I know I said updates would be Fridays, but this is to make up for the delays in the last couple of weeks. Still sick, so apologies for any bits that don't make sense thanks to a mushy brain. I didn't really like this chapter, but hopefully you do?

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Getting dressed for my coming work out, there is no one in the house except for Jordan who is snoring enough for about ten people. Going out the back, there is barely enough light to see by and the curled up snake could easily be mistaken as a bundle of ropes under my veranda. He wakes up the second I close the door, yawning as he blinks a few times.

"Elise!" He greets happily, unwrapping himself slowly so he is now moving around me.

"Hey Alfie," Hugging him makes me feel better. I didn't even think I was feeling bad, but he is an instant mood booster. "I miss the days of it just being us."

"Our home Elisssse. Same blood here too."

"I know, but doesn't feel like home at the moment." I sigh, sitting down on his coils and he moves so he can rest his head in my lap. I gentle stroke between his eyes, loving the smooth feel of his skin.

"Human gone?"

"Yes, human is gone," I instantly cringe, I hadn't even gone to check on Matt yet. Sure I'd been busy, but it wouldn't be that hard to get away for an hour to go see him.

"Elise sad?"

"A little I guess. It's better this way though Alfie."

"Yesssss. Alfie happy. Elise happy now?" He presses his head against my stomach, and I hug him again.

"Elise is always happy if Alfie is happy. I don't know what I'd do without you!" I stupidly start to cry, and lay down on him now.

"Alfie will be with Elise master of mine. No cry or sss-ad." He covers me, letting me hide away for a moment as I wipe my eyes and take a deep breath.

"I love you Alfie."

"Alfie loves Elise!" He answers, restricting around me in a hug of his own.

"Careful pal, too tight!" I warn and he relaxes.

"Slayer is here."

Peeking up over the protective wall his body created, sure enough Zane is coming through the house and opens the door. "Alfie, seen Elise?"

"I'm here!" I call out, standing up. Alfie's tail wraps around my waist as he lifts me up over his body to save him moving more than he has to.

"Ready?" He smirks.

"Don't you ever sleep?"

"Time for that later. Come on Bunting, don't make me start by making you do push-ups now." Zane teases, though I think there was an actual threat there.

"You know, I used to like you before you went all commando!"

"I used to like you too, until you called me Grandpa and asked if I was over thirty!" I roll my eyes at that and he only laughs. "Come on, we gotta go."

"Go?"

"Yeah, training. I think you could do with some company."

I don't even ask what he means by that and leaving home, we end up walking down the street to the park area by the river. Seeing his team as well as Sam, Keiran and Raya warming up has my stomach in knots.

"Hey!" Raya bounces over, "How good is it to be put through a work out with Zane?"

"If you went through what I did yesterday, not good!" I look to where a pile of tires and ropes had been dumped by some of his team and Rachelle comes over to stand with us.

"I am so ready, I've been working more on strength than cardio lately. I reckon this will be easy!" She boasts.

"So, this is new?" I ask.

"Yeah! Kind of. He keeps his team training all the time, but first time he's let outsiders join us. I heard he even helps the government train the army?" Rachelle seems to be looking at me for confirmation, but I don't have a total in to his to answer.

"No idea."

"Not true, he is a good Slayer - a great one actually, which is why the president gave him this mission." Sam joins in, and instantly her know it all tone has me walking away from them.

"Hey, what is that about?" Raya chases after me, glancing back to the others.

"I don't like her."

"You don't like anyone. I'm surprised you even let us in when we first met!" She argues, "Is it because of her history with Logan?"

"No!" I answer to quickly and Raya only smiles before hanging her arm over my shoulders.

"Get over it! You're over him right so what do you have against her? They're exes who have managed to stay friends due to horrible events happening. She should hate you for being his next girlfriend!"

"I was never his girlfriend!" Looking back to Sam, she was looking at us and I understood Raya's point. Be the bigger person, though considering how short she was that wasn't hard. My personal joke made me laugh and Raya only shook her head.

