Sitting opposite Zane on his bed, his eyes keep glancing up at me while he tries to write in his diary. I don't say anything, just watch and it doesn't take long for him to start getting paranoid. With a sigh, he puts it on the bedside table and looks at me expectantly.

"You didn't have to stop because of me!" I lean back against the wall and he only chuckles to himself.

"What do you want sunshine?"

"Nothing. Can't I come and see my favourite Slayer?" Smiling, he looks at me doubtfully.

"No, not really. It's usually followed with either an act of stupidity or you wanting something."

"That's not true, but since you mentioned it-"

"No." He crosses his arms and the commando style singlet doesn't hide his muscles. So I poke him on his bicep, and manage to get a tiny smile on his otherwise emotionless face.

"Woah, check out the guns! You been working out Zane? Stupid question, of course you have!" He just stares at me, "What if all I want-"

"No."

"Zaaanne!" I give up, whining out his name and I see him flinch. He hates this. "Come on Zaaane! Help a sister out!"

"No."

"You can smell my perfume?" With a groan, he gets up and rather than stand, I jump onto his back. The guy is like a tank! "Zane! Come on! Hear me out?"

Wearing me like a backpack, he says nothing; proceeding to walk out of his room and down the corridor. The people who clearly don't know us watch in a mixture of awe and fear. These aren't the usual's he hangs around. I only reconise about a third of the people from his team that he had before and I wonder if I should maybe tone it down. Yeah right.

"Zane."

"Zaane!"

"Zaney?"

"Zane. Zane. Zane. Zaaaane!"

"Look, I just want to know about Cain!" He stops walking. "Hey, that rhymes! Zane. Cain."

"No."

"Fuck! Come on, why not?" I groan, starting to flick his earlobe with my finger.

"Stop it!" He snaps, going to grab my hand.

"No."

"Elise!" Now he has his annoyed tone on.

"No!" I hold on as he tries to spin me around, "annoying isn't it?"

He keeps walking and he doesn't even knock on Logan's door before entering. "Your girlfriend. Your problem!"

Grabbing my arm, and a leg, he ducks and literally pulls me off his back, dropping me half on Logan and half on the bed. The second he lets me go, I'm about to chase after him, yet now Logan pulls me back and Zane gets away.

"Why did he just carry you in here?" Logan yawns, holding me down.

"Never mind." I give up.

"Good. It's been a long night, go to sleep!"

Since Alfie healed me, I feel fine. If anything a little hyperactive, and sleep is the last thing on my mind. Looking at Logan, he needs it though.

"Yeah you're right!" I yawn, "I better go to my own room. Jord will flip if he knows I'm in here."

"You're a terrible liar."

"What?" It was true.

"You just gave up with Zane, and agreed with me - all within the space of like a minute. What are you up to?"

"Nothing?" I can't hold a straight face and grabbing the pillow, he puts it over his face and screams into it. "Slightly dramatic there Loges?"

"Please tell me you're not planning on letting Drac go or something stupid like that?"

"Promise!" I kiss the tip of his nose, "When did you sleep last?"

"That nap before Katya took you," He admits.

"Then go to sleep. I promise I won't do anything stupid. I'm gonna go hang with Alfie and if Zane is still up, I'll annoy him some more."

Closing his door, I hesitate for a second before heading through the clinical maze of white walls and bright lights until I get to the common room. Few are awake now, and Alfie is sitting in front of the TV watching music videos. I manage to get past him and avoiding the couple of Trackers sitting nearby, wander through the other corridor.

"Lost?" Logan asks, and I spin around with a squeal.

"What are you trying to do? Scare me to death?" Clutching my chest, I'm pretty sure this is what a heart attack feels like.

"What are you doing?" He demands.

"Just looking for, the gym?" I lie.

"Try again."

"Cafeteria?"

"Nope."

I cough awkwardly, "Library?"

"Really Bunny?" He laughs.

"Fine, I was lookin for the bathroom!" He shakes his head and taking my hand, leads me further down the corridor. "Where are we going?"

He enters a pin code as we come up to the locked door and walking into the room, it's similar to the one V had been kept in with the window looking into a holding cell. Only this one had bars, and a hell of a lot more camera's around the place.

How did V get out?

Why was Drac still in here, and why did Logan know the pin and not me?

Either way, the why was Drac still here answer hits me the second he turns our way and the look of achievement on his face only confirms it.

He wants to be.

"Logan, this was a bad idea. Let's go." He hesitates, and the second the door is closed behind us, I realise I don't actually know where we are. "Just a stab in the dark, this is part of the Council isn't it. Not an underground or temp thing like the warehouse?"

