Spending the day with Alfie in the gardens was more fun that I expected it to be. The snake had a sense of humor and so much of what I had read about them was focused on the ones who controlled them.

Clearly Alfie has an awesome Master.

His vocabulary was about the same as a two year olds, and I read out bits of our history to him. He absorbed all the information like a sponge sucks up water and I made sure he knew all about the factions here. Hunters were really the ones I gave a good speech about. In reality we are top dog amongst everyone. Slayers are really only limited to vampires and Trackers their shifters. We get the whole she-bang and the occasional of those species too.

Alfies favorite word was meat, and Vesna had already started to order more in just for him. I make sure he knows to listen to Ms. Huntington, Vesna and Frank. They are the ones looking after him in my care and students are off bounds no matter how tempting they may become.

As the sun starts to go down, I get teary. I am literally playing fetch with him and now understand why some people like dogs. Sensing the fact I’m about to burst into tears, Alfie comes back and I let him curl around me. His ‘hug’ tips me over the edge and a few tears finally fall as I hug him back.

“My Elise.” He mumbles, resting his head on my shoulder I lean against him.

“I’m going to miss you Alfie, please be good. I have to go, but I will be back.” I didn’t know if that would actually happen, I know I’d try.

“My Elise ss-ad?”

“Yes Alfie. You’ll be here alone. Do you understand?”

He nods and my heart breaks. He constricts around me a little tighter and with my free arm I scratch under his chin.

“Not all demons are bad Alfie, if anyone tells you anything – do not listen to them.”

“My Elise.”

“Yes Alfie, your Elise.”

I don’t think he does understand at all.

Going inside it’s time to show him to his new home. The rainforest is complete and we take a moment to look at it from the outside.

“This is where you’ll stay Alfie.”

“Home?”

“Yes, your new home. Come on.”

We walk into the biology department to get in from the side. Ms Huntington, Vesna and Frank are waiting and Alfie instantly goes to Vesna, knowing she has food for him.

“Its in there Alfie.” She coos, and I open the door. The humidity hits me first and looking around its like a chunk of the Amazon was put in here. A waterfall empties into a decent size pond and Alfie hesitantly follows me inside.

“Home Alfie.” He comes sliding over to me, moving easily over the slightly damp grass. His mouth opens as his head twists around all over the place and again the tip of his tail taps.

I think he likes it.

“Home.”

“Go on, go explore!” I urge.

If snakes can smile, he is. In fact he is almost bouncing as he disappears into the ferns. I catch sight of him a few minutes later by the pond and he finds the hunks of meat Vesna put around for him.

He is going to be fine.

It still hurts.

I go back to where the others are waiting, only to find Alfie suddenly in front of me.

“I sss-sstay?” He stutters.

“Yes Alfie. Just like I told you.” Holding his head, I kiss the top of it and he then slides his head over my shoulder to come up under my opposite arm before facing me again.

“Alfie misss you.”

“I miss Alfie too. I love ya buddy.” We bump heads and he tightens over my chest.

“Love Alfie. Love Elise.”

I’m a mess. I’m crying like a baby over a friggin demon.

Maybe I am a sell out or rogue or whatever the fuck they call deferrers.

I finally get my shit together and slowly he lets me go. “Be good Alfie.”

“Home Elisse. Home.”

He disappears back towards the pond and I leave while I can. Even though he has let me go, my chest still feels right and locking the door Vesna hugs me.

“He is going to fine love. I will tell you about him everyday.” She comforts and a few minutes later, I’m back in control of my emotions.

“Thank you for letting this happen.”

“Well we’re the only academy with one, maybe he can be our new mascot?” Ms. Huntington smiles and the fact I don’t burst into tears again tell me I’ve managed to get over it. Kind of.

Stupid bond.

How did the fae let theirs go? Oh right they’re evil and nasty and probably knew jack shit about their Apopyth. I bet they never even named it.

“Come on, lets get you some dinner.” Frank takes my hand and we go back to the kitchens. I’ve managed to avoid Logan since breakfast yesterday and after dinner, that hasn’t changed. I ask if he has left, and he hasn’t so maybe he is avoiding me too? I don’t care, focusing on packing my bag, and now everything is done – I’m leaving.

