The house wasn't much to look at it. Old red brick, an oddly new metal roof, broken white picket fence and overgrown lawn greeted us as we got off the bike. Looking around, most of the houses were in the same state. A mix of old and new, with a side of neglect. With a shrug to Apollo, we step over what had once been a gate, only now was a half hinged and broken scrap of wood that had been nailed together, which now littered the concrete path with paint flakes.

The noise from a TV inside tells us someone is home and knocking three times, we wait. I knock again, before peering into the window beside us. The square light of the TV shines through a doorway. The front room has a dining table inside, and not much else. The lace curtains look as old as the rest of the building and the holes in them make it easier to peek in; if you ignore the dust all over the windows.

The door creaks open, and the man who greets us gives us the once over before realisation appears on his face.

"Hunters?" He asks cautiously, and I think that's as much of a hello we're going to get.

"Are you Kale Farrington?" I ask, already knowing this was the Slayer I'd come to see.

"Yeah. What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to know your progress on the special project you were assigned to. Case Two Thirty-Nine?"

He frowns. Deep ridges were appearing on his forehead as he gives us another once over. He's older than us, well me, but not quite as old as my Dad. His hair is cut short, yet the shine of silver seem to match the stubble on his face, and the stench of sweat mixed with cigarettes slowly seeps out to greet us. Kale looked to take as much pride in his appearance as he did his house.

"Why?"

"Because you seem to be doing sweet fuck all about it, and I want to know why that is." I snap, ignoring the big sigh Apollo gives beside me.

"Who are you?" He stands taller, shoulders squaring and I think he is trying to intimidate me. "You don't just come to my house and talk to me that way young lady. I don't know who you think you are, but-"

"I am Elise Bunting, Councilwoman Bunting if you want to get specific." I poke him in the chest. "Who do you think you are, ignoring a direct request from us regarding those vampires."

He swallows, and then slowly opens the door. "Come in."

There isn't a lot here. It smells damp, and the thickness of old cigarette smoke has me covering my mouth and nose.

"Your house, well it stinks," I tell him as he takes us down the corridor and into a small bedroom.

"You get used to it." He shrugs unbothered.

The fold out sofa is left as a bed, a sheet spread out across the middle and a triangle pillow up against the wall. He stops by a desk on the other side and pushes some folders around.

"Get used to it, sweetheart." He grunts, handing me one of the folders. "That's everything I know. It's been dead end after dead end. Most of it I've already submitted, but the few new leads I've got are there. It's a waste of time."

"Unlike personal hygiene." I force a smile, and open the folder, ignoring the glare he sends my way. "Why aren't you chasing these up? Where are the others assigned to this case?"

"I work alone. Teamwork makes me itchy." He mocks, scratching his head.

"Pretty sure it's not teamwork that's causing it."

"Have the others come up with anything?" Apollo asks quickly, pointing at the names of those that were supposed to be in this winners team.

"No. I don't know why they assigned a vampire to a vampire issue to start with. The other two are okay, but Nicki, well, don't trust her. I think that's why we hit so many dead ends and why I decided to work on my own." He rubbed his chin, looking thoughtful. "You going to see them next?"

"Probably," I tell him, reading over his notes. His handwriting was actually impeccable.

"Don't tell them you came here first or that you got that from me."

"Why?" Apollo asks.

"We didn't part on good terms. I've been doing this longer than you two have been alive, and everything to do with this tells me we have a mole."

"Why didn't you tell the council?" I ask, seeing beyond his exterior as he starts to open up.

"Who can you trust, when you think there's a mole. It's why I haven't submitted everything. I thought it was you, but wasn't sure. I met your Dad a few years back, he's a good sort. My mate Grant mentioned you once too. We were in the bunker together that time they attacked." He sniffs, and I nod at the memory. It really is a small world. "I know you wouldn't be mixed up in anything dodgy."

"Thank you," I tell him, meaning it.

"Just one thing, how did you find me?" I don't miss the hint of fear in his voice. Neither does Apollo as he catches my eye.

"Logan here is an excellent Tracker. We've been looking for you for a few days now, you weren't easy to find. If I weren't so, desperate, for answers, I would have given up." I lie.

His face relaxes, and he lets out a big sigh of relief, before looking a little too proud of himself. Of course, I could just tell him the excellent Tracker has a twin who is a legendary Huntress and taught him a thing or two about using their powers to locate people, but I didn't want to ruin his moment or make him worry about anything else.

"If I can help you in any other way, let me know." He offers, shaking both our hands.

Back out in fresh air, we each take a moment to breathe and shake off the smells from inside. I tuck the folder into my jacket and climb up behind Apollo. We don't speak until he pulls over at a road stop twenty minutes later.

"That was pretty weird. A mole?" Apollo frowns.