"Yeah, but-" I don't let Logan finish before I'm running back the way we came.

I knew it.

"Zane! Other people I don't know! Everyone!" I scream, banging on what ever door I pass, while Logan tries to keep up. "Zane!"

He is the most senior person here, well the most senior person that I know, and also he is someone I trust. When he emerges looking like he could actually kill me, I don't even mess around with him.

"We're in deep shit. Get the weapons out, get the demons or magic people here, get everything we have on guard. He is only here because he wants to be, he didn't have to let us catch him before. This is it, this is part of his plan to take over!" I blurt it out quickly and the bunch of curious eyes look at me like I'm a raving idiot.

"And you are?" The woman that comes down the corridor sounded older than she looked. Long blonde hair and wide blue eyes made me think of a cartoon drawing of a disney princess. That wasn't normal, and I thought Penny had wide eyes. What really got my attention though was Jordan following her - adjusting his belt.

"His sister." Jordan met my gaze instantly, and his cheeks started to turn a pretty shade of pink, while cartoon girl didn't seem to notice or care. "You?"

"Amelia Downs, Slayer." There was something more about her though.

"You're her, the half fae part of that Trifecta group right?"

"I prefer to go by Slayer." She answered coolly.

"Elise, what are you on about?" Zane gets the talk back on topic and once again, all eyes were on me.

"Dracula! He wants to be here! If he didn't, don't you think he would've got out like V? Or I dunno, actually killed me or any of us when he had a chance?"

"We have made sure he will be contained. We never left Aaron chain-" Amelia speaks up.

"Aaron? No. It's V, or Vaaron," I correct her, "It doesn't matter what you do. These are powerful vampires, hell he is more shape shifter than anything else!"

"While we know Dracula can change his form-" She starts to lecture me.

Where do they find these people?

"You know? Really? He can change into people; anyone. Animals and even werewolf! The vamp can do anything. He could walk out here looking like you if he wanted to!" I snap, and looking at Jordan, roll my eyes.

He gets my message; I don't approve of whatever my commotion interrupted.

"Listen here," I literally bite my tongue as she addresses me now, "I have been doing this longer than all the years you've had training. I am more than aware of your history, but you do not know what you are talking about!"

I open my mouth, yet shut it. Closing my eyes I take a deep breath. Be the bigger person. I can do this.

It doesn't quite come out that way.

"Of course. How naive of me. Back to sleep everyone, false alarm!" She glares at me, and looking at Zane, he is frowning; at me or the situation - I'm not sure.

"I think she has a point Amelia." I almost want to high five Jordan. "Though you have your own reputation, this really is Elise's area of expertise."

Logan takes my hand, standing closer behind me as Jordan walks around Amelia. "What do you think we should do?"

"Prepare. They want to destroy the treaty and the Council. If he is here, who knows who or what will be coming to him or what he is planning from inside. We have taken him to the place he wanted to be. V has told him everything about how it all works and the Network. Sure he is a few years out of date, but the principle is the same."

Chris pushes through the crowd with Alfie and my gang is back together as Keiran and Raya follow him. The only ones missing are the Van Helsings, but they're out helping Ailin and the Kasha with Robyn and Julio.

I'm actually impressed when even Zane comes over. "You're not usually wrong with these things kid, okay people. You heard her. Put upstairs on notice and make sure the council members are in a secure location. It may just be dawn, but when night falls, I think we're going to have company."

"There is nothing to prove-" Amelia starts, yet Zane shuts her up.

"Then you can yell a big, I told you so, at her tomorrow morning. Wouldn't you rather be safe than sorry?" He challenges and I can't hide my smile.

That and he kind of a sounds a little like me. I'm finally starting to rub off on him. Then again, maybe that's not a good thing.

"He's right Mel," The taller of the two men startle me as they come from behind us.

The pair walk around to stand with her and I realise these are part one and two of the trio. They're both big guys, nearly as big as Zane and the who spoke has just as many scars as him too.

"By the way, the whole Slayer, Tracker, Hunter thing - it's been done." I snap, going to Logans room rather than my own.

Everyone follows.

"Hey Bunny, you should tell them one your, a slayer, a hunter and a tracker walk into a bar jokes?" Chris teases, earning him a punch in the arm. "Ow!"

"So what made you have this little revelation?" Jordan asks, taking a seat on Logan's bed as we all manage to fit in the small space; even Alfie.

"I was just thinking over what V said and when I saw Drac here, it's what he planned. He knew you'd all be after me, and in finding me, you'd catch him. I knew I got away too easily."

