A/N: Yes there are a few more new characters and I would have to say that this will surprise many people!

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters from Angel, Buffy, or Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Books

Drirletlan awoke the next night energized. I had gotten no sleep and was showing that I was tired.

"So, how'd you sleep?" he was bouncing around, too much blood the past night.

"How does it look like I slept?" I asked.

"Bad," he was even cheerful in answering that.

"Thank you Captain Obvious!" I exclaimed.

"No problem, any time!"

I growled and shuffled to sit down in a chair.

"They're coming, I can smell them," Drirletlan was even more excited. It took me a couple of seconds to realize what he meant.

"It seems that you had enough blood last night, if I wanted you to stay still right now I'd have to tie you down!" I yell.

"Someone's in a mood."

"You wanna bet?" I growled.

"No, I hate betting, I usually end up losing everything I bet," he actually was being glum for the first time that night.

"Really?" I start, "Never would've guessed."

When the sarcasm hit he lunged at me.

"Tsk tsk, still injured and looking for a fight, what would your clan say?"

"Congrats!" he pushed me into the table, my back breaking with a sickening crack, I healed in seconds.

"Tough guy aren't we?" he broke the table and lifted a piece to my heart.

"You wouldn't."

"Try me!"

There was a knock at the door. Saved!

Drirletlan pushed off of me and stood up.

"OW!" I answered his push, sounding childish!

"Get the door!"

"Sheesh, fine!" he wasn't in the mood to be pushed though. He glared at me with his piercing gaze. "Hey! I'm going, I'm going!"

I opened the door and allowed the two remainders to enter.

Drirletlan looked up. He had hidden the shards of wood, I wasn't too happy though. I didn't know where they had gone to.

"Welcome," he greeted.

"Oh, quit the act, you're pissed and it shows!" I yell.

"Excuse us," the people nod.

Drirletlan grabs my arm and drags me out of the room.

"Do you think this is wise?" he growled.

"Yes. Your clan is back and you're all soft and happy. I know how moody you are, I will not tolerate the point that you could get us killed!"

"Killed? Is that what you think? You don't know my clan, Aubrea, if you think that they would kill me."

"They cast you out! They didn't think twice then did they?" I hit a soft spot.

"Bitch!" he yelled.

"Oh, so now I'm a female dog! Real mature there. Look, if you don't care then I'll throw you back to them. Either accept that your clan did throw you out with no remorse, or go back to your clan, I don't really care which." I was lying. I needed to. I couldn't admit that I really did like Drirletlan there.

Drirletlan scowled, "Fine, I'm gone!" He stormed off down the hall. Before I even had the chance to chase him, he transformed into a giant white wolf and ran off.

I turned and walked back into the room.

The people stared and tilted there heads, they were searching for Drirletlan.

"My friend needed to leave, he'll be back, but told me that you two were mine." I was lying again. I just couldn't grasp the truth.

I drank the people's blood, but it was ash in my mouth, it was just another lie.



It was ten in the morning. I hadn't bothered to fix the beds again. It was too much to admit that Drirletlan might not return. It hurt. I had drunk lots of blood, but nothing compared to the alcohol that I had ordered up. I decided to order room service and they brought me a good bottle of wine. I decided that I would drink my worries away.

Moonbay had shown up at the door at one point, but I never answered it. He was worried, but I didn't need to see him, I needed to be left alone. I turned the TV up really loud and he finally gave up. He still didn't know that Drirletlan had left.

I hated to keep Moonbay without information for long, but I still needed to be sure that Drirletlan really wasn't coming back.

I drank a lot the next few nights too. I drank a lot for a long time. Morning, noon, and night. I stayed awake 24/7 just drinking. As a vampire I now could do this, and I took full on advantage.



It had been two weeks. The alcohol had lost its friendliness two days ago so I stopped. I then had a killer hangover that had already lasted the two days, into that day.

I remember it was about six o' clock in the morning. The sun hadn't begun to rise so I decided I would take a walk around the boundaries of the hotel.

There was a sudden knock at the door. I figured it was Moonbay. I had only told him what was up the day I stopped drinking, so he was still trying to get all that he could out of me, I had only given him a short version

I walked over to the door and opened it, chain still in.

What I saw sent me into shock.

It was Drirletlan. He was beaten badly and his clothes were tattered, but he was there, still okay!

"Drirletlan!" I couldn't say anything else.

I closed the door, un-did the chain, and reopened it to let him in.

"Aubrea. I'm so... sorr...y" he passed out at my feet.

