Watching Logan talk to the guard is irritating me more than Ailin killing all my escape attempts. The second time Logan just stayed in the cell, and I decided to use force rather than cunning. At least it gave me a bit of a workout and some mental stimulation, and just when I made it to the elevator thinking I had actually got out – she was in there waiting for me. Because Logan wasn’t a part of that plan, he gets to do what he wants and I’m locked away. If the gate is open, like when he goes in and out, I have to go and stand in the corner by the TV with my hands in the air. If I move, they have the right to Taser me and I don’t particularly want to find out if they’re bluffing.

I am so bored.

I miss fresh air.

I’m not allowed phone calls in case I blurt out to anyone where I am, and that includes my parents. Logan is on my bad list more than my good and if he continues to rub in his ability to walk around the base freely, he won’t be able to because I am already thinking up ways to break his legs. I can’t even find out what’s going on with Alfie and that annoys me more than anything else.

“Up against the wall.” The guard calls snapping me out of my hate filled day dream.

“No. I’m comfortable.” In other words I’m sulking and don’t feel like getting out bed today. Considering I pretended to be asleep when he decided to go for a walk, I don’t see what the issue is now.

“You know the rules.”

“Wanna know what you can do to your rules?”

“Elise, just get up!” Logan groans, his patience is as non-existent as mine right now and I regret bringing him along.

“I’m in fucking bed, stay out there! I don’t want you in here anyway!” I roll over, almost wishing the guard does something stupid so I have a good excuse as to why I decided to beat the shit out him.

“She won’t move.” Logan tries to bargain with the guy, but he isn’t going for it.

“I’m not taking any chances.”

“Don’t worry about it then.” Logan snaps and I listen to his steps disappear before hearing the door close behind me.

“No idea why he puts up with you.” Great, now this stooge is giving out relationship advice? “I would have cut you off long ago.”

“Thanks to the fact I have standards, you’d never get the chance to worry about what to do with me in the first place.” I mumble sarcastically.

“You think you’re all that don’t you? Well Miss Bunting, no one cares what happens to you. We just care about the portal. Once this is over, you better change your attitude because you won’t be able to get away with half of the shit you do now.”  I really don’t like his attitude.  Deciding to be the bigger person, I ignore him and closing my eyes I decide to try sleeping the next week or so away. The jerk outside my cell has other ideas, chuckling to himself. “Yeah you know I’m right.”

“Do not piss me off today.” I warn.

“What can you do about it?” He taunts further, and rolling over I pull back the sheets and stand up, glaring at him.

“Come in here and say that!” I dare him. “Sorry, as if you would. What kind of Hunter would take a job like this? A fucking weak one.”

He unlocks the gate. Rolling my neck, I then crack my knuckles. He is taller than me, but apart from standing outside of cells and playing guard dog, I don’t think he does much else. His shirt is strained across his rounding stomach and along his balding hairline, he is already sweating despite the cool temperature in here. The look on his face tells me I’ve hit a nerve and as he pulls open the gate, Ailin appears in between us.

“You have been relieved of your duties here. Report upstairs immediately.”

He hesitates, but walks away with heavy steps, grumbling the whole way to the door.

“I have others at either door, do not think you can-“

“I get it.” I groan, flopping back onto the bed. “Could’ve let me rough him up a little bit.”

“That wouldn’t have been a fair fight. He is old and lazy.” She states bluntly.

“No shit.” I pull the blankets back up around my waist and stare up the ceiling.

“What is this?” She asks, sounding completely baffled.

Looking over at her, she only stares at me confused.

“What now?” I groan.

“This.” Her hands wave over me and I look down the bed more confused than she is.

“I don’t get it?”

“I expected more from you Hunter!” She takes a seat on Logan’s bed, still staring at me.

“What?” I still don’t understand.

“No argument, no fight, no escape attempt?”

“Seriously? You want me to try and get out?”

“It’s better than seeing you so, defeated.”

What planet is she actually from?

