AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter goes a little on the AU-side of things, but hopefully you guys won't be thrown off too badly. (This story most likely takes place between Billy and Offspring and I have Caritas reopening in this chapter, so that's counts as AU.)

Thanks to mercurybard for the reviews! There is a reason for why Mabon keeps apologizing, which I plan to illustrate as the story goes on. Let's just hope I don't lose interest, so keep those reviews coming people :).

AN EXTRA DISCLAIMER: The song in this chapter is not mine, it belongs to Annie Lennox. In case anyone doesn't recognise it, it's Love Song for A Vampire (from the 1992 version of Dracula).

CHAPTER 7 -CONVENIENT INVITATION-

(The Aravalli Sanctuary, western India 1027)

Mabon was thrown across the air until his back came to contact with a tree. He fell down to the ground and looked up at the man floating towards him.

"Harish, what are you doing?"

"I want you to get out!" The fire-elemental shouted and raised his sword.

"Why? What did I do?" Mabon stood up, clutching the wound on his side.

Harish, guardian of the Aravalli Sanctuary, glared at Mabon.

"Please, Harish! If I did something wrong, I'm sorry."

"There's no amount of apologies that can change things."

"But what did I do?" Mabon could feel tears running down his face.

"I saw you!" Harish snorted in disgust. "You're horrible! Just look at yourself, no one else looks like that."

"That doesn't matter, does it? I'm still one of you."

"You're nothing like us! You're a filthy freak!"

"Harish, I can explain..." Mabon took a step forward.

"Don't make me hurt you further, you'll only end up uglier than you already are."

"I'm sorry..."

"Shut up! I know you got thrown out of the Shan Emei Sanctuary. If they didn't accept you there, no place will take you in. Get lost, and be happy I didn't tell the others!"

- - - - - - -

(Present day L.A.)

The morning and afternoon passed without incident. Most of Angel Investigations were sleeping or otherwise reclining in their respective dens until boredom or hunger slowly drove them down stairs.

Angel had arrived just before sunrise, after having prowled the streets for any random vampires or demons looking for a fight. Not wanting to be the only one not to have gotten any rest, he headed to his room.

Once he came down the next time Angel found Fred struggling with the iron box. She had attempted to stuff the chains back in, but the lid was not completely closed.

"Need some help?"

"Oh, Angel. Yeah, this thing's really heavy."

Angel walked over to the reception desk and effortlessly lifted the box up. "Where do you want it?"

"I don't know, somewhere out of sight. I figured Mabon wouldn't like to reminded of that thing whenever he walks into the lobby."

Angel moved behind the desk and deposited the box on the floor beneath it. "Are you sure it's a good idea for you to invite him here right off the bat? I mean, he's a nice kid, but we don't really know what we're getting into."

"Angel," Fred laughed. "We're supposed to be the good guys, remember? He needs help and I think we should help him."

"You like him, don't you?" Angel rested his elbows on the desk.

"Not like that. He... Well, he sort of reminds me of how I was. You know, when you found me in Pylea?"

"How could I forget? You've come a long way since then."

"Thanks. I just wish I could help Mabon somehow."

"I think you're helping him enough by being friendly to him."

"I guess. He seems to have real issues with relationships. Either that or he's really afraid."

Gunn entered the lobby, holding onto a cup of coffee. "Hey guys. What's up?"

Angel shrugged. "Nothing."

"Were you out all night?"

"Maybe I was. And you?"

"I was out for a while, but it was as slow outside as it is in here. How's the kid?"

Fred fiddled around with a pile of assorted papers. "Mabon's not really a kid, he told me he's one thousand and eight hundred years old."

Gunn chocked on his coffee. "What?"

Angel smiled knowingly. "I don't look my real age either."

"I'm still gonna call him a kid." Fred gave Gunn a severe look. "Unless he doesn't like it."

Fred pulled out a colourful paper from the stack she had been going through. She smiled and handed the paper to Angel. "This is perfect!"

"The reopening of Caritas tonight? How's that perfect?"

"I'll take Mabon there, maybe Lorne can figure out what his issues are."

"You sure?" Gunn asked.

"It sounds plausible. Mabon doesn't want to talk about the bad things in his life, but if they're bothering him Lorne will know what to do about them. It's like seeing a shrink without having to really tell him anything."