"You saw Drac?" Raya asks cautiously; fearfully even.

"Yeah, I was actually going to ask him about Cain, but figured this was more important?"

I look at Jordan, then Zane and slowly make eye contact with all in the room, hoping they'd answer willingly. No one does.

"So, care to share?"

Nothing.

"We don't actually know." Zane finally admitted.

"What?" We all seemed to mumble in a chorus.

"V mentioned the name, we've been trying to work it all out, but we got nothing. He was probably just fucking with us."

"I don't think he was, because when he told me about Drac using him for what inside knowledge he has on the Council and all that, he said he didn't tell him everything. He didn't tell him about Cain!" I wondered what asking Drac about this mystery person would accomplish.

"But he didn't tell you?" Raya asked.

"No." I tell them.

"Then really, all we need to do is find V again!" Jordan made it sound easy.

"How?" Yet the second Chris asked, all eyes turned to me. "Elise?"

"Slayer?" I turned to Zane who only shrugged.

"We're following you on this one!"

I was hoping he wouldn't say that.

-x-

Sitting next to Zane in the front of the car, I fiddled with the radio dial for the millionth time. If he was getting annoyed, he wasn't showing it. Back when we first met he had no patience for me, now he was like a wise, old dog dealing with a boisterous young pup. The thought makes me laugh, and I finally settle on a station.

"Cause you're hot then you're cold," I started to sing along with Katy Perry and looking over the chair and into the back, Logan was sound asleep with his chair pushed down so he was able to lay back. He looked so peaceful asleep, I guess we all kind of did unless your dreams are being invaded by some dark vampire force.

"So, you and the Tracker hey?" Zane finally speaks.

"Sorry, what?" I asked, snapping out of my thoughts.

"You and Logan? Seems to be going well?"

"Yeah," I look back at him again, feeling more confused than anything. "Zane, you didn't really know me back then, but you knew Reece. After V said some stuff the other day, I just- well, everything is hard. I don't really know what I feel about it all."

We'd had talks over the phone like this, never face to face. After I left, we used to have talks about everything and anything, which I miss. I guess because of everything that happened, it established something else between us and I couldn't ignore the guilt when I realised I'd rather talk to Zane than Jordan. It was also part of the reason why I was riding with him and not in the other car.

"You mean, you wanna know if it was the blood thing or actual feelings?" He cut straight to the point.

"Pretty much. I really liked him, but things were so, intense and weird and then there was me and Logan. Reece always was on his side, I never got that?"

"Reece was like me. We don't do relationships and all that shit. This life doesn't really allow for it. At least not for people like us. You're different. You have a balance, family and friends."

"So do you?" If he didn't, what was I?

"No, I have you. I don't have parents, or actual friends - in case you hadn't noticed, most people are only around me because they have to be. I like it that way though." He went quiet, and I didn't rush him. "I had Jodie once, but it was too late for us to really be a family when we met, and maybe things would be different if she hadn't died. That night, that whole thing, changed all of us. It's all well and good to fight these monsters day to day, but when something epic comes along like that, it's different."

"I know what you mean."

"When he told me about you, I didn't think I'd hear your name again after that. You were just another distraction, something to remind us that there is more in this world than the horror we subject ourselves to. We're only human!" he smirked, shaking his head a little, "then it started. Do you think I should call her? If you see her around, tell her I said hi. He was whipped."

He laughed at that. "Then CJ tells me his plan and I realise you're the girl that Reece was going on about. It wasn't long until I found out he'd died, or nearly did. I didn't want to know you, and once I met you, I refused to like you. It's what happens when you get a weakness, the monsters use it against you."

I didn't know what to say to that. "I honestly thought you were scary back then."

"Yeah thought you did. You hid it well though!" He taps the tip of his nose, making me laugh. "You nearly kicked my ass after that too. Remember? You've always been a crafty one, sunshine! Resourceful. Survivor."

We go quiet, lost in thought about days long gone.

"Seeing the three of you together was rather amusing. If not a little painful. I'd spoke to Zane before we left for the underground, I knew something was up and wasn't sure if the pair of you being together would be a good idea. He changed around you, that was obvious and honestly, I think it was the whole almost a vamp thing. He knew it too, it's why he kept pushing you and tracker boy together."

"He told me to give Logan another chance that night, do you remember?"

"I do and I think Reece knew what he was doing. Not all of it was the vampire Elise; he liked you before all that happened. I think it just, enhanced it. Remember the good, not the rest and don't over think it like I know you are now. The past can be a powerful force, but only if you let it be."

