to be decided.

"Who's cleaning up?" Susan asked, pointing at the demons' bodies.

"No, don't look at ME," Spike protested. He wouldn't go that far, playing a replacement slayer's undertaker for dead demons.

*

They were sitting at their usual table at the Bronze. Willow thought it was strange, without Buffy, but with Angel and the strangers. A live band was playing, as usually. She suddenly thought of Oz, it still gave her a pang to be reminded of him and the way their story had ended.

"Listen, guys, it's been great with you," she said, "But I have a test tomorrow, and I should be in the library studying tonight."

"Okay," Susan said, "I'll see you later at the dorm."

"Fine." Willow forced herself to smile and left the club. She thought for a moment Susan did not look too sad at her leaving. She watched the other two new girls on the dancefloor.

The lead singer of the band threw her necklace down into the crowd. Mona caught it and put it on.

"Was that necessary?" Angel said, more to himself than to Susan.

"What does that mean, the necklace?" Susan asked.

"For the Bronze, it's a kind of free advertising. Whoever catches the necklace gets all drinks for free this evening. For the vampires, it's a game. Has also to do with a free drink," he added with bitter irony.

"Shouldn't we tell her?"

"No, it would only scare her unnecessarily. And if she took it off now, it would only raise suspicion. We can't use too much attention yet. Let's just keep an eye on her, she mustn't leave the club with a stranger."

Susan agreed. Mona got back to the table, sweating from the dance. "Isn't it great, I've just heard I'm getting all drinks for free tonight," she said enthusiastically. Angel and Susan exchanged looks without saying anything. Apparently, Mona didn't notice she seemed to draw the attention of several people at neighboring tables. She was busy with her first free cocktail, when someone addressed her. She turned around to see Spike.

"Are you going to sit here just penetrating the air with your stares, or are you here for dancing?"

Angel shot a warning glance at him. I should have known the necklace game would attract any vampire from the area. "You're not forgetting about your little... PROBLEM, are you?"

Spike glared at him. "That's none of your business. Someone at least must take care of your guests if you don't." Under his breath he continued: "Perhaps this gives me a chance of kicking some vampire's ass tonite!" Loud enough for everybody near to understand it, Spike added: "I bet there's a hundred people in here wanting a free drink, too."

As he led Mona to the dancefloor, admiring and jealous looks from the other tables followed them. This might restore part of his reputation among the undead if the news was spreading he had won the necklace game. Hopefully, nobody would notice he was incapable of taking the prize.

"At least everybody's safe for the moment," Angel said.

Susan followed his gaze, seeing Tasha dancing with... Riley (???) near the others. "A matter of perspective," she replied. Dancing with RILEY??? Ugh.

"So what are your plans for tomorrow?"

"Giles said something about training. And probably patrol in the evening."

"Doesn't give you much time to settle in."

"Not really. That's okay. There was one thing I really wanted to know, Angel." She realized it was the first time she had said his name. "Which of the things you said in front of the library were true, and what did you say just because you wanted me to come here?"

"Most of it was true, except... to be honest, I am not a beginner of your language, it's just that the way I learned it seems a bit... obsolete today."

*

"Spike, there are two secrets I haven't understood by now. Why was Angel just sitting there with Susan for the whole evening without making any efforts to dance? I mean, he isn't very talkative, is he? And why was everybody staring at us when we left the Bronze?"

"First, he's a fool. Second, they're vampires wanting to drain the person with the necklace."

Mona stared at him for a moment, then she started laughing.

"Hey, what's up with the living? Once I'm perfectly serious, everyone laughs at me!"

Spike had intended to walk Mona to her dorm, yet they had not gone too far from the Bronze when they were stopped by a group of strangers, clearly vampires.

"Hello, Spike," their leader said.

"Gonzo. What do you want?" was the sharp reply.

"To cut a long story short and waste neither your time nor mine: I didn't come for you. Surrender your prey, and we let you pass."

Mona did not like the sound of this. From the expression on Spike's face, she could judge he was not planning to follow orders from anyone, yet the others outnumbered them by far. There must have been a dozen vampires near.

Spike thought he had not understood correctly. "You are asking ME, William the Bloody, to surrender MY prey to YOU? Are you mad? I've won the necklace game, she's mine, that's the rule."

The other vampire waved at his minions, they encircled Spike and Mona. "This is not about the game. We know you've been with the slayer a lot lately, and traitors have no right to insist on rules of any kind. Leave the girl to us, and mind your own business."

"Listen, Gonzo, I have won the prize, and I won't let someone take it who has chosen a pseudonym from the Muppet Show."

"Then you'll have to fight."

*

The song was changing into something slow. Riley drew Tasha nearer, when suddenly an electronic beeping interrupted their dance.

"HST activity near the Bronze, I have to go," he explained briefly, then left her alone on the dancefloor and rushed out of the club.

Xander saw Riley's immediate departure and gave Tasha a questioning look. She, even more confused, asked: "Xander, do you happen to know what an HST is?"

"Hostile Sub-Terranean..." Xander suddenly realized what the reason for Riley's leaving was. "Stay right here," he ordered, trying to sound impressive. Then he rushed to their table where Susan and Angel were still talking. "We've got work to do," he said, "Riley's detected vamp activity somewhere outside the Bronze. I've told Tasha to wait in here."

"We should tell Mona as well, and take Spike with us." Angel looked around. "Where IS Mona?"

"I haven't seen her... or Spike," Susan admitted. She had been so lost in their conversation she had not noticed her friend leaving with the vampire.

"Perhaps that was the reason for the activity," Xander suggested.

Angel rose. "We'll find out soon." He turned to Susan. "Looks like you'd get some practice right now."

"One day in the life of a replacement slayer," she said and took over the lead.

*

Spike hated to admit it, but the demands of this fight were beyond his abilities. His enemies were simply too strong and too many. Gonzo and some of his minions were trying to overrun him, the others were chasing Mona. So far she had managed to keep them off her skin by holding up an improvised cross of rotten wood, but as soon as Gonzo would no longer be involved in the fight with Spike, that would no longer help her. Gonzo was old, older than Spike, even older than Angelus, a crucifix would not stop him.

"Give up," Gonzo shouted, throwing Spike on the ground.

"No way," Spike retorted, getting up and attacking Gonzo again.

