“Should we wake her?” Nigel’s voice interrupted my vision of a never ending chocolate river. Worse than that, before I could sample the sweet treats floating by in it, I was opening my eyes and returning to reality.  The harshness of the afternoon light that greeted me, had them quickly closing once more and the stiffness in my neck made me groan.

“Problem solved!” Drew laughed, and as I tried again to look around it was easy to see we had arrived at our destination.

Climbing out of the back, the trio stood around with white paper bags and the smell of the bakery had my stomach growling. Before I could ask if they got me anything, Drew handed me one of the bags. “I remember how much you liked that last time.”

“Thanks!” Peeking inside, I started drooling at the sight of the pie and managed to hold off from stuffing it into my face until we found a spot to sit overlooking the ocean.

It would be a perfect day for swimming. The water was flat and the brilliant shade of aqua was thanks to a clear sky. While it was warm, it wasn’t hot and the children’s swing set nearby ruined the serenity of the moment with a thousand high pitched squeals tainting the air. Looking over, a herd of parents lingered nearby watching their kids play. Others took photos or stood by prams with those too young to join in the fun. None of them would survive if a zombie attacked, or a vampire; any demon really.

“Is she asleep again?” Nigel once again interrupted my thoughts and looking back at the trio, they’d clearly been trying to talk to me.

“Sorry, what?”

“What did you want to do? No surf today so he might not be around.” Nigel pointed behind him to the calm water and I nodded.

“Probably not. We don’t have to find that one, any demon will do.”

“I don’t sense any around?” Drew looked at us for confirmation and he was right. There was nothing except sea birds, sunshine and annoyingly loud children.

“Well, since we’re here we may as well make the most of it!” I smiled, kicking off my shoes. I was actually kind of thankful for the lack of demons around us. I didn’t feel like getting in fight or killing anything on such a nice day and the fact I only had on flats and a pair of jeans that didn’t exact allow for much movement, I wasn’t dressed for that kind of activity either.

I was already running down the sandy path to the water when the others caught up to what was going on.

“We should go back!” Drew yelled after me, but I didn’t stop until my toes were in the water.

Rolling up my jeans to try and avoid them getting wet, the sound of someone running over had me turning around, just in time to see Logan as he reached out and hooked his arm around my waist. He lifted me against him easily, my screams were more of joy than horror as I was spun around.

“Do not throw me in!” I warned, holding my legs up over the water as he lowered me teasingly.

“Why not? The water looks perfect for taking a swim!” Again I was lowered too close the surface, yet he put me down on the sand.

The other two had joined us by now and Nigel was quick to slip off his shirt, clearly not having the same worries as Drew about staying. His boots and cargo pants came off next and expecting underwear, he actually had on a pair of swimming shorts.

“Where did you get those?” I quizzed, wondering why on earth he would have them with him.

“These?” He ran his hand over his chest before patting a rather fine looking six pack. “Born this way baby!”

“I was talking about your pants.” I laughed as he began to flex and show off like some kind of body builder. I wasn’t hating what I saw.

“We were going to the beach, gotta be prepared!”  With that he took a few steps into the water and disappeared under the surface.

“I wish I had thought of that.” Logan sighed, and Drew nodded.

“Me too. I thought he was kidding when he told me to get mine out of the car. Oh wait!” With that Drew ran back up towards the car park and Logan went after him. 

It was a strange turn of events, but I honestly didn’t care. We needed a break and it wasn’t long before all three of the guys were messing around in the water since Logan was able to take Tom’s shorts. I spread out one of the towels Drew had bought with him and laid in the sun, trying not to think over last night.

A shadow soon fell over me and looking up, a girl about my age was standing just to my left watching the guys. Looking down, she saw caught my gaze and smiled. “Oops! Sorry!”

Stepping to the side, I was out of her shadow yet something seemed, different, about her and also familiar. She had an accent, but I couldn’t place it. In the back of mind, I knew I should be cautious even though I wasn't getting any sense of her being a supernatural.

“Enjoying the view?” I asked jokingly, turning to see Nigel spear tackle Drew while Logan put seaweed on his head. Real mature.

