Apparently my orders of order everything for breakfast was misunderstood. I had planned on it being all for me, but everyone helped themselves to the almost buffet worthy variety of food spread out on the small dining table by the window. The upside of this was my story time was forgotten and while we ate, we only talked about what we'd been up to. Jordan seemed more than keen than sticking around to check out what this beautiful place had to offer and even my parents seemed a little green as Logan and I told them about a seafood banquet we'd gone to last week on the beach.

Unfortunately, our brunch couldn't last forever and as Dad leaned back in his chair with his cup now empty of coffee, I knew what was coming.

"Excuse me, I need the bathroom." I lied, standing up before trying to subtly head towards my room.

"Stop." Dad ordered. "Sit."

I hesitated. "But-"

"No. Sit down and start talking." Crossing his arms over his chest only made him look more intimidating and clearly working with classes of bratty kids day in and out had left him with a new level of authority in his tone.

I did as he asked.

"Talk about what?" I smiled. No one said anything, just stared and waited. "Oh, the mermaid thing. Right."

Well this was going to be easy. I started right at the beginning, further back than I probably needed to and told them about the job Ailin had given Logan and to an extent me, including how we received the notice officially through the Network that links all of us to the Council. I hadn't really used it much since I got my access reinstated by Ron, our now deceased President earlier in the year and made sure they knew all about that and him giving it back to me.

"Enough, don't think I don't know what you're doing!" Dad huffed, while Jordan rested his head on his hand and loudly yawned.

"You wanted the story, I'm making sure you have all the facts!" I argued.

Logan shook his head and took a sip of his coffee, while Mum failed at hiding her smile and amusement.

"You don't think I know you well enough to know when you're avoiding something?" He raised his eyebrow; something I hadn't seen him do a lot.

"Whatever. So as I was saying, we ended up going diving."

"We? As in you and Logan?" Jordan jumped in.

Logan tensed.

"No, he made me wait on board the boat. Remember, I'm a delicate flower who can't seem capable of-"

"You didn't mention a boat." Dad added.

"Was it really necessary to do that? You just had a go at me for telling you too much!"

"Fine, you were on a boat and Logan went diving." Mum sighed, motioning at me to keep going.

"Exactly." I kept talking and lying and talking some more, making sure I really was careful about what words I chose since apparently they were all caught on my every word and paying attention. "So I wake up because I can hear this, singing, and because Logan's been doing all the hard stuff, he was exhausted and sound asleep so I left him alone to investigate. I got the hunting knife though, just in case and went and checked our room. Then Ceana, hey, do you think that's like oceana? What ever, so I head over and she stops singing."

"Why didn't you wake up Logan?" Jordan asked.

"I told you, he was sound asleep. I was planning on making some noise to wake up him if shit got bad." I shrug.

"Right. You wouldn't be trying to play the hero so we'd all think you were better would you?"

Meeting Jordans gaze, we both glared at each other for a moment.

"No, I'm not stupid and trust me, getting hurt again isn't in my top five things to do anytime soon." I snap before carrying on with the story.

"How did you hear her song? You're a Hunter, you're immune to those kind of tricks." Mum butted in this time.

"I dunno. She did saw it was, interesting."

"How are you feeling?" Dad asked with a frown.

"Fine."

"Really?" I nodded. "Only those who want to hear the song can. Sailors used to fall prey to them when they were weak in body, mind and spirit. Death, especially one offered as peacefully as drowning was appealing to them than whatever life they were stuck with on board their ship. If it was the Siren calling, instead of the mermaids, no one could escape it."

"You think I want to die? Maybe Ceana was a Siren, not just a mermaid? I'm not exactly an expert on the matter!"

"You did go with them willingly, without a weapon..." Mum started, quickly silencing as I glared at her. "What happened next?"

It was then I remembered what Cain had said about my soul needing time to heal, not just my body. Dad just said those of weak spirit, mind and body fell victim to the mermaids songs - I was in that category. A shiver ran up my spine and I wanted to tell them about that, but I couldn't. Looking up, concern was all over each of their faces and catching the quick look Mum and Dad shared which said so much more than words.

