"We're being followed," Cedric murmured in a low tone as they walked down the alley. The sound of their footsteps echoed off the stone walls surrounding them.

Aubrey glanced over her shoulder, spotting the silhouettes of the two Hunters—Seraphine and Levy—slowly moving in pursuit.

A smirk crossed her face.

She hadn't expected to encounter them so soon, but to her surprise, it seemed like fate had other plans. To think she'd see them attending one of her concerts! How ironic.

But there was no time to dwell on that now. If the pair of Hunters was so determined to come after them, it probably wasn't to get their autographs.

"Should we hie ourselves hence?" Thaddeus suggested, his gaze lingering on the encroaching duo. "'Tis unwise to remain where we may be beset."

"Wait, you think they'll be able to take us all out?" Aubrey asked. She'd had a glimpse of their capabilities, and while she admitted they were formidable, she doubted they'd stand much chance against the combined strength of her bandmates.

"I can dispatch them both myself," Cedric rumbled with quiet confidence. "The girl isn't properly armed, and the boy doesn't look like much of a fighter. We should avoid conflict if possible, but if it comes to blows, I won't hesitate."

"Oh, just go easy on them, okay?" Aubrey chided him. "No need to break any bones or anything like that. Just... subdue them or something. Let's not go overboard."

Cedric gave her a sideways look. "Why such clemency? They seek our destruction."

"We don't know that for sure," Aubrey said. "Maybe they just want to talk. Or maybe they're curious about us." She thought of the way Seraphine had looked at her earlier, as if trying to puzzle something out. "We should give them a chance, at least."

Cedric shrugged. "As you wish."

"I'm...hungry," Liza mumbled, her voice a faint whisper. Her steps grew slower, more labored, and she swayed unsteadily on her feet.

Oh crap! What timing...

Liza's hunger always surfaced at the worst possible moments. And Aubrey doubted the Hunters would look kindly upon seeing Liza drain someone dry in front of their eyes.

At times, Aubrey had volunteered to provide sustenance for Liza, using her own life force to keep the Unhallowed woman sated. While Aubrey had initially resented the loss of her strength—the drain sapping her will and vigor, leaving her exhausted and weak—she found that she didn't mind it as much lately.

Plus, it came with the benefit of being able to cuddle up against Liza afterwards, which was always nice—though the woman’s shadows had a tendency to get a bit overzealous with their...err, tentacle play.

It was better than combing through Gallows Row trying to find scum of the earth to take away from this world, even if they were due for some kind of retribution. Or risking Liza going out on a rampage, hunting down random victims like she had been doing before joining. At least with Liza's draining of her energy, there wasn't a bloodbath and body count.

"You can feed off me later," Aubrey told her. "I know you're hungry, but we can't do that right now. Try to hold off for a little bit longer, okay?"

Liza gave a weak nod, but Aubrey wasn't sure how long the girl could last. She had to find a way to feed her soon, or things could get messy.

They turned into a side street, picking up their pace as they did so. The Hunters followed suit, keeping their distance but not losing sight of them. It seemed like they were determined to pursue, regardless of whether it led to a confrontation.

Aubrey decided to test their resolve. As they approached a dead end, she paused and turned to face the approaching duo, her bandmates halting beside her.

"Alright," she said in a low tone. "Let's see what they want."

The two Hunters slowed as they neared, coming to a halt a short distance away from them. Aubrey regarded them silently, waiting for them to speak first.

Seraphine's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized them. "I think you know why we're here."

Aubrey smirked. "Let me guess—you want to tell us how we're doing great work and that our music has touched your heart? Or maybe you're just a couple of fans wanting an autograph?"

Seraphine's lips pressed into a thin line, her expression hardening. "Don't play coy. We both know that you're not what you seem." She paused, then added, "Unhallowed."

"Well, well, well," Aubrey said, amusement twinkling in her eyes. "I guess the cat's out of the bag now. And here I thought we were doing such a good job keeping up appearances."

"Your guise may fool others," Seraphine replied. "But we know the truth."

"And what exactly is that truth?" Aubrey asked, genuinely curious. "You seem to think you know something about us, but I'm not so sure. You're obviously some kind of Hunter, right? So, what, do you just hunt down any Unhallowed you come across?"

Seraphine gave a curt nod. "That's correct. Our order was founded for the sole purpose of ridding the world of your kind."

"My kind?" Aubrey asked, her tone challenging. "So, you're saying you think all Unhallowed are evil or something? That we're all mindless monsters?" She cocked her head to one side. "Doesn't seem very fair, does it? Why do you get to decide who's good and who's bad? Maybe we're not all so different from you."

