The words, wake up, or I'm going to fart in your face, especially when strung together to create a sentence, from my brother, is what I've always wanted to wake up to. It's so much personal than, darling sister please awake, or something just as sweet and sensitive.

I don't move, too comfortable - which is a word I never thought I'd use when talking about a hospital bed. That changes the instant I feel the mattress dip behind me and clearly Jordan wasn't just making threats.

"Do, and I will make sure you're not capable of farting, ever, again!" I snap, forcing my eyes open.

It's dark, and rolling over, I hit his legs. Light from outside the door filters through making it possible to see something and his goofy face grins down at me. 

"I'm here to rescue you!"

"From what?" I yawn.

"Boredom mostly, but well, Dracula escaped I reckon he'll becoming here because he left a message on the wall saying bye baby bunting and-" he paused, taking a deep breath, "and Ron sent some Slayers upstairs to keep watch over the hospital and he wouldn't have done that if-"

"Jordan, slow down. You're rambling like a lunatic, but did you say Drac got out?" I'm wide awake now.

"Yeah. Big mess." He manages to speak in something resembling a sentence now. "Like that underground attack, but worse. We really fucked up guessing their numbers. They've been planning this for a while."

"And you want to leave here?"

"Yeah. He knows you're here, some of the Slayers told him before he killed them. It's recorded on the camera that was outside his cell."

"And so why are we still here?" I scramble of bed and run over the wardrobe, finding actual clothes rather than pajama's and my shoes.

"They think he won't, apparently it's too obvious and Ron set up a guard anyway cause that clearly worked out well at the Council." Jordan sits on the edge of the bed as Alfie wakes up.

"When did this happen?" I demand.

"About four hours ago, they're going to tell you in the morning."

Looking at the clock, it's just gone one in the morning and I guess if the rest of the gang think he won't be here tonight, telling me in the morning makes sense. Alfie yawns, before lifting his chin in front of Jordan who obliges and gives him a scratch.

"If he doesn't come here and attack first?" I confirm.

"Pretty much." Jordan nods.

"So what's your plan then?"

"Use this guy to get out here. We could go back to the Academy, he'd never get out there before dawn."

"Why don't the others do that then?" I can't believe they'd let me sit here as, bait?

"One, I already told you. They don't think he will attack. Two, he might be able to use his witches to track any magic used to move you. Three, if we move you, something might happen and you'd run for it." He gave me a look and I rolled my eyes.

"Every time I do something everyone doesn't agree with, I have a reason." I argue.

"Sure, to give Dad more grey hair and push him one step closer to a heart attack is a great reason Elliephant."

"What ever," I hesitate, "I dunno about just getting out of here Jord. Zane is going to be pissed. Mum and Dad will probably end up chaining me to the bed and Logan, well, I'm pretty sure he will actually kill me."

"I know, but I have a gut feeling that we need to go, that you need to go." He sighs, taking off his cap. He runs his hand through his hair before it back on and standing. "Now you know what's happening, go confront them. They're all down in the nurses lunch room. If you wanna go, I'm ready."

"Okay, good plan!" I agree.

Leaving the room, Alfie comes too and the two guards at my door are clearly startled at the sight of him. One goes to stop me and before his hand can touch my arm, Alfie is there hissing at him. He gets the message and the pair of them just stand there, not sure what to do now. The fact I salute them before turning the corner doesn't help.

"Shut up, before you are turned to dust!" Zane threatens, his voice echoing down the corridor.

I look at Jordan and instantly we pick up the pace. Our timing couldn't have been better as Zane has V against the wall with a stake pointed at his heart. Logan is standing beside V, but not making a clear move to stop Zane and the rest of the gang, aren't looking bothered at all.

"What are you doing?" I yell, and V's face instantly fills with relief.

"Finally, someone who has some common sense!" He sighs dramatically.

Jordan hides his laugh with a fake cough and I put my foot out to try and trip him over.

Zane's elbow smashes into V's face instead, and he lets him fall to the ground as he turns to face us. "You told her didn't you!"

"As you all should have!" I yell back, before he can start to fight with Jordan.

Jordan instantly slinks towards Chris, trying to avoid Zane's wrath and Alfie looks us all over, clearly trying to work out what is going on.

"We were going to in the morning, when you're awake since you need to sleep sweet heart!" Mum defends their actions.

"So, out here could be some kind of chainsaw massacre, and as long as I didn't get woken up, it's okay?"

