The buffeting wind drowning out any other noise, making talking impossible. Not that they were talking. Milena stared at her hand, watching the bandage Fredrick had retrieved from the trunk slowly darken.

What's happening to me? Her Grimm had been getting harder to control yes but it had never forcibly taken actions outside of combat scenarios. It had never struck out without her permission. Even now, Milena whispered to herself, even after the fact all I can feel is relieved, grateful… joyful. She could feel Fredrick's heavy eyes even as he drove, carefully monitoring her movements like she was some kind of spook animal, like he expected her hands to reach for his throat.

By the time they reached their hotel, she half expected herself to as well.

"Is there a reason that we didn't double back instead of just heading straight here?" Her Grimm was strangely silent, settled and silent as the grave. It gave her chills and she was exhausted.

Fredrick looked worn as well, rubbing a hand across his tired eyes. "The others have already arrived and set up camp. We'll debrief before we settle in for the night."

Milena nodded, reaching with her left hand to unlock the door, opening it to the cool night air. At least my sword arm is still intact. The girl still had a hard time believing she had so blatantly lost control but the blood stained bandage grounded her firmly to reality. She flinched when the car door shut behind her, the shattered glass tickingas it hit the ground. I can't do that again. I need to get back my control.

The darkness curled in her belly, satisfaction purring through it. You never had control.

She jumped when Fredrick's hand lightly touched her should, wincing when her hands automatically curled into fists. They both immediately apologized, their voices jumbled before stopping awkwardly. Taking her jacket off, Milena wrapped it over her bandage before setting off to the door, staring at anything but her Father's concerned gaze as she pushed past him.

In the lobby, the familiar form of Renata paced. She's so different from her sister. Milena was struck by the polarity between Renata and Magda every time she saw them. Magda was burning where Renata was freezing; Magda was soft where Renata was ruthless. Even now, Milena knew that Renata's cool gaze was the warmest reception she would receive from the younger sibling other than a stiff hug. The only person Renata actually acted her age with was Ruiss, a match made somewhere in the depths of hell.

Milena reached out to accept her hotel key from Renata's hand before she chocked back a yelp as the girl's other hand flashed out, grasping her jacket clothed fist. Renata's flawless ebony skinned face was free of emotions as she unwrapped the material, studying the cut skin beneath. "Who did this to you?"

For once Milena was glad the answer was easy. "I did it to myself."

Renata's dark eyes fixed themselves on Milena's, seeing the truth there as she re-wrapped the wound. She didn't stand for abuse of any kind on a Grimm, even if it was from another. Renata was unyielding in her judgments and about as likely to make compromises as the sky was to fall. When Renata hunted she finished the job, no matter the cost. "You're room is on the ground level, next to a fire escape."

Milena blinked but Renata was already turning away, handing Fredrick his own key. He glanced around once, frowning. "Where is everyone? I was going to debrief."

"They've already turned in for tonight. We usually meet in the mornings to debrief." Renata explained. "I was about to turn in myself if that's okay."

"That's fine." Fredrick sighed in reply. "We've all had a long day."

After giving them both a nod, Renata walked down the hall, opening the door to the staircase before disappearing from sight.

"Night Hunts." Fredrick called, already walked toward his door.

He listened. He had been the one to assign the rooms, he remembered what she had said from before.

"I'm sorry."

Milena hated how soft her voice sounded, how fragile she knew herself to be, how her father paused before his yawning door. He didn't turn around, instead shaking his head at the cheap wood. "Believe me when I say it isn't your fault Milena. I'll see you tomorrow."

He didn't see her nod before shutting his door.

Milena rubbed her hand across her forehead, feeling a headache that had become a constant in her life throb into existence. Sleep- I just need to get more sleep. Her heart sank when she saw the door slightly ajar, sinking further when she smelled the sickening scent of nicotine and ash. Even before she saw the massive body lounging in the single office chair of the small room, Milena knew who had opened her door.

Ficke took another drag of his cigar, the smoke curling around his unsmiling face. This was the man Milena knew, the man he had successful hidden from everyone else. "How goes the hunt Blue?" He asked it out of practice, the light tone at odds with his expression. He gestured vaguely toward her wrapped hand. "Did you let another wesen go or did you finally do what you're suppose too?"

Milena stayed silent, hand clutched tightly to her chest as he stood, throwing the smoking death to the floor as he stalked forward. He stopped only when a knife met his chest, the fabric of his shirt tearing when he swayed. The girl wrinkled her nose as his breath washed over her, laced with the smell of scotch.

"Must we do this every time you drink?" Her voice was cold, matching the black eyes staring into his brown. "This is my room, you need to leave."

He drew a sharp breath when she pushed the knife in a little deeper. She had seen the thought that threatened her safety. Ficke was massive, stronger than anyone Milena knew and stronger than most wesen but she pushed her advantage. She was readily armed and he was drunk. She was quick and he was barely standing. They both knew who would win and how easy it would be to erase the evidence. They also knew the reason Milena wouldn't kill him.

