June woke to someone touching her knuckles. She gasped, bolting upright to smash her palm against the attacker.

"Cheers," Chase grumbled, his hair cascading over his forehead as he bent his head. Already his cheek began to blossom a dark pink.

June felt a flood of warmth settle into her face, and her breath hitched in her throat. Chase clicked his jaw and then turned to regard her; his pupils slitted like a cats. His lips tilted. "You pack a punch for someone so small."

June stared at him, then at the place where he sat on her bed, then on his resting hand beside hers. She pressed herself further into her propped pillow, attempting to shift through her thoughts. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light, recognising the oak tree in the fireplace and the ivy crawling up the walls.

"I'm back at The Aviary," she said aloud. She knew she ought to say sorry for smacking Chase, but her mind focused on the more important matter.

"Obviously," Chase offered.

June stifled a frown, her fingers automatically reaching up to her neck, feeling nothing but the rough scar the Eurodian demon had given her.

Chase watched the movement, his gaze thoughtful. "A Decadian demon," Chase said in a less humorous tone. "Nasty things. Smell like Pearls homemade casserole."

June felt herself stiffen at the thought of the rotting demon that had nearly stolen her eyes. And her life. "I thought demons don't kill people, only steal souls?"
Chase shook his head at this, ruffling his hair further. "They steal souls, yes, but I've already told you demons can steal every part of you, including your flesh." His nose crinkled. "Decadian demons like to steal the flesh of their victims and leave them to die a painful death. Although by the sounds of that, that demon was fonder of your eyes than your skin." He nodded towards her arm, at the place where the demons suction cups had attached to her. June glanced down to it, shocked to find there were no longer circular marks. "Decadiandemons are different to most demons. Usually, any sort of demon can steal a part of your soul without having to actually snatch it. A Eurodian demon can take your eye colour without yanking it from your eye sockets. Understood?" June blinked, swallowing against the bile that built in the back of her throat at the gruesome thought.

Chase took this as a good sign. "But Decadian demons physically rip flesh from people," Chase frowned. "And eyes apparently." His golden eyes danced back to her exposed arm. "They use their tentacles to suction the flesh off your bones, muscles and all. You're lucky it hadn't latched onto you further."

June felt her teeth slice into her bottom lip. She rubbed at her arm, as if trying to rid of the tentacles traces.

"I don't understand," she said softly. "How did it find me? Why would it want me?"

Chase furrowed his brows. "That's what the rest of us want to know. It's not like a demon at all to seek a specific person unless they recognise a Soulchaser. They go after us immediately." His gaze slid back to hers, settling on her, as light as a feather. "But you, they have no reason to hunt you."

June felt her lips fall into a hard frown at the thought. Chase rose from her bed, a sun beam from the open window falling across his blonde hair to dye it amber.

June tried to meet his gaze but he was glancing towards the door. "Why did you come back for me?"

Chase scoffed at this, meeting her question with a fiery smirk. "I didn't come back for you," he sniffed indignantly. "I was merely following you."
June wasn't sure how to feel about this statement. "Why?"

Chase shrugged dismissively. "I wanted to be on the safe side. I wasn't sure if you were going to go around telling everybody about us."

"That's a lie," Ivy said from the doorway. June hadn't even realised she was there until she emerged.

She wore a dark corset that cut out at her hips, exposing pale skin rippling with scars. Black, leather jeans draped with weapons matched the way her hair was twisted into two, long braids. "He just wanted to check up on you."

Chase opened his mouth to shoot a sharp retort but suddenly Lee was in the doorway too, moving to stand beside his sister. He nodded towards June in almost a greeting.

June looked away from his green eyes.

"And lucky he did otherwise you'd be nothing but a sack of bones at this point."

June swallowed and looked back to Chase. He was studying her again, as he usually did. She wasn't sure what he was looking for, but whatever it was, he clearly didn't find it because he then regarded Lee with an arched brow.

"Not sugarcoating anymore Lester? I thought you wanted us to be soft on the girl."

Lee shrugged, matching the same boyish attitude Chase had given her before. "She proved herself worthy if she managed to hold off a Decadian demon for more than a minute," he nodded towards Ivy. "We all know how dangerous they are."

June wasn't sure if holding off a demon with a hockey stick was worth anything, but she refrained from telling the Soulchasers the details.

June finally met Lee's gaze, ignoring the way his green eyes shifted to her. "I thought you didn't want me coming back."

Lee glanced at his sister, then Chase. A silent message passed between them. June felt a slight trace of weariness stab at her heart before Lee spoke. "That was a test. I wanted to see if your heart truly lies with us. I could tell you didn't want to leave The Aviary before we reached the Crossing."