I really wanted to tell them, but for now I wasn't going to risk doing anything that might annoy Cain. It was time for some decent acting on my part.

"So, then I ended up passing out. When I woke up, I was in a seaweed wrap, and not the good for you kind you get a dayspa, I'm talking like actual seaweed made to be like some kind of dress that also connected me to two poles so I was tied up. I mean really, you'd think after all these centuries, supernaturals could have some kind of standard dress code when it comes to this kind of thing." I played it off lightly, and my Dad rolled his eyes.

I went into detail about the wrong things to keep them distracted, but with enough information that it wasn't too suspicious like before. Skipping the nearly drowning details, I got creative about stealing the Siren's crown and decided that is what woke up the sea monster.

"So once the sea monster blocked off the portal, a snake guided me out of the caves and back here. That's all, so Elise one, Mermaids none!" I finished.

No one said a word. I wished they would and I couldn't shake the feeling they were waiting for something else; possible the truth. Well that was too bad for them.

"Where is the crown now?" Mum finalled broke the silence.

"It just, vanished when I got in the shower."

"Vanished?"

"Yup, maybe non-salty water was bad for it?" I wonder.

"Perhaps, I'm sure the Council would have liked to have kept it." Dad sighed. "So, how are you feeling now?"

"Tired, but I'm good. I think I've had enough vacation, can I come home now?"

Again my parents shared 'that' look and Jordan frowns. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Hey, you can stay so don't think it will impact your plans to relax down here. Let me come back to the Academy with you guys, what could happen to me there? It can't be any worse than what happened here!"

"Are you sure you want to go back, to the Academy? Well, after everything that happened, I just thought-" Dad stuttered.

"I'm positive. Logan?" I ask.

"I'm easy, whatever you want Bunny."

"So you're coming home then?" Mum smiles, looking happy about that.

"Dad?"

"Fine, but you two are back to seperate bedrooms!" He grumbles and before long we're checking out and heading back to the Academy courtesy of Kasha express.

I can't wait to see Portia.

) O (

"Oh my god, it's her, Mr Bunting's daughter!"

Clearly the blonde we just passed had never learnt the art of whispering and following Dad to the staff room, the chatty girl wasn't quite finished gossiping to her friend. Dad wasn't listening or probably even aware of them as he was on his phone talking to Ailin, but judging from the variety of looks being sent my way, I was beyond aware of everything around me. The fact those two were also doing a terrible job at shadowing us, I couldn't not hear them.

"I thought she'd be taller, like him."

"She is, kind of. Taller than you!" Her friend mused.

"I can't believe she was the one who stopped the Warlocks though. She doesn't look any different to anyone else and since Tom had to save her from Dracula-"

I stopped walking and one of them gasped as I spun around to face them furious. "What did you just say?"

The blonde girls mouth dropped and her friend practically ducked behind her in a lame attempt at hiding.

"What?" She mumbled, her brown eyes widening as her cheeks started to turn red.

"You heard me."

"I don't know." She shrugged, looking over at her friend for some help that wasn't coming.

"Well apart from me apparently not being tall as you expected, or that unspecial me stopped the Warlocks, I think it had something to do with?" I stopped, letting her work it out.

"Tom Van Helsing.. He killed Dracula, right? And saved your life?" She slowly answered.

"Where did you hear that shit from?" I demanded.

"Tom. He gave that talk, um last month, yeah last month for history class?" The redhead meekly answered and the pair of them began to nod in sync.

"Well, here is something for your history lesson. I am going to kill that motherfu-"

"Elise!" Dad interrupted. "Come on, they're waiting!"

Who they were didn't even matter right now, but I was trying to play nice and keep in everyone's good books for at least the first day back.

"Coming!" I quickly answered before turning back to my critics. "Tom didn't save my life. He actually tried to kill me because that dickhead managed to get himself under Dracula's control and here's the biggest kept secret of the century for you - his family are the reason why that vamp was even able to come back because they kept his fangs which left him with anchor in this world. So yeah, he's a real everyday hero!"

