"You know Alfie, you being here, surrounded by cats is kind of ironic," I mused, reading over the page in the anciet egypt mythology book. "Bast, also known as Bastet, would often transform herself into a cat during the night as they were known for their night vision. She did it to guard her father, the sun god Ra,  from his enemy, the serpent Apep and eventually, she kil- You know what, how about we go get some dinner?"

"Alfie want more."

"Um, well, it says she eventually killed father and that is how solar eclipse's happen." I lied. 

The reality was, she killed Apep, but I wasn't about to tell my spawn of darkness that considering where we were. He might go all vengancy due to a story and killing Kasha isn't how I want this visit to end. I wonder if that's why they're uncomfortable around him? A cat is a cat, so some of their origins have to interlink.

"Hey, you coming to dinner?" Logan comes over and the whole ninja look he has going on instantly gets my attention. The pants, which I had learned were in a hakama style or something like that, kind of reminded me of a less stylish version of harem pants. Then again, the way they sat around his waist had me forgetting all about fashion. He was never this muscular before, and I didn't tire of seeing the definition of his abs a little more now. He wasn't quite to the Van Helsing standard, but it didn't matter.

"Nice pants."

"These are ridiculously comfy! I think these might be all I wear from now on." He does a little twirl before offering me his hand, which I take. Pulling me up from beside Alfie, I don't protest as he uses this to his advantage and as we kiss, his breathing hasn't quite evened out from what ever work out Toyo just put him through. His skin is shiny with a sleek covering of sweat and at realising that, I move away.

"You should shower before we eat."

"What? This?" He flexes, and I can't stop myself from laughing as he sniffs his underarms. "That is the scent of a true man!"

"Who needs a shower!"

"What, you don't like this?" He teases, before reaching out to try and wipe himself against me.

"Ew! Logan! Gross!" Some how we end up in an impromptu game of chase, which ends when Alfie holds me up above Logan. "Alfie, choose your side wisely!"

He looks between us, before the curve of his mouth goes up towards his eyes and I'm handed over to Logan who now hugs me tightly; my cheek pressed against his chest. "The snake has spoken!"

"Traitor!" I glare at him, before shoving Logan off me and wiping at my face.

"Guess you need a shower now too huh?" He smirks.

"Yeah, but not with you and I'm going first. I hope you don't mind cold water!" I'm sprinting across the yard and sure enough he is right behind me. Slamming the door shut, he could probably just go through it, since no one here seems to use actual doors or walls.

"Come on Bunny, let me in!" He begs instead.

I make him wait before finally reaching out and lifting the latch that locks it. In seconds he is in there with me and because of that; we miss dinner.

-x-

 I couldn't find a phone. The stupid demons just stared at me blankly, which resulted in a poorly executed game of charades as I tried to make them understand what I wanted. Going back to my room, I got out my mobile and the lack of signal was infuriating. Going through Logan's bag, I found his in the same state as mine.

Stupid other world and their lack of sig- "If you're looking my diary, it's not in there!"

Logan's sleep heavy voice had me dropping his bag and slowly he rolled over to face me. "Really Bunny?"

"I'm not looking for your stupid log book. I really need to speak to Jordan."

"Why? What's wrong?" He sits up and yawns loudly, paranoia now clear in his tone as sleep leaves him.

"Nothing. I don't think. I just, I need to talk to him and no one in this place can give me a phone and we have no signal!" I whine.

Logan dramatically flops down on the bed, groaning as he rubs his eyes. "Have you even slept?"

"No. I was hungry so left you alone for a bit and well, yeah."

He mumbles something under his breath about something trying to kill him and getting up, he finds his comfy pants. "Come on."

Obediently I follow and following the pebble path over to the other building, we go inside. It's another training room and sliding open what I thought was a wall, we go down a corridor that reminds me of the one I was first in when we arrived. Two black cats follow us, probably trying to kill me as I nearly trip on one of them repeatedly as it tries to rub itself around my ankles. Logan, in all his wisdom of animal control, scoops the other up and instantly has it purring as he rubs behind its ear. Deciding to try that approach, the stupid thing runs ahead of instead.