"There are things in place that would have alerted all of us, so that's being a little dramatic!" Chris has the balls to weigh in on the matter.

"Dramatic? Do you want to see dramatic?" I snap.

"Enough!" Dad takes control as he stands, "Elise, there might not even be a threat. We're not getting worked up over nothing. We're safe here, leaving would be a mistake."

"I don't agree." Jordan argues.

"I'm with the Hunter!" V takes a side, pointing at Jordan. "That one. Not him."

Dad only glares at the vampire, just as Alfie burps. He slinks down low at my side as I turn to look at him. If Alfie had shoulders, he would have shrugged due to the sheepish way he is now acting. I swear I live in a zoo sometimes.

"Why are you even here?" Distracted, I'm clearly drifting off topic.

"He wanted to stay." Logan answers, the pair of them entering their own glaring competition.

"Why?" I ask.

Leaving Alfie, I go towards Logan and V. The vampire roughly wipes his bleeding nose on the sleeve of his shirt before sniffing loudly. "Well for one, I wanted those handcuffs off!"

Logan shakes his head and V bares his fangs at him. He should've taken the chance to run, from us and Dracula - the cuffs could have been taken off anywhere. It's not like the key is the only option in their removal. 

"And because," his voices drifts off to barely a whisper, "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"What was that?" I tease, having heard.

"Focus Elise!" Dad groans, "You're awake now, so how about we set up a patrol of our own, just in case anything happens."

"So, we're staying here?" Jordan asks.

"Yes Jord, we're staying." He answers.

"Zane, what do you think?" I ignore them and go to sit on the table beside his chair.

"I think that vamp needs one of these." He growls, dropping the stake beside me. "Honestly, I think we're fucked either way. We leave, who knows what we will end up facing. We stay, we know where we are, what our options are and who we're facing off against. It's just that we're kind of limited with an escape route because we're underground."

"Okay, and Logan? What do you think?"

He takes a seat opposite me and is quiet for a few minutes. "We'll be trapped, but since we're expecting it, we could build up a greater defence. We have five hours until dawn and they're going to be scrambling for a hide out. It will take them a couple to get out here and we've got the werewolves."

"Werewolves?"

"Paytah and some of his tribe, well pack or what ever they call themselves are here too. They left their realm with us when we rushed you here. He was actually worried about you, and he wasn't the only one." Logan looks at V who is busy with a tissue cleaning his face.

"Elise, why don't you go back to bed. We have everything under control." Mum comes over and takes my hand, ready to lead me back to me cell.

"I'm fine. The doctors have been saying that for ages, how about you all take a nap instead? You look exhausted!" I protest, yet feel guilty for being the reason behind why everyone here looks worn out.

"She's right Mum, you look like you're about to fall down!" Jordan sides with me, "You too Dad!"

"Ha! Yeah, you're not getting rid of us that easily." Dad scoffs.

"We'll stay, I promise. But you all need some sleep too!" Turning to Zane, dark circles surround his eyes. "You too Mr."

"But-"

"No. We've got this. First sign of trouble, we'll get you up. Don't make me get Alfie to put you all to sleep instead!" I warn.

Hearing his name, Alfie comes over and nudges my arm. "Alfie, put Old Blood to bed!"

"How is going to stop calling me that, if you call me that too?" Dad yells, but as he stands, I know he is defeated.

Jordan hides his laugh under his hand and even Zane smirks.

"Get moving then, all of you!" I order.

Grumbling and groaning, the trio do as I say and walk out to where ever it is they've all be sleeping, or supposed to have been anyway.

"I'm going to go check in with the guards and mutts." Jordan snaps, clearly unhappy about my decision to stay put and Chris leaves with him.

"Seeing you take charge was kinda hot," Logan whispers to me as he takes Zane's seat. He attempts to pull me closer and I oblige, moving to sit on his lap. "You really staying put?"

"For now, I'm pretty comfy where I am." It's the truth.

Resting my head on his shoulder, his cheek presses against my forehead as he holds me close. Our time alone has been non-existent and still is thanks to V sitting there with an outdated magazine on woman's' health. Alfie is amusing himself with his reflection on the dark tinted window that peers out into the corridor and I guess this is as much alone time that we're going to get.

"You okay? Should I have sent you to sleep too?" I ask.

"I'm good. I got a few hours in this arvo remember? How are you?"

"I'm fine, wish you'd all believe that!"

"Once this is over, we're going on a holiday. Somewhere tropical, where we can hang out at the beach all day and do nothing other than-"

V groans, interrupting, but we ignore him.