“You’re not going to let me get out, what’s the point of trying? You all win, I’ll just sit here waiting for my release.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Well I mean it. I don’t care, now please just leave me alone.” She actually listens to me and disappears, but the door has been left open. Of course she did, but do they really think I’m stupid enough to try? I can’t get comfortable now so I try Logan’s bed, it’s even worse. I skip on lunch when it arrives and take a shower. For whatever reason I ask for a hairdryer and its brought down within minutes. I take my time doing my hair - since I have nothing else to do and leaving the bathroom, stare at the doorway before going to the bottle of tequila.

By the time Logan comes back, I’m drunk.

“What’s gotten into you today?” He takes the nearly empty bottle from me and looks back at the open entry. “Do I want to know how that happened?”

“Nope!”

“I spoke to Sonia, she thinks they have nearly worked out to lift whatever was put on Alfie.”

“But she hasn’t done it yet?” I mumble, struggling to find even the good in that news.

“They will.” He assures me, resting onto his knees so leaning on the bed in front of where I sit. “He’ll be OK.”

“Even if he’s not, what can I do about it?” I shrug, yet the thought has me wanting to burst into tears. I either don’t hide it very well, or he can sense it and Logan gently takes my hand, kissing my knuckles.

“I like how you’ve done your hair.” He compliments, clearly trying to make me feel better. It kind of starts to work.

“I like your eyes.” I go to point at them and instead, practically stab him in the cheek with my nail.

“I know you do.” He takes my other hand, keeping them both occupied with his - probably so I don’t end up poking him in the eye. Considering I had been thinking of ways to break his legs, it’s an improvement.

“Do you think my parents can save Jordan?”

“Yes. I think they can.” He says it so sincerely I want to believe him.

“Is it bad I don’t?” Sighing I drop my head back against the wall and pull my hands free. “I know they’re all strong and mighty in their own rights, but there is a lot going on. Even if they get Jordan out – what if they don’t come with him?”

“They have help too Elise, your idea of going in alone wasn’t going to work.” I hated he had a point, but I was never going to admit it.

“Yes it would’ve. I had training by ninjas!” I hiccup.

“They’re not ninja’s, they’re demons who-“

“Have ninja abilities.” I point out.

“Fine!” He gives in and I smile, happy with my one victory of the day. It then occurs to me we're getting along and that hasn’t happened for a couple of days.

“We’re not fighting!”  Logan sits up on the bed rather than kneeling on the floor and opening his arm for me, I curl against his side. “This is nice.”

“It is. Things will work out in the end Bunny, trust me.”

“I want to trust you, I do. But you make it hard.” I admit, looking up at him. His face goes blank, and I feel him tense against me. So much for getting along.

“I know I do. One day, we will sit back like we are now, preferably not in jail though, and maybe we will even laugh about it?” Again there is a certainty in his voice that makes it hard not believe him.

“I would like that. Somewhere where Alfie can be with us too?” I hiccup again and slowly I feel him relax. He shifts so he is laying down and I move with him, surprised at how comfortable the bed was again.

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” His head rests against the top of mine and taking my hand from where I had it resting across his chest, Logan laces his fingers with mine. Just for a minute, it’s easy to forget where we are, why we’re here and what is going on outside. We’re just a couple enjoying each other’s company and reaching up, I kiss his cheek. Logan doesn’t hesitate in returning the gesture, only he goes for my lips. My hand slides up his neck to hold the side of his face and deepening the kiss, he swiftly moves so he is now above me.

“Logan, we’re not-“

“I know. Trust me, I know!” He chuckles softly, and wrapping my legs around his waist, I want to keep him close. I want to trust him. I want to believe things are going to work out. Nuzzling my neck sends a shiver through me and as his warm breath hits my cheek and his lips are moved to my ear, five words I wasn’t expecting come out making me freeze. “I think I love you.”

My legs drop, I start to feel trapped and frowning, he sits up. Before either of us can say anything, I feel it.  That prickly sense of dread that tells me to be cautious, that danger is coming – surely not because he said the L word?

“Do you feel that?” I manage to get out, looking around the room expecting to find we’re not alone anymore.

“Yeah, I do.” He answers just as cautiously and stands up, moving towards the door.

