By Monday it was hot and muggy, the lingering moisture in the air annoyingly heavy. It made work in the gardens difficult for Alex. Sam, not so much, but he complained to keep his friend happy. They were working on repainting the bandstand for the upcoming Spring Festival organized by the local Historical Society. A whole weekend of pre-Civil War era activities that was an awkward blast from the past for Sam, who'd been there the first time round.

“Hey, we haven't had dinner in ages,” Sam said, suddenly. “We should do it this weekend.”

Alex jumped down off the ladder, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “Oh, yeah. Sounds cool. I think it was my turn, right?”

“I don't really remember. But if you want to do it, I'll convince everyone to bring something or at least help out.” He didn't explain his and Zac's ulterior motive at getting Aya in a situation where they could test her. Sam felt bad about manipulating his friend like this, but too much was at stake. The Witch Hunter hadn't shown up yet and whoever it was was their only lead. Who knew when Katrin would rear her ugly head?

“Okay, deal.” Alex threw his paint stained gloves into the barrow at his feet. “Speaking of food, it's lunchtime and I'm starving. Wanna go over to the cafe?”

Sam heartily agreed and they walked together towards Mrs. Greene's café, but as they crossed the street Alex nudged him motioning towards the window of the bookstore. Inside, sitting on a sofa, reading a book about the architecture of bridges, was Aya. She seemed rather enthralled in the workings of modern engineering, so much so that when Alex tapped on the glass, she jumped.

As Alex ducked into the store, Sam cast his hearing out after his friend.

“Hey, Aya,” Alex said as he approached her.

“What's up?” She was smiling at him.

“I just wanted to know if you wanted to come to dinner on Friday,” he asked, but quickly continued when she hesitated. “Oh, it's a dinner party type thing. There will be some other people. Gabby, Liz, Sam.”

She still seemed hesitant. “Oh, sounds nice.”

“Okay, well, it's at my place at seven. Friday night,” he said, giving her the address.

Aya's eyes flickered to Sam's through the window. “Sure. I'd love to.”

Alex grinned, backing out of the store. “Great. I'll catch you later then.”

Sam sighed, turning away from the window. Alex had invited her, just as they knew he would. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty as he came out of the bookstore, a grin plastered on his face. Sam elbowed him, laughing and they went to collect their lunch.

Thankfully, Friday came without any outside issues. They'd all arrived at Alex's early, Sam having told Liz and Gabby about their plan. They'd decided it would be best if they were there before Aya arrived, so they could prepare. Alex didn't suspect anything, glad for the help in the kitchen, where Zac and Liz were currently holed up under the pretense of opening the wine.

“She doesn't wear any jewelry,” Liz said. “How can she be out in the daytime?”

“That's irrelevant. It could be because she's old enough, or a witch spelled her body,” Zac explained as he popped the cork from the one of the bottles and handed it to her.

“I thought that didn't work on you?” she asked, confused.

“Just because it didn't work on me the first time, doesn't mean it didn't on her,” he replied sarcastically, taking a jar from his jacket pocket.

“And what's that?”

Zac shook the small jar, so the powder moved about inside. “This is silver.” He took off the lid and sprinkled it over the mashed potatoes Liz had dished up on Aya's plate, careful not to let it touch his skin. Picking up a fork, he mixed it through. Taking out another jar from his opposite pocket, he sprinkled a clear liquid into the bottle of wine with the least left and shook it.

“And what was that?”

“This is a little something I got off a person of dubious nature,” he said with a wink. “It's something like garlic.”

“But garlic won't do anything.”

“True, but concentrated enough, it will bring blood to the surface. Ingested, it will make her vomit it up by the bucket full.”

“Zac, I'm not sure about this.” Liz shook her head. “It's over the top. We should just stick with the silver.”

“Now, now, Liz. We have to be sure what she is. The last thing we need is another threat on top of an insane dead witch. I think she's a vampire and this is a foolproof way of finding out. Alex will invite her in without thinking, so obviously we need a backup plan.” He turned and placed the plate back into the oven to keep it warm. “Just make sure you give her the right plate and all will be okay. I don't want to be the one vomiting over the dinner table.”

“What about Alex? He doesn't know about any of this.” Liz was wringing her hands together with worry.

“I will deal with Alex if need be. A little compulsion never hurt anyone.”

“It doesn't sit right with me, Zac.”

He waved her off. “Just blame it all on me. I'm used to it.”

They returned to the dining room, where Gabby, Sam and Alex were seated, drinking the wine that Liz had brought with her. Zac placed the bottle he'd spiked next to Liz and winked.

“You did tell her seven, right?” Sam joked when he saw Alex fidgeting.