"Do what?" 

"Relax and just be normal for a few days." Logan sighs.

"Just relax?" I ask coyly. 

"I'm not saying anything else in front of the children." He looks between V and Alfie and I can't stop myself from laughing.

"Where would we go?"

"Fiji. I saw it on TV the other day, they have those little huts built over the water. The floor is all glass so you can see the water and fish underneath you. It was beautiful."

"Sounds like it. Shall we take Ailin or Alfie Express?" I can imagine how much Alfie would love a tropical paradise, though he wouldn't be easy to hide in the clear waters there.

"I was thinking a plane like normal people." He laughs, "make the most of that alone time."

Logan kisses me, and thoughts of our vacation make it that much better. I can almost feel the heat around us; taste the salt from the ocean on our skin, the smell of sunscreen and...

"You two do realise, that I'm still here?" V speaks up, loudly dropping the couple of magazines he has in his hands to the middle of the table.

"How could we forget?" Logan answers dryly, his eyes glancing to the stake Zane left of the table.

Reluctantly I get up, and taking the hair tie from my wrist, put up my hair. "Okay, Vamp. Since you seem to be our newest sidekick, what's your deal?"

"My deal?" He asks confused.

"This your latest survival instinct? Pretend to care about the Hunter so her friends let you hide from the big bad vampire? What happened to the guy who put a hit out on me and tried to change me into one of you?"

He says nothing for a few moments. "Fine. I will leave."

"And tell them whats going on down here? Bit late for that."

"What do you want me to say?" He snaps.

"The truth! Logan thinks I'm moody, well I got nothing on you!"

"I thought I was your prisoner."

"That stopped the second you got those cuffs off. Back at the mansion you were more than ready to run away."

We could argue for a while ,and we did since he clearly didn't want to share what was going on. I wasn't going to back off either. Every time I made a point, he deflected it. Logan tried to get involved, but he was told to shut up. I used the stake to threaten V, so he simply showed off his fangs and it wasn't until Paytah joined our group that we finally got somewhere.

"Fine! I actually, truthfully, wanted to make sure you were okay!" V roared, furious from the arguing yet the second he admitted it, he deflated in embarrassment. "Your heart stopped, I smelt death all over you! You and I have a mutual respect of one another, don't deny it. To have watched you die was rather, painful!"

"A mutual respect, okay as you've demonstrated by, um, how many times have you been behind me nearly dying before? There was the warehouse set up. Nearly bled to death after being impaled in a fall there. That time you attempted to turn me into a vampire, again, nearly died. Leaving me to fight a graveyard full of zombies, and tying me up on a boat, plus remember-"

"The attempts on your life were before I knew you," V snapped, "I am down here, with more people wanting to end my life than save it!"

"Because you, the emotionless vampire who adapts, not feels; cares about me? About whether I live or die." I declare, as his face turns a little red.

"No!" He huffs, looking away.

"Yes! The V man, actually cares!"

"The what?" His face falls, "do not call me that."

"Vaaron." I throw at him instead.

"Bunting!" He warns, "I am still a vampire, even if we have called a truce. Remember that!"

Deciding to push the boundaries of our 'truce' of a friendship, I step closer and hug him. V turns to stone, frozen at my touch and he even stops breathing.

"What are you doing?" He stutters.

"Your mate is a rather curious creature Tracker. I do not understand why she talks to the blood feeder this way." Paytah mumbles to Logan. "Is he not your prisoner?"

Logan only sighs, resembling my Father when ever he gives up.

"So all it took was another near death experience for you to get all sentimental over me?" I ignore the other two, letting V go instead.

"End of discussion Hunter. I've said more than enough. You know where we stand and I'd appreciate it not leaving this room." V growled.

"What did you to piss Zane off?"

"Agreed with your brother about leaving. My vote didn't count apparently." He shrugs.

"And the rest." Logan muttered, "he got mouthy too."

"All of you confuse me." Paytah scratches his head, looking at Alfie cautiously as the snake turns his way, finished with admiring himself.

"Well, you're part of the gang now Paytah. Get used to it." I offer him a smile, yet his eyes don't leave Alfie. "That's Alfie. Hurt him, I will hurt you."

"Do you not kill demons Hunter?" There is something in his tone, that sets me on edge.

"Not that one. He is an Apopyt and I am his master. Understand?" Reluctantly he nods. "Okay, so what next?"

"We wait." V answers.