I probably shouldn't have gone that far, but hate doesn't cover what I feel for that jerk and for him to be telling people he saved my life, killed Drac and is spinning who knows what else was too much for me to deal with in a calm manner.

"Elise! Now!" Dad called again.

I left the pair of them thinking that over and followed dad into the staff room. My mood wasn't as easy going as it was an hour earlier since all I wanted to do now was track down that Van Helsing and give him a piece of my mind.

"Ah, here she is!" Frank greeted, getting up to come and hug me.

"I just can't stay away from the place!" I joked.

"Well, let's see if it can survive this visit?" He winked, letting me go.

Portia, well Ms Huntington, wasn't here and doing a quick once over, none of that mattered now either as Zane stood to one side, leaning against the table where a sad display of tea and coffee facilities were being kept. Meeting his gaze, he gave a tiny smile and if he thought he could get away with his tough man act, you know the dark and brooding Slayer who didn't ever, actually smile or show true emotion - it wasn't going to last long.

"Zane!" Leaving the chief of campus security, I launched myself at him and the oomph that left him as I attached myself to his body told me hadn't been expecting that.

"Hey Sunshine." He managed to answer calmly, hugging me back.

"Why are you here? I thought you were off vampire hunting?" I poke him in the stomach as he lets me go and it's my finger that was left hurting. "You look older, even your beard is getting bits of grey in it now"

"I was off vampire hunting, but Ailin requested my presence be here. No idea why though?" He ignored my old comments and it was obvious that reason was me.

"I wonder. Crazy demon, the power of being president is getting to her." I mumbled, before hugging him again. "I missed you!"

"Missed you too kid." He ruffled my hair and offered me a big, genuine smile.

"If you're quite done, shall we start?" Ailin interrupted.

I hadn't even sensed her arrival; sneaky, crazy demon.

"Of course." I felt like a kid on the first day of school when you're finally reunited with all your friends and took a seat beside Zane. "Where is Huntington?"

"The Headmistress had other business to attend to, and considering this is do with security, your security while you are here to finish your recovery, Frank is high enough in authority to weigh in on any decisions we make today."

I held my hands up in submission and sat back in the chair. The meeting started and it wasn't long until I tuned out, wondering why I even had to be here. It wasn't like they wanted my input and I'm pretty sure it was an attempt to kill me with boredom.

Elise is still at risk.

Elise needs to take the time to heal.

If any Dracula or Warlock loyalists find out her location, Elise is at risk.

If she insists she is doing better, she may start training with the first years, but Elise still needs to finish healing.

Blah. Blah. Blah.

I may as well had stayed on island since I was given a curfew, and training restrictions. It didn't matter than I was physically fine, or that I was eager to get my life back to some kind of normalcy. Frank had a new security system which included military grade motion senses and heat detecting security camera's. This was bad, because I had no idea where the new locations for those things were; yet - so any snooping I was planning on doing around here just got harder.

"So, why am I being imprisoned? I really doubt anyone is going to bother coming after me." I finally interrupted once the talk started to drift onto other topics.

"To put it simply Hunter, you might do something stupid. It wouldn't be the first time." Ailin glanced at my Dad before looking back to me. "Enemies are still out there, and while the vampire you know as V is doing all he can with his resources, not all involved with past events have been found and held accountable." Ailin hesitated, before going back to what she had been saying to Frank about visitor checks to be done before entering the Academy grounds.

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Excuse me?" She answers rather impatiently, as her dark eyes narrow in my direction.

"You hesitated. Why are you going to all this trouble, really? Zane is a great Slayer. If you really want to get these bad guys, you shouldn't have pulled him off his job to come babysit me!" I challenged.

"Elise-" Dad warned, but I ignored him.

"What else is going on?" It came out more forceful than last time and Frank focused on his coffee cup as I glanced his way before turning back to Ailin.