Gonzo managed to throw him off and rushed towards Mona. He beat the cross out of her hands and reached for her neck.

"Not so fast," he suddenly heard a voice.

"The cavalry." Spike sounded very pleased.

"Angelus," Gonzo said with dismay, "So you're after it as well."

The gang attacked. The younger vampires were not a challenge, especially not to Susan. Riley had a harder time, but at least he managed to dust one of them.

As Gonzo noticed his advantage was disappearing, he did the only sensible thing in his situation: he ran.

Susan quickly made sure Mona was okay, then she asked Spike: "What the hell was THAT?!"

"I have no idea," the vampire admitted. "I was walking her to the dorm, and suddenly these losers came out. They wanted me to surrender my prey, isn't that ridiculous?"

"It's untypical," Angel said, deep in thought. "Normally, there is a code of honor among vampires, one doesn't steal another one's prey, especially not if there was a fair competition, like in this case. The necklace game follows a simple rule, first come, first served. I don't know what's come over Gonzo that he broke it. Everyone, especially the ancient ones, accepts the rule. "

"At least not tonight," Susan said. "For some reason, it was very important to Gonzo to win the prize tonight. Important enough to show up with an army and break two codes of honor, the rules of the game and not to kill one's own kind. He was prepared to take Mona even if it meant killing Spike. But why?"

"As long as I can remember, this has never happened before during a necklace game. There's always been envy about food, especially such a prestigious one, but no sane vampire would act like Gonzo did," Spike said, shaking his head.

Mona still shivered a little. She did not like being referred to as 'food'. Yet something had come to her mind she had to share with the others. "Have you considered that it might not have been me Gonzo was after?"

"What do you mean?" Angel asked.

"When you showed up, he said something like he had known you were after it, too. What could he mean by it?"

"That's a damn good question," Spike replied.

"Maybe we should ask Giles when we go there for the training tomorrow," Susan suggested.

*

Giles examined the necklace carefully. "This was the necklace they threw into the crowd at the Bronze?"

"Yeah, I caught it from the air," Mona answered.

"They buy these necklaces at pawn shops," Spike explained, "I've won the trophy so often I had to throw the trash away after I had drained the girls." He realized the others did not exactly go in for this kind of story. "What?" he asked, without understanding, "I'm a vampire, not such a poor copy of one as your good Angel."

Giles fetched a book from one of the shelves. "I wonder where they got this one from. I'm not sure, I'm searching for some entry to confirm my hypothesis."

About an hour and five books later, Giles exclaimed: "I was right, that's it. They were indeed after the necklace." He showed them a description in one of the old tomes. "It belongs to a legendary set of three items," he told them. "The Two Winters' Amulet, which we have here, the Ring of Regha, and the Dagger of Lazarus."

"That's impossible. It's a fairytale," Angel said.

"Really? Like the Gem of Amarra?" Spike asked angrily.

"Nothing's impossible at the Hellmouth," Susan agreed, "I'd like to hear it."

"Well, if you want. But I'm telling you it is a fairytale." Angel sat down as he began to tell the story. "The legend comes from an ancient monastery somewhere in the UK, back in the days of the dawn of Christianity. It was built near a holy place of the Druids. They say one of the nuns fell in love with a druid, a forbidden love for both sides. They managed to keep their relationship a secret from the world for two years, and their only chance to meet was at new moon, when everything was dark and silent, and the druids usually withdrew for meditation. The druid is said to have made a necklace for his love, he worked on it for two years. It bore the sign of the pentagram, a symbol of the druid faith. One winter night, he was ready. Of course he was anxious to give it to her. He did not care it was full moon, and one of his superiors saw him. He was accused of treachery, of breaking his vows and of working together with the hostile new faith, and sentenced to death, a sacrifice to his Gods whom he had angered.

His lover was desperate, she creeped into his prison the night before the sacrifice. She wanted him to run away with her, but he refused, for he loved her too much to draw her into his doom. They cried for a whole night, and in the morning she left him a ring, it was her most valuable property. It bore the symbol of a heart, it stood for her undying love. Her mother had left it to her. Historians called it the Ring of Regha. That was where her family came from, the place does not exist any more. The nun refused to take the necklace, since it had brought about the whole misery.

He died the next morning. The druids left his body under an old oak. At night, the nun took him away furtively and buried him in a crypt under the monastery, with the ring and the necklace.

The centuries passed. Times were changing. Henry VIII founded the Church of England and had the Catholic monasteries devastated to take the Pope's property. That very cloister was not spared.

When the soldiers discovered there were secret treasures in the catacombs beneath the monastery, they even entered the crypts and defiled the graves. As they opened the coffin in which the druid had been buried, one of the soldiers dropped his dagger. He had inherited it from his ancestors, one of whom had been a cross knight. It was believed the dagger originally came from the Holy Land. On its handle, the oil twig from the biblical Noah relation was illustrated, symbolizing hope. But from that day, it has always been referred to as the Dagger of Lazarus. For as it fell into the open coffin, it formed a triangle with the Ring of Regha and the Two Winters' Amulet. The combination of the three items must have evoked some magical spell."

"Faith, love, and hope," Giles added. "Christian priests have always claimed it was not magic, but these biblical values. They called it a miracle, not a spell."

"Whatever," Angel continued, "The legend says that the body of the druid rose from the ashes and lived again. The Amulet – faith – restored his mind, the ring – love – his heart, and the dagger – hope – his soul. The change was permanent, he was fully human, yet everyone swore he possessed certain magical powers afterwards, such as resistance to pain, strength, telekinesis, and telepathy. The legend says the items were able to give their bearer immortality, or a normal human existence, whatever he wished in his heart. The story continues that he looked for the nun, and when he had found her burial place, he brought her back to life with those items. According to the legend, they wanted to avoid the set would fall into the wrong hands, so they took care they were stored separately and never to be united again. And if they haven't died, they still live today," he closed. "Giles, you don't believe this, do you?"

"Well, at least Gonzo believed it. And the fact is, the description in this old book fits exactly the necklace we have here. Do you see the pentagram? Compare the necklace to the text in the book. I think this is what the vampires were after. If you have a better explanation, I'd suggest you produce it now."

"It's folly, vampires being after those items. Who would want to be human?" Spike asked.

"No limits, Spike," Giles said. "It's a bit like the Gem of Amarra, just that it is no illusion. It doesn't end once you take off the ring. Power, immortality, salvation."

