I didn't even realise I'd fallen asleep until the tapping started. It sounded like something was knocking on the window and after elbowing Logan, he didn't wake to sort it out. Groaning, I sat up and looking around the room, the window wasn't what caught my attention. The mirror by the wardrobe had a shadow in it. Like literally in it. Logan didn't move and against my better judgment, I got up and went over.

Again the tapping sounded, and slowly the dark mass shifted into Dracula. Sure enough he kept tapping a finger against the glass.

"Speak of the devil and he appears?" I ask rhetorically. I hadn't thought of him for days and now here he is here. Talk abut timing.

"Something like that, shall we?" His hand appeared through the glass and I knew this was only dream. 

This could be my chance to find out something and so taking a deep breath, I let him drag me into the mirror. Looking behind me, I could still see the guest room and Logan's sleeping figure on the bed with Alfie curled around the bed frame. Reaching back out, I was instead met with a wall as I was now trapped in.

Turning back to Dracula, the reflection of the room was gone as he moved about the tomb, similar to the set up V had disappeared into when he left me with his zombie friends.

"So, whats up?" I ask casually, taking a second to look around the candle lit room. 

"Whats up?" He repeated, raising an eyebrow he looked at me as if I was speaking another language.

"What now? Why the sudden reappearance?"

"Ah, whats up!" He nods, understanding. I refrain from laughing, yet can't stop my smirk.  "What is up is, I'm bored of our game. Where are you?"

"I didn't know we were playing one, but do you really think I'd tell you?"

"Something is different. It's taken me a few days to get a hold of you. What magic is it that protects you?" He swiftly moves in front of me, his hand like iron as it encloses around my throat. "Don't deny me."

I can't breath and looking up, I know he is trying to compel me. "L-let. Me. Go!" 

I stop trying to pull at his hands, instead going on the defence by taking a swing at his face. His free hand is there to block me and expecting that, I use the distraction to swing my leg into his groin. He hold weakens as he curses at me, and this time when I hit him, I don't miss his jaw and I find my freedom.

Coughing, I quickly move back and of course there is nothing in here to use as a weapon. Stupid dream.

"You think you're clever don't you, you think you can beat me!" He laughed, and I shivered more on instinct than in fear.

"I don't think, I know!" I snapped, bracing myself for the attack I would come. It was a dream, technically my dream and now as I thought of a weapon in my hand, it appeared. I didn't get to hold onto it for long as he made quick work to knock it from my hold.

Soon enough I was pinned against the wall, with his fangs too close for comfort by my neck.

"Why fight me. Don't you want to be on the winning team?"

"I've been asked that a lot," I hissed at him through gritted teeth.

"And you fight it?"

"I will never be one of you!" 

"You might not have a choice!" He spat back, and pressing his leg between mine, he fought to keep me in place. So I went for option b; play dead.

Not expecting the bulk of my weight to shift against him, he stepped back to brace himself. Wrapping my legs around waist, I was about to try and head butt him, when my move back fired. Instead he used it to his advantage and I was left on the floor with him above me.

"Nice try. I love that spirit! The fact you haven't succumbed to my charm yet only makes this more interesting!"

"Charm? That's what's been going on?" I asked confused, yet anything else I had left to argue with left me as his fangs reappeared.

"Oh I can be quite persuasive. Maybe if I had come to you like this?" He shifted his appearance into V. "You trust me don't you? You rescued me after all!"

"Nice try dickhead!" I spat in his face since it was the only attack I had left. 

He laughed. 

Jordan appeared next, "Come on Elliephant, just tell me where you are. I'll come get you and we can-"

"You're delusional!" 

His hit came hard and face, snapping my head to the side as the pain tore through my skull like a bolt of lightning. I didn't move, unable to focus as staying awake, in a dream, didn't seem so easy anymore.

"Bunny, bunny get up!" Logan called and finally I opened my eyes to find myself back in the guestroom. "Oh thank god, you're okay!"

"Logan?" Holding my head, the hit still hurt and looking around, I was back in the guestroom. Looking over at the mirror, everything looked normal.

"Yeah, I'm here. What happened? Bad dream?"

"You could say that." I groaned.

"How about we go see your parents?" He offered.

"My parents?" It then occurred to me Alfie wasn't here. Looking at Logan again, I stared into his eyes for a moment and I knew I wasn't free of Drac just yet. "How? We'd have to go to the Academy?"