He smiled and swayed, almost impaling himself on her weapon. When Milena instinctively pulled back, she knew it was a mistake. He lunged forward and by God's grace above, she kept her footing. The large hands slipped off her shoulders before he got his full weight into them as she slipped away, knife flashing in the lamplight as instinct took over. There was a threat and she had been trained to kill if her life was on the line. Milena felt the darkness surge beneath her skin but she kept the Grimm at bay. She would never forgive herself if she lost control again. And her Aunt would never forgive Milena for killing her eldest child.

Ficke bellowed in pain, hand clapping to his eye as she spun around, ready stance prepared but no longer needed. The man leaned heavily into the desk next to the door, eyes squinting at her, anger shaking his body.

The Grimm under her skin writhed, and her arm shot forward. Before she could close her hand, stop the momentum, the blade impaled itself directly knew to his bleeding face, opening another long cut across his cheek, beneath his already bloodied eye. Both Grimms started in surprise, watching the blade in equal disbelief. Milena was surprised her voice was steady. "You need to leave."

After a slight hesitation, he complied and exited her room, blood weeping from his cuts, hand still clasped over his eye. Milena closed the door quickly and threw the deadbolt after him. Only then did she allow her body to start shaking; the fear making her quake. This hadn't been the first incident and Milena knew it wouldn't be the last. Someday he will come sober or I wont move fast enough to stop him. She didn't want to think about those outcomes as she walked forward, retching the knife from the wall. Milena twisted it, watching her reflection play on the small surface, the red fluid already drying.

I almost killed him. Milena had barely managed to divert the knife's path. The blade meant to go through his eye instead sliced across his cheek, the death that would have solved so many problems for her instead was spared. He doesn't even know how close he came to death. Running a callused hand over the edge of the blade, er hands shook as she watched her brown eyes look black in the object, heavy circles underneath them.

If I can barely control my Grimm when I'm sitting in the car, how the hell am I going to keep from killing people when my life is threatened.

She ignored the small part of herself that told her she shouldn't have spared the man, the part that lusted after his blood. I'm not a monster. She repeated to herself firmly, angrily wiping the blade with her shirt before replacing it in her jacket. With the tidal wave of darkness curled warmly in her stomach as her head pounded, Milena didn't need Ruiss to tell her it sounded like a lie.

X

Quiet. Stay Quiet.

Mum had left hours ago, the hug she had given Milena before she ordered her to bed seemed like a small flame of warmth to the freezing silence that had settled over the small house. New house, new place, new day.

The shouts that sounded minutes before, from people mummy had said would keep her safe ago silenced by the small wack Milena remembered when mummy had left her practice with a gun with the stick on the end of it.

Milena watched from underneath the thin mattress in the new house, the old wood creaking in the hallway as someone moved without caring about the noise.

That isn't mummy.

Whoever was moving outside the thin wood, behind the door to her new room, didn't move like a Grimm, didn't walk with the silent-smooth walk mummy had taught her.

Milena pushed herself further into the corner, pressing her feet against the wall, her breathing too loud, rasping on the carped floor.

Quiet. Quiet.

The creaking paused.

Milena held her breath, heart pulsing, fighting-

Another creak, past her door, made her jump

Her foot colliding with something she couldn't see in the dim light, throwing it into the wall with a clatter.

She froze, her breath shuddering.

Nothing.

She let out a breath. They didn't hear. Safe, safe-

Slowly, so slowly, the door to her room swung forward, the creak from the hinges was the scream Milena forced herself to silence.

Boots- huge black boots- Mummy doesn't wear boots like that- entered her small view, the bed above her hiding their face.

Milena held her breath, pushing herself against the wall, lungs screaming for air, body screaming at her run.

She was quiet, shaking.

Whoever was at the door wasn't her mum, wasn't safe

quietquietquietquiet

The silent house, the silent man, her silent breath

But those footsteps-

the black boots-

striking the ground-

in the room-

coming-

Closer.

Closer.

"Milena!"

The Grimm jerked from her pillow, panting. Her pistol was already loaded, aimed at the door as another fist banged on the thin wood. The light bleeding in from the curtains signified daylight and Milena groaned, laying back in the warm sheets. "What is it Renata?"

"Meeting at the breakfast hall in ten. Get moving if you want breakfast."

Milena groaned again at the blessed silence that followed, her head pounding. I've never had a headache that persists like this one. She absently rubbed a hand across her forehead. Maybe I should ask Brie for some thing.

It took her less than a minute to get dressed, shrugging on her clothes from the day before. She didn't bother making the bed as she left, yawning in the cool morning air. By the time she made it to the dining room the pounding in her skull had dissipated slightly, allowing her to look around without wincing in pain at the light.

