"Stay with Zeke and listen to what he tells you!"

"But--"

"No buts, we've dealt with these creatures before, you haven't. Listen to what Zeke says and follow his every instruction to the letter." Nikki could see the conflict in Josh's eyes however there was little time to pacify him. Leaning forward she placed a chaste kiss on his cheek, feeling awkward at the intimacy and the public display of affection.  "Stay safe, Josh."

Catching her face firmly in his hands, he laid his lips against hers, kissing her hard - all thoughts of any unease forgotten as he reignited their dormant passion. Forgetting herself, Nikki could almost pretend they'd travelled back in time. For one glorious moment they were back in the bedroom at Sam's house, and it was just the two of them. Melting to his touch she wound her arms around his shoulders, pressing her body to his. A smile broke free as she delighted in the fact that she still fit so perfectly well against him.

Putting his forehead to hers, Josh looked deep into her eyes. "Don't try and be a hero this time yeah? Just... Come back to me as soon as it's dealt with." The unspoken pain in his eyes cut to her core and she could only nod. "Promise?"

"I swear, as soon as the Hunter's gone I'm all your again," she whispered.

"No more stupid doubt or awkwardness?"

Nikki hesitated. She couldn't promise him that and frankly this wasn't the best time to have this conversation. The strangled shriek from the predator stalking them was getting closer.

"Nikki?" Josh pressed.

She sighed, time was of the essence but given the real threat of death, Nikki didn't want to leave everything unsaid. "I can't help it, especially when I see you with Joanne, even though I know it's just your job, but," she glanced nervously up before returning her focus to Josh. "I love you and nothing can change that so I'm gonna try to move past this, just right now, we need to face the Hunter."  His face lit up and Nikki softened. She'd missed that smile more than she thought possible. Seeing it again in front of her was as comforting as it was painful. "I love you," she muttered before turning away.

However, before she could complete her rotation, Josh gripped her upper arm and spun her back. His mouth crushed hers with such a passion she momentarily forgot how to breathe. Head spinning and lungs burning, he let her go, staring deep in to her dazed expression his body pressed her back against the wall and his mouth found her ear.

"Always have, always will," he promised huskily. And then he was gone.

Taking a second to compose herself, she breathed out. He was right. Their connection was as solid as ever. He still had the ability to scramble her thoughts but more than that, he affected her in such a way it was almost supernatural.

"Mind on the task, Nikki." Ezekius snapped impatiently.

There was lightness in her heart, one she hadn't felt for such a long time and it was making her giddy.

Ezekius continued, "It's close and this time it's not going to play nicely. Bear that in mind when you see us running around. It's mad and it's heading straight for Josh."

His words worked. Refocusing, Nikki flew up the broken staircase and leapt over the hole she'd made in the floor, streaking as fast as she could to her hideout in the roof. "Keep it distracted, I need the eyes front at all times. If it even suspects I'm about--"

"I know."

"And Zeke, only use them if you really have to, okay?"

She felt his resistance but it subsided quickly. "Even Sam?"

Despite herself she chuckled. After all this time, Zeke still held a deep-rooted resentment for the Guardian. "Yes, even Sam. Remember, he's my friend too."

"It's here, hurry!"

Heeding his words she pushed herself harder, wishing she had a little of Josh's speed. Heaving her body up the ladder she reached the top and peered down through the tiles. She couldn't see any of her companions but she knew they were there. Pulling away from the gap, she crouched low and gathered her cloak around herself. Eyes closed, she watched through Zeke as he co-ordinated the ground attack.

"Stay low and move quickly, you have an advantage with your speed, but don't underestimate it. They are cunning and dangerous. If it get's too close, watch the wings, they do the most damage and hold their strength." Ezekius lead them further in to the undergrowth. "The body is fragile but it takes a lot to bring them down and under no circumstances allow it to get its mouth close. Once it locks its jaws around you there is no release except dismemberment or death."

"What's the plan?" Sam asked ducking below a branch.

"Remain hidden unless we call for you. I will distract it, lead it to the fountain and Nikki will attempt to destroy it."

"Where is she?"

"She's on the roof, she needs an aerial view so she can control her flame. She's too weak to fight it face to face so we need to make sure it doesn't see her."

"And if it does?" Josh asked warily.

Ezekius ploughed on, navigating the veritable jungle with ease.

"Zeke?"

Ezekius halted abruptly and turned to growl at Josh. "My name, Guardian, is Ezekius and you would do well to remember that."

"Zeke!" Nikki gasped, taken aback at his hostility.

The demon sighed, moving away from Josh and shaking his head. "I apologise. I am working to smother centuries of ingrained loathing towards your kind. Add to that the immeasurable agony Nikki has felt at the mere mention of your name over the last two years I'm sure you can understand my reaction to you using her pet name for me."

"Heads up, it's coming in fast from the west."

