Dear iBob,

Bad mood doesn't even come close to describe how I've been this week. Zane's back and after doing a pretty good of job of nearly kicking his ass, he agree's that my miraculous recovery is well, miraculous. My parents aren't thrilled about that, because now they have no reason to keep me here under their watchful eyes and, protection. That made me laugh...

"What are you doing?" Penny takes a seat beside me, curiously looking towards the screen. "Is that your, diary?"

"Maybe."

"Oh it is!" Her eyes light up with interest and I'm tempted to test how different a sprained and broken wrist really are. Instead I just poke the strapping and she backs off. "Fine. You're no fun."

I glare at her and lock it to stop her from even thinking of looking at it. "Whatever."

She just ruined the first five minutes of alone time I've had since that night. I shiver, haunted by the look Portia had given me when she made her blood oath and tug down the sleeve of my sweater. I haven't told anyone about the tattoo, I don't particularly want to either and I sure as hell don't want Penny to be the one who finds out first.

"So, where are your parents?" Penny asks, ignoring my grumpy mood.

"Staff meeting."

"Oh right, Zane mentioned Huntington had come back when I passed him on the way here."

"What?" Now she had my attention.

Why didn't anyone tell me she had come back; again.

"That's why they're having a meeting. She's been visiting another Academy and-"

Getting up I ran to my room and put on some shoes, before going through the trunk under my bed and stocking up on a few things. Sharp, deadly when in my hand, kind of things. I didn't even care she followed me, sitting on the corner of my bed to watch.

"Ah, what are you doing?"

"Hunting."

"For what?" She looks at her nails idly.

"I can't tell you."

"Tell me or I'll-"

"No, you won't." I snap at her.

"I'll tell Zane then." Penny threatens.

My phone ringing gets both of our attention and reaching over, my heart skips a beat as Logans name appears. Alfie comes in curiously, the talking box his new favourite thing to try playing with and waving them both away, I answer.

"Logan?"

"Hey Bunny."

I feel sick with relief, and stupidly feel my eyes watering. "You're okay?"

"I'm okay." He assures me softly. "You on the other hand, are in big trouble!"

His tone hardens and I glance at Alfie as he nudges my arm. Did they find out something?

"I am?"

"I spoke to your Dad last night." Oh no. "You were asleep, and we didn't want to wake you. Thing is, he had some stories to tell."

"You make it sound worse than what it was!" I argue.

"Back, in fucking, time. Do you have any idea-"

"Save it Logan. I'm fine okay, I didn't actually plan on any of that and why are you angry with me? It was all Dad's fault!"

"What?" I didn't think he could sound any more pissed off, but now he did.

"Long story. I haven't spoken to you in weeks and we're arguing!"

He took a deep breath. "You're right. I'm sorry. So you're all recovered now?"

"I am. Beat up Zane too."

Penny rolls her eyes and glaring at her, I point to the door. She gets the message and leaves me alone, taking Alfie with her. Curling up on my bed, Logan tells me what they've been up to, which seems to be everything other than what they had set out to do. I give him a brief run over on my trip back in time, skipping out a few minor details about Portia and Sobek's involvement in the creation of the Treaty.

"I miss you Bunny." Logan sighed. "What are you going to do now?"

"Well, Penny is here and so is Zane, so I thought I might join up with them for a bit. I was looking on the network and there is a small coven of witches that got caught doing some dark magic with human sacrifices. Penny mentioned they were going to go check it out since it's only about three hours away, so I was going to go with them."

I wait for the lecture, the argument, the reasons why I shouldn't, but it doesn't happen. "Be careful if you go. I'm glad you're back to normal, doesn't make me worry as much."

"You don't care if I go?" Wait for it...

"No. You can look after yourself, I know you can. You're one of the best Hunters I know and sure I don't like it, but it's what we do, right? Just be careful. I love you."

My eyes get a bit wet again and I blink away the threat of tears.

"I love you too."

Now I feel guilty for lying, and I want to tell him about Huntington, and that I'm worried Cain is up to something. I want to tell him about my tattoo and that my nightmares of fighting all kinds of monsters haven't actually gone away. The only thing I've been truthful to him about is that I am feeling 'normal' again.

It's better if he doesn't know.

I'm sure of it.

"Hows lover boy?" Penny teases as I go back out.

My parents come back then with Zane in tow.

"You've spoken to Logan?" Dad asks cautiously.

"Yeah, way to sell me out."

He shakes his head, clearly amused. "They wouldn't believe me if I told them anyway."

