In the tale of Alice in Wonderland, she once asked the White Rabbit, how long is forever? His reply was simple, and despite it being years since I last read the story, those two lines of conversation came back to me as if I was staring at the page right now. What did the Rabbit say to Alice?

"Sometimes, just one second."

One, fucking, second. 

The tremor of the other Apophyt rising had V stumbling, as he tried to pull me back from helping Alfie.  In one second, forever really did rush by me. I fell. Alfie had the mouth of the other snake around the base of his head and Dracula had moved so quickly, I was literally seeing a blur of movement as he stopped my fall; ripping me away from V in the same instant it took him to turn to dust.

Apart from my pulse hammering in my ears, I could hear Logan, Zane and Jordan screaming my name, but none of that meant anything as Dracula was clearly done messing around and forcing my head to the side, I don't know how he didn't break my neck. His fangs slid through flesh and veins, the pounding of my heart now causing the area to tremble with force of the blood, my blood, rushing to freedom.

Maybe the Rabbit got it wrong.

I think forever is about two point six seconds, because I'm positive that's how long it took for my night to hit its peak of perfection. Time doesn't matter anyway, because in a moment everything can change. It's not like you can stop it, hit a pause button or rewind. 

Maybe I got it wrong.

Blinking, V was still carrying me away from Dracula and Alfie, who was being bitten by the other Apophyt. He didn't lose his footing, Dracula hadn't pulled me away, and V certainly wasn't dust. On cue, Logan, Jordan and Zane screamed my name. 

I stopped fighting V, my hands going to my untouched neck. What the fuck was that?

"Stop this now Hunter. I will spare their lives, though I must admit, I cannot guarantee what will happen when we take our place at the top of the food chain!" Dracula's voice was in my mind; loud and confident. 

It had been a trick.

He had shown me what he could do and raising his hand, now it was time to show me what can do. The trio were sent flying backwards, and as he pointed at us, V let out a strangled gasp. I was so tired of him constantly trying to mess with my mind; my sanity.

"Let me go!" I ordered V, and since he was too busy trying to breath there was no resistance.

It would be horrible to say, but if any of these people did actually die, my ability to cope with it was getting stronger and stronger. Well, I'd probably not believe it and be waiting for them to appear some other way. Or wake up. Maybe that was what was happening now. Pinching myself, nothing changed.

"Fine. You win!" Comes my answer.

He only laughs. "Was there ever any doubt?"

Someone is a little arrogant.

"How about we settle this the old fashioned way?" I taunt.

"And what would that be Hunter?" He doesn't hide his amusement. 

"You're from a time of swords and bloody battles, how about a bit of one on one time?" I find some confidence, smiling at him. I can do arrogant too. "I've seen you fight, you're not much without your little hand gestures and mind games."

His smile disappears. He isn't amused now.

"Go on, hide behind your little magical power thing you have going on. I get it. I'd be scared about having to fight me too!"

"Scared?" Drac says the word like it is poison. "I will show you something to fear!"

"Elise, what are you doing?" V snarls from beside me. I'd almost forgotten he was there.

"I have no idea." I admit under my breath. 

I inhale deeply, and spring into action. Grabbing the ancient looking axe from beside one of the dead as I pass, I figure I have nothing to lose and charge at him. He is quick, and doesn't use any of his special abilities; just the vampire ones. He bends and sways, avoiding each of the hits I send his way.

We stop, circling each other like sharks who’ve got a scent of blood. With slow light steps, we wait for the other to start the deadly dance. For a second nothing else matters and all fades away. He is all I can see and weeks of putting up with his crap is coming to an end.  I don't know where he got the sword from, I don't care either. The blade catches the light making it appear gold and as I hear a sound from behind me, his hand once again lifts. Judging from the sounds that follow, V just met the brick wall of the Academy.

"What is my prize Hunter?" Dracula taunts.

"Name it. Whatever you want!"

"I think that's obvious." He pauses, daring to smile again. "And if you win?"

"You'll be dead and that's enough of a prize vampire."

Drac is actually going through with this. At least I think he is. I pay more attention to his less obvious movements, focusing on his body language rather than his actions. He can't play fair, I don't believe that for a second and anyone can wave a sword around. It's the perfect distraction really, since the blade is where I should be looking. Too bad for him, I can fight and I know he is holding back. The pressure isn't in his hits, and I can't work out what he is playing at.

Maybe he thinks he is leading me into a false sense of security, but is he really stupid enough to believe I’d fall for it?