I quickly got him inside and made sure that no one saw him, whoever did this really wasn't happy and if he was followed, I couldn't even think about it.

I lifted him onto the bed.

His pale form seemed so fragile there, lying, covered with bruises and cuts. I needed to see the full extent of the wounds.

I carefully lifted his upper body so I could slip his shirt over his head. I realized, after struggling for a few minutes, this wasn't going to work, so I ripped his shirt down one side, get his arm out, and ripped the rest of the sleeve.

I pulled the shirt off and saw the full extent. He had cuts running along his whole body and there were bruises that were a sign of him struggling. I looked to his wrist and there were marks showing that he had been tied up.

I couldn't comprehend what I saw. Who would do this? Drirletlan had left on his own, and an ambush on a clan wouldn't leave this much marking.

He was shaking. I looked him over quickly again to make sure he wasn't bleeding and got him under the covers. He was still shaking when I got him under the covers, but he calmed down and wasn't as bad.

"It's okay Drirletlan, it's only me, Aubrea." Hearing my voice was, for me, the way to help, so I hoped it would comfort him. It did help immensely, and he was now still.

I started to stroke his hair suddenly; out of habit was all I could reason. He relaxed even further and then tensed again. There was something wrong, he was never like this before in front of me, except the night that he and Moonbay fought in front of me.

"Relax," I cooed, "I'm here, and no one will get to you now."

I stayed by his side the whole day until he awoke at about 9 o' clock at night.



When he woke up he seemed startled awake, like he had had a nightmare.

I automatically had to ask, "What happened to you."

He moaned, "I can't tell you."

"Please Drirletlan," I pleaded, "I won't tell anyone."

"No," he pleaded back, "I can't tell you. I can't tell anyone."

"Then I'm sorry, but I need to know."

!!!!!!!!!!!Drirletlan's thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I concentrated and was able to read his memory, every last account of the past two weeks, through his eyes.

I can't believe her! How could she! She knew better than to try me. The idiot. I was never treated like this with the Nightshifters. Aubrey, Jessica, Fala, and the rest, they all know me better then her.

Aubrea. Sounds almost just like Aubrey. The new leader Aubrey. Aubrea has no chance in becoming anything like him.

I saw them on the news, I can catch them. It's like a follow the trail game, just like when I was the leader, they do need me.

I run out the doors, looking for freedom. Freedom and friendship. It hurt the day they gave me up, but I can always make a return, forgive and be forgiven. All I hope for is that it's not too late.



It's been three days, but I found them. I'm a mile away from them now. I can see them, they can't see me though.

I stop, Aubrey just turned around. I see his face. It is dark and deep. Jessica turns and looks back, right where I am... she sees me.

"What do you see?" Aubrey whispers to Jessica.

"An old face," she responds, maybe they won't remember me, "a friend though." They do remember me!

"Show yourself!" Aubrey commands, he always hated a threat to his people.

I step out of shadow, into the darkness that always surrounds me when I'm with them, an impenetrable cloud of icy darkness.

"Drirletlan!" Aubrey exclaims, his tone makes me uneasy.

"Hey Aubrey," I sound uneasy.

"What's wrong? Knew you needed us finally?" he was taunting me like always.

"Yeah, actually."

"Too bad!" Aubrey yelled, "No cain totunamentos."

I knew that command. It was to strike. I turned just in time to see Fala launch at me from the left. I punched her, but she seemed stronger, not phased by the strike. She recovered so fast that I was thrown off, allowing her to elbow me in the rib cage. She then turned and knocked me over the head, throwing me into darkness.



"What? Where am I?" I awake to only my voice. I feel the floor beneath me, it is icy cold. I try to move my arms, but find that they have been bound, along with my feet.

I moan into the darkness, at least I'm alone. I turn my head and see that I am in a dark dungeon. There are stone walls on either side of me and the floor is stone too. The whole room has a musty smell that fills my breath.

I hear a creak above my head, too far off for me to see.

"Who's there?" I call out in a weak voice.

"It's just me," I can hear Jessica call back.

"Jessica. Why am I here? Why did you bind me?"

"I didn't bind you," she says sincerely, "It was Aubrey's idea, he just told me to see if you're awake, if so... well... I won't spoil the surprise."

I see her walk into my view. She looks mostly the same, but her eyes are different. They are now a golden color, not her usual green. She has her raven black hair pulled back, revealing a shirt that is white, with a bottom rim that is red. On the back I notice that there is a black rose, the sign of a vampire, with a bright green stem and crimson dripping from the thorns. She's also wearing fresh blood red pants, stained it seems.

