Huntington sat quietly at her desk, typing away and doing things a very dedicated headmistress does at eleven o'clock at night. Well, that could mostly be because her star pupil had asked her to set up a meeting with a god because surprise, surprise - he was no where to be found when I wanted him.

"Just for the record, I don't like your plan." She briefly glanced my way, before going back to her laptop.

"Want to suggest something else to get him talking then?"

I was actually hoping she did, but the sigh she gave a second later didn't boot my confidence.

"No. He'll only ever tell you what he wants you to know. Threatening him is a risk on your behalf." Huntington sighed again.

"Guess we'll find out soon enough." I mumbled, rubbing my finger along the blade of Apollo's dagger.

It wasn't a great plan. It wasn't even a good one, but it's all I could come up with right now. I didn't think it would end as badly as she thought it could, because as far as my relationship with Cain was concerned, I had immunity. That could be rather stupid on my behalf, but everything kept pointing back to the fact he needs me. Then again, if it did go bad, Jordan and the others would probably be thrilled since they want Cain dead. I didn't really care about what they all wanted. Maybe telling them could have been a mistake, and I tried to ignore the niggling voice in the back of my mind telling me just that. What ever.

"What do you-" Cain appeared out of thin air in front of Huntington's desk, pausing as she instantly pointed over to me. She really wasn't going to be much help with this at all.

Slowly Cain turned, his eyebrows rising slightly as I stood from the chair and boldly raised my sword to his throat. His eyes darted down to the blade, before meeting mine and a tiny smile appeared.

"Should've known." He half laughed, folding his arms over his chest like this was no big deal. 'What do you, want Hunter?"

Alfie moved restlessly behind me and I made sure to hold Cain's gaze. In some ways, it was like dealing with a shifter; they hated that whole eye contact stare down thing thanks to their stupid dominance issues, and I wasn't going to be the one to look away first.

"Why didn't you help when Selene was doing her portal thing?" I demanded, proud of how strong I sounded considering what was really going on in my mind. "You stepped up against the Warlocks. So many lives could have been saved if you had; not just the lives of the people you created, but the normal people who fell victim to those creatures that escaped the portal! I've been thinking about this. A lot!"

"Who said I didn't help?" He shot back sarcastically. "You want to lower that before you hurt yourself."

"Just, answer me! I've had enough of this; your stupid half answers and never knowing anything!" I yelled, and regretted it.

I had to stay calm and in control, and I wasn't feeling either of things any more. It was like a switch had been flicked and now a meltdown was on the horizon. Sensing that, Alfie hissed behind me, rising up so he was glaring down at Cain. I didn't have the willpower to tell him to calm down.

"Put the sword down, then we'll talk." The soft, patronizing tone he used pissed me off.

As if I would hurt my... That gave me an idea.

"No. You will answer my fucking question!" The hysteria was clear, and those thoughts I had refused to acknowledge demanded I scream my questions at him now.

Why did he let Reece die?

Why didn't he stop them before that portal was opened?

Would he have brought me back to life if Selene or even the Lord Alpha, had managed to kill me?

The dagger at my side was raised to my own throat, and I kept it close as I lowered my sword. Seeing the change, Huntington stood with a gasp and I don't think Alfie noticed. Cain narrowed his eyes.

"Calm down." He ordered. "I did help you then Elise. I couldn't do a lot without risking you being revealed to them, or exposing myself. I've managed to stay in hiding for many years and didn't want to ruin that."

Cain held his hands in surrender, an obvious sign that he wasn't a threat and Huntington slowly walked around her desk to stand just behind him. My hand was shaking now, and I could feel the edge of the blade against my skin. I wasn't going to hurt myself, but I wasn't going to let him away with half truths and stupid stories anymore. It might be a little drastic, yet I could tell it was working.

"Elissse?" Alfie's tail went around my ankle and glancing his way, he met my gaze and winked tell me he understood. I wasn't sure I did.

"How did you help? Did you help the shifters when they were attacked by that feral pack of Selene's? Did you help Jordan when he was in that cell, or Sam or Opal? What about Logan ending up in the hospital because of that stupid Winters bitch? Or Reece, he was fighting that fucking change every day until he died! For me. For Jordan. For the fucking world, so that portal could be closed. What did you do, huh! What did you do then?" Maybe I wasn't as calm as I was pretending to be, and once the words started, I couldn't stop them.

I blamed him for every argument I had with my parents, for me not getting into college back then and for hurting Zane, because his only actual relative; his half sister had been killed that night too. Jodie didn't deserve that. None of my kind did. We do so much to keep civilians safe and the supernaturals in order, for that stupid treaty, and what thanks do we get? Nothing. We don't even get a choice in the matter.