We stop outside an already open door and I cringe at the sight of at least ten other cats who sit there looking at us from emerald coloured eyes. Not creepy at all. 

"We need to contact the Council." Logan tells them, more like a command than anything else.

Again, just like my first time here, a single table appears with an old style phone on it.

"Seriously, what are you the cat whisperer too?" I whisper at him, but he only smirks in response.

One by one the cats leave us and the second Logan slides the door shut, I'm dialing Jordan's number.

"Hello Jordan speaking."

"Jord, it's me-" I start.

"I'm not around to take your call right now, so leave me a message and I'll get back to you when I can!" Beep!

"You asshole! I need to talk to you, like now, and all I get is a stupid voice mail recording? I can't even give you a number to call back on!" I yell down the phone.

Hanging up I call Chris instead. "Sup?"

"You answer your phone with sup?"

"I think it makes it sound like I have street cred. Sup Elle?" Everything has to be okay, otherwise he wouldn't be so casual right now.

"I was after Jord, can I speak to him CJ?"

"Yeah. No. He went out with the Van H's last night. They're not back yet." A weird gulping sound fills the line, before a burp. "I'll get him to call you when he's back?"

"I'm in Kasha lock down, he won't be able to phone me. What were they doing?"

"The Trifecta were after V and some other vampy dude. They think they found Robyn and Jules so they all went to check it out. I tell you, those three are impressive!" He starts to crunch on something now.

"Can you not eat or drink while talking?" I scold.

"Sorry. Oh Raya says hi, but we gotta go. I'll make sure Jord keeps his phone on for ya later!"

"Thanks CJ. Bye!"

Hanging up, I don't feel much better. 

"Well?" Logan asks, yawning again.

"He's out with the Van Helsings at those Trifecta people. Think they found Ron's son and Robyn."

"Well, that's a good thing right?" I move to his side, and shake my head.

"I don't think it is."

 I end up going back to bed with him, not wanting to sleep alone. Even Alfie leaves the water to come and sleep by our bed once he senses my anxiety. Logan's asleep instantly and instead I stare up at the roof listening to the chirping of crickets, the occasional meowing of a cat and Alfie's snort like snores. Eventually I do fall asleep and it's the commotion outside that wakes us all up a few hours later. 

We all rush outside to find the space filled with the Kasha in their demon form, hissing and carrying on as the far wall blurs and wobbles. Something is trying to get in.

"No one should be able to sense us, we're miles from anywhere!" I hear one of them growl.

"Prepare yourself!" Another shouts, just as the loud zap has Logan and I covering our ears. Aflie winds himself around the pair of us as he rises up, prepared to strike and from where we are on the hill, we can see over the crowd.

Not in a million years would I have guessed it to be V who broke into this world, or that in his arms he would be holding Robyn with Julio hobbling in behind him.

"What the fuck?" Logan gasps and I'm already pushing Alfie off us to run over to them.

"V? Jules! What are you-" I'm suddenly looking up at the sky as one of the Kasha attempt to pull me back, but instead knock me over. "Let me go! They're friends!"

Getting up, I slap more claws away and Alfie's presence behind me have them stepping aside.

"What are you doing here?" I ask in disbelief. The wall behind them closes and rather than answer me, V walks over to Ailin who apparently is now healed up enough to come down here in preperation to fight. I knew she was faking it!

"She needs medical care." Robyn, who is very unconscious, is passed over to one of the demons who says something to Ailin before the group disperse.

"Elise, it's good to see you again." Julio coughs, nearly falling until I move to catch him. I let him lean on me as Logan comes to assist and he is pretty beat up too. 

"How are you, why are you here?" I fumble with my words, yet he doesn't answer as another demon comes over and takes him from us. They go in the same direction as the ones who took Robyn and suddenly its just Ailin, V, Logan and I standing with Alfie.

Before I can ask again, V has grabbed me by the shirt and slammed me into the dirt. The air is knocked out of me and Alfie moves first to help. He doesn't get very far, when I'm discarded and expecting Alfie, V knocks him down too. 

"You knew! You knew and you never told me!" He screams, furious.

"What?" I have no idea what he is on about.

