A/N: Well, I would have had this chapter done sooner but for a few things:

1. That infamous blackout that occurred as I was working on this fic and a few others.
2. My strange idiosyncrasy that makes we write and re-write things until I am happy with them - namely the fight scene in this chapter, which is incredibly short for me, but I am happy with it.
3. Making sure all my accounts at U of T were settled, as well as finding some of the buildings my classes were in as well as the book store that I will have to go to on Monday.
4. Four words: Back to school shopping.
5. Two words: Busted monitor.

So, with my somewhat lame ass excuses out of the way, and me feeling a tiny bit better, it's everything as usual. But before I forget…

Replies to Reviews!!

Princess - Yesh, I am writing more…I am on fire!! Yeah, anyways, read and be happy. Shimatta onna, finish ma fic!! *shakes fist*
GoldenRat - It's something like The Seeker from Eddings' but different. Everything will be explained in due time. And the other GW characters will show up; all in good time, all in good time.

Rating: R
Pairings: Gotta wait and see.
Archive: Just ask, if you want to.
Chapter: 5/?

Chapter Five - Hunt

The orange sunlight streamed in through a musty old window, illuminating the dirt and general filth of the dilapidated old house. But Kaile had to admit, it was better off to be in here all day than out there on the street with something she didn't't know stalking her. She sighed as she walked away from the window; Zechs had told her to not stand around it too much. Of course, it made her want to go and gaze out even more.

Her footsteps rang out quietly as she walked over to the lone chair, sitting down gingerly on the armrest. 'It seems that I'll sink further and further into darkness.' She glanced over at Zechs' still body; it was somewhat disconcerting to simply watch him. There was a part of her that was expecting to see his chest rise and fall with the steady beat of life; but instead it remained still, locked in death.

"Hm," she frowned as she slid off her slight perch and walked over to where Zechs lay stretched out on a wooden bench.

Joints popped slightly as she crouched down, inspecting his face closely. The shadows gave him a rather dark and thoughtful look. His pale skin contrasted the dark and accenting his platinum blond hair and eyebrows. Her brow furrowed slightly as she dredged up her memories; this certainly was the face she had remembered to be her imaginary friend Seth. But a child's eyes always saw things with innocence. When she looked at him now, she could just imagine the elongated canines that could bring death should he choose to grant it. Or grant immortality.

She reached out with her fingers, hesitant for a moment. After a few moments, she shook off the feeling that he would wake up. The pads of her fingertips brushed his forehead, the coolness of the skin surprising. She had expected it to be frigid, not this light iciness she felt. She leaned in a bit more closely to see his lashes moving slightly. Glancing up, she spied the makeshift curtain moving as a breeze came in. With a dismissive snort, she looked back at Zechs' face. Her fingers trailed down his brow and his nose, feeling the bone beneath the delicate skin.

There was an oddly beautiful translucent appearance to his skin; she had barely had noticed it before, but it really showed in the glow that suffused the room now. She tilted her head to the side as she looked at his lips. They were full and looked soft, despite the unnatural whiteness. Her finger skimmed down, before she hesitated. What the hell was she doing?

"He does have a fey beauty, doesn't he?"

Kaile screamed at voice just above her shoulder, twisting around violently. Her head connected with a skull with a loud crack. She sat down, her eyes screwed up in pain as she held her head. A groan came from a few paces away followed by an 'fwoomph' and 'thunk' of the armchair being sat in. She opened her eyes a crack before she blinked rapidly.

"Puck!" She growled in annoyance when she recognized him. "Or should I call you Pietro?"

"Call me what you wish; you have an extremely hard head." Puck winced as he rubbed his head briskly. "You're positive that your skull is bone?"

"Yes!" Kaile said, wondering how long Puck had been in the room. "When did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago; do you normally inspect men so when they're resting?" His eyes had a twinkle in them.

"Shut up." She muttered darkly as she fixed the flyaway that had broken free from her loose bun.

"In a foul mood, I see. Why?"

Kaile watched as Puck tilted his head slightly, the twinkle becoming inquisitive. "It comes from being in here all day. The first hour and a half wasn't so bad. Well, I should say, the first hour and a half before sunrise. After that, and Zechs," she paused. "Fell asleep; there wasn't much to do here."

"Something interesting happened then?" Puck arched an eyebrow.

"Zechs told me all about the Otherworld; the one that seems to exist only in myths and legends." Kaile smiled slightly. "I always wanted it be real when I was a child."

"Now, it's all too real." Puck's eyes flickered to Zechs'' motionless body. "The vampire won't waken for a while longer. Perhaps you would care for something to eat?"