"I'm not going to pretend I am one of the good guys Elise. I let it play out to see how you would deal with it. I guarded you for a long time, but I had to let you do this on your own." Cain moved in the blink of an eye, and I instantly found myself sitting in one of those uncomfortable chairs, weaponless. "Who do you think made sure that fae girl discovered the weapon you needed to kill the Alpha? And I gave you this, to make sure Selene and her mutts were all you had to worry about."

He held out his hand and the ring Oz had given me was in his palm. "But-"

"I know. He lied. Don't be mad, I didn't give him much choice."

"They did that so I would die." I ask, not needing confirmation.

"But you didn't."

"The Warlocks were your Selene." It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"Dracula was supposed to kill me wasn't he?"

Cain nodded. "Why am I here Elise?"

"I want answers." I sighed, wiping the tears off my cheeks. So much for my bad ass act I had going on in my mind. I totally lost control.

"Ask me anything." He sounded sincere. "No tricks, half answers, or anything else. Promise!"

Well, I guess I just got what I wanted, only all my thoughts disappeared now and I had no idea what to ask. Cain patiently knelt in front of me, while Alfie kept his eyes glued to him. Huntington went back to her typing, though I was almost positive she was probably just online shopping because there is no way she could have actual work to do right now. Then it came to me, the most obvious question of all and the one I really needed an answer to above all else.

"Can I trust you?"

"Yes." Cain answered, taking my hand in his. "So long as I can trust you."

"What?"

He picked up Apollo's dagger, and stood up. "I know how you got this, so I'm not going to waste time asking. The why of it, well, that's something else. How do I know you are not already working against me?"

There was a dangerous edge to his tone now, and I realised this is what it had come down to; what it was always leading towards.

I needed to pick a side.

"I would have killed you when I had the chance. You know I would've done it!" I stood up, knowing this was about to change everything. "I'm with you."

Cain and Huntington shared a look and without another word he disappeared.

"That's it?" I asked her.

"For now, Hunter." She smiled and closed her laptop. "Cain will take care of everything, so all you have to do is go back to your life as if nothing has changed. At least until the time comes when that is no longer an option."

"What? I can't just, pretend this didn't happen!"

Huntington vanished and in her place Portia reached out and hugged me. I couldn't move to push her off me, or to just get away and a feeling of dread washed over me as I felt her lips by my ear. "Yes, you can."

Then everything went black.

) O (

Mum is in baking mode and for the millionth time, I regret telling them everything about what's been going on last night. French toast, waffles, breakfast muffins and a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice have taken over the kitchen table; not that anyone of us is actually complaining. I put a layer of crispy bacon over a waffle, drizzle maple syrup over it and add another waffle to create the most amazingly delicious sandwich ever.

Logan shakes his head. "Seriously?"

"You're just jealous you didn't think of it first!" He ends up stealing a piece of bacon off my plate as it falls from the waffles and Jordan rolls his eyes.

"So glad you two are happy acting like nothing is going on."

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." I snap at him.

I know there is a lot going on, but I on the other hand woke up on the right side of the bed, of Logan's bed actually and I don't even remember going to see him. I actually expected to wake up with a pain in my neck and a sore back from falling asleep on Alfie after writing in iBob so it was a nice surprise.

"Someone barely got any sleep, worrying about another invasion from super powerful beings we will not be able to stop unless this fabled, Cain character decides to help us out again." I really don't like his tone.

"Jordan, if there is something I've learnt after nearly dying a whole bunch of times, life goes on. If the big, bad gods come, we'll do what we always do and hopefully it turns out better than the last two times." I smile at him, being taking a glass of juice.

"Okay, who are you and what have you done with Elise?"

Even Dad and Logan murmur in agreement and all eyes are looking my way.

"What? Can't I be positive?"

"No." They all say in unison.

"Ouch." I keep eating.

"She's right. Back off." Mum sits beside me, before frowning at my sandwich. "Really Elise?"

"Why does everyone have an issue with me today?"

"We don't, anyway, Ailin is meeting with the council this afternoon. We need to put some plans in place in case things get out of control." Dad takes control of the discussion.

"I don't think that's necessary." I add when he's done.

"And why is that?"

"We're not going to get any warning. We can't just wait around, planning for something that might not happen. It could be a case of pushing a button and getting lost in a tomb again!" I tease. No one finds it funny.

"That's your plan? Just, forget it and carry on like normal?" Jordan asks.

"Pretty much!" I shrug. "Speaking of, I was looking over the network this morning and-"

"That isn't a plan!" He yells.

"It's my plan okay! I get it, you're worried, but I don't think you need to be. Subtle, behind the scene kind of things is their style. Lets look for something else that could be a hidden plan for world domination. As I was saying there was something on the network-"

Again I get cut off as Dad thinks that over. "You're right. The attack wouldn't come from them directly. I'll talk to Ailin, see what she thinks."