"Oh silly me!" He laughed.

"Where are we Logan?" I dared to go closer, hugging him.

"We're, ah, at my place. Remember baby?" 

Baby? Did he really just call me baby?

"Oh right. I must have hit me head." I lie, and getting up, walked over to the mirror. One thing I did know, is there was a baseball bat against the side of the cupboard where the mirror stood and grabbing it, I spun around and sent Dracula Logan sprawling onto the bed. 

He soon lost the disguise.

"I'm not telling you where I am!" I screamed at him and snapping the handle, I moved in to stake him.

This time when he pinned me down, he went into the one person I dreaded seeing again, and in the worst situation. The guest room was now the one at my parents old house and it was Reece who stared back at me now.

"I just want to see you again, just one more time." He whispered, and despite knowing it all wasn't real, I was still stunned into shock. "I just need a taste, let me have a tiny taste of you and I'll return for you. Where ever you are, I will come back to you."

My mind felt hazy as his lips lowered to mine.

One taste. 

His voice was in my mind, begging me to let him in. I didn't even know how I was keeping him out, and instead relived that moment when I had no choice other than to shoot him. This wasn't Reece besides, even when it was I knew what I to do.

"Oh Reece!" I sighed, unable to stop the tears. I didn't understand any of my emotions right now, but the sense of pity was the most overwhelming. I really had ruined his life; and not just because I was the reason he walked into the portal. Oddly, i didn't have that emotional attachment anymore, I could see this for what it was and I knew that was something Dracula wouldn't be expecting. Just like last time with the portal, he thought this was a way to play with me; mess me up. 

"How about a kiss for old times sake?" He asks.

The first time was so much harder. Reliving it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be.

This isn't Reece.

"You're forgetting one thing," I stuttered, feeling the handle of the pistol safe in my hand. Dragging it up between us, he doesn't look worried. Not even has a push it against his chest. 

"What's that?"  He mused, and I couldn't wait to wipe that smug smile of his face.

"I already shot him once, and I can do it again!"

The shot jolted him up as finally Dracula returned to his original form and rolling onto his side, his hands went to cover his wound. Holding up a bloody hand, he inspected it for a second before he laughed. "It doesn't matter. It worked!"

"What?" I raise the gun at him again, "what worked?"

I never got my answer as he disappeared and this time when Logan woke me up, I knew that it was over. For now.

-x-

 "You really want to go out after your little dream sequence?" Logan snapped, looking Alfie who did the best shrugging impersonation I've seen from someone with no shoulders.

"Especially because of that. i think he's coming now."

"Then stay put!"

Sliding the dagger into it's sheath that's fastened to my belt, I ignore him. "So, you ready?"

"Elise-"

"Elise? Wow, you're really serious right now." I mock.

Logan doesn't appreciate it. "At least wait until your parents come back before doing anything!"

"You mean so they can join your team and stop me?"

"Or that. I have a bad feeling about it all, just once please listen to me!" He begs.

"Why are we listening to you?" Zane asks, coming inside from the kitchen door. He instantly picks up the machete and inspects the blade.

"Because she wants to head over to the Last Drop!" Logan blurts out.

Zane only laughs. "Yeah, good luck with that."

"What do you mean?" I ask hesitantly.

"I got Sonia and a few fae putting a shield out over this place, but the patrols. You're not going anywhere kid."

I instantly bristle at that. "Fine!" 

Slamming my bedroom door, it's not long until Alfie is joining me in there. "Hey bud, wanna come with?"

"No. Aflie stay here. Elise stay here."

"I know Logan wants that, but I think Darius can help. Please don't make me go all master on you and make it a command."

He hesitates. "Where is Elise going?"

"Right now? To make a distraction!" I smirk, pulling out an old spray can of perfume. Finding a tshirt, I fiddle around with it before opening the window and getting out, I wait for Alfie before lighting it up. I launch it over onto the road between the two houses and sure enough it explodes with a loud bang and a few impressive flames. Avoiding the main road, I start to run and Alfie is right behind me and seeing torches in the dark, we take cover as one of the patrols pass us. 

Then I keep going until we get to the shield. Stupid fae and their stupid shields. Reaching out to touch it, the electricity in it makes my palm tingle. "Alfie, can you use this power to take us to the bar?"

Sure enough, he puts his tail around me and before I know it, we're beside the bathroom window. "Good boy!"