"I want to speak to the others. I can't work out if he's just a bit kooky and paranoid or legit."

"Can I see?" He motions to the folder, and I hand it over. "He really doesn't like the vampire."

I look over to see his notes and pick up that he has more than a few issues with the bloodsuckers.

"Maybe it's better that he isn't working with them now then?" I sit on the small wooden bench beside the bin and wonder if it's worth telling Ailin anything now or later, after seeing the others. "He is supposed to be a leading expert about vamps. He was chosen to lead this mission, and I really thought this team should have had this all wrapped up by now. To think someone on the inside is working against us, well, I got enough issues without adding that into the mix."

"Let's find the others and then see where we're at?" Apollo suggests.

We end up taking a few back roads and a little ride through whatever time, space, magic, that allows us to go where ever we think of, and end up at the last address the team registered themselves at.

"Fancy!" I exclaimed, looking up at the transformed warehouse.

A big for sale sign advertised studio apartment three b as, the bargain of the year in a hot market. It was a massive change from the rundown hideout of Kale and heading up towards the door, a woman with a pug in her arms, came out. Apollo graciously held the door open for her, and she offered him a smile to rivals Hecate, while not even looking my way. Her strappy heels clicked on the tiled stairs, and as she bent over to put the dog on the floor, the tight skirt left little to the imagination as she turned to look back at my boyfriend over her shoulder.

Instead, she found me shaking my head at her as he'd already walked inside, and I had nothing to do with the surprisingly large mound of dog poo she then stepped into as she went to walk away. Her scream of horror echoed into the small lobby, getting Apollo's attention as he turned to look at the door then at me as I followed him in.

"What happened?" He asked.

"The people around here really need to pick up after their dogs." I sigh, and hitting the elevator button, saying nothing more until we get off on the third floor. "Oh, this is nice!"

No smells.

New carpet.

Tasteful artwork lined the corridor, and the short walk from the elevator has us standing between two doors. Three A and Three B. Apollo knocks on option a, and we wait. Silence greets us, no television, radio or voices. I sense, something or someone inside, and looking at Apollo, he knocks again. Then I knock, a little more urgently - continuously.

Nothing.

"Break it down?" I ask hopefully.

"Or, just open the door?" He sighs, and sure enough, as he turns the doorknob, it clicks open as if we had a magic key.

"Where's the fun in that?"

We walk in and stop as a man half kneels on the sofa holding a somewhat shiny, silver revolver our way. I only manage to raise my eyebrows at him while Apollo inches forward, so he is semi-blocking me out of the way. Chivalry is clearly not dead.

"Oh hey, what are you doing here?" I greet, stepping out from behind him.

"This is our place. What are you doing, breaking in here?" The man huffs.

He is about Zane's age, and just as fit judging by the look of his bare arms and torso. Thankfully he has pants on, and slowly he stands, still pointing the gun our way.

"Are you sure? Because I clearly remember-" I start.

"Shut up!" He snaps. "Who are you?"

"And you think I have people issues?" I mumble to Apollo who slowly holds his hands up to show we mean no harm.

"Andrew Gray? I'm," He hesitates, "Logan Murphy. This is Elise Bunting. We're just here to talk."

Andrew narrows his eyes but lowers the gun. "You don't just break into people's apartments!"

"Well, we tried knocking. Didn't we, Logan?" Not sure why he didn't just say his actual name this time, but let it slide and play along.

"I've heard about you," He says, slowly coming over to us and extending his hand, coming right up into my personal space. At least he smells better than Kale did. "It's nice to meet you in person, but I don't get why you're here."

I shake his hand, and he ignores Apollo, he also doesn't let go straight away, his thumb rubbing over mine as his eyes linger a second too long on the edge of my t-shirt. Is he for real?

"Progress check on a case you're working on. Have you met Logan?" I ask, making a not so subtle point of the man at my side and pulling my hand free.

Reluctantly they shake too only minus the soft touch and awkward length of time spent staring his way.

"The vampires are clever. They aren't newbies just fooling around." He sighs, motioning for us to follow him. "Are you joining the team?"

"No," I tell him, almost sounding disappointed. "I'm representing the Council actually. We have reason to believe your team, lead by, Kale Farrington, may be compromised."

The name drop made him tense. "Compromised? How?"

"Is he here? Kale?" I ask, pretending not to notice.

"Just gone out. He won't be back until tonight." He obviously lies. "Can I help you with your enquiries?"

"We can wait, can't we Logan? Nice place you have here." An assortment of photographs and folders cover the coffee table and glancing over them as I pass, make him start to touch them, gathering everything up into a big pile.

"Asha brought it last year, we use it as our base." He explains, nervously glancing towards a door on the other side of the room.

"Asha Jones?" Apollo asks.

"Yes," Andrew confirms.

