Stopping at the gate, I looked back to find slow moving shadows in the dark. The smell radiated off them, a rancid mix of death and decay and I wanted to keep running, but I couldn't. The risk of some of them getting out of the cemetery and into civilization was too high. The world didn't need this and I couldn't even remember the last time zombies had been reported as an issue. I was in so much trouble as it was, I didn't need it getting worse.

"This is not how I saw tonight ending." Ailin appeared with two other Kasha demons in tow. I could only guess they were Toyo and Lily. Her samurai sword appeared seconds later as she stayed in human form and before I could speak, the other two sent a bright pink beam into the sky. The dome fell down around us and I prayed I wasn't going to be stuck in here with our dead friends.

"You're telling me!" I mumbled, signalling up to the vanishing light.

"The shield will stop any getting out and covers us. We do not need humans to see this."

A blast of light came from above, taking over the darkness. It was as bright as midday and at least we could see them a little clearer now, if that was a good thing. Remnants of flesh hung off worn bones, as corpses in varying stage of decomposition lumbered our way. Whether it was day or night didn't bother them like it did the vampires. All they'd be able to sense was the living and it's what drove them our way.

"Don't let them bite you!" Ailin warned.

"Really? Because I was totally going to let that happen!" I shot back sarcastically and taking out my gun, she quickly pushed it down.

"Save it. These are more effective!" She pointed at the machete V had me buy back at the store. "Come on Hunter."

The crazy demon ran towards the first dozen and they didn't react to her the same way as they did me. I guess being a demon had its perks right now and swallowing my growing fear, I ran after her.

There were too many of them, and as heads began to roll it only seemed to excite the mob. If not for Ailin, I would have been bit about three times and as we were seperated I found myself left with no choice other than climbing up onto one of the smaller mausoleums. It was a bad idea as they mobbed the area, piling up against each other. Avoiding reaching hands that sought to pull me down, I did have a good position to behead them only few met that fate as I was left chopping off hands and kicking them back instead.

As the first one managed to get up onto the roof, I failed to notice those on the other side moving away. Black liquid that was once blood, bits of flesh and general gunk covered me and the smell was something I was positive I'd never get out my nose. Seeing the space the other group left, I used it to get away. Looking back, the others were still trying to climb up, and finding the main mob, my heart stopped seeing Logan quickly getting into a similar position I had just been in.

"Logan!" I screamed, the sound of my voice making a couple turn back in my direction.

I braced myself for their attack, their jaws opening and closing in anticipation of their first meal as the undead. The woman who came first still had a fair amount of the skin on her face, reminding me that despite being here now, they were once people, living, breathing people. Her pearl necklace had half sunk in against her collarbone and as she lunged at me, I wondered whom she had been. A mother maybe, or did she live alone? Was she loved or had been forgotten since her death?

As her head dropped to the dirt and body fell behind it, now wasn't exactly the time to think of those kind of things. She wouldn't have possessed the ability to think of my life up to this point; the drive to feast on warm blood and fresh meat would have been more consuming than the urge to feed on blood as a vampire.

"You weren't kidding about the zombies were you?" Logan got out between groans of effort as we now fought back to back. I couldn't shake the déjà vu of the moment and as my eyes played tricks on me, it wasn't corpses we were fighting, but vampires and werewolves. As a deadly set of jaws nearly cut my arm, I was snapped out of my thoughts and brought back to reality.

"No. Where are the others?" I demanded.

"Coming, I was already on my way to get my bike. Thanks for that by the way!" Oh, so it was his?

"No, problem!" I grunted, kicking the corpse into two more to try and keep some distance between them and us.

We were failing. My arms were already aching from the constant battle and how I hadn't started throwing up was beyond me as the stench reached new levels.

"Let's get up there, at least until the others come!" Logan pointed out to a tomb like the one V had gone into and we didn't really have much of a choice.

 Ailin soon joined us thankfully used her ability to get us up there without needing to fight more. We were both out of breath, covered in zombie remains and as we looked out over the cemetery, more bodies were emerging from the dirt.

We couldn't kill a whole cemetery worth of zombies.

"So where is your little vampire friend?" Logan finally asked.

