My brother Jordan has a pen. I don't know where he got it from, or why he even has it, but if he doesn't stop clicking it, I am going to stab him in the eye with it. His best friend CJ is sitting beside him, and looking up, we make eye contact; it's bugging him too. How can one little, stupid, object annoy us so much?

"Jordan. Give me the pen." I order, holding my hand out.

He stops, looking at me as though he just realised I was even there before smirking and holding it up closer to my face, his first mistake, he proceeds to click it again.

"No."

I lunge as he quickly moves his hand away, but not quick enough. My nails did into his forearm before I make another grab for the pen.

"I will turn you into a toad!" I threaten, making him laugh.

"I've seen your magic tricks, that ain't going to happen." He mocks, and we all freeze at the loud, croak that sounded like it came from him.

CJ turns and then looks down behind Jordan's chair, shock on his face before he bursts out laughing. Sure enough, just sitting there on the floor behind Jordan is a big, mud coloured toad.

"That was my final warning." I try to sound serious, but I am just as perplexed at Jordan as to how that thing got there.

I let my brother go and stand up, holding my hand out once again. He drops it into my palm and turns to look at the toad. CJ says something I don't hear, yet I don't bother asking because it's then the front door opens to the small community centre, I forget about the three of them and wave.

"Bunting!" Nigel calls out, his brother Drew smiling as he sees us. "Long time no see."

"Hey, it's my favourite Van Helsings!" I call back, heading over their way as I see their eldest brother behind them. "And Tom. Hey Sam."

While we had called a truce, Tom and I would never, and I'm pretty sure that's not exaggerating, ever be friends. Sam, his girlfriend and also a former Huntress of Athena's little girl group gives a tiny, shy wave.

"What's behind the chair?" Drew asks, giving me a hug before we all look at Jordan and CJ.

CJ is now on the floor and Jordan is standing over him. The toad must jump towards them as CJ scrabbles back with a yell and then Jordan picks it up.

"Toad. Don't ask." I shrug.

They come over, and Jordan holds the animal like it might just bite him. Drew is quick to look closer.

"You might want to get rid of that and wash your hands. I'm pretty sure it's a Cane Toad." Drew, ever the smart one tells him.

"What?" Jordan hesitates.

"I was in Queensland, Australia last month and they're everywhere up there. They secrete poison so, yeah, go wash your hands." He warns.

Jordan looks at me furiously, and I merely shrug. "You should have just handed over the pen."

Logan arrives then, and Jordan practically throws the toad his way before rushing off towards the bathrooms.

"Why is there a toad here?" Logan motions for me to follow him as he heads outside. "Did you do this?"

He goes to put it down outside in the bushes, and I stop him.

"Can you magic that away, maybe to um, Australia. Queensland I think. It's poisonous, and I threatened to turn Jordan into a toad and instead, he showed up."

Logan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before slowly shaking his head. The thing vanishes, and a tiny smile appears as he looks at me again.

"Luckily you didn't. That would be hard to explain to your Mum."

We head back inside and with our little group reunited, head into the meeting hall that was full of people who arrived early and on time, taking all the seats at the front of the room as well helping themselves to the majority of the catering that had been set up to one side. We slip into the back row and a bunch of people I don't know get up to start the debrief.

There wasn't anything new to report.

Powerful allies were being called upon to try and locate the bloodsuckers responsible, but it was as if they had disappeared. Or had even more powerful magic protecting them. The Council was in a fix it mode, with human government officials taken care of and a sense of peace restored in the general public. For now, it was all an elaborate prank gone wrong and as tragic as it was, people just accepted it and moved on. Did we really live in a world so desensitised to tragedy they just blindly nodded and moved on when the media told them to?

Maybe telling themselves, it wasn't real was a comfort we didn't have. We knew it had been a staged massacre, that monsters lived and anyone could be next. We lived that knowledge our whole lives. The clean up had been taken care of at the news studio it had happened at, no leads were found there. We were to do more patrols. Vampires and known groups were still to be interrogated. It seemed like a lot of nothing that was wasting time.

They would do it again.

Then I had an idea.

"Um, Mr Slayer person," I called standing up not having paid enough attention to who this guy was. Nigel groaned, and Logan sighed from beside me.

"And you are?" He asked, as the whole room noisily shifted around to look at me.

"Elise Bunting." I introduce, and sure enough, the room really got noisy now as the whispered murmurs of my peers broke out.

