"Hello Hunter. How about we play a game?"

"Don't you think you're a little old for games?" I answer with bravery I didn't know I actually had considering my current situation. 

Moving closer, I take a seat in the chair, proceeding to put my boots up on the edge of his desk and pick up the wooden doll Kayta disappeared into. Shaking it a few times, the inner figurines clang together and the whole thing heats up. In warning perhaps, but I don't care and toss it from hand to hand, while he sits there amused as he watches me.

"What were you thinking? Monopoly? I bet you cheat in that though so you can't be the banker. Snakes and Ladders? Checkers?"

I look at him expectantly and twist the doll as if I'm going to open it, but don't.

"Then again, what about Poker? I bet you've got a killer game face."

"You could say that, Hunter!" He smirks, sitting back in his chair. He doesn't say much else.

It's then I notice the small fireplace to the side and getting up, I walk curiously around the room, stopping by it. The flames look real enough. So real, I can feel the heat from them as they dance around. Perfect.

"Nice painting." I muse, staring up at the image hanging over the fireplace. It's nothing amazing. Just some old fox hunt scene, that is actually really out of place considering how modern everything else is.

Looking over my shoulder, he hasn't moved. Well apart from one eyebrow that has risen slightly on the right side of his face. He has to know what I'm about to do and dropping the doll into the fire, I step back as it hisses and spits out black flames. The shrieking sound is almost banshee like and rather than reprimand me, Dracula laughs.

"I'd like to see how you are in poker Hunter, if we played for money I am sure I will become a wealthy man."

"Doubt it. I don't have much money."

"You are a Bunting, no? I'm sure that isn't true," he gets up then, the noise finally gone and I dare to look back into the flames. The doll is little more than bits of ash. "Does that make you feel better? Revenge for your vampire friend?"

"Yeah it does, but not as good as this will!" 

I treat the iron poker that stood beside the fireplace like one of the samurai swords, swinging it around with precision as my instincts don't let me down. Dracula's presence is strong, making it easy to locate him and with a grunt of effort, the metal slides into his chest. Unfortunately for me, I mess up one tiny detail and miss his heart.

He staggers backwards and growls, his hands instantly going to remove it. So I get the other one, and as he blocks me, I still manage to get it just under his rib cage. Either way, it should stop him long enough for me to get out of here.

"I'll take a rain check on that game, thanks!" Running out the door, I go the way Kayta led me and the living room leads into a library set up. Down a corridor and taking a left, I finally see something resembling a front door.

It's locked and hearing the thud of steps coming behind me, I knock off the bonsai tree on the table beside it and smash it through the window. I'm not staying in this house or messing around anymore and with the glass gone, I climb out. The only thing I stop for, is to break the legs off the table in the process and keeping one wooden stake in each hand, I start to run.

The street is well lit, and the neighbourhood is rather nice. I didn't expect to find myself in a high civilian area, but can only use this to my advantage. I get off the road and seeing the one dark house in the street, creep up their driveway. If I can get to a phone, I could call, well anyone and go from there.

The second I get to the back door, the internal alarm starts to make noise in the form of a highpitched yap. The little white fluffy thing is going crazy at the door and now more than ever, I really don't like dogs.

"Ssh!" I call out to it, yet the upstairs light comes on and I'm left moving through these peoples yards like a common thief on the prowl.

I manage to avoid any other canine companions, and Dracula. I don't doubt he's following me, the warning of vampire has me on edge, and I'm running purely on the instinct to survive now. A few streets over, the thumping base music lures me in and leaving the cover of the party houses neighbour's trees, I walk in as I belong. Everyone is my age, or maybe younger and I take the beer offered to me as I pass the staircase. Seeing a guy standing on his own, glaring at the mob of dancers in the living room, I find the easiest target.

"Hey!" I smile, standing beside him. 

He is kind of cute, with freckles over his cheeks and large brown eyes. The shaggy mess of blonde hair makes him look a little older though, and he returns my smile.

"Sup?" His accent is rather English, like the proper kind you'd hear the Queen talk with.

"My boyfriend just broke up with me and took off. My phone was in his car, could I borrow yours to call my friend to come get me?" I ask hopefully.

"You don't seem to cut up by him ditching you?" He doesn't make a move to give me what I asked for.

"I lied. I broke up with him, but either way, he was my ride and has fucked off!" I sip the beer and as someone passes, let myself be pushed closer to freckles. "Surely you can help a damsel in distress?"

"Sure!" He seems to realise I'm flirting with him, and hands over his phone. "Though, I could always give you a ride?"

"I'm sure you could!" I wink, dialing Logan's number.

"Oh, not like that. I mean, well I could," He rambles nervously, before gulping down his own beer.