There it was again, that flicker of doubt that the demon couldn't hide. "Fine. You're going to find out soon enough. The Tracker, Logan, we are sending him with your brother in place of CJ, and we don't want you to-"

"Why does he have to go?" I instantly got defensive.

"I just said, to take the place of the Hunter Christopher, while he recovers from his injury and-"

"No. That's bullshit. I saw CJ on the walk over, he has a tiny limp. Why are you sending Logan?"

"He is a Tracker. It is his duty to do as we, the Council, deem necessary!" She argued.

Now she really was talking rubbish. For starters, he was with me and our little trip had made him also exempt from any supernatural duties. The mermaids had been a special case, but I wasn't going to bring all of that up right now incase that led to her and everyone else, asking things I wasn't going to answer.

"Him, out of all the other Trackers in the world?"

"This isn't up for discussion Hunter." Ailin growled, not hiding her anger now.

"Yeah, it is. You can't do it!"

The atmosphere in the room got tense, well, uncomfortable - with all in attendance opting to let me and Ailin battle it out. Dad just stared at his hands, already giving up trying to calm me down or shut me up. Zane got out his phone so he wasn't any help either.

"You can't! We choose the jobs from the Network, not the other way around!" I kept going, not planning on dropping this. "It's why you're locking me in here isn't it? Because you know I'll want to go with him? And it's why we could just leave when I suggested it this morning!"

"You're a smart girl Hunter, you've already worked it all out." Her sarcasm wasn't lost on me.

Sarcasm can also be a great tool for deflecting. What was she still not telling me?

"Does he even know?"

"Not yet."

"Why him?" Something just didn't feel right; more than me being left behind while he got to go back out there and do stuff. We had been spending a lot of time together, so a break wouldn't be a bad thing. Just not like this and not when I didn't know why.

"He has his own informants and we have been, unsuccessful, in locating some of them left from the days of Alpha Selene and we seek to use his knowledge to our advantage when finding-"

"What makes you think they will be useful?" Crossing my arms, I wasn't backing down.

"A contact of ours mentioned them and his name in passing."

Because that wasn't suspicious. "Who?"

"I'm not at privilege to reveal that information. Hunter, I have been more than lenient and have great respect for you. I was selected to fill this position as Ronaldo believed in my ability to consider all of our people, and I must do what is in the best interest of all; not just one." Her tone sounded final.

"What if I-"

"Elise, enough." Dad stood up. "Thank you for your time everyone."

Just like that everyone left us and I just sat there not moving.

"Coming?" Zane nudged my arm and stood too.

"No, I want to talk to Ailin for a sec. Alone." I looked at Dad and he shrugged, soon walking out with Zane. The door had barely closed when I started. "Please, tell me who. I don't have a good feeling about this Ailin. You know me, trust me with this!"

"I spoke to your father on his way here, he told me what you had told them." She said instead.

"I know, I was walking with him remember?"

"Indeed. Stealing a Siren's crown will not make you a mermaid. It will also not awake sea monsters." Ailin took Zane's seat, and meeting her gaze, we were equally wary of each other. "Perhaps you could tell me what really happened?"

Two can play this game.

"Perhaps I am not at privilege to reveal that information." Ailin's eyebrows knitted together as she tightly pressed her lips into a frown. At least now she knew how I was feeling. "If this is a trap, of any kind, please don't send Jordan and Logan. Losing Jordan was hard enough the first time, I don't know how my family survived it and I can't lose Logan. Please don't make me repeat the past!"

Fear made my heart start to beat faster as a whole new flood of worries hit me.

"Oh Hunter, no." She shook her head sadly while placing a hand on my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. "If I believed it could be something of that level, I would not allow it. Your vampire friend will be joining them, he will not allow anything to happen. Trust me."

I did trust Ailin, yet she was making that really hard to do right now. She had only proved herself to be a friend in the past. I had fought alongside her and even risked my life to save others of her species. I shouldn't doubt her and she did have a good point earlier; it's not just about us here or even just about me. She is our President, and I was already getting enough special treatment. I should be trying to help her, not cause more stress and making problems.

