"Really?" June spluttered. A part of her had thought Chase was just stringing her along for his entertainment.

He tapped a finger to his belt. "Yep, it's not like I have anything better to do." He paused. "Well I do actually, but I would rather take putting both my life and yours in danger than finishing boring paperwork Acacia assigned me."

June didn't need to be told twice. Within the second she had risen from her bed. Instantly she swayed, the world temporarily shifting from under her. A soft grip settled itself on the small of her back. She blinked, clearing her blurring vision.

June looked up to find Chase's face close to hers, his breath ticking her nose. "Are you alright?"

She wasn't sure why the answer didn't seem to leave her throat, or why her cheeks suddenly flooded red. June nodded instead, and Chase cleared his throat, dropping his hand to then take a hasty step backwards.

"I just got up too fast," June managed to choke out. Chase nodded, his expression hard to read.

"Right," he breathed.

The silence that stretched between them was foreign. June broke it again, her fingers tugging automatically on her hemmed gown.

Chase caught the movement, his golden gaze settling on an area June hoped wasn't see through. He swallowed, his adams apple rising and falling. "You should get changed."

"I brought nothing with me," June clarified.
Chase blinked. "Oh right." He bit his lip. "Ivy might have something if she isn't in her room already."

June nodded. Chase looked at her, not meeting her gaze. "I'll go get something. I don't want anyone asking questions if you followed me around."
June let him slip out of the room. If anything, he looked immensely relieved he could get away from her.

June tried to ignore the unfamiliar feeling that settled into her stomach. She instead took the time to investigate her room, considering she never got the chance to last time she wound up in The Aviary.

Her bed frame was weighted with oak wood, amber gleaming from within cracks in the timber. The ivy that collected and draped around her brushed her hair as she trailed past, taking in the rooms natural beauty. The plants themselves were beautiful. The chandeliers were no exception.

Even with ivy draped in the masses from its pearls, the gems still managed to cast wisping flickers of rainbows across the stony walls. On her left was a cupboard, golden door knobs carved into acorns. June traced her fingers across it, curiosity becoming the better of her. She opened the door with an echoing creak.

Dresses upon dresses were piled into the cupboard. It seemed to hold a lot more than what it could appear to have. June wasn't sure if her eyes were deceiving her or if it was another trick the Soulchasers could master.

June felt her mouth curve into a delighted smile. The Victorian styled dresses bloomed at the ends, large and obnoxious and heavy. If June would ever force herself into a dress, it would be one's that at least told a story.

Her fingers brushed the one closest to her. The colour, hidden in the hardwood, still gleamed a brilliant lapis. Gold lacing circled into tendrils, curling at the hems, trailing lines on the corset and sleeves. Small prints of roses formed a pattern at the ends of the stitches, shimmering dully in the light cast from the window.

June wondered who owned such dresses, or who had enough wealth to obtain so many. She asked herself why they had been stored in a cupboard, as if someone wanted to hide them away. As if the person they belonged to had cast them out of sight.

"Here."

June jumped and turned to see Chase dump an enormous pile of clothes into the centre of the room.

"I didn't know what girls wear so I grabbed everything."
June felt her mouth hang open. "Everything?"

Chase shrugged, unapologetic. "Well not everything because Ivy has tons of clothes, but I took what was left out of her first cupboard."
June didn't have enough strength to even question how Ivy can have multiple cupboards, but instead gingerly peered at the heap of clothes.

Everything looked leathery and clingy.

As June pulled whatever her fingers grasped from the pile, she cast Chase look when something red caught her attention. "Really?" she hissed, holding up a red lingerie set.

A wicked grin emerged on Chase's lips.

"I'm not wearing that," June added, her nose curling.

Chase's smile broadened. "No one said you couldn't."
June shot him another dark look and he erupted into laughter. It was a beautiful sound, June realised as she shoved through various revealing outfits.

Finally, she found black denim jeans. She tried to ignore the perfectly placed rips that would outline the curve of her thighs. She then found a grey shirt. As she gazed at it, conscious of Chase's golden eyes on her, she soon came to realise how low cut the shirt was.

She gazed back at the other options, then rather grimly, picked the shirt. She rose from her crouch, clutching the clothes. Chase watched her like a hawk.

Silence drifted around them.

"Aren't you going to turn around?"
Chase blinked. "Oh yes," he blinked again. "Right, sorry." He spun around, then seemed to regain his composure. "I'm just used to girls stripping in front of me."

June snorted. "I'm sure." She was glad that Chase couldn't see the way her cheeks burnt.

She undid her gown from the lacing at the back, surprised to find herself missing the smoothness of the material when she replaced it with denim.

As hastily as she could, she combed her fingers through her hair, losing her ponytail to let her waves fall in curtains.

"Look I know suspense is supposed to keep these things interesting but we really don't have all day June," Chase huffed.

June murmured an insult he was fortunate to miss. "I'm done."

He turned back around with as much swagger as he could. His golden eyes fell onto her face, trailing down. His smile tilted at the corners of his lips and he arched a blonde eyebrow. "The red lingerie set would've been nicer but this will do."