"Robyn! She is a Winter! Why didn't you tell me!" He goes to hit me and I roll out of the way, kicking at his knee, he stumbles and one pissed off Alfie has his tail coiled around him in seconds. The hidden spikes are revealed, millimeters from V's face and as I stand and dust myself off, I just got an answer to a question I thought back when I first heard Robyn was taken.

"Well, for starters, I kind of thought you'd know!"

"How? How Elise? Did you miss the fact I have been in the Other World?" He snapped back, unbothered by the hold Alfie had on him.

"Well you seem to know so much about everything else, I thought that was a given!" I yelled back, "besides, the night they were taken - they were down there hunting you!"

"I don't care!"

I looked at Alfie and he lowered V, hesitantly releasing him. Logan moved closer towards me, while Ailin was silent; watching.

"What difference would it really have made if I had told you? I only found out the day they were taken anyway, and I haven't seen you since then."

He said nothing and stormed off up towards where the others had gone. Then another realisation hit me. "How is he in the sun?"

It was morning and vampires don't do mornings.

"It's artificial, we control the light and dark here, just like the elements. Our sun will not hurt him." Ailin answered.

"Okay. Well, since you're miraculously better, how about we have that chat?" Crossing my arms, I was tempted to get Alfie to hold her hostage too.

"Soon Hunter."

"No, you've been holding out on me for too long! How did he even know to come here, where are we anyway?" I demanded.

"Soon Hunter." And rather than walk away, she disappeared; leaving me to stare at the black wisp of air left in her place. 

"I wonder how they'd like it if we could do that!" Looking at Logan, he only frowned.

"They'd hate it, because you do that all the god damn time and I hate it!"

"Well if you had just come with to see Darius, I wouldn't have had to!" Somehow we'd just started argument.

"Because just once, I wish you could actually think things through enough to see it from someone elses fucking perspective rather than your own!" He sighed, running his hand through his hand through his hair as if he was about to pull it out, "Darius equals vampire. His bar equals full of demons. In case you hadn't noticed, something big is happening and there is another fucking threat on your life. Do you actually think you're invincible or something?"

"Of course not. If I felt something was a bad idea, I wouldn't do it! When have I ever done something that ended-"

"Ended how? With you being kidnapped? Nearly turned into a vampire? What if that art show stunt ended with V as the winner and not you? What about being left on a fucking boat after miraculously not being sucked dry then and there by Drac or that vampire that just had you on your back?"

I'm not going to lie, he made some good points.

"Yeah but-" He cut me off again, and now I really was getting annoyed.

"But they're only what if's. Worse case scenarios that didn't happen because god forbid what ever luck you have ever runs out!" With a final grunt, he turned on his heel and walked away.

"Logan!" I called out, "Logan, stop!"

He didn't, and I wasn't expecting him to. Just like how he probably knew I wouldn't chase him either.

-x-

Since I was here on my own free will, and wasn't actually looking for a way to escape, no one stopped me from climbing up onto the roof of the dining hall. I liked being up so high, and able to see the endless gardens; even if it didn't go as far as you'd think and it was all fake.

What I didn't expect was to see V up there too.

"Hey."

He looked up, but didn't move or say anything as I took a seat beside him.

"I'm sorry, about before." I admitted.

"Don't be." He simply laid back on the flat panel and stared up at the perfectly clear depths of blue sky. For what ever reason, I moved to lie beside him. Were we friends? It kind of felt like it. Was Darius a friend? Nothing seemed to make sense anymore. Had I let them too close? Thinking it over, I don't think I'd hesitate in killing any of them. Acquaintances. That was a better fit.

"So many things in life, in this world are taken for granted. You wouldn't think you'd ever miss feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin because it's always there. Even in the darkest hours of the night, there is no doubt it won't eventually return to the sky, because it always will. The only aspect to the process that can change, is you," He said wistfully. "I miss the sun."

"What else?"

"Mornings in general. Especially after rain. There is that smell of the earth. It's fresh and new; cleansed. Different to the damp decay of the dirt deep beneath the ground. Morning dew on the lawn, with birds singing their song as if it were for the first time. Life awakening as the darkness descends - its magic!" I'm not sure if he is crying or if the brightness has his eyes watering, but perfect little beads trail down the side of his face. "And breakfast. The smell of coffee or tea brewing, toast and butter and bacon."