"You're right. You're the President and you have a lot to think about now, but promise me Ailin, if shit gets bad, send your Kasha in and get them out. I just have a feeling and if Cai- I mean, if I can't go with them, please just keep me informed. This security isn't necessary. I'm not going to do anything stupid." I promised.

"Honestly, it's more for any forces coming in. You are a friend and at least now that you're back here, you will be protected from any threat. Clearly the fae did not do a good job protetcting your hut if the mermaids could lure you out. I was so worried, when Logan called. They couldn't trace you. I tried too, and it was like, you simply vanished." Her voice broke slightly, and while she stayed straight faced her emotions were obvious.

It was nice to be reassured that she really did care. It took me a second to realise what she said. The hut had a protection spell on it? "What?"

"We didn't tell you about the cloaking spell because we didn't want you to worry about anything going wrong while you were supposed to be recovering. Even when we hid you in our world, you still managed to seek a way out!" She didn't hide her annoyance. "So, we just did it hoping it wouldn't give you a reason to fight us and try and do something to prove to us, you're okay and you can defend yourself."

She gives me a look I'm all too familiar seeing from Mum and this time I take her hand, squeezing slightly.

"But the mermaids broke through it and you couldn't find me?" My insides clenched as I wondered about how much involvement Cain had had in all of this. He was powerful enough to break a fae's spell and block Ailin's abilities; I was sure of it.

"No, it was quite strange. Hunter, what really happened?" She asked again, her suspicion obvious.

"Who made you get Logan involved?"

She looks me in the eye, and just when I think she is about to cave and tell me what I want to know Ailin stands up instead. "Be good. Frank will be sending me updates."

Ailin vanishes in a swirl of her trademark black smoke and I think that last part was supposed to be warning. Too bad the time for doing what I'm told finished the second I stopped having the time to work on my tan.

"Whatever." I mumble, getting up and leaving the room.

My first instinct is to go to Logan, but since I'm already here I head towards Franks control room instead. A rush of memories hit me from the last time I had to break in there and the feeling of dread in my stomach mixes with anxiety I thought I had dealt with. Ignoring it, I reasoned that this was different - everything was now, and technically I wasn't going to break in today. Not if I didn't have to anyway.

"Where are you off to?" Zane casually asks from behind me; the squeal of fright leaving me before I can stop it.

"Shit! Zane! Not cool!" I snap.

He only laughs. "Where are you going?"

"To chat to Frank, I've missed him too you know."

"Okay."

I keep walking and so does he, shadowing me better than those two girls ever could. No wonder they got him back to baby sit me.

"You know what Tom's been doing?" I ask him, mostly in a bid to distract him from what I'm actually doing.

"Who?"

"Van Helsing."

"Oh, no?" He keeps pace with me now as we head up the stairs. Luckily there aren't any students around now.

"Telling people he saved my life and god knows what else about the whole Drac drama."

"Want me to beat him up for you?" Zane offers.

"No, I want to do it. Hey, speaking of which, any chance you'll be willing to-"

"No. You were in that meeting and I know you're not as deaf as you pretend to be sometimes."

"Oh come on. It's all bullshit. I'm fine, honest, I really wouldn't push myself if I didn't think I wasn't up for it!" I started, ignoring the groan that came from him. "Please Zane! Put me through one of your boot camps, so I can start getting back in the swing of things. I'll need to do something so I'm not wistfully wasting away the days and counting down the hours until I'm reunited with my lover!"

"One, I don't do boot camps. It's called keeping my team fit. Ex-er-cise, you know what that is hey? Two, I can't believe you referred to Logan as your lover, especially to me, yuck! And finally, I really doubt you'd be wistfully wasting anything away while he's gone. You're already up to something, why do you think I'm still here and not getting in an early dinner at the cafeteria?"

