Waking first, I'm glad to find it's Logan holding onto me and not a certain vampire, though looking up I'm face to face with him instead. V's eyes are sealed shut and he is barely breathing; if not for the slight flicker from under his eyelids, you could think he was dead.

"Daylight has not yet left us. Open that door, and I will not be accountable for my actions." He whispers, opening one eye lazily.

Rolling against Logan, he subconsciously moves onto his back so at least I can wiggle over and put some room between me and V. Looking around, I didn't realize how thick the the canvas or what ever it is these things are made of actually was and glancing towards the exit, a faint glow appears against the dirt.

"Yeah, but then who will keep you alive once you can emerge. Those guys don't really like you!"

V frowns, daring to open both eyes to glare at me. "I can outrun them."

"Not with those on." He lifts his hands after being reminded of the handcuffs and groans.

"There is still a couple of hours left before sunset, sleep. I beg of you, sleep!"  He rolls onto his back now and his eyes are once again closed. Is that what I'm like in the morning?

"Maybe you two shouldn't have spent the morning arguing over sleeping arrangements!" I mumble back.

"Maybe you two shouldn't have come here or left before sunrise and it wouldn't have been an issue!" He argues.

"Maybe you two should shut up! Some of us are still sleeping!" Logan jumps into the discussion and I can't help smile.

We all go quiet, but I'm awake now and sitting up, both of the guys roll so their backs are to me. I thought I'd be stiff or sore from sleeping on nothing more than animal fur, yet as I stand, I feel pretty good. I roll my neck before stretching a little more and slip on my boots. With a cautious look behind me, I carefully navigate the flap so no light goes in V's direction and slip outside.

It's a warm day, warmer than the weather we'd been having lately and after looking around and seeing no one, I slip off my sweater so I'm just in a tank top instead throwing it back inside. From the trees, the sounds of birds chirping break the silence and after cautiously walking around the camp site, I'm not bold enough to look into any other tents. 

I navigate my way back to the bonfire which is now nothing more than a black charcoal pit. A few of the bigger chunks of wood smoulder slightly and I decide to go for a walk to kill some time. Clearly the werewolves weren't big fans of getting up before nightfall either. It's actually rather beautiful with all the trees and fresh air. Alfie would like it here, especially that river I'd gone near last night. Once I'm there, I take off my boots and socks, roll up my jeans and sit on the river bank. 

The sun is still warm despite it starting to lower in the sky, the water cool against my feet as I dangle them in and sitting back on the shore, I close my eyes and enjoy it while I can. Problem is, when I open my eyes, the sun has gone. Darkness surrounds me and I quickly put my shoes back on. Something doesn't feel right and I look around helplessly until the moon light finally reappears from behind a cloud.

I start running.

Through the tree's, an orange glow fills the spaces and guides me on. Breaking through the forest line the camp is on fire. All of it. The tents are barely the structures, most are already smouldering in piles against the dirt. The air is thick with smoke and the screams of a few of the men in agony, have my blindly running on wards.

Jumping over a few obstacles, I nearly stumble on one and that's when I realise they're bodies of the werewolf pack and tucking my shirt over my nose, I try to remember how to breath and also refrain from throwing up. What is happening?

I get to the bonfire location, and instead find the men slaughtered around the pit. Logan and V are no where and seeing one of the biggest figures move to my left, I drop to my knees in front of Paytah. He is covered in a mixture of ash, blood and dirt and claw marks have ripped apart his chest, with smaller scratches all over his arms. Either way, he put up a fight.

"Paytah! It's me, Elise! What happened?" I help him as best I can to roll onto his back and his eyes are feral as they lock onto mine.

"Run." He croaks, "Run now!"

"Logan, where is he?" I demand, looking around for who or what caused it.

"Run!" Paytah roars, shoving my hands away before he sinks down in defeat.

"LOGAN!" I scream, getting up, the ash and smoke is only growing even thicken in the air.

Coughing, I head towards the way we came in. Maybe they got away? My lungs are burning, and all I can smell is the burning campsite behind me. I fumble blindly, disorientated and desperate to find Logan and get out of here. Run. I need to run.

