Chapter 3

The Hyperion. It was almost a year since they had been back here, since the situation with Jasmine had lead them to Wolfram and Hart. Now, two days after the battle in the alley, here they stood once again. Angel realized as he stood in the lobby of the hotel, he felt slightly more at ease. No more did he have to watch his every move, in case The Senior Partners got wind of something they didn't like. He was finally at home again. Yesterday, the slayer Faith had called Kennedy had left to return to the council, taking five of the slayers with her. That left Faith, and two others. A tall dark skinned warrior named Talia, who seemed to prefer using a sword to any other weapon, and a red headed girl called Laura, who always carried a compound bow across her back.

Something suddenly occurred to Angel. With the exception of Faith, who had previously visited the Hyperion to help bring down his diabolical alter-ego, Angelus, none of the people stood here had ever stayed in this building. No one had ever called it home. All those who had were now dead. All dead due to the bad choices they had made. For the first time since the final battle, Angel allowed himself to feel sorrow for his fallen friends. Wes and Gunn had fallen fighting for what was right, against the tide of darkness that was the armies of The Senior Partners. Fred had died when the being known as Illyria had been born into this reality. She had died in agony, fighting the infection that consumed her body, hollowing her out to accommodate Illyria. Then there was Cordelia...

It was late, about one in the morning. Faith had sent her slayers out to patrol, to keep an eye out for any leftovers from the horde, and was currently on the phone to the Watcher's Council, making her daily report to Giles. Angel could overhear Faith trying to reassure Giles. 'So Giles still doesn't trust me.' Angel thought to himself. To be fair, he didn't blame the Watcher. When he had turned into Angelus, he had murdered Giles' girlfriend Jenny Calender, and tortured Giles for hours. Then he went to L.A. and signed up with Wolfram and Hart.. not exactly a confidence builder...

Angel was broken out of his train of though when Spike burst through the hotel doors. The blonde vampire carried two large brown paper bags. Spike chucked the bags onto the table and opened them up. "Oi ya big ponce, catch!"

Spike threw a bag of blood at Angel. Angel caught the pouch before it hit him. Well, Spike was back to normal...

" I got blood, beer, bread and Weetabix. The essentials. They were out of that nancyboy hair gel you love so much..."

Angel was about to bite back when Talia and Laura came through the doors. Talia's clothes were torn, and Laura was sporting a nasty cut over the top of her left eye. Faith immediately made her way over.

"What happened?"

"We were attacked," said Talia. "six vamps, all really tough. Organized."

"Anything else?" asked Faith.

"Yeah," said Laura. "They were all wearing black robes, and one of them dropped this."

Laura handed Faith a rune encrusted ring. Faith closely examined the ring.

"Hmm. I wonder if anyone at the council has any idea what this is."

Angel walked over. "Mind if I take a look?"

"Knock yourself out big guy."

Angel took the ring, and looked at the central rune.

"Oh crap."

Faith looked at Angel. "What is it? Do you know what this is?"

"I've seen these rings before..."

"Angel come on. Share the info man."

"I used to own one. These rings mark the wearer as a member of The Order Of Aurelius."

Faith gave Angel a confused look.

"The Order of what?"

"The Order of Aurelius. An ancient group of vampires. But they were destroyed eight years ago. When Buffy killed their leader. If the Order is back up and running, that only means one thing. They are trying to bring him back..."

"Angel, who? Who are they trying to bring back?"

"The Master. They're trying to resurrect the Master..."