“Very much. You have to like it too!” She answered softly, actually sitting down beside me.

Long blonde hair fell over her white bikini top, but it was the black stone charm on her necklace that got my attention. It was shaped like angel wings and the memory of the incubus’s surfboard flashed back to me. She had to be the angel so I decided to go with that.

“Yeah, just a minor perk of the job. I’m sure Gason wasn’t that bad to be around either.” I watched her reaction closely, and all I got was a smirk as amusement flashed in her pale blue eyes.

“Clever Hunter.” It came out like a whisper and I wasn’t sure what she actually was. I knew nothing about angels. They had their own complex society and never mingled with us. I wasn’t scared of her, nothing told me she was a demon and my curiosity only grew.

“Is he around?” I asked just as casually.

“No. We broke up. Being caged on something as ridiculous as a surfboard kind of ruins a relationship!” She sighed, still watching the trio in the water.

“Caged?”

“I got talking to some of the other surfers and his jealously had him locking me away!” 

“What an asshole.” I mumbled.

“Oh you have no idea.” She rolled her eyes dramatically before fiddling with the ends of her hair.

“What are you?” It was starting to annoy me now.

“An idiot for thinking a demon could actually love!” She spat. Her eyes changing from blue to almost completely white.

“Well I’m sure we’ve all been there at some point,” my attempt at humour failed as she only glares at me. “So what are you?”

“You can call me a fallen angel. Gason told me the only way we could be together was if I was a demon too. Apparently when I lived out my human life I was destined for something much greater and I couldn’t be a succubus like Gason. When the witch gave me the potion, I still turned into an angel only my wings were black marking me as a demon. Now I’m stuck like this!”

To my surprise, she actually started to cry. Long black streaks ran down her cheeks like mascara before she messily wiped them away. “And I’m single!”

Never mind the whole being turned into a demon thing, the girl was single! I was tempted to roll my eyes, but somehow I managed to do the girly thing of comforting her.

“You’re better off without him, you’ve been granted immortality so don’t spend eternity crying over some low life soul sucker!”

“You’re right, but it still hurts you know?” She keeps crying.

“I know. Men. Who needs them?”

Apparently I do because when I look over to the guys for help with the crying angel creature, they’re gone and she is forgotten as I stand up and look around. They water has turned darker, with waves now rolling onto the shore and on the horizon, dark storm clouds are heading our way. How did I miss this? Why didn't they call out?

Leaving her, I sprint up the sand and start to go back to the car park when the whooshing of water stops me and turning a giant wave starts to approach the shore. As I stand there watching it only grows higher, blocking out the sky and sun so I’m left in a shadowy light.

Not good.

I go to run and find the angel standing there. Her black wings are spread out either side of her and the only thing missing is the flames at her feet. No wonder the painting on the board looked so life like; it was actually real.

“What are you doing?” I demand.

“Like I said. He left me. I know all about the price on your head. I don’t want to sit around the ocean living in his stupid old van. I need money and you’re the easiest way to get it. I’m sorry Hunter, but I don’t have a choice.”

So much for sisterhood.

“There is no money. I already killed the vampire who put the hit out!” I yelled, wondering where the hell the others had gone. Were they alright?

She threw her head back and laughed, and that’s when I charged at her. The second her back was against the sand, my fist was connecting with her jaw. She howled like a banshee and fought like a girl. Despite her being a demon now, it wasn’t a fair fight.

“Elise! Shit! What are you doing?” Logan pulled me off her and Nigel stepped in front of us to help hold me back as Drew went to help her.

“Let me go! She’s a demon!” I screamed, turning back my fight left me as I got distracted by the fact the ocean was flat and calm once more.

Logan’s grip loosened, and elbowing him in the stomach to let me go completely I ran over and pushed Drew away from helping her. Black blood covered her right side from where my hits had broken the skin. It also dripped from her mouth and lips, which had her spitting into the sand. Her wings were gone, back around her neck as a pendant and now she only glared at us.

“What do you know?” I felt better now I had back up. Soaking wet, weapon less backup, but they were there none the less.