Just as I’m about to follow him, I squeal at the sudden appearance of my favourite catty trio and barely a second later the red alarm light drops down from the ceiling in the corridor. The siren echoes off the bare walls and with the empty cells acting like speakers, we all cover our ears. Ailin springs into action, grabbing my arm and we leave it all behind. My ears are still ringing as we looking around, the alarm wasn’t all that was left behind as Lily and Toyo appear.

“Where is Logan?” I demand, giving my ears a second to adjust to the silence of what looks to be a hotel room. A very nice, luxurious hotel room. Gold trimmings give it an antique royal kind of feel and all the furnishings seem to have a French design to them. “Where are we?”

“He isn’t coming with us.” Lily replies coldly.

“Why? What’s going on?” I demand, following her towards the golden drapes that cover the window. She opens them up, muttering some words as she presses her hand to the glass and looking out, my mouth drops.

“We’re in Paris?”

“We were compromised Elise and we protect you – not him.” Ailin answers with a growl, as everyone seems determined not to answer any of my questions.

“Go get him!” I start to panic before just getting angry. I feel completely useless and hate it. If she didn’t like my defeated attitude from earlier, she was about to get a full dose of my stubbornness now. “Ailin-“

“Enough! We will be back once the situation has been assessed.” With a nod to her sisters, the trio disappear and I’m left wondering what the hell just happened.

--

None of the doors would open, I couldn’t get the glass to smash for the windows and after deciding to order room service, they could come in, but I couldn’t get out. Whatever Lily had done before leaving was clearly to keep me in. So as the afternoon faded into darkness I sat on the chaise lounge and stared out at the beauty of the city they’d left me in. The old buildings that dotted the landscape amongst the maze of streets below seemed as if they could tell a million stories of their own. What really had my attention was the silhouette of the Eiffel tower. The black frame was breathtaking against the pastel colored sky, yet I couldn’t let go of my anger.

Miles away, or at least I presume miles away – with those Kasha you never really know where you were, things were happening and I didn’t know anything. Was Logan alright? Who had compromised the Council? What were my parents doing – have they got Jordan yet?  Worst of all, Logan practically told me he loved me and left him hanging.

With the fading light, the room become taken over by shadows. The railing of the balcony outside left a row of bars over the bed making it look like I was stuck in another prison and I guess in some ways I was. The cherub statue on the small dining table grew to take over the left wall and sensing a flicker of movement in the corner behind me, I got anxious.

If I can’t get out, human can get in – surely that didn’t include monsters. The trio left me with no weapons and ignoring it physically, I didn’t mentally. I definitely wasn’t alone. Closing my eyes I listened, the daring creature brushing close to the edge of the lounge and not thinking about what I could be getting hold of, my hand shot out and it was if I was holding feathers that disintegrated upon contact. Turning the shadow merged back in with the darkness of the wall and I had no idea what I was dealing with. Looking at my hand, a silvery sheen covered my palm and looking around everything was still.

Getting up I went into the bathroom, washing my hands the stuff came off easily enough and breaking the metal towel pole from the wall, walked back out into the bedroom with it at my side.

“Come out, come out, where ever you are…” I called out, looking around cautiously. By now the sun had well and truly set, and only the faint glow of the streetlights and cars below gave some kind of light in the room. Now I understood why people were afraid of the dark. The walls seemed to come alive, a swirling back mass of shadow circling around and around.

Moving to light switch on the wall, I turned it on and the light destroyed all signs of whatever was keeping me company. It wasn’t a ghost, I was positive but the energy in the room was undeniable. Flicking the light off it was as if all the air was sucked out of the room and the window disappeared as the shadow moved over it.

Light on. Gone.

Light off. Movement.

Light on. Gone.

Light off. It was getting closer.

This time when I turned the light on, I looked at the darkest areas of the room and under the bed seemed like the most logical place for it to retreat to. Hitting the off switch, I raised the pole and taking large quick steps, was waiting for it to emerge and swinging out the raspy screech told me I hit something.

“What are you?” I yelled, wondering if I had neighbors in the rooms around me. Instead of turning on the main light, I turned on a lamp and giving it places to move within the room, I watched as the shadow seemed to be pacing by the TV. “Shadowess.”