"It's here. Split up but stay within sight of one another. Keep low and silent and wait for our signal."

From her vantage point, Nikki watched as the graceful beast swooped low over the garden, its keen beady eyes searching for any sign of life. She didn't know how, but somehow they always knew where Ezekius was. They followed him as easily as if he held a flare.

Tapping into his mind she waited for the creature to come into sight. He was almost at the fountain when the Hunter touched down.

In the dense vegetation, it was forced to draw in its wings, keeping them tight against its body. This gave the group an advantage. Without the power behind its bony, grotesque wings, the Hunter was just about manageable.

Taking a deep breath, Nikki stepped out onto the roof and slowly made her way to the remnants of a chimneystack. Clutching the bricks tightly she hid as best she could and waited. Any moment now she'd have direct line of sight and then she would unleash her flame. Watching through the moving shadows she spotted the stalking marauder. With all her strength she sent a tongue of flame down through the sky into the opening by the fountain, concentrating all her heat on the skinny creature.

Once again she merged into Zeke's mind and observed through his eyeless sight as the fire swallowed the Hunter whole. It licked at the stringy muscle and made the papery flesh on its arms bubble.

A scream of absolute agony erupted from the creature's mouth and it thrashed about wildly.

Inhaling, Nikki took a deep breath before she pushed out everything she had. With just a little more power she could end the Hunter without endangering any of her friends.

But in her concentration, she didn't notice the new enemy approaching from behind. She had no idea of the danger she was in until it was too late. As quickly as it started, her stream of fire stopped and she found herself impaled on something cold, and flying through the air.

Looking down at her chest she saw the black arm of a second Hunter clawing its way through her body sending mouthfuls of crimson spluttering from her lips. She heaved, choking on her own blood as her tired lungs began to fill. She was hardly aware that she was being pinned to the freezing body as it carried her towards the smouldering mangled Hunter near the fountain. 

Hovering above its brethren, the second demon shoved, letting Nikki's bloodied body drop through the air to land in a bone-crunching thud next to its partner. But before the injured Hunter could grab her, Ezekius had appeared, dragging Nikki back into the safety of the undergrowth.

"We need the Guardians, I can't fight two alone," he rasped.

Knowing he was right, Nikki slowly nodded her head.

"Guardians!" His bellow carried out over the garden and in a flash they were flanked by Sam and Josh.

"What happened?" Sam's mouth dropped open as he saw for himself the damage the Hunter had inflicted on Nikki.

"Oh Jesus." Josh was on his knees trying to stop the blood pouring out of her before she'd registered his presence.

"She will survive, but only if we can finish the Hunters. The first is mortally wounded. We just need to get close enough to finish it before it causes us any more damage. The second is strong and will take careful plan--"

A low snarl stopped Ezekius. All eyes moved to the deadly assassin prowling towards them, its mouth open and snarling.

"Zeke?" Josh wrapped his arms around Nikki and hoisted her up.

It attacked before he could move, stretching out its powerful wings and cutting through the garden like a hot knife though soft butter. Without pausing it flew forward and tore Nikki from Josh, beating him back with the razor sharp tips of its wings.

"Nikki!" Sam rushed forward, ducking below the thrashing wings to grab hold of the Hunters freezing arm. As their flesh met, the Hunter dropped Nikki and stumbled back clutching its arm like it had been burnt. Falling over a tree it had just demolished it landed on its back, stunned and disoriented.

Josh was at Nikki's side instantly, gathering her up and shielding her from the Hunter on the floor.

"Move." Ezekius instructed Sam who had remained frozen from his contact with the beast. But Sam ignored the demon. Instead he took a step forward. In response, the Hunter cowered, turning its face away.

Through the pain Nikki watched, aghast and astonished. The way the Hunter was behaving was unprecedented.

With growing confidence, Sam moved closer. Something about the Hunter was familiar but the closer he moved the farther away it shuffled. Shaking his head, Sam extended an arm.

"Who are you?" His whisper carried through the silence and caused the predator to shiver. It closed its wings around its body and cocooned itself from Sam's advances.

Drawn to the creature, Sam cautiously stroked his fingertips over the rough skin on the wings, pulling back as the icy temperature stung his skin.

"Who are you?" he repeated. "I know you!"

A sound rumbled inside the body of the Hunter, the noise so repulsive it made Nikki's eyes water. It then opened its wings and shrieked in Sam's face. Startled Sam fell back against a tree but he refused to be deterred.

"I know you," he reiterated, staring intently at the beast before him. Suddenly a gasp tore from his lungs and he fell to his knees.

"What? What happened? What did it do?" Josh asked anxiously, his gaze whipping between Ezekius and Sam.

Ezekius shook his head. "I... I have no idea."

"Sam!"

At the sound of Josh's cry the Hunter dragged its feet underneath it's body and pushed up. A hissing passed its lips and it forced out a word.

"Sam."