Getting out of my room I manage to get down to Alfie without seeing anyone. He is spread out on a rock, and I can practically feel how content he is. There is a reason the ones that remain in this world hide away in this kind of terrain.

“Bye Alfie.” I whisper, and some how he hears. Or maybe he just senses me. His head rises up and I can hear his voice in my head.

“Bye My Elise.”

New tears are dried by the wind as I leave the academy behind. Ditching the helmet I just need to feel the freedom being on the bike offers. I’m emotionally drained and instead of stopping for the night, I just keep driving.

I have a long way to go.

---

Three days later, I finally stop long enough to find a place to sleep. I consider writing in my diary, but can’t even manage that. I sleep for hours and sick of what is in my bag, I go shopping.

With a couple of new outfits, I head towards a hunting store and pick up a few supplies there.

‘That’s a big knife for a little lady.” The guy drawls, and looking up he runs his hand through his blonde hair, which is brittle from all the hair gel in it. At least I hope its hair gel.

“I’ve seen bigger.”

“Doubt it.” It’s a little bigger than a standard hunting knife and is nothing impressive. I hate it when men think they’re better than women, especially when the men are nothing more than feeder demons. The human disguise is the equivalent of an ant dressing up as lion and I debate whether or not to make him sweat.

“Do you have anything bigger?”

“What you goin’ after?”

“Not sure, but I need to prepared for anything.” Inspecting the blade, I look up at him again. “Academy discount?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” He stumbles. Feeder Demons are what clean up bigger demons mess. They’re kind of like that little sucker fish in a fish tank.

“Oh my mistake.” I smile sweetly, before throwing the knife millimeters past his ear so it plants in the wall behind him.

“Fucking Hunters think they own the fucking place.” He curses; pulling the knife out he runs his hand over the wall before coming back to me. “Fine. This way”

He leads me out the back and after entering his code on the pin pad; the back opens up to the real weapons.

“Much better.” I pat his chest as I walk in and grab a new bag suitable for my new friends. “And discount?”

“Twenty percent.” He groans and walking past I spy his name badge.

“Thanks Sven, awfully generous of you.”

He puts through my purchases and as I pass over my card, he pauses seeing the name. “Bunting?”

“Yeah?” I get defensive.

“You gonna clear the bill from the other one?” He pulls out a notebook and opens it up to a rather large list and I see Jordans signature on the bottom.

“Yeah, do you remember anything about him?”

“No. I wasn’t on that day. I just know he sold us out of throwing stars.”

I smile, thinking of the ones stashed within my boots. They were a family favorite. “Can I have that list when you’re done?”

He obliges and hands it over. There is nothing of interest on there, some camping equipment; weapons similar to mine.

“Anyone come in here looking for him?”

“No. We don’t really get much traffic of your kind, mainly humans. We live within the laws and don’t cause trouble.” He quickly blurts out.

“I believe you, just curious. Thanks for this Sven.”

He says nothing as I leave, but I can feel his relief as I go.

Once I’ve loaded everything up to go, I pull out the map and work out where to go from here. The suburban streets soon give way to winding country roads and going up the mountain the scenery is beautiful. I feel almost naked without Alfie wrapped around my arm and keep waiting to see his head pop out from my sleeve even though he would no longer fit. Since I left he’d been in his pond, only going to feed and Vesna said he keeps saying my name.

I don’t want to think about it.

Spotting a tree with the tell tale burnt base, I hide my bike amongst the forest and start to walk. They’re usually easy to find if you know what to look for. I keep all the weapons with me as I’m not sure what I’ll find and it’s not actually the fae set up I find, but a camp site.

Jordan.

The tent is torn and left open, with a few bits of rubbish have been left around the area. It’s clearly been abandoned and he hasn’t come back. I search through it all thoroughly and there is nothing here for a clue or sign where he went or what went on. If he was staking them out, it couldn’t be to far and using my instincts I keep going.