She spat again, thankfully missing me and swinging out my fist, I didn’t miss her. She fell back into the sand and didn’t move for a few seconds.

“What do you know?” She just ruined my day and I had enough of demons doing that. I wasn’t going to be playing nice.

“Nothing! I know nothing!” The angel sobbed, blocking her face from any more hits I’d be sending her way.

“You just said you wanted to hand me in. Clearly you know something!” I yelled.

“Yeah that you’re worth a nice six figure pay check! I never had money before I was changed, what I had since then was Gasons’. This would help set me up on my own!” She argued, like that alone would make me understand.

“Elise, back up. We’ll take her with us and question her more when civilians can’t see what we’re doing.” Nigel interrupted and looking up, an elderly couple stood at the top of the dunes looking at us. It wouldn’t surprise me if they had already called the police.

“Where did you plan on taking me?” I kept questioning her.

“The old fair grounds. They’re about twenty minutes from here. Some vamps there are the ones who told Gason about it. I figured they’d be able to help me.” She sat up and I kind of pitied how pathetic she was.

“They’re vampires. They would have turned on you the second you showed up!”

“No, because I can do this!” Rubbing the wing pendant together a beam of bright light had me stepping back and closing my eyes. When I looked again, she was gone.

“Bitch!” I cursed, kicking the sand where she had just sat.

“Come on, we gotta go.” Nigel commanded and the three of them practically dragged me back to the carpark. They dried off and got dressed while I stood by the car furious over what just happened.

“So, we going to the fairgrounds?” Drew asked as he reappeared from the toilet block first.

“I don’t know.” I sighed. We should go back. Time wasn't on our side if we wanted to keep the others happy. This detour could prove to be another dead end, but what if it wasn't?

“What the hell happened anyway? We look over you’re gone and after we go to check you haven’t buggered off with the car we find you where you had been, beating the crap out of that thing!”

Nigel and Logan come back looking like their best friend just died and so I told them all about my chat with the fallen angel.

“Fucking hate demons. Shifters and werewolves don’t do that shit!” Logan groaned. He was right; they didn’t. 

“Now you know what it’s like for us doing animal patrol.” I snapped back making Drew laugh. Each to their own I guess.

“So we going to go find this fair?” Nigel opened the car door and the other two nodded.

“Yeah, since we’re already here.” Logan sighed.

"For the record, it was Nigel who said we should go there right? Not me!" 

With everyone in agreement I got in without another word. Nigel found directions in town and checking the time, we didn’t have much time before we’d have to get back to avoid pissing off Zane again. Not that I cared much about that, but the others all did.

-x-

“So, I was thinking.” Logan started, climbing up onto the old carousel. A loud groan left the broken ride and as he twirled on the pole in an elephant shaped carriage. The movement had some of the wooden planks from the roof splintering and he nimbly moved to the edge of the platform to avoid being hit.

As it headed into the late afternoon, the sun didn’t seem to shine the same way anymore. It felt cold, or it could just be the general atmosphere of the park. The fair had been long forgotten with what remained of the rides left to rot as the forest started to leave its boundaries and reclaim some of the land. It was completely spooky and my body was tense and tingling as it sensed the supernatural all around us.

“Should I be worried?” I mocked, looking at the unicorn beside me. Large chunks of paint had cracked off the animal, leaving the bare wood on display. The creepiest part was its eye was completely intact despite the rest of the face being worn away.

“Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.” He stated simply, moving to the other side of the fictional horse so he was looking down at me.

“And?” Stupidly, my body forgot all about the danger that lurked around us and sent a mob of butterflies into my stomach making me feel a little giddy as my heart began to race. I could almost feel my cheeks burning under his gaze, and tried to remain unbothered by it all as I kept walking around the outside of the ride with him keenly keeping pace. Valentines Day is stupid, but it was also the first one where I actually had someone to be my valentine. I was already starting to see the appeal of it all.

“And, I was wondering if-“

“Yo guys! Over here!” Nigel interrupted and we both turned to look across the yard where he stood near the skeleton of the Ferris wheel.