"I am so glad I have Keiran and past all this dating stuff!"

Zane blew his whistle before I could respond and the group all moved closer as he barked out orders on who was doing what and where and how his session was going to work. It all sounded painful. "Bunting, Pattern, you two are with me and Fletchers group!"

It took a second to work out who he was talking about and Rachelle smiled, waving at me where she had dragged Sam over to a couple of other guys. Great.

"Be nice, and good luck!" Raya whispered, leaving me to join my new 'team' and went to hers.

I couldn't stop myself from glaring at Zane as we walked over to the other and I knew he had done this on purpose, which added him to my jerk list. He shouted out a few orders and thankfully I didn't actually have to do anything with Sam. We ran, we jumped, we lifted heavy things and yet the unspoken battle between Sam and I only grew as we both pushed ourselves harder than necessary to one up the other.

We were both close to exhaustion, yet too stubborn to admit defeat until we had to climb over a wall. The exercise meant we had to help each other over, and seeing her struggle I didn't help. Landing on the other side, I leant against the bricks as the rest of our group all took a second to catch their breath. When she got over, her pale face was flushed with more than just exhaustion, but anger too.

"What the fuck is your problem?" She screamed at me, "there is no I in team Elise, we're training - not competing in the fucking Olympics!"

"Perhaps not, but there is a, you in Fuck You!" I quickly retorted, struggling to get in enough air to scream at her and recover from that work out.

Her mouth dropped before she seemed to grow a little taller, building herself up to explode, so when she shoved me I was ready for it, but before I could throw a punch Zane intervened.

"You both have been out of line all morning! We're all on the same side and this fighting amongst yourselves makes us all weak to our enemies!" I hadn't been on the receiving end of Zane's rage, the few times I had come close it was never like this. "Come with me!"

He started to head down to the water, pulling out his phone and sent a message. I wasn't in the mood for this. "But-"

"Now Elise!" Rolling my eyes I followed behind Sam, who seemed incapable of looking at me now. "Get in the shed!"

"No!" I argued, not willing to let him push me around. The boat shed sat over the end of the jetty and getting closer, it was empty and filled with cobwebs.

"Elise, do it. I will literally throw you into it if you don't!" He warned. He wasn't kidding, Zane doesn't joke with things like this and not in his current state of mind.

Sam obediently went inside and with a huff I followed. "You're being locked in here until you can work out your shit."

He slammed the door closed and turning to Sam, the dim light in the space didn't hide how unimpressed we both were.

"We can just swim out." Sam pointed out and looking at the black water around us, I wasn't looking forward to that.

"You first." I offered and Sam went to dive in, only to find herself laying flat above the water. Taking a step out, something was blocking us from actually accessing the river. "Great idea."

"It's your fault we're even here!" She moved to sit over the water, and looking around I considered climbing out via the roof.

"My fault? Your hissy fit from not keeping up got us in here! No one helped me over either and sorry, you pushed me? What did you plan on doing after that?"

She ignored that last part. "True, but that's because you took the wall on yourself and didn't take that Slayers hand when he offered it to you. I don't know why I'm surprised, you only ever do things for yourself." Again that air of superiority came out and she literally turned her nose up at me.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You do what you want, no matter who else is involved. I heard the conversation you had with your brother outside that cell. You wanted to leave us there, you had who you wanted out and nothing else mattered."

"It didn't. Opal-"She cut me off, only annoying me even more.

"Opal deserved the torture and abuse? I deserved it too right?"

"Well-"

She didn't give me a chance to defend myself. "You're so smart and independent, able to do what others can't. I mean you did kill the Lord Alpha didn't you, all on your own? You're so bad ass you don't care about authority, especially when it doesn't fit in with your plans. Do you even care how hurt everyone was when you fucked off after leaving hospital last year? No. Because you did what you wanted and everyone else can just deal with it! You're the most selfish, immature, brat I have ever met!"

