Hey everyone, I know I said updates would be every Friday, but I've been sick this week. I hope this chapter makes sense, my brain is like mush but didnt want to keep you waiting too much longer! So apologies in advance for extra bad typos and ramblings....  ER x

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Rolling out of bed, it wasn’t quite dawn. I hardly slept despite knowing Zane was out with his team doing what Aaron wanted, which was focusing on protecting me instead of looking for him. Good thing I didn’t need much sleep and after writing in iBob, I thought over what I had decided in my latest entry. I had to try and let go of the resentment I held for Sam and Logan. It was in the past.

I took the first shower since the whole house was still asleep and once I was done and getting dressed, letting go of the past left me feeling rather, chirpy. With my good mood only growing, I decided to play the perfect host and have breakfast ready for Zane when he got in. He’d be in by six and by the time I was done cooking for him, the others would be starting to wake up so I might as well make enough for all of them.

Tying up my hair, I headed out into the living room and glancing over at the sofa I froze. In the dim light of the room I could see Logan was spread out all over it sound asleep. I had gone to bed first, so didn’t know he’d crashed out here. It was a pretty common occurrence, sharing a room with Chris and Jordan wasn’t my idea of a good time either and since Zane claimed the other room for himself, no one was going to fight with him about sharing.

The part that had me stopping was seeing Sam laying all over him. His arm went over her shoulders, holding her close. Flicking on the light, they didn’t move and now I could clearly see how she was snuggled against his chest. She fitted along him rather perfectly, her smaller size letting her lay literally on him without any issues and the throw rug covered their legs. My first instinct was to throw a cushion at them, or get the hose from outside and spray them apart, but I would take the high road.

I didn’t have any claim over Logan and his choices. Sam was a grown up and could do what she wanted, which apparently meant sleeping where and with whom she wanted, in my house. Turning of light I only rolled my eyes and tried not to disturb them as I kept walking. Like I said in my diary, we’re all adults.

Going into the kitchen I opened the cupboard where all the pots and frying pans were kept. Pulling out two of the bigger pots, I underestimated their weight and my grip slipped causing them to accidently fall onto the counter with a large bang. If that didn’t wake the neighbors, letting the lids fall onto the floor and the two frying pans clang together as I slammed them onto the counter probably did.

“What was that?” I heard Jordan ask as he came out, and with the pan I was looking for set on the stove, I made even more noise shoving them all back in the cupboard, slamming the door as Jordan and Logan appeared in the doorway. “It’s not even six o’clock! What the fuck?”

“Sorry Jords, go back to bed, I’ll let you know when breakfast is ready.” I turned smiling as innocently as I could manage, not even looking at Logan. Gripping the frying pan handle, I was mostly tempted to start hitting him with it.

“I thought we were under attack or something, what the hell were you doing?” Chris appeared, yawning loudly.

“If we were, the time it took you to respond would mostly result in you being killed already,” I pointed out, “but sorry for waking you. Whoever put the dishes away didn’t do a very good job. They just all started falling out when I opened the cupboard.”

I tried to keep my tone neutral, if not innocent and clearly they bought it. Jordan mumbled something under his breath and disappeared around the corner with Chris following him. Ignoring the fact Logan was still standing there, I got out the ingredients I’d need to make omelets and started to prepare the food.

“Want help?” He offered as I got out the chopping knife.

“No.”

“You know I’m a better cook, let me help?”

“I don’t need your help!” I snapped, frustrated. Glancing over at him, his brow was creased in concentration as he watched me. “Run along.”

“No.”

Onions had never been chopped as brutally as they had in that minute, and I decided to ignore him, going about the task as if he wasn’t there. The tomato was the next to feel my wrath, then herbs and after a few minutes, the bacon suffered the most.

“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” He mused, choosing to give up on being my helper and making himself a coffee.

“Probably should have got Drew to stay last night, I’m sure he could have changed that.”

“You think so?” He mumbled.

“Oh I know so!”  Turning to get out a bowl, Logan stood there smirking – blocking my way. “Move.”

“What are you doing right now Bunny?”

“Trying to make breakfast moron, move!” I glared.

“No.”

“Yes!”

“No, tell me what your little hissy fit is all about.” He wasn’t giving up.

“I’m not hav-“

“Sorry guys, are there spare towels so I can grab a shower before the others get up?” Sam interrupted and opening my mouth, nothing came out making Logan look at me strangely.