"Okay, not that bad, after all," Spike admitted.

"Would be heaven if it existed," Angel said in a low voice.

"I'm convinced it does," Giles replied, "All late researching materials say so. We may have something very powerful in our hands. Each item alone is useless, but all three of them mean perfection. No wonder vampires want to have the items."

"Our task is clear," Susan said. "We must find them before they do."

"I'd suggest we find the other two items tomorrow," Xander said, "I could use some sleep now."

*

Tasha and Riley were assigned to go to the pawn shops in the Sunnydale area the next day to find out where the necklace had come from. As they entered the first shop, it was as if they had left the world of Sunnydale and stepped into a different universe. Heavy velvet curtains with loads of dust on them were joined by antique furniture.

Tasha looked around in the shop. She stumbled over something lying on the floor. Riley reached out to support her, but he missed. Nevertheless she regained her balance. "Thanks for trying," she said. Looking down, she realized she had fallen over some chains. "What the hell are those for?" she wondered.

"Hey there, what can I do for ya?" The owner of the pawn shop had entered the scene.

Riley said, "Actually we're interested in buying something."

The owner looked at the chains at Tasha's feet. "I think I know what's on your mind, and I can promise we have just the thing for you."

"Really?" Riley seemed pleased.

Tasha whispered: "Riley, do you think they see we have to do with that slayer thing?"

"Maybe. News travels fast."

The owner led them into a side room. "Look around, and tell me when you've found something."

"They really should invest a bit of money for better lighting. White lamps with a reasonable power can't be so much more expensive than those red ones." Tasha let her hands run over some unidentifiable plastic thing. "This doesn't look like an ancient necklace," she said.

Riley could not see jewelery either, all he found were handcuffs and chains in all variations.

"I don't know what we're supposed to find here," Tasha said, annoyed. She bumped into someone. "Excuse me," she said. Only then she realized she was talking to a shop-window dummy. Tasha took a closer look at the outfit the dummy wore, high heels, black leather with a low neckline. "Tasteless," she remarked, "Who's supposed to buy that?"

Riley totally agreed. Nobody wore this at home in Iowa. "There's no order at all in this shop," he added, "Plastic toys, bikers' clothing, and, look, even riding equipment." He held up a whip.

Tasha looked over the tables. "I've found something... oh, no, sorry, it's not a necklace, more a collar for a dog, although it's about the same size." She began to feel uncomfortable. "Listen, Riley, let's just ask for the information we need, and then get out of here."

"Okay."

They left the room. Even now they did not notice the large XXX sign over the door. The owner gave them a bright smile. "Don't you agree we have an excellent range of choice for a young, open couple as you are?"

Riley ignored the comment he did not quite understand and continued: "Actually, we're looking for antique jewelery. You do not happen to sell necklaces to the Bronze at times?"

"Hey, relax. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Same about my shop as it's with McDonald's – nobody says he goes there, but everybody does. Can I help you with video cassettes perhaps, for a start?"

"Riley, do you have the address list Giles gave to us?" Tasha wanted to know.

Riley gave it to her so she could take a look at it.

"Is this number 10, Hopkins Road?"

"No, it's 10a."

"You idiot," Tasha whispered, "The pawn shop is next door!" She turned to the owner. "Excuse us."

"You know where to find me if you should change your mind. Spicing up a relationship can never be too early, even for such a good-looking, energetic couple like you!"

They closed the door behind them.

The owner sighed. "Either they are from Iowa, or Jehova's witnesses. Probably both." Then he went back to his work.

*

Spike yawned. It was really tiring to watch the training. During the past two hours, he had seen Susan knocking down the librarian a dozen times. Giles was really getting too old for that kind of exercise. Spike was incredibly bored.

"Stop it, old man," he finally said, "That's no challenge for her, she's supposed to kill VAMPIRES, in case you haven't noticed. Make way for someone who can get her into real trouble."

Giles was annoyed. "Don't you want to go playing outdoors for a few minutes, in the SUN?"

"How very inventive, Giles. No, I don't, and I regret I can't play with Sue either because of that damn chip. Anyway, you won't miss me if I'm leaving now." Spike walked away to creep to his dwelling through the shadows.

"He's annoying," Giles said.

"He's right, Giles," Angel replied. "Susan has to practise for fighting against vampires."

"Fine." Clearly offended, Giles put off his equipment. "I'm in the study if you need me. Which won't be the case, of course."

As he had left, Susan looked slightly concerned. "Is he alright?"

"He is," Angel assured her, "It's just that we're not exactly best friends. It's a long story." He stepped into the center of the training area.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" she asked. "I've seen you in fights before, I don't think I'm up to that yet."

"We'll find out."

Angel attacked without warning. In his first attempt he caught her unprepared, and therefore made her lose the balance.

For a moment Susan sat on the ground, flabbergasted at his vampiric strength, but she recovered fast enough to evade his second strike. Her slayer instincts helped her recall the fight the evening before, and suddenly, again not realizing where the knowledge came from, she knew what would be his next move. She blocked his right arm and hit his unguarded left side with her leg.

She saw his surprise and used it for some more hits at her target.

Yet Angel was not the one who lost the upper hand that easily. He faked an attack of the kind he had used before, and when Susan reached out to block it, suddenly changed to another tactic. Whereas Giles had been no challenge at all to her skills, fighting Angel clearly was.

She was breathing heavily and realized that was the disadvantage of having to fight a vampire. A human being depended on stamina.

'She's getting tired,' Angel thought, and decided to slow down a little to give her a chance to recover. That was a mistake.

"Don't try that again," Susan complained, "There's no one to spare me outthere." Who did he think he was? She was The Slayer, *The Replacement Slayer*, she need not be protected! She turned on him again, angered that he had thought it necessary to slow down. The offence she felt gave her new strength, she even managed to knock him off his feet. She gave him a triumphant smile.

He rose quickly. "Whatever you say," he replied. He turned his head so Susan could get a good look of his face --- she saw his features morph into his vampiric appearance.

Never before had she seen how it changed him. He seemed to have nothing in common with the young man who had held the library door for her. It shocked her to be reminded of what he was that suddenly. A vampire was not the romantic image of old Dracula movies, not Christopher Lee dressed in black satin, a vampire was a demon, a revenant, a killer. And so was Angel.

