"There's an obvious answer, clearly zombies are better than skeletons," Sebastian said, ignorant of the raised eyebrow delivered by the bearded man behind the counter.

June let out a long breath, passing two twenty-dollar notes to the awaiting man. He took it out of her hand, his eyes still on Sebastian while he carelessly picked up a liquor bottle to twirl it in his long fingers.

"I mean, the concept is quite apparent is it not? Even though zombies are brain dead, at least they can eatsomething."

The retail worker let out a huffed noise and directed his gaze at June, nodding towards Sebastian. "Does he always talk like that?"

She titled her lips into a grimace. "You would be surprised to know this is him when he's tame."

Sebastian, oblivious to the conversation, tapped a dyed blue vodka bottle. His lips curled into a frown at the noise.

The bearded man passed June the whisky with a sympathetic look. "Hopefully this will get you through the night," he whispered, indicating the bottle as she took it from his outstretched hand.

June flashed him a half hearted smile. "Highly unlikely."

A clatter of glass sounded from the back of the shop. Both June and the shop keeper glanced up to see Sebastian fixing a fallen wine glass. After placing it back on the shelf, he offered them a sheepish smile.

June let out another exasperated sigh and dragged him out of the bottle-o. "What, don't you agree with my argument?" he said indignantly.

She let go of him to continue up the street. "I can't say I'm even vaguely interested in what you were saying."

Sebastian snorted. "As if. You were just trying to act cool in front of that guy because you wanted to seem like you've bought alcohol before."

June flushed. "And it worked didn't it?"
Sebastian raised a brown eyebrow at her in response. "I guess."
"Look, you know you don't have to come if you don't want to," she began.

Sebastian, already sensing the argument, shook his head. "I'm not letting you run headfirst into Willow's party without company."

June pressed her lips in surprise. "I thought you didn't believe in parties."

"I don't but considering all you've been yammering on about is the invitation you got, I s'pose it's my responsibility as your best friend to come with you," Sebastian said. They walked up the cobblestone street in silence before Sebastian turned to her. "Why is Willow's party so important to you anyway?"

June clutched the whiskey bottle tighter in her fingers, feeling the cold seep into her fingertips. "I heard her Dad's going to be around and I hoped I could talk to him."
"You've got to be kidding," Sebastian groaned. "You're going to a party June, surely asking him for that job can wait?"

She frowned. "I'm running out of time. Graduation is coming up and I can't afford to miss out on this opportunity otherwise I'll be forced to go to university."

"There is no opportunity," said Sebastian. "You're just hoping you can beg him for a job and he'll give it to you."

June shot him a dark look. "It's better than nothing. I've worked on those narratives for months, if he just read the first page, he'll let me join the company."

"Don't you think it's a bit unprofessional to show him your work while carrying around that?" His eyes narrowed onto the whiskey bottle.

June clenched it harder for emphasis. "I wasn't going to drink it, it's just the normal to bring alcohol to a party. I think." She scrunched her eyebrows together.

Sebastian shook his head then shrugged. "Well don't ask me. The only party I've attended is the one on Simsand all they do is throw their arms up in the air and speak broken English."

June only had time to roll her eyes before they neared the parked car. Sebastian climbed into the driver's side, muttering again about his need for a bat mobile because it, 'looks so much better than a Toyota.'

Once they had reversed out of the main street, June inspected the bottle. "Do you know where to go?"
Sebastian huffed. "Is that even a question? Everyone knows where Willow lives."
"Is that because she lives in the only mansion in this suburb or because you're obsessed with her?"

Sebastian flashed June a knowing smile. "Because I'm obsessed with her, obviously."

June allowed a small chuckle to part from her lips. "Of course, who wouldn't want a beautiful, blonde model?"

He made a whistling noise that seemed like he was trying to imitate a cat call. "Exactly."

They both laughed, but when June caught his eye in the rear-view mirror, his hazel eyes were on hers and his fists were tight on the steering wheel. She swallowed and reverted her gaze back down to the bottle in her hands, twisting it to inspect the label in a distracted manner.

Everyone who was anybody knew of Willow. June often compared herself to her. She had everything June always wanted. A beautiful body, laugh, house, born into fortune and good luck. Willow was a spitting representation of the perfect life for June. At least if they swapped lives, she would have a chance at becoming a writer, boys would fall at her feet, and she wouldn't have to work for anything in her life. If they swapped lives, it would mean June would finally have a father.