The bush gives way to a small cliff drop and going to the end I quickly drop to my belly as I see movement below. That prickly not alone feeling takes over, and daring another look down its obvious this is where the faes had been set up.

It was a good advantage point, Jordan had set himself up well and now so had I only the two girls walking around were not fae.

“Fucking Trackers.” I groan. What were they even doing here?

I start to panic. If Jordan had left anything down there, they could have taken it, touched it or ruined it.

They go inside the cave and I quickly scale down the cliff. It’s barely six meters and I jump down as I hear the coming back. I land on my feet, crouched and ready to spring into an attack, but nothing comes and I roll behind another rock, watching them.

“The jaguar said there was a lot of activity up here but this all looks old.” The blonde kicks a rock and a curse her.

“He probably just wanted us to keep moving.” The dark skinned girl sighs yet looks around, her eyes going to where I am hidden. “Come on.”

They start to leave and at the side of the cliff there is a well-worn path.

Saves climbing back out.

I know what she is doing. She looked in my direction for a second too long and knows I’m there. While they still have their back to me I run over to the cave, pausing as the dark energy that still lingers is enough to make me breathless.

Turning around I keep the knife in front of me as the girls are back in the clearing, their own weapons raised and ready.

“Who goes there?” The dark skinned one calls out.

“Who goes there? What the fuck is this…” Before I can finish, a dagger is thrown towards me from the blond. “Are fucking stupid? I’m a Hunter!”

Grabbing the dagger from where it landed next to me, I’m tempted to chuck it back at her. In fact I do, only I don’t miss my target and she is quick enough to block it with her bag.

“I knew there was something about her.” The blonde glares at her companion as she pulls out her knife.

“Yeah, hello to you too.” I mumble, thankful to be out of the cave.

“I’m Danika and this is Kylie.” Kylie puts her knife but in her belt and nods slightly.

“Great. Wanna tell me why you’re here?” I snap, not lowering my own weapon despite how relaxed the other two suddenly are.

“Territory issues between a family of jaguars and a small werewolf pack. The magic drew us here, but there is nothing around.” Danika is too chatty and I shrug, turning back to the cave.

Black burn marks are all over the sand and random shapes are drawn on the rocks in red. The fire pit is old and I know they’re right. There is nothing here. Signs of a portal opening linger around the cave edge and that’s probably how they got the Apopthy and looking around, its actually on the rocks that make up the cliff I can see the outline of something that looks like a dragon. It’s faint as the white powder wearing away and I take out my phone to take a picture of it.

“I never saw that before, what is it?” Kylie asks as the pair inspects it.

“Not sure, but its dead. The dark fae here opened a portal to summon some demons.” I tell them casually.

“Wow. That’s intense.” Danika mumbles in awe.

“Totally.” I mock and go back to the cave. There is nothing here besides old magic. Surely Jordan would have thought to leave something behind? Then again if he had a giant snake and dragony things after him, he could be forgiven with it slipping his mind.

“What are you looking for?” The girls follow me as I use a torch to look around.

“Another Hunter had been watching the dark fae that had been here and he was the one to kill dragon dust out there. Seeing if he left any clues as to where he went from here.”

“Hm… Well, there is a bar about twenty k’s up the mountain. All sorts of things use it all the time. Maybe you can try there?” I suddenly like Danika.

“Thanks.” I go to leave only to have them still behind me. “Nice meeting you.”

I look at them expectantly and like twins they mirror each others actions, nodding enthusiastically.

“Oh nice meeting you too!”

“Goodluck! We’re going to be in town if you need any help!” Kylie finishes.

“Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”

Again they both nod and start to walk down a different path to the one I was on. Finding my bike I head up the mountain, deciding Trackers must get it easy. Logan well, is Logan and those two look like they’d struggle to tie their shoelaces let alone fight a werewolf or deal with an out of control animal.

I find the place easy enough after ignoring the private property sign to keep humans out. It’s barely a cabin in the woods, yet from the amount of animal tracks in the dirt leading up to it and the few vehicles and bikes parked down the side tell me it’s the right place.