Drew came running from around the corner and Logan hit his head against the once pink pony in frustration. Holding out my hand, I act oblivious to it all and as he takes it, I smile – still feeling giddy. “Come on Loges.”

Hand in hand, we don’t rush over and arrive just as Drew follows Nigel down the narrow staircase which was behind the door built in against the main pole. The second I get on the first step I don’t want to go down, but Nigel and Drew are already half way.

“Did you want to wait here?” Logan asks, sensing my hesitation.

Looking around the abandoned park, I’m not sure which would be worse.

“No, it’s okay.” I lie and hold my breath as I start to follow them.

The further we go, the more uneasy I get. I can tell Nigel is feeling it too. We’re not spaced out anymore, rather practically on top of each other. Having Logan behind me makes me feel better, slightly, and to stop from tripping over Drew with every step, I have my hands on his shoulders.

Nigel’s torch lights the way and it feels like we’ve been going down for ever. No one talks. The smell of stale water and mould mixes in with the salty ocean tang the guys still carry with them so I focus on that. Nigel stops, the light bouncing around the never ending stairwell and I can’t take it anymore.

“Let’s go back.” I whisper.

“What?” Drew asks, completely confused. I let go of his shoulders and turn to face Logan.

“I want to go back.” I’m practically begging now and looking behind him, the door is a small white square. “Please, let me leave!”

“I think she’s right. I don’t have a good feeling about this.” Nigel agrees and in seconds I’ve ducked under Logan’s arm and am half running, half tripping up the stairs.

“Elise, slow down. You’ll hurt yourself.” Logan calls, his steps heavy behind me.

Hurting myself is the least of my worries as a deafening roar echoes up the passage and we all stop. My sense of dread triples and we all turn to look down into the darkness. Again the roar finds us and not needing to wait around and find out what is making the sound, we all sprint back up the stairs now.

Nigel slams the door shut and we all stop to catch our breath.

“What do you think it was?” Drew looked back to the door and Logan shakes his head.

“I don’t want to know!”

“Same.” Nigel agrees.

We don’t have to wait long to find out as the door flies off its hinges and somehow Nigel manages to drop before he could be hit by it. Instantly we all reach for our weapons, but as the giant monster that kind of resembles a bear emerges, I think we’re going to need bigger guns.

It can barely fit out of the door way and its grunting roars have my blood running cold. The whole ferris wheel structure seems to wobble and shake from the movements within it and daring to look up, the carriages all start to sway. Razor sharp teeth clash together as we move away from the door, not quite sure what to do.

“Ah Loges, bear comes under your area of expertise right?” I call out, though it’s obvious it’s not your average shifter bear.

“Oh yeah, I got this!” He answers sarcastically, but he does take the first shot.

The creature barely flinches as Logan gets it right between the eyes and we all open fire. Our bullets hit, but don’t actually penetrate the fur and by the time it’s got itself out of the tunnel we’ve only pissed it off more.

It’s the size of an elephant and now that it’s no longer crouched low, it's able to stand at full height. It’s not a shifter it can't be. It lacks the beauty of the animal. Its eyes are like rubies against its black fur. The mouth reminds me of Jaws; a shark like mass of pointy daggers with claws more like an eagle’s talons.

Nigel moves first, sending a round in the rusty beam above its head. The metal gives way and falls to hit it. Unlike our bullets this actually does something and the creature is knocked to the side.

“Any idea on what it is?” I call out as we all run to take cover while the beast is down.

“Nope. Hey brainiac, what about you?” Nigel asks Drew.

“Not like anything I’ve read about before!” He answers.

Logan pulls me down beside him in an old game shack. A few stuff toys lay in various stages of decomposition at our feet, almost like it’s a teddy bear grave yard and I pull out my phone.

“What are you doing?” Logan whispers, keeping an eye out for the bear.

“I’m going to tweet it!” I mumble sarcastically, “No one has seen this thing before. I’m getting a picture for future reference!”

The bear actually walks by us and as we look up at it from behind the ledge, I take a couple of pictures. The second it's past, I get up and stand behind it and get a couple more. Putting my phone back in my pocket, I just stand there watching as it sniffs around, waddling along the path.