"I know patience isn't a great virtue of yours Bunny, but it's all we can do." Logan agrees, before looking at Paytah. "What did you come here for?"

"There is magic coming, the Hunters were told, but then I heard her and came to say I am glad she is well."

I scratch under Alfie's chin as he demands attention, until what Paytah just said sinks in. "Magic?"

"It is weak, but there. The air tingles with the darkness behind it."

"So, who else is dreading the I told you so moment from Jordan?" I groan.

"We leave. Now." V decides.

Leaving is all well and good, but they will still come here. There is a hospital full of civilians above us and even here, I wasn't the only patient. I doubt they'd care much about any of them if they were to get in their way and innocent people could be used as collateral damage. Telling them this, doesn't change anyone's thoughts about getting out.

"Be noble another time!" V pushes me towards Paytah and the hulk of a monster, lifts me over his shoulder despite my protests.

"Logan!" I scream, but he clearly agrees with them.

We go down the corridor and despite it only being just over an hour since I sent them all to bed, everyone is up and annoyingly, they have weapons. 

"Get her out the building, Ailin is upstairs. She doesn't want to come down as it will affect what has been put in place to protect the sick down here." Dad orders.

"Dad!" I protest, but right now I'm non-existent, "Let me help!"

"Help us, by getting to safety!" Defeat and worry are etched all over his face and it breaks my heart.

"Fine. Paytah, let me down. I'll go peacefully!"

No one moves, and Dad finally nods. Zane isn't here, it's just my family and Chris, so as we split up and Paytah guides us to their way out I'm looking for him. I'm not disappointed when I see him loading up by the elevator with a group of six guards and as Paytah turns the corner, I don't hesitate in sprinting towards Zane instead. For all his strengths, the werewolf is big and a little slow to get started.

"The vote changed, I'm being kicked out. Can I have a gun?"

"What?" Zane looks behind me to my entourage and shakes his head, "Yeah sunshine, all of you, except the vamp get something. You're fucking stupid to go up there without any kind of defense."

"Have you seen him?" V points at Paytah who only snarls at the vampire. 

"It doesn't matter, you don't know what you're going to see up there and at least these, will hurt no matter what they are!"  Guns are removed from the large, black chest behind him and Logan and I are thrown a vest to put on too.

Alfie is getting agitated and as one of the guards gets too close to him, he ends up hissing at him before snapping.

"Alfie, it's okay. Calm down!" I forget what I'm doing and stand in front of him, trying to settle him.

"Keep Elissse, ss-ssafe!" He tells me, hissing again at Zane's guards as they slowly start to circle us.

Idiots!

I want to yell at them, but I can't risk taking my attention off Alfie.

"I know, we need to get Ailin right now though, so you need to stay calm!"

I gasp as he grabs me, and instantly I'm taken outside. The cold night air stings only adds to my breathlessness. Looking around, the ground is wet and it had obviously just stopped raining. The hospital is lit up behind us and Alfie has taken us to a loading dock at the back of the building. There is no one here.

No Ailin, no vampires, nothing.

"Oh Alfie, we were meant to stay with the others!" I lean against him, knowing it wasn't his fault, but I can't help feel annoyed. 

 There isn't much light out here, and the cold is brutal. He must have taken me here for a reason and I start to walk towards one of the back doors, wondering how long it's going to take for Logan and the others to charge up here. Alfie keeps close, stopping once to put his tongue into a puddle of water as I check the door. Locked.

A quick walk around proved it pointless to go anywhere else and so I took a seat on the ledge of the parking section. The air was tainted with linen and not the freshly cleaned kind. It was damp, mouldy and reminded me of the time I left a load in the washing machine for the whole weekend. On the Monday I'd opened it, everything smelt nasty and it took two additional washes to lose the smell. 

I tapped my nails against the concrete, trying not to shiver as I waited for my cavalry. In the rush out, I'd lost the rifle Zane had passed me and so staying quiet and out of sight was my only option since I had no weapons. Alfie ended up behind me so I could sit on him, instead of the cold ground, but it soon felt like hours that went by instead of a few minutes.

 "Elise!" Logan calls, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Where are you?"

"Here!" I answer, getting off Alfie.

I jump off the landing and go in the direction of his voice, until the feeling that something is wrong has my skin crawling. Alfie once again grabs me only this time he throws me behind him, back up against the building. I land awkwardly on my shoulder, yet ignoring the ache that instantly runs down my arm I'm back up as he charges at the figures that start to take shape in the darkness.