"I am a bit hungry. I haven't eaten anything in a day." Kaile admitted as she rose, dusting off her jeans.

"Then we shall go out." Puck said rising. "There bound to be some atrocious human place for food around here."

Kaile shook her head. "There's a Seeker after me. I'm not venturing out there beyond necessary."

"You would let a simple Seeker scare you?" Puck gave a mocking laugh.

Kaile scowled. "The Seeker doesn't't scare me. I know self defence. I am more worried about who sent the Seeker."

"You'll be with me. What do you have to worry about?" Puck asked as he walked over to her.

"Everything," she muttered.

"You don't have faith in me?" Puck's eyes took on a hurt haze.

Kaile sighed. "I don't know what can happen out there and I'm not that willing to find out what can; emphasis on 'can' Puck."

Puck crossed his arms and frowned at her. "All you are doing is going to get something to eat and then coming back here. What's the harm in that?"

Kaile glanced back at Zechs' still figure; he wouldn't wake for another hour or so. And she was fairly hungry. As if on cue, her stomach growled once more.

"That's good enough for me!"

"Puck," Kaile demanded as Puck grabbed her hand. "What are you-"

Kaile's word was cut off as every thing suddenly went completely dark. It was smothering and suffocating. But as soon as it started, it ended. She started to curse Puck before she realized she was standing outside of a Popeye's restaurant, with a family just entering through the doors.

"You are so lucky that there are children present," she hissed. "I'm getting some take out and then you are taking me back, or I will kill you myself."

Puck held his hands up in a placating gesture. "As you wish. This "fried chicken" you humans seem to like seemed like an appropriate idea."

Kaile grumbled as she walked in, and got into the line. Puck came in after her, whistling slightly. She repressed the urge to turn around and strangle him. She as getting food then getting back before Zechs woke up. The line seemed to crawl forward and when she finally stepped up to the counter, the sun was hovering around the horizon.

"Finally!" She sighed as she glanced through the menu. "I'll have the two piece meal with a biscuit, please. Hello, did you get my order?"

Kaile waved her hand in front of the person's face, before she looked back at Puck and shrugged. When she looked back, all she saw was the person, coming at her with their arms outstretched and hands reaching for her throat. She barely had time to react before she was slammed into the ground. The other customers fled in a panic as she fought to keep the hands from closing around her throat. The weight was suddenly gone as Puck slammed into the creature.

She coughed as she staggered to her feet. Puck had the person in a headlock, but with a fluid motion, the person had flung Puck away and was on her again. Kaile grabbed their hands as they went for her throat once more. Her eyes widened in horror as the fingernails elongated and the skin started to go scaly. The face in front of her shifted, the nose sinking in and the mouth widening, with the sharp fangs inside. The eyes slanted upwards, taking on a dark red reptilian appearance as scales appeared around them.

Kaile felt a stab of cold fear inside. "You're the Seeker."

Its eyes narrowed, the lips curling upwards in a sickening smile of triumph.

"Snake!"

Kaile looked over to see Puck charging at them, aiming to tackle the Seeker again. The reptilian eyes narrowed to slits.

"Immna," The Seeker hissed.

Kaile's eyes widened in shock as Puck froze in mid-stride. The Seeker took advantage of her momentary surprise to close its cold hands around her throat. A choked sound came from Kaile's throat as she scrabbled at the hands. Her lips pulled back in a sudden snarl as she managed to wedge her feet under the Seeker's belly. She kicked it viciously in the tender spot, feeling her booted feet sink into something that gradually softened. The grip on her throat lessened, allowing her to take a sharp breath.

She kicked it harder before she pushed it away with her legs, and scrambled up with a murderous intent in her eyes. "Just who the hell sent you?" She spat out in a demanding tone of voice.

The Seeker's slitted eyes seemed to glow now, the red taking on the appearance of flames. Kaile didn't flinch as she stared it down. The only time she broke eye contact was to grab a brown plastic serving tray from a nearby table. The creature gave a low hiss that reeked of brimstone before it made a motion that looked like it was about to retch.

Kaile ducked to the side instinctively, avoiding single gout of flame that seared past her. Taking her chance, she came in for a blow, smashing the tray across its face. The plastic snapped under the sudden sharp angle, a jagged pointed edge providing the perfect weapon. That she promptly drove into the creature's throat, green blood spilling out from the back.

The Seeker open its fang lined mouth, blood burbling out before it collapsed to the ground, clawed hands flailing in a last attempt to hit Kaile. She looked at it in disgust before she gave a rather vindictive and malicious kick to the head.

"Ew…" She winced as her boot crunched in through the skull; the tray couldn't break it, but a sharp enough kick certainly could.

