Thanks to my ability of not driving at the same pace as a snail going up a hill like a certain Tracker I know, the trip back to the city didn't take anywhere near as long as it did when he was driving. It was nearly midnight by the time I stopped my bike in the lane way behind the theatre Chris and Zane had tried to drug me in and going breaking in, started looking for Lasandra.

"Ghosty Mrs Macbeth, you here?" I called out, creeping up the stairwell that took me onto the stage. "Hello?"

"You know we don't get many trespassers in here, actually we don't get any!" She appeared at the edge of the stage and in the green glow of the exit lights she definitely looked ghoulish.

"Maybe because they heard this building is haunted?" I head over to sit beside her and she smiles before clapping her hands and all around the lights flash on and off until finally just the row of emergency lights in the aisles stay on.

"Rumors. All rumors!"

"Obviously!" I agree, laughing at her antics.

"Good to see you're in one piece. What did those men want with you?"

"Long story, but to sum it up - take me away for safekeeping cause I have some werewolves after me."

"Clearly they succeeded?" She giggles to herself.

"They did get me, but another long story short, I escaped. I'm here now because I was hoping you could help me out with a few things?" I ask hopefully.

"Things?" Her interest is obvious and clearly not much happens around here so this must all be a nice change of pace for her.

"Dress up things."

"Honey, now you are speaking my language!"

She leads me off stage and through the curtains, down into the dressing rooms. Lights turn on and off as we go, lighting up the way as we need it and stopping in front of the rooms I open the door and we go in. Instantly the exposed globes around the mirror light up, revealing a wide selection of makeup, hairpins and other things. Had I been five and playing dress ups in here, I would have thought I hit the jackpot.

"Now, what were you thinking?" She turns the corner and the light turns on in a wardrobe revealing a variety of sequined costumes, medieval dresses and a heap of wigs.

"I need to blend in." I pick up a bright red fro wig and put it down, "Not anything that will get too much attention."

"Let me see what we have!" Lasandra disappears for a few minutes and I start to pin my hair up ready for my new hairstyle. Playing with the makeup, I get to work and so does she. By the time I'm done my costume is waiting for me. She has found a perfect barely there black sequined mini-dress, a cute blonde bob wig and the red heels look like something a stylish yet naughty Dorothy would wear. Maybe they did a retelling of Wizard of Oz involving a naughty nurse version of the Kansas witch killer?

The dress gets a yes and the shoes are left behind. After hunting around I manage to find a similar pair in black. Compared to what I've been wearing in the last few months, being out of jeans and exposed is weird and walking around I have to adjust to the heels. I don't like me at all. I increased my lashes by applying fakes, and changed my eyes to blue with the help of a pair of contacts. My lips are an extremely unnatural shade of ruby and I actually like the blonde look. Lasandra wolf whistles, sitting in the chair in from of me.

"I'd ask how much, but I know I can't afford you!"

"I am going to take that as a compliment." I check myself out, running my hand over the stretched fabric of the dress and spying a bottle of perfume, go overboard with the musky floral tones.

"So what's your plan?" She looks me up and down once more, clapping her hands together excitedly.

"Have a good time?" I shrug.

"Looking for a fella?" She asks coyly.

"No! So not looking for a fella!"

She looks thoughtful for a moment, "I have a feeling you're going to find one!"

"The only guy I want to find is my brother."

"We'll see. Have a good night darling. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" And just like she disappears, sending the room into darkness.

"Thanks for the light!" I call out only getting her laughter in response, yet as I left the room and headed back towards the way I came in, she makes sure I get there by leaving the right lights on for me.

-x-

At this time of night, all the bars and clubs are getting a real work out. Humans walk amongst the vampires and other demonic creatures completely oblivious and that's how it should be. I blend in perfectly; even earning a compliment from a drunken girl in line at a nightclub I pass.

I needed to focus.

What good is being a Hunter, if I can't even hunt down what I'm looking for? Focusing on my feelings, the vampires seemed to dominate the area. Then there it was. Opening my eyes, I instantly looked down the street where the flame of the torches out the front appeared to have a black center rather than a blue as normal flames do.

Once inside, the air felt heavier too and those subtle signs told me I came to the right place. Walking in, I quickly realize there is no one here like me. While I blend in on the outside, that's as far as it goes - especially here. I feel the heat on my back as I walk through the club and up to the bar. The vampires aren't shy, not trying to hide themselves from me at all. Then again if I held the majority of numbers in here, I wouldn't be so keen to blend in either. If I only I was looking for vampires, I'd have been set.

Drunken partygoers stumble around me, one spills their drink over the bar and this makes them laugh even harder. The DJ changes the dancy pop tune to somehting a little darker and slower and even the lights start to dim turning most of the people into shadows than actual figures. Not creep at all in a bar dominated by vampires.

