The wound on my cheek would definitely scar. I poked it with my finger. The skin was pink and tender. But it felt better than it looked in the bathroom mirror. I didn't mind scars, and this one was small enough. What I didn't like about them was that sometimes they attract unwanted attention.

I didn't want to leave the shower in my bathroom. The body jets felt so good against my battered body, I wanted to melt right there.

But I got out, dried myself and got dressed. A large t-shirt and stretchy jeans. I desperately needed more clothes, the sweater and t-shirt I had been wearing in the morning were bloody and shredded, so there went another set of clothing.

I put on my combat boots after cleaning them a little, strapped on my thigh sheath, both my arm sheaths and my knife belt for my long blade. Maybe I was a little too armed for a simple meeting, and my weapons were in plain sight, but I was taking no chances. Being surrounded by people who could throw me against walls with nothing but a thought put me at a great disadvantage, and being armed put me slightly at ease.

Irene and I opened our doors simultaneously. She raised both brows at my weapons but said nothing.

"Where did you get that?"

She was looking at the scar on the lower part of my bicep. The t-shirt didn't cover it all up. Oh, well.

"A fight," I replied, leaving it at that. The scar was ugly and jagged, it stretched from my shoulder almost to my elbow.

I had it for eleven years, and the skin had stretched as I grew up and changed color around the rugged line.

But it was expected. I hadn't done a good job in stitching myself up. Besides, the silver wound had been relatively deep, so I was lucky I even had my arm.

Considering the fact that I had dug a grave with that arm, I'd say I was pretty darn lucky.

Amanda was waiting in the living room, as promised. But she wasn't alone. Sitting on the white couch next to her was a witch with rich, warm brown skin and black hair in cornrow braids that fell down her shoulders to her waist. Her left ear had at least eight piercings, her nose and one eyebrow were also pierced.

A small white gold hoop decorated one nostrils, and a shiny stud sat on the arch of her left brow. Her full lips were painted a deep burgundy and her eyes a stunning hazel green that watched Irene and I with a calm intensity so at odds with her wild appearance.

The vampire and the witch stood up, "girls, this is Kat. She's also one of Arthur's seconds."

Aha, so Amanda and Harvey were two of Arthur's seconds. The people who worked directly under the Five were usually quite high up the food chain in the immortal world. They were in direct contact with the Five, and had a certain influence on them.

"A pleasure," her husky voice was as cool as she was. She watched Irene and I with a cautious gaze. I could already tell she and Amanda were like night and day. Amanda was quite exuberant. Even now, she clapped her hand and put her arms around my shoulders and Irene's.

"Come on, then. The boys are waiting upstairs," She led us up the staircase. The wooden railing, its texture still a bit rough, felt good under my hand. The staircase ended in a wide, well lit hallway. Amanda walked ahead of us to the end of it.

The hair on the back of my neck pricked. I glanced over my shoulder at Kat. Her brows were pulled down in a frown, hazel eyes squinted at me. I looked ahead of me, palming the knife on my thigh sheath.

She was a witch, so even if she attacked, it wouldn't be anything physical. Witches relied a lot on their magic. Witches' ability to mold their magical energy into weapons was unrivaled among other immortal races.

Amanda knocked and went inside. Like everywhere else in the house, one of the room's walls was almost entirely made of glass, bathing the room in warm sunlight and making it appear larger than it actually was.

Arthur was standing by the floor to ceiling windows with his arms crossed over his chest, the white t-shirt stretched tightly over his back and arms. Charles spoke in a low voice next to him.

Harvey was sitting at a long, rectangular table, across from a man I'd never seen before. A feline shapeshifter. This one was different from any shapeshifter I'd ever met. The sun glinted off his brown skin. His hair was cropped close to the scalp, and his hazel green eyes sharp and alert.

He sat with his long legs stretched and crossed at the ankles on top of the table, his hands behind his head. The personification of a lazy cat.

He ran his gaze over me and grinned. "Well, well, well. You guys didn't tell me the human looks like a fine piece of -"

"Shut up, Jesse." Kat said, walking past Irene and I to the chair next to him. His grin widened, teeth glinting white in the light.

