A/N: Hello everyone, thank you so much for your kind words. It's lovely to hear you're still with me on this journey. I can't tell you how much your words and thoughts mean to me, they really do keep a girl going. I always look forward to reading them. Speaking of reading, I'll leave you to red, review and enjoy! :)

Chapter 30

Ellie tilted her head appraisingly as Lambert stepped out of the changing room. He had swapped his black and red leather armour for a pair of dark blue jeans, a black t-shirt and black boots. The t-shirt hugged his body just enough to show his muscles, and the way the jeans fitted his rear made Ellie feel hot under her new vest top and hoodie. The only thing that ruined the image was the expression on Lambert's face. His forehead was scrunched up and there was a permanent grimace on his face as if he was experiencing a particularly bad headache.

'Not bad. Think it's missing something though.' She said, drawing his eyes to her. They stood out even more in the mundane department store setting. His skin looked pale under the florescent lights, the scars earnt from his life as a witcher making him look even more alien.

Ellie ignored his perturbed look and handed him a black leather jacket to cover up his arms. Lambert took it gingerly and examined it before raising an eyebrow at her. 'You expect this to protect me? I look like an actor playing a mercenary right now.'

She rolled her eyes. 'People don't go around stabbing each other in this world Lambert. Besides, the weapons they tend to use wouldn't be stopped by your armour anyway. Better you look like you belong than worry about a sword fight breaking out.'

He looked sceptical but still shrugged the jacket on. Now she definitely felt the blush rise up her neck to her cheeks. These clothes…suited him. With his dark, slicked back hair and rough beard he looked like a gangster. Ellie cleared her throat loudly and strode away from him.

'Good enough. Come on.' She took her neatly folded leather trousers and borrowed white shirt from the witcher world and handed it to the petite, dark skinned woman behind the counter.

'Thanks Aliya. Keep these safe, will you?' The woman smiled warmly, her russet eyes creasing at the corners.

'Of course. Anything for you zaeim.' Her lilting foreign accent and the subtle crimson edge to her irises were the only sign that she wasn't human. The ifrit glanced at Lambert as he approached behind Ellie and handed her his own bundle of folded leather. Her smile grew wider and her eyes flicked up and down his form.

'I am glad we could find something more…suitable for you to wear bashri.' She said silkily. Ellie's expression turned to granite and she took hold of the witcher's arm.

'See you soon. Try to stay out of trouble.' Aliya's smile faded and she gave her a small nod of acknowledgment.

'May the wind carry your feet zaeim.' She murmured and quickly turned away to serve another customer.

'She wasn't human either, was she?' Lambert muttered as he let himself be pulled along by Ellie out of the department store. The staff were beginning to shut up for the night, and the aisles were all but free of other shoppers. Even so, she kept her voice low as she replied.

'No, she was a demon.'

'I thought your job was to keep them in Purgatory.' He stated.

'Some get through the cracks; some are seeking a new life, or escaping a bad one. As long as they don't harm the humans or upset the balance I see no problem with them staying.'

'The griffin and the leshen make a lot more sense now.' He said.

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'Nothing. It means nothing Blue eyes.' She gave him a incredulous look then continued to walk out of the store.

Back on the street she was mildly satisfied to see Lambert wince from the onslaught of sight and sounds of the city. Their relationship had done a full 180 since coming here. Now he was the one following her around with no idea what was going on or where to go. It felt slightly cathartic, but there was still that underlying fear of what to do with him now he was here.

She could only thank her luck that she hadn't been able to get to Purgatory – which was where she had been heading when she left Kaer Morhen. If she had managed to return to the demon world and Lambert had followed her, there was no telling what would have happened to him. The only things that inhabited that world were soulless demons, and her. Souls generally arrived as disembodied floating lights that were shepparded to their final destination. No one living had ever entered that realm as far as she knew, and she wasn't about to start experimenting with Lambert.