“Sure Sammy, I’ll show you.” Logan walked out with his coffee cup, following behind the dark haired witch.

“Oh I’m sure you will, jerk!” I muttered, finally getting the mixing bowl it too got thrown around the kitchen as I put all the ingredients together.

I was so focused on destroying the egg mixture that I didn’t even notice Zane come in. “What did those eggs ever do to you?”

“I wanted to make sure they’re dead.”

“You do know eggs aren’t actually-“ One look had him silencing as he held his hands up innocently, “I would offer you coffee, but I don’t think you need the caffeine. What did I miss?”

“Nothing.”

“Obviously.” Zane sat up on the counter as I started to cook and a few minutes later Logan came in, clearly not expecting Zane to be there.

“Oh I totally know what’s going on now!” He boasted, losing his confidence as Zane raised an eyebrow in his direction. “Morning.”

Zane only nodded, taking a long, slow sip of his coffee.

“Get out Logan.” I turned back to the stove, only to have him coming up beside me while cautiously looking at Zane as he did so.

“What you saw wasn’t what it looked like Bunny. We’re friends, hell how many times have we slept together with nothing happening?”

“I know.” I shrugged, focusing more on the omelet than anything else.

“You can’t be shitty over that. You ran off with Van Hero yesterday and do you see me smashing pots together?”

“Taking a break from this lot is a bit different to cuddling on the couch all night. We’re not arguing over this anymore. I get it, your friends. Guess what, Drew and I are friends! You and me? We’re not friends. You’re my brother’s friend, staying in my house, so I have no choice in seeing you now.”

“Bull. Shit!” Clearly he wasn’t on the same page as I was.

“Logan, it’s been nearly a year since I saw you last. Recent events change nothing. Once this is over, we’ll be parting ways and I couldn’t care less where you go or who with.” I looked at him seriously, already hating what I was saying.

Those eyes that had first drew me in found mine, searching for some sign that I was lying and as they narrowed slightly, I saw the hurt there. “Fine. Your omelet is burning princess.”

He was right and cursing, I quickly slipped it out onto a waiting plate. He stormed out and taking a deep breath I stared at my cooking disaster, trying not to cry over it.

“Well, that explains a lot!” Zane tried to lighten the mood, but failed miserably and looking at him I could feel the tears in my eyes only growing in numbers. “Oh shit, come here Ellie.”

I did as he said, hugging him tightly as I managed to stop more from developing. He gently rubbed my back, giving me a minute of comfort. “He likes you kiddo.”

“Oh I’m not crying over him. I decided ages ago I’d never cry over him ever again!”

“Sure looks like you’re crying from this angle?” With a final squeeze he let me go and looking over at the mess I had made I shook wiped my eyes.

“I’m just disappointed that I burnt your breakfast, and the onions got to me before!” It was a lie, a stupid one, but Zane let me have it.

“I don’t really like omelets anyway. How about we go get something out instead?”

Nodding, I looked back at the mess I’d made so far this morning. Just great.

“Well, I’m going to go shower and get a few things. You gonna be okay out here? Should I take the knives with me?” Zane joked.

“Oh you’re hilarious. I’m fine, but you’ll have to wait for Sam to get out first.”

“No worries. Wake up the other two, I want everyone working on this vamp situation today.” Now he was back to commando Zane, and I’d love to see what would happen if they didn’t get up.

I quickly cleaned up the kitchen with Zane’s help and going back down to where the bedrooms are, Zane headed into his room and going into where Jordan and Chris were trying to go back to sleep, Logan sat on the blow up mattress by the wardrobe writing in his diary. We only glared at each other, before I went and sat beside Jordan.

Tapping the tip of his nose, he groaned and took a swipe at my hand. A few more times had him rolling over and putting the pillow over his head.

“Jordan!” I whispered by his ear, “Jooordan!”

“Go. Away!”

“Don’t make me get Alfie in here!”

Even with the blankets wrapped around him I saw his figure go tense, and peeking over his shoulder, he barely opened one eye to look at me. “Don’t you dare!”

“Then get up!”

The same thing happened with Chris and while I was annoying them, I didn’t even notice Logan leave. What I did notice was his bag sitting there, open, and the corner of his journal poking out against a white t-shirt. Biting my lip, I glanced towards the door and then at the other two who made a run for the bathroom to see who would get there first.

I didn’t need to be a sneak and look in his journal now. We were past that, and I’d made our relationship status clear this morning. Had he mentioned that in there?