"Did you tell Iris where we were going?" Sebastian asked, breaking June from her thoughts.

She cleared her throat. "She was called in early for her shift."

"I wonder what she would think when she finds out her only daughter went to her first party?" sniffed Sebastian, his pupils lit with mischief.

June scoffed. "She wouldn't even believe me any way. She would say that someone snatched my soul and replaced it with someone else's in the form of me or something."

Sebastian echoed a similar noise. "Yeah, she does like to bring up her weird fantasy prosperities."

"Says the one talking about zombies and mummies."

"It was zombies and skeletons June," he said in exasperation, throwing his hands up in emphasis. "God, do you ever listen?"

She clicked her tongue. "No not really."

He uttered a grumbling noise in response but offered no other retort. June allowed herself in the silence to glance out the window, watching the streetlights blaze past in a flash of colour. She didn't want to give Sebastian the satisfaction of knowing how nervous she was. June never fancied parties, nor alcohol. She would always prefer to trace words onto paper than engage in meaningless conversation surrounded by a bunch of drunken teenagers. Her mother would often criticise her for her lack of social skills, but both of them soon realised they shared similar characteristics.

Which was why Sebastian was a blessing in disguise. June had pitied him when he first arrived in high school, simply because anyone wearing circular rimmed glasses and a Pokémon t-shirt would immediately be considered a nobody. June over the years grow reliant on Sebastian, and so did Iris. She was sure it was because Sebastian seemed like the son her mother was too misfortunate to have.

"Are you sure you don't want to get changed?" June broke from her thoughts to pointedly glare at Sebastian. He took the liberty to keep his eyes on the road.

"What's wrong with my outfit?"

He shrugged carelessly. "Aren't girls supposed to wear dresses or something to parties?"

June arched an eyebrow. "One, that's incredibly sexist and stereotypical of you Sebastian, and two, I would rather feel comfortable in jeans and a sweater than a skimpy dress."

At this, Sebastian flushed, the redness tinging the tips of his ears. "I was just implying that you would've looked nice in a dress."
She shot him another dark look he was lucky to ignore. "That seems like a back handed comment."

Sebastian glanced over apologetically in her direction, his dark eyes sincere. "I didn't mean it like that—"

"That's her dads car," June bolted upright, pressing her face to the glass. Sebastian fell back into crestfallen silence, pressing his lips together to then pull into the street. She spun back to Sebastian, her smile stretching over her teeth. "He's here."
"You would hope so," Sebastian sighed, ignoring June's animalistic noise to switch off the car ignition. Within the second June had reached over to grab an overflowing folder, its blue crevices ripping from the packed contents.

"Which one should I show him first?" she said, searching through various pages, nearly letting the whiskey bottle fall from her lap in the process. "Katya and the lost dragon might be more intriguing than 'The alienated, cross dressing werewolf.'"

She was too engrossed in her narratives to notice Sebastian's calculating gaze. It was only when the silence began to creep back into the conversation when she finally looked up. "What?"

"You don't even like those novels," he muttered.

She let out a half-hearted laugh. "But Mr Castings might."
Sebastian frowned. "I don't know June; I think you should show him the piece you are most passionate about if the job means so much to you."

At this, the smile gradually fell off her lips. Swallowing, she glanced down at the papers ruffled in her hands. "You and I both know the piece I love the most wouldn't satisfy Mr Castings needs."
"Why? Because it's about your dead brother?"
June rose her head to meet Sebastian's troublesome gaze. She bit her bottom lip, looking suddenly very pale in the moonlight. She offered him a sad smile that didn't meet her eyes and hastily shoved the narratives back into the folder. "He wouldn't like it because it's non-fiction." Bottle in one hand, folder in the other, she slid out of the car without another word.

Sebastian followed after her, having to re-shut the car door when he didn't push it hard enough. By the time he had caught up to June, she was flashing him her brilliant smile once again.

"Are you ready?" she asked breathlessly.

Sebastian mustered a shaky nod before they strode towards the front door. June couldn't help the shocked look splay across her face as they approached the building. The manor, silver in the moonlight, was twisted with greying ivy. Great, arching, stain glass windows etched into the sides of the building, reflecting moon rays into individual geometrics. A marble path lined the way, stopping at a door made out of entirely glazed glass. On either side of the pathway, men in black uniforms surveyed them.

"My god," whispered Sebastian, pushing his glasses closer to the ridge of his nose. "I feel like Bruce Wayne."