I start to walk around to the entrance when instead Alfie grabs me again. "Alfie stay here."

"Good idea, I'll call if I need you." He nods and lets me go and it's then my phone starts to ring. "Hello?"

"Elise, where the fuck are you?" Zane yells.

"In my room. Didn't you hear about my  invisibility talent?" 

He only makes some kind of angry growl, choking sound and after a rustling sound, I cringe as Dad takes his place. "Elise Agatha Bunting! You have exactly ten seconds to get yourself back here!"

"For making Agatha my middle name, I have to decline on principle."

I hold the phone away as he sends through a bunch of words that aren't what you'd expect from a teacher.

"I'm gonna leave you with Alfie, and I'd prefer you didn't talk to him in that kind of language. Alfie, Old Blood wants to talk to you!" I put the phone on speaker and rest it on the tip of his tail as he looks at it confused.

"Do not call me Old Blood! Elise, this isn't-" I nod at Alfie and leave him with it, while internally I'm dreading going back now.

Maybe I will stay for a drink.

Or two.

 Walking inside, there is a band on tonight. The squeak from the microphone during their sound test has a few groaning in protest and going to bar, I'm impressed to see the Babushka woman serving customers. 

"Ah Hunter! You are back!" She smiles as another one of her appears from down the hall and as she walks around the bar, it's like she is absorbed into the original body. Kind of amazing really and I can't help stare.

"And so are, all of you?" I nod as she holds up a bottle of vodka and it's then Darius appears from helping the band.

"Hey Elise! On your own or is this another school project?" He jokes.

"Funny!" I roll my eyes as he moves next to his girlfriend and kisses her cheek.

It looks a little awkward and I hope for his sake there isn't already trouble in paradise.

"You remember Katya?" He re-introduces, and if I know the vampire a well as I know I do, something is definitely going on here. 

"Of course!" I lie; I had no idea what her name was.

"So what do I owe the pleasure of your visit or are you simply here to add to your bar tab?" Darius smirks.

"I have a tab? I thought Hunters drunk for free?"

He turns serious and I know it's not because of my lack of payment for drinks. "There has been a lot of talk. I don't want any attention turned my way. What can you tell me?"

Seems like someone put on his grumpy pants today. "I was going to ask you the same thing."

"Come out the back. I don't want this to be public knowledge." Katya moves to follow us, yet he stops her. "Just give us a sec."

I offer her a small smile as this seems to piss her off, her own happy facade cracking slightly before she hides it all again.

"Of course."

We go further down the back corridor that I've ever really paid attention to or been before. I've never been out here before. His office; yes. Upstairs; yes. I can't stop myself from feeling nervous as we go into essentially another storage room. It's darker down this end, the light seems to be fading out, and the shiver that passes as I step inside tells me there's some kind of guard on the doorway.

"What do you want to know Hunter?" He demands the second the door is closed. Boxes of alcohol line one wall, while a series of filing cabinets line another with a desk covered in papers sits in the middle. 

It doesn't look like anything special or secret enough to warrant the wards I'm sensing all over the place.

"Hunter?" He prompts, not looking impressed as I get distracted.

"Sorry. Right. How are you and Katya doing?" He groans, pinching the bridge of his nose as he closes his eyes. "Another time then. Dracula. I need to know everything I can about him, the real him." 

I know Darius knows something. His eyes snap open to look at me at the mention of the name.

"Why?" He asks cautiously.

"Long story short, he is coming for me."

"I thought I told you not to get involved!" He growls, slamming his fist into one of the draws. The metal caves from the impact, leaving a perfect imprint.

"I- I didn't." I stutter, shocked by his outburst. More than that, something in this room changes. Like it's not just me and him in here anymore and I manage to swallow before trying to make words again. "I just, it happened. It wasn't my choice, and I'm not like, that involved."

"No? You're not that involved? So then why the fuck, is he coming after you?" A glimpse of monster he hides under his human skin appears, and ever so slowly I take a step back towards the door. He notices, and takes a deep breath. "Dracula doesn't do something because he felt like it. There's a reason and a purpose, and if you have his attention, there's reason for it."

"Well if you work it out, let me know so I can not do whatever it is I keep doing for this shit to keep finding me!" I yell back, forgetting his mood and how much of a bad idea I think poking him further may be.

Darius mumbles something under his breath, spinning on his heel he paces back and forth while I try to take another step back towards the door and hopefully freedom.