Angel was torn between embarrassment and pride as he noticed the impression his change made on Susan. He allowed his demon instincts to take the lead.

She just stood there, staring at him, who looked at her with a glowing, hypnotic gaze. It was a power he seldom used, since most demons were immune to a vampire's mental abilities, and he would never have expected it to work with Susan. Yet he remembered it working once with Buffy. Then it was the Master who had hypnotized the slayer. And Drusilla with Giles. Angel suppressed the thought at once.

He slowly walked towards her. "Susan," he whispered. "Can you hear me?"

"I'm listening," she replied in a low voice.

Angel approached. How far was he to carry this? He decided to show he had had the opportunity to bite her, and then release her from her trance. Angel stepped behind her and touched her shoulder. He pushed her hair aside to bare her neck.

"My lord," she whispered.

His face was so close to her skin. "Yes?"

He saw the spark in her eyes too late. "Never challenge a replacement slayer!" Susan drove her elbow into his solar plexus, ducked down and threw him over her back to the ground.

Though this was the move that decided the fight in her favor, she had underestimated his weight, which drew her on the ground with him, so she fell and landed on top of him.

"I'm out of practice at hypnosis," Angel said. His face took its human form again. Susan watched with fascination as his eyes lost the supernatural yellowish tone and returned to their usual dark color, and his gaze regained its depth. She looked straight in his eyes. "How far would you have gone?" she asked.

Angel just lay there, an unreadable expression on his face. He did not say a word.

"We can come back later if the two of you would like to go on with --- well, whatever you were just doing!"

Xander and Anya had entered the house, carrying lots of full shopping bags and boxes.

Susan blushed slightly as she got up and murmured something about training.

"Have you had any luck with the pawn shops?" Angel asked to draw their attention to another subject.

"Not exactly, but we did some shopping as we were in town anyway," Xander explained.

"We dropped by our favorite... toy shop," Anya told them, ignoring Xander's warning glances. "They have lovely new handcuffs! The owner told us a funny story, you'll enjoy it! He said today a young couple of Jehova's witnesses from Iowa showed up. They were so embarrassed they even pretended to have lost their way looking for the pawn shop! As if anyone could be that stupid! Isn't that a funny story?"

*

They had agreed that Riley should watch the dorm that night. It was possible that the demons might seek for the Two Winters' Amulet at Mona's room. He was preparing for a long, boring night, as he personally did not expect them to

show up. If he hadn't known better, he would have suspected Angel wanted to be rid of him because he was Buffy's new lover. But the thought was ridiculous.

So Riley took a gulp of his glass of milk, then left it on the table and went to the bathroom.

*

Spike was still angry. It was as if they did not trust him. Of course they were right, he wanted the set as well, it would surely deactivate that cursed chip in his head. But was that a reason to send him to the Bronze to keep an eye on Mona and Tasha while the others were chasing Gonzo? He was HIS enemy, HE had found him, he belonged to him! And there was no way having the least bit of fun with the replacement slayer's gang, both had talked about not drinking any alcohol and seemed awfully conservative. One of them had even said she was already getting tired! The same girl had been to a sex shop with Riley Finn and hadn't even noticed!

Riley Finn... he had almost forgotten about him. A vicious thought entered Spike's mind. After all, he was on the 'good' side now, so he was a true hero if he helped people. He could help certain people to relax, couldn't he? He looked around for a guy he had seen at the Bronze several times, selling ecstasy.

After he had dealt with him, he returned to their table, a broad smile on his face. "Ladies, I've organised a caffeine tablet for both of you, so you won't fall asleep here." He put one of them in Mona's coke.

Tasha grabbed three of the tablets from his hand. "Thanks a lot, I'm really getting tired, but I don't want to leave yet!"

Spike grinned as she emptied her glass. "Why don't you go over to the dorm room, I'm sure poor Riley could use some caffeine as well, he has to watch all night over there --- all alone..."

*

Tasha entered the dorm room she was sharing with Mona. She felt a bit nauseous, but she had not been in such a good mood since their arrival. Why hadn't she noticed before how colorful the wallpaper in this room was? All the caffeine had made her thirsty. She saw a glass of milk on one of the tables. What had Spike said, Riley would like caffeine? She dropped a tablet into the glass and watched it dissolve in the beautiful pink liquid... no, blue liquid... a bit greenish perhaps.

Riley came back from the bathroom, surprised to find Tasha there. "Thought you were at the Bronze with Spike?"

"Boring," Tasha said, "Thought you would like some company."

"Thanks." Riley drank the milk. "It's very reassuring that you prefer my company to Spike's."

"There's no music here," Tasha noticed. "That's not so good."

"I can look for some," Riley suggested, browsing Mona's CDs for a while. Why did he suddenly feel so strange? He picked one of the sound tracks.

Tasha looked at the cover. "9 ½ weeks," she spelled out carefully, "Probably heard before, but can't remember. What kinda movie is it?"

Riley looked helpless. "A love story?" he made an effort. Why couldn't he think clearly any more? These walls were so bright. Had they always been that bright?

"Oh, I see," Tasha said, "Like 'Out of Africa'."

"Similar, yes." Riley wiped his sweat away from his forehead. "It's getting hot in here," he said.

"Yeah." Tasha dropped her shoes to the rhythm of the music.

Riley looked confused. "Why do you... take off your shoes?"

Her gaze seemed to look right through him, like drawn from something very beautiful far away. "Because you said it. You said 'Baby, take off your shoes.'"

"No, I didn't say it, the CD said it, if I had, I would remember." Would he remember? Had he said it or was it part of the song? He did not recall saying it, nor did he recall not saying it. Or was he just saying he had not said it because he had said it and didn't want to say he had said it? Riley was getting a terrible headache.

Tasha moved to the rhythm of the music.

"Wow," Riley said, "Where did you learn to dance this way?"

"I taught myself," she said as if it was self-evident. "But I'm not properly dressed for dancing. – Oh, that's a good idea!" She slowly unfastened her dress, not realizing it was again a line of the song that had told her to take off her dress.

Everything began to dissolve before Riley's eyes. "I think I have a caffeine shock," he managed to say.

Tasha looked a bit worried. "Perhaps you'd better lie down for a moment, dear."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Now fully under the influence of the drugs, Riley lay down on Tasha's bed. "I can't breathe," he said.

