“Well, this has been a big, fat waste of time,” Claudia said, turning to face me. “Are you ready to go?” she asked.
We were both standing in the doorway of the house we had just raided, gazing out onto the lawn at the few cars still scattered across it. After our initial shock at finding it empty, the hunters and we Death Walkers had proceeded to search the house, only to come up with nothing. The house was completely empty and void of our enemies. There were very few Death Walkers still at the house now. They had been extremely annoyed to have had their time wasted and had headed back to the Manor almost straight away. Only Claudia, Ben, and I remained. The last, remaining had just left.
And both Claudia and Ben were raring to go. They didn’t want to be here any longer than they had to. Ben was already in the car, waiting for us. I however, was in no rush to head back. There was something I needed to do and I had a feeling it would be easier to do here, than back at the Manor. Back at the Manor, with all those listening ears and watching eyes.
I felt my eyes travel to where Logan stood talking to a couple of hunters. Some of them had also returned back to their hotels and only the ones who were staying at the Manor remained. They were still scouring the house, hoping to find any clue as to where Micah may have gone now. I don’t think they’d gotten anywhere.
“Actually,” I told Claudia “I’m gonna stay a bit longer and maybe help out. I need to talk to someone about something anyway.” Oh, and did I need to. I needed to know where Logan and I stood and I wanted to know now!
Claudia’s eyes followed mine, resting in the same direction mine had. She glanced at Logan for a moment, and I watched as her lips formed a pout, before she turned back to look at me. Her eyes flashed and she reached out, gripping my wrist and digging her nails in. She pulled me into the house, slamming the door shut behind her. The mirror on the wall rattled.
“Hey, ouch,” I said, squirming in her grip. She was hurting me. I stared back at her.
She released her grip and stepped back. “You are insane!” she shrieked. “Do you know that? He’s a vampire hunter, Roxi, for crying out loud!”

I continued to stare at her, shocked and not speaking at all. I felt as though I was barely breathing.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” she said, placing her hands on her hips.
“Like what?” I asked.
“Like you are. I may be blonde, but I’m no dumb blonde and you should know that. You don’t think I can’t see how you’ve been acting lately?” She shook her head, her hair flying. “I’ve tried to ignore this, hoping against hope you’d see sense and stop doing whatever it is that you’re doing.” She took a step towards me. “But you haven’t and I think it’s past time I stepped in.”
“Claudia,” I tried to interrupt.
“No, Rox, I’m here to be the voice of reason. And being the voice of reason, I’m saying that you have completely lost your freaking mind!” she shrieked.
I couldn’t help it. I smiled. “How long have you known? I didn’t think you’d stay blind to it for long, but I’m still curious. How long?”
“No, don’t even try to change the subject or distract me, it isn’t gonna work. Not this time.” I saw Claudia’s lip’s twitch.
“Claude?”
“Oh, alright,” she said, giving up. “Not that long, actually. I think I spent most of the time, hoping I was imagining things. That my mind was making up stories. That’s these situation’s I kept seeing you in with Logan were innocent. But they weren’t and it took Callie to make me see that.”
“Callie?” I stood up straighter, feeling my temper flair. “What, you guy’s talk about me behind my back?”
“Yes, Rox.” She smiled at me and I felt my anger reside. Oh, whatever, I thought. I already knew they did it; I just didn’t like hearing that they did. “You’re our shared hobby,” she joked and I felt my lips pull up into a small smile. “You honestly didn’t think that she wouldn’t find it strange that, despite being so tight with your secrets and not really telling people anything if you can help it, you so desperately wanted her to spill the beans about how you became a vampire to Logan. Think again.”
Well, I thought, I guess that explains the look she gave me when she left us alone that night.

I shrugged. “Well, guess the secrets out,” I said simply.
Claudia looked towards the ceiling, again taking the attitude she had when she first pulled me into the house. “Oh, God! You really have gone insane. Don’t you realise how crazy this is? Can’t you tell how much trouble you’ll get yourself into?”
I looked at her incredulously. “Of course I do. Claudia, why do you think I’ve been the way I have lately? I know how bad this is, but it doesn’t matter to me anymore. I can’t pretend I don’t feel the way I do. And I don’t want to.”
“Roxi,” she was pleading at me with her eyes, begging me to see sense.
I shook my head. “No, Claudia. I’m sorry.” And I was, this was going to cause problems for her too, I knew that. “I know who he is and what he does for a living. Trust me, the fact that he vanquishes vampires hasn’t escaped my notice.”
“Roxi,” she said, again, walking over to me and shaking me by my shoulders. “Snap out of it!”
I laughed and pushed her hands away. “I love him, Claudia. Despite everything, I love him.” I took a step towards her, softening my tone. “Please don’t fight me on this. I don’t want to fight with you. I want you to accept this. Please, trust me.”
“No. No, no,” she said, stepping backwards. “Don’t look at me like that. I wanna drag you off to a mental house and have you committed,” she growled.
I laughed at her.
“Hey, I’m only half joking here,” she smirked. “I’d happily drag you out of here by your hair, except.....” she paused and bit her lip, something she never usually did.
“Except?” I hedged.
She sighed, a smile small tugging at her lips. It was almost a sad smile. “Except, I see how he looks at you,” she said quietly. “And I remember how he was when Micah attacked you. He was broken. I know he cares about you and that’s the only reason I’m not taking action right now.” She started straight at me. “This isn’t one sided, and I can see that.”
“You really think so?” I asked, slowly walking over and sitting on the small table by the door. I leaned back and rested my head on the mirror. “I’m not even exactly sure how he feels. He may not even want to be with me.” Although I didn’t think I could survive it if he did. It would break my heart.