"Hold that thought!" I hand him my beer and turn away, moving through to house to the kitchen and end up hiding in the laundry. As a couple making out burst in, I'm quick to kick them out. 

"Hello?"

"Loges, hey! Are you okay?"

"Am I okay? Where the fuck are you?" He demands, and instantly I can hear other people all yelling at him.

"I dont know, hang on." I open the door and as a rather drunk girl passes I grab her arm and pull her in. "Hey, where are we?"

"Do I know you?" She asks, slurring her words before perking up. "Wanna make out?"

"You're kidding right? Where are we?" I ask again, trying to keep her standing upright.

"Um, this is Debbie's house!"

"Well done. Where is Debbies' house?"

"Oh, she lives um, I don't remember the number, but we're near London. Hey, did you want to go there? We could get matching tattoos!" She claps her hands excitedly.

"Did you get that?" I ask Logan.

"Are you at a party?"

"Yeah, why not?" 

"Your hairs really pretty!" Drunk girl is suddenly stroking my hair and at this point, I'd rather be facing off with Dracula. I could be over exaggerating with that one.

"Thanks, so is yours. Remember, don't kiss strangers and don't talk to vampires!" I tell her, pushing her out of the door.

"You're funny! Oh! Beer pong!" Just like that me and my pretty hair get rejected for beer pong.

"Ok, so I'm in england, near London at Debbie's party. Think you can work that out?" I sigh.

"Of course. Are you okay though?" His concern is rather touching.

"Yeah. I killed Kayta, since she killed Darius and was working for Drac the whole time. I'm also on the run from him now so I better keep moving so this party doesn't turn into a buffet for him."

"Zane and a few others were coming, just after you left he arrived with Toyo and V was put into custody. We got zapped to a safe location only V got out and this time Ailin didn't even help." 

"Bastard. I'm going to kill him!" 

"I can't tell if he is on our side or not, I think he is." The noise around Logan disappears, "Sonia and some of the fae are working on locating you now."

"That won't really help if Drac gets hold of me. I could steal a car, if I'm near London I could give you a location to be at?"

"Okay, where?" He asks.

"Um, what about that eye thing. The Ferris Wheel?" It's only thing I can think of at that moment.

"Done. Get there, we'll be waiting!" Logan promises.

"Hey Loges?"

"Yeah?"

"I-" I hesitate, unable to bring myself to say what I really want to. "I want you all to be safe okay?"

"We'll be fine. Back at you Bunny!"

I hang up just as there is a knock on the door, and a second later Freckles calls out to me. "Hey um, girl, you done?"

"Just a second!" I answer, going out the back door. Walking over to the first guy I see, I throw my arms around his neck and hug him. "Hey! I haven't seen you in ages!"

I kiss his cheek, as one hand drifts up into his hair, and the other checks his pockets for keys. He doesn't even resist, instead looking into my eyes. Really I'm going to do him a favour judging by how drunk he is. You really shouldn't drink and drive.

"Do I know you?" He asks, his voice deep and husky as he dares to put his free hand on my waist before sipping his beer.

"Yeah!" I move in closer, almost like I'm going to kiss him as my hand finds what it's looking for; keys. Letting him go, I slap him instead. "Jerk!"

"But - you? You were gonna kiss me! Hey, don't be like that! Come on sweet heart!!" He starts, yet instead I turn and run out the front. Hitting the button on the key, it's a small, sleek red mazda that flashes its lights at me. Not what I was expecting him to be driving, but I'm not fussy.

Getting in, I nearly cry seeing the GPS on the dash and after setting my location, pull out onto the street - just in time to see the group heading my way. I know one of them is Dracula, I can feel it. Hitting the accelerator, I don't look back and push the car to it's limits, now I have somewhere to go. 

-x-

I lose the car a few blocks away from my destination, and I am more than happy to leave the woman from the GPS behind. Twice she had sent me down a one way street and to say it's cold would be an understatement, especially after leaving the heated car. Luckily the guy had a jacket in the back and the best thing about it was not the fact it was fully lined, but it had a hood. If anyone saw me they'd probably be more inclined to call the police, thinking I was up to no good since I avoided the street lights now and kept to the dark. 

Finally the directions paid off and looking down the side of the aquarium, I jump the gate and keep to the building rather than walking in the boulevard where the few trees wouldn't offer me as much cover as the fence.

Despite the fact it's nearly two am, there are still a few small groups of people out, though everyone is walking as if they have somewhere to go. It's actually a rather beautiful area, and moving to the front of the building, bright purple, green and red lights make it glow in a rather spectacular display. Like most of the buildings around here, it's old and the lights reflect in the water in front of it. 

The Eye is still, looking more like a skeleton lit up against the dark water beside it, than something that brings so much amusement to endless tourists and locals. I think back to the abandoned fair and involuntarily shiver, before focusing more on the people still around. Where is Logan?