"What is it, Miss Bunting?" The Slayer folded his arms on the podium before him, looking amused and yet bored.

"What if we set up a target for the vampires?" I stepped on Tom's toes, accidentally, as I shuffled down the row to get into the aisle, heading towards the front of the room. "They want exposure. They want to make a scene, scare people. What if we gave them the perfect opportunity to do just that and then, well, catch them?"

"Just like that?" He asked, the mocking edge to his tone evident.

"You don't know who she is, do you?" Tom spoke up from behind me, and internally I groaned. "This is Elise Bunting. You should listen to what she has to say!"

Silence fell over the room.

"I am well aware of that Mr Van Helsing." The Slayer frowned before looking at me again. "We have the best of our people working on locating these, criminals, and while I am sure this thought may seem like an easy solution to you young lady it's just -"

The man that was seated behind him stood up, tapped him on the shoulder and whispered something that made his face pale before he looked at me again.

"As likely to be something we should actually look into further. I will pass this idea on to our President when the Council meets in the morning." He promises, swallowing nervously.

"Don't bother. I will be seeing President Ailin after this meeting and will talk to her then. I wouldn't want my easy solution being undersold." I tell him, moving back to my seat.

Tom just, what - stood up for me? I hope Hades has some winter gear handy because think Hell just froze over. Maybe it really did as I am feeling something icy come over me, and as my skin prickled, goosebumps breaking out of my arms, I look towards the door half expecting them to burst open. Logan squeezes my hand, and his brow is creased in concentration.

"Do you feel that?" I ask him.

He nods. "It's almost like its one of my kind, but not."

I get up again, careful to avoid toes this time and leave. Logan is right behind me and looking around, there is nothing there as the main doors shut with a click. Disappearing, Logan returns a second later frowning.

"Nothing out the front. That was, weird."

"It's not the first time either," I tell him, and mention about the presence at the restaurant and mystery champagne.

"Hermes had difficulty opening a passage when I came back the other week. Originally Cain had wanted to ban all travel to this world but then changed his mind. If there are any crossings he is to be notified, only it was as if someone was trying to keep us all in anyway." Logan explained. "I doubt anyone would be here without Hermes telling us, and there are none that can do what he does."

"What if they were already here and tried to keep you all out, rather than someone from your side keeping them in?" I wondered. "You mentioned before about old enemies. You're more than a name and with that pretty face on display, do you think someone could be after Apollo?"

The rest of our gang joins us then, and somehow Drew and Jordan have a plate of cake and biscuits each.

"You guys got out of their pretty quick." Jordan pointed out as he chewed noisily.

"Did any of you sense anything just then?" I ask. Everyone shakes their head except for Sam.

"I wasn't sure." Made sense considering she came from the same realm. "It wasn't like the demons of this world. It was something, else. I thought I was imagining it or picking up on you."

She gave a little smile at Logan, who only frowned deeper.

"Everything ok?" Drew tenses, standing a little taller as he looks around. Jordan does the same.

"Yeah. We just, nevermind. I have to go work out my plan, so it sounds better when I tell Ailin." I tell him. "You all on patrol tonight?"

"Yeah. Don't think it'll help though." CJ sighs.

"Well, stay safe guys and Sam. " I give her a genuine smile, and she returns it.

Leaving them behind we head over to Logan's new Heritage Softail and I take my place behind him on the bike. I gladly curl my arms around his chest, resting my head on his back as he starts it up and the vibration roars through his body and against my ear. Its the sound of freedom and power, and sure we can transport ourselves anywhere we want, but nothing beats this.

"Helmet." He orders, passing one around.

"But I'm, immortal." I groan.

"Yeah, but I'd like you to keep your brains in your head if anything should happen." It's the way he says that that gets my attention. He turns, looking around the car park as if searching for something before a quick glance up to the sky. "Just put the helmet on, Bunny."

Road safety has never been a priority of his. So why the sudden need for a helmet and what next, knee pads and a seatbelt? Despite my want to protest further, I put it on obediently.

"Yes, Dad."

I don't need to see his face to know he is rolling his eyes. Picking up on Logan's anxiety, my eyes don't stay in one place for long. I don't doubt something, or someone is watching us, and as we get onto an empty road, Logan increases speed, and then we're suddenly in daylight and cruising down the long driveway to Huntington Academy. I can't stop my smile as I see the old building appear, despite the disasters it had seen the last few years, it still stood tall and proud.