"Can't you still have those things?" I've seen vampires live normal human lives, not giving up on what they were supposed to leave behind.

"Why? They don't hold a taste and they don't offer a purpose to us, like they do to humans," and then he smirked. "Thank the gods for alcohol!"

"See, it's not all bad."

"No. It's not." He agrees, though the smile soon leaves his face and he falls back into silence.

We stay there as underneath us the lunch service comes and goes. I know I should go and fix things with Logan, but this moment of serenity is nice. 

"You know what else I miss?' V asks, making me jolt in fright as I wasn't expecting him to talk anytime soon.

"What?"

"Being able to feel something more than a need to survive. To think a completely clear thought, without it relating back to feeding." There is no threat to his words, and I think he just really wants to talk.

"Surely you feel something?" His was beyond pissed when he arrived. "Anger for one. You have to still care to react to Robyn like that."

He sits up, and I mimick his actions, yet he drops his head into his hands and leans against his knees. When he looked at me, I see nothing other than guilt; so I know he has to feel something. 

"You're right. I do feel. I loved Francis. I loved her more than I thought I could love anything in this world. Now, I only remember how it feels. How my chest felt too small to hold my heart and all the emotion I had for her. How with a single touch, a kiss, a look - I actually thought I could die from being so happy with her. It was consuming and yet, it's only a memory. something there in my mind, like when I think of who I was before I was changed.  It's strange to remember  feeling, but not actually feel it again."

"But you loved her after you changed too. It's in her diary, everything about you two is there like a tragic love story. You know they based a few movies and tv shows around those things when civilians got hold of a couple of her diaries right?"

"Her diary. Mine, while I still used it before letting it go like all other aspects of my former life - was a completely different story." His voice went dark, and the peace that had settled between us was struggling to survive.

"I don't understand," I felt nervous being there now.

"My first instinct upon getting here today, and seeing you, was to hurt you from keeping who Robyn was from me," he admitted.

"Why? Because she is linked in with Francis's family?"

"Yes, though this isn't the love story I know you want it to be, to then tell me I am wrong and I do feel!" He snapped, almost as if he was reading my mind. "As I said, I loved Francis. When I was changed, it was by her blood."

Instantly I felt my stomach sink, not wanting to hear anymore of this. If he could read my mind, it didn't stop him from continuing.

"After that attack, she ran. But I followed her like a wolf on the hunt. It became a game, the prize being I would be able to satisfy the need for more blood - by having hers. In the end, she gave into me. I knew if I did kill her, or change her, I'd loose what I wanted."

"Blood."

"Exactly. It could have been anyone that had me feeling that way. But it wasn't anyone else. It was her and because I didn't kill her during my change, she was able to haunt my demons; have power over me. There is a reason why we give into blood lust and destroy our first vessel during that process. So that doesn't happen!" He growled, and I saw his fangs were out.

"The only reason why I have any interest in that family tree of hers, is not for some attachment I still have for Francis. I stopped loving her the second the vampire in me won. It is for the blood that runs in her descendants veins. For that chance to sample it once again..." He trailed off and closing his eyes, I didn't want to know his thoughts right now. "But somehow I have some more control these days, maybe being sent to the Other World was like rehab?" He dared to chuckle, "the days in which she denied me were the darkest of my vampiric existence. It really was a drug I couldn't get enough of and now I have someone who can give me that again. Do you see why I was so annoyed?"

"But you had to have still loved her. She wrote pages of your acts of kindness, of how you still made love and-"

"And made her believe I could be saved. That somewhere inside, I was still just me. Vampires don't love Hunter. We adapt to our environment and our circumstances. If it has the promise of ending well if we act or do certain things, we do. It's called survival." He finished harshly.

I didn't believe him, but it didn't stop every inch of my insides felt like it was breaking, torn apart nerve by nerve as his words sunk into my brain. Pain gave way to anger. "So this, you here now, and helping us and me and everything - is fake?"

I had the knife from my boot against in throat in the time it took him to process I had actually moved. "Then why don't I kill you now, before your survival instinct changes?"