"And, Nicki?" I question, moving past the buffet where an assortment of handguns has been left. I pick one up, turning to face him as I touch the barrel of it, testing him as I move my finger along it which of course he keenly follows. "What about John?"

This was ridiculous really.

"Yes, them too. Nicki, as I'm sure you understand, is sleeping at the moment." Again he looks at the door, but then straight back to me.

"Vampire right?" He nods. "And the others?"

"Chasing up a lead actually." Andrew fusses with more papers. Coughing slightly to clear his throat most awkwardly as I keep toying with the gun. "Is there something you wanted to know? We've been sending regular updates to the Council."

"Mostly why there has been no real progress. It raises questions, I'm sure you understand?" I smile, putting it down and glancing at Apollo, the biggest what the fuck look is all over his face. I wink at him.

"Kale hasn't been answering any calls, so the President sent us to confirm all is okay. Some vampires we came across earlier mentioned the possibility that you may have been working with the ones you've been chosen to find." Apollo added slowly, catching on.

Something was so off about this place, about Andrew and I'm pretty sure it was something to do with what was behind this door. Luckily, I seem to be a good distraction.

"I can assure you, we are working as hard as we can. It's just dead end after dead end with our leads, no one is talking to us." Andrew sighed. "We're trying."

"I believe you," I tell him, heading his way before stopping at the files. "What's all this?"

"I was going over the surveillance from last night." He explains.

"Dead ends, no help, all this hard work, and still you keep trying!" I gush, putting my hand on his arm. His muscles tense at the touch, even one much lower, which makes his cheeks redden slightly before he sits on the chair. "I am so impressed by the effort you put in. It's wrong of the council to doubt you."

"May I see?" Apollo asks, reaching over to look at something which Andrew allows. "Where was this taken?"

"A warehouse about half an hour away. About twenty vamps were working on unloading the cargo. We noticed a couple of coffins-" He stopped as I sat down on the coffee table, twirling some hair on my finger as I leaned across to look at what Apollo was looking at, well aware I was flashing a tiny section of lace from my bra. "And there were guns. Big guns."

"Big guns?" I bite the inside of my cheek, so I don't laugh at him.

When was the last time he got laid?

He nods, and Apollo just shakes his head. I half expected him to go alpha male by now, but he clearly understood what I was doing.

"I really love this apartment. Is the one on the other side the same?" I ask, throwing him for a second as I stood up.

"Yes. Asha, she ah, she altered the kitchen though, but otherwise the same." He stares at the bit of skin that peeks out from under my shirt as I stretch.

"Can I get a tour? I'd love to see it all." I smile, trying my best to be charming. I think I could be whatever I wanted to be by this point and it would have the same effect. He points his arm towards the doorway and quickly gets up. "You don't mind do you, Logan? You know how much I love real estate."

"Whatever." He shakes his head and pulls out his phone as I follow Andrew into the kitchen.

"Kitchen. Asha remodelled the bench here to make this dining area more open." He tells me like he's working for a commission. Never has any male I ever met focused so hard on a stovetop.

More appliances are pointed out, we admire the view of the street. There's a communal pool on the rooftop, and the bathroom is clean, more significant than I actually expected it to be, and the master bedroom has it's own too. I don't care about ensuites.

"And how many bedrooms?" I make sure my arm touches his chest as I pass him in the doorway.

"Two more, so three in total." He swallows nervously, glancing down the hall. "There's on here, we use for Nicki as it had a skylight instead of a window. It's in the centre of the apartment, and we're on the top floor."

No shit! I think while he mumbles on about the renovations they did to make it secure and dark for her daytime naps, but I really don't care. Focusing on the other side of the door, I feel the vampires presence.

"There seems to be a lot of you staying here," I wonder out loud, leaning against the wall opposite him. Not so subtly he stares at my chest, down a bit, before back there. Too bad my face wasn't as nice to look at. "Are all the rooms as big as the master?"

"No. Nicki has her room, which is the smallest. We store some of our weapons and gear in there too. Kale and John share the other one. I have the master with Asha, who is ah, my girlfriend." He finishes quietly.

Apollo better have gone into that other room by now and standing I stop in front of him, leaning up to whisper in his ear.

"Logan's my boyfriend." I wink and then walk back out loudly asking in warning as I do. "So this is Kale and John's room?"

Andrew moves fast, blocking my way across the room to the other door. Apollo sits where we left him, looking up with a blank face.

"They're really private people. I can't let you go in there." He says firmly. "They'd get annoyed if they found out."

"I won't tell them, will you?" I look at Apollo. "Will you?"

"Let it go. It's a bedroom." He huffs before standing. "This is pointless until we speak to Kale. He's the team leader. We should check in with the Trackers we were meeting this afternoon earlier and come back later. Can you give us a time?"