"What?" I muttered, still watching the growing mob around us.

"V! You got him out, how did that end up with this?"

"Did I get him out? I really don't know how I could have considering all the security around him." I wondered.

"Funny. Your little stunt was obvious, I know you were at the warehouse."

"Oh so you're stalking me again?" I acted stupid, choosing to argue instead.

"When you steal my things, yeah. I knew you weren't drunk, you had no alcohol on your breath!" He admitted angrily.

"How about we get through this before we start trying to argue over whether or not I did or did not get V out."

"You did, I know you did!" Logan yelled, throwing his hands up in frustration.

Ailin appeared beside us once more and every zombie in this place was now surrounding our hiding place. "How did this happen Hunter?"

I wasn't going to play stupid with her.

"Well, I did notice a strange stick thing in the crowd." I left out the part of about V doing it; "It made an earthquake and then tada!"

"Where is the stick?" She asked.

"Back, um-" I circled around, trying to find something to point me in the right direction. "That way!"

She disappeared and Logan and I shared a look before she reappeared. "I can't touch it, it's cursed!"

"Can we?" Logan quickly asked.

"Maybe. It's an old magic, we need to destroy it and it will end this!" Ailin looked down frowning before looking back towards the gates in. "Come."

Grabbing our shoulders, we were back in the car park and Zane was barking out orders, not seeing us. It took him seconds to smell us though. "Oh thank god, you're okay!"

He came closer before stopping, turning his nose up at me in disgust.

"I'm fine too!" Logan muttered sarcastically, earning a death glare to be sent his way. We both ignored him and I quickly told him what had happened.

"So Ailin thinks if we can destroy the stick, it will stop all of this!"

"Right. You heard her, remember the plan and stick your pairings!" Zane commanded and two by two, my friends ran into the graveyard.

"Zane, it's at the other end of the place!" I stopped him from going in and Jordan hung back with Chris.

"That's why we have her!" He pointed at Ailin and with a nod, she took all three of them away before I could say anything.

What surprised me even more Logan slapping a handcuff over my wrist with the other part attached to him. "Um, kinky, but stop playing around!"

"I'm not playing around, though maybe later if you're-" He winked as I pulled my hand back to my side.

"What are you doing? How can we fight like this idiot?"

"You're done, Zane's orders. You're stuck with me!" Logan smirked. "Get in the car or I will drag you in there."

"Logan, come on. We need to help them!"

"No. They're going to break the stick, zombies will disappear back into the ground and it's over. Then you can tell them how you got V out and good luck getting out of this one." Crossing his arms, I was pulled closer to him.

"Let me go Logan!"

"No."

I yanked on the chain connecting us making him unfold his arms with a grunt, the more we both pulled, the worse it was getting on our wrists. "You're a jerk!"

"You shouldn't have run off! Again!" Logan yelled.

"You-" Well, he hadn't really done anything. "You suck."

"You suck!" He mimicked back sarcastically.

Then I remembered something else. I left my bag in that tomb and I had no doubt that V would have taken it for the weapons stashed in there. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I started tapping away on it making Logan inch closer curiously. He wasn't the only one these days that knew a thing or two about technology and GPS.

"That lying bastard!" I mumbled, the map coming up with a tiny blue dot now on the other side of the cemetery to where it should be if he really did have nowhere to go under that tomb.

"What?" Logan asked defensively.

"Let's get in the car." I decided, starting to walk that way, but Logan stopped me. "Isn't that what you want?"

"Yeah, when I want to go in there. You suddenly deciding to get in – no, I want to stay out here." He answered suspiciously. "What's going on?"

"Let me go and I'll tell you."

"No deal. Tell me and maybe I'll let you go." He tried to bargain. Reaching down to my boot, Logan stepped closer again. "Hands where I can see them."

"What happened to you Logan, you used to be fun."

"I've been burned by you too many times Bunny, just tell me!"

Looking at my screen again, the blue dot was moving just outside the cemetery grounds. I didn't have time for this.

"Fine. I did get V out, and right now I need to go get him before he fucks off completely, again!" I blurted out.

