Three long, boring days I’d been kept in this strange compound. The majority of my time was spent walking around a garden with cats. If I had disliked the shifters who got their mutt fur on my pants, cats were another story. Even demonic cat creatures shed like it was change of season and my black jeans and shirt were suffering for it.

There wasn’t a way out. The garden never ending and even trying to test the obvious barriers they put up, I couldn’t find a weak spot. Climbing on the roof of the house didn’t help either though thanks to the ornamental design, it was easy to get onto. It wouldn’t have mattered if I did find an exit because there was at least two cats with at all times.

My patience was wearing thin and on the fourth morning I got up and went to join them in their sunrise session of something that I think was tai chi. It turned into a more gruelling work out that a Pilates class and as they lined up to inside for ninja training, I joined in. I had no chance in keeping up with them. Backflips weren’t exactly my specialty and these women moved like they were made of rubber. I’m pretty sure they only let me get involved as a form of entertainment and after hitting myself repeatedly with the nun-chucks, Toyo threw me over a samurai sword.

“After that, is this a good idea?” I asked doubtfully, admiring the blade as I pulled it from the sheath.

“How will you learn if you do not try?”

“I can learn another way without slicing off any of my limbs!” I rubbed my arm where I had hit myself and at least the knock to my head hadn’t been bad enough to do any actual injury.

“No. You have nothing to fear so will be lazy.” She bowed and the cats all surrounded us to watch.

We barely made one strike against each other when Ailin returned. “Elise. Your phone call has come.”

“Now?”  I whine, actually keen in learning something from these things while I was here. While we get trained in a variety of combat styles and weaponry, we don’t really specialise in anything. The thought of returning as some kind of kick ass black belt ninja hunter appealed to me.

She says nothing and I follow her back to my room where I small wooden table now sat beside my cushion and walking in the phone rings to interrupt the silence of this part of the house. The door is slid shut behind me and sighing, answer.

“Hi there, you’ve reached Elise Bunting. Hunter extraordinaire. I am unable to come to the phone at the moment so please your message after the beep. Beep!”

“Really Elise?” Mums scolding voice comes down the line, clearly unimpressed.

“Mum?”

“Please tell me you are behaving yourself?”

I’m being held hostage, again – and she wants to know if I’m behaving myself?

“No, I’ve been sneaking the cats in catnip. It’s not pretty.”

“Elise!” My Father warns and instantly I smile.

“Yes Daddy?”

“We are here with his excellence, President Ronaldo Vinci.” I feel like I should care about that tiny piece of information. The President is the one currently running the Treaty Keeping Council, so a call from him probably means I am deep shit. What’s new?

“So?”

Dad groans and the demanding voice that follows has me paying attention. Ronaldo was once a Hunter before he got involved in the politics of our kind. He didn’t really do much before he got elected into Council either so to me, he didn’t really deserve it. Then again, I wasn’t going to tell him that.

“Miss Bunting, you are in grave danger. The Kasha have been assigned with your care and I hope you are not letting your reputation fail you now.”

“My reputation?” I ask cautiously, gripping the phone a little tighter.

“From what we have had reported in recent weeks-“

“Reported? Did you see the report on me taking down Alison, or sorting out the territory war with the shifters and the Alpha Selene? Or maybe you missed the part where I..” I didn’t get to finish as Dad got involved.

“Elise, silence! We are all well aware of what has been going on. Jordan told us what happened when he arrived at the underground and your attitude!”

“Did Jordan tell you the part where I got out without them all knowing and, oh wait. Of course he didn’t because I don’t know what I’m talking about right? Guess which one of your kids hasn’t been captured by the enemy?”

Silence.

I hang up the phone.

“Guess that’s my reputation failing me!” I snap at the device before realising I now have a phone in my possession. Picking up the receiver, there is a dial tone and I call the first number that comes into my head.

“Hello?”

“Reece, its me.”

“Elise! Where the hell are you? We’ve had to get Sonia to help us locate Alfie. He got seen by humans and is freaking out because he can’t seem to find you!”

“Shit! Do you have him back yet?”