She was so deep in thought that she didn't realise how far they had walked until she felt the rumbling beat of bass music thumping through the soles of her new sneakers. Coming out of her reverie her eyes immediately went to the burning red neon sign that read 'Inferno' above a nondescript dark fronted building. There was a small queue of people waiting outside and two imposing bouncers stood at the door, arms folded in front of them. It was still early in the evening, relatively speaking, so she hoped the club wasn't as chaotic as it usually was. She needed to find Enoch and let him know what had happened.

'Is this a tavern?' Lambert's voice came from close behind her. He was looking at the club with a sense of trepidation, and despite her earlier thoughts Ellie felt a swell of empathy at his lost look.

'In a way. A lot noisier and less about the drinking than a tavern though.' She said. With a small smile of encouragement, she took his hand. The witcher started and glanced down at their entwined fingers, she gave him a gentle tug. 'Come on. We won't be in there long.'

Towing him behind her she approached the glowering bouncers; a few of the people waiting in line shot her annoyed looks but she ignored them. She flashed one of them a bright grin, and he returned the favour. His angry face transforming into a friendly expression.

'Hey there Ellie. Been a while, thinking you didn't care about us anymore.'

She gave him an apologetic shrug. 'I know, been busy. Is Dante in tonight?' The bouncer nodded.

'Sure, he's around. Shall I tell him you're here?' Ellie waved a hand dismissively.

'Nah, I'll find him. My friend is coming with me too.' The bouncer's eyes flicked to Lambert, then down to their clasped hands. He raised a thick eyebrow, his grin widening.

'Oh aye. I'm sure he is.' He stepped aside to let them through, much to the disgruntled protests from the waiting patrons. 'Keep an eye on him El. You know what Dante's like with fresh meat.' He winked at her as she led Lambert into the club, the bass music now pressing in on her eardrums uncomfortably. She felt the grip on her hand tighten and looking up at Lambert she could see him grimacing, as if he was in pain. He noticed her looking, his amber eyes shining down at her, the pupils widened due to the low light.

'Why is everything so noisy here?' He asked, his teeth gritted. He wasn't raising his voice a great amount even as the music got louder, but she was close enough to hear him.

'I don't know. I guess people don't like silence in my world.' She replied. Just as she finished they reached the main area in the club. Inferno may have looked unimpressive from the outside but it certainly made up for it inside.

She wasn't entirely sure why the head of a vampire coven had decided to open a prominent night club in the heart of London, but in truth she wasn't entirely sure about a lot of things when it came to Dante. Regardless, Inferno was a popular meeting place for the young elite of the city. Maybe it was the modernist and expensive design, the walls a bare white with bright lines of colour that glowed in the black lights of the club. The furniture was ultra-modern and always filled with groups of people drinking expensive drinks and wearing designer clothes. There was a wide space in the centre for dancing, the floor lit but thousands of tiny lights so it looked like you were dancing on the night sky.

It certainly grabbed your attention but it could also have been the fact that the club was always hosting the newest and hottest talent in the city, drawn to the place by Dante's unending charism and charm. He liked to surround himself with interesting people, which was why his club was the only place humans rubbed shoulders with hybrids. It was a safe haven for the outcasts of society. No slayers or gatekeepers wanting an easy hunt would dare try and attack this place. Dante may be a pacifist now, but he had a long-standing history in the city that many would never forget.

Vampires, were-creatures, succubi and even a few way-ward demons frequented the joint. It was the real reason Ellie believed so many people flocked to his doors. Even though humans could rarely tell what they shared their world with, there was something undeniably exotic about beings touched by demon venom.

She could feel Lambert surveying the packed club next to her. His sudden silence a sign of him taking in his new surroundings. There were masses of people on the dance floor, undulating and moving to the heavy beat of the music. To her practiced eyes she could make out several succubi, their stunningly beautiful bodies moving through the crowds of people like they were made of mist. Their exotically painted eyes scanning their potential partners. They weren't hunting, there was a strict rule here, imposed by Dante himself, that humans were off the menu in his establishment. He had a reputation to uphold.