"Why are you here?" He asks finally, rolling his eyes as I attempt to try the handle; locked.

I give up on my escape plan.

"Seeing you seemed like a good place to start, though maybe I was wrong."

His shoulders slump and he slides up onto the table, looking at me expectantly. "Just, tell me everything. Please."

Without even thinking about I do. I tell him everything. From the V drama to the dreams with Dracula, and even the Lord Alpha's little visit. I finish with how I ended up at the Academy, and my decision to come here.

"That's it? That's all you know?" He has calmed down and now just seems disappointed. I nod, and he exhales deeply. In seconds he has stormed out of the room and just when I'm about to leave, he returns with two shot glasses and a bottle of vodka. "You're little Tracker friend and that Slayer are out there looking for you. Katya is holding them back for now."

"Shit!" I frown, taking the glass.

"Hunter, Dracula, well Vlad, thought he was king shit in his day. The stories are mostly true, but one thing that the history books don't mention are his demonic links. He has vampire powers, and was also a born shifter. He isn't limited to an animal spirit though. There are only a few shifters in this world like him.  He sought to make a deal with the devil and the devil obliged."

"And the Van Helsings stopped him, so I will stop him again." I shrug, seems to be an easy solution after another shot.

"No. It's a lot more complicated than that." He poured again; this had clearly rattled him.

"To fight a monster, you have to become a monster. The Van Helsings took the glory of the kill, but there's a lot more to know about how it actually went down."

"What?"

"The Hunter wasn't alone. The shifter you know as Lord Alpha helped destroy his brother, and was also the one who turned him into a vampire." Darius took another shot, not pouring me one this time.

"He told me that, I had a dream thing with him too. He said if I gave him freedom, he could help again."

"Don't. That is a lie. He will hold none of the powers he did before and the only reason he'd want out is to join forces with Drac so they can-" He stopped, instantly looking guilty.

"So they can what?"

"Never mind that. I have a feeling why he chose you now, more than this V character or anything else. If he does come, know that I will be sure to put an end to him and his, threats." Darius promised, and after this whole thing he was making it impossible for me to ever forget he was a vampire with a mean streak.

"How about you tell me what you know, now?" I snapped, unable to stop the feeling this meeting was over now he knew my story. "Why do you think you can take him down?"

"I can't have you knowing the secrets of our world Elise. You are after all a Hunter first and friend second. I've seen you grow, and despite you leaving the Academy, I have kept tabs on your movements. I see your family as friends, not foes. I was there when the treaty came to be. Remember that!" He stood with a wave of his hand, I jumped as the door opened.

Since when could vampires do that?

"Dari-"

"Elise!" Zane roared and turning, he stormed passed the trio of Katya's.

"Oh hey! Fancy seeing you guys here!" I smile rather sheepishly and glancing back at Darius, he is assessing Zane like the predator he is. I don't like that look. 

"What the fuck is going on?" He demands.

"You're the one leading that little group after V are you not?" Darius asks coldly.

"Yeah. Got a problem with that?" Zane snaps. This is escalating quicker than I could have imagined as the duo square off against each other.

"Not at all." It's like flicking a on off switch as the Darius I am used to reappears. Calm, relaxed and letting me get away with not paying for my drinks. "Nice to meet you Slayer."

Darius leaves us and I'm left with Zane and Logan. The room suddenly seems to small for all their rage. They have nothing on the vampire.

"So, fancy a drink?" I already know the answer and I'm led out like a sheep going to slaughter. Considering the mood I left my Dad in on the phone, I don't think the analogy isn't too far from the truth. "You do know I'm an adult and can act on my own accord?"

"Yeah, but-" Zane stops and pulls out his phone. "What?" he pauses, "understood."

His eyes widen as he turns to Logan and I and it's then Alfie appears, looking worried. It's then Sonia joins our title party and before I can protest, between her and Alfie, we're all sent back home. Only it's not what I'm expecting as the second the dizziness from the move wears off, Mum is handing me a rifle.

"What is going on?" Logan gets out as she does the same to him.

"We're under attack, that's what!" She yells, completely focused on her bow.

"From who?" Zane reacts quicker than me and Logan, prepping himself with a commando like finesse.

"I should've stayed at the bar."

"What?" Again Zane is the first to react.