“Almost. How did you know to call now? We’re in the sewers  as her little crystal thing hit here on a map.” There was something in his voice that made me shiver. His desperation didn’t seem completely due to needing to find Alfie before to many questions are asked. “Where are you?”

“No idea. I’m ok though, the council put me in some kind of witness protection program with a bunch of cats.”

“Cats?”

“Demons. Katsa or something.”

“Never heard of them.” I can hear shouting and the phone fills with static.

“Reece? Are you there?”

“We found Alfie, he just came flying towards us. Talk to him, you’re on speaker!”

“Alfie, it’s me. Calm down, I’m safe.”

“Elise is on the phone? What the fuck?” Logan yells.

“Shut up Logan, Alfie, can you hear me?”

“Elissse? Elise safe?”

“Yes Alfie. I need you to be a good boy and stay with Logan and Reece. Do what they say. I miss you!”

“I miss Elise too. Home Elise?”

“Soon Alfie. Logan, I really didn’t run away this time.”

“Yeah ninja’s came right?” He doesn’t sound like he fully believes me.

“Yeah, they’re cat demons.”

“Shifters?”

“No, like I will eat your soul kind of demons. But they’re not like that now. I hope not. Maybe I should be nicer to them?”

Logan laughs, but it’s forced and I can only imagine what they’ve been doing since I left. The door starts to slide open and I cough awkwardly, sitting up a little straighter. “Thank you President Vinci, I understand.”

Hanging up, Ailin walks in and as I put the phone down she removes the table from the room without another word. Sighing, I drop down onto the hard wooden floors satisfied the guys are ok and Alfie is safe. For now.

“Miss Bunting?” Sitting up I freeze at the sight of the man in front of me. He was just on the phone, so how is he here? “I don’t believe we’ve officially met. Ronaldo Vinci, pleasure.”

“Ah,” I’m speechless. Now I really must be in deep shit.

 I take his hand and he helps me stand. Instinctively I bow and stand to attention, like a soldier in front of their general.

“As I was saying before we had, communication errors, you are here for your own protection.”

So I may have thought he didn’t exactly earn  the position of President, but screw telling him that. He was a giant. Maybe someone in his lineage had an affair with one. The tallest person I knew was 6’3 and he was a good head or so taller than him. The fact he was built like a tank didn’t translate in the pictures or network videos I had seen of him and had he been twenty years younger, he could have been attractive. Growing old can be harsh, and surely he only got that big thanks to some kind of steroids.

Yup, not someone I wanted to piss off.

“Yes Sir.”

Did I actually just call him sir?

It seems to surprise him too and my three bodyguards take place along the exit as if to stop me from running. Please, this guy would catch me in a step; I’m not that stupid.

“We have identified the threat and are working on disarming it. You’re assistance in raising the alarm of the crime against the Treaty has been more helpful and I would expect nothing less from a Bunting.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Sir? Again? Internally I groan, hating myself for being so submissive.

“Miss Bunting, relax. I am not here to reprimand you. Once we had a handle on the situation, I wanted to speak to you myself.”

“What about Jordan? If you have a handle on the situation, do you have him?”

“Not at this time, we are close to locating the dark fae who have been hiding him.” Now was that hesitation I heard?

“Close how?”

“Miss Winters has been helping with our enquiries.”

“Because you can trust her!” Finally my sarcasm returns. “How did she even get the fangs? Why hadn’t anyone reported those crimes? The vampire who was behind it last year was found out, surely a Slayer doing the same thing would be picked up too?”

“Miss Winters was working within the Council and, well bad judgement on our behalf. She stole them from our inventory.” I got the impression he didn’t want to keep talking anymore. He even started to shift his weight from one foot to the other clearly uncomfortable. The fact I laughed, didn’t help.

“Bad judgment on our behalf?” I repeat, feeling more and more like our whole network was run by incompetent idiots. I wasn’t brave enough to tell him that though. “And now you’re using her for leads?”

“Yes. We are currently negotiating her punishment so the more helpful she is, the more chances she has of surviving in a demon run prison. I am not going to discuss the case further Miss Bunting. It is imperative you stay here, safe, until Selene is caught or the blood moon has passed!” He growled, seeming to regain his self-control back.