Shaking my head I had thought a lot of that about myself anyway, but now I was getting it from all angles from people I didn't really know and well, I just didn't care. Yeah, I was selfish. Thing is, I would've had a change of heart on the way out of Selene's and gone back, if only so Opal could face justice with the Council. Jordan had been my priority, and I was one of the lucky ones who had family to consider. I wonder what she would have done in my shoes.

It was hard to remember our first actual conversation in hospital had actually made me admire her. She had endured a lot, yet held her head high and maintained her dignity. Now I can see that's just who she is with a better than everyone attitude. She was only a couple of years older than me and here she was acting like she was fifty and had never done anything wrong in her life. Twice I had saved her, and yet I'm selfish?

"Maybe if you got your head out of your pretentious, self-righteous ass you'd be able to try and see things from my point of view. I didn't kill him by myself. I had an army helping me, I simply got lucky. Think and say what you want about me, because this could be the brat in me talking, but you'd be dead if not for me, twice and I think about as much of you as I do about dog shit on my shoe!"

Turning I headed back towards the door and looking around, saw a few bits of broken shelving that I moved into place so I could climb up onto the rafters. Good luck getting out here bitch, because she could rot for all I cared. I'd just made it to the first beam when she decided to answer me.

"I kind of get what he sees in you, but I still don't get it!"

Don't bite. Don't bite, but I'd never listened to myself before. "What?"

"Logan."

"I'm not talking about him, with you."

"Is that why you hate me? I'm his ex, and you're jealous?"

I really need to keep my mouth shut. "No. I don't hate you, I just don't know you. Actually, after that little rant and getting us in here? Yeah I hate you. Logan has nothing to do with it that was all you."

"I find that hard to believe!" She retorted, sounding rather pleased with herself. Maybe I didn't like her because of her past with him, but she wasn't exactly helping me change my opinion of her right now.

Focusing on balancing as I moved towards the main support beam in the centre that went up to the actual roof top. Despite ignoring her, it didn't stop her from talking.

"You know, we'd been friends for a few years before we gave dating a go. It was weird, we weren't the kind of friends who could make that relationship change so we were happy to leave it as it had been. He found me when I was in recovery, heartbroken about you. We talked it out. I told him to give you time to come to your senses, but you never did." She kept prattling on about life after I'd left, suddenly keen to share everything she knew about Logan during our time apart up until she was taken by the vampires. "Seeing him arrive with you was a surprise. I didn't expect these last couple of weeks to give me such an eye opening experience with the two of you though!"

The roof wasn't budging. I couldn't find a single weak point of hole and her constant talking was doing my head in. Sam didn't care that I wasn't answering or even really listening, just happily judging Logan now over his choices regarding me. I struggled to understand if she was trying to get a reaction out of me, or simply talking her thoughts out loud and as some of the wood I was sitting on splintered slightly, the idea to stab her with it so she'd shut up was tempting.

I was getting beyond tired and as I managed to stand to try again, Sam finally said something that got my attention. "But I don't understand how Reece fitted into it all."

I lost my balance, tripping over my own foot and with nothing to reach out to hold, I fell. Instead of having the water there to break my fall I got the shield that been put over it and it hurt like landing on concrete. I couldn't move, every part of me ached and opening my eyes Sam rolled me onto my back.

"Shit! Are you okay?"

"Peachy!" I coughed, holding my side. My ankle was throbbing and breathing was a chore. Fuck the world, I was so over all of this.

"Zane! This isn't funny anymore! Elise needs help!" Sam called out, yet not no response came.

Groaning I sat up and luckily it wasn't a huge fall. It didn't help my body was already spent, but nothing was broken. "Climbing out the roof, not an option."

"Clearly." Sam agreed, lacking the sarcasm I would have used.

We put some space between us, her sitting on one end of the jetty while I spread out on my back on the other.