Unlike Darius’s bar, there is no sign out front and taking off my helmet I loosen up my hair and put on a spritz of perfume to try and hide the fact I’ve been on the road for a while. I don’t know this place and I don’t know what I’m walking into so keep my hand on the gun attached to my belt and the knife in the holder on my arm.

Opening the door the bar chatter ceases and I cringe at the out dated decore and rancid stench of shifters. It’s not helped by the moldy stale beer smell from years of drinks being spilt on the wood flooring and ignoring the smell, and the stares I walk in.

“This is private property.” The bar tender growls and looking at him, I can’t work out what he shifts too. There are to many other scents to get a clear read on him and judging by the over grown beard and hair chest that pokes out from the v in his shirt, I’m thinking Bear.

“Is it? You should really put a sign up out front.” I listen intently to the sounds behind, praying no one tried anything.

“There is.”

“Well I’m here at your fine establishment so how about a beer?”

He smiles a big wonky tooth grin and sure enough goes about pouring me a beer.

“What do you want Hunter?” He asks as I hand him over my cash.

“Beer mostly.”

The bar slowly starts to go back to what they were doing and bear man stays put expecting more of an answer.

“Seen any other Hunters around lately?”

“No. Most people can read the sign out front.”

“I’m not most people. What are you? Bear?” He nods, puffing his chest out slightly – proudly. He kind of reminds me of my Dad, the wisdom behind those eyes is much more than his maybe forty years of living. “Good, I’ve had enough of wolves.”

He laughs; a big deep loud sound that comes from his belly and a few others look over.

“I like you, what’s your name?”

“Elise. You?”

“Well Elise who doesn’t like wolves, we don’t like them much either. I’m Oz. You here to sort out the turf war? I thought they would have sent some of those Trackers to do that.”

“They did, I think they’re currently running around in the forest lost. I’m looking for the dark fae coven set up in the caves not far from here.” I sip my beer, trying to hide my disgust at the yeasty golden brew.

“Don’t know about any fae. We’re shifters only, maybe the odd demon here and there. Had a werewolf once but he was just lost and going higher to try and get the moon stupid bloody animals.” He mumbles.

This time I laugh. “I think I like you too Oz.”

The beer starts to go down easier.

So does the second.

And the third.

“So the thing is, we’ve been here longer. The land is shared, we stay out of each others way and so because we’re not at each other ever five minutes over who can piss on what tree – the wolves think they can move in and take over.” Justin, a leopard shifter – slams his fist down on the table hard.

“Fucking wolves, you know Trackers are kind of like that too.” I agree with him, earning a few cheers from the shifters on our table.

“Sounds like you don’t like them either?” Oz puts down another round.

I need to eat.

“No. Like you guys, I stick to my own kind. Trackers at the Academy are annoying and well the ones I’ve met out and about are either stupid or ah, stupid.” I shrug, before grinning as Lisa appears with a tray of garlic bread.

The problem with eating with animals is, they eat like animals. I’m in the basket before it hits the table and they all fight over what’s left.

“You gonna eat that?” Oz eyes up the half a loaf in my hand and I try to shove as much as I can in at one time. “Could have said yes.”

It’s nightfall when the howls start.

“Every night they do this. If we’re out, they attack.” Lisa tells me, handing me water instead of beer and a plate of steak and chips.

“Why hasn’t anything been done about it?”

“Selene keeps you lot in her good graces, no one thinks to look at the Queen as the one behind the trouble.” I start to chew slower, and she picks it up instantly. “You too?”

“Um… Not quite, but kind of.”

I had no idea who was telling the truth, but there was one way to find out.

After a few more waters, a coffee and desert I was sobering up. The howls had come closer and it was about time someone addressed the problem. Loading the gun, Oz and Justin watched on curiously and as I got up to outside, they followed.

“What are you doing?” Oz yelled, coming out into the car-park behind me.

“Fixing it.”

“On your own? That’s why your kind end up the missing lists that show up on the network!”