Tasha swung one leg at each side of his body and tried to open the first few buttons of his shirt, but the drugs did not allow her to control the movement of her fingers properly, so she simply tore it off.

She sat in that position for a moment, feeling Riley's skin under hers. "Better now?" she asked.

"Lot better," he said, dazed and completely relaxed, as he pulled her down to him on the bed and kissed her. He began to remove what was left of her clothing.

"Wait," she interrupted.

"What?" Riley asked.

"There was something... If only I could think clearly... I think I have a caffeine shock, too.... if only I could remember... there was some reason we should wait with this until we're married..." She shrugged. "... but I can't remember."

"I know what you mean," Riley said, "but not something, someONE, someone because of whom I shouldn't do this right now... I've forgotten."

*

Tasha woke from the sound of a key in the door. She had only a very faint memory of the things that had happened during the night. The sun was already quite high, it must be around nine in the morning. Her gaze fell on Mona's bed. Obviously it hadn't been touched.

Mona opened the door to steal into the room. But Tasha did not do her the favor to pretend she was asleep. She sat up straight in her bed. "Where have you been?" she asked sharply.

Mona looked as if she had been in a fight. Her hair hang loosely about her shoulders and had clearly not seen a comb that morning, and she was still wearing the same dress as at the Bronze – at least what was left of it. Her makeup was almost completely gone, yet her cheeks had a burning red color.

Mona tried to make an apology. "I can explain that. I had a ... caffeine shock?" She looked confused. "All I remember is that Spike gave me that caffeine tablet, and we were dancing. And I thought it was a good idea to give him some caffeine, too. So I put it in his drink when he wasn't looking. And then I woke up at his place this morning."

"Were you... dressed?" Tasha asked, shocked.

Mona looked at her friend. "Well, about as much as you," she replied.

Tasha looked down and realized she was naked. She reached for the blanket. Then she suddenly realized Riley was still lying there.

"Oh-my-God," Mona said, stressing every syllable, "And I thought I had a bad morning! You didn't do it with Riley, did you?"

Tasha blushed. "I'm not in a relationship with someone --- please don't tell me you and Spike..."

They stared at each other, then they started yelling both at the same time: "I CAN'T REMEMBER!!!!"

Tasha wrapped the blanket around her and got up. "What will Riley say when he wakes up?"

"Well, I can tell you what Spike said," Mona told her, "Something like 'I'd strongly advise you to say I was good, for I can't remember.' "

*

Willow had hurried not to be late. She was surprised to see she was the first to appear at Giles' place for the meeting. The sun was already high, it was past midday. They had decided not to hold the meeting any earlier, so those patrolling during the night would have enough time to sleep.

"Where are the others?" she asked.

"I have no idea," Giles said, "but punctuality is not exactly an American virtue. Yet I'm slightly disappointed none of our European friends was able to be on time. However, have you had any luck on the internet last night?"

"Yes," Willow said, "There are rumors about the Dagger of Lazarus showing up in a Mexican museum a few years ago, near Yukatán. The theory is it came over here by the Spanish Conquestadores. I'll give you the details as soon as the others show up." She turned around at the sound of the door. Spike had come in, wearing huge black sunglasses that covered his eyes completely.

"Morning," Willow greeted.

"DON'T talk to me," he retorted. "I've really had a BAD, BAD, BAD morning!"

Giles shook his head and went into the kitchen to put on some coffee for the others and tea for himself. The water had just heated up when Tasha and Mona showed up.

"What a wonderful morning," Willow exclaimed. Tasha hardly looked at her, while Mona, smelling the coffee, addressed Giles: "Could I have some tea, too? No more caffeine, please."

"Good morning to you as well," Giles replied sourly.

"Sorry, it's just that I've had a really BAD morning."

"You're not the only one," Riley said from the door. "Morning, everybody." He was in perfect self-control as the years of being a soldier had taught him. While Tasha was unable to look at him, he tried not to show anything extraordinary had happened during the night.

Giles handed him some coffee. "Now, what are your plans for today, Mr Finn? Didn't you want to visit Buffy at hospital?"

Riley almost dropped his cup. "Nnnno, not today," he stuttered.

"Will you tell her I'm here?" Susan's voice eased Riley's tension. "Hi you all." She looked around the room, noticing with relief Angel was not there yet. They had spent the night patrolling, but had not talked about the hypnosis again. She took her place among the others.

"Hello Susan," Giles said, "No, we've decided not to tell Buffy anything about slaying or the relics we're searching for, we must avoid to excite her in any way."

"True," Riley agreed, only Tasha understanding the double meaning.

"How was the patrol?" Giles wanted to know.

"Increased vampire activity, probably because of the necklace," Susan reported, "But Gonzo didn't show up. All in all, it was a very calm night. Any information about the ring and the dagger?"

"We're going to Yukatán," Willow announced proudly, "I've found evidence on the web that the dagger's probably in a museum in Mexico. We'll have to bribe the guards, but with our modern means, we're two steps ahead of Gonzo or any other vampire!"

Susan seemed to think about what Willow had said. "Have you ever thought of what happens if we find all three relics?"

Nobody answered immediately, as if they were reflecting on it.

It was Angel's voice from the back door that broke the silence. "Destroy them."

Susan shrank from his words. "You're not being serious," she replied slowly, not looking at anyone.

Spike answered with violent protest. "And you're saying I was destructive? Then he's a true psychopath! He already destroyed the Gem of Amarra, if it was him to decide, he would even smash the Holy Grail! What's next, the chainsaw massacre? You don't expect me to sit and watch!"

"I don't know how you would want to stop me," Angel said coldly.

"Susan," Spike shouted, "You're the slayer, aren't you? You won't let him make your decisions?"

Giles did not like the direction the conversation was taking, so he interfered. "We can talk about this when we have the items, it's completely ineffective to take the second step before the first." He decided to change the subject. "So what about training today?"

Immediately, both Susan and Angel replied: "No!"

Giles looked from one to other in confusion. Had he said something wrong?

The gang was complete when Xander and Anya rushed into the house without knocking.

"Sorry, we're late," Xander apologized.

"Isn't it a beautiful morning?" Anya asked with a broad smile. Not noticing the tension in the room, she kept chattering, "Could I have some coffee, please? I really do need some caffeine now, Xander kept me awake till morning! You have to know, we're late because we had sex last night!"