Something doesn't feel right. It's a thought that keeps popping up, trying to break through my confusion and as the tree's part into a small clearing, I scream. It's not even a sound I know or have heard before, I just know it's coming from me because of how much it hurts my throat to do it.

The Lord Alpha isn't playing a piano in his human form anymore. He is tearing Logan apart, limb by limb and his silence is the only fleeting second of comfort I have to know he isn't suffering. The body is dumped at the monsters feet and then he turns to me.

The howl he releases has me covering my ears, as shock numbs all my other senses. I can barely distinguish his figure from the surrounding trees as long, slow, steps have him stalking towards me. What I miss is the ugly transformation that turns him back into his human form until he grabs my arms and forces me to listen.

"Time is up Hunter. Free me. Now!" He roars.

I can't talk, and another short, scream escapes me instead as he throws me to Logan's side. I fumble to hold him, his blood soaking my hands and clothes as I hold him. His face is bruised, lifeless, but it doesn't stop me from caressing his cheek. 

"L-Logan? Come on. Come back!" He said this was it, he wasn't going anywhere. So where was he now? "You promised me. Loges, come on!"

The rumbling laugh echoes in my mind, but I can't bring myself to look up. 

"Poor little Hunter." He snarls, and I don't have a choice about leaving Logan as I'm torn away from him and thrown against a tree.

It hurts. Pain shoots up my spine as I crumble to the earth. I'm dizzy. If I could make myself breath again, it would cause more agony. Not that it matters, the attack doesn't stop, and I'm too broken to try and stop it. Between blinks of darkness, I can only see Logan and this time as I hit the dirt, sand and grass fill my mouth. I can't even spit it out or turn my head to help myself.

"Last time Hunter. Get me out of here!" The Lord Alpha demands.

Lifting me, I wait to be thrown or kicked again only it doesn't happen. Instead careful, gentle arms wrap around me. I manage to find the energy to force my eyes to open. Reece stares back at me, not the shifting freak.

"You're okay. I've got you!" He promises.

"Logan!" I gasp.

"He's fine. It's you that's dead."

"What?"

"You drowned, at the river. You fell asleep and fell in. This was all just a dream, but you're with me now."

He's right. Nothing hurts and looking around, whiteness surrounds us. Not the forest. Not the werewolves. There is no fire or death anywhere. I push Reece away, and stand up, not understanding. He looks the same, actually no, he looks content. Happy. 

"You're safe here. It's alright." He tells me again.

"How is being dead, alright?" Something isn't right.

"We can be together now. Isn't that what you want?" That isn't Reece. I know it's not. It just doesn't feel like him. He's different; too different.

"No."

"Of course it is!" He assures me, coming closer. "Don't fight it Elise."

He holds me and it's all there. His familiar touch, his cologne, everything, but there is still something missing. I relax against him, while looking around us for a clue, just, something.

"Now we're together, imagine what we could do together!" Reece whispers and then I see it.

Something silver glistening in the world of white and I step away from him. I see it all now, it is just another dream and somehow I can control some aspect of it. "What could we do together?"

He smirks at my response and i start to walk backwards, away from him to what ever is on the ground while praying he doesn't see it too. The soft, firm terrain gives way to something hard and glancing down I nearly cry. It's the sword I had to use to kill the Lord Alpha.

"What do you Elise? What do you want to do me?" He questions.

I dramatically faint, dropping to my side as I reach for the handle and as he runs over, the blade comes up at my side to dig into his chest. I hate these assholes. I hate them for trying to ruin who Reece was, for using him to get to me. 

Instantly I'm left facing the human version of the Lord Alpha again. I get up and pull out the sword, not hesitating in hitting him again.

"That's part of what I want to do to you!" I snap, as he trips backwards. His hands cover his bleeding stomach. "You asshole! I am sick of you two doing this shit to me! What ever joy you get from my suffering is over. Nothing you do will ever work!"

He only laughs and bringing the blade down, his hand shoots up to stop it. "Maybe not, but I can definitely make you suffer!"

"Considering you want my help, is that wise?"

