We hadn’t gone far when Logan’s voice was a muffled sound echoing towards us. Instantly we all moved quicker and there was no sign of who or what ever had come through and took out the vampires to be found. I really doubted it was all Logans doing though.

Finally his voice got clearer and any fears I had about him being ripped apart by a bear above us vanished and this time we could hear all our names being called. “Elise! Drew! Nigel!”

Leaving the brothers, I started to blindly run to Logan as he frantically called out again. “Fucking answer me Bunny!”

“Logan! We’re here!” I answered, until Drew pulled me back. Looking at him confused, I shrugged out of his hold. “What?”

“What if it is a trap?” He whispered, and I knew he had a point. How could I be so foolish calling out like that? Who knew what else could be lurking around the corner.

Instantly we all moved back into the shadows, staying quiet. Then again, anyone who took out vampires couldn’t be too bad. Could they? Did it really matter if they had Logan.

“Which tunnel are you in?” Logan called out again.

Nigel put his hand over my mouth and the message was clear; don't answer.

“Elise?” Logan called again.

We kept walking.

“Fucking let me go find them!” We could hear Logan talking a little quieter now, but the echo was still there and he definetely wasn’t alone.

“Let my team confirm the perimeter is secured before you go running around the place!” A woman’s voice scolded him.

“She answered before, what if your idiots hurt them?” He accused.

“Then we will provide medical assistance. It could have been a trap.” Came the reply.

We all walked a little faster now and going around another corner we were greeted by soft lamp light and a group of about eight people stood around looking at a map that had been pinned on the wall. Slayers.

“Logan!” All eyes turned to us as I called out, and so did a bunch of guns. Drew and Nigel instantly put their hands up while I just stood there. “You’re kidding right?”

“Oh good, you’re okay!” Logan pushed past a couple of the guards and as he walked towards us, someone stepped out in front of him and two men from behind held him back. “Let me go!”

“They haven’t been checked.” The same woman he had been arguing with before snapped from behind the guns. Clearly she was the leader and maybe I really do have an issue with authority because already she was pissing me off.

“Checked?” Drew questioned.

“Yes, how do we know you’re not in the process of being changed?” She finally stepped forward and my heart stopped as I was looking in the face of Alison Winters. The more I stared, I began to doubt if it was actually her. The eyes seemed a little rounder, browner and her hair was the wrong shade of blonde. It didn’t stop me from getting defensive and the whole situation failed to exist as I glared at her.

“Who the hell are you?” I demanded. I know Logan is always telling me to be nicer to people and Jordan says I need to work on my social skills, but no one in that family was getting anything from me again.

“I am in charge of this operation that you three nearly ruined by doing here. That’s all you need to know!” The Slayer had more attitude than I did. Being In charge or older than me meant nothing as Tom and Danielle had been learning these last couple of weeks and all I saw was red the longer I looked at her.

“All I need to know? How about your name? I bet it has Winters in there somewhere.” I taunted.

“What does it matter to you?” Her own defences were up now.

I slipped my hand behind my back, feeling the handle of my dagger. “I guess I have a few trust issues that stops me from playing nicely with your kind.”

“Winters, as is in Francis’s family?” Drew whispered to me, but I didn't bother answering.

“Trust issues? My team just saved you and your friends. A thank you would be more appropriate than accusations!”

“You still haven’t answered my question.” I reminded her.

“You haven’t answered mine.” She retorted, not hiding her anger now.

No one moved, all too speechless by our argument and judging by the look on a couple of her teams’ faces, her lineage was a shock to them too. I just prayed I wasn’t wrong otherwise I had just made a huge idiot of myself. Then again, I didn’t care. What was with these obnoxious team leaders? I bet she thinks her shit doesn’t stink too.

Still keeping my hand on my dagger, I strode forward glaring at her. There was some hesitation from her body guards at my approach, and Logan pushed off the hands holding him back. Rather than walk directly to her, I stepped into the light and tried not the react as she came closer. The urge to wipe that smug look of victory off her face was as tempting to me as all the baked goods we had for lunch.

A small light was shined into my eyes and  I opened my mouth to show my lack of fangs. A small vile of blood was passed over from who knows where and the smell had me gagging rather than getting hungry. Her cold hands brushed against my neck as she pulled my hair back and rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of being checked for bite marks.

“Disappointed? I know how your family loves vampires.” It was a low blow and her eyes widened in surprise at my sarcastic accusation before narrowing in on me.