June had known him long enough to guess he was referring to another video game. Sebastian shied from the path when two shadows slithered into view. June recognised the shadows as Dobermans. Sebastian, however, did not refrain from letting the scared noise escape his chest.

"Eat her first," he whispered harshly.

June snorted, however stopped short when one of the guards arched a brow at them. "Can we help you?" His voice was as rough as sandpaper.

Sebastian glanced nervously at the circling dogs, muttering curses about over sized canines under his breath.

June offered the men a polite smile. "We are here for Willow's party."

Both the guards glanced at each other, then studied the pair. June was sure one of the guards scowled at her choice of footwear. After several long seconds of silence, they both nodded.

"Very well," one of them mustered.

June took the liberty to open the door for herself. One of the Dobermans closest to Sebastian uttered a small growl which sent him scrambling through the door first. It was only when the door slammed closed behind them when they finally realised their surroundings.

"Oh my—"

"There's more dogs," Sebastian whispered, his voice high with criticism.

June couldn't help but stare, her mouth gaping open. Her boots seemed to sink into the red carpet that rolled out ahead of them, splitting to trail up to marble staircases that wound up the building. Pearl chandeliers dangled from the ceiling, reflecting tiny individual rainbows onto the gold-plated roof. Dobermans sat like statues, surveying them from the second floor. Chains of gold were weighted at their necks. A great statue rose in between the staircases, shiny with perfectly placed moss and marble. June recognised the figure as a stallion, twisting from the water to rear, his hooves; sharp as a knife, pointing towards the section of roof which was glass. Great wings rose from his shoulder blades, water dripping from his feathers.

"So, uh, where's the party?" Sebastian's voice seemed to echo off the marble walls. One of the canines cocked its head at the noise but did not move.

"Oh my god, as if you guys crashed the party."

Both Sebastian and June spun to their left to see Willow emerge from behind a red velvet curtain. In the spilt second, June could've sworn she saw disco lights.

"Oh um, yes I was invited," June said, her voice slightly shaky. Willow gave her a puzzled look. June could tell by her diluted eyes and glazed irises that she was already intoxicated. She glanced down at June's shoes, then met her questioning gaze. "I invited the other June, but I guess you'll do," she sighed. She then shifted her gaze to target Sebastian who stiffened immediately.

"And who are you?" her lips twisted into a scowl.

Sebastian opened his mouth; however, nothing came out. June glanced in his direction. Willow rose a perfect brow in question. Instead of answering, Sebastian dropped his head to stare at his feet, trying desperately to hide his reddening face.

Willow snorted a small chuckle. "It's kinda' rude to invite a mute person don't you think?"

"He's not mute—"

"Is that for me?" Willow interrupted, shakily reaching out to snatch the whiskey bottle from June's hands. June, almost disgusted, let her. Sebastian remained in the same position. With fumbling fingers, Willow hoisted off the top to tip it to her lips. Sebastian rose his head to stare at her, mesmerised as she downed a quarter of the contents. Another quarter splattered onto the carpet.

June tried to stop staring but failed when another person emerged from behind the red velvet curtain. A red eyed boy broke into a smile at the sight of Willow.

"Who brought the boo's?" he laughed, stumbling to snatch the bottle from her hands. Sebastian cast June an anxious glance that screamed 'can we leave?' June scowled.

Willow just managed to reef the bottle back into her own limb arms. "No, it's for me," she snarled, her voice slurring.

The boy stopped, looking slightly confused. "From who?"

Willow pointed at June, then took another swig from the bottle. The boy, who seemed to find it hard to stand in one spot, stared at June. "Who is she?"
Willow made a dismissive noise and wobbled towards the velvet curtain. When none of them moved she spun awkwardly back around.

"Well?" she questioned. "Are you guys coming?"
Sebastian subtly shoved June forward with the back of his hand. Hissing under her breath, June followed after Willow's unsteady figure, casting Sebastian a harsh look. Willow attempted to waltz forwards, pushing the velvet curtain out of her way to let it fall over June. Cursing under her breath, June swatted at the curtain, surprised to find it heavy and dense against her fingertips.

Immediately silver lights burst across June's vision, temporarily blinding her. Bodies shuffled forwards, pressing onto each other. Fingertips traced skin, tongues met, music danced to the beat of cheers. Fog machines lined the corners of the rooms, outlining shadowed figures as they swayed. Four central poles formed a ring, occupying women dressed in white lace. Their skin seemed rinsed with moonlight as they danced, twirling against the pole the way a serpent may wind between kelp.