With a groan and something that sounded like, Zane is going to kill me; Logan headed over to the car and pulled out a bag with a variety of weapons in it. I watched in disbelief as he then pulled out the key for the lock and undid the cuffs.  "You owe me, big time!"

"Thanks!" I grabbed the bag and went to run, when he stopped me.

"Not so fast, I'm coming too!" He strapped a crossbow over his back and not wanting to waste any more time, we followed the blue dot.

He was right about one thing; Zane was going to kill us.

-x-

"So how did you get in and more importantly, get out?" Logan asked as we made our way down the street from the cemetery.

"How do I get out of any situation I find myself in?" I wondered out loud, not giving him anything.

"I've asked myself that so many times." He sighs in defeat and we carry on in silence.

It's not long until we are practically on top of the blue dot and since we're not seeing V anywhere, it only means that he is still underground. Looking around, the opening to the harbour isn't that far from here and I bet there is a tunnel that opens up near there somewhere. With dawn fast approaching, he wouldn't have time to get very far though so it would make more sense for him to stay put for the day. He did say be ready tonight, but avoiding Zane's wrath all day is going to be harder for us than him avoiding the sun.

As the road ends with a small patch of trees and dumped rubbish, I stop by the ripped, old sofa someone left there and get out my gun. Logan does the same and we go on more cautiously, not needing to voice our plans or thoughts. I had mentioned V might not be alone, so the danger of the situation is obvious.

We make it to the shoreline and the white blob on the water is clearly a boat of some kind. The more my eyes adjust, the clearer the shape appears and it looks as if it's made for speed. Logan waves his hand and looking at him, he points at the boat and holds up 4 fingers before miming out fangs. Looking again, there is movement on board and I count four heads too. Getting my phone back out, we're actually in front of the dot now and judging the angle they're on, we're not far from where they will be coming out.

I go to Logan's side, just as the quiet hum of a motor starts up and a small dinghy heads to the shore.

"We need to get on that boat." I whisper.

"You're insane. We'll stop him, or them, before they can get that far." He answered, staring back out to the boat.

"Okay, you do that. I'm going on the boat!" I put my phone in my pocket and feel something stab my leg. Putting my hand in there, I find the ring the bear shifter had given me. I thought I had lost it and having it back now was just plain weird.

Either way, I put it on and tucked my weapon away. Ignoring Logan I run down to the shore and started to walk towards the vampire as he stopped the rubber vessel on the sand.

"Hey, you! What are you doing here?" He called out, instantly moving to his side as his hand rested on something, probably his own weapon.

"Have you seen my dog? I was walking near the cemetery and he just took off!" I answered.

"Your dog? What is that smell?" He looks around for a second, distracted and I know it's the zombie mess that's distracting him.

"I really want that dog back!" I keep going towards him, "Sure you haven't see him? He is about your height, blonde hair, drinks blood and-"

He clicks on in seconds and rushes at me, only before I can draw my weapon, Logan has one of his arrows through the vampires' heart leaving me to be covered in the ashy remains. It mixes well with the zombie goo and I can't stop the disgusted squeal that leaves me as I cover my face so I don't' inhale it.

"You're welcome!" He calls.

"Asshole!"

The vampire had a point though; I stink. Going over to the boat, we hit the jackpot with a sports bag of clothes just sitting there and without thinking I strip off to get in the water. My body wants to shut down as it feels like we've just stepped in the arctic waters, and trembling from the cold I try to wash as much of the grime off my skin as I can. Logan does it too.

"Come on, they could be here any second!" His teeth are chattering by this point and so are mine.

We get out and grab the bag, throwing on whatever we can manage when V's voice echoes from somewhere nearby. "Your crew better be ready. Dawn is not far!"

I've only got an over-sized t-shirt on and trip on the pant leg as I try to pull it up, which sends me rolling down the bank and toward the boat.

"Elise!" Logan half yells, half whispers and with a groan I look up to see a light breaking up the darkness to our left.

"Stay!" I order, scrambling to get up as he throws something towards my feet. He scurries back to the tree line and I hope he's got my back on this.

"Do not worry Vaaron, I do not hire street scum!" The accent reminds me of The Count from Sesame Street and I now make the struggle with the pants part of my act as the duo emerge from the darkness.