"Shit!" It came out as barely a whisper and look around for something to use as a weapon.

There isn't a Logan, it was those assholes messing around. The witch is obvious amongst the vampires, her hands are glowing a strange green colour as her mumbling voice becomes silent thanks to the heavy footsteps of her companions.  The weak metal pole by the landing is all that is around, as the area is kept annoyingly clean. Going over to it, the rusted base breaks easily and bending one of the smaller sections away, I have something to use against them at least. 

"Alfie! Come back!" I demanded and once again it proved how little control I had over him as he ignored me. Damn it!

Once this was over, we were going to work on some training, yet all of that was forgotten as the vampires lunged at him. If the others were coming, now would be a great time to make an appearance, and what happened to the ones on patrol? Surely they didn't stick to the main entrances thinking that was how they would try to get inside.

While Alfie made quick work of the first five to approach, one spotted me and came charging over. I hid the pole at my side until he was in close enough range and then swung with all I had. His neck made a horrible cracking sound, before he slumped to the floor, and not taking chances, rammed the pole into his chest too. Two more came at me then, while Alfie was kept occupied.

I had been in good shape, until I was declared disabled and left on bed rest the last few days. It's amazing the difference that time off makes, and I probably wasn't as fast as I could have been normally. Removing one of the pair from the equation should have helped me, yet he saw his chance and I was sent flying into a disgusting, greasy puddle.  No follow up attack came. The sounds of fighting didn't lessen though and looking up, I wasn't alone anymore. The fact it wasn't anyone from underground, made me worry as the three that made up the Trifecta were the ones to come to  my aid.

"I need a weapon!" I shouted, and the Tracker threw my a stake. 

It was better than nothing, and running over to Alfie, kept close to him as he finished off the second wave. The two guys went after the witch, and as she was all the remained now, I stood by Alfie as the part fairy thing joined them. Seeing the trip work together was actually rather impressive and I understand their reputation. Didn't mean I had to like them, or her.

"Come on, there are more coming!" The Hunter commanded, and he took off to the left. There was nothing there but fence and with a grunt of effort he scaled it easily. 

The Tracker was next and he halted at the top, waving his hand at me, he was going to help me over. I didn't argue, or try to make a point I could do it myself, and accepted his help. The fairy bitch came over right behind me, and I blindly followed them down the abandoned strip of road. Despite heading towards a patch of trees, I could hear traffic and Alfie soon took over as he headed more towards the building. 

His tail knocked something on road, and as he lifted the lid, barely a second later Logan appeared. He practically tackled me as he ran over, Zane and V close behind as Jordan came last.

"You okay?" Jordan looked at the trio and cringed slightly as he saw Amelia.

"Fine, but there are vamps and-" I answered, only to be cut off by his ex-fling or what ever they were.

"Vampires are coming in from all angles. We cleared this path, and need to keep moving."

From somewhere behind us, the cracking of wood had us all stopping and turning. Paytah emerged from the building, and seeing us, was there in a few strides.

"The blood feeders are coming. Let us go. Quickly now!" He took control just like that and we didn't argue.

As we ran, he let out a single howl, and from the sky another answered. The short chorus sounded out from all angles and he didn't make another sound. So none of us did either, until I had to ask Logan about the others.  "Where are my parents?"

"Vampires went into the foyer, Chris is with them and Zane's team. We'll be meeting up with them as soon as the building is secure."

"Where is Ailin?" She was meant to be here.

Logan did a quick look around, "She isn't here."

"Thank you Captain Obvious!" 

We don't keep arguing, to distracted by the way all our steps slow in unison; each of us paying attention to our instincts which are in overdrive right now. This can't be good. Looking up at the trees, the darkness is moving or at least what is hidden within it is. Agile shapes leap from branch to branch, tree to tree. Either way, we're surrounded and I'm positive what ever it is, or they are, aren't on our side.

 That was only confirmed when something that resembled spiders web was stretched above our heads,  followed by an explosion of netting that acted as a roof above us. The creatures that began to crawl over the structure had my blood running cold as Paytah growled.

"Are they?" Jordan asked, falling silent as we could clearly make it out now.

"Spiders." Zane answered, right before he fired the first shot.

The giant spider thing screamed, its red beady eyes disappearing as the bullet hit it's target. Spider brains began to rain down as we all started to run again; those with guns aiming up as they treated their bridge like a platform to launch their own attach.

"This has to be a nightmare!" I yelled over at Logan.

"If it's one of yours, leave me out of it next time!"