"At least someone who remembers," Spike said sarcastically.

This was too much. Tasha ran from the room, one hand pressed on her mouth. Riley's face went ghastly white. Had they taken any precautions? If only he could remember anything!

Spike noticed the expression on Riley's face. "Relax, Finn," he said, "What is the worst that can happen to you, that you must marry her? At least something I don't have to worry about."

Riley fainted.

*

The ride to Mexico was long. Susan had decreed she would go, but not take the whole gang with her. The last thing she needed were her friends brooding over what had happened or not happened during their blackout when she was about to solve more important problems. When she had agreed to come to Sunnydale, she had expected to keep the order, supported by a large crew. Instead, she was to search for items that could raise the dead, give their bearer immortality and make him invincible in a way. And her gang consisted mainly of clueless teenagers. One should buy them a t-shirt, "I went to Sunnydale, got drugged, up close and personal with a stranger and all I got was this lousy shirt."

She had told them that she needed them to keep an eye on Gonzo and the other vampires and do research on the third item, the Ring of Regha. How was she supposed to find something without having an appropriate description or a drawing? Giles' old book hadn't helped much except that it said the ring was the symbol of love, the necklace of faith, and the dagger of hope. Very philosophic, but not exactly useful if she wanted to find everything before someone else did.

Everyone had agreed voluntarily to stay where they were, a trip through the jungle, moisture and heat was not the thing to look forward to if one could sit in an air-conditioned library.

Nearly everyone. Except Angel. He had insisted she would not go alone. At first she had refused and suggested to take Spike along with her, but Giles had ended the discussion by saying Spike was not to be trusted, and he would keep the vampire busy while they were away.

Susan had been able to avoid a conversation on patrol, now she was trapped in a jeep with dyed window panes, driving with someone who hardly said a word.

To her surprise, it was he who finally broke the silence. "You tricked me at the training. Why?"

"I told you! Because you totally underestimated me. You slowed down because you thought I didn't have a chance. And you tried hypnosis to teach me a lesson, which I don't like either."

"Only on a subconscious level. It was instinctively. I can't remember when I last used it. It's no help against demons, and I hardly ever have to fight human beings."

"And... before the curse?"

He seemed embarrassed at the question. "Angelus was talented at it, but he was also a sadist. He did not use it, he wanted his victims to be fully conscious of what was going on to get satisfaction out of their suffering. Hypnosis would have meant easing their pain. I had almost forgotten I could do it, until you were staring at my demon face. It seemed to be logical to try then, that's all. I don't understand why you were angry with me."

Susan felt she was getting upset again. "Because everyone gives me the feeling I'm only The Replacement Slayer and not half as good as Buffy! You don't want to go on with the training because I'm not like her!"

"That's not true, and you know!"

"But you wouldn't have tried hypnosis on Buffy!"

Angel did not answer.

"Why so silent? Because I'm right?" She stopped the car to look at him. As she saw the sudden sadness in his eyes, almost desperation, her anger cooled down.

"I have painful memories concerning hypnosis. The last time someone did this to her, she died. And the last time I made someone else do it, Giles... sorry, I don't want to talk about it. And I avoided you because of what happened during the training, that's right. You brought the demon too close to the surface, I felt it when I thought I had power over you, and I just don't want to experience that again."

Susan was not sure if she was supposed to raise the next question, yet she would have to do so later anyway. "And with this background, you're talking about casting away such a chance? I mean, I understand you destroyed the Gem of Amarra, it was an illusion after all, but this time we're talking about a permanent transformation, about truly living, feeling, and being free. Don't you want to use the items?"

"The truth is, I don't know."

Everything was said. Susan started the engine again and went on driving.

*

They arrived at Yukatán at dusk. Strangers at the small town were recognized at once. As they left the car and went up to the museum, they heard people who passed them whisper the word gringos.

"Hope your Spanish is a bit more up to date than your German," Susan joked.

Angel went up to one of the guards, who was obviously about to go home, and exchanged a few sentences with him. "He says the museum is closed."

"We can't wait. Bribe him."

Angel shook the guard's hand, pressing a few bills into his hand. The guard withdrew his hand, took the money and replied something under his breath.

"He says there is a spare key in one of the flower pots."

"What else?"

"He says my hands are cold as ice."

Susan smiled. "Ask him about the dagger."

This time, they talked for a few minutes before Angel translated for her again. He looked disappointed. "He says the dagger was here until last night. Someone broke into the museum and stole it, the police arrived in the early morning hours, but it was nowhere to be found. But he told me one of the neighbors, an elderly lady, had watched something. She lives in the decaying house right across the street. I'd suggest we talk to her first."

They thanked the guard briefly, then crossed the street and knocked at the front door of a house that seemed to fall onto their heads any instant.

An old woman opened.

Angel told her in Spanish they were from an insurance company that had insured the stolen dagger, and wanted to ask her a few questions since she had been an eye witness to the crime.

"Don't make efforts, I speak your language," the old woman said, "I'm seventy-nine years old now, but you're talking Spanish like my great-grandfather."

Susan couldn't help but smile at the remark.

"Can we come in?" Angel asked.

She looked at them closely. "I told the police all I know."

"Please, we just have a few questions on what you saw, then we'll leave."

The old lady straightened her body. "I'm old, my eyesight sometimes fails me, but I'd recognize one of your kind any time. And I won't be so shortsighted as to invite you to my house."

"I can explain," Angel began, but was interrupted.

"I bet you can, but you're a little late. It was one of your kind who stole the dagger, and I guess he's hiding somewhere in a dark place to leave with it as soon as possible. Perhaps an old pyramid in the surrounding jungle. If you want to stop him, you'd better hurry."

"How do you happen to know about those mythical things?" Susan asked.

"I'm a direct descendant of the people who lived here before the conquestadores. Those mythical things, as you called them, were an integral part of the life here, as it was where your ancestors came from. The necklace, the dagger, and the ring. Yes, I've heard about them. Some say the Ring of Regha is actually the Ring of Atlantis and was brought to the British Isles by people who survived the doom of the lost continent. The necklace was wrought in Britain, by a monk, I think."

"A druid."

"Whatever. The dagger came from the Holy Land. Three places of great religious power." With despise, she added: "But those Christians claim everything for themselves."

"Do you know what the items look like?"