Ivy rolled her eyes. "It would've been nice to know you weren't just being a complete ass at the time."

Chase chuckled. "That's usually my job."

Ivy shot him a look. Lee ignored them both. "Any uni would've ran screaming as soon as they entered this place, but I could see the way you wanted to explore the castle, especially in the castle gardens. It was clear then that you would find your way back to us."

Chase snorted at this. "She didn't really find her back to us. More like had to be rescued—"

"Enough," Ivy growled, before striding forwards to June's bed. June felt slightly self-conscious in her current state. Ivy always looked so perfect. Not a single hair stood out of place, whereas June was sure her hair was knotted in a brown mess. "What's important is that she's here and alive, despite Acacia's misgivings."

"Thanks to me," Chase put in but was only offered another dark look from Lee.

Lee crossed his arms over themselves, the muscles lining his arms flexing at the movement. June noticed he was wearing the same dark uniform as his sister, only his was long sleeved and his shirt tucked into his belted jeans. "I know you've just woken June, but we need to know what happened." His green eyes slid to Chase. "Chase could only describe so much."

Chase nodded swiftly, the amusement falling off his face. "I was nearing the staircase when I heard the window explode. By the time I dealt with the first demon downstairs, the second was already on top of you."
June felt her eyes widen, her heart rising to her throat. "There were more?" Instantly her thoughts flooded towards her mother who had been in the living room. Suddenly she bolted upright, clutching at the sheets. Ivy flinched backwards, and Chase's pupils narrowed onto her.

"Sebastian, my mother. They were downstairs." She whirled to Chase. "Are they okay?"

Chase gave her a long, hard look, his golden eyes hard to read. Slowly, he let out a sigh. "I don't know," he admitted. "I didn't see them."

June felt her heart squeeze, and the breath that passed through her lungs seemed to chill around the air. Did Sebastian and Iris get away safely? Chase hadn't seen anything but that doesn't mean much. There were several rooms the demons could be hiding in.

She stifled a small sob. She had been the one that sent Sebastian downstairs. His death would be on her hands. If she had just let him stay upstairs, Chase could've saved both of them and everything would be alright.

"June, they could've gotten away," Ivy said softly but June squeezed her eyes shut, wrapping her head around the prospect that the two people she loved most could be dead. First her father, then Rhydian and now Iris and Sebastian.

She couldn't stop the sharp piercing pain that hacked at her heart. Forcing the tears back, she opened her eyes to meet Chase's.

"Was it only one demon downstairs?" June asked, ignoring the way her voice shook.

Chase nodded. "Yes, another Decadian demon. The front door was open when I got there. I assumed whoever was inside managed to escape."

June let out another breath, blinking a few times to clear her breath. They could be alive. Please, June pleaded internally. Let them be okay.
"My mother warned me that something might be coming," June ventured, careful not to let another sob rake her body. "She told me to shut all the windows."

The Soulchasers exchanged various glances. Ivy surprised, Lee curious and Chase passive.

"She also admitted to knowing about Wildblood," June said.

Instantly the atmosphere changed in the room. Lee took a step forwards, indicating for Ivy to close the door. She did obediently.

June remembered what Pearl had said to Acacia during their meetings. Nothing is a secret in The Aviary.

"What did she say?" Lee asked.

"I mentioned something about her Mark and clarified she had a pure soul. She said she was going to tell me about my bloodline but it wasn't safe—" June swallowed. "She knew what Eurodian demons were."

Chase exchanged a long look with Lee.

"Then she must be one of us. If she has a Mark and knew of the demons, she's a Soulchaser."
June shook her head at this, the movement making her neck cramp. She winced, then under the three pairs of eyes, she swallowed against the ache. "But I would've known," she insisted. "My mother doesn't hide anything from me. This is too big of a secret to keep hidden."
"Anything can be hidden from a person regardless of the situation," Chase said, his voice hard. "Just because she didn't tell you she was a Soulchaser doesn't mean she's just a uni."

"Chase is right," Ivy said from the doorway.

"Surprisingly," Lee said with a taunt.

"I'm always right—" Chase interjected however Ivy quickly continued.

"Everyone has secrets, but the more important thing is knowing why she hid it from you. And why she hid you from this world."

June met Ivy's watchful gaze. "She said she was protecting me."

"She's doing a pretty poor job of that," Chase sniffed from beside June.

June shot him a lingering look and he held his hands up defensively. "I'm just saying, I've had to rescue you twice now."
"And rightfully so," Lee said, his arms still crossed and clenched so his knuckles grew white. "You are one of us now June. You can't go back to your world, it's too dangerous."
June felt realisation kick him, followed by a wave of homesickness. A part of her wanted to argue, another part saw where Lee was coming from.