Black couches spotted the red carpeted floor, occupying teenagers tilting glasses of champagne to their curved lips. In the middle of the pole dancing women was a central bar. Employees dressed in matching silver came and went from the benches, carrying trays of alcohol by the dozen.

June snapped back to attention when Willow let out a shrill shriek. Whirling to her left, she found Willow staring at her feet, a look of shock touching her glistening face. It wasn't long before June identified the reasoning behind her trauma.

She had dropped and smashed the whiskey bottle.

Sebastian appeared, pushing his glasses close to his face. "Well there goes fifty dollars."

The initial red eyed boy rushed to Willow's side, crouching down to inspect the glass with sorrow.

June, annoyed by the wasted bottle, turned away to trail towards an empty couch. Sebastian hurried after her, tripping over a girl on the floor as he caught up to June.

The couch, positioned directly in front of one of the pole dancers, glistened with spilt alcohol. June curled her lip in disgust but took a disgruntle seat. Sebastian, however, practically missed the couch entirely. June glanced to her side to see Sebastian slowly take a seat subsequently in a puddle of vodka. Ignorant of the liquid on his jeans, he stared ahead of him.

She furrowed her brows and turned to see where all his attention was directed at, appalled to find the pole dancing woman flashing him a brilliant smile.

June swore she heard him sigh.

"Sebastian—"
"No it's fine June, we can stay longer," Sebastian said, his glasses reflecting the silver lights.

June stared at him. "I wasn't even going to say that."
"Mhm hm," he said, very evidently distracted.

June, suddenly annoyed, pushed herself back to sink into the couch. Directing her slitted gaze towards the beautiful woman, she decided to pass time by pretending she could set her on fire. The dancer, oblivious to June's intrusive thoughts, twisted against the pole, curving a delicate leg against the shiny metal. Sebastian looked like he was about to faint.

June felt her irritation surge as the woman winked in his direction, sending him a high-pitched giggle. Sebastian's cheeks flushed as they usually did, tinging his nose and ears.

June leaned forwards, waving a hand in front of his vision. He didn't respond.

"Sebastian?"

His pupils remained on the woman. She took the opportunity to perform another stunt that involved her using her arms to twist into an upside-down position before falling into a crouch.

"Sebastian," June repeated.

He leaned forwards in his seat, attempting to get closer to the dancer. June, frustration flaring, reached to jerk his chin to face her.

"Sebastian," she hissed.

He seemed to blink back into realisation, his face softening. June could feel the heat in his cheeks rise to the surface against her skin. His eyes seemed to darken before he jolted back into realisation. "What is it?"
June hastily took her hand away. "You're getting distracted. We have a plan, remember?"

At this, he shook his head. "No, you have a plan. My only plan is to stay here and wipe your tears away when Mr Castings rejects you later in the night."

June gave him a murderous look. "How supportive of you."
Sebastian shrugged. "I'm here aren't I?"
June swiped a quick glance to the pole dancer. "For one reason or another." Sebastian ignored the brisk comment to steal an empty glass beside him on a dark side table. He tipped the ice in into his mouth. After chewing on his ice cubes thoughtfully, he surveyed June. "You're nervous aren't you?"

Her response was sharp. "No."

A girl with cropped blue hair moved towards them, aiming for the empty space between Sebastian and June. June gave her a dark look, and instantly the girl removed herself with a snort.

Sebastian watched the scenario with tilted lips. "You so are. You've been talking about this for months, it makes sense."

The pounding music made it hard for June to hear, but she understood him nonetheless. She offered him a half-hearted smile. "I'll be fine. I'm sure Mr Castings will love them."

It was at that moment when the dancer slid off the pole, ambling towards their seated figures. Sebastian broke away from June's troubled gaze to watch the woman saunter over to him. She beckoned him with a sly smile, tracing patterns on her long, exposed legs. Sebastian seemed to melt into the couch, his cheeks blossoming an even deeper shade of red.

June narrowed her eyes on the woman, watching as she let out a rhythmic chuckle. "What is your name little boy?" she cooed.

Sebastian let out a high noise that could be compared to a dogs whine. He swallowed rashly. "S-Sebastian."
"Sebastian," she drawled, rolling the 'ain.' The woman circled the couch, trailing long fingers on the back of his neck. "What pretty hair you have."