Shadowess aka Shadow Monsters are the things you don’t want to go bump in the night. When they find their prey, they stalk it. Days, weeks, months – years, all depending on how strong the human victim is. They are always there, a movement behind you in a dark street. The flicker of of something passing in the corner of your eye, the  feeling of not being along. Humans mix them up with ghosts all the time, their haunting nature makes it understandable and once their prey gives in and goes crazy or suicidal, they’re there ready to collect their souls. Soul eaters.

Kasha are soul collectors.

Saying its name had it turning three dimensional. The shadow was almost birdlike with its shoulders hunched up into points that you’d expect to spread out into wings. The  dome like head gave no indication of a face or any kind of detail so gripping the pole I was ready to swing out.

“Did the Kasha put you here?”

“Yes.” The screechy raspy voice answered solemnly, making my skin crawl. I didn’t even know how to destroy it, they were rarely caught when jobs involving them came up. This was the kind of crap I should be putting in my diary instead of writing an episode of Days of Our Lives.

“What do you do?”

“Watch.”

“Right,” Clearly they were big on conversation and looking at it closely, I wasn’t sure where or how it was actually speaking. Before I could think of something else to say, it was gone. Literally, it’s presence was no longer in the room at all. With a frustrated sigh, I went and laid on the bed with the pole still in my hands.

By the time morning came, I had never been happier to be woken by the sun. Today the balcony door opened and so I sat outside enjoying the fresh air and natural light. The second day, I woke up to find a new bag waiting for me on the lounge and going through it, it was full of new clothes and all of those kind of good things. Once I had showered and dressed, I decided to give the main door another go and it opened.

“Not weird?” I mumbled, going out into the corridor. Making it to the elevator, I wasn’t stopped and staring at myself in the reflection of the button panel the dark shadow behind me was a reminder I was still being watched. Stepping out into the lobby nothing happened. The humans all moved around busy with their lives. Some were checking out and others went towards the restaurant for breakfast. I was more interested in the way out and I was half way across the marbled floor when a man called out from reception.

“Miss Bunting?” His French accent gave my surname a nice touch and I froze.

Busted.

“Yes?” Turning around, he ran out from behind the desk and as he stopped in front of me I could tell he was one of my kind.

“Bonjour! Ailin requested I give you this. Enjoy your nice day.” The envelope was full and opening it, a wad of money greeted me. Finding the note, I pulled it out and went to one of the chairs by the glass doors to freedom.

Hunter,

Enjoy your stay in Paris.

A.

That’s it? Enjoy your stay in Paris? Looking towards the reception counter, the Hunter was busy checking someone in and tucking the money into my pocket, joined the less.

“Yes?” He spoke good English, too good. Maybe he wasn’t the charming French man he was trying to portray.

“May I discuss a private matter with you?”

“Certainly. Right this way Madam.” He leads me into the staff room at the side and looks completely uncomfortable being in this position.

“What the hell is going on? Is this for real? I can just walk out of here and play tourist?”

“Si!” He answers with a nod, taking out his hanker chief and wiped his forehead. Despite looking maybe thirty, something told me he was older. His hands shook slightly and I wondered if he was scared of me.

“Don’t you mean oui? You’re a terrible French man.”

“Ailin said to act as inconspicuous as possible.” He snapped completely British now. “Don’t do anything stupid, they’ve got demons tracking you and don’t try and use any technology or phones because they won’t work.”

 “How much do you know?” Since he was being honest now, I decided to try and find out some kind of information.

“That you’ve been taken miles away for a reason and it needs to stay that way. You just got given a free holiday courtesy of the council, go out and enjoy it!” Putting his little cap thing back on to cover the developing bald spot on his crown, he left the staff room and despite being told technology wasn’t going to work for me, didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try; I just had to be smart about it.

Leaving the hotel, the streets were bustling with morning life. People in business attire moved at their own pace, quicker than the fumbling tourists or locals who seemed oblivious to the chaos. Coffee caught my attention first and finding a café took my time in ordering breakfast, people watching as I tried to work out who was what. The city seemed void of supernatural life, but the Hunter at the hotel was right. I did have a demon tracking me and I knew it was the Shadowess from the other night.