"I don't hate it and when did you get a sense of humour? But you are right, boot camp would be a holiday compared to what you do. Come on Zaney, I need to get back into shape, if only to kick Tom's butt." I whined, choosing to ignore the rest of what he said. "Please, please, please!"

"What's going on Elise?" He frowned, grabbing my arm to stop us from walking.

"What?"

"You never beg for a workout, let alone to do any training with me. Tom is a good lie, but come on, even in this state you'll go fine against him. If I'm going to put up with you complaining every god damn minute I make you work, I wanna know why." Zane demanded.

"Because I'm all better now and need to make sure I'm back at my best."

"Why?"

"I told you, I'm not injured anymore and Tom-"

He doesn't let me finish. "Elise, tell me or you get nothing from me and I will make your time here hell and not because I'm yelling at you to move your ass."

"I just-"

"Nope. We're done" He growls, turning to walk away.

"Fine!" I reach out and stop him. "I just, I need to be strong again. Swimming has helped a bit and Logan took me to the gym a few times. It has nothing to do with Tom, or even to do with Logan leaving now, well maybe a bit, but not for the reasons you're probably thinking. Something is happening again Zane, I can feel it. I'm not ready and that terrifies me."

I was telling him the truth; something is happening and I needed to be at my best again. My glimpse at honesty pays off as Zane's tone softened, much like his gaze as he swung an arm over my shoulders and gave me a hug.

"Sunshine, something is always going to be happening. The bad guys don't stop and that's why we exist. You've been through so much, but look, if you really want, I'll make some arrangements. This stays between us until I see how you go after one round of training okay and then I get to decide if you're really ready or not."

I hug him tighter. "Thank you."

"Anytime Kiddo."

To my surprise he leaves me alone and I go back to what I was doing to start with. Frank wasn't in his office, and even better; the door wasn't locked. Looking in my only focus is the monitors and instantly I spot four new ones. We now have a different view of the corridor by the library, another near the first year dorms and also down near the infirmary. The front entrance has a few new angles too.

Good to know.

"Frank, you here?" I call out.

Closing the door, I look around and start towards Huntingtons office instead. I don't get far when Frank reappears.

"Looking for something?" He doesn't hide his smile.

"Yeah, you. You weren't in your office?"

"I saw you in there, you're either serious or managed to hear me coming before you got to doing what ever your doing?" He holds up a small mobile device and his office is on the screen.

I thought the door being unlocked would have been making it too easy and by showing me that, he probably told me more than he should have already.

"I'm almost hurt you have so little faith in me. Does it have volume? I even called out to you."

"It does, but I haven't switched it on just yet. What's up?" He asks.

"I was going to ask if you had any new toys you could lend me, you know, make me feel a little safer here?"

"Talk to your parents, you were at that meeting and know the rules."

Why do these people think I was actually listening to anything that happened in there?

"Worth a shot, bye Frank!"

I quickly leave and head back out to Mum and Dads home on the other side of the oval. It's practically off campus and in another suburb. I'm half way across the oval when I get short of breath and I know what ever Zane has planned is going to be the death of me; for real this time. I'm not at all fit and I wonder how serious he was about me being able to beat Tom right now. I wouldn't bet on me.

I suck it up and ignore the burn that has started in the back of my legs and stop as I reach the end of the driveway to get my breath back. Logan's already waiting out the front and amazingly he has a bottle of water waiting for me. "Good walk?"

"The best." I lie, practically skulling the whole thing.

"You know what's going on? Ailin was just here."

She couldn't have zapped me back here too? "Yeah."

"You okay?"

"With you going?" I ask, holding my side as I feel a cramp coming on. Logan nods. "Yeah, I mean, if they need you to do, Tracker stuff, with those stupid mutts you should go for it."

"Glad you said that because I wanted to go as soon as she asked. I've missed being out on the road, you know? Are you going to be okay here?"

"Don't worry about me. I just-" Hold on... "You want to go? You missed being out on the road? Logan, are-"

"Calm down, just, don't do that! I love you, you know I do and I will do anything for you. Don't doubt us, or me okay!" He quickly interrupts.