"You've been hanging around Ailin too long, getting all Confuciusy on me. I think I love him, but how can I even consider that with everything that's happened? Maybe I should be like you, life long bachelor, getting my kicks when and how I want?"

"That's your call, not mine, but I don't recommend it. You know what's what Elise, the only thing holding you back now isn't the past, it's this turn hey?" He points at the turn off coming up and I nod.

The only place that's within range is the Winters mansion, and I'm hoping that V is there.

"What do you think is holding me back then oh wise and noble one?" I joke, but the way he looks my way tells me enough.

"Fear. You fear ending up alone, with all of us gone. You fear being hurt, betrayed - the only thing I don't think you fear is actually dying."

"I fear that too, but-"

"Would rather die than see any of us go." He shrugs, annoyingly knowing me better than I thought. "Just remember, we all feel the same way about you. Thats why we're all going into this together!"

"All for one right?" I smile.

"Exactly." He returns it, "now I'm pretty sure V has a soft spot for you. In your history together, the closest  he's come to actually killing you was when he tried to turn you into a vampire. So, for the most part, I'm going to follow your lead on this. You know him better than me too, but until we do find him, if he's even here, please just follow my command."

"Promise!" I cross my heart and he turns off the radio as we pull up outside the house.

Getting out, Zane moves down to the van the others are in and I go to the passenger door. Opening it, Logan barely stirs. That is until I climb in to straddle him.

"Hey, Loges!" I whisper a little seductively and leaning over him so our noses are touching, he slowly opens his eyes. "Morning!"

It takes him a second to focus and glancing around, he rubs his eyes. "We here?"

"No, this is just a dream. Now kiss me you fool!" I kiss him, feeling him smile against me, "but yeah, we're here.  How was your nap Sleeping Beauty?"

"Good, I feel better actually." He then seems to realise that I'm on top of him, "Great now."

"You're such a guy sometimes."

"Do you blame me?" He grins, pulling me in for another kiss.

"Come on, we're vampire hunting not what ever this is, that I'm pretending I didn't see!" Jordan bangs his hand on the roof of the car, while Chris decides to join in.

"Oh Logan, I love you so much!" He makes kissing sounds as he tries to climb in, which ends in me making my escape out the other door while the two guys end up doing some weird dry humping fight thing.

Now that I'm out, I go over to Zane, who doesn't look happy and throws me a rifle. It's too big and I shake my head, passing it back.

"I knew you wouldn't follow my command." He sighs, and I help myself to a few other things instead.

"Baby steps Z, let's not go crazy." I nudge him with my hip, and Zane shakes his head.

"Z?"

"Well we got a V and a CJ, why not a Z too?"

"I don't like it." He mumbles, as Logan appears.

"What don't you like?"

"You. Him," he points at Chris, "Vampires." He loads his gun as if to prove a point. "Now you two have three second to get ready to go in!"

Zane leaves the three of us and Logan looks completely confused. "I thought liked me?"

"He doesn't like anyone!" Chris answers and once we're all ready we follow Zane's lead and head inside.

Everything is going great, breaking in from the back we creep through the silent house. Well, everything is going great until we make our way into the entry and now hanging on the main wall by the upstairs staircase is the portrait Matt had painted of me that V purchased. I had forgot about that, and despite being quiet before, we're now completely silent. I break formation and go closer to look at it, still in a little bit of awe, but mostly just in shock.The air only grows awkward as the guys follow me.

"Is that you?" Chris blurts out, saying what they're all thinking.

"That's the one Drew was talking about!" Jordan whispers back.

"I'm going to fucking kill him!" I snap. Him buying it was bad enough, but now putting here was too much. Trying to focus on what my instincts can tell me through the rage, I know there is vampire here. I'm not sure if it's the one we're after, but I'm about to find out.

"Elise!" Zane is the first to come after me, while the trio still admire Matt's work.

I head down stairs, through the maze of stone walls until I reach the more functional, yet vacant servants kitchen I had seen on my first visit here. From there, I locate the entry to a cellar. From what we do know of this layout, there isn't much down here. We expected vampires, well V, might use this to hide from the sun despite there being the cells, and this kind of confirms that. I navigate my way through the darkness, secure in knowing the others are behind me and the scurry of footsteps retreating has me giving chase.

Light beams dance in front of me from the torches the guys have as they follow and coming to a dead end, we regroup.

"Don't, run, off!" Zane snaps.

"Ssh!" I hush him, looking around after I take his torch.

The damp, dusty smell doesn't make breathing easy and I barely catch the shadow behind us before the first scuff of step has us all whirling around.