She looked around the room. It was relatively unscathed, save for the large charred section by the front register and a few broken chairs. The wail of sirens made her look up sharply. There was no way she was ticking around for the cops to find her in this mess. She rolled her eyes in disgust as she grabbed Puck's immobile hand and dragged him with her through the back, careful to not leave any fingerprints. She dragged Puck for a few blocks into the twisted alley she had come out into before she dropped his hand.

"I told you why I didn't want to go out,: Kaile sighed as she glanced up at the sky. "And there's still about an hour to kill until sunset."

Kaile couldn't't help but feel a bit angry as she looked at Puck. It wasn't as if she could help him in any manner. What the Seeker had done to him was far beyond her. And as to where she was…she didn't have a single clue. Turning sharply on her heel, she walked away from Puck, before she paused for a moment and walked back.

"Don't want something thinking they have a stiff, now do I?" She murmured as she started to pile garbage bags around him. "Serves you right!" She said in an indignant huff when she finished, and stalked off into the alleyway.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Zechs opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a moment, getting his bearings. Ah, yes; he was still in this dingy little rat hole that he had managed to find before the sun had risen. At least there was a mattress, tired and creaky as it was, to rest on. He swung his legs out over the low edge looking around.

"Kaile?" Zechs called; he could sense her much less see her. And that bothered him. "Kai?" he called as he walked towards the small curtained off section in the far wall by the window.

He threw it back to reveal an empty space, a lone dusty chair there, with no trace of the dust being disturbed. He bit back a curse as he stormed out from the apartment. That was when he ran smack dab into Javier and the man beside her, Darien. The slightly curled sneer came to his lips almost instinctively.

"To what do I owe this particular pleasure?" Zechs asked.

Javier didn't make any outward reaction, save for a rather smug arched eyebrow. "Where's Kaile?"

"Out," Zechs replied immediately as his mind raced. "With Puck." That alone was probably the reason why Kaile had ventured out. "I don't know why you dragged that damnable pixie into this."

"Connections," Darien shrugged. "But am I to guess that he's spirited her away somewhere, and you don't know?"

Zechs struggled for a moment; he didn't know if it was worse coming from the know-it-all Javier or from the slightly arrogant Darien.

"We saw a rather interesting thing on our way over here; big commotion at the Popeye's about thirty five blocks down; some big commotion about some strange creature whose body had been found." Javier's expression was one of icy triumph. "Imagine our surprise when we saw a hand and recognized it to be a Seeker's hand. A rather dead Seeker, mind you, but a Seeker nonetheless."

"All right Javier," Darien said calmly. "If Kaile's not here, then we have to go find her. Which means the three of us will work together to find her quickly before something else does."

Zechs immediately retracted on his previous statement. Darien, he could tolerate, maybe even accept. "I agree. Javier?" he asked her in a semi-gracious voice.

Javier was rather tight lipped but she nodded her head in agreement.

Darien nodded his head. "Me and Javier will cover the ground. You can go aerial, all right?"

"Fine by me. So long as I can search in peace away from this witch," Zechs said as he quickly walked past Javier, heading for the stairs to the roof.

He ignored the rather colourful replies that Javier shot his way. She'd called him worse before. His steps echoed down the stairwell rapidly before they were followed by the sound of a fairly old metal door creaking open. He stepped out into the young night air, looking around. Off in the distance, he could see the flashing lights of police cars and such. He hoped that Kaile had the sense to simply leave the scene.

He walked to the edge of the building, studying the bright flashing lights for a moment before he fell. The air hurtled past as he shifted his shape into that of a bird's and caught an updraft. He would start from the scene at the fat food place. And once he found Puck, he was going to make sure the sprite rued crossing him so.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kaile shivered slightly, despite her jacket, as she continued walking through the alleyway, rubbing her arms against the clamminess in the air. She was utterly lost now; wherever she was, it was definitely a…seedier part of the town. Keeping to the wall, she continued along, avoiding the glances of the few people at the back doors of establishments.

"Hey, got a light?"

Kaile glanced up quickly to see a dark haired man leaning against a steel door. A limpid cigarette hung from his mouth. She shook her head and continued on.

"Where you off to so fast?" the man fell in step, close behind her. "Pretty girl like you shouldn't rush."

"Fuck off," Kaile grumbled under her breath, not deigning to look back.

"Aw, come on," the man behind her. "Think you're too good for me?" he jeered.

Kaile stopped as what little she gained of a fuse burned to ashes again. She grabbed the man by the throat and slammed him into the wall. "I said to fuck off. In which case I mean to run for your pathetic life since you, of all cretins, will get nothing else but that."