"No, he kind of does what he wants. He isn't the best team leader I've ever had. I pretty much run things because of him anyway." Andrew boasts before quickly adding. "It'll be night time for sure though."

"Guess I'll see you tonight then Andrew," I pat his chest as I pass, catching his eye and smiling which makes him blush and smile back.

Wow, Asha is a lucky girl.

Apollo says nothing as we leave, and the second we get into the elevator I pounce.

"Please tell me you went into that room!"

"What, while you were flirting up a storm and talking stovetops, I was supposed to be breaking into another room, that they're very private about?" He rolls his eyes. "Some of Kales stuff was there, smelling like cigarettes. Bunk beds. Some guns and ammunition, the usual kind of things we carry around."

"You're kidding. That's it?" I groan.

"Yeah, don't' sound too disappointed. I thought you were enjoying yourself?" He teases, making me want to slap the smirk off his face. "Oh well, there was this one other big thing I discovered."

"Ha ha ha. You're so funny. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing your girlfriend fawn all ov-" I snap sarcastically until he shuts me up.

"John is dead."

"What?"

"He's wrapped up on the bottom bunk. There was something, a spell maybe, cloaking him, but it was easy to break to see what it was hiding." He shrugged.

"Well, fuck." We go back out onto the street and looking up, I can see Andrew standing by the window. I wave, and we go back to our bike. "Kale got out at the right time then didn't he?"

"Definitely something going on with them, that's for sure." He plants a kiss on the tip of my nose. "And you're little act in there wasn't for nothing. By the way, do that again, and I won't be held accountable. Do you think he even knew I was there?"

"Aw, feeling left out? Next time you can flirt with him, hows that?"

"He won't end up stepping in dog shit if I do?" He quickly retorts.

"So, we wait until tonight and see what they do when they panic over our little visit?" I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze, moving on from who does what when jealous.

"Yeah, but first we tell Ailin."

"No," I tell him.

He stops again and turns slightly to look at me. "Why not? Wasn't that the plan?

"Well, technically, she didn't actually send me to check up on these things. To get her off my back, I told her I was taking some leave and having a self-imposed time out." I confess. "I just, it's because, well, I do think this has gone on for too long and want those involved to be held accountable. Turns out, my gut instinct to follow it up was onto something."

He turns back around, starts up the bike and we leave the street. Apollo parks us two blocks away and getting off, I follow after him as he goes down into an alleyway. Taking my hand, we're suddenly up on the roof on the building opposite of where we just were and glancing over the edge, I can see their rooftop pool. It's a beautiful area, Andrew wasn't kidding.

"I'm going to set up a security system over the building. It'll tell us when they come and go." He explains, holding his hands up.

Apollo's hands light up for a second, making me look away as my eyes instantly water - the brightness reminding me of looking at the sun. Once done, he shakes his hands and smiles.

"All done."

"How will we know?" I ask.

He shows me his watch. "This will light up."

"Magic tech? Interesting."

"It's not an actual watch. I just made it look that way to save my hands lighting up again." He shrugs. "I channelled the thought of the reaction into an object."

"Can I do that?"

"One day, I'm sure you will be able to. But, not today. I'm hungry, wanna eat?"

"Do you not know me at all?" I nudge him, and we're back in the alleyway.

Of course, it's as the biggest, most amazing piece of steak gets put down in front of me that his wrist lights up and as he makes the disruption appear on the watch face, a not so happy couple argues at the rear of their apartment block.

"Don't suppose you can get audio?"

"No. Not unless we go back there." He looks at his own steak and frowns.

"Well, unless their vampire friend can do daylight, or they're going to abandon her, they'll go back." I start to eat, so does Apollo.

He continually lights up as they start to pack up a van and by nightfall, they've all gone - even John which creates way too many questions. Luckily we were already following them; otherwise, we could have gone back to an empty apartment, which would have given us another one of those dead ends, this team seem to keep finding.

This time we sat in a car Apollo found after lunch. Cruising behind their van, at a not too suspicious distant, I played with the radio which drove him crazy.

"This is why I like the bike." Apollo huffs, tapping my hand away from the controls and switching it off.

"Fine. I'll sing. On the road-" I start.

"If you sing that one more time I am going to kick you out here and keep going on my own." He threatens.

"I have an amazing singing voice." I declare.

"Amazing isn't a word I would use. Tolerable maybe, but it doesn't help you only sing the one line over and over."

"It's all I know."

"Then sing a song you know all the words to." Apollo snaps, turning on the radio once more.

Smirking, the song that suddenly comes through has him banging his head on the steering wheel.

"On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again. The life I love is doing something about music and friends, yeah, I'm on, I mean, wrong part, I can't wait to get on the road again!"

A second later I'm clutching onto his shoulders in an attempt to find some balance, with the car gone and we're back on the bike.

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