“It’s clearly bear like. What you know about them?” I ask Logan as he stands beside me.

“Bad eyesight, good sense of smell and keen hearing. They typically live alone, but shifters will stay with their mate.” He tells me.

“So as long as it doesn’t have a better half waiting in the dark, it’s probably on its own?”

“Yeah.” We duck down against the booth as it turns to look back at us.

Drew and Nigel appear and I hate the words that leave my mouth. “We need to go back down the tunnel.”

“Didn’t you want out of there?” Drew asks.

“Yeah, but I think that thing is more of a guard dog than anything else. What is it guarding?”

“You might be onto something.” Nigel agrees. “One of us should stay here and keep it busy so the rest of us can go down.”

“I volunteer!” I offer at the same time as Drew.

“Shouldn’t we leave the tracker with the bear?” Nigel points at Logan.

“It’s not a shifter,” Drew starts to argue, but he does have the most experience with animals. Except  for snakes and if this was Alfie related, I'd be all over it.

“No he’s right!” Logan looks at me like I’ve just told him to pat the thing.

“I’m not leaving you!” He yells, and Nigel stops our argument before we can begin it.

“We’re wasting time. Tracker deal with the bear thing. Hunters, let’s go, well, hunt.” Being the oldest, I guess he is pulling some kind of rank and as we go to run Logan stops me.

“Be careful!” He warns, kissing me softly before he turns and runs in the bear’s direction.

I don’t get to answer or tell him to do the same thing and just stand there stuck in the moment. Is this what it is going to be like for us; a quick kiss then off to risk our lives? What if he messes up and we come back to find him dead? What if something happens down there and I don’t get to come back up?

He promised he wouldn’t do anything to risk losing me again, but did he only mean that in regards to keeping secrets? If that wasn’t the case, why was he now running off after some creature? Didn’t he know that could lead to him losing it all, not just me, but his life - everything?

I’d never been so aware of the implications one person could have on my life, or on my fears.

“Bunting, you coming or want to be bear food?” Nigel grabbed my arm and got me moving, yet my thoughts didn’t leave me.

Thinking about mum and dad, dad was the one to go out and do the missions. Mum mostly went as back up as dad was too protective over her. I dont know how she could let him go out alone, always wondering what was happening; if he was safe - if he would come home. She had the skills, sure they weren’t as developed as a full Slayer since she had a human mother, but she could throw down with the best of them. Dad would never let them be split up in this kind of situation.

Now I was left thinking Logan was right. Should we have stayed together?

I’d seen Kieran and Raya work together. They were rarely apart, but I realyl didn't think that was for me. How would it work with Logan and me? I couldn’t see us being like them. I wasn’t like Raya. Logan wasn’t like Kieran. It was impossible for me to imagine us like my parents; setting up home, having kids. The thought of that made me swallow anxiously.  We’d only got back together last night, I was over thinking things again.

'Focus Elise!' I scolded myself.

We’d reached the bottom of the stairs before I knew we’d even gone down them and looking around, my eyes followed the beam of light from Nigel’s torch. The network of tunnels didn’t give a sign on which way to do.

“I vote left, I just got a feeling.” Nigel whispered.

We started down the path, going around bend after bend and as we turned again, a faint orange glow came from the other end of the tunnel. He turned off the light and we tried to keep our steps silent, moving towards it.

“Vampires!” I gasped, the second what ever section of my brain that could tune into these kind of things alerted me to them. W all pulled out our weapons and cautiously peered around the next bend. My skin was alive, almost like it had a mind of its own as my internal alarm bells were going off.

“Shit!” Nigel pressed himself back against the tunnel and Drew and I took turns in taking a look after that.

I wasn’t wrong about the vampires.

The passage we were in opened out onto a lower level. From somewhere out there, fresh air blew in and as it came by us, it brought with it the stench of rotting corpses. I really didn’t want to see the source of that smell. The vampires were set up around a hole in the centre of the concrete and the high pitched scream of a victim had me slapping my hand over my mouth before I could make a noise.