Sebastian, too caught up in the woman's touch, didn't even identify the infliction behind her tone.

He let out a strangled laugh. "Thank you." He watched the woman circle to then hover above him, sweat prickling the strands of dark brown hair on his forehead. "You have very pretty," he searched desperately for something to pinpoint. His eyes fell downwards, "shoes?"

June barely contained the incredulously snort that threatened to escape her. The woman however, thought his comment was immensely amusing. She let out a low chuckle, one that sounded more manic than attractive.

June watched her, scowling as the woman finally turned to face her. She widened her eyes, as if just realising June also occupied the couch. Her silver hair twisted down her back, covering the sides of her face to dangle at her quads. She had very pointed features, June noticed as the woman regarded her.

The woman flashed her bejewelled teeth. "Are you enjoying the show?"
June pressed her lips into a thin line. "No, I can't say I am."

Sebastian on the other hand was nodding vigorously, catching the woman's attention once again. "I think your little friend Sebastian is," she hissed slyly.

June sucked in a sharp breath just as the woman slid into the space between Sabastian and June. If June didn't know any better, she could've sworn the woman's nails had lengthened as she stroked Sebastian shoulders.

Instantly, June shot up from her seat, causing Sebastian to stir from his trance.

"I'm finding Mr Castings," she said abruptly. June thought Sebastian would at least acknowledge her, but instead he was breathing a shaky laugh at the woman as she whispered something sinister into his ear. The woman swiped June a glance, her lips curling into a smirk. In the second of direct eye contact, the flashing lights seemed to darken the dancer's eyes, bleeding them black.

June stiffened and turned away, blinking to clear her vision. She moved forwards, shaking her head to rid of the image. When she regathered her thoughts, she remembered why she had left Sebastian in the first place.

Find Mr Castings.

However, as June strode towards the velvet curtain hiding the exit, she couldn't help but wonder if her hasty departure was for another reason.

...

Once the brunette girl left, the job became a whole lot easier. It was so easy to feast on humans, the woman thought as she examined the oblivious boy in front of her. They were so naive, so blind to their surroundings. She often wondered how the species could possibly live to become so old.

The woman stretched her lips into a smile as the boy attempted to tell a joke. His cheeks reddened when she reached out a delicate hand to stroke the side of his face. She knew he couldn't see the way her fingers webbed at the beginnings or the way her nails curved into vicious talons at the ends.

Sometimes she would allow her prey the chance to see her as she truly was. She would crave the way their eyes widened, the way their screams echoed in her ears, the way their skin paled. The heart tastes better when solidified with fear.

And yet, as the woman watched the boy, Sebastian, through half lidded eyes, her skin kept prickling at the thought of the girl. The woman didn't catch her name, but she didn't need to. With eyes as blue as hers, she wouldn't ever forget her face. But her features were not the most intriguing, it was her reaction. Had she seen the woman's true form? The woman knew she hadn't allowed the human to see her as she was, so why did she get the feeling the girl knew more than she let on? Unless—

The woman rose from her seat, ignoring the surprised noise from Sebastian. She cast him a quick glance, disappointed in her loss of a meal. She gave him a smile that humans would envy. "I'll be right back. Stay there."

The boy nodded, crestfallen but obedient. As the woman sauntered away, she reminisced on why she loved humans. They sought death with their vulnerability.

...

"This place is crawling with them," Lee hissed, crouching low to the support beams hovering above swaying teenagers.

Chase inspected a curved knife, drawing his finger across its tip. "Can't say I blame them. I would be here too if I was a soul sucking demon."

Lee cast his blonde-haired friend an irritated look. "Well you'll become one if you don't shut up and do as you're told."

Chase sheathed the weapon in a waistband lathered in material as dark as night. "When do I ever follow rules?" he offered Lee a smirk before jumping from the roof beams. Lee scrambled to the edge to watch Chase tuck into a roll, propelling to a stand in the centre of the room. Lee let out an annoyed sigh. Following suit in a more dignified manner, Lee bunched his muscles and slid off the railing, cushioning the fall with a forward's roll. He then pushed upwards, coming to a stand beside Chase.

Chase offered him a raised brow. "You need to work on that."
Lee shot him a dark glare, reaching down to tug at the dagger latched onto his belt. "Okay mother," he lashed.

Chase shrugged. "I'm just saying, if any of these humans saw you they would judge immensely."

"As if any of them could jump from that height in the first place," Lee scoffed.