"I've been a huge bitch Elise, I'm sorry. I just, I feel protective over Logan and you just keep hurting him." Sam sighs. If she was trying to be nice now, I wasn't buying it.

"He is a big boy and can look after himself."

"That's just what he wants you to see, like how you act so tough around him."

"Are you some kind of psychiatrist now or something?" I snap, contemplating sitting up, but deciding against it. If anything, she needed one. The way she was up and down, breaking down all aspects of our life like some kind of project, normal people don't do that. Zane was going to be hurting once I got out for putting me through this.

"Why won't you give him a chance?"

"I can't." Simple.

"Or wont?"

"It's complicated." Groaning I turn to look at her wondering why she wouldn't drop this.

"Cause you want it to be. Why keep pushing him away, why push all of them away?"

I kept silent, not sure how this time had suddenly turned into a fix Elise session. I liked it better when she was yelling abuse at me, it was easier to ignore. Groaning I managed to sit up and even more effort was used to stand. Walking over the water I did another lap of the building, trying to find some clue as to how to get out.

Sam didn't back off. "You ran from your family, but you can't escape the past for ever."

It kept coming. Question after question and as the aches left my body, my head wasn't so lucky. "Who are you? Oprah? Stay out of my business!"

"Well clearly they wanted us in here to sort out what ever issues you have with me! I was just trying to do that!" Sam mumbled, trying to sound innocent.

"Issues I have with you? Clearly you have issues with me!"

She looked at me doubtfully for a moment, "This isn't getting us anywhere."

I didn't answer, enjoying the silence that followed. I was going kill Zane after this, I bet he thought he was so clever doing it too. Minutes went by, maybe hours until she was the first to speak.

"I'm sorry, for what I said earlier." Sam weakly admitted.

"I'm not." I answered dryly, sitting down against the wall.

"I kind of envy you, you know. You're a survivor, you have family, friends - you have it all. When you came to see me in the hospital and despite acting so tough, you helped me. Do you remember? You helped me get a drink and got a blanket because I was cold?" Her tone softened, and I nodded, not expecting her to bring that up. "I have to be honest though, I knew about you and Logan then and I only said he was my boyfriend to hurt you. It was stupid, I was jealous and well, you're an amazing Hunter, and people will remember you like they do your ancestors, not just because of what you do, but for things like what you did for me."

I kind of suspected something like that about her and Logan, and while I could keep saying I didn't care and shrug it off, I really couldn't. The more she kept picking, the more I felt her getting under my skin and I hated it.

"You can't insult me, tell me you lied to purposefully try and hurt me, by finishing with shit like that!" This was weird, too weird. I kind of felt like I was dreaming. Maybe I hit my head when I fell and this is just a side effect of that?

"Look, I want everything out in the open so maybe we can be friends one day? You know, move on - leave it all in the past?" She asked hopefully. "And-"

"And just so we're clear, even after your little sharing session and all your honesty - we're not going to be friends. Ever." Looking towards the door, it then occurred me we never actually tried to open it. This place was old, we might even be able to kick it down. "Let's call a truce. I forget today and you stay the fuck away from me and keep your opinions to yourself. If you don't, I will make you wish Selene had been the one to kill you in that dungeon, because I will make your life hell."

"That's not much of a truce," she whispered, yet she followed me to the door "What are you doing?"

"Take it or leave it?" I extended my hand and she shook it, and going to shove open the door - it opened. It wasn't actually locked. This time whole time it had been open. "Oh you're kidding!"

Going out onto the jetty, I looked around expecting a trap, but there wasn't one. Just Zane sitting with Sonia over on the river bank.

"You!" I screamed, pointing at him.

"Oh hey!" He answered, standing up. I noticed how he got defensive in seconds, preparing for my attack. "Sorted it out?"

"I'm going to kill you!" I ran over to where they were and Sonia waved her hands up, putting a shimmering gold wall in front of them.