We break apart, and once again begin to circle each other. That's when I notice the first one. It's one of my kind, staggering awkwardly to its feet while all around, one by one the dead start to rise. Dracula stops moving, looking around us in fake surprise.

"Look at that!" He gushes as the one closest to me charges.

I swipe diagonally, and the zombie drops back down. "You asshole. I knew you couldn't do it!"

"Me? This is a little out of my area of expertise." Now he comes at me, just like all the others.

Then I remember her. 

V was right, there is a Necromancer and the bitch was bringing back more of the dead. I don't know when it happens, but I'm soon back to back with V and we're fighting for our lives. We work well together, finding an almost perfect sync in our movements. Maybe it was from all that training we did together, but either way, we make enough of a gap for ourselves and then we run. 

Alfie is gone, so is the other snake. I have no idea where anyone else is and even Drac has disappeared. We’re left with the dead chasing us.

"Got a plan?" V asks as we run.

"Of course. I just gotta think of it first!"

He isn't impressed. I can just imagine that same look coming from Zane.

We get inside and close the door behind us since our main priority is to get away from the zombies. I want to throw a bunch of smart ass comments at him based on the last time I had to deal with them, but kept it to myself. Later, when we’re not running for our lives. We get through the main entrance, and my eyes instantly go up to that haunting portrait of the infamous Alistair Bunting. What would he do now?

I have no idea.

The area is empty and we’re alone. At least we were until we go around the corner, and we nearly fall over from stopping so quickly.

“This part of your plan?” V snaps at me sarcastically.

“Yeah I’ll take it.” I shrug.

Quinn and Jian stand there looking at us completely unimpressed. One thing is obvious, whoever started this little take over the world club, wasn’t really picky with their members. Again, I find these two lacking the same level of threat Dracula carries with him. From what Drew said, they did some bad stuff, but they’re not the kill millions and cause total chaos and destruction kind of guys.

It gets awkward as they stare at us.

“So, we were just going to go…” I start, “and ah, nice meeting you. Good luck with the taking over the world thing and-“

“Silence Hunter!” Jian orders.

He is short.

Not Sam kind of tiny, but shorter than me and it doesn’t help me take him seriously at all. “Sorry.”

He growls. I glance at V who only shakes his head in a mixture of amusement and annoyance. Sensing someone behind us, I turn and groan as we’ve now got more company in the form of Garrick.

“Shouldn’t you be dead?” He leers at V.

“And the Hunter!” Jian snaps.

“Says the vampires, who were killed how long ago?” I join in.

No one appreciates it.

“Enough. Where is Portia?” Quinn demands.

“Who the hell is Portia?” I ask, before looking thoughtful. “Oh, wait, was she the chick about my height, black hair, red eyes, with a twin?”

“No!” Garrick growls behind me and I subconsciously step sidewards so my back is no longer to him. I notice V do the same so now we have a nice sharing circle going on.

They must all realise at the same time that V is here and the twins aren’t. Come on vampires, keep with the program! “Where are the girls?”

“Portia?” I frown, playing dumb.

“No, the twins. Adina and Brielle!” Jian is getting angry now. His olive complexion is getting a little red and his eyes glare up at me. I can just imagine him stomping his feet in a full blown tantrum.

Don’t laugh.

“I killed them.” V volunteers.

“Liar!” I argue, “You killed one, I killed one. Let me guess, when you go fishing it was really this big?”

I stretch my arms out, clearly joking around which has V narrowing his eyes at me as he takes this whole thing seriously and the other three look ready to rip us both apart. Jian charges first, and clearly they forgot about the fact I have an axe in my hand. Then again, I did too as my foot came up instead and hit him square in the stomach. The jolt of impact was felt in my hip, but that was kind of standard.

Moving my hand, the axe followed, slicing his arm as he rolled out of the way so I couldn’t get his neck. V is having a similar experience with Garrick and Quinn, only he doesn’t have an axe or a sword, or anything. Then again, neither did they.

“So, why did they pick you lot? You’re not much of a challenge.” I taunt as he grabs my arm and forces me to drop my weapon.

“A smart mouth is the only weapon of a weak opponent.”

“You’re kidding right?” The palm of my hand crashes up under his chin, snapping his head back and blood pours out of his mouth as he must’ve bit his tongue.

He turns his head and spits, before looking at me. A crazed expression takes over his face and he laughs. I instantly get goose bumps and ready myself for whatever is next. It’s not Jian. Quinn grabs my arms and pins them at his side. His grip is crushing and I know I’m going to be carrying around a bruise in the shape of his hands for the next couple of days.