“I have a Tracker, a Slayer and a Demon watching over me. I was safe where I was and staying-“

“You have a Slayer who didn’t wake up right after that attack, a Tracker who is blinded by his love of you hasn’t even noticed the shifters tracking him and a demon who is more likely to turn against you the first chance he gets. If you were so safe, how did the Kasha take you?” He yells and again, I am back to feeling submissive at his attack. Hell I hated the guy, but he’d get my vote for the presidency if he wanted it. “You’ve done enough, enjoy your vacation and once this is over just think how you can go back to your old life. I can even make sure you get into the college you wanted”

“But-“

“Goodbye Miss Bunting.” Ailin rested her arm on his and both of them disappeared.

Turning around I kicked the cushion into the opposite wall and hearing the door slide shut, realised I was actually alone. No cats, no ninjas. No one to hear me. “I don’t want my old life back!”

Checking each wall, there was definitely nothing there. Sliding it, I peeked around the corridor before going out and since I never got to see what was in the other rooms, tried my best to get into them. All were sealed shut and hearing hushed voices in the very end room, tried it. I moved it barely a couple of centimetres – enough to peek through and the room was a normal looking bedroom. Two sets of bunk beds lined each wall, a desk with a computer on was by a window and a phone was perched on a night stand. A cat slept on the top bunk and two younger girls sat in the middle of the floor, whispering to one another.

“Lost?” Ailin reappeared making me jump and I made a note about the computer and phone being in there.

“Yes. I’m hungry.”

She groaned, day by day bits of her actual personality was coming through. “This way.”

I followed her obediently and leaving the building behind, we crossed the bridge to another over and down the next hill. The food hall smelt like rice, which kind of reminded me of popcorn and now I actually was hungry.

“So what is this place?”

“Our home.” She answered simply.

“Inner or outer city. You said I wasn’t in Japan, am I still in my country?”

“So many questions.”

“I can ask more, and eventually you will have to start answering them.”

“No I won’t” A tiny smile had her tightly pressed lips curling and most of her humour came from my discomfort.

“Do cats get on with snakes?” I ask innocently, taking a helping of the rice and vegetables.

“If you are referring to your demon, he is no threat to us.”

“Did you know he can sense where I am, and he has tail spikes that can cut a vampire in half.” I boast, praying she didn’t pick up on what I was trying to find out. “Wouldn’t want to be you when you gets here.”

“He will not be able to find you here. We have our own magic in place to block out all others. Even the fae cannot defeat us.” Now she smiled, feeling very self-confident.

Answer one – check.

“I dunno. He did break out of the Academy and find me. Where there is a will there is a way!” I grab some water and follow her to a table.

“Not this time Hunter.”

“You sound so sure?” I keep pressing, hoping for more details. Taking the chop sticks, I don’t hold back. The food here is amazing.

“You are a quick learner. Your first meal here you did not use those.” She pointed at my hand, “I will teach you some self-defence. You fight like you are a commoner. You are a Hunter, you need to improve your skill.”

“There is nothing wrong with how I fight.”

“You are a quick learner. You will see I am right once we are done.”

Then another thought occurs to me.

“Why can’t you just scoop in and grab Jordan like you did me if you’re all so mighty and powerful?”

“You had a single light fae guarding you. He has a whole coven of dark fae and we do not bother ourselves with minor issues. They need both of you to succeed. If we keep you apart, they will fail. Look at the big picture Elise.”

“So you’re sacrificing him?” I asked in disbelief.

“Come.”  She gets up and reluctantly I follow. Going to one of the ponds near the food hall she looks around and picks up something from the ground, passing it to me. I look at the rock confused and she waves to the pond. “Throw it in.”

I oblige, watching as it breaks the surface with a plonk and the ripples rush out over the surface interrupting the calm.

“What did you see?” She asks, looking at me expectantly.

“I threw a rock in the water?”

“What happened?”

“It made a splash?”

 “And now?” Looking back over the surface, it was flat and undisturbed as if nothing had ever happened.

“It’s settled down.”

“Exactly. Mizo no kokoru Hunter.” She seems pleased with herself as she just some kind life altering point.

“In English?”

“Mind like water.”

I sigh, still not getting it and she frowns realising that.