"It's not the same thing Elise. Our love turns to obsession. With her, it became a need. We are still human, we just don't have the same emotions anymore. This isn't fake. Do you forget I was once a Slayer and for the most part, I still have a sense of right and wrong. It's only because-" I didn't want to hear more of his lies.

"You keep contradicting everything you just told me! Is this what you do? Lie until we believe you? Is you trying to make me understand just another act of survival? What about the other vampires in the Council, what about the one ones at the Academy? What happens when the act ends? We should kill you all and work on making your species of demon extinct!" The blade went harder against his throat, a thin red line soon smiling up at me as the silver blade became streaked with the dark crimson fluid. "I trusted you! I made the others trust you! At least Drac is upfront with the fact he is a monster!"

His hands grabbed at mine, but my rage made me stronger and I wasn't going to be easily moved. He stopped struggling the second he realised it was only worsening the cut against his throat.

"I'm only. A threat. To-" His words stopped as he was trying to use as much of his power as possible considering his position to stop me from ending him now. "Listen to- Me!"

With a grunt of effort, I'm thrown back and before I can move into action, the tables have turned and my knife is now too close to my own throat.

"Are you listening?" He warned.

I didn't answer, glaring at him as if that alone would see him turn to ash.

"It was only with her. It is why our first taste of blood isn't likely to survive. If they do, we usually end up destroying them anyway. Had you snacked on your little human friend, you would have killed him. He isn't one of you, he doesn't know how to fight like Francis did against a vampire attack. That was what saved her and ruined me!"

I wasn't buying it and he knew it. All signs of anger left his face then, he eased up on me and let me stand. Then he hugged me. 

"What the fuck?" I shoved him away, and glancing to where my only weapon now sat between us, I looked back at him just as he kicked it off the roof.

"Do not doubt what I am doing now. Do not think your trust in me was misplaced. It is all real. I told you before I only just got back to this world and I'm not willing to leave it any time soon. Ailin has seen the future and trusts me. That should tell you enough."

"She is a demon too. What's to say you're all not in on this?"

"If we were against your kind, the world would have ended years ago. I shouldn't have told you any of that. I don't know why I did." His regret looked genuine. 

I did. He was fucking with me like Dracula. 

"Hunter." Ailin appeared from behind me, and turning to face her, she glanced behind me at V before nodding slightly. "It's time we had that talk."

"You think?" I snap, and before I know it we're inside sitting with Ron.

A tea tray sits in front of us and Ailin moves with a practiced grace as she pours us all a cup.

"Hello Elise." Our president greets, accepting the tea.

I say nothing, catching V's eye, I only glare. 

"First of all, I want to give you this back." From the pocket in his jacket, he hands me over Bob The Original.

"Why?" Flicking through the pages, last year is a blur of words in my messy handwriting.

"You're not retired. You're an active Hunter again and you know that requires documenting. I think it's only right you have, what is it you call it? Bob, back." He smirks, before sipping his drink.

"You read it?"

"I did." Ron confirms, shifting slightly from where is sitting on the cushion. "I won't tell a soul. No one else saw it other than myself."

"Thanks," I'm kind of glad about that.

"Now, I know you have a lot of questions, and I thank you for accepting this offer to talk."

I laugh, almost bitterly. "If that's what you can call it."

He ignores that.

"Last year you showed me who you are really are. You are so young, and even now it is a lot for one with so little experience to deal with. I admire your courage, determination and willingness to do what is required. I just came from speaking to your parents. Trouble it seems, has a way of following you."

"Just lucky I guess." I sigh, finally taking the tea.

"Zane told me about your theories on Danielle and I have had Ailin looking into it. As we speak she is being taken into custody. Her motives are so far unknown to us, but we have a way of making people talk." I don't have any questions or doubt about that.

"Vaaron here, has been most helpful with some of other ongoing cases. He was, reluctant to help in the beginning and it was why I commissioned the Slayer teams to track him down."

"What?" That was new. I thought it was just because he had gotten out of the portal.

"We have no proof to keep any charges against him current as he will gladly tell you, there isn't any! With his situation of a peaceful return to our world changing, thank you to the sudden re-appearance of Dracula, and a few other notorious characters around the place, he is willing to assist us so we will ultimately leave him alone."