"I need you to submit some how!" He leers, and with one swift movement, I lose my weapon. "Now, let's talk about making a deal?"

"Talk all you like, I won't agree to anything!"

"You might not have a choice!" 

He clicks his fingers and we're down by the water. I can see myself laying in last of the afternoon sun and as we stand there Logan comes running over with Paytah and a few others.

"Bunny!" He yells, rushing past us to fall to his knees at my side. He taps my cheek and I can feel it, but I don't wake up. "Shit! Bunny, no more playing. Wake up!"

"I told you Tracker, I sensed something evil here." Paytah inhales deeply and I'm positive he looks right at me before turning to Logan.

"Bunny! Shit! Shit! She's barely breathing, how do we wake her up?" Logan yells.

More of the pack have gathered now, and I'm frozen in place until V comes running over with the sun gone. It snaps me out of my trance and I run with him.

"Logan! I'm here, I am! Logan!"

"She's barely alive, she doesn't have long." V taps my cheek, harder than Logan. "She's here though. I can sense her."

"Me too." Paytah tells the group. 

"I am!" I yell, growing frustrated.

"She is not happy." Paytah frowns. "So much anger for a woman."

I turn to him and just stare in disbelief, once more speechless. Slapping him, it must help as he raises his hand to his cheek. "I do not think she is pleased at all."

"No shit!" I groan.

"I don't understand!" Logan stares at them, completely confused.

"To put it simply, you are dead Hunter. They will all want you back, and to do that, they will have no choice other than to open the portal as I have you with me. By doing that, we both get our freedom!" 

The smile on his face disappears as Ailin and Alfie join the party and as he goes to grab me, I have the sword again and have it against his throat. "You're stuck here, I'm not letting you go anywhere!"

"You don't have a choice!" He smirks, pointing back at where I lay.

"She's not breathing!" Logan sobs, before trying to start CPR.

"Let the demon see her Tracker," Ailin commands and hesitantly Logan steps back.

I can feel Alfie touching me, it's distracting as I try to keep my weapon against the monsters throat.

"What is going on?" V asks, looking at Ailin. 

"We got it out of Dracula. This is their plan to get the Lord Alpha free. With you three being in this world, it has given him power to access her. It's not just a dream now, we're in his domain." Ailin answers simply.

"How is that possible? He is dead!" Logan argues.

"No. He is sent to the Other World. There are many realms connected to Earth and just as many connected to each other. If he succeeds, we'll have to open a portal and call her out with Elise's body as her anchor. What there plan was for him, I'm not sure. The pelt was destroyed."

"We're in their world, he just needs a body that will accommodate him!" V snarls, pointing at one of the werewolves.

"Still feeling confident? Your brother ratted you out!" I snap.

"Oh very, they can't save you!" Despite his plan coming undone, he still seemed confident over it's success.

It's then Alfie lifts me with his tail, and opening his mouth, his fangs glisten with purple saliva. Everything stops as we all watch him and I feel the bite as real as anything his teeth sink into my stomach. My body is limp and clutching my stomach, I can't do anything. I can't stop Dracula's brother, I can't stop Alfie from hurting me and I can't stop myself from falling to the rocky shore where everything then disappears. 

The last thing I hear is someone yelling no and the anger in their voice terrifies me.

-x-

-x-  Ready for a surprise? I got stuck after that happened and ended up doing this... I often do when writing but never share as I like to keep it as first person pov for one character only, but thought you might get a kick out of it.

-x- 

 Fear. It's as much of a motivator as it can be what leads to self destruction. Right now, it's a motivator and sprinting down the halls of the hospital, I see the guards by the last room in the corner. I don't slow down, almost skipping to a stop as my boots grip the over polished floor rather than slide across it.

"Let me in!" I don't recognize my own voice. It's frantic, high pitched and desperate.

I don't do desperate.

Ever.

"This room is restricted access. No one apart-"

I don't mean to do it, but the guys head is meeting my first in seconds and as he slumps to the floor, the other guy moves to tackle me. Council guards are ridiculous. They're slow, out of shape and mostly around as a deterrent. I get his arm and pull him over my shoulder, throwing him backwards like we're wrestling and slam an elbow into his stomach.