"Why are we here?" I ask the second he brings the bike to a stop. Helmet off, I run my fingers through my hair before stretching.

"We're not." I don't understand, and before I can say anything, I'm standing in a toilet cubicle who knows where. "Just, trust me on this."

"Okay, but what is this?"

"We're being followed," Is all he says before we phase around to a few more locations.

Eventually, he stops us and opening my eyes, I peek out in case my view is about to change again only instead I find we're in a hotel room. In typical Logan fashion, it isn't as upper class as the ones I make sure we stay in and heading towards the window I look out and gasp as I take in the ancient structure of the Colosseum.

"Rome?"

"There aren't many ways of being able to contact them, but this should do the trick. If someone has crossed over the realms, I want to know who. Our movements then should have thrown them off however we were being tracked so let's go, we might not have much time." He mumbles, grabbing a bag from the cupboard. "Did you want to change?"

He strips off his t-shirt and from the chest of drawers, finds a black sweater and beanie to put on. I can feel its cold here, and nod, looking to see what my options were. My jeans and boots are okay, and as I pull out a black jumper, I frown.

"Are we going to be too matchy, matchy?"

"Not really an issue right now," he sighs as I stare at him unimpressed. "Well, try thinking of something you want to wear and see if it appears for you?"

Surprisingly my favourite long, grey, knitted cardigan appears and putting on the black jumper, I slip it on over the top, so we're not entirely dressed like two-year-old twins.

"Can we go now?" Logan asks impatiently.

"Yup," I put my hands in the pockets. "No toads too!"

He kisses my forehead as he passes and I follow him from the room. It smells damp out here, the lighting dark and going down the creaky old stairs, I'm not even sure if anyone else is also here.

"What is this place?"

"A hotel?" He pauses to look back at me. "A fae hotel, like Sonia's. I have rooms all over from my Tracker days."

"You really got into character didn't you?"

"Had to make it believable and with my powers gone, I was pretty much on my own anyway so unless I wanted to be homeless, I used what contacts and abilities I still had to get by." He shrugs.

We walk through the streets like any other normal couple, holding hands and admiring the sights as we passed them. Despite the rush, we didn't hurry, and despite being nearly closing time, we entered a somewhat familiar museum.

"Artemis's statue?" I whisper to Logan, and he nods.

Eight months ago we had been here, looking for answers about Cain. Instead, Logan had organised for his dagger to find it's way into my hands and Artemis had played with a bird. But she had come through her statue to talk to me, and as we had the courtyard alone, Logan took out a piece of purple rock and put it in her hand. I looked at it closer, it wasn't a rock at all.

"Is that, amethyst?"

"Long story, but it might help lure her out."

"Last time I just whispered her name for a bit."

"Last time she was already here. Give me a second." Logan closed his eyes, mumbling something under his breath and for a moment I thought he might be praying.

Leaving the bronze statue, I wandered around the garden and read a few other little snippets of information about the goddess. Some I had already read about before, but there was one story that stopped me.

"Did you make her kill Orion?" I gasped like I knew who that even was. "It was her one chance at love, and you tricked her into sending an arrow through his heart!"

"No. That is a very dramatically incorrect story, but for the record, I never liked him-" Logan started to explain.

"I don't know why. You two had so much in common!" Artemis huffed.

I turned to see the twins beside each other and Artemis took the crystal from the statue. "Really brother?"

"I wanted to make sure it would work and look, it did!"

"You actually summoned me?" She sounded almost offended by this.

"Is Hermes here?" Logan asked.

"Maybe you should have summoned him if that was truly the one you seek?" Artemis sulked, coming over to me. "Sorry about before. I was a little, upset."

"Don't mention it." I smile, yet internally I want to say a lot more than that. Patience Elise. Patience.

"It's why I am wanting to speak to you both." Logan sighed, looking around us. "Hermes, show yourself."

He did, looking as human and casual as he had when he and Artemis had come to Penny and me at the temple.

"Who has been crossing the realms?" Logan demanded.

"Us?" Hermes sniffed.

"There have been no breaches?"

"None. It's been tough lately, so I've limited travel unless like now, we think it's urgent. We should work on getting the internet. Emails between realms would be much more convenient."

"Would that even be poss-"I start before he laughs.