It was easy to be distracted by the city, getting lost here was more a treat than torture and coming across a museum the display it advertised had me going inside.  When I was younger, my parents used to take Jordan and I to the opening of all the shows involving the artifacts our family had donated over the years. Despite my views on a lot of things, history fascinated me. Lost civilizations and folklore is interesting, just not when you’re being forced to study it or it involves bringing back some kind monster you don't really want to know about it. Not everything from the past needs to be remembered.

The Ancient Egypt things lured me in, and looking at old bits of pottery it was the section on the Gods of the Underworld that had me studying the plaques. Alfie would love this stuff and moving on, the apparent cursed statue of Anubis was very familiar. This was one of our pieces and reading over all the horrible deaths that the finders suffered almost made me laugh. Yes, they did all die. Trackers don’t deal well with demons and the story of the plague like symptoms that befell them was a lie. The only one to be seen in the worn sepia photo was my ancestor because he knew what the hell he was doing when they went to slay the demon who guarded the temple of treasures.

“I wouldn’t look at that for too long, you might get cursed!”

Turning, the man standing beside me grinned back like a moron. Maybe he had been cursed with stupidity, though looking him over – that wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t talk much. His blonde hair was too long for what I thought acceptable on a guy. It sat just above his shoulders and kind brown eyes made me feel a tiny bit bad for thinking such mean thoughts about him.

“Right.” I mumbled, walking on.

“I’m kidding, but did you know that guy there, Edward Bunting was the only survivor and then five years later he died.” He’s telling me my family history now?

“I know, but not because of some rumored curse.”

“How do you know? He died in a similar way to the other guys in his team!”

Yeah, because he got outsmarted by a similar demon who also liked to spray acidic spit at their attackers. “He is running around the desert, there is a lot out there that remains undiscovered, even now. It was a coincidence.”

“Sounds like you don’t believe in curses?” He smiles, clearly enjoying this conversation more than I am. He doesn’t look like he belongs in a museum, maybe on a beach somewhere and his tanned skin tells me I could be right.

“Nope!” Because if I did, the fact Edwards whole family line was meant to have died similar deaths in the weeks following his death meant I would not exist. His son died at age forty six after being set upon by vampires and his son was Alistair’s father. Did no one do a family tree check?

“I’m Matt!” He introduces, extending his hand I notice the flecks of paint, but don’t take it.

“Ok?” Looking away, I kept walking. The fact he was now following me around the exhibit made me suspicious. He appeared to be human, but at the moment I wasn’t going to let myself be fooled.

“What’s your name?” Matt asks, genuinely interested.

“What’s with the twenty questions?” I stop, narrowing my eyes at him. Nothing about him seemed fake, I only got good vibes off him. He wasn’t a threat and his face fell at my rudeness.

“Sorry, just being friendly. No need to turn Queen B on me!”

“Queen B?”

“Bitch.” He smirked and then walked away.

I had to laugh and kept browsing through the exhibit. After I was done down stairs, I wandered up to the café and the art gallery. It was easy to get lost in a painting, the expression and detail artists can show was a talent I was actually envious of. After grabbing another coffee, I stopped to sit in front of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Whoever had did this put a lot of effort into it. Her blonde hair stretched out into the sky while the roses that covered the floor appeared to be so real you could reach in and pick them out of the wall. The wings on her back looked soft enough to stroke and despite the beauty of the picture, there was something darker about it too. Her face was too sad, the tears almost ruining the serenity of the moment captured.

“Hello again.”

“Matt.” I answered dryly, not ready to leave my spot just yet.

“Do you like this one?”

Sighing, I gave in and decided to make small talk. “I do.”

“Well you clearly have good taste!” I look at him confused, before clicking on.

“You did it?”

“I sure did!” He boasted, “All of the ones in this section are from the School of Art down the road. It was a competition.”

“Who is she?”

“My sister, she died of cancer a couple of years ago and now the world gets to see her.”

We keep talking, discussing the exhibits below us and some of the other pieces of art. I feel like the clock has been rewound about eight years and while our parents do the boring adult stuff with the museum curators, Jordan and I are running around coming up with whatever our imaginations could create from pictures and things from a different era. It’s refreshing and the worst part is, it makes me miss my brother even more.