“What are you doing princess?” That snarky tone told me enough and glaring at the doorway, I knew he’d left it that way on purpose. Good thing he didn’t catch me actually snooping; not that I was going to.

“Ellie, you ready?” Zane appeared, doing up his belt Logan instantly moved away from him.

“Yeah, just a second.” Without another word I walked out to say goodbye to Alfie before getting into Zane’s car, while the others went in Chris’s.

We all went through the same drive thru, ordering more hash browns and bacon and egg burgers than we actually needed or so I thought until we ended up at the warehouse we’d gone to before.

Zane’s team was already there, and swarmed in on the paper bags as if they hadn’t eaten in weeks not hours. I’d already had mine in the car, unable to resist the smell and took a seat, glancing over the documents that covered the desk. Most of it was about Selene, the dark fae she had used and also some of the vampires that been caught not killed after battle.

Seeing Alison Winters’s name caught my attention and taking the plastic folder, it had all her interviews from when she had been taken in. The sight of the bracelet made of vampire fangs made me shudder and instantly I looked up to find Logan, who was conveniently sitting opposite me.

He was distracted, reading something too and thinking back to that encounter with Alison, it was hard to forget how worried I had been that he wasn’t going to wake up in hospital after she threw him into the wall. It wasn’t long after that I found Sam and learnt about who she was and any sentimental thoughts were drowned as the same sense of betrayal I had felt back then returned. So much for moving on.

Going back over the file, it wasn’t long before the warehouse door opening had everyone looking over and Keiran walked in followed by Raya and a guy I didn’t know. I’d seen him a couple of times now and judging the resemblance with the pair, it would be safe to safe that was her brother who was working with the Van Helsings. On cue, the three brothers walked in followed by more people I didn’t know, but the feeling in the room changed, as it was predominantly Slayers in here now.

As the new arrivals seemed to split up and go their own ways, I couldn’t believe how quick Sam and Raya were to greet each other, yet they were forgotten as Drew soon found me.

“Hey Elle.” He greeted, moving to hug me as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Morning!” Slowly my previously good mood started to return.

Drew took the seat next to me and the steady hum of chatter filled the space. There were a lot of us in here now and thinking back to the Underground set up, it only made me uncomfortable. I didn’t fully believe in safety in numbers, but at least it was day light so we wouldn’t have to worry about the vampires or demons similar to them; just everything else.

“Alright everyone, attention over here!” Zane commanded the room, and sure enough everyone silenced.

By now everyone was sitting and Tom got up to stand by Zane, as well as one of the women I didn’t know. She was older than us, her authority similar to Zane’s. It kind of commanded your attention, and I realized she was the leader of the other Slayer team.

“So you’re all aware of the latest debrief?” She spoke like him too, leaving no room to argue.  “As you can see, there has been an increase in vampire activity in Romania. Luckily local Slayers were able to control the situation, but the same thing was happening down in Germany.”

This was all news for me, yet everyone else nodded in unison.

“Now with the demon population interested in the price tag set on Miss Buntings neck, we have to be more careful in our movements.” She finished.

“Isn’t our lovely heroine content to do it on her own?” Tom spoke up, causing all eyes to move between us curiously.

“If assholes like you are involved, yes.” I snap back.

“Enough. Elise has been reinstated on the active list by President Vinci as of this morning. Her experiences are critical here, none of us have had as much to do with Aaron as she has.” Zane met my gaze and nodded, that was news to me too.

“Clearly she knows what she is doing then Zane, oh wait – there was that fiasco about nearly turning into one of them. Sounds like that experience is serving her well.”

Clearly he didn’t like me, which kind of worked out well considering I didn’t like him either.

“If you read the file, you’d know the circumstances Tom. Stop being such-“ Jordan defended, only to be cut off.

“I read the file. Again it seems your sister is unable to follow orders, put in place to protect her and in doing so put not only herself, but a civilian in danger. After all the issues she caused Vinci last time, I don’t know why he is bothering again.”

“She was kidnapped! We were all drugged!” Drew now argued against his own sibling and I wanted to simply disappear.

“Yes, because vampires can go inside now? She went outside and got herself taken.” Tom pointed his finger at me, “her attitude is appalling, and puts others at risk. Do you really need to go through her file to see how little she cares about any of this? We don’t need her around. Her school reports say enough and-”

“And that’s enough Tom! You have no idea what you are talking about! Forget that file? So much of that sounds like someone who doesn’t fucking care! You don’t know what the fuck you are talking about!” Jordan stood up, looking furious. A part of me had never been prouder of my brother, reminding me of how we used to be before he graduated and turned into a judgmental jerk, and it gave me hope he didn’t really see me as a failure.

