VEE

Another guy and a girl were in the upstairs rooms Xander and Ewan went into. Add in the guy from the sofa and girl on the bed, plus the one who tried to run, and we have five witnesses to the demons' deaths, or aftermath. The guys are drugged, and the girls are high too. Caused by magic or the white powder on the table? All are freaked out, understandably, since they just witnessed multiple murders, and I watch the Four, curious how they deal with this situation.

Judging by their handling, this isn't an uncommon state of affairs for them. Xander gathers the group into the lounge room and frightens the group into silence, of course. He informs them we’re undercover detectives on a drug sting and threatens to arrest them for possession, waving around a bag containing enough white powder to land them a hefty prison sentence. He impresses on them that the gang were dangerous and would've killed everybody. I’m as caught up in his whirlwind explanation as they are; his authority’s clear.

Finally, he warns them police backup is on the way and that if they don't leave, they'll be taken in for questioning. Sofa guy doesn't need telling twice and stumbles out of the house in seconds.

"I bet he already has a criminal record," mutters Heath.

Joss is gentler. He sits beside the girls and they look back at him, their swimming eyes focusing on his face. I don't hear his words to them, but they relax and nod, tears drying as they sink back on the seats.

I turn away and walk into the kitchen, towards the open back door where I sit on the step and stare across the yard towards the garages opposite. Too many lies around me. If I open my big mouth, things could become complicated.

Heath perches beside me and squeezes my leg. "You okay?"

"Think so. Not really. I don't know." My voice catches.

"Vee..." He wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. "What happened?"

How do I explain this? "I think I’m War and Death too."

"Huh?" He pulls away. "What do you mean?"

I hold out my hands, convinced I'll find evidence, but there's none but a faint glow. "When I fought the incubus, I was strong, stronger than usual. And angrier. My light turned into something else. I don't know... something like electricity came from my fingers. Hit the demon in the chest and killed him, the way I saw you at Portia’s. That’s your power, isn’t it? And the strength is Xander’s?"

"Holy crap," he says in a low voice. "But I wasn't there."

"I don't think you need to be," I whisper. "This gets weirder. The girl... I calmed her down when she was ready to scream the house down. Like Joss does." Heath touches my face, and I curl my fingers around his. "Do you think I am? Am I made up of all of you?"

Heath kisses my forehead. "No, you’re Verity, and you’re Truth. But I think we just discovered what powers you have."

I swallow. "All of them?"

"Looks that way. Remind me never to piss you off." I crack a smile at his attempt to lighten my situation. "This is a game changer, Vee. How do you feel about it?"

"Not sure. Not scared, more confused." I rest my head against his shoulder, and focus on my breathing, on his scent. His comfort doesn't match Joss's, but I've kissed and touched this man; felt his care for me before. "Relieved that I can match you. I think you guys will need to believe I can look after myself now."

"I’m bloody sure you can. Did you choose to use the powers when you were upstairs?"

"Not sure. I was angry when I saw the girl on the bed. I think that triggered War’s power against the incubus. Then my own, but instead of amplifying one of you it revealed the Truth. He didn’t die which triggered the need to use the Death inside me. And then after... I starved the girl of her fear. Famine."

"And Pestilence?"

I chew on the inside of my mouth. "No. Not this time, anyway."

"Weird. Well, maybe the more you use the powers, the easier they'll come."

I laugh softly. "You make it sound as if I'm learning a new sport."

"It kind of is."

"You see killing as sport?"

Heath shrugs. "No. Well, sometimes. Thrill of the chase and all that."

Somebody touches my hair, and I tip my head backwards to look at Joss. "How are you feeling, Vee?"

"Overwhelmed."

"Understandable." He sits the otherside of me and places a hand on my leg. "Ready for a drink?"

"A drink?"

"The pub? These guys promised me a beer."

How can they switch off from this as easily? They just freaking chased and killed demons, dealt with horrified victims, and all they can think about is a trip to the pub?

I shift out of Heath’s embrace. "No, thanks. I'd rather go home. In fact, I'd like to get out of here before the police arrive."

"We are the police, remember?" says Joss.

"The real police," I say in a low voice. "Somebody must've called them."

"Maybe, maybe not. People don't like to interfere," Heath says.

"When women are screaming?" Heath and Joss exchange a look, and although I understand people's "don't interfere" attitude, morally that's wrong. The human race is disappointing.

No, surely somebody must’ve called the police.

"I'll take her. You guys help Xander clear up." Again, I hear those words clear up, this time spoken by Ewan. He walks over and sits on a nearby kitchen chair, resting elbows on his knees and hands beneath his chin.

"You just want an excuse to be alone with Vee again," says Joss. "Impress her with a ride." He pauses and sniggers. "On your bike."

Ewan scowls, and I sigh and shift away from Heath and Joss. "Tomorrow, I want to talk to you all about something."

"Sounds interesting," says Joss.

"Just a few concerns. Some ground rules."

"Ooh, Vee has rules for us now she’s powerful. Can't wait to see what Xan-the-man has to say about that." Joss rubs his hands together. "Love it!"

"I can take you home if you want?" asks Heath.

"No dude, you have the SUV and are designated driver. We won't all fit on Ewan's bike if he’s the one who stays!"

I suppress a laugh. "He's right. Is that okay with you?" I ask Ewan. "I'll go to the pub if you really want to as well."

"No, Vee." He's firm, the gruff Ewan; the only one I experience since the night at the club. "You want to go, I’ll take you."

"You'll take care of her, yeah?" asks Joss and looks between us, then wags a finger at Ewan. "But not too well."

"Nah, they'll probably geek out with their laptops," says Heath.

I attempt a smile but I'm still shaking like jelly after the last half an hour. The evening's events catch up with the old, human Vee, as she attempts to reconcile this new one.

Heath stands. "I half wish you hadn't come with us tonight."

"I told you, I had to. I feel better now I've killed him—demons. I feel like I can do what I'm created for."

The following silence fills with low voices from the other room and nobody looks at me. Created. Well, I was, but how?

"You're still a human girl, Vee."

"No. I'm the Fifth," I say through gritted teeth. "And I'm your equal."

"I don't think you are." I spin around where Xander stands in the doorway between the kitchen and the lounge, arms holding onto the top of the frame. His T-shirt rides up, revealing rock hard abs I'm unfortunately drawn to stare at. He's lost some of the anger that blackened his face into something frightening, but stress surrounds him still.

My ebbing anger flows again, as I ready a stream of unpleasant words to throw at him.

A muscle twitches in his cheek, the amusement grating further. "I mean, I think you're superior to us, Vee."

"Oh." The word rushes out with a surprised breath, but of course, he has to back his words up with something negative.

"But right now, you're new to us. We need to figure all this out. Tonight was step one. Until then, you have to accept we're going to treat you differently to the way we treat each other." He pauses. "You’re too human still."

A stand-off ensues as I hold his look, refusing to back down into the weakness he seems to think underpins me. I stride towards him so my next words aren't audible to the others. He drops his hands from the frame as I approach.

"It's not my fault you're intimidated by me," I whisper. His features remain unmoved. "Or threatened? Is that it?"

Xander's focus stays on my face, and I'm aware in the silence the other guys must watch us. He runs his tongue along his bottom lip. "Neither."

I don't say the next word, but my raised brow replies: you're a liar. "Wait until I give you all the details about what happened to me tonight. Then you might change your tune."

I turn back to the curious looks from Heath, Joss, and Ewan.

"Can we leave now, Ewan?"