VEE

Seth sleeps on the sofa, and I sleep with Joss.

Following our sex in his study, I'm calmer around Joss, and the one I spent time with eating cake and walking reappears, but he also spends the night reminding me again and again the rawer Joss beneath. The natural comfort between us returns, and I fall asleep exhausted in his arms, his playful banter echoing in my ears as he strokes my face.

He's not around the next morning, and within minutes, sleepiness snaps back to awareness. What will happen today when we speak to Seth? Xander's quest for answers won't allow him to leave this house before Seth gives them.

Stealthily I head downstairs, listening for voices, and only hear Joss's and Xander's in the kitchen.

"Ah, great, I didn't need to take the long walk upstairs with your coffee." Joss smiles and holds out a steaming mug as I walk into the room. "Made using your coffee machine, of course."

I gratefully take the mug and circle it in both hands. Joss crosses and places a kiss on my forehead as he runs the back of his hand down my cheek. "Okay?"

I nod, and glance at Xander who gives a slight smile and shakes his head.

"I'm fine. Where's Seth?"

Xander points towards the lounge with his mug. "Sleeping. Still." He yawns. "I could do with some sleep too. Long night."

"Did you sit up and watch Seth all night?" I ask. "Seriously? The guy's injured and terrified, I doubt he'll go anywhere."

"Sure. Just like the other day when he disappeared because we left him." Xander sips and watches me over the top of his mug. "Remember what happened when we were away?"

My heart skips at the double meaning to his question. He hasn't referred to what happened in the hotel room, since our anger spilt over into crazy sex. His attitude towards me has softened, but the walls have definitely rebuilt.

"When someone murdered his friend?" I reply. "Is that what you're referring to?"

Hi studies me intently. "Yes, Vee. That’s what I’m referring to."

Xander often stands in this spot in the kitchen, which allows him the best view between the two rooms, and cranes his head to watch Seth. "I hope he's ready for some questions."

I set down my mug and pull open a kitchen drawer. I stashed a few personal supplies in here when I moved from my flat, including painkillers. The guys don't seem to need them, another example why I want rid of my human side, but Seth must do considering the wound on his arm.

Xander and Joss watch as I fill a glass with water. "What? I'm taking this to Seth."

Xander nods. "Yeah, maybe you should speak to him first. Reassure him I'm not about to hurt him. But if I find out he's bullshitting us in any way, he's in trouble."

"I think between us, me and Vee can detect if he's lying or how he's feeling."

"I heard you make a great team." Xander's mouth twitches in amusement.

Heat fills my cheeks, and I curse myself for allowing Xander to embarrass me with the idea he could've walked in.

"Did you want something when you were looking for me last night?" asks Joss.

"Just a chat, but you were distracted."

I ignore his pointed comment. "Maybe you could have that chat now.” I head to the kitchen doorway. "Now Joss isn't distracted."

Despite my new ability to read people, sometimes it's impossible to tell how Xander feels. Can Joss? Xander's ambivalence to what happened in the hotel room is a relief because I worried what happened would cause more issues between us. I've a long way to go before he allows himself to fully accept my role.

Seth's asleep beneath a blue blanket in the darkened room. I open the curtains to a dull November day and stare in dismay at the rain clouds. Dreary weather equals dreary moods. I hate winter, but not only the cold. The sun rarely appears for months, leaving behind the autumn decay for a dark winter. Maybe a trip overseas with the guys would help.

Although god knows what I might come across over there.

Seth shifts on the sofa behind me. He takes his glasses from the coffee table and sits, immediately smoothing his hair. He winces as he moves his arm.

"I'm glad I saw you first when I woke up," he says in a hoarse voice, then clears his throat. "Though I'm worried about overstaying my welcome."

I hand him the water and painkillers. "Thought you might like these."

As Seth swallows the tablets, I sit on the nearby armchair. "What happened to Casey?" I blurt.

He straightens and stares at the glass. "I'd rather talk about that with your friends around. I don't want to tell the story twice."

"Okay."

"Are they around?"

"Xander and Joss are."

Seth immediately stands and brushes at his clothes. He peers down at his wounded arm. "I should thank them all for helping me."

"I think they'll expect help and answers in return."

"I'll help because I really need theirs."

I only know Seth from online, or the few times we met, and I'm cautious. I've never picked up lies from him, and his voracious need to uncover truth matches the one I had until a short time ago, but Xander's right about the question marks over him.

I chew my lip, desperate to hear his answers.

Who killed Casey?

And was he there when it happened?

"Can I ask you something?" he whispers.

"Sure."

"The guy. Did I see you...” he swallow. "Did you kill him? Was I hallucinating? My head is fucked and I can hardly remember what happened the last twenty-four hours." Seth clears his throat. "But when he held me against the tree outside his eyes looked bright red and he looked inhuman. I thought it was a joke and somebody trying to scare me, but now I don't know what to believe."

I search for the right words to respond with as Seth drinks, holding the glass in a shaking hand. "No. But the truth is more frightening than you think, Seth."

"More frightening than people wanting to murder every friend I have?"

I meet his eyes with a silent yes, and he drops his gaze again as he finishes the water.

"Okay." Seth eyes the kitchen doorways as if he's headed for a painful interrogation process. "Let's do this."