“Funny. I heard the same thing about you!”

I had slapped her before I even fully processed what she said. She slapped me back and from there it was on. Believe it or not, I prefer fighting with words and I don't remember ever getting in a fight with another woman, just because. Maybe it was her similiarites to Alison that set me off, but this brawl felt better than any fight I'd had before. 

Grabbing her blonde hair I twisted her head down before her nails dug into my arm making me let her go. She was quick to punch me in the jaw and as I fell backwards Logan and Drew were there to try and separate us. Her team were like statues, clueless as to what to do and faking calming down, the second Logan relaxed his hold I returned the punch.

 Really, he should know better.

"You're going to be in so much trouble for that!" She screamed, holding her cheek where I had punched her.

"You're lucky you're not dead!" I yelled back, daring to dab at my lip where the sting told me she had got me good. Licking my lips, the metallic taste had me wondering just how good and I roughly wiped the side of my mouth with my hand before one of the slayers handed Logan a small first aid box. I didn't think it warranted that, but took the sterile wipe from him anyway. Holding my breath I refused to let them witness how much it actually stung now.

"Calm down okay?" Logan mumbled into my ear as Nigel and Drew moved in front of us to act as barrier. Logan took the wipe and tilted my chin up, applying a little pressure before I knocked his hand away. I had worse, they were fussing over nothing. "This lot have connections and you might find yourself in real trouble."

"We already are if someone has put a Winters in charge and-" I didn't get to finish as a rather panicked male voice boomed all around us.

"Robyn!"

We all looked down the tunnel we had just come from as five more people came running over. They were all dressed in the same black uniform with rifles strapped across their backs and swords in their hands. Except the guy who was calling out. In his hand he had something that looked like a mobile phone only the screen was flashing red. 

"We came as soon as we got the distress signal. What's going on?" He lifted the tinted glasses and pulled down the scarf he had half covering his mouth. Someone in the other group coughed nervously.

"That was me sir!" One of the guys stepped forward, looking at his boots awkwardly. "There was a fight and I thought it would be best if you were here."

I laughed at that. I couldn't help it. A mob of Slayers, and they panicked over that? Logan and Drew broke it up for crying out loud. 

Instantly all eyes turned to Nigel and Drew who looked over their shoulders at me, glaring.

"Sorry." I muttered.

"Elise, be careful. These people aren't Zane and Danielle!" Logan whispered. I don't know why he thought that would deter me.

"A fight? Rob, are you alright?" Turns out Robyn is the Winters chick and nodding, she looked a little embarrassed by it all.

"I'm fine. False alarm." She told him, pushing away his attempt at checking her over like I did to Logan.

"You got hit?"  He asked angrily, still trying to look at her face.

"Yeah, but by her not a vampire! We should have her arrested and taken back to the Council!" Robyn snapped, and again all eyes turned our way.

Everyone else seemed to disappear back into the shadows of the tunnel, a couple muttering about checking for survivors and another wanting to do a once over for vampires who might still be hiding.

"Who?" New guy turned as I stepped around Drew, his face instantly showing recognition. "Her?"

"Yes, me. I hit her and she's lucky that's all I did!" Instantly she stepped forward again, her intentions of restarting our disagreement obvious. To her surprise I was quick to pull out my dagger and shamlessly held it out in front of me. "Stay. Away. From. Me!"

"See! She is a danger to us all!" Robyn pouted, looking up at the new guy desperately. The way she was fawning over him reminded me of Penny when ever she saw an attractive guy and I now know why I prefer the company of the guys. Women annoy me too much. Except for Raya.

"Elise!" Nigel and Logan scolded me instantly.

New guy only seemed amused. "Elise Bunting! It's good to finally meet you."

He actually extended his hand. Clearly something was going on between him and Robyn and I wasn't about to shake hands with him.

"Since you know my name, how about you share yours?" I tried to smile, but I was too busy glaring at her.

Putting his hand back to his side stiffly, he only smiled. "Julio Vinci. I believe you know my father, Ronaldo or I believe you know him better as Ron?"

I saw it all then. The same smile, dark hair and olive skin. He was just as big too, though he didn't have his fathers height. I always thought Ron was freakishly tall anyway and so seeing his son with Robyn confused me. 

"You're with her? A Winters? After everything that happened?"