Renata didn't look pleased or displeased as Milena sank in a seat beside her, nodding once before returning to her plate of fruit. Fredrick looked rightfully tired, pushing around his fork on an already empty plate as he studied the surrounding area of the dining hall. It was nice, high arching ceilings that gave made the room seem bigger than it actually was, small tables ringing a central one and painted white with blue trim. The hotel probably used this as a conference center as well. Milena was just happy that Fredrick had picked a table away from the center, the chairs facing the doorway, backs to the wall.

Milena frowned. "Where is everyone?" She didn't miss Renata's grimace of displeasure at the question or Fredrick's sharp glance at the younger Grimm.

"Ficke should be coming down shortly," Fredrick answered, "Silas along with Brie have returned to the compound to help Magda and Christuf collect our supplies for the transfer to Portland."

"We have another wearhouse then?"

"A nearby one. We're planning on staying here for a few more weeks and scouting the area."

That is fine. Milena watched Renata, noting her heavy stare, the now untouched food. And there is nothing there that would upset Renata. The realization hit her she silently cursed herself for being so thick. "Where's Ruisseau?"

Her father sighed, leaning back in his chair even as Milena straightened her spine. "We found a note on her nightstand," Fredrick began.

The Grimm automatically felt her blood chill. "Was is a ransom note? Why haven't we mobilized the others?"

He waved a dismissive hand, irritation crawling over his cheeks. "It was written by her own hand. Ruiss wishes to hunt alone and told us not to look for her."

Milena felt her head throb again and met Renata's gaze, seeing the same mixture of anger, embarrassment and worry swimming in their depths as it did in her own.

"How are we handling this Fredrick?"

"We're not handling anything," that dangerous, irrational anger was back in his voice, "if Ruiss wishes to make it alone, she will have to make it alone."

Despite her resolve not to let her Grimm a fraction of control, Milena didn't really mind that her hand slammed against the table. All three of the Grimms jumped at the sudden sound, Renata and Fredrick reaching for their weapons as Milena forced herself not to cry out; her injury protested the treatment. "We are not abandoning one of our own." She hissed instead. "Not after everything that has happened."

"Ruiss decided to leave our group Milena, not the other way around." Fredrick was pissed, in one of the rages that told Milena he wasn't inclined to do anything.

"That does not mean we abandon one of our own. We're better than that."

"I will not allow you to look for someone who doesn't want to be found. If Ruiss wanted to disappear, I have no doubt that she already has."

To Milena's astonishment, Renata nodded in agreement. She seemed reluctant to do so but she still agreed with Fredrick. "The best way we can find Ruiss would be to find the one she hunts."

Milena was silent for a moment, allowing the wheels to turn in her head, trying to see the angle Renata was playing. "If we want to find a well known wesen trying to hide in an unfamiliar city, we should stake out places that wesen gather." She leaned back in her chair, trying to ignore the pulse of pain from her hand that was echoed with her headache. "Wesen help one another and band together sometimes."

Her cousin nodded, picking up her fork to begin eating again. "We as Grimms also do that."

The Grimm almost smiled at her teammate as it finally clicked. "And we happen to know that there is a Grimm nearby that knows the area well. It would be in our best interest to contact him and see if he could be persuaded to help."

Both of the girls looked at Fredrick, only to find him staring at something beyond them, which happened to be a someone. Ficke sat heavily at the table, already having grabbed a plate from the free 'continental' breakfast and began eating.

Fredrick's frown persisted. "What the hell happened to you?"

Milena had to stop the savage smile that almost spread across her cheeks, shoving away the warm pleasure at the sight of Ficke's face. The cuts she had given him last night had swollen, his right eye almost completely shut, the cut across his cheek red and puffy. She had forgotten she had coated her knife with a subtle poison, as was her common practice. It was not lethal, not unless she cut him with another one of her blades and the fluids compounded in his bloodstream. If I have to cut him again, he deserves it.

Ficke didn't meet his eyes, eating his food. "I've kept a low profile. It's not important."

Fredrick stared at him until the large man fidgeted before releasing a small sigh and turning back to the girls. "You two are right, we need to scout out the area around Portland. We also need to find where the wesen populace abides- that is our next step to finding the Portland Grimm. I want you two to comb the city. Ficke and I will be monitoring the area and gathering information about wesen who are passed through. If the Royal is looking for a wesen, it will be in our best interest to find him first. The others are going to arrive around noon and will secure our accommodations for tonight."

New day, new place, new room. Milena nodded with Renata and Ficke, staring at the food line up as her stomach reminded her she hadn't eaten since lunch the day before. She looked back at Fredrick, smiling sheepishly. He laughed, a surprising sound that had her reaching for her pistol on instinct before he said, "You can go eat Hunts. We're heading out in about an hour after the window is fixed."

"What happened to the window?" Ficke asked.

Milena stood and walking away before Fredrick could answer the question.