I knew he had a point. My Dad, the serious, protective, mighty hunter - setting up his daughter to be taken away by a cursed egyptian god. Dad wouldn't have let me get within a hundred miles of Sobek if he knew that was what was going to happen. He had put a huge chunk of trust in Huntington's 'tip' and if it was me, seeing her today would have been beyond awkward.

"True. So, how was Huntington?" He gets my point.

"Expecting you actually. She was disappointed you didn't attend."

"I'm sure she was."

He gives me a look, clearly there is more to be said, but my lips are sealed.

"Are you up for coming with us Penny?" Zane changes the topic and Penny eagerly nods. "Elise?"

"What?" I play dumb.

"You coming with us to check on the coven?"

"I'm not on house arrest anymore?"

He groans and goes into the kitchen where Mum is making us all coffee and Penny quickly follows so its just me and Dad.

"You know you're not on house arrest Elise."

"I know. Want me to go with them?"

"Well, after the last time we went out, I was going to suggest you sit this one out. Huntington suggested maybe I go with them." He tells me.

My mouth drops. "After last time, you're still taking her suggestions?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Huntington is back. My friends suddenly have a job to go do, with my Dad - who came back after the last time she sent him out. Only one missing in this equation is Mum.

"Is Mum going too?" I ask.

"She thought about tagging along. We'd only be gone a day if that." He tells me slowly.

"You know, I might just stay here. Less worry for everyone and with the house to myself I could throw an awesome party with the first years, You know, corrupt them early."

"Elise-"

"I'm kidding!" He doesn't look convinced, and as everyone comes back into the living room, they start to discuss their plans. They're set to leave within the hour and decide to use the cover of darkness to get close to the coven.

Makes sense.

"If anything seems wrong, go straight to the Academy. Promise me, you'll stay here." Dad demands as Alfie and I stand by Zane's car and everyone gets in. Mum has already hugged me enough times for me to think she' s leaving for a month and Zane has given me a new phone to use if I need to reach him immediately. I know it's got one of those GPS Trackers in, I'm not stupid, but I accept it all the same. "Alfie, keep her safe."

"Yess Old Blood." He tells him.

Dad groans.

"I promise Dad, we will not go anywhere." The second their car is out of sight, I go back inside to load up.

"Elise sstay here?" Alfie asks.

"No Alfie. I told Dad we won't be going anywhere as in you and me. I have stuff to do and need you here."

He frowns and looking at Annipe, she is more interested in the shark documentary on TV. I put the phone Zane gave me on the kitchen counter and prying it open, it's not your standard device. The red flashing button hidden under the case tells me enough as Zane was stupid enough to tell me about these months ago. When in trouble, it's a great tool to have on you.

They can be accessed remotely and the camera can take pictures, video and sound recordings which will help identify where the holder is and what's happening. I put it on the coffee table, so the noise from the TV will be all they can hear should I be checked up on. I'm not taking it with me.

"Alfie come too?" He asks as I finish lacing up my boots.

"No Alfie. You stay here with Anni. I'm just, going up to the Academy to workout." He knows I'm lying. "To see Huntington." I can tell he isn't keen to accept this.

"Be a good boy okay? If you sense, that, well, I'm in trouble, come to me." This makes him happy and he settles beside Annipe who snatches the remote from the table and hides it within her coils so he can't change the channel.

Clever girl.

Once I was ready, I made my way up to the Academy. Using the entrance down by the gym, I keep my head down and go to the kitchens. From there, I use the hidden passages to get up the Huntingtons office, which takes me twice as long because I get lost once and can't move as quickly as I could if I was just going through the corridors. I get up there undetected, and avoid the camera's as I slip inside.

The headmistresses office was empty, dark; the curtains drawn and no lights had been left on. Everything was how I found it the last time I came here, so she either hadn't come in here yet, wasn't coming back after the meeting or was more ninja than I gave her credit for.

Nevermind, I could wait.

With my feet up on her desk, I was rather comfortable in her chair. The dark didn't bother me and after playing on my phone for a bit, I ended up getting out one of the daggers I had brought along and twirling it casually to pass time - that was how she found me when she walked in.

"Really Miss Bunting!" She scolded, startled as she flicked the light on and saw me sitting there. "Feet. Off!"

I obliged, swinging around in the chair so I was now sitting behind her desk in an almost professional manner. Thankfully no one else came in with her and as she shut the door, I sat back in the chair and folded my arms.

"Hello, Ms Huntington."