No where was safe for her anymore. But she couldn't leave Sebastian and Iris behind. She needed to make sure they were okay, even if it meant going to the Crossing unseen.

"Does your mother share the same last name as you?" Lee asked, his face tight with thought.

June nodded. "Yes, both of us are Casadans."

"The name isn't familiar," Ivy said from her brothers side. "Acacia may know the name origins though."

"Speaking of," Chase said from beside June. "Has anyone actually told Acacia that June is back?"

All three Soulchasers exchanged blank looks, even Lee looked slightly indignant.

"I did," came a voice from the doorway. June turned to see the girl, Pearl she remembered, with hair the colour of snow.

Chase's eyes narrowed. "Pearl," he drawled. "Long time no see."

Pearl arched an eyebrow. "Don't be silly Chase," she cooed as she strode towards June. "You saw me for an extended period of time last night." Her smile was as foreign as the colour of her eyes.

June wasn't sure why her nails clenched into her palms slightly. Pearl, with her gleaming skin and long, opal nails, was someone who intimidated her. And yet she couldn't shake off the uncomfortable feeling that came from her words.

Chase didn't even hesitate before answering. "By seeing, you mean giving you an earful about the state you left Archer after your training session?"

Ivy cast Pearl a scornful look.

Pearl shrugged both off. "If Archer can't keep up with me, he gets hurt."

"He's only fourteen," Chase growled however Lee had stepped inbetween the two and shot them both long looks.

"We don't have time to bicker. Acacia will be here any minute to interrogate June. I'm not sure about you three," he eyed them all. "But I would rather not be present for the conversation."

Ivy threaded her fingers through the ends of her braids. "I want to hear what Acacia thinks. Maybe she'll know why the demons chose to hunt June."

Pearl's lips twisted into a smirk. "A hunted uni? Sounds more like the demons were under command."

Chase snorted. "I knew you were stupid Pearl but I didn't think you were that ignorant. Demons haven't been under a stable influence for years. They are simple minded creatures; this was just a coincidence."
Pearl's clear eyes narrowed onto Chase. "That the girl was stalked by multiple demons? Demons don't share food Chase. Nor do they care for a uni even if she has a pure soul."

Lee spoke up. "Demons don't form alliances normally but from June's story it seems like her mother knew more to the story. Maybe they were targeting Junes mother, not her."

At this, Ivy shook her head. "If they wanted her, they would've already attacked her."

June swallowed. "They were looking for me."
Pearl glanced in her direction and June could've sworn she shrunk a bit under her catlike gaze. June shifted her gaze in what seemed like submission.

"I don't see anything special about her," Pearl muttered.

Chase rose a questioning eyebrow at this statement but did not question her.

June felt awfully like she was a statue again. Often she felt like an imposter, a stranger to this world. Even if she had Wildblood, a part of her wondered if she would ever belong.

"My mother," June began, her throat tight. "And Sebastian, what do you think happened to them?"
"Probably dead," Chase offered.

June stared at him, her heart erupting in her chest. Ivy rolled her eyes. "They could've gotten away. If they were lucky, they would've found someplace to lie low."

Dead, Junes mind echoed. They couldn't be.

Pearl's gaze slid over to Ivy. "A uni knows of the demons?"

June spoke up. "I didn't tell him; he was there when they attacked me."
Pearl didn't even glance over in June's direction. "June has broken a code if a uni knows about our world."

"June didn't break any code," Lee hissed from across the room. June reverted her attention to him. Something about his tone made it seem like he didn't like the white haired girl. "It was honest, wrong timing for the uni boy to get caught up in the attack. We will erase his memories when we have the opportunity."
June felt her eyes widen. "Erase his memories? Because he saw those Decadian demons?"

Pearl gave her a wicked grin. "We don't want your little uni pet to tell his friends about us. It's better this way."

June turned to Chase, searching his eyes as if hoping there was another option. However the solemn look in his eyes clarified Pearl was right.

"Better not tell mother that," Ivy said. "She'll kill us if she knew a uni saw the demons true form."

June didn't dare tell Ivy her mother had appeared behind her as soon as she spoke. But by the way Ivy stiffened and the room suddenly drifted into silence, June was sure Ivy knew she had been caught.

"How professional of you Ivy," said Acacia. Ivy bowed her head, not even allowing herself to turn to her mother. "Hiding key pieces of information to me is a breach of the code, let alone the amount of mistrust you just entrusted me with by your lack of confrontation." Acacia's dark eyes then fell upon Lee. He met them almost in a challenge, but June could see the way his teeth gritted.