The man gave a strange sort of smile. "You know Kaile, you do have something of a potty mouth. Didn't you mother ever teach you how unlady like that is?" his voice went from common to oddly cultured.

Kaile tightened her grip on the man's flesh, her lips pulling back in a snarl. "Why don't you shut your mouth before I do something you regret?"

"Such as what?" the man was extraordinarily calm, given his situation. "Tell me, Kaile dear. What terrible, unlady like thing shall you do to me? If your mother didn't I'd imagine, he would of at least."

"He?" Kaile managed to not choke on her anger.

"Why, Zechs of course. You do find him fascinating, don't you?" The man's eyes held a knowing look.

Her teeth gritted together in rage at his condescending and coddling tone. She flexed her muscles, fingers digging in even further. That was when she was promptly pulled up by the neck of her jacket, and left to dangle in midair. As she slowly spun around, she found herself being held by a rather bestial man, who looked more like a boar than human, a few teeth protruding. Her expression of disgust must have shown, since the man spoke.

"Yes, my…underling's appearance is somewhat startling." The man said coolly as he fixed his shirt collar. "But he serves for tasks that require brute strength. My master is quite interested in you. Though what he wants with a slip of a girl," the man's eyes flitted over her body quickly. "Is far beyond me."

Kaile made a pretence of struggling to get down; bide her time and then she could bolt for it. The pig man made a small grunting sound that made the man 'tsk' in the back of his throat.

"Quite right. She could slip out of that jacket," the man mused. "A good strong piece of-"

Kaile didn't wait for him to finish. She lashed out viciously with her feet, catching the man in the mouth. He turned away quickly, his hands flying to his mouth. She slid out of her jacket easily and hit the pavement running. From behind her, she could hear ludicrously piggish noises as the man chased after her. She ran until her lungs were ready to burst, but she still didn't stop.

Only when her legs gave out and she collapsed did she look back. There was no one behind her now. There was nothing around her. She had run straight into some new part; probably the industrial district from the look of it. She lay there for a bit, catching her breath.

When she rose, she walked though the buildings warily, hiding when she heard faint voices. She breathed a slight sigh of relief when she found an open window. Wriggling her way through the somewhat tight space, she found herself in a crate filled warehouse. She wandered through the stacks of wooden boxes, a feeling trepidation still filling her.

She kept walking until she found a darkened corner and curled up in it, watching carefully. She couldn't let her guard down for a second. Not even for a second.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The city lights glittered up at him, obscuring his vision. Zechs gave a small mental sigh. This was the fifth sweep and he hadn't seen anything yet. He banked to the right, heading out to the industrial area by the ports. His sharp eyes picked out as much as could be seen through the blinding lights. He moved down a bit lower, seeing somewhat filmy shapes through the light. He could still remember a time when the lights at night were never this bright.

The sound of a can skittering across the ground caught his attention. He alighted down on the lip of a rooftop looking down. There was something stirring in a pile of garbage bags. A slight groan came now, one that was all too familiar to him. He flew down to the ground, shifting his shape back to a human body. He stood waiting as Puck picking himself up from the trash, holding his head and blinking repeatedly,

"What's the name of the Seeker that hit me?" he groaned. He shook his head in a somewhat doglike manner, swaying from side to side.

"I'm about to hit you in less than ten seconds if you don't explain your foolish actions." Zechs said in a cold voice.

Puck, for the first time, felt his face pale rapidly as he managed to face Zechs. "The Seeker found her."

"And?" Zechs asked a bit archly.

"I don't know. It froze me." Puck said, his voice wavering slightly.

Zechs bit back the curses that flew to his tongue. "Do you mean to tell me that she is out there and you have no clue where?"

"Yes. She dumped me here and then left." Puck didn't say anything. "All she was doing was following this alleyway. I'm sure we'll find her soon if we just keep going along it."

Zechs didn't say anything as he shifted into a wolf and sniffed around until he caught onto Kaile's familiar scent. He bounded down the paved confines almost immediately, nails clicking as he went. The brick walls blurred together as he ran, following the trail. He stopped as a new scent masked Kaile's; fresh blood. He quelled the sharp rise of hunger and sniffed around. Blood and something that was faintly reminiscent of swine. Puck came flitting after him a few minutes later in his pixie form, an anxious look on his face. Zechs curled his lips, baring fangs before he went back to searching.

He found it again five minutes later, intermingled with the swine smell. 'She was chased.' He started off on the trail once more, leaving Puck to fly after him as fast as he could.

"Wait!" Puck called after him a bit breathlessly.