"Don't mind, Jesse," Amanda patted Irene and I on the back, gently steering us to sit on Harvey's side of the table. She then sat next to Harvey who pulled her rolling chair close until he could wrap his arm around her shoulders. I knew it. They felt so perfect for each other.

The shapeshifter, on the other hand, didn't take his eyes off me. I stared at him, unblinking.

He stared back. Dominant shapeshifters were touchy about eye contact.

He tilted his head, eyes starting to glow green. "Do you even know how to use those tooth picks on your arms?"

I grinned, "try me and you'll find out."

He snapped his teeth at me, a very smug feline smile stretching his lips, "adorable."

If someone called me adorable one more time I'd skewer them.

"Jesse, behave." Arthur took a seat at the head of the table, Charles sat next to Kat. Jesse removed his feet off the table and sat properly in his chair.

"Alright, starting today, the case is officially handled by my office. The Order is no longer involved, except for agent Kim. And Elle, since you're technically hired by the Order."

"Why take the Order off?" Amanda asked.

"I want the majority of our powers focused on guarding any potential victims. Agent Kim's doubts about how the demon chooses his victims is highly plausible. Jesse confirmed it after checking all the victims' families."

"Making sure we cover all human females with limited magic presence in their blood will be difficult," Harvey said, his hand absentmindedly playing with Amanda's golden locks, "if we miss even one..."

"Which is why I had George's agents combing the city constantly, if there's a female who falls under the category, she will immediately be put under watch. Now, we need to find that bastard, any ideas?"

"Do we even know he's in the city?" Irene asked, "he could be teleporting somewhere else. It would make it impossible to find him."

"I think he'll stay in the city," Kat said, "I suppose you all know that he's keeping a connection with the other realm."

We all nodded. She continued, "that's how he can materialize in our world, why he can summon so many lesser demons in so little time, and why he can use his teleportation magic easily.

"I did a little research this morning after talking to the Order's demonology expert. The downside to having a live connection is that it needs a geographical anchor in our realm, a fixed location. He can only operate in a certain radius around the anchor."

"Since he's been active in Portland," Amanda said, "His anchor is somewhere in it."

Kat nodded.

"The demon we have in capture doesn't know where that could be?" I asked.

Arthur leaned back in his chair, putting his ankle over a knee, "no, he's given us everything. His master has been very cautious."

"What's the radius he can operate in? How far from his anchor?" I asked Kat.

She bit her lip, tapping a black painted nail on the table, "I can't be sure, but it wouldn't be more than ten miles, fifteen at best."

"We can narrow it down," Irene said, taking out her datapad. That thing was glued to her pocket. I didn't even know where mine was.

Arthur snapped a finger, and the large screen on the wall behind him came to life. Irene connected the devices, and soon we were seeing a map of Portland with red marks on it.

"These are the places where the victims were either kidnapped or found, if we add the ones from this morning.." She added two more locations.

"It's mainly in the human side of the city." Charles said.

"It's possible to find if we look thoroughly," Irene said.

"Kat," Arthur said, "I'll put you in charge of a team to look for the anchor spot, alright?"

"Sire." Kat gave a firm nod. "Also, he needs live human blood to keep the connection. So if we find the anchor, there's a good chance there will be humans there, most likely working with him willingly."

"Better capture them alive," Jesse said, "we need to know how they got there in the first place. It's not easy to get in contact with a high level demon."

Arthur nodded, and Kat left after a polite nod.

"Alright, let's suppose the search for the anchor doesn't give us anything. How can we catch him?"

Silence.

"Use me as bait."

Five pairs of immortal eyes fell on me. Arthur's head fell back, he stared at the ceiling. My gaze went to the strong and graceful lines of his throat. His head fell down again, and he stared at me for a long moment.

"No."

"Why?" I frowned, "it's a logical solution."

"Not yet, right now he's on the defensive since he knows I'm after him. So I doubt he'll make any moves."

"Still," Jesse intervened, "I think her idea is worth trying. Even if we lose her, one human life as a price to catch him is not bad."

I glared at the shapeshifter. He grinned. Asshole. At last, I've found someone I disliked more than Arthur.

"No." Arthur said, "I'll keep your idea in mind, Elle. For now, though, we'll keep searching for him and guarding all potential victims."