"I was with Robyn before any of that happened. We met during our first year at the Academy and can promise you she isn't like her cousins." He seemed genuine, but she looked to alike Alison for me to let it go. Besides whats to say he isn't in on it all too?

"I'll be the judge of that."

He nodded, accepting my decision and Robyn looked like she was about to burst as she kept her own opinions to herself. Had she been a cartoon character, steam would have been coming out of her ears.

"Whats going on down here?" I finally asked, letting Logan take my dagger as he put his arm securely around my waist. I wasn't sure if it was with affection or to stop me from going after Robyn again.

"We have been chasing after this particular coven since before the incident at the portal. They're not big players, but after catching them in the act of kidnapping women from some popular night spots, they crossed the line. Since we've been watching them down here, we haven't been giving them enough credit." Julio told us.

"The vampire Aaron as well some older vamps we haven't been able to i.d have been coming by. Since the President put together the teams to locate and wipe out any of the remaining threats from the opened portals, we have been monitoring their movements. One vampire we caught last night told us Aaron had escaped the compound and would be down here tonight with the boss." I was surprised that Robyn was sharing with us.

I was about to make a comment about V and her when a look from Julio kept me quiet. 

"We came in quick and wiped them out, so when they come tonight, we'll be ready." Robyn boasted.

"Why didn't you go after V when Danielle had him in custody?" We all looked at Drew, who shrugged.

"Out of bounds. He was her hostage. We would have got a chance at him when she took him back to the Council." There was no hiding the bitter edge to Julio's words.

"Why not work together like Zane and Danielle?" I asked.

"Working in a team is hard enough without even more people to consider. Plus, how do you put it. I don't play well with your kind." He smirked. I had to agree with him. This whole grouping up thing wasn't much my style either. Then it occured to me what he was also implying. Ron was a Hunter. I didn't think he was even married, so how the hell did he produce a Slayer son? 

"I'll tell you about it later." Julio laughed, as if he was reading my mind or at least my face as I frowned - completely confused.

"Sir, the boundaries have been secured. We're ready." A woman spoke up, appearing from down the stairs we had entered this place by.

"Great Tricia. Make sure everyone is on alert. It's their time now, lets make sure the night belongs to us." Robyn told her.

"What did you just say?" I gasped.

She looked at me confused, knowing there was no way i coulnd't offence to anything she just said. "What?"

Pulling out my phone, I had no signal in the tunnel and the time made my stomach drop. "We are so dead!"

Nigel groaned and Drew checked his watch. Six thirty; Zane wasn't going to be happy.

"What's wrong?" Julio seemed like he genuinely cared.

"We're out past our curfew."  I muttered, feeling stupid telling them that.

Robyn smirked and dared to laugh at me; which is always a good idea to do to the person who was wanting to kill you.

"Remember guys, blame Elise." Logan joked and the mood instantly shifted as Drew and Nigel relaxed a little.

"Jerk."

"You're not staying?" Julio asked, clearly confused.

"No, but good luck with the capturing V thing." I extended my hand to him now, "Nice meeting you Jules!" Before looking at Robyn, "You? Not so much."

Everyone mumbled goodbye and as we got outside I had never been more thankful for fresh air and looked up at the sky appreciatively. The sun was completly gone and a faint pale blue strip lasted over the tree line while the world was taken over by the night.  

"Wait!" Julio came out behind us and looked at me suspiciously. "What do you know?"

"A lot." I joked wile the trio with me only looked at him nervously.

"About Aaron. Why do you call him V?"

"His name is Vaaron, so I say V for short. Like Francis in her diaries. We thought V for vampire, so I guess it could roll either way. How do you not know this? We put our reports through to the Network." There it was, that alarm bell again as something wasn't right.

"The last report put up on the network was he had been captured by Danielle's team. Dad sent one of his demons to check on the situation after hearing a more, interesting, story of the events that led to his capture. Namely you."

"Ailin." That explained why she was there.

All our phones started to let off various beeps and buzzes as missed calls and text messages came pouring through now we had signal again. I didn't want to look.

"You know her?" He asked.

"Um, I know of her." I glanced at Logan, hoping I wasn't the only one sensing something off about this whole situation. The concentration on his face told me I wasn't.

"We have to go. If you've ever met Zane, you'd understand. Good luck tonight and be careful Julio, I mean it."