“How do you know about the network?” That has my attention. Our missing persons database was a way we all kept connected and every Tracker, Hunter and Slayer were on it. Kind of like a less dramatized Facebook with no like button. Access was limited to the average person, except the missing section.

“I got a nephew, good with computers and all that.”

Now there was something I should really report to the council.

“Smart kid.” I walk out further into the forest, and coming to a clearing I let out a loud whistle. “Here wolfy wolfy wolfy..”

Oz and Justin are back at the bar, not wanting to get involved and that was fair enough. I don’t expect back up.

I wait a few minutes before whistling again, trying to remember how to lure in wolves. Thankfully they don’t make me work too hard and the first panting comes from my left before three emerge from the forest. They act defensively with hackles raised, ears down and teeth on display.

“How about you take off your dog costume and talk to me?”

Of course they don’t.

The larger black and grey wolf comes forward first and getting out my gun I don’t hesitate in shooting him in the shoulder. He yelps, trips and this sets off the other two.

“I have more than one bullet.” See stupid.

I miss the white and grey, yet he jumps to dodge the bullet and smacks into the one that could be it’s twin making them unsteady. I fire again, and while I don’t hit them it does graze the side of his neck. They’re all scared now, not expecting this and regroup by their wounded.

Some of my kind doesn’t like using guns. Neither do most of the creatures we supervise. Hand to hand combat is apparently more traditional and honorable. I think that’s why so many of them die and I don’t care about dying nobly by loosing a fistfight with a wolf.

“Now, you want to be human about this?” I make a show of loading it and taking aim one shakes it’s head and moves away from the duo to shift.

“We didn’t mean any harm Slayer.” Slayer?

“I’m a fucking Hunter!” I know my Mum is half Slayer, but it’s still offensive.

“Oh, yeah. I can tell that now.” He mumbles. In wolf form he is quite large, and clearly more dominant than the others. In human form, I’ve seen sixteen-year-old girls bench more than he weighs. Everything about him reminds me of the nerds you see in movies and all that is missing is giant square glasses and a tartan jacket.

“So you don’t mean any harm, yet you come running out here to attack me after I asked to talk?” I keep the gun on the duo behind him and I can feel his anxiety.

“Well, yeah, but, we.. ah…”

“Well what?” He freezes up and the shot wolf is whining, clearly in pain. “How about we start again?”

Looking to his pack mates, he nods. “I’m Eli.”

“Oh I’m an Ellie!” I instantly hate myself for saying that.

“Dan is the shot one, and my brother Evan.”

“Great. What’s been going on here? I’m hearing that you guys are being assholes to the other shifters that already have this land arranged?”

“Um, we were, um…”

“Eli, lets cut this shit. You’re trying to lie and can’t. Are you in Selenes pack?”

“Yes.”

“Are you guys trying to take over?”

“Well yes, but…”

“That’s all. Leave and if I hear anything happening out here again the bullets won’t miss. Tell Selene I’ll be by to see again real soon.”

Eli sighs; nods and shifts back to the duo and run off into the night.

Great, I’m going to have to do a Trackers job and go back to the pack.

And I might need Logan’s help.

Groaning I go back to the bar. Oz and Lisa are waiting outside for me and I tell them what happened.

“So I’m going to Selene. If she refuses to co-operate I will inform the Council they need to intervene.”

Holy shit! Did that just come out my mouth?

“Thank you, just trying is helping us more than you know.” Lisa hugs me before disappearing inside and I am certain she is crying.

“Her sister was killed a couple months back when the pack came through.” Oz shifts from foot to foot clearly uncomfortable. I'm not expecting a hug from him or the tears.

“I’m sorry no one did anything about this.”

“Oh no a couple others tried, you’ll find them on the missing pages of your network. Be careful Elise, but thank you and I hope you succeed.”

Well they didn’t tell me that part and now I doubt everything about Jordan leaving the pack house too. Could he have come across all of this when dealing with the fae? He didn’t mention it in his letter so maybe he knew nothing. Maybe Selene planned it that way.

One thing was for sure though, I had a bad feeling about all of this and even worse than the prospect of dealing with Logan again – I think I was going to have to speak to my Dad.