Greg stood in the middle of the kitchen, next to the stove flipping what looked like burger patties, wearing his normal hunter gear. And a white apron that had ‘Kiss the Chef’ written on the front it in big red letters, with a set of lips under it. Any fear I’d had for him evaporated, as Claudia and I doubled over in a fit of giggles. He was even wearing a hair net. So much for being a big, dangerous hunter.
Logan was sitting a few feet away at the old oak table that was off to the side. He didn’t look up, or comment in any way, but continued to stare down at his cup of coffee.
“Oh, that is classic” Claudia was laughing so hard that she had to sit down in a chair next to Logan.
He gave her a look when she sat down, but said nothing. I felt my stomach tighten. I hadn’t seen him since last night. I’d been thinking over the things he’d said and how he’d acted, and I still didn’t understand it anymore than I had then. Actually I was more confused. How could he be so cold one moment and be almost a completely different person the next. Which one was the real him? And why in the world did he act that way? Was it because of me? God! So many questions and I could tell from looking at him, that he wasn’t going to give me any answers any time soon.
“Please tell me that’s yours” Claudia asked Greg, indicating to his apron.
“What this?” he said, pulling at the front of it. “Of course it’s mine. As if you vamps own anything this cool.”
I looked back at Greg, away from Logan. “I hate to burst your bubble, but that is not cool” I told him, watching his face fall in mock hurt. “What are you guys doing here anyway?” I asked. Last I’d heard the hunters had been going back to their hotels for the rest of the weekend, to get some rest and to make further plans.

“There weren’t enough rooms available at the Lodge. So some of us have to stay here. Frank cleared it with Alana” Logan answered, lifting his mug and taking a sip of his coffee. He spoke gruffly so I wasn’t sure wether he was happy or not about this. I was guessing not, from his posture.
As I turned around to completely face him, he was looking down at his mug again. Why wouldn’t he look at me?
“Okay, that explains why you’re here. What it doesn’t explain, is why you’re invading our kitchen?” Claudia stood up and smoothed out the fabric of her dress. “And what is that you’re cooking?”
Greg looked alarmingly at Logan, who said nothing, only took another sip of his coffee. “A few of us guys were hungry, and that Callie broad told us we could help ourselves to whatever we wanted.” He was going bright red with embarrassment.
I smiled, trying to calm him down. “I think what Claudia means, even though she didn’t say it right, and rudely, I might add,” I told him, giving her a dirty look, which made her start grinning “is what are you cooking and when are you going to offer us some?”
Greg’s face relaxed and he smiled proudly. “My world famous beef burgers.”
Logan snorted. “They’re only famous for putting people in hospital” he quipped, but he was smiling, his eyes twinkling.
“Hey, I’m a good cook” Greg said, slamming a plate, with a burger, down in front of Logan. “Besides, you don’t seem to mind them that much.”
Logan shrugged and picking up the burger, took a bite. “Hospitals don’t scare me” he said, a small smile on his lips.
I smiled at that. I couldn’t imagine that a lot of things scared Logan. He didn’t come across as the type of person who scares easily. He was always so in control, always knew what to do. Still, if he could handle a burger, I was sure I could.
“Okay, Greg” I said, sitting down at the table. “I’m game. Hit me with one of these famous burgers.”
Greg beamed me a smile, then turned around and went back to cooking. “What about you Claudia? Want one?”
She laughed. “I’m still here, aren’t I?”