He nodded and as we ran across the park, I glanced back to find him gone. I really hoped they weren't being set up tonight and that we weren't either. Not wanting to risk it, I sent Jordan and Zane the same message, mostly begging them not to get angry and to also leave my house. There was only one place I thought they might be safe to go and the message I got back told me they didn't agree.

Thing is, they went anyway.

-x-

"Are you sure about this?" Nigel asked doubtfully as we made the turn onto the gravel drive that would take us to the estate.

"No, but I already got the others meeting us here so we don't have a choice." I sighed.

As we made it past the first gate, Nigel stopped by a small patch of trees and cutting off the lights and engine, parked the car. It wasn't far from the house. If vampires were on guard they could have already heard us and getting out, we made sure to load up on what weapons we had.

"Ah, guys. I think that tree just moved!" Drew whispered, quietly pushing shut the back door of the Jeep.

We all turned and sure enough, the tree like creature lifted it's roots and came towards us. 

"Gub!" I called and moving closer I prayed he wasn't all bad.

"Demon trees? You're kidding!" Logan groaned and Nigel agreed with him.

"Gub! Remember me?" Ignoring them, I focused on the creature.

"Prisoner." He growled.

"No, no! Fri-end" I spelt out, "I'm your friend!"

His branch of an arm came out to grab me, and I let him, telling the others to hold back. "Boss. Want. Prisoner."

"No. Boss friend, fr-ien-d!" I tell him again.

Gub looked around for a moment, first in the direction of the house and then back at the trees.

"Gub, friend!" I resisted the urge to struggle as he squeezed me a little too tightly. "Boss in trouble. Friend help!"

"Gub." He said his name and  the few leaves on the top of his head rustled before a bird took flight.

Amazingly I was put down and slowly he started to make his way towards the house.

"So he is helping us?" Drew whispered.

"Maybe. Either way, he'll be a good distraction if we run into trouble!" I shrugged. "Hey Loges, what happened the bear?"

"Julio killed it, well with some of the others. It had be beheaded and they had the tools there to do it. They're left overs that had escaped from the portal. I helped them get down after that monster was killed. You'd never believe the creatures running around in those tunnels." He told me.

"This like fishy octopus things?"

"Yeah, you saw them too?" Logan asked scrunching his face up in disgust.

"Yeah." I laughed, deciding to save that story for another time.

With Gub leading the way, we found the house dark and vacant of vampires. Going around the back, the kitchen door wasn't locked and as Gub kept walking around the house, I pushed it open and waited. Nigel nodded and pointed inside. Creating a formation, we snuck in and I realised how well we all worked as a team of our own. Maybe it wasn't so bad.

I sensed the others before we saw them and just to make sure it wasn't some kind of set up, we spread out and paused for a second before announcing our arrival.

"This place is massive. Where the hell are the light switches?" Chris complained, a loud thud sounding out and peeking in, they had a couple of torches pointed in his direction where he had tripped on a footstool. 

"Really CJ? Good thing this place is empty otherwise you've just told everyone we're here!" Raya scolded, going to help him up. 

Sneaking down the corridor I peeked through the entry closest to him and as the torches went off, I came in.

"Raw!" Pinching his back had Chris screaming and spinning around so fast he fell over, again. Instantly all guns were loaded and pointed in my direction, including the one Chris had as I burst out laughing. "Oh god, that was priceless!"

"Shit Elise! We could have shot you!" Jordan yelled, and a big sigh of relief filled the room.

The lights came on then revealing the sitting room and all eyes turned to Nigel. "What? No one is around!"

"Hopeless!" Zane groaned, rubbing his forehead. "What happened to back before nightfall?"

"You're not going to believe the day we had!" Logan came up behind me and Raya grinned at the pair of us like we were a winning lotto ticket.

Good thing it was a big space as the people I recognized from the failed training session had also taken a seat. Sounds from upstairs told me the others were patrolling the building, which helped make me feel a little more secure.

"How about you tell us and we'll be see what we believe." Tom snapped, glaring at his siblings.

I actually stayed quiet as Drew took the lead and with Logan and Nigel, the three of them managed to tell everyone what had been going on. They kindly left out the part where I got in a fight with the presidents daughter in law.

"So Robyn is Alison and Opals cousin and is married to our President's son." Jordan thought out loud, his reaction to Robyn similar to my own minus the violent attack. Since I was sitting next to Jordan and everyone was too busy talking about other aspects of the night, no one other than me heard him.

"Married?" I thought together, but didn't expect that.