"Usually you die in them!" The words leave me before I can realise how bad that actually sounds, "But, pretty sure this isn't a dream, so you'll be fine!"

"You don't sound too confident about that!" He snaps, grabbing a knife from around his waist as the spiders have put up a wall of web to stop us from running.

Logan slices through it, the sticky remnants still not willing to let us pass easily and as we keep running, something rushes past us like a breeze. 

"Did you all feel that?" Logan asks, and I stop beside V to turn around and see one of the spiders erupt in flames.

"I think we just got help?" I tell him, as Paytah joins us. 

While we have good night vision, we're not like the supernaturals who can see fine in darkness. The burning, giant spider gives us enough light to see what's happening and the shadows that lunge at the insects are kind of familiar. 

"What are they?" Jordan catches up, and we all just stand there, not sure what is going on or what we're  actually seeing.

I know I've seen these things before, and their name leaves me the second I think it. "Shadowess." 

"What?" Even V is speechless at the battle we're mesermized by.

"Shadow Monsters. I was guarded by one before, I thought they were soul eaters and they work with the Kasha." I tell the group.

"I've never seen them before." The Huner in the Trifecta speaks up.

"I've never even heard of them!" His Tracker sidekick joins in.

"We should keep going." Zane gets us moving again, but we don't get far as some of the Kasha appear.

"Where is Ailin?" One of the demons demand.

"She wasn't here, we don't know!" I answer.

Alfie suddenly spins around behind us, hissing at the spider who has avoided the shadow monsters before he charges at it. The thing shoots a blob of web at his face and I snatch the gun off Amelia as I pass, going after them.

"Elise, stop!" Zane commands.

"She is one Hunter, we are wasting time babysitting her when we could be doing more important things!" Amelia protests.

I don't hear what is said next, too busy trying to get a decent shot of the spider as it manages to avoid being hit with Alfie's tail each time. The spider backs off as I shoot one of it's legs and this time when I tell Alfie to come to me, he obeys.

I get the web off his face, as the spider lunges at us and this time Alfie doesn't miss. The carcass is thrown back towards the others and Alfie is tense, pumped up from his fight as the situation takes control of him. 

"Good boy Alfie!" I praise him and he raises his head up high, clearly proud of his efforts.

He has a gash just down from his head, but is otherwise okay and I'm too busy checking him over that we both miss what was happening behind us.

"Elise!" Logan whispers, just loud enough for me to hear only now I realise he was screaming.

Everyone is banging on the wall in front of them, making silver sparks dance up over the bubble like structure. The Kasha can't leave it either. They're all trapped.

"What the hell?" I gasp, as Alfie pulls me close.

His tail is still wet with spider goo and he looks around, up and down, left to right; frantic. He doens't leave, he doesn't move and looking at me, for the first time ever, I see the white of his eyes as he comes down to face me. "Trapped Elissse. Not ss-ssafe."

"It's okay, we'll work it out. Let me go." He obliges, and I regret it because the second he does, he is gone.

"No!" Spinning around, he is no where to be found until a second later, he appears with the others. His charges at the bubble have the whole structure shaking and shimmering, with Logan and Jordan trying to stand in front of him to calm him down. 

I'm frozen as I watch them in there, I have no idea where to run too, or what to do.

Alfie's hits are clearly hurting everyone else as they all fall to their knees, holding their ears as the structure shakes and I run over, deciding to try and get in, which I can't. 

'Run! Elise Run!" Zane mouths at me, the faint buzz of his voice lost against the shield.

Logan is waving his hands at Alfie, trying to get his attention and seeing me closer, he lowers his head. I don't know if he can hear me, but clearly he needs to stop banging on it.

"Alfie, you protect everyone in there with you. Listen to Same Blood and Logan!" I order, speaking much more confidently than I thought possible. I don't doubt that he can hear  me as he tries one more time before turning to Jordan and finally stopping. It's then I see the marks over his head, the wall had been burning him.

There has to be a witch nearby to do this. Closing my eyes I try to feel the magic; the energy in the air, but there is too many supernatural things around and it's nearly impossible to pin point one location. 

"I'm going to get you all out!" I promise, and glancing back to the carnage behind us, the spiders are gone. A few still remain burning along the path and I'm just about to start running the other way when a lone figure seems to appear from the smoky haze and darkness.

That's not a Shadow Monster.

It's not Ailin, or anyone that could help and from behind him, I don't need to focus to try and work out what they are. Vampires.