"I agree," Amanda said, "he'll probably keep a low profile for some time. His fear of Arthur will keep him in check. Hopefully we find him before his hunger for human flesh gets the best of him."

I sighed, realizing I wouldn't win the argument.

"Good," Arthur stood up, "if there's any new development, you'll be notified. Otherwise, Irene, please keep me updated if the Order's agents have any problems."

"Yes, sir."

We all stood up.

"Thomas has prepared lunch in the backyard," Arthur said, walking to the door, "let's go."

Everyone filtered behind him. Somehow I ended up walking next to Jesse at the end of the line.

He kept glancing at me. Irritated, I snapped, "what?"

"You're... weird."

I made a face. He shook his head, wrinkling his nose.

"If you don't like my smell that much, you're very welcome to keep your distance."

"Nah, it's not that. You smell fine. In fact, you smell very fine."

I didn't even answer. He was provoking me on purpose. But why was he spoiling for a fight?

We went down the stairs, through the back doors and into the backyard. Identical to the one next door but much larger. Arthur led the way to a gazebo under which a long dining table was set with warm, delicious looking food. Thomas stood next to the table, his blue eyes bright under the shade. We all sat down. Of course, Jesse sat next to me. Irene on my other side. Charles, Amanda and Harvey across from us.

Irene jabbed her elbow in my side, making eyes at Thomas. I bit back a grin. He was beautiful. Too pretty for my taste, but it was kind of fun to have a girlfriend with whom I could play around like this.

Growing up, I never had friends my age. Uncle Robert was all the family I had. We lived deep in forests, moved around a few times. Even when we visited villages for suppliances, we kept to ourselves and left immediately after taking care of our business. I only ever saw children my age from afar.

It wasn't a lonely childhood, though. Uncle Robert kept me busy, and as weird as that was, I loved hanging out with animals. Little rabbits, squirrels, deer, even mountain lions or wild wolves sometimes. Uncle Robert used to say my magic must have an affinity for attracting other creatures. I just saw them as friends. They liked me as much as I liked them, and I was grateful for that.

I was the saddest at times when it was my turn to hunt for food. Uncle Robert knew it, so he rarely sent me. But it was necessary for our survival.

After uncle Robert died, I spent two years on my own before I went to live with humans. Even then, I didn't have any friends. Which was to be expected. I wasn't brought up the same way they were, not in the same environment, not with the same values. I was different. And for some humans, different means bad.

Irene was the first female I was this close to, and I loved how easy it was to talk to her, how fun it was to share a private joke like this. It felt like belonging.

I wiggled my brows at her when Thomas bent his head to speak words in Arthur's ears. She fanned herself, biting her lip. I snorted, covering it up unsuccessfully with a cough. Amanda caught my eyes and winked with a playful, knowing grin. And soon all three of us were giggling like little girls.

The men looked with confused expressions, trying to figure out what was wrong with us. We got ourselves together in a few seconds and started enjoying the feast.

I had snacks earlier, but I was starving after my little workout in the woods and after Arthur stole my lollipop. Even with the smoothie and the chocolate bar. My body was burning calories like crazy trying to heal the silver wound in my cheek. So I piled my plate with salad, fries and mouth-watering cheese ravioli.

Arthur, Charles, Harvey and Amanda sipped from wine glasses. It wasn't until I was midway into my meal that I realized that might not be wine, after all. Of course it wasn't wine, how stupid could I get. Vampires could digest a small amount of food, but it did nothing for them. Blood was the only way for them to get nutrition.

Arthur, like the rest of the Five, was different from other vampires, though. I wondered if maybe he did need to eat food. I sneaked glances at him, and sure enough, he was enjoying his food as much as the red liquid in his glass.

"Yes, it's blood. And yes, I do need food as much as you do." Arthur said, looking at me over the rim of his glass in open amusement.

I glared at him, "stop that."

"What?"

"Don't read my mind."

"I don't need to, your face is enough."

I grumbled under my breath, ignoring the looks of everyone around, stabbed a few innocent ravioli with my fork and shoved them in my mouth.

"So, Elle, who trained you? You move in a beautiful way when you fight." Amanda asked.