“The rock was your thoughts. Did you focus more on watching the waves or staying where the water is calm?” I don’t need to answer her.
“When you are distracted, you cannot respond with a clear mind. You see your brother as the rock, and you can’t let one ripple impact the whole pond especially once it’s over nothing has changed.”

I understood it now, her bigger picture was loud and clear. Didn’t mean I was going to accept it. “He is my brother! You can’t really expect me to stay here and let this all happen?”

She shrugged, she actually just shrugged at me while discussing my brother’s life like it was as insignificant as a rock. To make my own point, I looked down through the clear surface and against the gravel bottom my brothers rock was obvious. Reaching down I got it back. “Fuck your little zen moments, he is my family and even if shit gets calm again – I’m not leaving him to sit at the bottom of a stupid pond.”

Shaking my wet arm in an attempt to dry it off, I headed back to my room and as four cats started to follow me I turned around and hissed at them. Instantly one arched up, its spine curving into a perfect hump as its hair stood on end and it hissed back. “Bring it!”

Surprisingly it backed down and I went the rest of the way alone. How the hell was I going to get out here?

-x-

Cats aren’t supposed to like water. I saw a video on you tube where a lady tried to bathe her pet and it skits out. So I was more than curious to see how these demons would react to it. Creeping around the yard, there was one area I was always diverted away from and in the twilight before dawn, I made my way there. More endless garden awaited me and yet I didn’t get far before I was stopped and reached out, the wall was hidden by the same garden portrait.

Bingo.

Going back to the lake, I filled two buckets I found on the veranda and trying not to spill anything, made it over the bridge and was nearly at the point of the wall when the cats came running. In a swirly haze of smoke, Ailin, Toyo and Lili stood defensively, prepared to stop me.

“Now now kitties, don’t you have a sofa to go scratch or a fur ball to hock up?”

“Elise, do not make us use force to stop you.” Toyo warned, raising her arms I expected her to start naming her positions. Bending Crane. The Flying Lotus… I don’t watch enough kung fu to know any others.

“I have no intention of getting to that point. After all, my mind is like water…” If this didn’t work, I expected to be in for some major pain. Picking up the first bucket, they watched confused at what I was doing – until I threw the water in their direction. Lili hissed and leapt out of the way leaving Ailin and Toyo to get the bulk of the water.

With my way clear, I threw the second bucket on Lili and Ailin as they grouped together and seeing more cats running over didn’t wait around to see what happened when their wailing was over. Pounding on the wall, it gave way and the whole image flickered to show nothing but bricks and seeing the doorframe ran to my left and pushed against it. Using my full strength and shoulder, I broke it open and running out didn’t expect to be  on the roof of a building and going to edge, stepped back. The ground would have been non-existent in the dim light of dawn if not for the tiny dots of streetlights and cars and that alone told me I was too high to even consider jumping or climbing down.

Something sharp tapped on my shoulder and I knew my time was over. Turning around slowly, I got to see what a Kasha actually was. While feline with paws, a cat like head and being covered in fur, the body was human shaped and towered over me with much more of a presence than Ricardo had possessed. It was like meeting the Death, your worst enemy and your greatest fear all in one. They moved with the agility of a cat, their steps so light it was almost as if they were floating and their green eyes were like lasers finding their target. Me.

“So, we’re on a rooftop? That’s cool – love what you did back there. It really adds a whole new meaning to roof top garden?” I mumble nervously, knowing how screwed I was now.

The creature that appeared in front of me had to be Ailin, like in human form she was slightly taller than the others and opening her mouth, it was like staring into a sharks jaws. They didn’t have that when they were cats.

“You disobeyed us!” It managed to speak, even with all those teeth.

“Just felt like admiring the view!” I lied, stepping back, falling didn’t seem like such a bad option now.

“Take her inside. She is confined to her quarters until further notice.”

Yup, jumping seemed like a great idea. Claws that were more reptile than feline reached out to grab me and despite trying to jump, they grabbed me easily and even wriggling in an attempt to break free, I was stuck and sure enough was thrown back into my room only this time my cushion was gone. Guess that was my punishment.