"Yeah, no one knows much about her. Even on the network her family history starts with her marriage to Julio."

"And no one thinks thats suspicious?" I question.

"Their family isn't popular with the Slayers, especially after last year. Having a Winters on your family tree wouldn't be a good marketing deal for the Presidents son's wife." Jordan went quiet for a moment, "Doesn't mean she is like Alison Ellie. Look at Opal. She was used by her own sister and is completely innocent."

"They're like twins. Seriously, I thought it was Alison." Gasping, I gripped Jordan's hand, "What if it is though?"

"You're being paranoid. Becoming President isn't easy. The demons and other sups in the Council make sure our representative is clean. No one can afford any corruption, you know all the things in place to stop anything happening." Jordan tried to soothe, "Alison was a bad person. Think of it like Alfie; he is a demon. His kind aren't good, yet you have made him an exception. Their family is in the reverse of that. One bad one doesn't make them all bad."

"I guess you're right." Leaning against his arm, I rest my head on his shoulder before he pulls me into a hug.

"Care to share you two?" Tom pipes up, having seen Jordan and I whispering to each other.

"No." I answer simply.

"So why are we here?" Kieran joins in.

Instead of answering I look at how he and Raya are sitting together, like always. It's the little things between them that I notice, like how one hand is holding hers. The way they always seem to know when the other is looking at them which leads to them sharing a look or a quick kiss. It's kind of sickeningly adorable how intune they are to each other. Looking at Logan, he is casually sitting over by Drew on the small bookcase, on the other side of the room. The pair of them looking at something on my phone and give us a couple of weeks, months... years; will we be a couple like that?

Wait, my phone?

"Is that mine?" I point at it and Drew grins mischievously.

"Ah, Elise, focus. Why are we here?" Jordan asks this time.

"Yeah it is, you didn't even notice I took it!" Drew beams proud of himself. He took it? Again Drew manages to surprise me.

Zane grabs it from him in one swift movement which dents Drew's sudden ego. He looks at it for a second before passing it around like show and tell. By the time it comes back to me, the bear images tell me what they were looking at. But how did he even get it? When? I had it in the car. I remember our discussion on who was the best at sneaking out and so far I was in the lead. Was he that quick to thief things too? Clever Hunter.

"Jerk!"

He only winks in response and again Keiran asks me why I got them all out here.

"Sorry. Okay, well, that leads me to something the guys didn't tell you. When we left, which may I add was as soon as we could once we realised the time!" I looked at Zane, who only rolled his eyes. "Julio didn't know about V, well he knew that he was caught, but Danielle had taken the credit for it."

Zane sat up a little straighter and beside me even Jordan get tense. 

"That bitch, you did it!" Chris protested.

"With our help!" Tom joined in and I only showed him my middle finger.

"Apart from that, none of the reports have been entered onto the network. They were going after their own leads and found out last night from a vampire that V had escaped." I told them.

"We haven't done anything about his escape, Dani thought it was best if we kept that quiet for the time being." Zane mumbled, already on his phone. "Nothing is here. None of the interogation reports, and now looking at it. The arresting statement is different to what we all wrote up."

Zane looked at Tom who came charging over and snatched the phone, "Fuck."

"So I thought this would be a great place to hide until we can work it out. No one would think to look here and if any vamps come by we have what, twenty of us and Gub."

"Gub?" Zane, Tom and Jordan all said at the same time.

"Tree demon? He is circling this place now." I pointed out the window and some of Zane's team all got up to peek out. 

"I can't believe Danielle would betray us. I've known her for a long time. She isn't the type of person to do that!" Tom defended.

"Maybe it wasn't Dani, maybe it was someone who is as much of a jerk as her who did?" Looking at him, he clicked on instantly.

"Don't you dare start accusing me of treason!"

"Tom, back off. No one is accusing anyone!" Nigel stepped up, moving to stand in front of his brother.

Holding my hand up, I interupted. "Hello? Yes. I am accusing Danielle!"

"We have no proof to go on. Lets just think this over." Nigel tried to reason.

"Anyone in any of the teams, anyone who has been at the warehouse could have misfiled those reports. They were uploaded on a general computer, so it's not assigned to anyone's log in." Zane once again rubbed his forehead, the stress clearly getting to him.

"Ron suspects something is going on, it's why he sent Ailin." I threw into the mix. "I just had a bad feeling about staying at my house after all this. Please tell me only the people here know where we are."