Even after eleven years, thoughts of uncle Robert and how I would never see him again still felt like painful stabs in the heart. I knew I should remember my good memories with him, and there were so many. But the first thing that came to mind was his motionless, battered and bloodied body on the forest ground.

"I trained here and there," I said past the knot in my throat.

"I took a look at your file," Jesse said next to me. I stiffened, knowing the question was coming. "The humans don't have any records of you before the age of sixteen. They assume you've been homeless, living with someone not registered in the system."

"Mhm," I mumbled, chewing carefully.

"So, how true is that?" he asked, "for someone to fight the way you do, they must be trained from childhood. And that scar on your arm is quite old."

I could tell everyone was waiting for an answer as much as Jesse, but I kept quiet and focused on my plate.

"So?" Jesse prompted, "you're not going to answer."

"You haven't asked a question for me to answer."

"Where did you live before the age of sixteen?"

I turned my head and met his burning gaze with a sweet smile. He wanted an answer, I'd give him one. "None of your business."

He blinked, then scoffed and muttered under his breath, "well, whoever did raise you must've had hell, no wonder they ditched you at sixteen."

Silence. Even the click clank of cutlery stopped. My hand froze with the fork midair. The storm inside of me felt like it would break loose at any moment and ravage everything around. I breathed deeply, put down my fork and knife and stood up.

"Excuse me." I left without meeting anyone's eyes, feeling the heavy weight of one particular gaze on my back.

I needed to be out for a moment. Away from all the questions and the stares and the violence. So I headed to the forest.

Thankfully, no one followed me this time. I went in deep enough to get away from any eyes. I removed my boots and socks and walked at a more leisurely pace. The grass and dirt felt like home under my feet. My breath matched the rhythm of the forest, draining my anger and sadness until the urge to burn everything was no longer stifling.

I was so close to letting it out. I hadn't been this close to losing control since the day uncle Robert died. It must be the feeling of being constantly cornered these days. Magic had a protective tendency toward its owner.

I had to be careful, showing even a hint of my true face would get me killed faster than I could say Fae.

I reached a spot where the tree branches on top of me left a little opening for the sun to reach the ground. I sat down with my back against the rough bark of a tree, stretched my legs to the sun and wiggled my toes. The warmth slowly chased away the cold bite of Jesse's words. I knew uncle Robert wouldn't have thought twice about giving his life so I could live. But sometimes, I wondered, if I hadn't been born, if he hadn't been tasked with raising me up in hiding, would he have lived a longer life?

These thoughts were nothing but a pain, so I rarely indulged. But hearing it come out of someone else's mouth still hurt.

I heard a rustling above me and looked up. A bengal cat was sitting on the tree branch, peeking at me with wide curious eyes.

"Hey, there," I smiled, "are you stuck, kitty?"

The cat meowed, stood up and stretched before climbing down with a grace only cats are capable of. She sniffed a little at my palm then nudged it with her nose. I knew it was a she, because she gave me quite a view while climbing down the tree.

"Sorry, no food," I scratched behind her ear, she purred, "that's all I can do for you. Maybe I can sneak out something later."

Her eyes closed as she curled on my lap. "Good girl, aren't you just the cutest thing?" I crooned. Her coat was silky and warm under my palm.

Her slight weight and purring made me relax, my body loosening up. When I felt my eyes drift shut, though, I shook my head. Sleeping here would be very careless.

Barking, then footsteps coming towards me. Whoever it was, wasn't a fighter. Their footsteps would wake the dead.

A dog appeared first. Dog was an understatement, though. A black, great dane, almost as tall as I was, walked ahead of Thomas with its head held high and suspicious eyes glaring at me.

"Oh wow. That's a big dog."

Thomas petted the dog who refused to come any closer. The butler walked up to me, put a small white box on the ground next to me then straightened up.

"Agent Kim asked me to bring it along when she found out I was taking the dog for a walk."

"Oh," I opened the box. It had a piece of the chocolate cake I'd been eyeing for dessert. "Thank you. I'm sorry you had to come all the way here."

He blinked, long black lashes closing over eyes so blue they appeared unreal. "You're welcome, Miss Sanders."

"Just Elle, please."