I thought wrong, my punishment came ten minutes later with a cat placed in each corner of the room. They didn’t blink, they didn’t move and going near them they only hissed and took a swipe at me. Laying down in the centre of the room, I decided to try and punish them back.

“You know, all of this started because of Logan. If he had never had to be all, ‘I’m going to say something to get under your skin and make you do something stupid like trying to find your brother’, I might not be here now. You know, I thought he was pretty hot back then. Honestly, I really think that now. I was playing this game on my iPhone and I think you’ll all hate it. You have to farm virtual crops and zombies to then act as your farmers. You grow turnips. I don’t even like turnips. Anyway so he comes in, and is all hey you, and I’m like, dude personal space. So then this stupid fae gives my name away and then he must think we’re like BFF’s cause he follows me when I leave the office…”

I keep going until my voice is croaky and I’d kill for some water. One of the cats has gone, another is asleep and the other two look rather frazzled. When Lili walks in the trio bolt out of the door as if they were being chased by a dog and her eyes narrow in on me.

“What did you do to them?”

“Funny story,” I cough, really needing some water. It must have been days by now. “Take a seat and I’ll fill you in.”

“If you stop your attempts to leave, Ailin will permit you to go to lunch.”

“How long have I been in here?” Getting up, my back feels like I’ve been laying on nails and I stretch to try and work it out the tightness.

“Four hours.”

“Hours? Not days?”

“You’re rather dramatic aren’t you?” She smiles, and I see my weak link in the sisters.

“Only when the situation calls for it.”

She leads me over to the empty food hall and all that’s left is scraps really.  I don’t care, and I think I drink a litre of water in a two second period.

“You were clever to get out.” She compliments.

“But not enough to get away.” I mumble.

“We are on your side. None of us want them to succeed.”

“Oh, cat and dog thing right?”

She laughs softly to herself, “No. Who knows what else will be able to come out if they open the other world? If they know to expect it, the wolf and vampire will be the least of our issues. My kind don’t just carry the souls of evil humans to the other side, we have enemies too. All earth bound creatures do.”

I hadn’t thought about that.

“Do you know how this actually all works? Like what will happen or what they need to do to open the portal?”

“The fae will connect with their master of power, and they need a bunch of things like vampire fangs, demon blood, animal sacrifice. Something to connect all the species to them to use their strengths and immortality to go through the summoning. Then once they have created the portal, that’s where you and Jordan come in.”

I’ve stopped eating, enthralled with her story. “And?”

“Then with your blood, they will be able to call out the ones they want. Problem with that is, in getting them the portal is opened and anything can come out.”

“Why now? Why us? If it was that simple, surely they could have done it any other time during the years?”

“I don’t know. The right people exist at the right time. Blood Moons aren’t common and the fact the stars are aligning like they did when the Vampire was sent away and the Lord Alpha was killed helps. Believe it or not, no one wants what is in the Other World to come here. For the most part, everyone is happy living with humans and all this world offers.”

Once you got Lili talking, she doesn’t shut up.

“Why don’t people stop them then?”

“Some are excited, the werewolves want the Lord Alpha to return. If he bites them when they’re werewolves it is rumoured they will be cured or turned into shifters instead. The Vampire is said to be the one to bring the vampires back to the top of the demon ladder. No one apart from blood suckers, like blood suckers.”

“You’re very interesting to speak to Lili.” I muse, going back to my food.

“Indeed she is. Lili, leave us.” Ailin stands at the end of the table and with a nod, she disappears. “Your training starts now.”

In other words, she plans on kicking my ass as payback for getting out.

“Fine, let’s get this over with.” Groaning I follow her into the gym.

Touching my arm, my clothes change and I’m dressed in the same outfit as her which is surprisingly comfortable. Fighting in pyjamas, not a bad idea. For the most part, she goes on easy on me and as soon as I start getting confident she trips me over. Then again. She keeps me going until I can’t breathe and when I fall, I don’t get up.

“Ok, I won’t escape again.” I manage to get out.

“This was never about that Elise. Again you focus only on the ripples of the water.  Time is like the river, you cannot touch the same water twice because once it has gone by, it will never be passed again.”

“My head hurts too much to understand your riddles.”

“It’s water under the bridge.” Toyo appears to help me up.