"Hey, it was for your own good. Aren't things better now?" He looked to Sam and frowned.

"Oh just great. We really worked everything out!" I answered for her, glaring at the pair of them.

"With a clear mind, even the most challenging of obstacles can be overcome! All the negativity was clouding your mind and judgement! See what you two accomplished?" Sonia smiled.

"Oh you have no idea." It came out sounding like more of a threat than laced with sarcasm and leaving them behind, I started to run home.

Zane of course, came running after me. "Wait!"

"No!"

"It was meant to help you!" He called, catching up.

I stopped, shoving him hard in the chest. "Help me? Hearing how much of a failure she thinks I am is supposed to help me? Didn't you think I got enough shit yesterday asshole?"

He blocked my hit and grabbed both of my arms, which only made me use my legs as I kicked him in the shin making him let me go. "But-"

"Why doesn't anyone ever just believe in me? I had to prove myself to you, to my own fucking family - to all these people I don't even fucking like or even know! I get it, I have a bad attitude, but for everyone to doubt me all the time? I am so done!" I screamed at him, not caring that the people walking their dog nearby stopped to stare.

Even worse than that, I started to cry. I was tired, I was aching all over and the feeling of being so, alone, had me feeling like I was literally breaking inside. With a huff, I turned and kept running.

"Stop! That's not what-"

"Leave me alone!" I ran harder, if I thought I had found my limit I just extended it and finally I couldn't hear him behind me. Getting inside I went to my room, ignoring Jordan and Rachelle who were out the back with Alfie. Grabbing my bag I started to throw some clothes in it, as we all going through what weapons I had stashed in my wardrobe. Of course Alfie was the first to appear, blocking the doorway so Jordan couldn't get in.

"Ellie, what's going on?" He called, "Move Alfie!"

Alfie only hissed in response and that had Jordan backing off.

"Alfie, Sonia is nearby. Use your magic thing and go back to your other home." Wiping my eyes, I stopped to take a few deep breaths I knew I had to get away. I wasn't going to let any of them see me like this.

"Alfie stay with Elise?"

"Yes bud, but I need you to go first and I'll come find you okay?" I kissed his nose and zipping up my bag.

"What are you doing?" Jordan demanded, looking panicked.

"Nothing."

"Why the bag?"

"Elise!" Zane called and sure enough he came running in with Sonia right behind him. "I'm sorry. We need to talk."

"I've done enough talking for today. Go Alfie!" I went to bathroom and as I locked the door, he disappeared. All attention went to Sonia as Alfie would have used her energy to transport himself. Now I just had to get myself out of here too. I didn't have much of a plan, but then again I never did.

-x-

"Where did she get Alfie to go?" Chris asked, "Why send him away?"

From in my bedroom I could hear them all talking. I'd been bombarded with apologies, met with frustrations and when Jordan broke the lock and got the door open, I'd pointed a revolver in his face and told him to get out. Their little group discussion was giving me time to think and after taking a nap, I went through my wardrobe and changed, ready for a night out. Grabbing my bag, I wasn't going to be coming home afterwards and going to my window, watched the shadows that moved around in the night. Zane had the house surrounded, expecting me to try leaving. They knew me too well.

Slipping the high heels into my bag, I slowly opened my door to hear Jordan yelling. "I don't even know why you would do that!"

"Well, I had hoped they'd talk out their differences. You should have seen them working out this morning. It was ridiculous!" Zane yelled back, "It was meant to be like a time out! They were acting like children!"

"It would be like throwing a cat and a dog in a box together! You really think Elise would be put in a time out?" Jordan retorted.

Walking out into the living room, all eyes turned to me instantly and Chris didn't stop himself as his mouth dropped slightly. "I do hope I was the cat in that analogy and not the bitch."

"What aren't you wearing?" Whacking Chris on the arm from where he was clearly checking me out, Jordan stood up and taking off his jacket, went to put it on me.