"Lester, as one of the young leaders in the institute, I expected better from you." The pain in Lee's eyes at her words was enough for June to suck in a breath. Clearly, he depended on her praise, and clearly it wasn't often given to him.

Acacia's dark eyes then turned to pin June. She felt rather silly dressed in a see through gown with bed ragged hair while five professional Soulchasers surrounded her.

"June, Pearl explained your abrupt arrival."
Pearl offered a toothy grin.

"It seems as though you were hunted by a set of Decadian demons," Acacia's grim expression flickered over her children. "Although no one had the right of mind to tell me formally, what I managed to pick up on flags major concerns for not only The Aviary but the Eco."

Lee held his head up, a muscle in his jaw jumping. Ivy took the opportunity to cast a weary gaze to Pearl who was inspecting a curved nail.

June wasn't sure what exactly the Eco was, but by the way Acacia phrased it, they – or it – held more of an authority than her.

"Regarding your mother and uni friend, the priority is to find them to ensure their safety. The memories of the uni boy will have to be stolen, however the reasoning behind the demons attack is the matter that most concerns me."

"There were only two Acacia," Chase said, his fingers weighted at his undrawn sword. "It could be poor timing on their behalf."

Lee's eyes flashed. "It is no secret the population of the demons has increased over the past months. Even the four Eurodian demons we dealt with in Newtown was a rare sighting."

"Rare, but still nevertheless uncharacteristic," Acacia said. "Younger, lesser demons are commonly sighted, but Eurodian demons should not be as prevalent as they are currently."

June felt her eyebrows crease in thought. "The demon said something about my pure soul. Would I be more of a target because of it?"

Chase was the first to answer. "Pure souls are uncommon, and demons do particularly love targeting pure uni's, but they would never care enough to physically hunt you."

"I was in Hendra for an Eco meeting this morning," Acacia said, blatantly ignoring Chase's explanation. "A general consensus has been determined among authorities. We are to alert the Warrian ambassadors promptly."

June was confused to find all four Soulchasers share similar shocked expressions.

"A general consensus?" Chase curled his lip. "Of what exactly?"
Ivy narrowed her eyes at her mother. "An unmarked meeting is extreme for June's situation mother."

Even Pearl, who seemed to have a lazy attitude, had stopped from inspecting her nails.

Acacia eyed all of them, her gaze as sharp as daggers. They then fell on June, the way a nail may be hammered into a coffin. Unmoving and permanent.

"June's case is unfortunately not the only. Maliche from Great Britain has informed me a Soulchaser was stalked during a mission and stripped to the bone."
Chase's lips thinned. "That's nothing but the workings of a Decadian demon."

Acacia's words were heavy. "Collectively they stole the boys appearances to shift into him. They then tore him apart, selected a lead demon to represent the boys stolen body. The demon managed to get into the London headquarters in the Soulchasers disguise. The demon was thought to have stolen at least five souls before the London Soulchasers realised it was a demon, not their colleague."

The silence among the Soulchasers was pregnant. June tried to picture the case. It would be as easy as a demon stealing Chase's entire soul and then the disguised demon would be able to walk into The Aviary normally. No one would suspect a thing.

Lee's voice was low. "Impossible," he whispered.

"Demons can't steal an entire appearance, voice, thoughts, mindset and all within a day," Ivy said from his side. "How could the boy's soul be fully stolen, especially if only by a few demons."

Acacia arched a sharp eyebrow. "At no point did I say a few demons hunted the boy."

The four shared confused expressions.

"Nineteen demons hunted the Soulchaser at once."

Chase swore colourfully. Ivy bowed her head and Lee swallowed audibly. Pearl had narrowed her eyes, her jaw clenched.

"Nineteen?" Pearl finally hissed. "Two demons shouldn't even be within a kilometre of each other, let alone nineteen."

"The London Quarters are considering a lock down to ensure the stolen souls from the Soulchasers won't get tracked back. But their admitting's only add to the agreement."

"I still don't understand," Lee was saying, his head shaking swiftly. "Demons never kill unless they are Decadian demons. Why would they do this?"

Acacia's rose a bony hand to touch the pearls draped across her neck. June saw the first, tiny flicker of fear in her eyes, as quick as a spark. It was at this moment when she was sure the meaning behind the demons hunting her was something bigger. Something greater than any of them had ever expected.

Acacia tilted her head, blinking her dark eyes back at June. "There is only one explanation," she breathed, her voice piercing.

"The Influencor has returned from the dead."