"Shit!" He's going to lock us in, and pushing past the guys, it's Logan beside me as we chase after V now.

Getting to the steps, the light lets us confirm that it is actually V and that he is getting away. Leaping forward, I tackle him down, but he doesn't hide his strength now like he did when we were training and I'm practically thrown off him before he gets up the stairs. I wave Logan away and he keeps up the chase. I'm right behind him and as the door is swung closed, we both run at it. V doesn't get a chance to lock it and I ignore the pain in my shoulder as we break out into the kitchen.

"Stop! I will shoot!" I yell out, but it's not my gun that I go for. Holding the dagger ready, I send it flying through the air as V goes to open the main door out of the kitchen. The blade grazes by his ear and plants itself into the wood with a crack.

"You missed!" He calls, swinging the door open.

I slip out of the kitchen about to grab V's shirt before he is out of reach while Logan fumbles with his gun, which didn't go off like it should have. I  don't get very far as V's hand is suddenly around my throat and I'm being thrown into the air and away from the kitchen. The door slams shut and the click of a lock has me getting up to see V locking the door. Instantly the others are banging on it.

"Elise! Are you okay?" Zane calls out.

"Yeah!" I answer.

The corridor is dark, yet there is enough light to keep V in my sights and this time I do go for my gun.

"Hello darling girl." He grins, yet he doesn't run now. He could have thrown a million dollars at me, and it wouldn't have stopped me from shooting him in the arm. His hand wraps around the wound before he turns to hiss at me before yelling. "What was that for?"

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that!"

Now he only smirks and in a rather disgusting display, holds up his blood covered hand and proceeds to lick it. "Not as good as yours!"

He moves forward quicker than I expected him to be able to and loosing my gun, it lands over by the door. "Now, try and be civil Hunter. Why are you here, miss me?"

"Of course I miss you, after all you only sold me out to Katya. You knew where she was taking me!"

"I had a feeling. But you're alive aren't you?"

"That doesn't matter. Whose team are you on V? Actually I don't think that matters now since both sides want to see you dead!" I snap.

"Elise, you go this?" Jordan calls as the banging ceases.

"Yeah, give me a sec!" 

V doesn't even seem to notice the others now, carrying on like we hadn't been interrupted.

"Oh you wound me with your words!" He puts his hand over his heart, "tell me, what do you think of where I put your portrait? Rather-"

I punch him so hard he staggers backwards as his head snaps to the side. Pulling out the other gun, I shoot the lock off the door and before V can recover, he has all weapons pointed his way.

"Try and take me back, I dare you. I'm not going near him!" He sneers, unphased by the sudden turn of events.

"Him who?" I question.

"Dracula." V sighs, rubbing his jaw.

"How did you know we had him?" Chris demands.

"She is here. Tell me darling girl, did lover boy rescue you or did you get away?"

I only glare at him, tempted to shoot him again. "It doesn't matter, we need-"

"Ah, you got away then!" He turns to Logan, and smiles a bloody smile as he deals with the after affects of myhit. "How does it feel being unable to protect her? Even now, she was the one rescuing you all from your kitchen prison!"

Logan shoots him in the same arm I did, making V hiss in pain again. "I know what she is capable of dickhead, take your mind games elsewhere."

V only laughs. Logan didn't actually hit him, it was merely a warning. Lucky vampire.

"Enough. Take him into custody." Zane commands and instantly V get defensive.

"I told you, I'm not going back."

"Then you die." All four of them had their weapons ready to fire.

"You're bluffing, you need me!"

"For info on Cain? No we don't." Instantly, the tiny red dots appeared over V's heart as they take aim and I couldn't tell if Zane was bluffing. Neither could V.

"Fine. I will tell you what you want!" Clearly he wasn't taking his chances; smart vampire.

"Too late." Zane pulled the dagger from his waist and in the blink of an eye had the blade cutting into V's throat as he pinned him against the wall. "Logan, take Elise upstairs."

"Zane, wh-" I started to protest. What happened to me dealing with V?

"Now." He wasn't my Zane right now, he was a Slayer with a vampire in his grasp. Logan lowered the gun and looked at me.

"Come on Bunny."

"But-"

"Elise!" Zane warned.

I let Logan lead me away, even if I didn't understand why. We'd barely turned the corner when the first hit was thrown and the sickening thud of fist on skin followed us. I didn't exactly like V. Then again, I don't think I hated him. Sure we had a past, but the time spent with the Kasha and our talks, stood for something. We just made it back to the main section of the house when I had stopped walking.