I may also have the imprint of his face in the back of my head as I try to head butt him. I’ve underestimated how tall he actually is as I barely reach his chin, but he grunts from the action anyway. For a second I wondered if I had underestimated them and it wasn’t really the time or place to lose my confidence. This was fine. It wasn’t any different to when Chris and Jordan used to torture me. The outcome of this was death, not being tickled or drawn on with permanent marker, but minor detail.

Jian approached like a cat stalking a mouse; his mouth curving to what I think was his attempt at smiling before he raised his fist to hit me. The second he was close enough I jumped, pushing backwards with all the force I could manage. Quinn stumbled, but didn’t fall and rather than push back, this time I threw myself forward, so Jian’s fist found Quinn. He let me go, growling out something I think was Cantonese at Jian and as I fell, I reached out for my axe.

Despite being on the floor, Jian went to pounce on me, fangs bared and set on the kill. Instead he met the blade of the axe, his blood adding to the crap already painted on it before he turned to dust.

“Three down!” I called out, feeling rather proud.

Quinn, unfortunately, had other ideas. Thankfully, Mum seems to think otherwise because as I once again misplace my weapon, say hello to the wall on the other end of the corridor and am nearly knocked unconscious, again, one of her arrows is suddenly sticking out his eye.

Dad is there seconds later, ending the vampires’ life, while Mum gently caresses my cheek.  “Ellie, can you stand?”

“Please, it takes more than that to,” I gasp as pain explodes from my hips, into my spine and all over my torso. Standing is a bitch.

Mum lets me lean against her as I focus on my breathing and actually being upright again. Dad disappears and I have no sense of time as maybe it’s minutes or seconds later, he comes back with V who looks as good as I do. Lucky for him, he starts to heal in the time it takes for me to actually take a decent breath.

“That’s them all dead, except for Dracula.” V tells us.

“No,” I shake my head, getting distracted by a section of my hair that falls over my face. It’s stuck together, clotted with blood and general grossness.

“No?” Dad asks.

“The vampires are all distractions, like V was to us when they were setting all this up.” Right. Because I knew that?

“What do you mean?” Mum, for all her kickassery, now focuses on retying my hair up into a ponytail. I’m half expecting her to spit on the sleeve of her shirt and wash my face.

“They were not powerful vampires.” V agrees, making sense of it. “This was simply the first attack, a test.”

“We fell for their trap.” I tell him.

I feel better now, daring to stretch out the soreness.

“Shit!” Dad curses, “They weren’t retreating then.”

“Retreating?” V and I ask at the same time.

“Outside, they all just started to run away.” Mum sighs, looking worn out.

Both my parents do and had clearly been fighting hard as their clothes had rips in and stains all over them. Why can’t I realise something before it actually happens. I need Alfie to- Alfie.

“I gotta go.” I start to run, and the trio follow begging me to stop.

Anxiety makes me feel sick and despite the abuse I just put my body through, I push myself harder, faster, and getting outside, everyone is cleaning up. They weren’t wrong about the retreat and a few groups swarm around remaining threats. The zombies are gone. The dark magic has left the air and Alfie is nowhere to be seen.

Where are you?

I keep running, ignoring anyone and everyone, no matter if they’re shouting my name or trying to grab me so I stop. The side of the academy is empty and in that moment, a blue firework shoots up above the academy. Night gives way to an artificial light, the globe dropping over us in protection. Now they don’t have to fight or defend, the fae can channel their energy into this instead, but the danger isn’t over. We haven’t won and I need to find Alfie.

What the light does do, is help me see better. Troll like creatures are moving the dead; respectful of their limp bodies while the injured are being assisted by some of the fae and whatever other creatures of good that have come here. No Alfie.

V is running with me, I can’t hear what he is saying as I don’t want to listen. Instead he tackles me, knocking me down into the grass so I have to.

“What’s got into you?” He yells, and all around my family and friends circle us.

They’re all here. Safe.

“Where is Alfie?” I scream back at him, kicking him off me, I’m stronger now I’m desperate.

No one says anything.

“Where is he?”

“We haven’t seen him.” Jordan finally volunteers some information.

They all avoid looking at me, and meeting Logan’s gaze, I don’t like what I see. I know what they think. No one can actually say it though. I close my eyes, refusing to cry or accept it and call to him. Alfie, come to me.

He can’t, but I can sense him and he wants to. Water. It’s cold, but I feel so hot, it’s nice.

Water.

I shove past Chris and Zane, running again and now it’s only Logan who chases me.  “Bunny stop!”

“I have to get to him!” I call back.