I stop, faking my surprise at seeing them and discard the pants.

The Count seems to merge with the shadows so I can't get a good look at him, unlike V who seems to be going for camp fire chic with the torch facing up to highlight his face. Revealing his fangs, it only helps his ominous appearance before he shines the light off himself and over at me. Even in the dark I can see his smirk.

"Well this is a surprise!" He purrs, and his buddy only laughs.

"This is the Hunter?" The fact he only laughs more is just pissing me off. Even in the dark I can feel him staring at me. "Look at her, so tiny and vulnerable."

"Vis is da hunter?" I mock, glaring at him, yet I can't help tug the hem of the shirt from where it sits on the top of my thigh.

 Before I can blink his hand is around my throat, and I'm being lifted from the ground. His face changes to that of the vampire and as he hisses at me, his saliva is sprayed over my face.

"Stop. Getting. Dead. Shit. On. Me!" I choke, digging my hands into his, he doesn't budge. I try swinging my leg, yet he positions his body so I'm unable to hurt him and his grip only tightens. The urge to yell at Logan builds in my chest, any time now would be great for him to step in.

"Signal the boat to get ready." He orders V and seconds later, the torch is flicking on off over the water. "So little girl, you think you can hurt me?"

I'm thrown over to the water line and instantly start coughing as my throat is able to function once more. "I don't think, I know."

He laughs, looking at V who is pushing the boat out to the water beside me. "Is that so?"

"Maybe not right now, but he can!" Logan sends two arrows into Count Jerk's knees and getting up, I go for whatever was thrown earlier and find the hard, familiar shape of a gun. It's soon being held against his temple and as Logan comes down, he has the bow pointed at V. "Who are you?"

Ignoring how he is squirming in pain, I twist one of the arrows deeper into his flesh. It works. "Call me, Dracula."

Now I laugh. He doesn't like that.

"V, get out the boat." I order.

He doesn't answer and nodding at Logan, he takes over guard duty on Dracula and I go over to V.

"I'm not joking around, get out."

"No." He starts up the engine.

"I will shoot you and then drag your sorry ass off that thing!"

"I know, but you won't be able to if you don't have a gun."

Everything happens in slow motion, yet only because it happens so fast. Dracula is up, void of arrows and Logan is thrown into the water as if he is nothing but a pebble. Instantly that demands my attention and as I go to call out to him, I'm left breathless as Dracula serves me with a punch to my stomach. Each move I make, he is three steps ahead and before I can try to make sense of anything, I'm on my back on the floor of the with my hands and ankles bound.

What the hell just happened?

The trance like state disappears leaving everything to rush over me in a serious of shouts, bangs and salty water as V has the boat going as fast as it can to the main vessel. Rolling onto my side, I try to get up, or at least jump overboard, but then Dracula grabs me by my hair and pulls me up against him. "I look forward to seeing you again."

Then his face distorts, his jaw protruding as his eyes spread apart like some kind of animated cartoon. It's disgusting and closing my eyes, his presence disappears behind me and instead something is flapping around my head. Looking up I scream as the largest bat I have ever seen has his wings hitting my hair before it disappeared into the sky. "Please tell me he didn't actually shift into a bat!"

"You're a hunter, you tell me." V shrugs, and my skin is crawling as I instantly think of a swarm of cockroaches. "I will say, that's not all he can do!" V pulls the boat up against the much larger one.

"Whatever you're doing, don't. We can work something out!" I decide to try bargaining with him. We have a history, surely that counts for something?

"Darling girl, I told you to wait until tonight. Anything I say now, you're probably not going to listen to either!" He winked before climbing up onto the desk. "Get her locked up in the top bedroom. We don't have any time to waste! If she doesn't co-operate, you know what to do."

He vanished and despite trying to stay out of their way, the vampires got me up and into the boat. There were only two, the others gone like V and no matter what I tried, they didn't let go. They weren't gentle either and as the boat lurched forward, I was taken down a narrow passage and ended up being thrown on a bed. They said nothing as they left, locking the door behind them. Seconds later I fell to the floor, positive whoever is driving wasn't following any boating laws.