He debated it for a moment then, "Miss Elle, then. You don't have to apologize, it's my job."

"Thank you anyway," I looked at the dog behind him, "what's its name?"

"Wes."

"Ah, so it's a he."

"Yes, and the cat's name is Lola."

"Oh? I thought it was a stray." I looked at the cat in my lap who had raised her head at the sound of Thomas' voice.

"No," he hesitated, "there aren't really strays on the island. All living beings are taken care of."

The emotion in his eyes made me think he was talking about more than animals, but he blinked and it was gone. He really was too pretty. His face was almost perfect in its structure. But the wariness in his eyes and the way his body was always stiff, shoulders slightly hunched, made me wonder about the past of such a man.

"Are you going back now?" I asked.

"No, I'm just taking Wes out. Why? Would you like me to get you something from the house?"

"No," I picked up my dessert box in one hand and Lolla in the other and stood up, "I'd like to tag along if you don't mind."

He looked lost for a moment before recovering, "no, of course. You're welcome to."

Thomas was nice enough to hold Lolla while I ate my dessert. He protested that I should sit down and eat and that he would wait for me to finish.

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me."

So we walked. Thomas, familiar with the forest around, led us to a well walked trail. I finished the cake in blissful silence, the box dangling from my hand.

Wes kept glancing at me, I kept smiling at him. He was a big, suspicious dog. But I liked him. Which wasn't saying much because I liked all animals. There just wasn't any pretension or calculation while dealing with them. When they like you, they show it. When they want something from you, they don't make deals or play mind games to get it. They're so pure, so easy to be around.

We walked for quite a bit before Wes edged between Thomas and I. I kept my hand to myself until he sniffed his fill and nudged it. I petted his big head.

"Good boy", I scratched his neck, "you're very brave, aren't you?"

"He's usually wary of strangers," Thomas said, looking at Wes with a confused frown, Lolla sleeping soundly in his embrace.

"I could see that," I petted the dog, now that he was over his initial wariness, he brushed my side while walking, and rubbed his length against me. Such an affectionate boy. "He just needs to know I don't mean him any harm. Don't you, Wes? Aren't you just a big, lovely boy? Yes, you are."

His tail was going crazy, his tongue hanging off droopy lips. I glanced at Thomas to find him watching me with an amused tilt of his lips. I smiled sheepishly, "I love talking to them. I like to think that they understand, at least the emotion of what we say."

"I believe the same."

Soon, I could see the house through the trees. I sighed heavily, my hand absently on Wes' head.

"Would you like to walk some more, Miss Elle?"

"No, it's fine." I couldn't escape forever.

Arthur and Jesse were talking in front of the house. When we emerged from the trees. Jesse glanced at us. His snarl, filled with disgust and hate, took me by surprise.

He walked away, disappearing beyond the trees. Wes ran to where Arthur was waiting. The vampire crouched, petting the dog in open affection. He straightened when we reached them, his hand still on Wes' head and the other scratching Lolla's fur.

"Sire." Thomas bowed his head.

"Thank you Thomas, I owe you one. I know you don't have time to walk Wes."

"It's my job to be of service," the butler replied.

"I appreciate it, anyway."

Thomas gave another bow, nodded my way and went inside the house with a sleeping Lolla.

"What's his problem?" I asked, looking where Jesse disappeared.

"He doesn't trust strangers easily," Arthur sighed, "and when those strangers have secrets, unusual abilities and are well trained fighters, it's worse. Especially since you're staying here."

"Well, I don't mind leaving and putting him out of his misery," I stared back at Arthur.

"Not happening."

"Fair warning, then. He'll get the fight he's spoiling for if he keeps this up."

"Just don't mess him up too bad."

"You either have too much faith in me or you're joking." Because even I knew I couldn't take Jesse down, at least not without suffering serious harm in the process.

"No, I just know how vicious women could be when they're pissed off."

Misogynistic much? I rolled my eyes, "speaking from experience?"

"What I do to women is far from pissing them off, believe me," his eyes glinted with hunger for something other than food, but underneath it was amusement. He really was having fun leading me on.

Well, I should rest assured then. I had no plans of getting entangled with an immortal, certainly not one of the Five. That would be a death wish.