June felt her eyes narrow. "Sexist pig."

Chase's smile broadened. "Upgraded to pet names, have we?"

June held her head up, trying to hide the amused but also irritated look from her face. "Hardly."
Chase sniggered, them with a flash of silver he was upon her, knife at her throat. June inhaled sharply, feeling the blade kiss against her throat.

His hot breath fanned across her face, but the wicked grin hadn't left him. "Lesson one in being a Soulchaser," he breathed airily. "Always be prepared."
June's eyes widened, and she felt herself stare into those golden eyes she was gradually growing used to. She could see her own reflection, shock written all over her.

With the same amount of speed as he had attacked her, Chase stepped away, sliding his knife back into his waist belt. "Casual conversation does not mean anything," he said, as if he hadn't just held her at knife point. "You need to have reflexes and be quick on your feet. The demons out there won't be merciful."

June stopped herself from reaching up to graze her neck. She knew the demon's claw marks were still scarred into her skin. She didn't need a knife cut to be there too.

Chase watched her, calculating her reaction. June hid her frown and nodded briskly, recovering her breath. "Let's go."

He stared at her a moment longer. June wondered if the incline of his lips was a sign he was impressed.

He gave her another look before walking towards the exit. "Keep your head down, don't speak to anyone and god forbid, do not say anything that will lower my reputation."

"Well we can't have that can we," June whispered to herself as she trailed after him.

His voice was sharp. "I heard that."
She hid her smile and did as she was told, ducking her head so her hair covered her face. She followed him by the sound of his footsteps. June recognised the stony corridors of the hallways, and the central bridge he led her over. She tried to picture her surroundings, but soon grew lost as Chase led her deeper and deeper into the castle.

At one point they were halted by a voice. Chase greeted the younger sounding boy with a respectful politeness to then quickly dismiss himself. June was sure she could feel the boys eyes on her. She lowered her gaze further, as if trying to force herself into the ground.

They managed to get away without any further questions. But then came another voice, one that June recognised.

Instantly she was thrown into a shadowed corner by a strong hand. She slammed into the stony wall, clenching her jaw to stop from crying out. She just caught Chase's hard, silencing look before Pearl was beside him, a malicious grin settling across her perfect features.

"There you are," she drawled. "I thought you would be with that uni girl." Her words were sharp enough to cut.

Chase kept his demeanour. "Why would I waste my time with her?"
Pearl cocked her head, searching his eyes. "Well I was asking the same question, but it seems you've been spending an awful amount of time pining over her ever since you rescued her," her eyes glinted. "Twice."

June felt her teeth bit into her lip. A metallic taste filled her mouth.

Chase's smirk was venomous. "I never took you as the jealous type Pearl," he said with passive spite. "But then again, you do have habit of scaring people away as soon as you feel threatened."
Pearl's perfect features twisted. "I am not threated by her," she hissed in a sickly sweet voice. "Why would I be? She's a washed up uni that can't even fend for herself. I mean have you even looked at her? She can't even hold a knife, let alone use one. She's more afraid of her shadow than anything."

Chase's arched an amused eyebrow, his lips twitching. "So why does she irritate you so much?"

Pearl's frown deepened. "She doesn't."
Chase gave her a knowing look, then with a dismissive pat on the shoulder, he gave her a brisk nod. "It's always an absolute pleasure running into you Pearl," he said. "I'll be seeing you."
He had only walked two steps before she hissed his name.

Chase paused. "Yes?"
"You don't even know this girl," Pearl said.

He shrugged. "And?"

Pearl's pupils were slitted. "How do you know you can trust her?"

Chase squared his shoulders, his golden eyes like a cats. "A lot of people asked the same thing about you when you crawled in here three years ago," he said, his voice as cold as ice. "Or have you forgotten who trained you, who taught you our customs, our ways, how to survive." His smile had disappeared. "I was the only one who gave you the time of day. Just remember that when you go around spitting on June like filth. She isn't a uni, she's one of us." His golden eyes blazed. "I thought you out of all people would know that."

June had to look away from the outraged look that spread across Pearl's face like wildfire. She thought Pearl might stab him. But without another noise Pearl had spun on her heel, waltzing away in a semi dignified manner.

Chase cast June a look. "Sorry about that," he sighed. "Pearl can be edgy."

Edgy is one way to put it, June wanted to say. Instead she attempted to shrug it off. However, as Chase strode forwards, June at his heels, she couldn't help but replay the words Pearl had said.

'She's more afraid of her shadow than anything.'

The part that hurt the most was that Pearl was right. June couldn't defend herself. If the Soulchasers hadn't been there initially, her soul would've been taken. She may still be alive, but a part of herself would no longer belong to her.

June spared Chase a quick glance. He was surveying his surroundings, nodding to someone as they walked. She didn't dare look at the person.

He always seemed so uninterested, she found it surprising he was the one who trained Pearl when no one else did.