When the boat finally stops no one comes for me and it only feels like minutes later that the light of the morning has the windows glowing around the black curtains. At least I've got a few hours to get myself out of this mess to try and work out what exactly V is up to.

Well that's what I thought until I hear a thud outside. Using my elbows, I pull myself up and back onto the bed before standing. I can't kick, but I could still punch, only it's not going to come to that.

 "Elise?"

"Logan?"

How the hell did he get here?

In seconds the door is broken open and he comes rushing in. Stupidly I go to walk over to him and end up falling, yet he catches me before I can introduce my face to the carpet. He is soaking wet but I don't care, putting my arm around his neck, I hug him tightly. "You know, next time you get the great idea of going on the fucking boat - how about you listen to me and don't do it?"

"Since when do I ever listen to you?" I let him go and he pulls a knife out from the side of his leg and he quickly cuts the ropes that I had no chance in breaking free from. Rubbing my wrists, they're red and sore from all my attempts at getting free. I've never been happier to have him around. "Thanks Logan."

Looking up at him, he frowns as it looks like he is about to say something. Before I can ask him what's going on, I'm closing my eyes as he steps forward and kisses me. His lips are as cold as his body and I can feel the dampness soaking into my own t-shirt. His hand slips around the back of my neck which sending a shiver down my spine and rather than step away, I only move closer.  

Matt never kissed me like this. There wasn't the same kind of passion and I wasn't going to deny I'd missed it. Maybe it was the constant near death experiences we shared that made it more, exciting or maybe it was the left over adrenaline in our systems from the fighting that charged us, but the sparks were undeniable.

Breathless, he pulled away first and slowly my eyes fluttered opened. "You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do that."

Instead of answering, I leaned forward and kissed him again. It wasn't the right time or place, or anything, but it needed to be done. This time when we parted, I slapped him. "Focus!"

"Hot and cold Bunny!" he laughed before smirking. "If you want me to focus, you should probably find some pants."

The look I gave him had him coughing awkwardly and motioning out the door. Sighing, I followed and he held the knife up like it was much bigger than it was. Turns out the boat was empty and once we'd checked all over, ended up on the deck.

 "They went that way on the rubber raft." Logan pointed towards some rocks and looking around the cliff face had lots of possible entry points.

"Of course he did." I sigh. The ocean is a beautiful violet colour, thanks to it acting like a mirror to the sky. Unlike earlier, it's calm and flat. In any other circumstances I could have enjoyed sitting on the deck of a boat like this. If only I had my bikini, a cocktail and a good book.

"You look like you're thinking of something." Logan asks, coming to stand beside me.

"Just how nice it would be to relax out here," As if to make a point I go and sit on one of the lounge chairs and spread out. "So, how did you get on board?"

"I was still in the water so when the boat went past, I grabbed onto the side of it and got in when they all got out. As soon as I could I boarded and hid up there. Once they sped off, I started looking for you. They took the key, I have no idea where we are and-"Logan stopped as Ailin appeared.

"Hello Hunter, Tracker."

 "Please tell me you have breakfast?" I almost beg, not getting up.

"No. I am here to take you back to the others."

"How about I stay here and keep an eye on the boat? Take Logan." Going back would be more of a nightmare than this.

"I have my orders Hunter." She answered calmly.

"Did that include-" I stop, glancing at Logan who looks as scared as I feel about going home, "other things?"

She understands the question. "Do not test me."

"Well leave me here and I won't say something I shouldn't!" It's a threat now and she doesn't like it.

"Everything has a reason. You're going back."

She doesn't even touch us this time and the lounge chair is soon replaced by the concrete floor of the warehouse. Great, she could let me stop home first and get a change of clothes.

"Well, look who decided to join us?" Tom greets coldly, and Logan helps me get up to find the room crowded with everyone in attendance. On the table the stick V used to raise the dead is in pieces and Zane only shakes his head at me as he stands by Danielle.

"Morning all!" I greet casually, hiding my nerves as I take a seat and put my bare feet up on the table. The rope marks haven't gone yet and I don't hide them. I have a reputation to maintain and considering how tired and hungry I am, they're going to get the best of me.