"I wasn't go-"

"Yeah you were. I know you and it's written all over your face. We made a promise not to hide anything from each other and I was just being honest. I could spend the rest of my life kicking back on a beach with you and be happy, but come on Bunny. I know you are feeling restless too. We jumped at the job in Fiji because it's what we do."

Guilt ate at my insides as he had to bring up not hiding anything from each other anymore because I that's all I was doing. "I know. I get it, but come on, at least pretend you don't want to go just a little bit! Way to make me feel rejected."

"Well, it's not like I begged her to let me go." He started, coming closer as his hands snaked around my waist to pull me closer. The warm rush of his breath on my neck sent a shiver up my spine and instinctively I pushed against him as my hand rested on his shoulders. "Ailin made the point you could still be in danger. I want you safe."

Logan's lips brushed against my neck, and my head rolled back so that sensitive area was exposed. He moved higher, kissing my jaw before claiming my lips. The kiss ended too soon and looking into his eyes, I don't know what I do if anything did happen to him.

"My hero." I swooned a little too dramatically.

"Don't make me get the hose!" Jordan called out as he left the house and instantly Logan stepped back.

"What do you want?" Glaring at Jordan, he only grinned and behind him Chris was walking perfectly fine.

"Ready for the three amigos' to go hunting again?" The guys did some stupid fist bump thing before turning my way. "So, how long until you try and escape? I heard they were putting one of those ankle bracelets on you to monitor your movements."

"How about you try and not get yourself caught again so I don't have to save your sorry ass?" I snap back.

"She does have a point." Chris laughed.

"Look, I promise I'm not going to try and escape. Here is exactly where I want to be."

"Why does that worry me?" Logan sighed, moving closer to me again so his back is to my brother. "We have to go in an hour. I haven't unpacked from Fiji yet, so I'm already good to go. How about we head down to the river and see if I can get in a goodbye. To Alfie and Anni?"

He winks, clearly trying to be subtle. The pair of snake demons had actually gone to see Vesna in the kitchens for their dinner already and it wasn't hard to work out what 'goodbye' actually meant. Luckily Chris and Jordan were clueless about that and we left quickly to avoid my parents.

"You know I'm not leaving to get away from you right?"

Using my fingers, I turn his lips up into a smile from the frown that had taken over his face.

"I know."

"Why do you really want to be, here? You volunteered to leave the island."

"Back to reality. I want my life back. It was a holiday, they don't last for ever." I sigh, curling up against his chest. I am going to miss him. "How long will you be away for?"

"Not sure. I'll call you every day okay?" I feel the pressure of his kiss on the top of my head and really don't want him to go now.

"Logan, be careful. If you doubt anything, don't do it and please look after my brother. Ailin promised to get you out if shit goes bad."

"I know, she told me. See, don't worry. It's going to be fine."

He didn't know that. "I have a bad feeling about this. It could be a trap."

"Why do you think that?" Logan shifted his position so I had no choice other than to look at him as he now hovered above me. "Elise?"

"Cain saved my life and I just keep thinking about it. If he is involved in some way, in any of this, well, we're screwed." Considering our current state, I found myself blushing as Logan - ever the mature one, grinned.

"He saved me too, remember? Maybe, he really is reformed and doing good deeds now. It would be handy if he reappeared and told us who was behind it all to save some time, but I guess that would be pushing the friendship?" He managed to stay on topic.

I had almost forgotten about that and I mentally added one more thing to talk to Portia about.

"He's gone and as far as we know, he is a friend. You're looking into it more than you should be. I hate to say it, but come on Bunny, we better go back."

The words were there, ready to be said. Cain was still around and I hadn't been talking about the first time he saved my life either. Instead, I got dressed and we headed home. When the Kasha came to take them all, Chris included, away, it took strength I didn't know I had right now to stop myself begging them all to stay.

Instead I waited until they had gone and my parents went off to bed to then completely fall apart against the only real comfort I had right now; Alfie.