"Yes." Zane confirmed. "Smart thinking Elise."

Tom scoffed and a few of Zanes team whispered amongst themselves, in agreement with their team leader.

"So what now?" Raya asked, looking at me for the answers I didn't have.

"Honestly, I don't know."

Everyone went quiet and I got comfotable against Jordan again. We were all deep in thought when heavy steps from outside the room had us all getting up. One of the women burst through the door seconds later. "We were on the roof and saw car lights heading this way!"

Instantly the lights were shut off, sending the house into darkness and moving to follow Jordan, Logan grabbed my hand, following us. Zane was already at the window with binoculars, cursing as the car shut off it's lights on the driveway.

"I can't see anything." He whispered.

He passed the binoculars over to Logan and the second he let go of my hand to look out the window I stepped back, moving slowly before I left the room. Going back the way we came I opened the kitchen door to find Gub standing there waiting.

"Boss. Want. Friend. Prisoner." He grumbled, his words barely understandable. Either way, they made my stomach sink.

"Gub, tell boss I'm not here. I'm at my home. Friend Her House." I spoke clearly, slowly, wondering if he would do as I said. "Not. Here. Gone."

He didn't move. "Please tell me you're not, woah! What is that!" Jordan blurted out, instantly raising his pistol.

"No, this is Gub. Don't hurt him!" I pushed his arm down and Gub stepped back. "Prisoner. Gone. Gub. Gone."

The trunk of his body swayed slightly before he turned and I just prayed he got the message right.

"Where do you think you're going?" Zane appeared behind Jordan with Logan in tow. 

"No where, I was setting a decoy."

"What?" They all asked in unison.

"I think that it's V out there, Gub might be able to send him away."

"Send him away? We want him back in custody!" Jordan snapped, starting to go out the door.

"You forget she is the one who got him out in the first place!" Zane sighed, "Whats the plan Ellie? I'm trusting you on this."

"V is a distraction. It's all he ever was." If the vampires had told Julio V was going to be there with the boss, what had they set themselves up for? Clearly not V. "Shit. We shouldn't have left those guys at the fair!"

 "I was thinking the same thing!" Drew managed to scare me like I scared Chris as he came up from the side of the house. "V is in that car."

"How do you know that?" Jordan asked in disbelief.

"He just got out of it out the front. Zane, everyone is waiting for your order on whether to kill him or-" He stops talking and I don't need to look to know why as every else draws their weapons.

"Kill me or what?" V purrs as I turn around. He smiles, unbothered by the hostility being sent his way, "Smart little thing aren't you, what with coming out here!"

Speechless, he pushes past me and Zane to get inside. We instantly follow as he turns on the kitchen lights and moves around the house as if we were simply guests that had been invited over for dinner. The thought of becoming dinner made my stomach churn and none of the guys lowered their weapons.

 "We need to talk." V finally states, producing a bottle of red wine from the cupboard and a couple of glasses. "Drink?"

Zane mouths 'what the fuck' at me and I only shrug. Logan is the first to ease up a little and moves to stand beside me at the counter as V goes about pouring a glass of wine. He sniffs it before swirling it around and taking a sip.

"Sure you don't want some? Ninety seven was a great vintage!" No one moves and with a shrug V pulls out a stool and takes a seat. "Suit yourself!"

One thing I do know is that V has some balls to come in here like this. "I think you owe me some answers."

"Perhaps," He took another sip of the wine, "but for now, I'm sure you'll like to hear more about how you can save your friends."

"My friends?" I repeated back stupidly. "You mean the ones at the fair?"

He smiled; his teeth stained from the red liquid which made me shiver and instinctively I reached for Logan's hand. Dramatically V sighed, shaking his head and I wonder what he would do if he knew about Robyn and her family tree.

"No darling girl, your friends. Him, him, your brother," He pointed at the group around me and then at Logan, "Your lover. You already lost one, could you say goodbye to another?"

In the second it took me to pull Logan's revolver from its holster on his belt, V clicked his fingers and as I took aim, I was startled to find it was the idiot calling himself Dracula who sat in his place. Upstairs terrified screams provided a distraction as Raya came running in with Kieran, Tom and Nigel. 

"There are-" She stopped seeing Dracula.

"We're under attack!" Tom yelled, and as I looked back to the vampire and fired the gun with no hesitation, he moved faster than any vampire I'd ever seen, dodging the bullet and instead I was now being held against him. One hand was around my throat and the other held the still hot tip of the gun into my temple.

