As we dove for cover, I found myself feeling empty. Like someone had ripped my insides out and stomped on them. Logan and I ran across the empty car park outside the warehouse full speed, not looking back. I could hear the cracking and tearing as the warehouse collapsed. Wood and bricks fell to the floor, pieces of metal missing us my millimetres as they fell to the ground with a clank.
Finally we reached the vans, everybody already there, and turned around just in time to watch as the warehouse roof caved in. Dust and dirt were floating in the air all around us and we struggled to breath. Coughing and choking, as it filled our lungs.
I knew that we were lucky to have escaped with our lives. However I wasn’t naive enough to hope that Micah hadn’t gotten out. I knew he would have found away. He was like a cockroach, I’m sure not even a nuclear explosion would kill him.
The hunters were shouting that we had to leave, to get back to the Manor. Everything was catching up to me and I wondered how long until I fell apart. I didn’t want to do it in front of the hunters, especially the ones I had to work with. I couldn’t afford them to see me like that. I’d do it alone at the Manor. I wasn’t sure my legs could carry me to the van but I felt better when Claudia and Quintenn both stepped up to my sides.
“Come on Roxi,” Quintenn gripped my elbow and started to steer me towards a van. “Let’s go home.”
All I could do was nod, not sure if I could answer and still keep my voice steady.
We drove back to the Manor in almost dead silence. No one dared speak about what happened. No one had the words. We’d messed up and almost died because of it. The only noise throughout the entire van was from Logan, as he spoke into his cell phone, explaining to Frank a brief recap of what had happened and to push the point that we would need first aid when we arrived. His voice seemed tired and strained.

I knew most thoughts were on me. No one actually asked then and there, but I knew the time was coming when I’d have to tell the hunters everything. It was becoming too dangerous to keep things from them anymore.
Besides, I thought, looking at the back of Logan’s head in the front seat, some people already knew more than I ever wanted them to know. I was carefully listening to Logan talking to Frank. I was waiting for him to mention the last thing Micah had said before we had escaped. He didn’t and I wondered why. It didn’t matter, I thought, shaking my head. He’d tell them eventually anyway. He was a hunter, it’s what they do.
On our arrival at the Manor we were assaulted with people, both hunter and vampire, desperate to help the injured and some, I’m sure, desperate for gossip. As I neared the front steps I looked up and saw Alana standing on one of the balconies looked down at us. Her face was grim and when she saw me looking, she nodded. She looked a powerful figure in the darkness. Her hair blowing out around her in the wind, her eyes blazing.
We were all beaten and destroyed as we made our way to the foyer. The same foyer that we had first met in, and that was fast becoming our meeting place. It was large enough to hold a large number of people and was situated in an area that was easily accessible.
Many of the Death Walkers went off on their own, to get cleaned up and in search of blood. As vampires, we would easily heal from any injuries we sustained. All we’d needed was blood and rest. The hunters on the other hand....
I watched as Greg walked over and fell into one of the many couches in the room. He had a deep gash over his eye, which looked like it would require stitches. Many of the others sported similar wounds. They were all covered in cuts and grazes. A red-headed one, whose name I didn’t know, but I had found out had been one of the hunters who’d chased me at my school, had a nasty black eye.
“Roxi!”
I looked away from him as my name was called, and saw Callie quickly coming down the stairs. She was followed by three council members, including Alana. She flew to my side and took me into her arms. I winced as I felt the effects of my own injuries. I could feel the bruises and I think I had a broken rib, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, gingerly touching the graze I had on my arm. “Are you alright?”
I nodded. “I’m fine. It’ll heal,” I said shakily.
“What the hell happened?”
Frank’s furious voice roared through the room. He stomped into the room and taking everybody in, singled out Logan. He marched straight up to him like a raging bull.
Logan overall was in good shape. He was covered in a great deal of blood but almost none of it was his. The only place he appeared to be injured was the cut that ran down his fore arm. Looking at his injury I felt guilty. He had gotten it when he had pulled me out the door before the warehouse came crashing down. The door frame, cut and broken, had sliced his skin.
Looking at him I was overwhelmingly glad he was alright. And it surprised me. Normally my thoughts and fears were for Claudia, but not today. Today when we’d been fighting I was thinking about him. I’m insane, I thought, shaking my head. What the hell was I thinking? He’s a hunter, I’m a vampire. A vampire who, he’d love nothing more that to be able to vanquish. I shouldn’t think of him as a friend. And certainly as nothing more.
He stood leaning up against the door. His face held his usual hardness. He looked strained and yet expressionless at the same time. I watched as he and Frank exchanged, what looked like, very heated words. Frank was very worked up but Logan looked the opposite in contrast. He didn’t shout or look agitated in anyway. I saw him nod at Frank before turning and walking over to where Callie and I stood.
“Miss de Melina” he nodded at Callie.
She nodded back. “Logan. Please call me Callie.”
“Very well. Callie.” He looked towards me and my breath caught. “We’re all going to get cleaned up, and then meet back here and,” he paused, sighing “talk about what happened. Frank wants all the details and we still need to form our next plan of attack.”
“Alright.” There wasn’t anything else I could say.
Then he turned and walked off.