A few laughs took over, echoing over to us as if to rub it in. We were greatly outnumbered and until we could get back up, our smartest move would be to leave while we could.

“We need to go!” I mouthed at the guys and the both nodded.

I took the lead and the second I stepped around the corner, I was hitting the slimy bricks of the wall from a force that wasn’t human. Instantly the other two fought back, smart enough to use knives instead of bullets and getting to my feet, it wasn’t the bear. Though I wish it was. The demon was something I know I had seen leaving the portal and I wondered if that was where that other creature had come from too. Clearly the clean up operations weren't a complete success.

I tried to think of a plan, but came up empty and as Drew landed by my feet, I hoped I wouldn’t regret this. I quickly ditched the couple of guns I had and pulled off his belt.

“What are you doing?” He picked up his knife as the demon turned to us.

“You’re handing me over to the vampires.”

“What?” The demon was forgotten as he turned to look at me and then at his belt which I fastened around my wrists and pulled tight with my teeth.

“Tell that thing you came for the bounty. It might buy us some time!” I actually had no idea what I was thinking.

“No!” He argued.

“You back stabbing son of a bitch. Kill him! You, thing, get him!” I screamed at the demon, who looked as confused as Nigel who stood up behind it.

I shoved Drew towards it and thankfully he wasn’t killed then and there as I started to run. I could hear the brothers talking it over, but the demon caught me in seconds. He kicked my legs, sending me sprawling to the ground and as I went to kick him back, his tentacle of an arm went around to hold them together. He lifted me up, holding me upside down as I struggled to get free.

“You assholes! This is all your fault! You give Hunters a bad name!” I cursed until I ran out of words I could use.

“Who. You?” The demon pointed his club at Drew and with a final look at me, he sighed.

“I am a Hunter. I came to claim the bounty on the Bunting girls head!” He declared and Nigel slapped his palm against his forehead, muttering under his breath.

“Bunting?” The demon thought it over for a moment before he used the club to bend me up to look him in the face. A row of horns lined his domed skull like a headband, and the flat skin on his face seemed to be oozing something. It was almost like a fish had a fling with an octopus and created this thing. “Bunting!”

Great, even he knew who I was.

“Come.” It ordered. The duo followed obediently behind, while I kept wiggling in this things hold. He wasn’t letting go.

All activity ceased as we came out from the tunnel and as he took us towards the centre of the room, a red headed vampire stood up and looked us over curiously. As I quickly looked around, it was the three limp bodies being dumped to one side that my stomach churning. Were they alive? Worse than that, would I end up joining them before I could even check?

“Bunting.” The demon mumbled before I was thrown roughly to the ground in front of the vampire and the others took the chance to circle us in, but I wasn’t done yet.

“You fu-“

“Silence!” The red head yelled.

“No! Let me go you assholes!” I managed to sit up before his boot was pressing against my chest and I was back on the ground.

“I don’t believe it. Someone actually got us the Hunter!” He leered, and instantly a murmur of whispers went up from the crowd. “Shut up girl otherwise the boss might be disappointed when he gets here.”

“Wouldn’t want that now would we?” I snapped back and in the blink of an eye he was leaning over me with his hands pressing into my cheeks so my lips puckered.

“He’ll get over it!” He extended his fangs and leaned in close, “Final warning.”

“Your breath smells.” I whispered back, not scared of him.

“It’ll be with your blood in a minute.” He got up and looked at Drew and Nigel, smirking. “You two are not demons. Why do I get the feeling this is a trap?”

“We heard the reward was six figures. Money talks so pay up or we take her back.” Drew spoke with a confidence I didn’t think he had.

The vampire looked between us for a moment, yet I knew he wasn’t buying it. “Well Gentleman, how rude of me. I am Ewan, welcome! If what you say is true, we owe you some money!”

“You two are serious aren’t you? You back stabbing c-“Ewan used my bound wrists to pull me up, holding me against him as he quickly placing his hand over my mouth. I knew if any of us were going to get out of this, he had to believe it. I could take one vampire out easy. Two, yes. This mob, no, but I would go down fighting.

