© Michael Scott

The women followed Josh into a café, where they decided to get their bearings and discuss their next steps. Deciding to use a dead language this time, they spoke quickly about how to best approach the Elder, while Joan ordered some drinks for all of them.

"Well, the lovely woman behind the counter gave me this map of the area and some tourist information," Joan said, laughing a bit as she dropped her wares onto the table. "Scatty- green tea, Sophie- iced tea, and Josh, I didn't know what you'd like so I just ordered some water to the table."

"That's great Joan, thank you," Josh replied as Scatty took the map from the table. She took up a pen and started looking it over.

"So," she began, "We're here." She pointed to a spot next to the Wellington airport with her pen. "Where's Nyx?" she asked.

Josh pointed to a city on the other island. "More remote, but still fairly large. You'd think that the goddess of night would dislike sunny and crowded places…"

"So, we'll need to get onto the other island. I'm assuming they'll have a ferry, but if there were a faster or more discrete way…" Joan trailed off, thinking.

"How about a speed boat?" Sophie suggested, causing the others to look around in confusion. She had been looking out the large window that looked onto the harbour and was watching a woman who was walking along the jetty. She had long black hair and her eyes were hidden behind large sunglasses. She wore jeans and black cowboy boots, despite the heat of the day, and she walked with such purpose that everyone moved out of her way soundlessly.

Sophie stood and left the café to speak with her. Scatty frowned, Joan was indifferent, and Josh seemed pleased. The woman followed Sophie into the café and sat down beside her. She looked at everyone around the table before taking off her sunglasses to reveal her grey eyes.

"Virginia, good to see you again," Josh said softly in the same dead language they had been using before.

"I'm not sure I can say the same about any of you; care to explain what's caused this little party?" she asked, frowning at Scatty and looking generally displeased with the rest.

"Germain," Sophie began, and then launched into the tale, with some help from Joan along the way.

By the time she had finished the story, Virginia had ordered and finished a black coffee. "So you're saying you need to use my boat to go bother an Elder about Germain?" she asked, setting down her cup and leaning back.

"Yes, and we'd appreciate the help greatly," Josh said, taking a drink of water.

Virginia paused, then pulled out her cell phone and typed a quick message. "Cool your heels for a while, see the sights, soak up some sun." She paused pointedly and looked at Scatty. "Well, maybe not you, Scathach, but who knows what vampires do anyway." Scatty bristled with distaste.

"I'll get back to you tonight. Come to this address at 10." She scribbled down a name and an address on a napkin, put some coins on the table for her coffee, and left.

Joan looked at the napkin. "She seemed nicer than I remembered, a little less standoffish, don't you think?"

Sophie laughed into her cup, and Josh cracked a small smile at her sarcasm. Scatty, on the other hand, looked annoyed.

"I never liked her, and I never will. Where does she want us to meet her?" the petite vampire asked, and Joan held out the napkin.

"Sounds like a nightclub," Sophie said, looking at the address over Sophie's shoulder.

"Probably because it is," Joan said, looking at the map they'd been given by the waitress. "Goodness, things change so much in a few decades. It's been, what, a hundred years since we last came to New Zealand?" She grinned. "Can't believe they got rid of all of those old taverns and such. They really added character to the area."

Scatty shook her head but smiled at her old friend's humour.

The hours passed until it was time to meet Virginia again. They had all done some scouting, and had found a wonderful little shop that gave them some very useful tools and information. When they had reached the meeting place, which did indeed turn out to be a nightclub, they were allowed in, though with a strange look.

They were able to find Virginia after only a few minutes; she was in a private section of the club surrounded by men. When she saw them, she waved the men off and motioned for them to sit beside her and the man next to her.

"You know Billy, of course," she said, gesturing to him. Billy the Kid nodded at the four of them as they sat.

"Scathach, Joan, Sophie, it's been a while. And Marethyu, it's been even longer," he said, smirking slightly.

"What are you doing here?" Sophie asked.

Virginia smiled. "He owns the boat you'd like to borrow, actually."

"It's a step down from my Thunderbird, 'course, but it goes like a dream," he said with a laugh.

Scatty, annoyed by the small talk, spoke at that moment. "What's your answer then, because if it's no there's no reason for us to be wasting our time here."

Billy smiled at her. "Of course the answer is yes, but on one condition; we get to join your little crusade."

Joan, seeing Josh and Scatty's doubtful expressions, spoke up. "I don't see why not, it's always handy to have more immortals around if they're all working towards the same cause. Plus, the more the merrier, right?" Joan asked with a laugh.

Sophie smiled and put a hand on her brother's arm. "Our answer is also yes. I apologize for our dear vampire friend and Death over here," Sophie said jokingly, elbowing Josh lightly to make him smile at his sister.

"Fantastic! Meet us at the boat at 7:27, sharp, and don't draw attention to yourselves. We leave at 7:33, so be ready," Virginia instructed, and with a nod Joan, Scatty, Sophie, and Josh all stood.

"Until tomorrow," Josh said, speaking for the first time.

Virginia smiled at him and raised her glass in their direction. "Until tomorrow."

A/N: Hello! I wanted to get this done before I had to start studying for my exams so… ta da! Hope you enjoyed it; I'm working on another chapter already. Cheers!

~ nerdy