Maybe I just had taken to many knocks to the head but, this all just seemed so wrong and I couldn't let it happen.

"Logan, I don't think I can let them kill him." Not like this at least.

"I don't think we have a choice Elise," he answered seriously.

Silence engulfed the house and Logan's shoulders slumped as he knew what was next. We turned around and made it back to the stair well in time to hear Zane talking. "Do anything that could hurt her again, and I will make you wish that we had killed you here!"

Looking up at Logan, he now led the way around the corner. Chris stood to the side, clearly not involved while Jordan and Zane now spoke quietly together. V had definitely just been given a beating. Had he been human, I was positive he would be dead by now or at least taking his final few breaths.

"I told you to go upstairs!" Zane snapped as he saw our return.

Instead of answering, arguing or leaving, I run over to the duo and drag them closer together for a group hug. It took a few seconds before Zane sighed and hugged me back, and Jordan held me even longer.

"Let's get him upstairs." Flexing his hands, Zane's bloodied knuckles were obviously starting to hurt now the adrenaline had worn off. Jordan was the same, and I was surprised V didn't fight back. Maybe he never got the chance to, or maybe, just maybe he didn't want to.

Chris and Jordan got him up roughly, not that he had any ability to protest as all he did was groan. Logan ended up helping them before I dragged Zane into the kitchen. He said nothing as I took him to the sink and turned on the cold water, holding his hands under it he barely winced. Going through the cupboard, I managed to find some bandages and went about fixing his hands.

"Thanks, you didn't have to do this." He sighed when I was done.

"What was that?"

"A warning. I'm sick of these fucking vamps thinking they can get away with that shit all the time!" I got a few things for Jordan and slowly we started after the others. "I didn't plan on any of that. It just happened. Guess I had some rage to get out."

"Why didn't you just kill him?"

"I don't actually know fuck all about Cain. V was right, we need him. Once this is done, if he so much as coughs too loud, he's dead." He promised. I didn't doubt it.

The others had dumped V in a cell, similar to the one he had put me in. After I checked on Jordan, and got pretty much the same story from him, Zane went to make a call about the fact we had found V. Jordan and Chris went with him to get something from the car, happy to leave him now they were positive V was in no shape to do anything. The second they had gone from the cell area, I picked up the bottle of water I had taken from the kitchen and what was left of the bandages and cloth with me into V's cell.

Logan stood by the door to keep watch as I went over to the vampire. He was barely conscious and he wasn't looking pretty. Somehow he could still talk. "Aren't you scared I'll bite?"

"After that, I don't think you're stupid enough to take the chance."

He dared to laugh, the action causing him to roll onto his side. As V held his chest, he coughed and red stained saliva fell from his mouth. With my new weapons ready, I sat down beside him and carefully lifted his head to rest in my lap. I started to clean him up, and the difference between our speed of healing and his was obvious as most cuts were already closing.

"Again I find myself in your care." He sighed, no longer trying to keep his swollen eyes open. "You're not like the other Hunters."

"For someone who was practically beaten to death, you're very chatty," I looked up at Logan and he nodded. "So how about you tell me about Cain?"

"What is there to tell?" V coughed again, his breathing slow and raspy. He was struggling to stay awake. "He is who he is."

"Can I talk to him, about stopping Drac?"

"No. He doesn't work that way." His head rolled to the side, giving up on holding onto his consciousness.

"Keep him talking!" Logan whispered, urging me on.

It was a simple plan, a terrible version of good cop bad cop. Zane was right, V and I did have history. I just hoped it was enough to get him talking now.

"V, Vaaron! V, wake up!" I gently tapped his cheek, yet he didn't move. Groaning, nothing changed with the bruises only become more intense and my own rash decision of shooting him, left a still oozing wound. He wasn't healing like he should be anymore. "Hey! V!"

Looking at Logan, he clearly didn't have much of a plan than what we were doing. I had some idea on how to not only wake him up, but get him talking again and Logan wasn't going to like it. "Can you just check on the others?"

"I'm not leaving you alone! Forget it, come on." He held his hand out to help me up, but I shook my head.

Carefully I stroked V's forehead, pushing back his hair and once again wiped his face with the wet cloth.

"Just check to make sure they're not coming, I thought I heard something!" I tell him.

Rolling his eyes, the second he turned his back on me I held my breath and got out one of the small knives hidden in my boot and cut my wrist. The second the thin red line started to ooze with the dark red liquid, V's face shifted from beaten human to the vampire and he hungrily bit into me.

I groaned as he bit in deeper, causing Logan to spin around. "What are you fucking doing!"