"No. It's impossible. It's a whole other world, God Killer. It took years for continents in your own world to connect, nevermind crossing through time and space itself."

"I'm just going by Elise these days." I glare at him, and he drops the attitude.

"Brother, what troubles you?" Artemis asks softly, placing a hand on Apollo's arm. "Why bring us here?"

"Someone is following us. A Power. I can sense them, Elise, too. Sam a little which tells me if it from our realm." He shivers slightly. "I can feel their eyes where ever we go, but their presence comes and goes. I am unable to track it. Find them."

"Could it not be our King?" Artemis asks Hermes. "At least put them at ease, you do not have to say no more if he wants your silence."

"No. It is not. He vows never to return here, and I believe him. It's a miracle he even lets us come and go." Hermes shrugs, looking guilty as he quickly turns away from me.

"I know it's not him," Logan tells them, before looking my way. "We would both know if it was."

"Then who?" Artemis wonders. "Shall we stay? Can we help?"

"Perhaps. Will you not be missed?"

"We are of little use these days. I'm sure our absence will be unnoted." Hermes snapped, sounding more like a sulking child than a who knows how old man.

We go back to the hotel, and it's not until much later that night I find myself alone with Artemis. Logan had gone to bed an hour or two before, and Hermes had left us after dinner. A bottle of local red wine sat on the table between us and despite being on the balcony, the invisible umbrella Artemis put over us lets us enjoy the night without being soaked by rain.

"Apollo told me of the vampire attack. I think you are wise to try and lure them out." She sighed, refilling her glass.

"Ailin will know what to do. She always does." Unlike me.

"Ah yes. The demon that's in charge. Is she, who is helping you with your powers too?"

"No. Your brother tries, a vampire friend too." I decide to leave Hades off my list of helpers. "It just, it works and then it doesn't."

"It just takes time. Be patient."

"I hear a lot about this patience things, but still have yet to work out what it has to do with me." I smile, and she laughs.

"There was a time this city was the world. Oh to go back to those days. The wine, it is not too different to what we had back then. It's a small mercy."

"Art, how is Cain?" I ask softly, feeling guilty for even doing it.

"He is well. As serious as he ever was, but he is doing as he said and things are changing. Some do not like it, but they fear him too much to protest. I still fear there is a war brewing. With change comes weakness." She hesitates for a moment. "We do not see a lot of him now. He is busy with, things. I know he misses you. I heard him telling Hades one night. I do not know why he refuses to come back here. He talks of television and movies we do not have. Our cellars now hold the alcohol of your world and sometimes I find him working in disguise at some of the Others bars."

"Why did you take Apollo back?" I ask now, happy with what I'm hearing but a little sad too. Had he made new friends or did he still keep everyone at a distance?

"My Huntresses adore him. I suspect there is a traitor among them and I merely used him to lure the truth from her." She smirks, before frowning. "He remains honourable to you, promise. That smile of his merely has to turn one of their ways, and they will tell him anything."

"So, one was a traitor?"

"Yes. Two actually. They have been dealt with." She growled, swirling her wine around in the glass before taking a sip. "Selling secrets to those, those, barbarians! I mean, have you ever heard of something so disgraceful. My girls! Traitors!"

"Barbarians?"

"You call them Norse Gods here. They are just as savage as the Vikings of their day. They came as we tired of this realm, seeking out their own paths of glory and worship. At least the Egyptians remained allies. They have always been our enemy." The hate in her tone was clear, and I was thankful I was not related to them at all.

"I thought you were all the same, just different names for different parts of the world."

"Not quite. Has our realm not been explained to you?" I shake my head, not quite remembering. "Our home is but a, um, continent. Say Cain's kingdom in Europe. The Norse are the Americas and so on. Each has their own land, their own ways and customs just as you do here on earth. And we don't always all get along."

"That actually makes more sense than most things I hear."

"My brother will be looking for you. I have kept you from him for too long," she smirks, and sure enough, Logan appears seconds later. "See."

"Ailin just called, there's been another attack only this one was at a hospital, and some Hunters were there, and able to scare them off." He sighs, looking exhausted. "They killed two, caught one and the others escaped."

"That's good, I think!" I tell him getting up, but there's more he isn't saying. "What's wrong?"

"Not really. Ah, one the hunters involved got hurt pretty bad. Elise, it was Jordan."