I feel like giving the guy a round of applause.

"So what do you suggest we do in the meantime?" Logan gives me a look that makes me think of taking time out on a beach with a jug of margarita's wouldn't be a bad idea.

"I saw on the network, there was some weird sacrificing thing at a temple place in Mexico. Local authorities are ignoring it so far, which is good for us, but the fact seven Slayers have been reported as missing after going to check it out over the last two weeks makes me wonder. It's a priority case and well, I'm kind of a big deal so I should definitely go check it out."

Logan laughs. "Mexico?"

"Mexico." I confirm as Jordan rolls his eyes.

Mum is on her phone, already looking it up. "I don't know Elise. It's one of the biggest Mayan city sites"

"If you go, it'll be with a team. Don't think I'm stupid enough to miss the looks you two are giving each other." Dad glares at Logan who quickly focuses on his breakfast.

"I can call Zane?" Jordan offers.

"No, he's busy doing other stuff and I don't need a babysitter."

"Fine. CJ and I will come, bring Drew if he's free." Jordan tells Logan.

"Okay." Logan just nods, going along with what ever is being arranged.

I let it go, and leave them to make the plans, I go and start packing. I've barely got my bag out when I sense I'm not alone and turning around, Cain is standing in the corner.

"I'm going to get you a bell." I shake my head, ignoring the way my heart skipped a beat as his surprise entry.

"Funny. I found this, think it's yours." He holds his hand out and gives me my ring. "If you're travelling, you might want to keep it on?"

"Maybe. I dunno. Know much about the Mayans?"

"No, not really. Expecting trouble?" He asks casually.

"I dunno. You're the one with an Oracle!" I tease, going back to my packing.

"You'll want to focus more on the swords than the guns."

"Nice little cryptic clue there. Hey, since you're all chatty, can I ask you-" I turn around and he's gone. "Next time then."

Alfie catches my eye as he slowly comes in and nudges my arm. If I didn't know better, I'd almost think he was sick. His head is dropped down, and moving looks like an effort. Instantly I run my hand down his neck, and for a cold blooded creature, he was feeling really hot.

"You okay?"

"Alfie doess not feel like Alfie." He sighs, letting me hold his head.

"What can I do? You fix Elise all the time, can I fix you?" I ask.

"Elissse, can't."

"Anni?" He shakes his head. "Fae? Witches? Maybe they can make you some medicine?"

"Head. Hurts." Alfie groans.

I kiss the space between his eyes and he slowly closes them as his body finishes coming into my room and he coils himself around me. With a little nudge, he knocks my knees and I obediently sit so his head is now resting in my lap.

"Is Alfie okay?" Logan asks as he comes to stand in the doorway.

"His head hurts." I tell him, still patting his head softly. "We can't go today."

"Yup, I guessed that. My head hurts too, your brother is turning into your Dad." He comes in and sits on the bed, patting Alfie as he passes.

Almost instantly, Alfie is asleep and I wonder what has caused this to happen. He's never been sick; even bloody and beaten, he's been fine. Hopefully he can just nap this off and my worry is for nothing.

"I've never seen him sick before." A real fear starts to claw its way up from my gut and into my stomach.

"I can get Anni?" He offers.

"Yeah, she might be able to tell me what's going on." I don't see him leave, but sure enough, Annipe soon appears.

"Anni, do you know why Alfie is sick?" I pray she saves her attitude for another day and actually answers me.

"Not ss-ssick." She tells me, her tongue flicking out over Alfie's head before she nudges him gently. He barely stirs as she settles half over him, and me. "Alfie not like Elise. He needss more time to ressst!"

I look at Logan who is staying outside the room and he only shrugs, though the concern on his face doesn't help settle my nerves.

"I know he isn't like- wait, why does he need more time to rest? From what?"

I think about last night. I was on the swing with Logan, he went to bed and I went to chill with Alfie while I wrote in my diary. I must have fallen asleep straight after that and Alfie would have put me to bed, only when I ask for confirmation from Annipe, she shakes her head.

"Alfie and Elise went away."

"What?" Logan and I say at the same time.

"Woke up and gone." She yawns before looking around the room - like she is reenacting the moment. "I went to look, only I can't find. When I come home, Alfie and Elise home."

"How did we get home? Did you see anyone?"

She shakes her head. "N-nooo. Can you smell that?"

"No?" I sniff around just in case, but nothing stands out to me. Her tongue flicks in an out, before her lips curl slightly.

"It is on Alfie. And Elise! It is like the panther."

"What panther?" Logan asks before I can, though it only takes a second for it to click who she could be talking about.

"Thank you Anni, you've been such a good girl!" I reach out and scratch under her chin, making her look very proud of herself. "Logan, can you stay with him? I think he'll be fine once he rests like Anni said, but I just gotta go out for a second."