I'll apologize later.

Opening the door, it doesn't budge and seeing the pin code at the side, the groaning guard has the white card to over ride it. Snatching it up, the door opens with a beep and I'm already out of breath as I enter. It's not what I'm expecting.

Ailin said Alfie saved her.

Logan told me she was going to be okay.

They lied.

I can't move as I survey the set up they have in place. Machines I don't understand surround the bed frame, all beeping and flashing like she's some kind of science experiment. Tubes come out of one arm, while another runs across her face and just under her nose. Another fills her mouth, and the steady rise and fall of her chest is because of that one. 

If you take all that away, you could Elise is just sleeping. She snores sometimes, but she isn't now. her sleep is artificial and the truth is, the others are telling themselves it will be okay because they don't know if she is. They need to believe she will be and so do I.

My feet move of their own accord, taking my close enough to touch her. I hold her hand, careful of the plug into her veins and the thing over her index finger that is making sure her heart rate doesn't disappear. Her skin is cold, and I dare to hold it tighter.

"You're okay here Elise, we've got you now." I tell her, wondering if she can in fact hear me.

"S-s-slayer! My Elisse. Alfie keep her safe Sane!" Alfie appears, or maybe he had always been there and I just missed seeing him. I also notice that he can't say Z sounds.

I want to accuse him of not doing that, but it wasn't his fault. If anything I can blame that fucking Tracker for putting her at risk. Sure he didn't know their plan, but it was a stupid move none the less.

"It would be better if you could wake her up Alfie!"

"Alfie tried. He tried to wake Elissse." He answers sadly, lowering his head back beside her other hand.

"I know. You're a good boy Alfie." If not for him, we probably wouldn't have got her this far.

We go quiet, listening to the machines and waiting for her to do something.

Anything.

I can't lose her.

 It feels like hours, but the expected rush of footsteps outside soon arrive and the door is busted open. I don't hide my tears. Not now, and the team that charge in with their guns aimed and ready, freeze as they know who I am unlike those idiots that wouldn't let me in.

"It's Zane. Stand down!" One calls out.

Alfie doesn't even look at them.

I'm expecting Logan and Jordan to come in, but the sight of her Father actually makes me tense up.

"Leave us," He commands, and they do, even closing the door quietly as they go. "Hello Zane. I thought it might have been you."

"I'm sorry Mr. Bunting, I just, I had to come see her."

I now know why Elise has no fear of anyone or anything. Her father is an impressive man, and if I didn't know him already, I would be expecting to end up on the bed in an even worse state than Elise. She takes him on in any argument or situation, and he should be proud of the woman she had become. He is, I can see it in his eyes as well as the pain that mirrors my own.

"I understand, you don't need to explain anything to me." He sighs.

"Maybe you could explain what happened to me? Logan wasn't really clear on the phone."

"Ailin had a few ways to make Drac talk. We didn't get what we wanted out of him, but thankfully he was willing to sell out his sibling to save his skin. Because they were in the other realm, it gave Andra Dracul a chance to exert what power he had left. When Elise was away from the others, he was able to do something that had her very essence removed from her body and trapped with him."

The older man helps himself to the small jug of water, and I notice how his hands shake. 

"His plan was for Dracula to tell us after she had died what happened, and we'd have to open a portal to free her since her death was not a true one and she could be brought back. That would allow him to gain his freedom too." He took a long sip.

"Bastard!" It was a clever plan though, we would have done it.

"Luckily Ailin got Alfie there when she did and he was able to bring her back from what ever place she had been trapped in. Now we just need for her to wake up on her own."

"And Alfie, can't he do that spit thing?" He raises his head hearing his name mentioned again.

"No, he tried. It didn't work, but the demons we know all say she is whole again. We just, wait."

Victor is clearly like me, impatient. Only we don't have any other choice now.

"She'll be okay," I find myself telling him. 

He only looks at me, appreciating the vote of confidence, but doubtful at the same time. "I know."