Despite trying to help him recover, V received another blow to his head as the end of Logan's gun was rammed against his cheek in an effort to get him off me. It worked. V let go and well, he was awake now too.

"Elise, that was fucking stupid!" Logan hissed as V was pushed off my lap. Catching a look at him, he seemed rather pleased with himself. The sting left from the bite was now an ache, pulsing with each beat of my heart. V's eyes never left my wrist, and more than once his tongue danced across his lips as if he was still able to taste me. Maybe he could, yet now it was my wound that hadn't stopped bleeding. Logan put the bit of cloth around it tightly, while I started to feel light headed. 

Looking back at V, it was like someone was in front of him with an eraser, wiping away his injuries and I wondered just how much blood he could have taken in that short time. What had I just done?

"Allow me," V interupted, sitting in front of me. Logan hesitated before listening to the vampire. I turned away disgusted as he licked the wound, before using a fang to slice open his finger, which he then rubbed over the cut.

It tingled before the bleeding stopped and just like his own wounds, it seemed to seal instantly. Taking the cloth from Logan, he wiped it over my skin and dropped it beside the water. You'd never have guessed what just happened. Looking at V, he put his finger to his lips and I nodded.

"Do not, tell Zane!" Logan was nearly hyperventilating when the sounds of them coming back could be heard. Even V dared to look a little paranoid about their return.

"Trust me, I won't!" I promised.

"Once again I am in your debt Hunter." V looked like a week or so had passed now at the rate he was healing up. Deep purple, almost black bruises were now turning green. Some had gone completely.

"Then tell me about Cain!" Meeting his gaze, he wasn't going to deny me now.

"As you wish, but I fear there isn't much to actually tell."

Rolling my eyes, Logan dropped down beside me and leaning against him, I avoided looking over at the trio who all stopped in the doorway as they walked in. Seeing us sitting around with a practically healed V was bound to raise some questions.

"Ah, just in time. I was just about to tell your Hunter about Cain." V smiled, his cocky attitude clearly the one thing Zane and Jordan didn't break earlier.

Cautiously they stood behind us, with Jordan squatting down beside me. "You okay?"

"Fine! Why wouldn't I be?" I smiled, trying not to look at him for too long as I still felt dizzy.

"Did you want to hear it or not?" V snapped, drawing the attention back to him.

"Speak vampire." Zane growled.

"There are many, rumours, about how he came to be. Some say he is child of Lilith, others refer to the old books of religion. Like most creatures of evil, how he actually came to be is a mystery. I don't know how he exists, just that he does."

"Are you talking about Cain as in the brother of Abel? He got all jealous, killed him and was cursed by god?" Chris piped up. We all looked at him, surprised at the fact he was the first one to know this. I kind of wished Drew was here too, because he knew a lot about all of that history stuff. So much of what we knew was based on myth and legend.

"Perhaps. What you believe in is your decision, but as a vampire; my mind is not limited to good and evil, heaven and hell. Being what you all are, you know there is so much more to his world than either of those places dare tell. There is an infinite number of other realms and worlds. Who knows what gods and monsters started all this. How could we ever know?"

"Can we focus on Cain?" Zane coughed, clearing his throat. A chat about the meaning of life and all that came with it was clearly not on the cards right now.

"The point I was making, was who knows how he came to exist. His name changes with each return, and I only call him Cain, as do others, because that was the last name he was known by in recent memory. From what I've been told, all we really know is that he is old. Older than anything else on this planet!" V touches his face where his cheek had been cut, but was now healed. He glared at Zane before continuing.

"When ever he becomes active again, civilizations fall, yet some rise to power. Any evil found in this world, it was he who unleashed or created it. When he'd tire of his latest vision, he'd just vanish and let nature or fate, run its course."

"How do you know this?" Jordan asked skeptically.

"Because I know one of the monsters he created." V smirked.

"Dracula." I answered.

"Indeed. Nothing could defeat him for as long as he had the power of his maker behind him." He tells us.

It made sense. Talk of a demon turning Dracula from the shifter werewolf into a vampire couldn't have just been done by any vampire. 

"Let me guess, without his dear old brother around or this Cain guy, he can't be stopped?" Chris snapped sarcastically.

"Perhaps. Time will tell, but I don't doubt Cain is unaware of his progeny's actions. Question is, will he want to stop it?"

"We know Drac is working with others, what if that is Cain and his pals? They want to destroy the treaty and council. If he is behind the creation of what have been some of our greatest enemies, I can't see him wanting to stop it!" Looking at my brother, he was angry as he sounded.