Chase pointed towards one of the pole dancing women. "I bet she could."

"Enough," Lee snapped. "We have a job to do."
At this, Chase emitted a bored sigh. "Fine, but shots are on you after this is over."
Lee didn't even have a chance to flash him another look before he sauntered forwards, pressing himself to the shadows playing around the multicoloured room.

Lee felt his lips curl into disgust as he ventured to the west corner of the den. He didn't understand why unifolk engaged in such pathetic gatherings. Disco lights and fog machines meant nothing to him.

The unifolk parted as he swerved past them. Lee was very aware they had no idea he was there. They would feel nothing but a light breeze, a gentle tug on what little clothing they were wearing, a slight shimmer in the matrix.

The only things that could see them, was the things they were hunting.

Lee squatted behind the corner of the bar, narrowing his eyes on the demon in front of him. He supressed a shiver. An Eurodian demon. The worst type, and yet the most common.

It was in the form of the woman it most probably had just stolen a soul from. He could see its webbed fingers and blackened eyes from several metres back. The shaggy haired unifolk clearly had no clue a demon was about to steal his heart.

Lee rolled his eyes. Humans are so stupid, he thought to himself. He crept further, just beyond the pole the demon had been whirling on beforehand. Lee had to single the demon out. Eurodian demons had the capacity to hide their true forms from unifolk, but that didn't mean they could hide themselves entirely like Soulchasers could. Lee knew unifolk would acquire some sort of trauma if a woman suddenly had a knife through her chest by an invisible force.

Lee searched the room, his eyes falling on a slender girl trailing towards the northern end of the area. She didn't glance behind her as she neared a trailing velvet curtain. Lee narrowed his eyes as she pulled the curtain back, slinking behind it to disappear into the shadows.

He wasn't sure if it led to another more congested room, or if that was exit, however he didn't have time to figure it out. He had to get the demon into the other room now, before another soul was stolen.

But when Lee turned his attention back to the Eurodian demon, it had other plans. It was now sauntering over to the exit the girl had just vanished to.

Lee allowed the growl of annoyance to swell from his chest. Demons, he thought, rising from his crouch. They never stay still.

Lee knew that Chase was nearby without having to look for him. He could sense it in the light presence, the gradual sense of ease. Lee had worked with Chase long enough to know Chase would always have his back, and vice versa.

Lee dodged around a couple pressing themselves together against a wall, narrowly missing a uni carrying a tray of alcohol. The smell of sweat, moisture and liquor curled around his nose. He ducked his head, glancing to his left. One of four Eurodian demons had paused from its dancing, its void less eyes focused on a shadowy figure balancing on the roof of the bar.

Lee couldn't help the shocked expression to fall onto his face.

Chase balanced on the slippery, marble roof, a pleasant smile plastered to his lips. "The life of the party," he took a bow, "has arrived."

Immediately the pole dancing woman let out a screech that only burnt the ears of both Chase and Lee. Lee winced, watching as Chase frowned.

"Okay I get I wasn't invited, but that reaction seemed a bit much," he said sourly.

The Eurodian demons, now all on high alert, paused from their dancing to twist towards Chase. He gave them all a brisk wave.

"Nice one Chase. Real subtle," Lee whispered to himself.

Chase, on the other hand, regarded the closest demon below him. He arched a brow. "I'm going to ask you to make your way out of the room. You're causing quite the commotion."

The demon responded with curled lips, its womanly like features disintegrating into its true form. Skin melted into puslike ventricles. Fingers lengthened into talons. Bones crunched and grinded until the woman was nothing but a mass of jumbled bones strung together with web like tendrils. Sockets were in the place of it's eyes and its jaws stretched enough to shelter rose of razor canines.

Lee, although familiar with Eurodian demons, still couldn't stop his stomach from churning.

The other two Eurodian demons chose to stay in their unifolk form, however that did not stop them from answering Chase's command with their demonic voice.

"Soulchasers," one hissed.

The demon in its true form growled a deep bark. "Soulchasers shouldn't be here."

Chase sniggered. "And neither should you, but all of you already knew that." He lifted his curved knife from his belt, letting it unsheathe with a ring. "Which is why you probably should be punished."

The true demon emitted a noise that sounded like a rumbled laugh. "One Soulchaser against many. Soulchaser will die."

Chase frowned, furrowing his eyebrows together in an act of disappointment. "Wow, I find that really upsetting as someone that values their dignity." But then, in a second, his down cast lips tilted into a manic smirk and his golden gaze blazed with the light of battle. "Guess I'll have to prove you lot wrong."