We go quiet again and my frustrations only grow. I should have kept them at the compound. I shouldn't have said Logan could take her with him. Regret hits me and it's toxic as it mixes with fear. I can't stop the tears and her father doesn't judge me for it.

"What ever is in that head of yours son, stop it." Victor interrupts.

"I'm sorry, I just. What if I had kept her at the compound? I could have stopped this from happening. I should have-"

"Could, would, should - if there is something I learnt when this one was barely three years old is, you can't protect the ones you love as much as you want to think you can. Elise is stubborn and beyond strong willed. She's always been determined to learn her lessons, good or bad, her own way. Had she been under your watch, anything else could or would have happened, different to what you think should have happened."

He was right.

"What happened when she was three?" I ask, daring to smile.

"After meeting a fairy she decided she was one. So when she tried to fly, you can imagine how that went. For weeks kept arguing with us and decided to prove her point by flying into our living room. Mary was horrified and that's how we ended up putting a lock on her bedroom door and she also tied a bell around her ankle so we could hear her moving at night. We still have no idea how she climbed out of her bed, or up onto the railing on the stairs!" 

"Never a dull moment?"

"No, good thing she is pretty resilient to pain and growing up with Jordan, she was used to a bit of rough and tumble too. The pair of them used to fight like cat and dog. Still do now!" Tears glistened in his eyes as he looked at his sleeping daughter.

The rest of the world and all our problems were put on hold. There were enough of us dealing with what ever was going on. My team spoke to me every couple of hours and kept me in the loop as best they can. The world could have ended and it wouldn't matter as long as Elise woke up.

Three days later, Logan looked like the walking dead and somehow Mary kept her hopes up and fussed over all of us. I think that was how she was coping with it all. Jordan wasn't much better than Logan and even Keiran and Raya came by. The Van Helsings did too, and Drew's pep talk to Logan seemed to cheer him up a little. I don't know what he said, but it made him shower at least.

That night they took away the things that made her breath, leaving the tube under her nose instead and her vitals were improving. Her eyelids started to twitch a little more and every now and then her heart race would increase before going back to normal. 

She still didn't wake up.

The morning of the fourth day, I went back to begging.

"Come on Sunshine, I'm getting sick of hospital food!" I groaned, taking her hand again.

It was then the doctor came in, checking over a few things on charts I couldn't understand.

"Any changes?"

"Nope. She is perfectly fit and healthy. We don't know why, though we're worried something went wrong in bringing all of her back to her body. Between us, the demon, Aiming or something? She thinks going into one of those portals might be the only choice now." He sighed, swapping the bag keeping her hydrated. "We've done all we can medically, as far as we're concerned, she should be up and back to normal!"

That wasn't comforting news.

"See kid, the Doc says you're fine. Enough of this faking bullshit and wake up!"

Nothing.

We all took our turn at her bedside. The room didn't leave much space for more than a couple of us at a time and later than afternoon, I sat glaring at Logan across her bed. He focuses on the newspaper in his hands instead while Alfie is staring at the door.

"Think she can hear us?" I ask Logan.

"I want to think she can."

So we start a game of things that could annoy Elise. We tell her we're eating all her favorite foods. Logan says he has tequila, which gets Alfie's interest and even he gets involved by asking her for more brown bubble water. Someone called Penny gets a mention, Logan seems to think that will get a reaction, but it doesn't. We tell her V is here and we're going to beat him up if she doesn't stop us. 

Then we just get desperate, trying to bargain with her.

"If you wake up, I promise I will take you on an even better date than Valentines Day!" Logan promises.

"If you wake up, I'll never put you through another one of my boot camp training sessions."

"Oh that's a good one!" Logan agrees, "I will laugh at every single joke you come up with, even the stupid ones."

"What was the outcome of one of those Hunter, Slayer, Tracker walking into a bar things?" I ask.

"No idea, I've never let her tell one before." Logan sighs, regretfully.

"You'd think one of them would have seen it." The answer is weak, croaky and barely a whisper but it has both of us acting like we've won the lottery. "Now laugh. You promised!"

In some ways we have; she's awake.