With each minute that passes, everyone seems to vanish. If at all possible, I'm positive the temperature drops even lower and closing my eyes, I don't sense anyone or anything. I take a seat against the fence, keeping alert for any kind of movement, and it doesn't take long until that feeling returns; the one that tells me to run. The one that tells me Dracula is here.

"London bridge is falling down, falling down," his voice echoes through the silent night. Not even the traffic from earlier could be heard now and it seems to be coming from everywhere.

"London bridge is falling down, falling down." It gets worse. All the evil that has created him, seems to fill each word and I regret leaving the car now. I want to run, but I can't and this time I don't think I'll be able to get away so easily from him. Where is Logan?

"My."

I see him, coming down the walkway and past where I am currently hiding.

"Fair."

He walks towards the wheel, and spins around. I don't drop down quick enough, and I know he has seen me.

"Bunting!"

I scream as he appears above me and dodging his hands, which are more like a werewolfs claw I roll against the far wall. In seconds I am up, and as he charges again, he doesn't miss me this time. His nails dig into my arms as I am lifted, before he throws me into the pavement as if I was nothing more than a toy. He starts to hum the tune once more, replacing the words as he starts to sing.

"Watch the Hunter fall down, fall down, fall down. Watch the Hunter fall down, but will she get back up again?"

My palms are burning from where they had scraped against the bricks. My hip has a dull ache and I don't move. That doesn't stop him though. He grabs my hair and forces me upwards, when his shadow alters and I dare to try and look behind me. 

I'm not expecting to see myself standing there. I, well he, smirks, before turning me around and my face is now slammed into his knee. It hurts, and I now I really know what it feels like to be beat up by, me as the attack doesn't stop and I start to fight back. For some reason, I'm able to remember bits of what V told me and I start to get the upper hand. He was right about my timing, and working on balance. 

At least I thought I was until he stops my kick and grabbing hold of my leg, I'm no longer on firm gram, being thrown to the side instead. The smell of the water greets me before I open my eyes and rolling onto my back, that one really hurt. The colourful lights of the aquarium blur together as it takes me a bit of effort to sit back up, and just as I do the feeling of being watched along with a demonic presence gives me hope because then I sense it; hunters.

Instantly my first is slamming into my own face, and pinning him down, he only laughs, looking up at me with a sense of obvious victory. "I know you. I know how you think. I know how you feel," his hips roll underneath me and my stomach sinks with what he is implying. 

"You don't know anything about me." I snap, daring to look up, Logan and Jordan are running towards me. "You lose!"

"I think you do." Instantly he is crying, "Help!"

"What?" It takes me barely a second to work it out. "You have to be kidding me!"

"Jord! Get him! He shifted into me!" Drac cries out, and instantly I see the pair of them hesitate.

"He's lying!" I let him go and before I can stand up, I'm being pushed off the Dracula me as he stands and runs to Logan.

"I thought you weren't coming!" He sobs and Logan looks between both of us completely confused.

"Incase you are Elise, sorry, but back off." He pushes Drac towards me and looking around, we're surrounded. Surely someone here can at least sense the difference between us.

Then again, closing my eyes - I can't. That powerful aura is gone, and the only thing I can feel is the demon presence of Ailin and Toyo. Shit!

"Elise?" Zane calls, and turning in sync, his mouth drops slightly.

"It's me!" Again we speak at the same time.

Looking at Drac, he smiles. Instantly I'm determined to wipe that look off my face and as Zane grabs me, I see someone I don't know grabbing Dracula.

"Zane, it's me! Come on, you're a fucking Slayer. Is there a vampire in me?" I beg, looking into his eyes, he hesitates, like Jordan and Logan. He doesn't believe me. "You assholes! Are you all joking with me right now?"

"He followed me from the party! I thought it was you Loges, but when I got here, it obviously wasn't. He said he'd make sure I'd suffer before he killed me. This is it! He'll get you to kill me, I know it!" Dracula sobbed, and if he knew me, surely he would know I'm that emotional. Then again, I haven't exactly been keeping it together lately. Then I actually hear what he is saying, that's his plan. He wants them to kill me!

"It won't work! They know me you assho-" I scream back, fighting against Zane.

"That's enough!" He roars behind me, and I instantly go silent. So does Drac, watching me more than anything else. As he glances at Logan, Zane whispers in my ear, "I trust you."

Thank god.

"Well, if one is a vampire, we'll just wait until dawn. Tie them up!" He declares. 

Dracula doesn't even flinch, and with a sigh of resignation, we both hold out our wrists as we are cuffed and forced to sit down with an assortment of guns held our way. 