“No, he’s right.” I interrupted.

“What?’ They both said in unison, and all eyes went back to me.

“My attitude is appalling. I really didn’t care about this life, until some stupid werewolf decided to drag my family into it, now a vampire started by doing the same thing and got my friends involved, so I’m back and this time I’m older, stronger and wiser. I won’t be running away again. I get it, I’m a Hunter.” It was true; I’d really accepted the fact that I am who and what I am.

“Thing is, I think you’re an idiot. My methods may not involve a map that looks like a two year old drew colors on it and high tech meetings in places like this, but guess what? I don’t care!”

“Well then Miss Bunting, care to share what your methods are?” The snarky tone the woman now held instantly rubbed me the wrong way.

“Who the hell are you anyway?” I looked at her like she had two heads, and a few sniggers sounded from around me. Maybe I was supposed to know.

“Danielle Andersen.” She answered curtly.

“Of course.” Their line wasn’t a big player these days, much like the Grimm’s. You can’t fight, you die and the monsters that your ancestor’s stories allow the rest of the world to know about, win. Though back in the day, the Andersen’s were rather clever and avoided real demons by sticking to dealing with fae and witches. Magic and logical thinking was more up their alley than actual combat, though looking at Danielle she might be the Slayer to change that.

I wonder how their line shifted to Slayer from Hunter; somewhere along the way the dominant gene would have changed. Then again, maybe I just presumed they were Hunters due to the nature of the species they dealt with. I really should pay more attention. Tom had a point; look at my school reports.

“Well Miss Bunting?”

“Um, well, Aaron is definitely our key to working out the rest. His stupid game of guess my name, is the way to get him to do that.” I decided to run with that.

“We’ve been looking through every record. The Council is even going through everything.” Someone from the back joined in.

“We’re missing something. We’d have to be able to work it out, otherwise he wouldn’t have said it.” It was my only answer right now.

“Obviously. Until you can come up with a method of your own, how about you let us run the show?” Danielle rolled her eyes, and dismissing me started on about new patrol patterns based on the vampire activity of recent nights. Instantly I tuned out. I may not have a clue, but I knew this was pointless and thanks to the fact any ego I had took a beating, I kept quiet.

“You okay?” Drew whispered, leaning closer.

“Fine.” I mumbled.

“Ignore them. I believe you will work it out.”

“Thanks, what does your brother think of that theory?”

Looking up, Tom was glaring at the pair of us and well he really only needed to join my anti-fan club as the mixture of looks sent my way mirrored that. I didn’t belong here. If I left now, I’d just confirming their thoughts and digging a bigger hole for myself. Good thing I knew how to not give a damn what people think of me.

It wasn’t long until everyone starting moving again. Because I wasn’t paying attention I had no idea what was going on and in the end my usual crew sat around the table with the addition of Drew and Rachelle. It took me seconds to see her making eyes at Jordan, so that explains why she has been hanging around lately.

“Elise, I’m sorry about-“ Zane started and I held up my hand to silence him.

“I get it, they’re right.”

Murmurs of disagreement sound from around me, yet it’s Logan who speaks up. “Um, what is all this?”

“All what?” I sigh, getting up I move towards the whiteboard.

“You, not being well, you?”

“New me. Bigger person, trying harder, blah blah. So since we’re all here.” I flipped the board over onto the blank side and took the marker from Zane. When working out Selene’s plan, I had a trial of notes from Jordan and bits and pieces I’d picked up along the way. We had hints, but nothing major.

“Aaron told me documents from back then were easily altered, removed even. If he destroyed villages, that shit would have got picked up and all we know about that stuff, is not from anything recorded, but from Francis’s diary. I think he must have done something to remove those records. What we do know is she called him V.”

“For Vampire.” Chris answered.

“What if that was only a coincidence?” Drew piped up and I left a big V on the board with a question mark.

Everyone started talking then, it was like solving a math problem that got the whole class involved. I didn’t want to waste time with this, but I knew we were missing something. Last night we went around in circles, we were tired, Logan didn’t want to talk to Drew, I didn’t want to talk to Sam so maybe now we all seemed to have moved on from that, someone could finally put their finger on it.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” Zane whispered, looking over all the things I knew so far that had been scribbled on the board.