"The dagger I have seen a thousand times. It is a small silver dagger with a curved blade, sharp as a razor. On the handle, there is a twig of a plant very common in the Holy Land, an oil twig, I think. About the ring, I have no idea. I've never seen it or heard a description. But you must have all three of them, each one alone is without power." She coughed. "Leave me, I've told you all I know. It's time for taking my medicine and forgetting I ever saw you."

She closed the door, with the hinges creaking as if they would break.

"A pyramid, she said," Angel repeated. "And a vampire who stole it. That might explain why Gonzo didn't show up in Sunnydale last night."

They walked to the jeep and set out for the jungle.

*

The ruins of the pyramid, overgrown with mold, were no longer the largest object in the surroundings, the trees towered high over it, yet it could not be missed. When the jeep was no longer able to pass through the wilderness, they walked in total darkness except the light from their torches.

The entrance was hard to find beneath all the vegetation, yet finally Susan found an opening that looked like a door.

It took her and Angel great efforts to push it aside.

They entered the interior of the pyramid and total silence. The noises from the jungle were excluded by the heavy stones.

It was just a whisper, yet it rang in their ears when they heard Gonzo's voice.

"I knew you would come. You have something I want."

"Same for you," Angel replied, wondering where the other vampire was hiding. "Where are your minions?"

"None," Gonzo replied, scorn resounding from each word, "She killed all of them. I'm over six hundred years old, Angelus, I'm tired of this. You have no use for the set. You are a shame for every honest vampire."

Susan could see him now, as he stepped into the light of her torch, holding the dagger in his hands, a mocking expression on his face. She rushed to him to attack, throwing him to the ground without him showing any sign of resistance. She pulled out her stake.

"Wait," the vampire said calmly to Angel, who gestured Susan to stop.

"What?" Angel asked suspiciously.

"You need me. I'm the only one who knows where the ring is."

"You're bluffing. You have no idea."

"Can you run the risk of letting her slay me without being sure of that? I don't think so. I was a vampire before Columbus ever set foot on this land. I had all the time on earth and in hell to look for the three items. I researched both on the internet and in ancient tomes that fell to dust before you were even born. I'm tired of my undead existence, let her kill me if you like, I'll have my salvation ... what about yours?"

Angel stood there, no longer as resolved as he had been.

"Think about it," Gonzo continued, "Both of us could profit from a cooperation. I'm the only one who knows what the ring looks like. Without me, you'll never find it."

"I don't trust him," Angel said, "Slay him, Susan."

Susan hesitated. An instant too long. Gonzo threw her off and jumped to his feet with all his vampiric strength. The dagger still clutched tightly in his fingers, he ran towards a secret exit on the opposite side of the pyramid. Angel and Susan ran after him, but the exit had closed and become part of the impenetrable wall again, so they were unable to follow.

"Why didn't you kill him when you could!" Angel yelled at her.

She looked at him calmly, not allowing anger to take control again. "Because I'm The Slayer. I can make my own decisions. Come on, Angel. Let's return to Sunnydale. He still needs the necklace. Perhaps then, he'll lead us to the ring."

*

The ride back had been silent. Angel had been driving during the night, with Susan by his side, pretending to sleep.

*

"What happened? You look horrible!" Mona exclaimed as she saw Susan again.

"We were so close." Angel shook his head as if he still had not fully realized they had failed.

"We almost had him," Susan said, "He had the dagger, and escaped. Now he's surely after the necklace." She saw the worried faces, and how everyone avoided her eyes. "What?" she asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

"That rude monster threatened to slay me," Spike said, "And it's no use chasing some phantom set of items for immortality if I'm already dust!"

"We hadn't expected the enemy to be here before you," Giles apologized. "He had caught Spike and Riley at the Bronze and forced me to let him in. He showed up with a whole band of demons, obviously freshly from the grave, but incredibly strong. They just outnumbered us. I had to surrender the necklace, or he would have tortured Spike and Riley to death."

"I should have stayed here," Angel reproached himself.

"That's what I said in the first place," Susan replied sharply. "Why don't you say this wouldn't have happened to Buffy? That's what you're thinking!"

"There's some good news, too," Willow tried to calm her, "We have information on where the ring might be. There is an inscription in an old monastery in Ireland, St Mary's of Letterkenny. About a circle of love becoming a circle of life."

"That's all we have." Susan sighed. "I'll get some fresh clothing at the dorm, and then I'm going to the airport. Perhaps I can catch a flight. And perhaps I can sleep a little on the plane."

"Listen," Spike said reluctantly, "Basically I'm the reason this necklace fell to Gonzo. I'm going with you, if you need me. Don't look at me like that, I don't want that set any more, I swear by my life... err... I guess that's not a very credible oath."

"We're all going," Giles said, "No discussion. Even The Slayer can't fight an Ancient One alone. I believe some of us still recall what happened when Buffy challenged the Master alone. A chain is only strong when all her links are connected."

*

"Welcome aboard our flight Los Angeles – Dublin. The emergency exits are on both sides of..."

Susan was sitting next to Spike, watching the stewardess as she showed the details of the emergency procedure to the passengers. This time she did not feel like laughing. She had hardly got any sleep during the past two days, yet she did not find rest during the flight either. Each passing minute took her nearer to her destination, to a moment that would decide about life and death. Perhaps they would be late anyway.

Riley's face was greenish. He would never have admitted it, but he was terribly afraid of flying.

*

It became clear that Gonzo was already there. The demons were everywhere around the monastery. The gang had to fight their way in. They were bearing huge crosses, throwing bowls of Holy Water, having several stakes at hand, Riley an electric shock weapon belonging to The Initiative.

"According to the plans, the altar chamber should be this way, upstairs," Giles announced. "We've passed the worst."

"No," Susan said grimly, "The worst is yet to come."

She led the group upstairs. The others were following closely behind, prepared to fight at her side.

"What an odd smell," Xander noticed.

"Like petrol," Giles said.

Susan kicked the door open and rushed into the chamber.

They found Gonzo at the foot of the font. The large inscription on the stone was the most prominent thing in the room.

"FAITH, LOVE, HOPE, THESE THREE

TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE CIRCLE OF LOVE;

IT SHALT BE THE CIRCLE OF LIFE."

Gonzo was wearing the necklace and the dagger.

"Are you coming to laugh at me?" he asked, sounding tired. "For several hundred years, I've waited for this moment, just to find the stone empty. The ring is not here."