"Where did you two go?" Zane answers, lacking my general enthusiasm.

"Logan lost his bike and it wasn't far from where we-"

"Do not lie to me!" He yelled, slamming his fist down on the table. No one moved.

"From where we were so we went to go get it. Trouble with that was, apparently you guys are doing a great job at holding prisoners," I pointed at Danielle who looked even more pissed than Zane, "as we found ourselves being chased down by V and his pal Dracula!"

"You got him out!" Danielle accused, losing her cool completely. "That's an act of treason! I warned you, now I have no choice other than to report you to the President himself! Both of you!"

"It was Zane's plan to handcuff him to me so you can't blame Logan with this! But tell me, because I'm dying to know, how do you think I got V out? Got any evidence? I'm sure Ron will want to see that."

"I don't know how, but I am positive you did!" Clearly she didn't have an inside voice today.

"Sure. Blame me. Well how about this? You all go find him and get your answers? I mean, if I can catch him, you guys will be able to do it before nightfall right? Can't be that hard." I get up and go over to Ailin. "Can you please take me home?"

"You are not-" I don't hear what else Danielle says because Ailin does as I ask and brings Logan along too.

She doesn't stay and leaving him to do his own thing, I head straight to the bathroom and what clothing I have on is taken off in the shower. The water is heavenly, and three washes later I'm pretty sure I got most of the crap out of my hair and off my skin.

Leaning against the tiles, the bathroom is full of steam and closing my eyes I just enjoy the moment of peace and quiet. Well I enjoy the serenity of the shower, because nothing in my mind is quiet. A million questions are going around and around while I try to remember everything that had happened so far. There had to be a clue somewhere. What is going on with Ailin? Was that really the Dracula and just what is V up to?

I needed to eat and get some sleep, only the click of the door being opened had me peeking out behind the curtain to find Logan in the doorway. I don't say anything as he boldly comes in and shuts the door behind him. His shirt is gone and all he has on are the cargo pants we stole from the boat. Almost shamelessly I check him out, yet as I meet his gaze there isn't any of the usual Logan smugness to be found.

He looked tired, but there was something else all over his face and I couldn't ignore it anymore. I didn't want to; I couldn't even if I tried. I wanted him as much as he wanted me and he knew it too as his shoulders slumped in relief and he was welcomed under the water with me.

It was strange to start off with. It wasn't like we'd never done anything like this before only now while it did feel familiar, it was different too. I responded to his touch as desperately as he reacted to mine. We already knew each other, skipping on the awkwardness of a first time, yet thanks to how long it had been, it felt new.

"This changes things Bunny, you can't go cold on me again." He kissed just under my ear and then down my neck. My hips rolled against him teasing, until I managed to look him in the eye and see just how serious he was.

"I know, but if you keep anything from me, anything, Alfie has permission to use you for target practice." I was actually serious. It was one thing to be 'hot and cold', but if I was about to let him in, only to be hurt again - I really don't know if I could come back from that.

Sensing the change in my mood, he let me go and I stepped back against the wall. Closing my eyes, I wanted the water to wash everything away, so I could enjoy this and not go straight to the negative. It was more than wanting him, than having some fun. Putting myself out there for that was a lot more of a risk than I thought.

"Logan, If I'm going to let you back in, I'm trusting you with all I have left not to lie or hide anything from me. There is enough going on without needing to worry about who is on which side and if you do that to me, I don't think I can pick up the pieces again." It wasn't just about our relationship. It was about everything and it really wasn't fair of me to put that burden on him.

"You don't know how these last few months have been for me Elise." He brings my chin up so I have to look at him and I've never felt so vulnerable. "I promise I'm all yours for as long as you want me and I won't ever, ever do anything to risk losing you again!" 

The sincerity in which he said those words filled my body with a different kind of warmth. I believed him, yet if that was the case, why did I still have that tiny little alarm in the back of my head going off? I was being stupid. This is Logan. I know Logan. Luckily before I could obsess over it anymore than that,  the hot water suddenly cut out, ending shower time. No words were needed now and our reunion was taken into my bedroom where we got lost in each other all over again. 

- - - -

So... how about that?