“No, but I never do.”

“Sometimes you might need an actual plan, and not just leave things to chance?” He warned.

“One day and when that happens, I’ll come to you.”

“Don’t let this morning get to you. They’re all at least ten years older than you, so don’t want to listen or admit you could be right.”

“I get it. They’re all assholes and when I get to throw an, I told you so, in their faces I’ll feel better.” I smiled, and stood back to look at everything on the board.

“Okay, well how about we split things up? Logan, CJ – go through the portal documents for any vampires that stand out. I’ll check through the records on all notable crimes thatcommitted by vampires with Rachelle,” Jordan started.

“I’m going to go through Francis’s diaries.” Drew decided, and looking at me I figured I was suppose to side with him.

“Great, let us know if you hear anything.” Taking my arm, Zane led me to the back of side door that had gone through to the old office areas. I didn’t complain, and followed him into a gym. “When was the last time you actually worked out?”

“It’s been a while, but I’m fine.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” he threw me a pair of boxing gloves and picked up a punching bag, “With that bounty out for you, you need to be at your best.”

“Sure thing Grandpa, what are you now? Thirty? Thirty-one? Bring it on!” I taunted, making him laugh.

“If you say so, I was going to take it easy on you!”

He wasn’t kidding. I got my ass handed to me more times than I could keep count and when I finally stayed down, Zane came to stand over looking more than pleased with himself. I was a sweating breathless mess and eagerly accepted the water bottle he handed over.

The door swung open and turning, Logan looked beyond pleased with himself. “Drew did it. We’ve found him.”

Zane threw me a towel next, smirking as he headed back to the others. “Give her a minute.”

“You alright down there Bunny?”

Coming over he extended his hand and with my body protesting any movement, got up on my own.

“Oh yeah, just taking a break!” I lied, “I could keep going.”

“Yeah?” Logan asked doubtfully, before smirking. “I’d be up for a bit of one on one.”

“I’m sure you would be, but that ain’t going to happen Loges!”

“You went there, I was simply talking about a bit of sparing.” He answered, winking.

“Jerk.”

Taking a step, my legs felt like jelly and as I went to stumble Logan caught me with ease. “Still a jerk?”

He was close, too close and being this near to him was never a good idea. Straightening up he didn’t let me go, instead stepping a little closer so we were practically touching. Looking up to meet his gaze, I held my breath and just for a second I didn’t hate him.

“You know being this close to you reminds me of that annoying habit you have,” I smirk.

“Oh?” He asks amused.

“It’s called breathing. Heard of personal space?”

Shoving past him, I start back towards the others. “Oh you’re hilarious. How about I just throw some pots and pans around behind you?”

Choosing to ignore that, we kept walking back to the others and going back in, all eyes turned to us and Drew held up the laptop with the screen zoomed in on the two words we’d been looking for.

“I looked back in the earlier copies of Francis’s journal, like when she was nineteen - before the editions she started talking about V. She mentions a suitor she had, someone she went to the Academy with.”

“His name is Vaaron Berkeley!” Jordan blurted out.

“You’re kidding?” I asked. Vaaron? That was not his name.

“Nope, it’s what it says!” Drew confirmed. “We then looked that up in the database and guess what else we found out!”

I shrugged, glancing at Zane who did the same and Chris pulled something up on his own laptop. “Before he was a vampire, he was a Slayer!”

“You really are kidding, right?” I looked at them all hoping one of them would crack, but nothing happened.

Is this why he wanted me to find out who he was? I had wondered how Francis could be actually attracted to and actually love, one of the demons we were made to watch, to kill. This explained it. If Jordan changed, how would I view him? Vampire or brother? If Reece had walked amongst us as one them instead of dying, would I have stayed with him? My instincts told me no, but how would I ever actually know the truth?

“Yo, Ellie? You listening?” Jordan waved his hand in front of my face and blinking I felt nauseous and running to the nearest bin, threw up. “You okay?”

“Yup, peachy!” Focusing, they now had what information was on file about Aaron, well Vaaron. None of it was very helpful, but we found our first piece of the puzzle and that was a start.

“So now we just have to actually find him,” Drew sighed, loosing some of his enthusiasm. 

That was wrong, we didn’t have a say in it and I knew he wouldn't let us find him either, just like everyone else knew it too. I was the only one who said it out loud.  “No, he’ll find me, when he is ready – not the other way around.”