"If you go to the woods today, you'll get a nice surprise!" Dracula sings, and in the blink of an eye his hand is around my throat as he leans in close. "You are really trying my patience Hunter."

"Feelings. Mutual." I choked out, my hands clawing at his.

I manage to kick him in the shin, but he doesn't let go, instead shoving me to the side slightly as he inspects my friends.

"How about we give them a show?" He smirks, looking back at me.

The second his fangs have nearly broken the skin on my neck, he lets go, growling savagely as I'm thrown away. I hit a tree, not able to get up as quickly as I like yet looking up, the arrow that now sticks out from his abdomen has me scrambling to my feet.

He pulls it out as if it was nothing more than a splinter in his finger and turning, I can't stop the rush of tears as I see my Mum take aim and shoot him again with her bow. This could be one of those moments where we argue over guns and her method, but I'm just glad I've got some back up. Dad is there too and as he lifts the rifle, Drac laughs.

"Idiots!" He yells.

I forgot about the other vampires, and they descend from out of thin air. Zane's guards are with my parents, but they're all outnumbered and movement in the trees, has me running in that direction. I knew there had be a witch and as I run, the shadows seem to go with me, making me faster, stronger and I realise the Shadow Monsters have my back. 

The only thing I can grab is a thick, short broken tree branch since I left the gun back there when I was checking on Alfie. She see's me coming and the purple light that surrounds her dims, before shifting to a more pink colour. Lightning shoots towards me, yet the Shadowess takes the hit, and I swing the stick at her head. The blow knocks her over as the others swarm the body. Screeching, earsplitting cries leave her as she disappears in their black mist;  the grey light within them a sign they had collected her soul. I'm surprised she even had one.

"Thank you, who ever you all are!" I tell them, hearing Logan and Jordan coming. 

Alfie finds me first, his tongue tickling my cheek as he checks me over.

"Get her out of here Alfie!" Jordan orders.

"No! We need to end this!" I argue.

"Alfie can't."

"Do you need to be closer to those demons?" Jordan ignores me.

"No. Trapped. Alfie can't." He sighs.

Since they're set on ignoring me, I ignore them and take off back towards the main path where all hell has broken loose.

The Trifecta are taking on Drac, while everyone else is fighting against the army with him. The body of one of the guards is limp by the path, and running over, his throat has been ripped out. I refuse to get sentimental right now, taking off the belt he has around his waist, complete with a pistol in the holster and a dagger attached to it and the few other things he has on him.

Amelia is knocked down and the Hunter guy falls seconds later. Drac is about to bite down on the Tracker when I get his attention.

"Hey asshole!" I yell.

He stops, slowly turning with a devilish smile on his face. "Hunter?"

I don't hold back, emptying the round as I aim at his head. No more keeping him alive, I'm going for the kill yet as he lifts his free hand, each bullet looses momentum and falls to the dirt.

Wasn't expecting that.

"Do you forget, who I am girl?"

He drops the Tracker, well, more like throws him to his friends before turning to face me completely. None of them move.

Alfie comes up behind me and before I can tell him to stop, Drac waves his hand and the giant snake is lifted into the air and thrown towards my parents who are mid-battle with a bunch of vampires. To save Alfie and possibly my family, I pray he listens to my order as I scream at him.

"Stay back Alfie! Protect Old Blood, not Elise!"

He wriggles before getting control of his body again, and instantly his tail has speared the two vampires gaining ground on Dad.

"End this now Hunter. Come with me and some of your friends may live to see morning." Dracula offers.

Logan and Jordan are behind me, and glancing back at them, I nod. The gunfire has my ears ringing as we all let loose at the vampire, yet not a single bullet touches him.

"Armies can not stop me fools. Three of you with your, guns, are pathetic!" He snarled.

"Elise, run, we will hold him off for as long as we can!" Jordan tells me and Logan nods.

"I can't leave you guys!" I protest, "we all run!"

Logan grabs my hand and the decision is made. We all run.

Dracula only laughs and daring a look back, he has now shifted into one of the largest wolves I have ever seen. His eyes glow red like the spiders had and as he leaps forward to chase, I run harder. We dodge and weave through the trees, the traffic we had been able to hear earlier suddenly in front of us as we nearly burst out of the treeline and onto the freeway.

A truck blasts its horn as we all reel back barely avoiding being hit, and the force of the air rushing down it's sides knocks us over. 

Jordan is up first, urging me to do the same as the growling pants sound from the trees and we sprint across the three lanes into the ditch in the middle of the road before running to the other side. I look back again to see the wolf walking slowly, across the first lot of lanes, stalking us.