"Like my outfit?" it was as if she were a model.

"Are the pants naturally that color?"

"No, they were white when I stole them, right after we kicked you out. Everyone had a major wardrobe change," she was toying with me.

"Where's Aubrey?" I'm commanding her now.

"If you really want me to get him, just ask nicely."

"Get him or I'll..." I was cut off.

"You'll what?" it was Aubrey. He had entered the room, silently, and apparently heard the whole conversation.

"Aubrey," I growl his name, trying to threaten.

"Drirletlan, I'm only here to say one thing, get comfy, you're gonna be here a while," Dirletlan hissed in my ear.

He turned to Jessica and motioned for her to follow.

"See you Drirletlan," she turned and walked out.

I heard the door open and close. I was alone again, but I wouldn't be for long.



It had been about eight days. By now I couldn't move. They had done so many torturous acts that I lost count on day two.

They had done everything. Tied me and forced me to do acts that would degrade me, like walking around naked, doing their chores. They even tied me like that for all clans to see.

Along with the other emotional tactics they beat me on a regular basis. They really enjoyed watching me wiggle and writhe while they beat me, cut me, and burned me.

I was completely useless by the sixth day, so then they just threw me in here, nothing to eat or drink, and tied to the wall, nothing but pants on.

The chill didn't bother me, but the dampness made me quite uncomfortable. Just to torture me further, they put my shirt and shoes just out of my reach, so I would never get them, but always see them.

I've been pulling on the chains that bind my hands for the last half hour. I can't do anything else. They weaken a lot, but then get replaced, but since the Nightshifters left me alone yesterday, the chains are ready to break.

I heave forward, ignoring the pain as the blood starts to flow down my arm from my wrist. I need to get out. I throw myself forward again, this time hearing a crack; the chains are really loose now!

I pull back and throw myself forward, with everything I have left in me, and finally the chains break.

I quickly scramble for my clothes, picking them up and throwing them on. Then I pull the chains on my feet off. They open easily with my hands now free, and I get up, moving around with clothes for the first time in seven days.

I turn around. It's almost the time when they normally would come in, the sun is just about set, I can feel it. I see that one of the chains from my arms completely detached, now a handy weapon. I run over and pick it up. It's still sturdy and light weight.

I hear someone coming. Slowly and carefully I make my way to the shadows.

I can hear them as they get close. I can I identify the person, Fala. She was always the weakest, and this time I'm ready for her.

She's not alone though. I also hear Aubrey approaching, he could complicate things.

The door opens. It creaks so ominously like always. I watch the two step in. Aubrey is the first to see that I am gone. He turns in time to take a direct hit from my chain. I swing it around his neck and then tie it to the other chains. He's trapped for now.

Fala turns to help and I knock her out with another chain.

Both of them down leaves me the perfect chance to escape.

I run out the door into fresh air. I realize that I was in the old warehouse; they just had changed the inside to confuse me. It's a three day trip back to Aubrea, but she's the only one who can help me now.

I turn and run into the bushes. I slow down and watch to see what Fala and Aubrey do. They walk out annoyed.

"That little... grrr!" is mad.

"Settle down, he's not worth it," Fala tries to calm him.

"Hunt him down and destroy him," at this I turn and run.

I don't hear Fala in pursuit, but I don't stop. I can't stop, I'll get caught, I'll get killed.

I know these woods. There's a lake in the way back. Being a vampire I don't have to breathe, it's the perfect escape.

I run like I have never run, as fast as lightning. I make sure that they don't catch me.

I reach the edge of the lake and stop, I don't run anymore. I know what I must do.

I dive into the lake and from there on out I know I must not be seen, I must get to Aubrea.

!!!!!!end Drirletlan's thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"God," I whisper.

"You, you don't know the half of it," he stammers out.

"They hurt you, Drirletlan, badly, and when you were unlocked you never fought back," I'm in shock.

"Weak aren't I?" he lowers his head, waiting for me to say yes.

"No, smart, from the looks of things they would have killed you," he turns his head to me. He's confused.

"What is it?" I ask.

"You don't think I was a coward?" he asks.

"No!" I respond, "Why would you think that?"

"Because I know everyone else would," this has happened before to him.

"I'm not everyone else, am I?" I smile and he does too.

"Hungry?" I ask.

"Yes," he sounds it too.

"I'll be right back, I'll keep the door locked, I need to find Moonbay to help me get food."

"Don't tell him," he pleads.

"I won't," I promise.

a/n so was that good??? I feel bad about what I typed happening to Drirletlan!!! Please review!