A/N: Sorry it took so long, all. And thanks for the very nice reviews! barghorse, I would like to read your sequel when I get time, your other one was very good. And by the way, I'm going to try to explain more about what happens with Jessica later on in the story.


Her vision was slowly starting to come back. As Risika stretched and blinked to try to see again, she noticed she was no longer in the same room she had been. This was one she did not recognize. The walls were completely black, as was the ceiling and floor, and there were no windows. Classic Aubrey.

In fact, there was no color at all that she could see except for a green stem on a table. She could barely see it still, and the extremely dim light wasn't helping. But as she steadied herself and walked towards it, it came into focus a little more. The green stem belonged to a black rose. It was encased in glass, and quite a beautiful sight. The bit of light coming from some unknown source shown strongest here, reflecting on the dark petals. Risika wondered why Aubrey would keep this here. But then of course, she remembered her own past and the first time they had met. Was he reminding himself of his victory over her?

*Recognize it?* she heard in her mind. She turned around to see Aubrey standing behind her, apparently just risen, from the state of his hair and black undershirt.

"Why did you keep it?" Risika asked, looking back at the mysterious flower.

"For that look on your face when I gave it to you. Rachel was quite intrigued by me," he said, somewhat sarcastically.

Risika scowled. She didn't like to be reminded of her long lost human identity. "Stop with the ego, Aubrey."

He laughed, walking out the door. "I think some of that look is still in you."

Risika just sighed, not gracing him with an answer. Fighting was out of the question now. Vampires who showed as much respect towards each other as they had shown each other in the past few hours didn't turn on each other. They had too high of honor principles. However, that didn't mean she trusted him. She needed to know what exactly it was that he wanted.

Leaving the room, she found Aubrey dressing himself, in his usual black leather. Looking down at the state of her ragged clothes she was surprised to find herself a little embarrassed. It was a trait of her kind to have style.

Aubrey opened the door, which was really unnecessary because he could just disappear, but then, Risika had long ago taught herself to stop attempting to understand many of his actions. "Where are you going?" she asked wearily.

"You need to feed Risika. I don't believe you have since last time I saw you, and you were out all day. So come on."

"I don't need a chaperone. I can take care of myself, you know," she growled at him. However, even she doubted her own words. She wasn't fully healed. Somehow, Aubrey had healed most of her injury, but some of the effects were still there. She felt incredibly weak from the massive loss of blood earlier, and combined with her stomach and headache she felt dizzy. Walking was a problem, as her vision wasn't fully cleared up yet. As she stumbled to the door and nearly tripped, she felt Aubrey catch her. Still in his arms, she wondered why he was being so nice to her. She had never given him any reason to.

"You saved me. And now I'm going to help you. I don't think you're strong enough yet to catch prey for yourself again, and the hunters are after both of us now, but I think if we stick together, like I suggested before you left last time, we might be able to stop them," he answered her, reading her thoughts again. Ever since he had bitten her a few nights ago, he had had the same full access to her mind that she had to his. It was a strange bond, but it wasn't going away.

He let her go, reluctantly it seemed, and they walked in silence out the door. Risika was recalling the incident he had just mentioned, one of the first times they had actually talked without one of them ending up seriously injured. She remembered the inquisitive look in his eyes, not pleading, because Aubrey would never stoop to that, but asking, and trusting her. Shaking her head, she tried to clear the thought. She knew Aubrey had heard it, but he was looking away from her.

They had entered the forest. Risika was unsure of where they were going, but she had no choice at the moment but to trust Aubrey. He was right, she wasn't back to full strength yet. When she was though, she could run from him if need be.

Suddenly he stopped, grabbing her shoulder. *Stay back, Risika*, he whispered to her mind.

Risika felt him push her behind him, and watched in shock as an unexpected attacker jumped Aubrey. He was knocked to the ground, but quick to rebound. *Run*, he told her.

But she didn't have to take orders from him. Moving closer, she got a good glimpse of the assailant's face. Fala? Why would she…

Without wasting more time in thought, Risika jumped onto Fala's back, pulling her off Aubrey, without bothering to question her own reasons.