"Where?" He doesn't sound impressed about this.

"Don't worry! I'll be back in a second, and I'll have Anni with me." I nod to the door and she follows me out. "Can you take me to the panthers home?"

Instantly I'm standing on the still sticky dance floor at The Last Drop. It's dark and and musty; the cleaners have either not started yet or done a terrible job at cleaning up after last night and checking out the back, Cain isn't there. No one is, it's completely empty. From there we go to Huntington's office, which is also void of life, but my dagger is sitting on her desk.

My sword had been on my bed, and picking it up I wonder how it got here. Had I come last night? Trying to think about it made my own head hurt, which told me enough, only just not what had gone down for them to make me and obviously Alfie forget. While Annipe busied herself in the mirror by the bookcase, I tried to get into Huntington's laptop with no luck. This level of hacking was out of my league and if I was some kind of supernatural freak with the ability to see the future, I would probably have made sure I kept my technology as advanced as possible too.

"Come on Anni, let's go check on Alfie."

She didn't need to be told twice and despite the fact he was asleep, I could tell Alfie was already feeling better. By the following morning, he was completely back to normal and yet the fact someone had messed with Alfie had me wanting beat something up. Preferably something called Cain and maybe even Portia because I know they were behind it.

"You okay?" Chris asked me as we readied our bags.

Ailin was reluctantly sending Toyo along to act as our own personal travel guide, and I think as extra muscle. I was glad the Kasha demon was coming along. Cain had said to use swords not guns; and if anyone knew what to do with one it was a Kasha demon.

"Yeah, just worried about Alfie." It was a total lie, but I was more pissed off that someone had messed with my snake.

"He's fine. Your Mum got them some Co- sorry, brown bubble water so that will perk them up while we're gone!" He smiled. "They're just lucky they don't have to worry about cavities or diabetes!"

I manage to laugh at his attempt at a joke as Toyo appears. She gives us a simple nod in greeting and heads inside, probably to talk to Dad since I heard him on the phone to Ailin before. It wasn't like we were babies going on play date, but the real grownups seem to think that was the case.

"Morning Ellie!" Drew comes through the trees, having walked here from the main building.

"Hey Drew!" We barely get to hug each other before a white SUV appears coming down the driveway.

"Damn it!" He curses.

"What?"

"I was hoping we could have left before they woke up." I look at him expectantly, praying he isnt' about to say what I think he is. The way his face goes red tells me I'm right and I instantly shake my head. "I'm sorry! He heard me on the phone and they got permission from Ailin to come and-"

Toyo comes out with Logan and Jordan as the car stops. "Hunter, you are to lead the team President Ailin has put together for you."

She speaks so quietly I'm not sure I heard her right, not that it matters since Nigel gets out of the drivers seat and starts to wave to the crowd like a celebrity at the Oscars.

"There she is! Tell me you haven't missed seeing this handsome face everyday?" Nigel grins, stopping in front of the SUV as the back doors open and holds out his arms. "Don't deny it, you know you love me!"

"Hey Nigel!" I ran over and give him a hug, frowning as Tom coughs a second later to interrupt us. "You couldn't have, I dunno, hit him with the car rather than give him a ride in it?"

"True, but it was worth it to see that look on your face. Heard we'll be calling you boss this trip?" He goes to ruffle my hair and I squat him away, ignoring Tom and Sam as we go over to where the others have gathered.

"Yeah, I heard something about that. Toyo?"

"Your lead on this one Hunter." She glanced over at Tom. "I am to be your second."

"Ailin's orders?" I ask.

"Indeed. She believes that you can do this." Toyo smiles.

"Peachy."

Great. Me, a team leader. What is Ailin on these days?

"Be careful. I was reading those reports yesterday, and those Slayers were not ones who would be easy to take down." Mum appears from behind the group with Annipe close behind.

A hiccuping Alfie soon joins her and at seeing everyone he straightens up. "Alfie come?"

"No pal, you're going to have to stay here with Anni okay?" I tell him.

"Alfie keeps Elisse safe!"

"I know. I just can't take you with me this time. Be a good boy, okay?" He nods, but doesn't look happy. So I try to compromise. "If you think I'm in trouble, you can come find me okay?"

"Anni too?"

"Anni too." I agree, while hoping it doesn't actually come to that.

I say goodbye to my parents and demons, letting the others do what they need to do too before channeling my inner Zane. "Okay, enough wasting time. We go, now!"

We group up, with Tom and Sam reluctantly being the last to join in. Why they had to come is beyond me, but at least I'm not the one having to listen Tom.

"You've got this Bunny." Logan whispers as we all hold hands in preparation for Toyo Express to take off.

I really hope I do.