"Why are you here?" Dropping her handbag on the chair that I usually sat in when ever I had been called to her office, she unwrapped the scarf from around her neck. "Shouldn't you be investigating witches?"

"Just like how you sent my Dad to see Sobek?" I ask casually, watching for reaction. She didn't even flinch.

It was hard to believe she and Portia were one and the same. She had once been one of my favourite people, I considered her to be a grandmother I never had; hell all of us who came through here did. All of us; generations of my kind, of Slayers and Trackers. So close to this, thing, this Oracle who had once cut someones eyes from their body and made them her own. This woman stood by one of the most evil beings this world has ever known and for the last hundred or so years had been in control of all of us.

"He wanted answers I couldn't give him. It seemed like a good alternative." She paused then, finally looking at me. "You seem, different. What's wrong?"

She sounded genuinely concerned.

"You tell me, you are the mighty Oracle, no?"

Her casual stance left her then as she got tense; her shoulders straightening as she turned to face him completely instead of fussing with her bag. Narrowing her eyes, Huntington mimicked my own stance - folding her arms over her chest defensively.

"Elise, what has gotten into you? I have been told today you're feeling better; so why the attitude?" Again she reminded me more of that grandmotherly figure and a feeling of betrayal set in.

For years I had come to her for guidance. Even when I got Alfie; here, to her, was the first place I thought to come. I hated her now, truly hated her for ruining some of my better memories of this place.

"Where have you been?" I demanded.

"Over at the-"

"Stop lying!"

"What-"

Standing up, the chair groaned as it fell backwards and I held the dagger out at her. "Enough with the shit. Did you really do it, really forget I was there? How long have you two been fucking playing all of us, playing me?"

"I can assure you Hunter, I have no idea what you're talking about." She swallowed forcefully, the movement hard to miss.

Liar.

I held up my hand, revealing the red line that was still visible - the cut she had given me. "You promised to forget what I did, but here you are. Hell, fucking Cain has only ever been a few miles down the road too!"

"Cain? What is going on!"

"Enough!" I screamed at her. I was losing control and even taking a few deep breaths didn't really help. "I know you Portia. I know about oracles. I know how you got your 'gift'! I know everything!"

My hand shook with frustration, still holding the dagger out at her as realisation dawned over her features.

"What happened!" She moved swiftly around the desk, much too easily for someone of 'her age'. "What did he tell you?"

Did she really think she was in a position right now to be making the demands?

"He didn't tell me anything, but you know that already, don't you!" I yelled at her. "Just, stop, fucking, lying! Why send Dad to Sobek?"

"I thought he might be of use to your Father. He is a weak god, if he turned against him I had no doubt your father and Alfie could destroy him. I was hoping that would be the case as I did see your father returning home and Sobek's future was unclear. I have reason to believe he was one of the few who were behind the return of the Warlocks. Elise, I am rather fond of you. I would never put you all at risk and I never saw your father taking you with him. You know me. Trust me."

If Sobek died to create the Treaty, wouldn't the present have been affected by that. Technically, he didn't exist so how could he be behind the Warlocks, how could she know to send Dad to him?

I laughed. "Trust, you?"

"What happened to bring this on? What did Sobek say?"

"He didn't say much actually. It's more like what he did."

With a flick of her wrist, the dagger left my hand and I was forced to sit into the chair. "You're not making any sense!"

Her cold palm was on my forehead before I could try to stop her, and I remembered she'd done this before as the warm sensation washed over me.

"Oh no." She whispered. "I can not see what happened after you left; tell me."

"You really don't remember?"

"Remember what?" Huntington sat on the edge of her desk, her frown only deepening as she tried to do just that.

"Me. Being there when the Treaty was created." I tell her.

"You?" She gasped. "How? What?"

"How did you make the treaty Portia?"

Her hand went to her chest, a faint flicker of light running over her skin for barely a second. I expected her to lie, to tell the story we all knew, but the seriousness on her face had me believing her. "Cain, he, he, he stole anothers magic to save his own."

"Whose magic?" I pushed.

"Sobek, the cursed god had arisen and he came to stop Cain." Closing her eyes, her forehead creased with concentration and her voice seemed distant, more like a whisper as if she wasn't actually here. "I saw you for the first time that day. A vision of a future I had never seen before, a girl, a Hunter. All I knew was you were connected to Bunting and told Cain as much."

"You really kept your word then, you said you'd make it so you and Cain would forget I had been there."

"Your hand." She held hers out and reluctantly I lifted my own. "May I remove it?"

What more could go wrong? I nodded.