"I thought there was something familiar about you, Hunter."

Picking up my drink I turn smiling to see the leader of the group of dark fae I met a last month. "Sorry have we met?"

"Come on, before the vamps decide to make you dinner." She laughs, and the group of pale skinned, raven-haired fae's she takes me to fit the vampire stereotype better than the actual vampires.

'I presume you are here for us?' Her voice is in my mind before I take a seat and sipping my drink, the others don't even look in my direction.

'Not you specifically, but since you're here I'm hoping you'd be able to help?' Looking at her, she seems more amused than anything else.

'What do you want?'

'You said last time we met you were looking into some of your kind working for humans for the right price. What did you find?'

Instead of answering, she laughs and takes a big gulp of her drink. "Nothing, humans were not the ones behind it. Yet I think you already knew that which is why you are here?"

"That's right. I had my own theories. Is there a reason there are no werewolves or shifters are in this place?" I don't miss the way the nearby group of vampires lean back in the chairs and are clearly trying to hear more of what we're talking about.

"Do you care?" She raises her eyebrow and her voice is back in my mind. 'Say no.'

"No, I find it refreshing. You know how much I don't like the dogs."

"Of course Hunter, you make it hard to forget. I say we dance!" I know these creatures enjoy partying, but dancing now? It seems strange even to me and as she gets up and the girl beside me does too and I follow them through the crowd, finding a few humans in the mix on the way there. 'What do you want from me?'

'I need to find some of your kind, can you help me with that?' I let her take my hand and she drags me near one of the speakers and we start to dance.

'What's in it for me?' Her suspicions were obvious.

'If I can find them, I can stop them from opening up the portal to the Other World.' My admission has her missing a beat, and she stopped dancing completely.

"We were told us they weren't doing that anymore!" She hissed, her eyes turning red. Some of the vampires moved away from us and I knew that once again my gut instinct paid off.

"They lied."

The thing about fairies, light or dark is once they have a goal they stick to it. For the dark, these are usually less than honorable and since this coven were neutral, happy to just go with the flow and do their own thing while staying out trouble - being lied to wasn't a smart move on the others side.

"I will help you Hunter, let me tell the others."

Leaving the dance floor, the group gathered and judging from the facial expressions and looks being passed around I was kept on the outside like any other eavesdroppers. I didn't like that.

"Care to share?" I interrupt, taking a seat back at the table.

"Hazel has decided to help you locate the ones you seek." Someone at the other end of the table spoke up.

"Hazel?" The leader nodded, and I realized I never actually knew her name. "So what's the plan?"

"Tomorrow we find them, and tonight?" Waving at the bartender we don't have to wait long until a tray of clear colored poison that smelt suspiciously like vodka was bought over to the table. "To keeping the world how we like it!"

We all raised our glasses, yet I wasn't taking any chances and as everyone tilted their heads back I followed their lead only rather than take the shot, I spilt mine over my shoulder.

"Ladies, Hunter," the French accented vampire came to stand beside Hazel, his eyes not leaving me. "We're looking for this girl. Another Hunter. Have you seen her?"

Sure enough my photograph was passed around the group and like the others, I merely glanced it over.

"No, who is she and why would I tell a vampire?" I don't back down from his gaze, comfortable with my disguise.

"You may know the name Bunting? Your Council has also put out an alert for her too. She isn't someone you should be protecting."

I almost laughed. Almost.

"We'll keep that in mind vampire." Passing him back the photography I smile sweetly and I can already feel Hazel pressing against my mind to get in.

"Be sure you do, Hunter." The trio moves towards the bar and keep their eyes on our table.

'An alert from the Council?' She screams the second I give her access and I close my eyes to try and tone it down. I know they don't want to any trouble and once I have the coven's location, they can forget they even saw me.

'Not important.' I distract them by ordering another round and manage to convince a human to pay for it. With the protection of the fae around me I start to relax. The girls go back out onto the dance floor, and they're always a sure thing for a good time. Clearly I was having so much of a good time with my new look and having tricked the searching vampire, I didn't notice them leave and I missed one more minor detail too.

"Heard there was a Hunter making a show of herself with some dark fae in here. Why am I getting a sense of déjà vu?"

Reece.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I refuse to turn around and face him, surprised that my first initial response to his presence behind me wasn't one of fear. Maybe some time apart was doing me good?

"No? Funny, because the first time I saw this Hunter, she was drunk, dancing on a table in a bar full of vampires." The hum of his voice in my ear drowns out the music and everything else around us. A shiver that runs up my spine has a growing ache forming in the pit of my stomach as goose bumps break out over my skin.

"Pretty sure we're not on a table right now and you haven't been called a dick head yet." Turning, I forget the fae around us.