“Let me help you then!” I hit a log, and tripped. Somehow Logan grabbed me and rolled so I didn’t smash my face in or break something in the process of the fall. “I have a fucking bike. Stop running before you kill yourself!”

We lay there in the bush for a second, both aching for air from the mad sprint across the campus grounds towards my parents’ house. Not my brightest idea.

“Did you hurt yourself?” He asks.

“No.” I choke out, “You?”

“Well, my arm was already cut up, so what’s a bit of dirt in the mix?”

Now I feel guilty. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"I get it, you're worried. Come on, wanna go find him or just lay here for a bit longer?"

I slowly get up and help him, pausing for a second to check his arm. It's not too bad, but will hurt like hell later. At a more sane pace, we head down the dirt track to the house. “I think I can run faster than your bike.”

“That’s not the bike I have, I stashed a four wheeler back her after the false alarm. Just in case.”

“Clever little Tracker aren’t you?” He only glares at me.

Sure enough, the new vehicle is beside the garage and is hidden by a very natural looking, bright blue piece of plastic. Not obvious at all. I don’t argue as he starts it up and obediently climb on behind him.

“Where to?”

“That river. Is the only thing of water I know of around here.”

It’s all he needs to know and I really can’t run faster than this bike. It handles the terrain like it’s supposed to and over the flat acres of meadow, Logan pushes it to its limits. The second it slows down, I’m off and running to the bank.

“Alfie!” I know he is around here.

We start to walk along the edge, and it’s hard to see anything since the light from the bike doesn’t quite reach this far down.

“Alfie!”

Nothing.

“Ah, Elise.” Logan calls from a little higher up on the grass. He used my name, not Ellie or Bunny or anything else. I swallow my fear and go to him, freezing at the sight of the stretched out black goo that resembled a dead Apophyt. The one I created Alfie from had shriveled up and ended like this, but this wasn’t Alfie and the only true way to end an Apophyt was with fire because if cut, or beheaded it…

“Oh god.” I covered my mouth with my hands.

“What? It’s not, Alfie, is it?” Logan stepped back from the remains wide eyed.

“No. Do you remember when Alfie was made?” Logan nods. “I think he took its head off.”

We both run back to the water, Logan even gets in up to his knees and we call for Alfie relentlessly.

“Elis-s-s-e?”

“Alfie! I’m here!” I nearly fall over Logan as I get in the water and sure enough, the surface breaks to reveal a very familiar snake head coming at us. “Oh Alfie! I was so worried!”

He’s pretty cut up. Glistening scales catch the moonlight, but parts don’t and closer inspection shows his wounds.

“Safe. Elise, safe?”

“For now buddy!” I hug his neck, careful of the bite marks.

I wish I could fix him like he does me, but I can’t.

Logan and I move out of the water, it’s freezing and instead sit on a rock so Alfie can stay in while still being near us. He tells us over his fight as best he can and as he goes quiet, I have to ask.

“Alfie. Is there a new Apophyt out here now?”

He nods. “Alfie keep it.”

“Can I see it?”

He shakes his head. “Mine.”

“Okay, but Elise can help keep it safe. Like Alfie helps Elise.”

He hesitates, but turns back into the water. When he reappears, he opens his mouth and the small python is dropped into my lap. Logan cringes and the new one rises up to hiss at us both. Alfie makes a sound, not like anything I’ve ever heard him make before. It’s like a clicking sound and the snake settles. It’s white, with red and black markings all over it which is so different to him and from the orange colour I saw on the other one.

“We have two Alfie’s now?” Logan asks cautiously.

“Looks like,” yet I wonder what Alfie meant about mine. “Are you its Master, Alfie?”

“Elisse is.” He answers and the tiny head looks at me.

“Lucky you!” Logan dares to laugh.

“Okay, well, what shall we name him?”

“Her.” Alfie tells me.

“What?” Logan and I say together.

Looking at it, just like how I knew Alfie was a boy, of course it’s a girl.

“Shit!” I curse.

“Are you going to have to go through the bird and the bee talk with your snake demon Bunny?” I glare at Logan, who clearly thinks the turn in events is hilarious.

This is not how I saw our night ending at all.

------

So, it’s starting to get to the final countdown now… I know this is a shorter than usual chapter, but I had to end it somewhere otherwise it was going to end up being like 15 pages lol I’d love to hear your thoughts on how things went down and what you think will be happening next! 

What do you think about the new addition to the team? Any name suggestions? :) ** Update. Thank you to CharacterDevelopment for the suggestion of Anippe!!