She walked over and joined me, mimicking how I was sitting, although she rested her head on my shoulder. I knew she wasn’t angry with me or about this situation anymore. “I think he does. I really do.” She pulled her head up and looked me in the eyes, her green eyes sparkling playfully. “I mean, why wouldn’t he? You’re hot.”
I laughed. “Thanks, that’s very comforting.”
“You’re welcome.” She giggled and then sobering, her tone changed again. “I’m just worried for you. I hate to think what will happen if things turn bad.”
“Logan would never hurt me.” I knew he wouldn’t, in the bottom of my heart, I knew.
Her lips flicked into a smile. “I know he wouldn’t. Damn, I don’t think the guy could, even if he wanted to. It’s not him I’m worried about, Rox. I don’t care what bull the hunters say about us, I know for a fact they are vicious. The majority anyway, I don’t think they all are actually. But reputation means a lot to them. Who knows what exactly, they’d do to protect it. I don’t think they’d tolerate someone tainting the way people perceive them. They live off the fact that vampires fear them so much. If they felt we could see they were getting soft in anyway then.....” she broke off, leaving the answer to be pondered.
I knew what she was saying was true. They were the same things that made me nervous and it was what I was worried about too.
“But,” she continued, taking hold of my hand, “if you want to be with Logan, and I sure as hell have no idea how you’re gonna be able to pull that off, I support you. I’ll stand beside you. I’m not sure if I agree with it, but I support it.” She took a deep breath, and I let her continue. “Now, I’m not so sure Callie will, you’ll have to ask her about that one. She won’t be happy about it and she’ll worry like crazy, but I don’t think she’ll stand in your way. I know she just wants you to be happy, so maybe that’ll be enough. Besides, after everything that’s happened, you deserve to be happy. And if being with Logan does that, then” she broke off and shrugged.
“Thank-you.” I reached over and pulled her into a hug. She squeezed me back and I was so grateful that she was my friend. No matter what happened, I knew I could depend on her and even though she may not be happy with me, or she may not agree with my decisions, she’d still be there. Fighting at my side, so to speak. “I knew you’d been okay with this, if you’d just give it time.”
She pulled out of the hug and shook her head again. “Yeah, well I’m not the one you should be concerned about. I don’t know how the others will take it. The hunters aren’t exactly their best friends, but who knows, maybe this won’t become a mess on our end. If all we have to do is deal with the fallout from the hunters then it may no be so bad.”

I was nodding. “That would be nice. I’ll talk to some of them myself. Alana, Quintenn and Ben, I think. Hopefully, they may see where I’m coming from.”
“You just leave Ben to me,” she said. “I’ll bring him around. He shouldn’t be that hard.”
I gave her a sceptical look. I wasn’t exactly best buddies with Ben, but I knew a little bit about him. He was determined and I knew he was set in his ways. He wasn’t one for change. And Logan and I; that was a big change, when it came to the system we all lived by.
“Hey! I have my ways,” she said, giving me a wink. “Just you wait and see.” She gave me a playful shove and stood up, pulling me up too. We walked to the front door and she linked her arm through mine as we walked out the house.
Outside I could see that almost everyone was gone. There were only around 3 hunters left. Ben was sitting in the front seat of the last remaining van, door open, and leaning out the side.
“Well, this is good,” Claudia said. “I have a 30 minute ride alone with him. He’ll be trapped inside the car with me and he’ll have nowhere to go. Especially once we’re on the freeway.” She laughed, evilly. “I’ll talk to him about this thing of yours with Logan now.”
I smirked at her. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? He may drive you off a cliff,” I joked.
“Ha, ha. There’s no cliff around, but plenty of trees....” she replied, pausing for dramatic effect. She had a mock serious look on her face. “Maybe I should wait until we get home.” She smiled.
My lips curved up at the edges. “Maybe, you should,” I said, still joking. “Thanks’ again Claude.”
“No, problem. I still think you’re a tad bit insane, but I can live with that,” she laughed and kissed me on the cheek. “Good-luck,” she spoke, quietly. “Call me, if you need me, okay?”
I nodded. I watched as she skipped back to the van and then as she and Ben drove off. They honked as they past. I waved, slightly.
I let out a huge breath. I turned and slowly headed towards the last place I’d seen Logan. I knew he’d still be here. He wasn’t one to leave if there were still people, vampire or hunter, here. He’d want to be the last one to leave. My stomach was in knots and I knew if I didn’t go see him straight away, I’d chicken out. However, with my conversation with Claudia still fresh in my mind, I was even surer of how I felt than I had been before. There was no changing how I felt, and there was no going back from here. I just wasn’t sure how he felt and even though I hated to admit it to myself, I was afraid of what he’d have to say to me. I didn’t know if I was ready to hear it.
I stopped walking for a second. No, scratch that, I thought. I was ready to hear it. I couldn’t let any fear I felt, get the better of me. I was stronger than that. And it was something I was only just beginning to realise. So, walking fast paced and with a purpose, I headed off to find Logan. It was time to get my answers.