Swinging my elbow behind me I got him just under his ribs and stomped on his foot making him let me go. Turning, I used my tied hands to my advantage and looped them over the back of his head which I then slammed into my knee. Drew and Nigel stood there like statues and going to run, the demon who had bought me in was the one to stop me.

“Get them the fucking money. Lock her up!” Ewan ordered, his anger obvious as people started to scramble around the place to do as he said.

The second Nigel was handed the case, they should have gone. Instead he made a show of opening the case to count it. Octopus arms was taking me in the opposite direction and I decided to take him out once we were out of view. I still had a dagger against my back and anything would die if you stabbed it enough times.

While my rough idea of a plan was being thrown together, someone else was now executing theirs. I sensed the change in the air seconds before the blast of UV light had the vampires screaming. The bulk of them turned to dust instantly, while a few of the older, faster ones rushed by us and into the safe darkness of the tunnels.

The demon dropped me and in the time it took me to roll over and stand, Nigel and Drew were at my side. Despite the chaos, I felt oddly calm and started to untie my wrists.

“Let’s go!” Nigel said what we were all thinking and Drew took over untying me.

From the dark, the screams continued with a mixture of flashes appearing from each exit point. Shielding our eyes, whoever was coming had bullets and more light bombs.

Forgetting that, I ran over the bodies, and rolling the first one over I was met with a once pretty face that was now only beaten and bruised. The wound at her neck would make it impossible for her to survive; I doubted even changing her would have worked. The next one I looked at was a man and his hazel eyes were glazed over - his body rigid with death. 

They were fresh kills, and I hated we hadn't come earlier. Could we have saved them?

“Who the hell is attacking the vamps?” Drew yelled as he grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the dead. In a swift movement spun me around against him as he shielded me from the next blast. It was just as bright as the first one and we had to be careful we weren’t going to get a full hit and end up blinded.

We anticipated the next, but these blasts were stopping us from getting out. As another one found its way to where we were, Nigel pshed Drew and me against the wall, and we all blocked our ears. The bomb crackled and fizzed with energy, the explosion like lightning all around the room. If any vampire survived these, they deserved to live.

Nigel patted my shoulder and I didn’t realise Drew had still be holding me until he let me go. The gunshots had stopped, no more blasts of light assaulted us and the vampires were gone. And the demons.

“What the hell just happened?” Drew asked, but how could we know?

“We got lucky. Real lucky.” I rubbed my eyes, trying to get rid of the black dots in my vision and a few blinks later they eventually went away.

“You got lucky, we had the chance to walk right out of there! What the fuck was your plan?” Nigel yelled, instantly furious.

“To get you guys out safely and-“He cut me off, reminding me a little of Zane.

“And what? Get yourself killed?”

“You saw, they wanted me! You could have gone and got help and besides if it is V who is the boss, I have a feeling he isn’t going to hurt me! I would have been fine!” I argued.

“V? The same vampire who tried to turn you into a vampire or the one who had the cemetery full of zombies and then held you hostage on a boat? That V or is there another?” He roared back.

“I trust my gut feeling okay and in doing that, I was saving your asses so you’re welcome!” I poked him in the chest and he paused for a second.

“You really are crazy aren’t you? You foolish, reckless, stupid girl!” He blurted out before grabbing me in a hug, “You really are something else Bunting. I have no idea how they all put up with you!”

“Am I offended right now or was that us having a moment?” Drew shook his head as Nigel let me go. “What about the money?”

I stopped and looked for the case. Nigel only sighed. “It was fake. I got it open and found nothing other than photocopied notes.”

“Cheap bastards.” I mumbled.

WIth that over, rather than leave I went towards the tunnel the demon had been taking me down. The duo followed, soon realising what I was doing. The cells we found were empty, and only drained bodies remained. There were no survivors here and we’d have to send a clean-up team in to remove any traces of the horror that those people would have been subjected to. They didn’t deserve to die this way.

This was the hardest part of all; knowing we had failed at our job. We keep the civilians safe and thinking of the kids at the beach my chest tightened at the thought of their innocent lives being taken. We left the dead behind, afterall we had to go find Logan and who ever had unknowingly come to our rescue.