"This? It's nothing." I smiled, brushing past him.

"Dude, when did your sister get boobs?" He asked, this time getting a slap on the back of the head by Zane.

It was then I realised Logan wasn't around.

Good.

I ran my hands over the rather mini red dress, and throwing my hair over my shoulder made my way into the kitchen, dropping my bag by the front door. Getting out a bottle of vodka, all three followed me nervously.

"Elise, I didn't mean for today to turn out how it did." Zane started to apologise, but I held up my hand as a signal to shut up.

"What are you planning on doing dressed like that?" Jordan demanded.

"Out."

"Like hell!" He snapped, and all three stood up a little taller, crossing their arms. They looked rather intimidating, but not to me.

"Shot?"

"No!" They all spoke at the same time and shrugging, I only took one glass out of the cupboard.

"Are you wearing makeup?" Jordan asked as I choked down my first shot.

"Yes."

My belly was burning as the alcohol hit it, the sensation only worsening as I took another two.

The knock on my door was right on time and moving quicker than those three could, I got to the door to find Drew standing there. "Hey, wow!"

"Ready?" I purred, picking up my bag I quickly threw it out the door.

Drew took it, the goofy smile on his face making me smile too, or maybe that was the three shots of vodka.

"Ah no. Drew, go home." Zane grabbed my arm and I stopped walking.

"You have to the count of two to let me go Zane." I warned. Nothing happened. "One. Two."

Going to pull myself free he didn't let go and expecting me to turn, I instead pushed my heel into his toes and twirling around, he kept hold of my arm until the palm of my hand came up to hit him in the nose. "I get your pissed about today, but what the fuck!"

Chris laughed and as Jordan moved to come after me, I held my fists up. "You will let me go."

"Elise. Don't do this!" He begged, "Drew, come on!"

Turning back to Drew, I took his hand and seeing the car was disappointed he didn't have the bike from before. The fact my front yard soon had six Slayers dressed in black, complete with balaclavas, blocking our path didn't surprise me either. "Shit, Elise, what is this?"

"Go and start the car."

They let him pass without a second look and moving to follow him, the patrol team came closer. "Bunting, Zane said we can use tranqs on you!" One of them warned.

Sighing I put my hand down the front of my dress and in the side of my bra, where I had a couple of throwing stars tucked away. "That's nice of him. If I hit you with these, it's going to hurt you more than me."

"You wouldn't?" I think it was Rachelle asked.

"Elise!" Jordan came behind me and as he went to grab me, I ducked and flipped him onto his back.

"Tell them to let me pass Jords."

"Don't do this!" He begged.

"You don't even know what I'm doing!"

The first Slayer came towards me and instantly I threw the sharp blade into his forearm. He lowered his gun, moaning in agony and the second one I had met the same fate. Leaning over Jordan, I helped him up as I heard the first click of the gun being loaded. He's my brother, I love him, but I don't have to like him. "Funny thing is, you still don't trust me enough to know what I'm doing."

"Elise, please-"

The first shot rang out and rolling onto the lawn, Jordan had the red tipped dart in his arm. Then I ran, punching the other guy in the stomach I got by easily and slipping into the passenger side, I didn't have to tell Drew to go as I slammed the door.

"Why can't I ever just pick you up without people chasing you down?" He seemed a little anxious and I only laughed.

"Where would the fun in that be?" I teased, and once we made it a few blocks from my house, I went into my bag and fixed up my makeup and got my shoes on. Tying up my hair, I pulled out a blonde wig and put it in place. I wasn't leaving town just yet, I had one more thing to do before I could and finally putting on a seat belt, smiled over at a stressed out Drew who wasn't handling this whole situation very well. I guess he isn't the type of guy you'd call to drive the getaway car.

"Do you know where the art museum is?"

"Yeah, I think so. Why?" He asked, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Cause that's where we're going to go!"

He didn't say much after that, but then again neither did I.