"You all owe me big time for this." Dracula mutters under his breath, glaring at me.

"Oh shut up and enjoy the sunrise. I know I will!" I snap back.

"What does it matter to me?" He asks, lowering his voice as he leans in closer, "I'm in a human body. Sunlight doesn't bother shifters."

I gasp, making him wink as he sits there smugly. I hate seeing me looking like that, unless well it's me doing it to someone else. "I'll kill you!"

Again we start fighting amongst ourselves. 

"This is going to take too long! Ailin, can you not do something?" Jordan sighs, rubbing his forehead.

She waves a hand over both of us and shakes her head. "They are both shrouded by the same magic."

"Quiz us!" Dracula declares. He really does think he knows me.

"About what?" Jordan asks.

"Anything!" He snaps, and I actually can't wait for this.

The trio who apparently know me the best, group up while the others all keep their guns aimed at us. I glare at each of them, but they don't flinch. Looking at Dracula, he is doing the same thing. Jerk.

"Ok, what do you hate being called the most?" Zane asks.

I look at Drac waiting for his answer, "kid."

"What's my nickname for you?" Jordan goes next, turning to me.

"Elliephant moron. Can you make these harder please?"

He frowns and the trio group up again and it carries on for about four more rounds.

"You're all dead to me, I hope you're aware of that. When this is over, we're not speaking anymore!" Annoyingly, Dracula voices my thoughts and I have to agree.

"He's right. Just let both of us go, and we can sort this out ourselves because you lot are clearly not the brightest candles on the cake!" I stand, so does Dracula. 

"You know, I rather like there being two of us vampire. Maybe you should stick around?" Dracula muses.

"Maybe you should just go jump on a stake. If this was your idea of a game, I think I'd rather go with monopoly next time!" I groan.

"Ha! You hate monopoly!" Jordan declares and all the weapons come back to me.

"That is the point moron!" At this point, dealing with monkeys would be more productive. "I also hate the fact my own brother, boyfriend and best friend don't know how to tell me apart from a fucking vampire who is trying to kill me!"

He frowns and Dracula decides to add something to the mix. "You know what, just shoot me. You'll be able to tell who is who that way."

"I'm not shooting you!" Jordan instantly answers.

"No where serious, like a leg or something?" Dracula offers.

Zane is in his element now, "Okay!"

In seconds he pulls out a pistol and takes aim at Dracula, but not at his leg - he goes for the headshot.

"Zane!" Logan and Jordan yell at the same time.

"I want him dead, not in custody. This has gone on long enough!" 

"Please Logan, I love you, believe me when I say it's me!" Drac pleads desperately, clearly not doubting Zane will pull the trigger. 

Logan moves quicker than Zane, his gun had already been ready and the shot hits him square in the chest. On instinct I scream, and Dracula reaches out for me as he returns back into true form. Turning, I kick him as hard as I can in the stomach, making him let me go, and instantly Ailin and Toyo pounce. The silver cuffs now burn into his flesh before the wrap chain around him. With a nod at Zane, the trio disappear, as do some of the other guards so it's only us four left.

"I can't believe you shot me!" I tease Logan, yet don't protest as he hugs me, "what was it that made you do it?"

"You don't say I love you, at least not yet!"

"I could've, especially if I thought I was about to die?"

"You didn't on the phone, so you wouldn't now. It's okay, I know you're ready for that yet and besides Zane seeemed pretty sure of it!" Logan shrugged, kissing my forehead. 

I looked over to Zane and Logan was right. "How did you know?"

"Perfume. He had no smell, but I know yours."

"It's kind of creepy that you know that?" I point out, making him turn red.

"I like it, thats all!" He defended.

"Either way, you two, fail as brother and boyfriend. Zane knew straight up!" Going to Zane I give him a hug, thankful of his existance yet again.

"I'm just glad there aren't two of you. Imagine that, I'm pretty sure it would kill Dad!" Jordan jokes.

"I don't think two of me would be that bad, well, if one of me wasn't actually a vampire!" No one answers me.

"Ah sunshine, you're pretty beat up. How about we get you to a hospital?" He lets me go and now the adrenaline is wearing off he's right and my whole body is aching. 

"Or maybe get her to Alfie?" Logan offers instead.

"Oh no, not snake spit!" I groan, yet I'm not really protesting when Ailin reappears and we head back to base. Give me that over a hospital any day.

-----

So... this was more of a filler chapter that's setting up a few more things. Just to recap...

-Drac is in custody.
-V got away.
-Elise is recovering with Alfie.
-Everyone is alive and well.

Sounds like a good place to end it with they all lived happily ever after, right?

I'd love to hear your theories about what is going to happen next. I've just finished Cain's introduction too. Not sure if it will be part of next chapter or the one after that :)