"Now answer me this. Did you want to know how you can save your friends?"

Logan's eyes were wide in shock, his mouth gaping open slightly as Jordan reacted the same way. The only one who seemed unaffected was Zane and as I met his gaze, his eyes were burning with pure rage. With a slight nod, I knew he had this.

"I'll do it. I'll save them, call off your attack!" I stuttered.

"Don't-" Logan started to tell me no, but Zane pulled the trigger; the bang silencing him.

Like last night, everything seemed to move slowly. I could see the bullet coming towards us, the rush of movement as Logan leaped forward to grab me with Jordan; Zane firing again, yet nothing seemed to hit us. The pressure of Dracula's hold weakened and I actually managed to turn around to face him. He casually leant against the counter, glass of wine in hand.

"How?" I gasped, looking back at the slow motion scene behind me.

"It's nice to see how loyal you are. Willing to sacrifice yourself for them. Is that what happened last time?" He pointed behind me and turning my hands flew up to cover my mouth to stop myself from crying out.

I was watching myself say goodbye to Jordan and Alfie before walking with V towards the portal. As Reece approached I felt like I was going to be sick, I didn't want to watch this. I didn't want to see it happen again. Looking back to Dracula, he was gone and so was the kitchen as I was stuck in the moment that haunted my nightmares.

I couldn't hear them, but I knew it all word for word and getting to the stairs of the altar, the same sense of peace filled me. If I die, then I end it. They all live. I was ready. 

Blinking, I wasn't watching anymore, I was back there living it. The bright light of the portal was a beacon of doom and this time Reece wasn't there. Looking behind me, the war was gone.

"You are fun to torment Hunter. There is so much up here for me to play with!" The cold palm rested against my forehead as Dracula lowered head towards my neck. His tongue ran over the point where my pulse was the strongest and daring to glance down, the scar I had from Reece's bite was silver in the portal light. He died so I could live.

"You know what else you can play with?" I whispered, turning to face the vampire.

"What Hunter?" He asked amused, his fangs glistening with saliva in preparation as he didn't hide them from me.

"My fist!" I put all my energy into this hit, my fist slamming into his jaw with a sickening crack only it wasn't him I heard cry out. It was Nigel.

Looking around Drew and Tom were at Nigels side as he cursed and in a panic I quickly scrabbled back against the wall. Looking around I was still in the sitting room, not the kitchen and definitely not that meadow. Logan came running in with Jordan and Zane instantly looking at me.

I was soaked in sweat, my hair was stuck to my neck and forehead and as something tightened around my feet I screamed and tried to get it off, feeling stupid as I ripped at the blanket.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Logan fell in front of me, helping free my feet before trying to calm me down. "You're okay. Elise, look at me!"

Zane and Jordan stood the side and I took in big raspy breaths as my heart was pounding so hard I was positive I was having a heart attack.

"What happened to you?" I heard Jordan ask Nigel, my eyes leaving Logan to see Nigel turn to show him a red mark on his cheek.

"She can pack a punch!" He groaned, trying to flex his jaw.

"What?" Zane looked between us and finally my body stopped trembling.

"I heard her crying, went to see what was going on and couldn't wake her up until she hit me!"

"Was it another dream?" Logan asked, ignoring the others.

"Y-Yeah. I ah, shit." I let him hold me and tried to work out what had happened. 

"You fell asleep about twenty minutes ago. We decided to take a break and Zane sent some people into town for some dinner." He spoke slowly and him giving me a timeline of what had been going on around me actually helped me get my thoughts back together.

"What happened this time?" He asked softly, and everyone gave us some room.

"We were talking and Raya asked me what next and I said I didn't know."

"Yeah, it was just after that you fell asleep." Jordan took a seat beside me on the sofa, frowning in concern.

"Then a woman came rushing down from upstairs. Said there was a car and it was V, but it wasn't him. It was Dracula in disguise and yeah." I mumbled.

"And yeah? What happened?" Logan asked.

"I fought him, that's all."

They bought it and Zane sent everyone out of the room to give me some space while Jordan went to get me some water. Luckily Logan said nothing else as I stayed curled against him, but I know that wasn't all. I still had Dracula's voice ringing in my ears. 

 "You are fun to torment Hunter. There is so much up here for me to play with!" 

 Was it just a bad dream or something more? The only thing I did know was that I didn't want to find out.