"It's a trick," Xander claimed.

"Look for yourselves," Gonzo said.

Not taking her eyes from him, the stake openly in her hand, Susan came forward to examine the stone. "He's telling the truth," she said with unconcealed disappointment.

"I'm not going to fight you," Gonzo said. He took off the necklace and dagger and laid them before Susan.

Susan took them carefully and hung the Two Winters' Amulet around Angel's neck. Then she fastened the dagger about his waist with trembling hands. Did she see tears in his eyes?

"I'm sorry I couldn't find the ring for you," she whispered.

As she did it, Gonzo's gaze fell on her hands.

He burst out laughing.

"Hey, what's funny?" Spike asked.

"It's just such an irony," Gonzo giggled. "I've spent my whole unlife searching for all three items. My search ended here, and I found the stone empty. I got used to the thought I had wasted six hundred years. I handed her the items --- to find the ring was right before my eyes all the time, and I didn't see it."

Susan stared at her hand. The claddagh ring?

"Of course," the realization came over her like a shock, "A heart, the symbol of love! I bought the ring at a market in England... the woman who sold it told me about its symbolic power..."

"The ring struck me when I first saw it," Angel said, "But I thought it was because of the motive... this ring is much older than we expected... the first of its kind... the Ring of Regha."

Susan hid her face in her hands. "Oh my God," she whispered, "I had it all the time and didn't know!"

"Happens to the best of us," the ancient vampire said with bitter irony, "You were an honorable opponent, Slayer. I'm going home now." Gonzo took one of the large candles from the altar.

"Everything's covered with petrol," Giles whispered in a state of shock, "One spark, and the whole cloister will explode!"

"Gonzo, no!" Angel shouted.

Then it was as if time had frozen. Susan tried to turn on Gonzo, but she was unable to move, standing like paralyzed, condemned to watch what was going on. Time stood still. Nobody could move. To her it looked as if she and Angel were the only ones who were fully conscious of what happened, she guessed it had to do with the items they were wearing.

A door opened, white light streamed from all of its sides, and a figure entered the altar room.

"This is where the story ends," an all too familiar voice said.

Angel stared at him, not believing his eyes. "This can't be true... Doyle... thought you were..."

Doyle smiled. "Dead? Heroes never die. I'm with the oracles now, still serving The Powers. My, my, Angel, you always manage to get yourself into trouble. Don't you want to introduce me?"

Confused, Angel said, "That's Susan." Looking deep into her eyes, he added, "The Slayer."

Doyle's appearance was different from what he had been like in life. His face looked entirely peaceful, and he seemed to be surrounded by a shining aura. "The Powers sent me," Doyle said. "You have a destiny, all of you. You're not supposed to die here and now because a suicidal vampire wants to blow the whole thing up. The Powers are prepared to stop him for you and get you out of here immediately – but they're asking something."

Susan thought she knew what he wanted to say. "Is this what I think it means?"

"Give me your ring."

She looked at Angel in desperation.

Doyle put a hand on her shoulder. "It's not for all eternity. It's just that they have other plans with you right now. You weren't supposed to meet Angel and the others at this stage, if Buffy hadn't been hurt, this would never have happened now. Give me the ring. The Powers will guard it, so it will be safe from the wrong people. Don't worry about Angel. One day, he will have it, and it will be you who will put it into his hands."

*

Tasha tried hard to close her suitcase. But it was simply too full. She hardly noticed the faint knocking at her door.

"Yes," she said, "Whoever it is, you're just the right person to sit on my suitcase so I can shut the stupid thing!"

Riley entered the room.

"Oh, it's you." She looked away. "Sorry, I didn't realize it was you."

Riley looked down at the floor. What he was going to say was not easy, it had taken him time to figure out the right words, and now he was to articulate them and hoped she would understand. "So you're leaving tomorrow."

"Yes. Giles said we were no longer needed. Susan, Mona and I have been here for eight weeks now, and tomorrow Buffy will be released from hospital. She's doing fine, and will soon patrol again. So we're on our way. Back home."

"Tasha," Riley said, "We never talked about what happened shortly after your arrival. The day of the caffeine shock."

"I don't wanna talk about it," Tasha said, "We were under some influence, I don't know what, but I'm convinced nothing happened."

"Don't do this."

"What?"

"Don't ruin everything. We both know something happened, and denial doesn't help anyone. Mona told me about the future that's awaiting you at your home, your unemployment."

"She had no right..."

"Probably not, but she did. Listen, Tasha, it doesn't have to end here. The fact of that night has taught me one thing: If one is truly in love with someone, another woman can't be a temptation at all. I realized my relationship was a failure. I'm going to break up with Buffy."

"What?" Tasha fell onto her bed like a stone.

"I've also packed my bags. I'm leaving for Iowa tomorrow, and I want you to come with me. I don't know if there are Jehova's witnesses in Iowa, but we have lots of cats at my parents' farm. Tasha, could you imagine..."

"Riley..." This had never happened to her before. She shuddered. "Is this a proposal???!"

*

"I still can't believe she's not coming with us," Susan said as Angel carried her suitcase downstairs.

"Let's just hope they'll be happy," he replied.

"So what are you going to do now?" she asked as they were entering the hall.

"Going back to L.A."

"Without seeing Buffy at hospital? Without telling her what happened while she was not here?"

"Yeah, I can't see her at the moment. There's a time and a place for everything."

"She might need someone to comfort her when Riley breaks up with her. But you're old enough to know by yourself what to do..." She laughed at the irony of making this statement to a 240 year-old vampire. "All right. I have to go. Giles is waiting. And I don't want to run into another vampire, I already feel my slayer's powers diminishing."

"I understand."

Susan could clearly sense there was still something he had not said yet. "You wanted to say something and don't know how," she said.

"Well... they told me it was your birthday today."

Susan sighed. "No, Angel, please, not you! Don't tell me..."

He tried to look earnest as he gave her a small package, but did not really manage. "I thought I owe you something since you lost your ring because of me."

"Feels like a book," Susan noticed as she touched it. Curiously she removed the paper. When she saw what it was she gave him a questioning look. "'American Psycho'?"

"Thought it would remind you of me."

The end

Author's note:

COMING SOON: "The Replacement Slayer Episode II - The Vampire Strikes Back"

(title adapted from STAR WARS)