Zechs stopped and looked at Puck with a scathing expression. Puck winced slightly as he flitted over and alighted on the ground in front of Zechs. "This, I found."

Zechs didn't do anything but sniff the bracelet that Puck held out. It was slim, light enough from him to hold in one hand, despite his elfin form. Runes were engraved on the surface, glimmering softly. Zechs looked at it, trying to place the scent. It was someone powerful enough in their own right, definitely male, with a strange afterscent, he couldn't quite place.

'Afterscent…' He snorted suddenly, shaking his head before he started running again. 'It has to be him. It has to be. I'll kill him for sure this time if he did anything to her.' His strides quickened as he hurtled off towards the docks; Puck was hard pressed to simply keep him in sight.

When he finally stopped, he was right in front of a window. He shifted back into his human form, bent down and peered in through the open space. There was nothing inside but perhaps some crates and darkness. He snorted in irritation as Puck hovered by his shoulder, his wings making a rather annoying buzz. He swatted him away as he rose.

"That was rather rude," Puck said in slightly flippant tone.

Zechs shot him a look. "You will go and find Javier and Darien. Tell them I found her and that I'm taking her to the mansion." Zechs paused before he added an afterthought. "As well as her parents."

"Her parents?!" Puck looked shocked. "Javier's going to kill me if I-"

"Tell her!" Zechs said in a curt tone that left no room for argument. "That bastard is willing enough to get to her through her parents. Now move!"

Puck flew off immediately, his grumblings not lost to Zechs' hearing. He sighed and slithered in through the window, landing softly on the ground. He sniffed slightly before he started weaving through the maze of crates. His nose was definitely better when he was in wolf form, but remaining in his natural skin was probably a better idea at the moment.

A slight rustle of cloth made his freeze and start walking slower a few seconds later. His eyes flickered around as he stepped forward, looking around. The person crashed into him from the side, fist driving into his gut. He doubled over in reaction, grasping their shoulders and slamming them against the large crates that were partially illuminated by light from the window.

"Kaile, stop this." He said quietly as she tried to free herself from his grip.

All her struggles stopped, the snarl disappearing. Even from this shady spot, he could see her slightly elongated canines; they made her look almost vampiric and deadly. Her lower lip trembled for a minute before it stopped; a hesitant smile was on her face. Zechs found himself at a sudden loss of words. Kaile's mouth was frosted in the dull white light from outside, begging to be touched in some manner. He immediately shook off that thought, schooling his face into an appropriate expression of worried anger.

"How long have you been here?" he asked in a voice that was sterner than he intended.

"I don't know," Kaile sounded relieved enough. She stepped forward. "I thought you might be that pig man."

Zechs managed to stammer out something as Kaile hugged him suddenly. In all the years he had known her, even as a child, this was the most prominent display of anything that she had made. Even with the circumstances, he still found it rather hard to believe that she was there hugging him tightly like this and he was somewhat gingerly patting her back.

"Kaile?" he asked a bit hesitantly.

"You have no idea of how glad I am to see you." She said as she finally drew back. "First Puck dragged me out to get something to eat, and then the Seeker attacked me. And then cops were coming, so I split, dragging Puck's frozen ass behind me. But I got so sick of that and angry that I dumped him and piled garbage bags on him. Then I was just walking, trying to find out where the hell I was and then this guy asks me for a light and next thing I know, some…pig dude has me by the back of my leather jacket. But I kicked the guy in the face and bolted. I got in here and have been hiding since. It's just felt like an eternity."

Zechs simply blinked, absorbing all the information she threw at him in one shot. He cleared his throat quietly. "Kaile, things have changed somewhat."

"It's because of that man, isn't it." She stated more than asked. "What do we have to do now?"

"We have to get your parents and then go somewhere where no one will be able to get you easily."

"That sounds all too easy." Kaile murmured. "Just where would we be going?"

'Winner Manor.' Zechs' expression became a bit grim.

"Win-" Kaile started before she thought better of it. 'Winner Manor? Isn't that a historic site sealed off from the public? I mean, it's almost four hundred years old!'

'There's someone there that can hide us for a bit.' Zechs took her hand. 'Do you know what phasing is?'

'If it's something involving a moment of…nothingness, then yes. No thanks to Puck.'

Zechs could help but smile slightly at the disgruntled sour note in her voice. 'This will be a quick trip. It is the quickest way to get you, Sara and James to safety and throw your searchers off the trail.'

'Zechs,' Kaile looked at him inquisitively. 'Just who was that man? It seemed like he knew you.'

Zechs didn't answer her for a moment. 'He's someone I knew from long ago.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~