*************

Half an hour later we were all either, seated or standing in the foyer. All that had a part in our continuing mission had been invited to attend. Only those like Claudia, Quintenn, Ben and I who played an extra part were required to attend, no exceptions. The hunters still weren’t trusted and liked; so many Death Walkers and vampires had stayed away. Some like Callie and the remaining council members had come by choice. The council members stood back, watching from a distance.
Frank stood at the front of the group. From where I sat on a couch in the corner, I could still see the veins that were pulsing and throbbing in his head and neck. “Now,” he addressed the whole room “Logan has filled me in on the events of the warehouse siege and I must say, I am extremely disappointed. You are all expectantly trained and with Micah there you should have been easily able to vanquish him.” He shook his head. “Especially you,” he said, looking at the hunters, standing in a group “you should be better than that.”
“With all do respect, you weren’t there.” Logan said to Frank, coming to the defence of his men. He stood up against the wall behind Frank. His hair was wet, having just showered, and he wore jeans and a white t-shirt. “Considering the situation, I think we did well. We were lucky to escape with our lives.”
“That shows how much you know” Frank scoffed.
All eyes flicked to Logan, awaiting his response.
Logan’s mouth hardened into a flat line. At first I was sure he was going to say something to Frank, but instead he stayed silent.
“I’m sure it would have helped them if you had told them the whole story. Your holding back information may very well have caused this to happen.” Alana said sternly, from beside me on the couch.
“We had heard talks of Micah being sighted in areas around the warehouse. Nothing was ever verified. We couldn’t take the words of a few over what we knew.” Frank answered.

“Maybe if we had been aware, we could have pointed out the importance of such stories. Often the talk you hear can be valid. But you didn’t inform us, hence giving our team a disadvantage. I don’t appreciate my Death Walkers being in unnecessary danger. I won’t tolerate that!” Alana, who was sitting beside me, raised her eyebrows, her eyes on fire.
“You’ve been holding back things from us.” Frank responded. “Like his history with Roxanne. Whatever that may be, you should have disclosed it.”
I flinched. Alana reached out and taking my hand, brushed my hair back from my face. “It’s alright” she whispered.
From where I was sitting I could see Logan watching Alana and I with obvious interest.
“Yes, and as I pointed out at the beginning, not everything concerns you” Alana told Frank.
“But this does,” Logan said quietly.
Alana snapped her heard towards him and I heard Claudia hiss behind me.
“If we’re to have the best chance to vanquish him, not to mention any of his followers, we need to know as much about him as we can,” Logan said, still quietly, refusing to meet my eyes and I wished he would. I wanted to know his reaction; I needed to know his reaction to this whole situation.
“It’s not your-” Claudia started but I cut her off.
“No” I said and Logan finally looked up and met my eyes. He looked regretful. Regretful for pushing it? My heart tightened. “He’s right” I looked behind me at Claudia before turning and resting my eyes on Alana. “They should know. Tell them.”