My old brother, before he graduated and became an asshole and got himself held hostage - which reminds me.

“Do you have a phone on you?” I ask hopefully.

“Sure,” He gets it out and puts it on the table. “Did you need it?”

“Kind of. Once I’m gone, can you please do exactly what I put down on here?’” I grab a napkin and looking around find a pen.

“Sounds interesting?”

“It’s really important you do exactly what is on here.” I start to right out instructions and take out five hundred dollars from my stash. “Thank you for today Matt.”

“You still haven’t told me your name?” He takes the napkin, his eyes widening at the sight of the money.

“Ellen, Ellen Bradshaw.” I smile, hating myself for how easy it is to lie.

“Well Ellen, if you’re ever in town again – call me. Unless you’re part of a drug ring or something and then, well – enjoy jail and don’t dog me out.” He hands me a business card and the number on it will be useless if he does what I tell him to. He actually does seem to have some kind of intelligence, despite what I thought when we first met and the money should be an incentive.

“Trust me, it’s nothing illegal. But you might want to do as the note says.” I walk away without another word. With the message to Logan, Reece and my Parents hopefully going out right now, I pray they’re not too annoyed with me for what I’m about to do.

“Hey Ellen, I’m sorry for calling you a bitch earlier!” He calls out across the hall. “You’re really not!”

“Then you don’t know me very well at all!” I call back, laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.

I get lost twice trying to find the hotel and once there freshen up, eat and once I’m ready – take off the ring Oz gave me, slipping it into my pocket. Despite being taken to a completely new continent, I have no doubt they’re still looking for me and getting to the roof of the building I take a moment to admire the view of the Eiffel tower one last time. I wasn’t wrong, barely five minutes pass before I’m not alone and turning six of the dark fae stand cloaked behind me.

“Found you Hunter.” I’m not sure which one speaks as the hoods of their black capes cover their faces and rolling my eyes, I laugh bitterly.

“No shit. Did you ever think I wanted you to find me?”

“You’re outnumbered.” Another growls.

“Thank you for pointing that out Captain Obvious. Come on, let’s not keep your boss waiting.”

Just like that, I’m standing in front of Selene.

She sits proudly on her throne, and glancing around I’m back in the part of her pack house the decorator forgot about.

“Hello Hunter.” She purrs, tapping her extended nails on the edge of her seat.

“Miss me?” I ask, slipping the ring back on discreetly. It is then I realize we’re alone. No shifters, no werewolves, no bad fairies – just me and her. I know not to get too far ahead of myself, just because I couldn’t see them now doesn’t mean they’re not around.

She smirks before answering, pausing rather dramatically before finally speaking.  “Oh you have no idea!”

“The feeling is mutual, trust me.” I smile sweetly and the door behind me opens with Big Al walking in.

“Take her downstairs and make sure our guest is kept, comfortable.”

I don’t protest or struggle as Al grabs me, once again throwing me over his shoulder. I wave as we leave the room, finding satisfaction in the glare she sends me out with.

“So you guys have been busy huh, what with trying to destroy the world and all?” I swing my legs idly, making him pin them down against his chest. “Still a big talker?”

He only grunts and I’m taken down to where Alfie had been created, kind of. Instead of going left, we go right and he roughly tosses me into a cell. I fall hard on my arm and watch as he closes and locks the door. Getting up I look around and freeze at the sight of Jordan in the corner.

“Jordan!” Running over, I drop down beside him. He is beat up pretty badly and even in the crappy lighting I can see the bruises and cuts. He gasps as I take his hand, and opening his eyes he blinks a few times while I can’t stop my tears.

“Ellie?” He manages to stutter.

“It’s ok Jordan, we can get out of this.” I promise, helping him as he tries to sit up. I carefully hug him, trying not to cry even more and all he does is nod. “We’re Buntings. We can do anything!”

We had less than a week before the Blood Moon so whatever my great idea was to get out of here better hurry it’s ass up and come to me because right now I had clue what to do. On the plus, I had Jordan with me now and that was a start.