This is a game to him and why couldn't that truck come along now?

"We can't keep running!" I yell as we make it back into the treeline.

"We can't shoot him, I doubt we'd get the chance to stake him!" Jordan snaps.

"What if we do the old, oh take me, I surrender and once I'm close enough, I could try?"

"He'd see it coming, it's too obvious a move." Logan answers.

"Maybe I could distract him though, cut myself so he gets a whiff of blood?"

"Too risky." He decides.

"Yeah, he's gotta go into hiding soon. Dawn isn't that far away!" Jordan's idea to keep running until morning isn't exactly winning my vote. "I told you we should have got out before!"

I was waiting for that.

Movement up ahead has ducking behind a large tree trunk, and both get their ready. I on the other hand get the dagger, since bullets haven't worked in our favour so far.

"I smell them." The voice is undeniably Paytah.

"We're here!" I answer, walking out before either could stop me.

He had three of his pack mates with him, all intimidating in their own right as the come over to us.

"Hunter, he has to be in his human form for us to kill him." Paytah growls, his face set in a scowl.

"You can do it?" I hate how it sounds, like I have no faith in their abilities.

"Yes. It is why we came here. We can stop him, and the others."

"Right, I'll go get him, ready?"

"Elise, you can't just-" Jordan shuts up as a howl reaches us.

It's a horrible sound, almost like nails on a blackboard. "I don't think I need to go get him."

Paytah and his friends spread out, leaving the three of us alone as the wolf appears. Instantly he returns to his human form and rather calmly approaches us.

"Enough!" He roars.

"You know, this whole, black on black, goth look you have going on is really nineties of you." I feel better knowing Paytah is here.

Dracula smirks. 

"And why black? I know V adds a bit of colour here and there, he even wears jeans. I get you're meant to be 'creatures of the night', but surely-"

"You're talking is not amusing Hunter. Do you really wish to spend your last minutes on this earth discussing, fashion?"

 "You should see her wardrobe." Jordan mutters, "you want to know hell? Go shopping with her!"

Logan dares to snigger, and clearly we're all a little more cocky now we know we have super werewolf backup. Dracula notices, stopping our chat with a flick of each wrist that sends Jordan and Logan flying into the nearest trees.

 "Come and I shall spare their lives."

"Tempting offer," I muse and as he comes closer, I ready my dagger.

"I am bored of you, and your resistance!" He growls, and as he moves forward, it is then Paytah emerges.

His roar is like a lions and Dracula freezes, taking in the ferocious man. I almost want to cheer, but keep my dagger ready - just in case.

"You!" He hisses, baring his fangs as the demon reveals itself.

Paytah only roars again and the battle begins. I run over to Jordan, helping him up before we go to Logan and the rest of the pack close in around the fighting duo. This is different to watching Dracula fight the trio. We have no power against him, and had we received any of these hits - we'd be dead. They slam into trees and throw each other into the air. It's a battle of brute strength, wits and teeth as they try to take chunks out of their opponent. Centuries of rivalry and hatred has been given an outlet and despite the size difference, it's a very even match. 

'We should get out of here, no matter what happens to the werewolves, it will give us time to get away before Drac has to hide out for the day." Jordan whispers.

Finding no fault in that plan, we make our way back towards the highway. Our first clue that something is wrong is the fact Paytah and the others are rushing at us from behind and the second being, Dracula is back in front of us.

"Nice try." He taunts, before coming at me.

Everything happens so quickly, I don't think I even breathe until I'm hitting the inside of a cage in the truck that passed by as Dracula had jumped at me. Somehow, he had grabbed me, and gotten us both inside the back of the vehicle's storage section. Gun shots echo from outside and the motor vibrates under our feet as it's made to go faster that it's supposed to.

"Sir, they are not impressed about your little stunt! You're obsession has gone too far!" The female vampire snaps at Dracula, slipping something into the dart gun.

I have no way out and as she shoots the needle into my arm, I barely have time to pull it out, before my legs give way.

"I will be the judge of that. No more distractions, part three of the plan can be activated." He answers calmly. "Did we get the traitor?"

I don't hear her answer and I briefly wonder if he was talking about V. Closing my eyes, the dirt covered, leather shoes that are now outside my cell disappear and so does everything else.

This can't be good.

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Cain is finally coming up next!! Sorry about the huge chapter, I didn't know where to end it, so just let it go until it ended.