Ellie's focus moved on from the hypnotic display and quickly found a familiar head of dark long hair, cut short at the sides belonging to a man stood behind the bar.

'This way.' She said, stepping into the fray with Lambert still attached to her. The crowd parted as they made their way across the dance floor. A few hybrid eyes flashed to her warily. The presence of a demon amongst them sending some of the more nervous hybrids to the opposite side of the room. She kept her eyes locked onto the man, he was talking to two women at the bar and mixing them a drink, his pale skin glowing in the black light of the club.

His dark eyes drifted up as they approached, an attractive smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. 'Is this Dante?' Lambert asked quietly, his voice only just audible over the music. The man's smile grew and he shook his head.

'No. I'm afraid not. Although I can point you in the right direction.' He looked up at them both expectantly.

'Nice to see you Moses.' Moses chuckled. His voice, like Lambert's, only just loud enough for Ellie to hear.

'You too, we've been worried about you. It seems there's trouble brewing amongst the slayers. Had a few close calls near the sanctuary recently.'

'So I've heard.' She said, looking around the club for any inquisitive eyes. No one was looking at them but she kept her voice low as she leant across the counter towards him. 'I'm actually looking for Enoch, is he here?'

'He's with Dante.' Much like everyone so far on this whirlwind reunion tour, his eyes flicked to Lambert. 'I can tell them you're here, but do you or your friend want a drink?' Before she could politely decline, as she always did, Lambert spoke up.

'What kind of ale do you have?' Moses' smile grew wider, exposing his pointed canines.

'Ale? No ale, but I do a superb old fashioned, or so I'm told. You look like an old-fashioned kind of man.' Lambert gave him a sceptical look but Moses was already busying himself with the whiskey. Within a matter of seconds, he set down a tumbler of amber liquid and pushed it towards the witcher. Lambert took the glass gingerly and brought it to his face to sniff experimentally at it. Deciding it didn't smell toxic he tossed the drink down in one gulp. Ellie held back a smirk as Moses' eyes widened theatrically.

'You're supposed to savour it.' He said, appalled. Lambert set the glass back down forcefully, causing the ice cubes to rattle loudly.

'Where I'm from you don't savour drinks given to you at a bar. You drink them.'

'What a brilliantly simple philosophy, I shall have to adopt that myself.' The smooth, accented voice didn't come from the scandalized bartender stood across the counter. It came from behind them; close behind them. Lambert whipped round with a speed and practice that came with years of bad experiences. Ellie, already recognising the voice, turned a lot slower and with a wide grin as she took in the always fabulously dressed figure of Dante.

His olive tone skin had a silky sheen to it in the dim light of the club. His high cheekbones underlined his almond shaped eyes drawing attention to their exuberant and curious nature. They were an interesting shade of bronze. Brighter and warmer than brown but with the same dark undertones. His black hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. A style very much from a by gone era and yet Dante could pull it off flawlessly with his modern, well cut shirt and waistcoat. They were a deep maroon colour and made his slim stature seem lithe and athletic.

'Eleanor my darling, we were so worried about you.' He leant forward, his cupid bow lips pulling up into a dazzling, showman's smile, revealing his own set of curved canines. He kissed her lightly on each cheek, a custom from his European background. 'I trust my dear Moses has been looking after you?' He asked, throwing a suggestive wink towards the bartender. His attention turned with predictable consistency to Lambert, his eyes widening and a salacious grin replacing his host smile.

'And who is this fine specimen you've brought me? You're not one of mine are you? Too rugged, but those eyes, they are like gems.' Ellie rolled her eyes and quickly inserted herself between the witcher and the vampire.

'He's…with me.' She said firmly, just stopping herself from saying 'he's mine' in time.