And the humans.

And the vampires.

"Surprised you even remember?" Looking into his eyes, something was different. I didn't know what, nor did I really care. His body felt too good against mine and as his hands started on my hips and then slide around to rest on my lower back, it felt like the most natural act in the world.

No, what felt like the most ordinary thing in the world was having my hands run up over his shoulder lazily hang behind his neck. We were close, too close as one tiny section of my brain decided to try bringing to my attention. With our faces barely millimeters apart, I think it was a bit late for that.

"I haven't drunk anything tonight." I choke out, as if that fact was important - like it made what ever this was ok.

"I know." He moves in closer and I am expecting his kiss only instead his face is buried against my neck to rest on my shoulder. I hadn't noticed but with the high heels on, we were nearly at the same height. "You smell, so good."

My head rolls back, exposing my neck to him completely. The warm and tender sensation of his lips dancing along my skin has the ache turning into complete desire as unable to hold back a moan, I close my eyes set on getting lost in the sensation.

Instead I'm left with the vision of fangs sinking into my neck, and as the feeling of pain mixes with pleasure making me hold onto him to tighter. I want that. I need him to bite me. The promise of how good it would feel has my feeling dizzy with lust and if I had been able to form words I would be begging him to do it.

But what would Logan think?

Logan.

If Reece was here, was he?

Instead of giving in to my new twisted and rather perverted thoughts, I manage to speak. "Logan."

"What?" Reece growls, standing up straighter I instantly miss the feeling of him so close.

"Logan," I cough awkwardly, and bring my hands down to his chest to gently push him away and put further distance between us. I can't imagine how intimate that had just looked to anyone watching. "Where is Logan?"

"At the hotel asleep." He answers simply, and I avoid looking him in the eye feeling more embarrassed than anything else over where my mind had just gone.

"Oh, good. Good. Why are you here?"

"I couldn't sleep so went for a walk and then found you."

"How did you know it was me?" I had fooled the vampire, yet Hazel had known. Then again I had wanted her too and she had met me before so would know my aura. How did Reece come here and then manage to find me in the crowd of people?

"I don't know. I just felt you and had to come in."

Something wasn't right. That nagging voice in the back of my mind had a ten piece marching band going around in circles to get my attention and the message slowly became clearer. Run.

The more I wanted to fear him, the safer I felt. I had no idea what was going on and neither did my body. From what I could tell, he was the same. It had to be all the vampires in here. Our senses would be telling us to be afraid and if any vampires tried any compulsion crap it would probably interfere with our thoughts. That explains the biting vision. I wonder if Reece had been as affected as I was?

"Elise, I- I really need to talk to you." Reece gets serious, and as he takes my hand in his the urgency is clear. After that little episode, I stupidly don't trust myself around him and with no clear boundaries between Logan and I, I wasn't about to ruin it because I had no self control.

That's what had got Reece and I together in the first place.

"Hunter, it's nearly the witching hour. We are going." Hazel interrupts and I have to go with them. Bringing Reece could ruin that, especially if he and Logan are being followed.

"Going?" Reece asks, clearly panicked.

"I need them, I was serious about keeping you and Logan out of it." I'm torn between staying with him and leaving. "Reece, what do you need to talk to me about?"

We walk back to the table and the group is getting their bags and coats, a few already leaving. He looks uncomfortable, not saying a word and I ignore the looks from Hazel. Resting my hand on his cheek, he leans into it and as we make eye contact, I quickly look away - still feeling embarrassed from earlier.

"It doesn't matter." He is lying. I know he is. "Be safe."

"I will, and once this is over -I'm all yours. We can have as many deep and meaningful convos as you want for as long as you want. I'm sorry I can't be a better friend right now." And I really meant it.

Thankfully he seemed to understand, hugging me tightly. As we parted he paused so our cheeks were left touching and it felt so much more intimate than it actually was. "Just seeing you now helped more than you know."

We walked out together and with a sad smile, I watched him start to walk back down the street.

"Reece, wait!" Running after him, I got out Logan's phone. "Can you please give this back?"

"Sure, what do you want me to tell him?" He tucked it into his pocket and in the better light of the street lamps, the way he looked me up and down made my heart start to race as finally the fear started to come back. Good thing we were parting ways.

"Anything, I don't care. Watch yourselves ok?" I hug him again, hopefully not for the last time and then run back to Hazel. "Can you do something to make sure we're not followed?"

"Already have. Too many vampires were interested in you and that Slayer." She winks making me look back. Reece is gone and a group of about six vampires are lingering outside the club watching us.

"Great." I mumble sarcastically and get into the taxi with her. We pass by the theatre and I get my things and bike, following the taxi back to her place. Clearly I have the same preference in living conditions as they do and stopping outside the mansion, its hard to imagine we're still so close to the city.