Chase didn't seem like the type to show much compassion. If anything he reminded her of the emotionless villain found in most books. And yet, she knew deep down he would've been the only one in this entire castle who would've taken her to the Crossing.

However, she wasn't sure if that was more of his recklessness speaking. He did seem to enjoy trying to kill himself.

Soon June grew to recognise the dewy spring cavern, and then soon Chase had led her down the stairs into the indoor greenhouse.

"You don't have to hide anymore," he said briskly. "No one comes down here."

June straightened herself, meeting Chase's gaze. His lips were pulled into a frown, but his eyes were lit with mischief. His face was a hidden mask. She knew how to read people, but Chase was always so hidden. She knew that careless smile he wore was nothing but a façade.

"You're staring at me," Chase said.

June looked away. "Sorry."
Chase sniggered. "People often stare at pure beauty—"

"Say one more sexist comment I dare you," June hissed.

Chase arched an eyebrow. "I don't know if I prefer you when your silent or when you're like this."
June didn't comment. She instead took the time to survey the greenhouse. Last time she was here Lee had taken her.

She wasn't sure what she preferred. Chase's constant nagging or Lee's constant silence.

A flower caught her eye. It trailed over them, arching without any form of support. Its white petals were hard to miss, iridescent in the dull light. She had never seen it before, but by its three triangular leaves and purple centre, she wondered if it was poisonous.

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you," Chase said as he inspected a sleeping peacock with a frown.

Immediately June wanted nothing more than to trail her fingers against the flower's petals. "Why not?"
"If any of its pollen reaches your mouth, you'll forget fragments of your childhood."
June whirled from him, shocked. "And you just leave it out here in the open?"

Chase, forgetting the peacock, offered her a lighthearted shrug. "Anyone stupid enough to swallow Featherthorn pollen deserves to have memory loss."

June took back her mental thought she'd had before on Chase. He was emotionless.

Another pink flower, hidden amongst a tangle of thorns snatched her attention. She decided not to near it. "Is that one dangerous?"
Chase looked to where she was pointing. "Grovingpetal," he commented. "Increases your sense of touch."
June felt herself frown. "So it's harmless?"
Chase shrugged again. "We thought so, but one of the trainees injected himself with a heap and his nerves went into overload. He died of a heart attack shortly after."

June felt her spine stiffen. She let out a rather shaky breath and nodded, too swept up in the gruesomeness of the story to even notice the peacock that was trailing towards her. Chase looked at the bird with disgust and turned away with a snort, interesting himself with the ivy hanging in tangles near his head.

June blinked at the multicoloured peacock. It cocked its head at her, a small, curious noise escaping its curved beak. June slowly fell into a crouch, feeling a smile touch the corners of her lips.

"Aren't you beautiful?"
The peacock seemed to glow from the comment. It inclined both it's heads, taking a hesitant step closer to her. June stayed as still as she could, hoping she wouldn't scare the majestic bird away. Its feathers shone like diamonds, matching the colour intensity of it eyes.

It made a cooing noise, before opening its tail feathers, allowing June to see the array of colours it possessed.

The peacock gave her a little dance, swaying its tail feathers before it bowed deeply, almost like a human would. With another noise it sauntered off, dragging its purple feathers with it.

June stared after it, mesmerised by the grace the bird had retained.
When she rose from her crouch, she was surprised to find Chase's eyes on her.

She felt her cheeks grow warm. "What is it?"

"The peacocks like you," he said, his eyes curious. "They don't like anyone but children."

"Are you calling me a child?" June asked defensively.

"No," Chase answered without any hint of sarcasm. "You're more than that."

June felt her eyebrows draw together in confusion.

"Let me tell you something June," Chase took a step forward. "Call it lesson two. The greenhouse is something special to us. Anything and everything in this place is lethal if used in the wrong hands," his eyes flashed. "And that includes the peacocks."

June glanced back at where the bird at disappeared to. She found it hard to imagine the purple, two headed bird to even be mildly dangerous.

"Plucked from the innocence of a child, a peacock tail feather can be used to grow new flora if buried with good intent," Chase continued. "But if a peacock's tail feather is stolen by anyone else, the most dangerous flora will be produced. Rivervine can disintegrate skin from three kilometres away. Junglebee creates lethal hives, Greenwillow causes instant blindness and Thistledown blocks windpipes."

June stared at him, trying to comprehend what he was saying.

Chase sighed. "My point is, this place, as beautiful as it is, can kill you within the instant. The moment you step foot in here, those vines over there," he pointed to the hanging vines that covered the stair well, "would strangle you if you were anyone but a Soulchaser."
June felt herself reach for her throat. Lee had led her through this place prior. He would've had to trust that she had Wildblood. Otherwise she would be—

"What I mean is," Chase said, his golden eyes pinning hers. "Blood and roses are both crimson red."
June gazed at him, searching his face, his eyes, his mouth. "What does that mean?"

Chase narrowed his eyes into thin slits, his smile vacant.

"There is never beauty without pain. And with pain comes beauty."