“In stupid exhausted Hunter terms?”

“It’s in the past, leave it there.” The pair nod, liking that explanation.

“Right.” My legs tremble underneath me and as Toyo steps back, Ailin comes forth again. “Please, no more. If it’s in the past, why are you torturing me?”

“I am not torturing you. I teaching you focus away from the ripples. All you see now is pain, exhaustion and weakness. Look beyond that, as a Hunter, you are capable of it.”

I want to tell her I got thrown out a car, fought vampires and then ran what felt like a million miles to find Alfie – but I think she already knows that and it doesn’t matter what I can do amongst the ripples. I need to look beyond that.

“I think I just made sense of all this crap!” Smiling, even that takes all my energy, yet a new peace gives me the ability to go on. “Bring it.”

I don’t last long before she has me on my back again and this time I don’t argue or complain when I get up or the next time. No I saved all of that for the following morning. Breakfast didn’t last long enough and I was being sent back into the gym. Though as the door was opened and the giant green snake burst in, I got over it pretty quick.

“Alfie!” Running to meet him, the cattery emerged and all turned into their demon form. “Don’t hurt him!”

Spying me behind the wall of Kasha, Alfie just looked pissed. His eyes turned red and it turned into a hissing match. They all circled him, waiting to pounce and as he got ready to strike I found my way through the bodies and went to him. “Do not hurt him!”

One of the demons leapt forward as if she was flying through the air and as Alfie went to strike her, I know better than to fight violence with violence. “No Alfie!”

As she went to dig in her claws, I got in the way and as we fell, Alfie grabbed me in his tail and pulled me out from under her. They kept defensive, yet I could sense their shift in mood.

“Your demon, he is controlled by you?” Aislin moved forward as her human self.

“Yes, hence the whole my demon thing! Make them leave him alone, he won’t hurt them unless they hurt me!”

“We thought he was sent by them to guard you, not protect you. That you were his prisoner.”

“I created him! He obeys me!” He lowers his head, checking I am ok. “Hey pal, thanks for finding me.”

“Elise safe?”

“Yes Alfie, but where is Reece and Logan?”

“I find Elise. I found you.” I scratch under his chin as his eyes go back to black from red.

“You’re little trip outside must have been enough for him to locate you.” Lili spoke up and looking back, everyone was watching us completely amazed.

“Obviously. He stays, no one hurts him.” I demand.

“We have to move. If he found you, who knows what’s next!” Toya goes to Aislin and a loud conversation breaks out in Japanese.

“Alfie, where are the guys?”

“Gone.”

“Gone? I told you to stay with them!”

“I did. I find Elise. They try to stop Alfie, but I find Elisse. Safe.”

“I know Alfie.” I can’t be mad at him and looking back towards where he came in, two women have already sealed the opening.

We’re left alone and he instantly goes into the river. I sit on the bridge and dangle my feet over the edge while he is happy underneath me. The Kasha are busy making plans to move and I can’t work out what to do next.

“Elisse?”

“Yes Alfie?” He rises up and rolling out his tongue, drops a plastic bag in my lap and I try not to cringe at the snake spit over it. “Ah, thanks.”

There is a mobile phone inside of it, Logan’s to be exact and amazingly, I have signal.

“How Alfie?”

“Give to Elissse when find her. Logon sssaid so.”

I hug him tightly and before I can turn it on, Ailin comes over. I tuck it into my bra because that worked well last time and smile at her innocently.

“You need to come inside, both of you, so we can move.”

I nod, getting up. “Come on Alfie.”

He follows me obediently, turning into his demon so he can inside easily and sure enough as I stare out the window, everything disappears like when I was bought here and as the breathlessness leaves me, the outside is as it was. Everyone emerges in cat form and just like that, we’d moved spots.

Going into my room I lay down against Alfie and turn on the phone. Making sure it’s on silent, I get a message from Reece’s number sent by Logan.

We will find you. L

Instead I turn off the GPS thing and send him one back.

Don’t. Keep yourself safe, it’s best I stay here. E xxx

It’s a lie, of course I am going to try and save Jordan, but I don’t want anyone else getting involved. I already have one ripple in my pond, I don’t need two more distracting me.