Manicured gardens seem to go on forever, the tall fence hidden by trees and shrubs. Hazel shows me to a guest room and I do a quick sweep of it, making sure it's safe. I seem to be making plenty of allies along the way and maybe the Kasha rubbed off on me, and I'm feeling that I am on the right path. Everything happens for a reason, I don't believe in co-incidence and the fact I met this coven, and found them again gives me hope.

-x-

The following night I'm sitting in the corner of the room watching them call upon all sorts of dark forces and as the final ingredient is added to the cauldron I watch on in awe as a dark purple ball rises from the pot and their chanting only gets louder.

The ball moved over to the wall where a map of the country had been set up and disappearing into the paper, a tiny purple dot now glowed - giving us their location.

"I kind of expected there to be like a sacrifice or something, not just some herbs in a pot." Standing beside Hazel we looked at the light.

"We are not witches, our magic is our own - not borrowed from the gods for some spell." She hissed, and clearly I had touched a sore spot.

"My bad."

"They are the only other coven near here, they have moved since we last saw them." She waves her hand over the map and the ball is surrounded by lines, showing what I guess are their movements around the city. They've been busy.

"That's probably because they have a werewolf alpha and my brother with them."

"Probably. How have they not located you?"

"You have your secrets, I have mine." I shrug, not trusting her enough to tell her about the ring. "If they have bound something, like a demon - can you undo it?"

"Yes, once we learn what it is and they haven't cursed it too."

"Cursed it?"

"Reflective magic. To ensure it can't be undone, we can seal it so if anyone tries to reverse it, the binding will be passed on."

"Will light fae be able to sense this too?" I ask, paranoid that by asking Sonia to help Alfie she will be in danger.

"More than we can because the magic isn't like theirs. If you are worried about your Apophyt, don't be. I saw it in your mind last night." Hazel pauses, hesitating from saying something else. "Be careful of those around you Hunter. I don't think everything is as it seems."

"What do you mean?"

She shakes her head and walks away without another word. Looking around the room, everything is gone and I'm soon left standing alone in front of the map. At least now I know where I need to go.

Going back to my room, I use the phone in there and call Logan. Tomorrow I'm going to the coven and I hope it's not the last time I speak to him.

"Logan speaking."

"It's me. How are you?" I speak quickly, nervous to actually talk to him now.

"Elise? Where the hell are you?"

"I'm good thanks Logan, it's great to talk to you too!"

He groans, "Come on. Now isn't the time to mess around. You got the Council after you, a coven of dark fae, werewolves and vampires and have I left anyone off the list?"

"No, I think that pretty much sums it up!" It would be hard to miss my sarcasm and I almost regret calling him.

"Bunny, I miss you. Please stop keeping us away. I can help!" With that sentence, my regret is gone. I want to tell him, but don't.

"I can't. It would be great to get the three musketeers together again, but you've both been nearly killed enough because of me."

"Well it would just be us. Reece left this morning. Said he had his own stuff to take care off." Logan sighs, and I could just imagine him running his through his hair in the process.

"He left?"

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you try to stop him?" I hate how accusing I sound, like it's his fault Reece is now out on his own. I just don't like the idea of that and at least with Logan he would have had someone there.

"Because your Slayer friend can be a dickhead and is kinda strong, I couldn't. Let him go I think he needs some time alone." Logan snaps, and I hate that must sound to him.

I just really don't like the idea of Reece being alone.

"Ok, I just worry about him after everything that's happened."

"Trust me, from what I saw he doesn't need it. He took down four shifters on his own and few more with me. Plus he goes through vamps like Alfie does. It's impressive!"

"Speaking of Alfie, he is with Sonia."

"She told me what happened, I'm sorry Bunny." Being alone suddenly didn't seem like a great idea and talking about Alfie had me wanting Logan here to tell me it was going to be ok, that Alfie was going to be ok.

"I miss you too."

"Can you say that again? I just want to record it!" He joked back and ignoring him, I sigh and lay down on the bed.

"I can't for this to be over."

"Me too, are you safe?"

"Yes, but I'm going after Jordan tomorrow. Wish me luck."

Silence.

"Logan?"

"I want to be with you, I hate you doing this without me!"

"It's better this way, and well, if it's not - you can even say I told you so!"

"Just be careful, keep safe and I want you to know, that I really really like you. Even if you're a princess and smart mouthed and can eat more than a small nation."

"I really, really like you too Logan, and I'm just going to forget the rest of that. I'll talk to you later, good night." I hang up before he can say anything else, and hugging the pillow try to imagine that I'm not alone and he is there with me. Closing my eyes though, it's not Logan who is there to comfort me, but Reece.