Both Lee and Chase burst forward in sync. Chase advanced on the true demon, while Lee aimed for the demon who hadn't yet changed form. Lee saw Chase lunge from the roof to tumble down onto the demon, arching his blade towards its heart.

Lee broke his gaze to target the demon closest to him. It whirled at the sound of his footsteps, its human eyes widening at the sight of a second Soulchaser. Lee allowed himself to smile, clenching the handle of his dagger.

Before the demon had even let out a shriek to indicate Lee's presence, he had lifted a dagger to the demon's throat. He could see the human pulse beneath the daggers touch. He wondered, as the demon reached up to its neck, how many souls was trapped in the woman's body.

"You can't kill me here," the demon hissed through clenched teeth. "They will see. The humans will see murder."

Lee pressed the dagger closer to the skin of the demon, just enough for a light trickle of blood to kiss the edge. The demon stiffened immediately. Lee stole a glance at his surroundings. Unifolk danced around them. One blue haired woman swiped an uneasy glance at the pole dancing lady, but no one else interrupted them. All they would see was a woman clutching her throat. That was the normal at parties like these.

Lee grunted, already uneasy with the closeness of the demon. If he wasn't careful, his own soul could be stolen from him. "Which is why you're going to listen to me very carefully," Lee whispered against the demons ear.

The Eurodian demon responded with a horrendous snarl.

Lee continued, ignorant. "The unifolk may see your death, but that species is nearly as dumb as your kind. I can make your death seem nothing but a terrible choking accident." Lee pressed the dagger closer to its neck, drawing more blood. "A drug overdose, alcohol abuse, suicide." He smiled against it's ear. "The possibilities are endless."

The demon growled.

"So you have one of two choices," Lee continued. "You can either exit through that door over there," Lee indicated the velvet curtain by jerking it's head with one hand. "Or I can kill you by one of the ways I just mentioned."

The demon hissed a deathly roar before finally, giving in. With a simple flick of his wrist, Lee cut through the first layer of its skin before lowering his dagger. The demon lifted a human hand to press against the wound. It bared its teeth, allowing Lee to see its hidden row of canines.

Lee rose his eyebrows. "You better be more careful. Glassing accidents and cuts are quite common in clubs."

The demon, clearly enraged, rumbled a warning before sauntering off, shoving its way past unifolk too drunken to acknowledge the blood cascading down it's neck. Lee twisted in his spot, catching sight of Chase as he shoved forwards the last two Eurodian demons together cuffed at the wrists.

"Hold hands," he was saying. "You need to seem like lovers before the uni's see your cuffs."

The demons looks they were casting Chase were murderous. Lee followed them, surveying the room to ensure damage control. He knew Chase wouldn't even bother to look.

His eyes fell on the shaggy haired boy waiting on the leather couch. Lee snorted. Sometimes he wished he could see unifolk bow on their knees and thank the Soulchasers for saving their lives, but then again, the boy didn't even realise how close he was to losing it.

Chase was shoving the two demons through the curtain when Lee caught up to him. His hair was ruffled and a slice of blood welled at the corner of his cheek, but his eyes still shone with adrenaline. His face fell at the sight of Lee.

"Where's your demon?"

Lee nodded towards the exit. "Already in there."
Chase frowned. "I know I shouldn't be one to judge but isn't it a bit risky to let your demon out of your sight, especially if you haven't cuffed it."
Lee clapped him on the back. "Chase you underestimate me. My dagger was dipped in Marrow and I made sure to get it in the demons blood stream. It'll be dead by the hour."

Chase nodded. Lee could tell he was impressed by the slight tilt of his lips, but he wouldn't ever lower his pride to praise the older boy.

A scream sounded from within the velvet curtain. A scream that all the unifolk heard. Chase and Lee spared each other a horrified glance before rushing through the curtain.

Lee skidded to a halt beside Chase as they emerged into the marble room. Centred in the middle were the four demons. Despite the cuffs and poison, it hadn't stopped them from an attack.

In between their taloned fingers was a girl. A girl with eyes the colour of lapis.

"For Christ sake Lester," Chase snarled. "You could've at least told me a girl would be in here."
Lee was going to argue he didn't know, when it occurred to him he had in fact seen the girl leave the room. Lee felt himself frown. He knew he would be the one responsible for her body.