'You're Dante.' Lambert spoke over her head. The vampire smiled up at him wolfishly. 'It seems my reputation precedes me, and it seems you may be spoken for. Such a pity. Eleanor, your partner is quite concerned about your whereabouts. Maybe you should go speak to him in the back. I'll look after…'. He paused, staring at Lambert expectantly. The witcher raised an amused eyebrow, his full mouth twitching at one corner.

'Lambert.' He stated. Unphased by Dante's obvious flirting. Ellie tried not to grin at the interaction, despite his uncertainty in her fast and busy world, he still wasn't a naïve school girl. It would be interesting to see how her promiscuous friend fared against this sarcastic monster hunter.

'Of course.' She said to Dante then turning to Lambert she lowered her voice. 'I'll be back in a bit. Be careful with him, he can be very…persuasive.' Lambert gave her a knowing smile.

'Contrary to what my brothers think, I can give out my fair share of charm too. Be careful.' He said, his tone becoming serious. Ellie gave him a nod and left him at the bar with the two vampires.

The back room was where the bar supplies were stored along with out of date furniture, it also housed a secret panic room in case the club was raided by people with…ill intent towards Dante's patrons. Namely slayers and unfriendly gatekeepers. Ellie punched in the code for the door, hidden behind an impressive stone bust of Dante himself that he had claimed was too ostentatious even for him, and entered the amply sized room on the other side. In a crisis this could house the entire capacity of the main night club, it was one of the reasons Dante had leased such a huge space. The need for a safe place for people like him to hide was sadly a necessity in a world that despised and villainised them. That's not to say there weren't hybrids that harmed and killed humans, but they were rarer than one might think.

Stepping into the lavishly furnished panic room Ellie spotted a solitary figure currently sat at a table, his brow furrowed under a shock of red curls, the blue tinted horns just visible as they curved up through the mess of hair. He was staring at a laptop, papers scattered around him, the blue glare throwing heavy shadows across his handsome, rounded face.

'Enoch.' She breathed in relief. The sight of her partner and friend releasing something heavy and hidden inside of her. The horned Shedu looked up from the laptop, his face breaking into a delighted smile as he rose. At his full height he almost brushed the low ceiling, his broad shoulders and thick set arms striking an imposing figure, but Ellie knew that he was actually a huge softy.

'El, thank Purgatory. I've been looking everywhere for you.' He took three big strides to reach her, his arms thrown wide. Before she could say anything in greeting he had scooped her up into a bear hug strong enough to crack bones. 'I thought that Ifrit we were hunting had got you, but then I thought no, this is the Tempest, the leader of the Gatekeepers. No back alley Ifrit would get the upper hand on you.'

'Mf mfgay. Lef mef gof.' A small voice came from under Enoch's armpit. He dropped her with a chuckle and rubbed an embarrassed hand through his auburn hair.

'Sorry boss, didn't mean to rough you up like that. Just so happy to see you, is all.' Ellie laughed at his awkwardness.

'It's fine. Good to see you too. It feels like it's been months.'

'Feels like I've been stuck here for months, in reality it's only been a few days.' Ellie looked at him askance.

'Stuck here?' The Shedu gestured in frustration towards the table he had been sat at.

'I've been trying to get a gateway open for the last few days. Something is riling the hybrids here, and the slayers have suddenly started getting bolder with their hunts. I wanted to talk to Mort and the others to see if they'd noticed anything, but every time I try and get back to Purgatory I can't.'

Dread snatched at Ellie like a greedy hand. This had something to do with O'Dimm. She had only been a few hours behind him but as she'd already discovered time moved differently between their worlds. What had he accomplished in the short head start he'd got on her? He had barred the way home that much was certain.

Her apprehension was palpable, and Enoch could sense it. They had known each other long enough that words weren't necessary. His normally sunny expression faded, the burly, towering Shedu suddenly looking far more intimidating.

'What do you need me to do boss?' He said. She could just see his tail swishing in agitation from behind his tree trunk legs.