"You trust him?" I demand.

"As much as one can trust a vampire," Ron confirms. "With Ailin and some other, creatures, we have an image of the future and we're all wanting to put an end to it. Just like how the dark fae and shifters joined our cause with getting the portal closed."

"Hunter, with you being targeted by the vampire, his illness at needing to toy with his kills has had him distracted twice. Once just after the fourteenth, and again the other night. His allies are loosing their faith in him, and from V's sources, Drac is getting desperate."

"So?"

"We want you to mess with him more. I'm going try and convince Alfie to unblock your mind so he won't struggle to contact you." Ailin tells me, "We're all aware and-"

"Wait, Alfie is doing what now?" I ask confused.

"He senses your distress, and when Drac uses his powers to enter your mind, Alfie has been blocking him." V tells me. I hate that he knows that about me and Alfie.

"Anyone got a pen?" Ron hands me one and opening up Bob, I make a dot point and add it to my list of Alfie's awesomeness. "so you want me to what? Act as bait?"

"As best you can. Tell him false information, tease him if you can, just do not let him feed from you or let him give you his blood." V warns.

"But it's a dream, how can he feed from me in a dream?"

"It's not all imaginary, and by establishing that bond - it won't just be while you're asleep that he can reach you."

"Right. Besides, anything you tell me I have a hard time believing. I'm not willing to do anything if he is involved!" I declare, pointing at V.

"I don't understand your change of heart with one you were willing to risk everything to free from the cell Hunter?" Ailin looks between us completely confused.

"It's because he-" V cuts me off.

"Because I told her a truth she didn't want to know." He looks at me with understanding before getting up, "I'll stay out of this if it helps."

He leaves and the second he is gone I tell the other two everything. 

"What does your gut tell you Elise?" Ron finally asks.

"To kill him!" I snap.

"No, forget your anger. Remove yourself from the situation and focus on your instincts." He commands, and looking at him, I notice the few stray grey hairs coming from his nose. He looks tired, old; not at all like the well groomed and collected man I was used to. Julio. He would have come here to see his family too.

So I give him the benefit of the doubt and closing my eyes, I want to hold onto the anger I have against V, but I can't. He isn't a threat, my body knows it. My instincts know it. 

Keeping with all the deep and meaningfuls of the day, I burst into tears and let a very awkward and uncomfortable Ailin try to comfort me. In reality, I want my Mum and a hot chocolate and one of her warm, familiar cuddles as she tells me everything is okay.

That's not happening anytime soon so pulling myself together, I agree to their plan and we discuss a few final details as Ron and two of the Council guards head over to the make do hospital they have here.

"Hey Ailin, can you do something for me?" I ask before we part ways.

"Depends Hunter," she says cautiously. I tell her what I want and she smiles as if she knows more than she lets on.

Going into the gym, Logan is going through some moves with Toyo and once they're done, he comes over as if he is walking to his doom.

"Watch your feet, your steps aren't as quick as your arms and you risk tripping yourself." I point out.

"An expert on this are you?" He sounds defensive, putting the sword away.

"I speak from experience," I offer him a smile and pass him a towel. "Logan, I don't know why I do what I do. I'm sorry if-"

"Don't apologise. It's just, you. How many times have I had to track you down in the past? It's just hard sometimes you know? We don't live a normal life and any day could be our last, and-" He starts to ramble, looking more upset than angry now.

"And I'll try harder, for you. But ah, starting from later because I just saw Ron and, you might want to sit down."

So I tell him about the distracting Drac plan in the hopes of making him slip up again and he takes it better than I thought. So does Alfie and so before bed, the three of us sit outside by the water. Logan leans against a tree, while I am settled in his lap, reading to Alfie who keeps half of his body in the water so he can have some of the cola I bought for him, while I read more, altered, versions of Apeps' run ins with Ra and Bastet. For us, this is as normal as it's going to get.

It's just before dawn when I hear the rain on the roof, and getting up I go to the doorway of our little hut and watch it. It stops as the first rays of light appear and it's then I see V laying out in the middle of the lawn watching the sun rise. He was right, so much is taken for granted in this world and sometimes you have just take a moment to enjoy it for what it is, how ever you can.