"Do you think Mabon would be up to it? If he doesn't want to talk about something, he may not want us to know about it at all," Angel said.

"I wouldn't be so sure of it."

Fred and Gunn turned to see Wesley descending the stairs. Angel, who had heard Wesley coming long before his human friends, merely raised a questioning eyebrow.

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt to ask him. He might find the idea interesting." Wesley headed for his office.

Angel, Gunn and Fred exchanged looks. Finally Fred slammed her hands together and marched upstairs.

- - - - - - -

(Later that night)

After some major persuasion Fred had managed to convince Mabon to accompany her to Caritas. Angel dropped the two off in front of the club and Fred guided Mabon in.

Lorne lifted his gaze up from his drink the minute he felt Fred enter the room. He made his way through the usual assortment of patrons and enveloped Fred in his arms.

"Kitten! I was worried none of you guys were going to show up." Lorne glanced at Mabon. "And who's this, your date?"

"No," Fred laughed. "This is Mabon, a new friend of mine."

"Nice to meet you." Mabon nodded his head.

"Well, aren't you just the cutest thing. Make yourselves comfortable, let me know if you need anything."

Once Lorne was gone, Mabon turned to Fred. "Does he always talk like that?"

"Pretty much."

"And he comes from the same dimension that you were in? He doesn't seem bad."

"He's the exception to the rule. Other than him and this Groosalugg guy, the people in that dimension are very unpleasant."

"I see. Uh... How exactly do we go about this?"

"Like I told you, you just get up on the stage and sing something. Then Lorne reads your aura and tries to help you find your path."

"I don't know..."

"It's okay, Lorne does it all the time."

"But I don't know if he can help me."

"There's only one way to find out." Fred lead Mabon to the bar. "Lorne, can you show us the song list?"

"Sure thing, peach." Lorne handed Fred the list.

Fred leafed through the pages. "See anything good?" She asked Mabon.

"Well, there's this one." Mabon pointed to a title. "But I wouldn't want to offend any vampires present."

Lorne took a quick look at the song and chuckled. "Don't worry, red. Most vampires actually like that one. Go ahead, the stage is yours."

Mabon got up on the stage and sat down on the stool. He looked to Fred, who gave him an encouraging smile and thumps up.

The music began and Mabon sang in a clear countertenor voice.

"Come into these arms again
and lay your body down
The rhythm of this trembling heart
is beating like a drum
It beats for you it bleeds for you
it knows not how it sounds
For it is the drum of drums
it is the song of songs."

A few heads, mostly those belonging to vampires, turned towards the singing elemental, but were soon consumed with their own thoughts again.

Meanwhile Fred and Lorne sat occupied a table in the back of the club.

"What do you think?" Fred asked.

"Kitten, I don't need to hear him sing to know what's going through his mind. The kid's an open book."

"Even I can see that, but what about the less obvious things?"

"I think he'll let you know in his own time. I don't think it would be right for me to spill the beans, something could come out the wrong way. You have to be patient with him, honey."

"Okay. But what do you think about his singing?"

Lorne smiled. "Well, I personally go for something deeper, but he's good."

"Let me be the only one
to keep you from the cold
Now the floor of heaven is laid
the stars are bright as gold
They shine for you they shine for you
they burn for all to see
Come into these arms again
and set this spirit free."

The song was over and Mabon made his way to Fred and Lorne.

"You were so good," Fred said.

"Thank you. No one's heard me sing for a while, so it's hard for me to know if I can still do it."

"Oh, you can do it, sparrow." Lorne got up and motioned for Mabon to follow him.

Mabon looked at Fred, she nodded her head. "I'll be fine."

Lorne turned to look at Mabon once they were in a private enough place. "First I have to tell you that I can sympathise with what you've gone through."

Mabon looked at his feet. "You could sense it?"

"Yes. But I think you don't have to worry about Fred and her friends not being fine with it. They won't care."

"Humans usually don't. They can't understand what means to someone like me."

Lorne laid his hand on Mabon's shoulder. "I managed to find a place where people don't care if you're different. Maybe you'll get lucky in L.A. too."

"I hope so." Mabon lifted his eyes and smiled. "Thank you."

"Anytime, sparrow. Go back to Fred and you two have a fun night."

"We will."