'We have to find a way to contact Mortimer.' She said. Enoch nodded solemnly.

'Where did you go then? I assume you weren't in London.'

'No. I fell through a gateway.' He gave her a sharp look.

'Fell? Didn't you make it?' Ellie shook her head.

'It's a long story and I'm not the only one that needs to tell it.' His eyebrows rose at the remark.

'Oh? Bring someone back did you?' He asked suggestively. Ellie swung a punch at his meaty bicep. It was like hitting a wall, Enoch simply barked out a laugh.

'He's in the club with Dante.'

The Shedu snorted. 'He? Dante? We'd better save him.' Ellie was already halfway out of the door.

'My thoughts exactly come on.'

It took her several minutes to find Lambert. The spot where she had left him was absent, save for a number of new patrons and Moses, casually serving drinks behind the bar. Dante was also noticeably missing. With narrowed eyes she scanned the dancing crowd. The numbers had increased in the short time she had been talking to Enoch and now it was hard to make anyone out in the packed club.

'What does he smell like?' Enoch asked.

'Spice.' She answered reflexively. His smell was as familiar as her own face in the mirror nowadays. With her partner's prompt she took a long draw of air and try to locate that oh so comforting smell. She found it mixed in with a cacophony of other scents, along with an aromatic, cloying smell that was common for succubi. Her eyes followed her nose and there he was, dancing of all things, in the middle of the club.

Ellie struggled to find any words. Her eyes were transfixed on Lambert. The grumpy, unsociable witcher was smiling as he danced with a beautiful woman – who was the obvious source of the other smell. The pair of them were laughing and she was encouraging Lambert, who surprisingly, was dancing exceptionally well to the rhythmic, bass music. With his modern clothes he blended in well with the crowd, only his glowing eyes which flashed occasionally as they caught the light were any give away to his alien nature.

The succubus turned away and began dancing with someone else. Ellie half expected Lambert to stop now that his dancing partner had lost interest but then she noticed the equally attractive man next to him. He had the same ethereal beauty as the woman, marking him as an incubus, the male equivalent. He was smiling at Lambert as the pair continued to dance. Ellie's brief moment of shock was met with an almost instantaneous spark of memory.

'I've only met one cat I like, and he's a very rare specimen.'

'Maybe you'll tell me about him sometime.'

'Quite the dancer isn't he.' Dante's smooth voice interrupted her thoughts.

'Yes.' She replied haltingly, not taking her eyes of the witcher and the incubus. 'He is.'

A slim hand came to rest on her shoulder and she saw Dante's aquiline profile come into view in her periphery. 'Don't fret my dear, it's only a bit of fun.'

'I know.' She said, but it wasn't jealously she felt as she watched Lambert with the other man, it was relief. Relief that maybe he could find happiness on the other side of them, because this couldn't last, even now. He looked up from the man's smiling face and found her gazing at them. The witcher immediately stepped back, a look of guilt on his face, but Ellie smiled and waved coyly at him.

'We need to get back to the sanctuary.' She said to the Shedu and vampire stood beside her, but before she could gesture for Lambert to come over a loud crash echoed out through the club, followed by shouting and cursing. The music cut out abruptly as a group of men burst through the door, one of the bouncers, half conscious, staggering before them bloodied and bruised. They surveyed the shocked and silent patrons before one of them brandished a shotgun and pointed it at the crowd.

'Nobody move! Any humans are free to go, the rest of you will be slaughtered like the animals you are!

There was a beat more of silence, then the room erupted into blood curdling screams and clambering bodies. Ellie locked eyes with Lambert who was in the middle of the panicking crowd, he had a confused look on his face as the incubus he had been dancing with was nearly trampled underfoot.

The slayer who had spoken let the chaos unfold in front of him, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. As the first few hybrids broke away from the mass of pressing bodies and ran for the back room, he levelled his shotgun and fired straight at their fleeing backs.