I stared open-mouthed as Claudia finished her fourth burger. “You’re a machine” I told her, covering my mouth. I’d eaten one and a half burgers and I was full. But Claudia? I’d wondered if she was ever going to stop.
“Hey, I was hungry. I was up all night” she told me wiggling her fingers, while wiping her mouth on her napkin.
Greg and Logan shared a confused look, but both said nothing. I was glad. I knew the reputation Claudia had with the hunters, even if she didn’t, and I was glad I didn’t have to explain that remark.
“Wow, Greg that was really good” I told him. “Where did you learn to cook like that? And you,” I turned towards Logan, who raised his eyebrows “I don’t know what you were saying about his cooking, but you were wrong. Dead wrong.”
Logan laughed, smirking. We’d all been sitting together and eating for two hours, after being joined by Ben, who was sitting and talking to Claudia. Logan had lightened up considerably. Towards everybody but me, that is. He’d spoken to me, making a few jokes, but he still had a very dark attitude about him. Still guarded, still cold.
“You say that,” Logan swallowed another sip of coffee, his second cup “only because you’ve never tried his other stuff. Let me tell you, dangerous” he quipped, making a face.
“Funny dude, real funny.” Greg glared at Logan but he was smiling at his friend.
The last few hours I’d noticed just how Logan and Greg interacted. And it was easy to tell that they were more like friends, than people who just worked together. When we’d been in the field and during battle, Logan had barked orders at Greg and he’d listened to them, doing whatever Logan said, when he said. But here Greg was relaxed, making fun of Logan and trying to get him to lighten up. I’d always had a certain opinion of hunters in general, but being around them so much and having conversations like this, was showing me just how much more there was to them. Granted, most were silent and despised us, but there were one or two, like Greg, who weren’t that bad. Claudia had been right about him.
“Nah, seriously on the commune where I grew up, everything was relaxed and laidback. We spent most of our time outside or goofing off. My mom taught me how to cook. She was an awesome cook.” He smiled, and shook his head, his hear flying everywhere. He had taken off the hairnet, but still wore the apron. It made it very difficult to take him seriously.

I couldn’t understand how someone like him, so laidback and easy going, and who grew up like him, could become such a deadly hunter. I’d seen him in action, I saw how he was. So precise and he struck with such force. I just couldn’t understand, so I asked. “Why did you become a hunter Greg? I mean, did you even know that vampires existed before you became a hunter?”
The smile that had been on his face dropped slightly. “No, I never knew vampires existed. That is, not until a group of them attacked the commune and slaughtered everyone.”
I looked at Greg, open-mouthed, then at Logan and then back to Greg again, unsure of what to say. “I’m sorry Greg. That’s horrible.” From the corner of my eye I saw Logan’s eyes tighten at me and his lips go hard. I could only guess that he didn’t like that I’d pushed Greg, but at the same time, I didn’t quite think that was it.
“That’s life. I wasn’t there at the time, but most of my family died” Greg shrugged. “I came home to find Frank and a bunch of the guys there.”
Everybody was quiet, listening to Greg’s story, unsure of how to respond or even if we should.
“They explained everything, and it was only then that I learnt about what was really out there in the world. I spent so many years in the dark. Anyway, they asked me if I wanted to tag along, and they’d teach me what I needed to know to be a hunter. And it was boring as hell. That is until 3 years later, when this bugger,” he slapped Logan on the back “came to wreck our lives and boss us around.”
“Wreck your life?” Logan slapped his friends hand away, smiling. “You’d be dead if it wasn’t for me. Hundreds of time over. Besides, I’m the only one who has the guts to stand up to Frank on your behalf.”
Greg’s face became mock serious. “And we humbly thank you for that” he told Logan. Then he turned to look at us, serious again. “There’s a story for all of us. I’m sure you guys have them too. You know, stories about how you ended up with, or chose this life. Oh,” he paused and looked at Logan. “Expect people who were always going to be hunters, whose family it runs in.”

Logan looked down, not speaking and I wondered if he was thinking the same thing I was. This wasn’t always going to be his life. Not if his father had, had his way. I looked at Greg slightly. He’d never told Greg, I realised. Greg thought that Logan was always going to be a hunter, because he’d never told him the things he’d told me. Why? How was it that Logan was able to stand there last night and tell me those things, when he’d never spoken a word of them to the person who was more or less his best friend?
Logan stood up. “Well this has been fun” he said, sarcastically. He looked very uncomfortable and I guessed that he was leaving before anyone asked him a question about his life. A question, I’m sure, he wouldn’t want to answer. He left, placing his plate in the sink as he went.
I watched him go and decided that I needed to work off the burgers I’d eaten. Not to mention all the pent up frustration I had. “Hey Claudia, I’m heading to the gym. Wanna come?”
Claudia, who had been laughing and flirting with Ben, looked up. “No, thanks. I’m still too full to even think about working out.”
I nodded and leaving, headed towards the gym.