“Yeah.” He jumped when there was a sudden knock on the front door.

Alex stood awkwardly, almost knocking over his glass. Zac followed him from the dining room, waiting to see what would happen.

Alex strode to the front door and opened it to find Aya standing on the other side. He gasped a little as he took in her appearance. She wore a tight fitting black blouse and dark grey skinny jeans that clung to all the right places in all the right ways and she'd had a hair cut. Her black hair still hung halfway down her back, but it was all different lengths. She looked like a singer in a rock band. Alex blushed a little and said, “Hi.”

Smiling brightly, Aya stepped inside and hugged him. “Lovely to see you again,” she chirped.

Zac hid his look of confusion. She hadn't been invited in at all. She just stepped through the door like it was the most ordinary thing in the world. It was ordinary, but she had so many vampire tendencies he was sure she couldn't come in...and she couldn't be compelled, either. Was he wrong? He snapped back to reality as he realized she was speaking to him.

“Earth to Zac,” she snapped her fingers in front of his face.

“What, don't I get a hug?” he asked, a wicked tone in his voice.

She laughed. “No.”

“Aya, you wound me.” He feigned clutching his heart as she glided past him into the dining room.

Aya could hardly hold back laughter when she caught Zac’s expression. Thresholds weren’t an issue for her, much like the sun. He’d obviously been counting on Alex giving her an invitation before she stepped inside.

Liz, Sam and Gabby were seated at the dining table as she walked in, drinking wine and laughing at some joke Sam had just told. Upon seeing her, Liz got up and poured her a glass from the near empty bottle and handed it to her. “Aya! It's great that you could make it. Here, have a glass.”

Aya took the wine glass and sat at an empty spot at the table, Zac sitting across from her. She took a sip, aware that Zac was watching her closely, pretending to be distracted by something else. “Thank you to Alex for inviting me.” She inclined her head towards him as he came back in from the kitchen.

“Oh, it was no problem.” He blushed. “Everything's ready if you're hungry now?”

“If you like.”

Liz stood abruptly and said, “I'll help you, Alex.”

“It's a nice wine,” Aya said, swirling the red liquid around the glass as they disappeared into the kitchen.

Zac slumped back in the chair, almost disappointed.

“I picked it out,” said Gabby. “I'm the only one who knows what's good. Otherwise we would have got the cheapest one.”

Sam laughed and agreed as Liz put a plate in front of Aya. When they were all seated, they began to eat.

“Meatloaf.” Alex shrugged almost apologetically, when Aya raised her eyebrow at him.

“How American.” She smiled politely and ate a few mouthfuls, making a conscious effort to taste every bite. Everyone but Alex seemed to be watching her. “This,” she said, gesturing to the plate with her fork, “this is delicious.”

“Great.” Alex beamed. “It's about the only thing I can cook.”

“Well, you can cook it well, that's for sure,” Liz said.

Aya couldn't help herself. She coughed loudly, feigning choking on a mouthful of potato. Zac sat forward in his chair, his expression hopeful. She thumped her chest and took a mouthful of wine. “Went down the wrong way,” she declared brightly.

As the conversation naturally turned to things that were more familiar to the host, she groaned inwardly. It was fast turning into one of those boring dinner parties where people told annoying personal jokes. Unfortunately, she was the odd one out having only been around a week or so. It reminded her of the formal dinners and cocktail parties she had attended back in the day. The day being somewhere around 1860ish. Empty pleasantries, childish gossip and blatant social climbing. She longed for something interesting to talk about. Murder, mayhem. Those things she was used to.

After dessert, she excused herself to the bathroom to get some distance and some air. Zac's constant hovering was driving her insane and it was all she could do to tune out the annoying hum of his blood.

Closing the bathroom door behind her she sighed loudly. Staring at her reflection in the mirror she weighed up the information she’d learned. After observing them for the last few days, she still didn't have any clue as to their motivation for calling her.

Walking into the house as she had had certainly thrown them off the scent. The wine and the food had been spiked with something that Zac had obviously thought would have an effect on her. Silver and garlic? She smiled to herself when she recalled the look of mingled confusion and anger on his face. She’d developed quite a liking for infuriating him. He always rose to the occasion, not the other way round and would be furious when he finally caught on that he was the one being played. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face.

Alex was being very attentive, but she knew without a doubt it was because he was developing a crush on her. He had no idea that his friends were vampires. Especially Liz, who seemed to be a friend of his since early childhood. She felt a little sorry for him, but it could be difficult to understand those that would usually hunt you for food. He would find out sooner or later, when he grew old and she did not. Liz would have to leave town eventually before people started to ask questions about the eternal twenty-one year old.