Using my own dagger, she cut our hands again and as our blood connected I heard her whisper 'remember'. She rubbed her eyes before getting each of us a tissue. It wasn't a deep or long cut like before, but it must've done the job because when she looked at me now, Huntington looked like she was seeing a ghost.

"You killed Sobek. You were there, that is how I had the vision of you!" She gasped. "Oh Elise!"

Suddenly she was there, hugging me.

Not how I saw this going. At all.

"This doesn't make any sense." I shoved her away. "I killed him, you two stole his magic so how does all this work? He shouldn't have existed in the first place!"

"Sobek was a very powerful god. To kill one, is not that simple. Cain stole his magic, yes, and despite already being cursed, after you left, he was entombed where your father found him. He is essentially, immortal. Magic can regenerate. He simply had enough to send you back, but once there, he was as himself - a powerful god once more."

"So I didn't kill him?" So much for adding that to my resume.

Elise Bunting. Hunter. Snake Charmer. Ender of Apocalypses. One time Siren. God Killer. Shame, because I think it had a nice sound to it.

"Yes, you did, but he regenerates. Like when Cain was killed as the vampire Darius. He returned." She tells me, and I had forgot about that. "What is that on your wrist?"

I froze and slowly looked down to see my sleeve had ridden up and I forgot to put on cuff to cover it. "Um..."

Huntington grabbed my hand, pulling it up closer to her eyes.

"When did you get this?" The slightly hysterical edge to her tone did nothing to relax me.

"When I came back." I say.

"From the dead?" She gasps. "You've had this all this time? How did we not-"

"No, from the past." Huntington drops my hand, her own flying up to cover her mouth as she steps back and shakes her head in disbelief.

That was exactly the reaction I was hoping for; not. "What? What is it?"

Her face goes blank and her shock disappears. "Another tattoo? What will your Father say?"

"Excuse me?"

I only have one tattoo. Sure this moon thing looks like one, but it wasn't. I haven't been drunk enough to wake up with something I might regret, and I know this means something. She is good at hiding her emotions, but that reaction was too much for something she now is playing off as nothing.

"Why did you want to go back Elise?" She changes the subject.

"You're up to something, you and Cain."

Huntington laughs. "Run along child. I've humoured you long enough."

Glaring at her, I know she doesn't mean what she is saying. Her eyes give too much away. She's scared; terrified even, and the tremble in her hands is unmissable as she moves around to her handbag. This throws me a little and while I had been prepared to do whatever I could to get the answers I want from her, I submit. She can win this round. Sometimes it's all about picking and choosing your battles.

"You know I will work it out."

"For your sake, I hope you do." She answers curtly. "Now get out of my office."

I go and leaving her, I started down the corridor; not caring if I was seen now. For some reason I thought of Ailin, and one of her little riddles, back when we had first met. She got me to throw a rock into a pond, which wasn't exactly the most life changing experience of my life. Mind like water, she had told me.

Back then, she was trying to get me to see past the issue of my missing brother. Maybe now, I needed to get over the issue of Cain and Portia. I was just as focused on them, as I had been finding Jordan and because of that had been oblivious to what was really going on. Water flows. It can become agitated, but once it settles, everything becomes clear again. Cain and Portia were now the pebble and I was only looking at the after shocks of them being thrown into the pond. I wouldn't mind doing that; literally, but I needed to look past that - let it settle and see clearly.

Think Elise.

Think.

I'd wandered outside, across the oval and towards the fence that separated the gardens and that field. I hadn't been this close to it since I was carried from it; since I died here. Why I'm here now, I don't know. Climbing over the fence is easy enough and as the sun starts to retreat, the orange glow it leaves behind has the golden mess of dead grass looking like it's on fire.

The wind whispers around me; a hundred voices curiously questioning my arrival or maybe my return. The sound of my boots crunching on the ground helps to drown them out and I wonder if the grass will ever turn green again. The remnants of magic still linger in the air. It's dark and makes everything feel damp despite the warmth of the day and standing out in the middle of the field, the blackened earth remains as a marker of what had happened.

Everything goes quiet.

The wind stops and an unnatural silence takes over. I close my eyes to try and escape it, as fear blooms deep in my gut.

I died here.

Opening my eyes I see everything as I had that night. Cain is chanting over my body, my parents are sobbing in front of him while Jordan was sitting just beside them with his head in his hands. We were all exhausted, but alive. Around us the dead rose, some reuniting with friends, family and lovers while others tried to tell their still breathing companions that it was okay, they were okay but one by one, they all disappeared into that light.

I thought of Reece.