"Darius would have kept me safe. He said-"

"I don't trust a vampire, even if they're on our side." He tells me, before running out the house where shots are already being fired.

This is bad. 

"Logan!" I don't know why I'm expecting him to have the answers.

"We fight. Think of all the students that are at risk, and hopefully they can't get through the shield." Logan gets some ammo and follows Mum out the door.

I walk out like I'm still dreaming and see Dad barking out his orders while Zane does the same thing further up from the house. The shield isn't hidden anymore, the pink glow reminding me of the fireworks set off from each demon meeting its end as it left the portal and beyond that, you can feel the darkness trying to get in.

Running past Dad, I make it to the oval and see the alarm lights flashing at the Academy; the emergency procedures would have the building in lock down and Alfie joins me. The prongs on his tail are out like deadly nails, sharpened for battle. I can't go through this kind of battle again. 

Just like that night, I was ready to make the sacrifice to keep everyone else safe.

"Alfie, you know what I have to do right?"

"No Elise." He looked down at me, searching my eyes for the answers. Maybe it won'thave to be that bad.

"We go out there, and we take out the bitches trying to break down the shield. Without them, they have no way of getting in or away. Dawn isn't far away, and there isn't a lot of places for them to find shelter around here. We can do this Alfie. We need to stop them."

"Alfie help Elise."

"Let's do it." I nod, and put my arm around his neck.

"Elise! Don't!" Logan screams out as he see's the pair of us and all eyes turn our way.

"It's okay. We got this!" I promise.

Alfie takes us to the fae who aren't as close as I expected them to be. Just like how vampires hide their demon under a human skin, Alfie sheds his friendly demenour in seconds and three are dead before the others even know we arrived.

"Kill the fae Alfie!" I order, and turning, the vampire guards circle me. 

This is it.

Each shot meets its target, except for one which gets the woman in the shoulder. I'm about to fire again when Ailin appears behind her and the vampire is dust before her head hits the dirt. 

"Hunter." She greets rather calmly considering the others that are heading our way.

"You and me need to talk!" I can't help feel more confident with her at my side.

"I would say your timing is rather off."

I end up firing the gun until useless and go for the more primitive method of swordfighting against the demons and glancing back to check on Alfie, he has the last two fae running. He rears up and the lower section of his body whips forward like a whip, with claws of its own and as it wraps around them, they shimmer in an attempt to get away, but it's too late.

We did it. 

"Alfie!" I start to run towards him with Ailin right behind me and just as I'm about to grab onto him, Dracula appears and I literally run right into him.

"Well this a pleasant surprise Hunter." He gets the dagger out of my hand and as I'm caught against him, he moves it up against my throat. I knew this was a possibility, I had just hoped with Alfie and especially with Ailin there it wouldn't be likely. "Careful, wouldn't want to hurt your master."

Alfie freezes and Ailin hisses at Drac. 

"You really don't get it do you?" I manage to get out, sounding so much stronger than I feel.

"What Hunter?"

"I will beat you!" Stomping on his foot, he barely flinches, but with his attention solely on me, Ailin moves behind him so quickly her tell tale swirl of black smoke barely hangs in the air and her claws dig deep into his back.

I'm thrown forward and Alfie is quick to catch me only with no dark fae around, the only source of power he has is from Ailin. "Go! Get her out of here!"

"No! Ailin!" My cries are pointless as I'm already back in the house. Without her strength, what chance would she have at fighting him or getting away? "Dad! Zane! We have to go help Ailin!"

Running out everyone is near the shield, "Go! Go help Ailin!"

"She knew what she was doing." Huntington intercepts me and I shove her away. 

"No! Go!" I scream, and everyone seems to know the threat is over as they come over to me. "You stupid fucking fairies, go help her!"

Sonia and her clan avoid eye contact and looking at my parents, I only see pity. 

"She is on her own Ellie. It was her order." Zane answered sadly.

"So what? You can't leave her out there!" I snatch a gun off some other idiot and make a run for the shield, only to have Logan and Alfie block my way. "Alfie, I command you to-"

Logan covers my mouth and going to hit him, he quickly grabs my arms. "Elise, stop! Think about it for a second okay. She might be fine, you don't know what's happening out there."

"Neither do you and I'm not willing to stand here while he kills her!"

"Alfie go. Elise stay. Elise safe." And just like that he is gone and I collapse against Logan, as the thought of something happening to Alfie is even worse. 

What the hell just happened?