"You're forgetting one tiny detail in all this Hunter," V smiled at Jordan.

"What's that?" Zane groaned, clearly not wanting to hear this part.

"I don't know if I should tell you. It's been one of the most carefully guarded secrets of our existance!" He paused dramatically, "but since you asked so nicely! The creation of the treaty didn't happen how it is taught to you all so maybe you are wrong in that assumption."

"What do you mean?" Jordan took the bait, albeit cautiously.

This was after all, our family's claim to fame. Were we about to be like the Van Helsings and learn the past was a lie?

"Alistair wasn't working alone in getting the treaty was created. Do you really think that he and his buddies who are nothing more than two Slayers and a Tracker, could actually end a war that been going for centuries with a piece of paper?" V looked at us like we were stupid, I guess we kind of were.

"What vampire would listen to four our your kind, let alone all of us? No demon would agree to even half of their conditions. The only ones who would do what every one was doing would be the werewolves because they are like sheep." V let it sink in before continuing.

"The Others that Dracula is thought to be liasing with now, created that treaty. Alistair was the only one not afraid to make deals with the devil, so to speak, to make it happen. It was his idea to end the war this way, and while he had noble intentions, the treaty was only made in the best interest of the greater powers that originally supported it hence its success!"

Instantly I thought back to what Darius said about being there when the Treaty was signed. He wasn't on the records, I looked. I checked every face in every photograph, but he wasn't there. We weren't suppose to know that part. It was a couragous end to a vicious battle, good triumphing over evil - bringing peace to the world once more.

How he did it may not have been as we thought, but it's existance did bring peace. Well, close enough. If there was real peace, we wouldn't have to exist. Civilians wouldn't need protecting. It would be a completely different world, that was impossible to achieve. Humans could hardly get on with one another, let alone an assortment of supernatural races. Just imagine it though, even for a second.

While I may struggle imagining world peace on every level, something much more real did come to me.

"He isn't working for them, what ever The Others have to do with this, it's not helping Dracula or having any desire to destroy what they originally put in place!" I thought out loud.

"What?" V spoke first, and now all eyes were on me.

Even he didn't see this, and looking around me, it just kept becoming clearer, and yet it only made this whole situation even darker. "Dracula is taking them out. He wants who ever The Others are, dead."

"Why would you think that?" Chris asked, completely dumbfounded.

"Because Darius was one of them, and now he is dead."

"Who are they then? How do we know where they are, or how many are even left?" Jordan groaned, hanging his head in hands.

"It's so obvious! Think about it!" Logan exclaimed, quickly standing. "Look at the agreement Darius had in place with the Academy. A vampire, running a demon friendly bar - that close a school full of our kind? No vampire, no matter how old they are has the power to keep the peace for so long!"

"You're right, look at the demons who work for the council - the sups that are used at the various academies. It has to be them!" I agree, already on the same page as Logan as everyone else caught up.

"All this time, they were around us!" Jordan mumbled, "enforcing the laws as they had while we are here merely touching the surface of what really goes on!"

"And we just took Dracula right to them." Zane cursed under his breath, "We need to go back. You two, stay with him. I don't trust that he isn't in on this somehow and don't want to risk word getting out!"

Zane pointed at me and Logan. My first instinct was to protest his command, but I kept my mouth shut. "Okay."

"On second thought, CJ and Logan stay!" He snapped as we left V where he was.

"What? Why?" I demanded.

"You agreed too easily and I don't trust him not to go along with what ever your planning!"

A murmur of agreement went through everyone. "I promise I won't. Let me stay with Logan!"

Zane stopped walking and pulled me to one side. "If you break my trust this time Elise, no matter what happens, I won't forgive you. And don't think I don't know what you did!"

"I had to do something, we needed him to talk!" I let it go, it wasn't worth the battle now. "I promise I'll stay here and watch the vampire with Logan. We can start researching and stuff?"

"Okay sunshine. Just be careful, I don't like that vampire and do not do that again!"

I gave him a hug and went to stand by Logan as they all left in one car. At least for now it was day light and V wasn't going anywhere when the sun was up.This was only confirmed by the fact he hadn't moved from where we had left him.

"So, can I get some sleep now or you want to torture me some more?" He snapped sarcastically. I kind of liked him better unconscious.

"Sleep. Try anything and it will be the last thing you do!" I warned.

So while the vampire slept in his room, Logan and I did what we said we would and started to try and work out who else could be one of Dracula's targets, before it was too late. If there is no one left to continue enforcing the treaty, who knows what could happen and I don't think things would go our way.