I hadn't done that too often lately. He had been so happy when I saw him and Alistair. He had been there too. That whole time he had been helping me. Sitting down, I try to remember. Reece had said I wouldn't, but I did, well I had up until now. Now, I could barely get glimpses of what had happened. I remember the feeling, the happiness, the security. What else?

Alistair had guided me towards the door, the final step into what ever was next. I had ran from it before he stopped me.

"Is there a problem sweet heart?" Alistair asks, his shadow transforming into a body as he stops before me.

"I'm not ready."

"Sure you are. The battle is over, the war is won. Come, so many want to meet you!" He smiles, gesturing towards the light. "You've been fighting for so long. You don't need to anymore."

Everything began to vibrate, trembling as if there was an earthquake. "What's happening?"

"They're trying to make you go back." He says sadly.

There is something more there. I didn't see it before. He isn't just sad; the look in his eye matches Huntingtons. He's scared. It's getting darker out here, the shadows cast from the trees on the other side of the field seem to have a life of their own, reaching out to touch me as the sun gets lower.

Think.

Focus.

"Once I go through there, that's it isn't it?" I already know the answer and as another tremor has us holding onto each other for support, he nods.

"It is and-" Alistair pauses, looking towards the place I know I should go. "And it's your choice Elise."

And what? What didn't he say?

I got up and walked around the black circle. I didn't have to try hard to picture the three Warlocks and their magic tornado that was fueled by our witches and fae too. Cain had commanded the Warlocks to stop, and the hooded figures approached. No, one seemed immune to what ever he was doing - the little albino one. He had wanted Alfie and I said no; getting his attention off Huntington. When they all ran to help me, they couldn't.

"They like you. They protect you. Why?" I fell to the dirt as he circled me in wonder, "Hunter. They call you Hunter. Hunter. Hunter. They protect the Hunter. The Oracle protects the Hunter."

He mumbled repeatedly before bending his thin frame towards me and pulling my hair, lifted my head. "Why? Why?"

The Oracle protects the Hunter - why? I wish I knew.

My head started to ache, the pain worsening as I tried to focus on it more. Dusk was here now, and, had me feeling like I was in another world. If I looked, I would see the Academy lights, if I kept walking the other way I'd end up at the bar. So why don't I just go? Get away from here. I could get drunk, forget it all and wake up to start all over again tomorrow. I could see Huntington again. Demand my answers this time.

Something moves behind me and spinning around, I see the Warlock jumping for me like he did with Cain - black wings spread out and ready to trap me. I duck down, screaming as I cover my head with my arms. I can't get my weapons quick enough...

"You think you are different. You are not like the others of your kind?" He talks slowly, taking calculated steps as he walks around me. "Why would you think that? Let me look inside you. No magic, yet you have a serpent in your control. Your heart. I want to know what's in there."

Nothing but a blast of wind attacks me, and daring to look, the Warlock isn't there.

Cain is.

"Your battle is not with Cain." Huntingtons voice pops into my mind. That's what she had told me in my room after the battle was over.

"What are you doing out here?" He casually approaches, looking around with a frown. Was he remembering too?

I shrug. "Could ask you the same thing?"

"Portia told me about your mark, may I see it? Please." Shaking my head, he stops within an arms reach of me and holds out his hand. "I can force you to reveal it."

"An Oracle. She called herself an Oracle and that Elise will know what to do when the time comes, and the curse will reveal itself." Zane had told the others.

My temples throbbed thanks to the flashback and instinctively I reached out to steady myself against Cain. I felt dizzy, sick, and the more I tried to remember, the more it hurt.

"Elise, are you okay?" He asked concerned.

"Curse." I stuttered.

Again Huntingtons voice lingered in my mind. "Besides. Who says curse is a bad thing?"

"What?" He caught me as my knees buckled. "You're not making any sense."

I knew all of this. I had a curse, Zane found out - from Portia during the battle. Cain said it was now void, Huntington made everyone forget, except for me. Her magic couldn't affect me because I was protected by Cain's. So why did this all seem new to me now?

"The curse, you said you were done playing games!" I snapped at him.

Around us, the wind picked up again and once more the voices it carried seemed focused solely on us. With it a sense of dread washed over me and I realised we weren't welcome. I felt weak, even if I wanted to move away - leave, I couldn't.

"We can't talk here. Come on." He looked around cautiously, as I sensed we weren't alone and taking my hand in his, we left that place of death and magic behind.

_____

I feel it's kind of dragging a little... but things will pick up now and some other characters will be making their return too :)