Splashing cool water on her face, she wondered what their problem could be. She hadn't sensed anything malicious in the town at all, other than the werewolves. She'd dealt with them easily enough, but the vampires were still sniffing around, trying to expose what she was. Were they working with someone else who was out to get her? Even that didn't sit right. Looking up into the mirror, she jumped as she caught sight of a figure standing directly behind her.

Without turning, she knew that no one was there. Not really. She glared at the woman and finally understood. She was just as she remembered, the day she had delivered her death sentence. Tall and slim, fiery auburn hair that fell in waves over her shoulders and that same cold calculated expression that never shifted.

“Katrin.” Aya rolled her eyes. “You don't look a day over a billion, you old hag.”

“My dear,” Katrin purred. “I've been looking for you for a very long time. You've been a very naughty little vampire.”

Aya couldn't help but laugh. ”It was a shame you weren't home when I killed your demon spawn, you murderous bitch.”

“Oh, but dear, I'm already dead.” Her expression didn't waver. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that that boy in all his ignorance would deliver you to me.”

Aya stiffened.

“Oh, he hasn't told you about his little predicament?” Katrin asked in mock surprise.

She didn't reply.

“It's past due that I should send my children to pay you a visit,” Katrin continued. “All four of you together again, how wonderful. Now that we know your whereabouts, I'm sure they won't be long. Perhaps I will just send your favorite? I know he is longing to see your pretty face again. After all, he did fall in love with you.”

“Send them all. I'm collecting the whole set,” Aya snarled. “And I will enjoy killing him most of all.”

“So be it. You will regret using your power again, little girl. This time it will destroy you.”

“It's a bit late for that,” she spat.

“It's only just begun.” The witch’s form began to shimmer and evaporate until Aya was finally alone.

Taking a deep breath to control her emotions, she hit the bench top with her fist. It would do no good to become angry. She knew that Katrin wouldn't focus on Zac anymore, but would use all of them to get to her. She had unwittingly implicated her new friends in an age old blood feud. She was a much greater prize than an annoying brat of a vampire.

For the rest of the evening she fought to keep herself in check, exchanging pleasantries with the vampires, the witch and their human host. Her heart wasn't in it, the need for her previous charade slipping. When it was time to say goodnight, she asked Gabby for a ride to town. She needed some alone time with the elusive witch.

As they filed out of the house and down the driveway, Aya heard the annoying buzz that announced Zac was following them from the house.

“Aya,” he called. “Can I speak to you a moment?”

Gabby glanced at her, a note of sympathy on her face and kept walking to the car. Aya turned and raised her eyebrows at Zac, who stood with his hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans. He was nervous.

“I just want to apologize for the other night,” he said with a grimace.

She looked him up and down. “You say that like you don't mean it.”

“I do.” He wasn't even convincing himself.

“You don't apologize often, do you?”

He sighed through his teeth.

“What's your deal, Zac?” Aya prodded, when he didn't say anything.

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mightn't know you very well, but I'm switched on enough to tell that you're acting weird.” She crossed her arms. “What do you want?”

She knew very well that he wouldn't come straight out and ask her the fifty thousand dollar question. It would mean that he had to reveal himself, but she was curious to see what lie he would come up with.

“I—” He couldn't bring himself to say anything and it annoyed her more than she thought it would.

“Why can't you just act like a normal person?” She shook her head in annoyance, speaking more to herself than Zac.

“Like Alex?” He said like it was an insult.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but Alex speaks to me because he likes to, not because he wants something. Perhaps you should take a leaf out of his book.” Aya spun on her heel and strode to Gabby's car, sliding into the passenger seat.

Gabby glanced at her and started the car. Pulling away from the curb she said, “He's the biggest ass in the entire town. I wouldn't take anything he says to heart. There’s no filter from his head to his mouth.”

“So people keep telling me.” She wasn't worried that much about Zac and his mood swings. Katrin had unsettled her entirely and it was time to out herself. She knew Gabby would be the most understanding. They were so alike in many ways. “Gabby, there is something that I need to tell you. I think it would be best if you pull over.”

Gabby glanced over to her, concern etched in her face. The car came to a stop and she pulled the handbrake on, turning off the engine. “Aya, what is it?” she asked warily, the note of fear in her voice. She knew she had more than a notion about what she was going to divulge.

Aya took a deep breath. “I am the one known as the Witch Hunter and I know it was you and Zac who called me. Not half an hour ago, I was threatened by the witch Katrin. I believe you know who I'm talking about.”

Gabby's face drained of color.

“You have nothing to fear from me, Gabby. I wish to help you.”

It took a few minutes for Gabby to work up the courage to speak. “Then we have a lot to talk about.”