She let out a quiet snort at the last statement. It was a total lie, but she had to try to turn the situation to their advantage. Maybe if she could convince them that they were misguided, the Hunters would back off and leave them alone. Or at least postpone any potential skirmish that would take place.

Seraphine's gaze didn't waver. "Don't try to make us out to be the villains here," she said coldly. "I know that you're all creatures of darkness, twisted beings who feed on the lives of others. I know that you hide in the shadows, preying on the innocent and unwary. And I know that it's my duty to stop you."

Aubrey couldn't help but scoff at that. "Wow, that's pretty black-and-white thinking, don't you think? Sounds like you've got us all figured out." She crossed her arms, leveling a mocking smile at the girl. "What if I told you that you were wrong? What if I said that some of us aren't so bad?"

"I'd say you're lying," Seraphine retorted without hesitation. "There's no good in any of you."

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"Is that so?" Aubrey challenged. "And what if I said I've had my whole life turned upside down and I'm just trying to make the best of things?" She paused, considering the idea for a moment. "Nah, too long. Let's just stick with I'm not so bad."

Seraphine didn't respond immediately, regarding Aubrey with an inscrutable look. Then, after a moment, she asked, "Why are you playing music? Why are you putting on performances in run-down taverns? What do you stand to gain from it?"

"Well, for starters," Aubrey began, "it's fun. I like performing. I like hearing people enjoy our music. And let's be honest—compared to other districts, Gallows Row could use a little more joy in its life, don't you think?" She paused, then added in a lower tone, "And maybe I'm just trying to show you all that there's more to us than meets the eye."

Aubrey's attention shifted to Seraphine's companion, the silent young man who had thus far observed the exchange in silence. "What about you?" she asked, meeting his gaze. "What do you think?"

Levy looked at her for a moment, then gave a slight shrug. "I think you're unusual, but... you don't seem that bad. But," he added, "I don't think that makes you any less of a danger."

"Hm, that's fair," Aubrey conceded. "But that doesn't mean we're not worth getting to know, right?" She cast him a pointed look. "You could even say we're worth saving."

She'd hit a nerve, it seemed, as she watched him tense up slightly at her words. Something dark flashed across his expression before he quickly recovered, the impassive mask slipping back into place.

"That's not our decision to make," he said after a moment, his voice taking on an edge. "And you're only wasting your time trying to convince us otherwise."

"So that's it, then?" Aubrey asked, turning back to Seraphine. "You think you have all the answers, and there's no point in trying to convince you otherwise?" She shook her head in mock disappointment. "What a shame. And here I thought we might actually be able to reach an understanding."

"No," Seraphine said, drawing her blade. "We understand each other perfectly. And we understand that you're a threat that needs to be dealt with."

The steel of Seraphine's blade shone under the moonlight as she held it at the ready.

Aubrey frowned. She'd tried reasoning with them, but it seemed like they were too stubborn or set in their ways to listen.

Fine. If they wanted to fight, then so be it.

She let out a tired sigh. "Well, if you're so sure about that, I guess there's no point in trying to convince you otherwise. Come on, then—let's get this over with. Oh, and since we outnumber you two-to-one, how about we make this a little more fair? I'll let you fight the weakest member among us first, then you can have the honor of facing me last." She shot them a sharp grin. "How does that sound?"

Seraphine looked unimpressed. "Why don't you save your breath and send your lackey already?"

Aubrey arched an eyebrow. "Lackey? That's not very nice."

She turned to her bandmates, glancing over each one before settling on Cedric.

"Ceddy, you're up," she said with a casual wave of her hand. "Try not to kill them, okay? We don't need that kind of trouble right now."

Cedric crossed his arms. "Although I have no objection to the plan, I do object to the premise. I am not the weakest among us."

Aubrey blinked, taken aback by his response. She hadn't expected any pushback from him. What happened to his earlier assertion that he could easily dispatch both Hunters?

Besides, she wasn't wrong.

"Uh, I'm sorry, what?" she asked. "Of course you're the weakest. Think about it. I beat you up when we first met, remember?"

"Your memory of the event seems hazy," Cedric rumbled dryly. "As I recall, I was the one who emerged victorious in that confrontation."

"Pfft, that's not how I remember it," Aubrey shot back, planting her hands on her hips.

Cedric remained unmoved. "I had advised you to scramble like an egg before I folded you like an omelet. You didn't take my advice, which resulted in me thrashing you like a rag doll and dumping you out like rotten milk."

W-What the fuck?! This asshole...I taught him that phrase!

"I blasted you with Hellion's Cry, ya remember that? And then afterward you were all, 'Oh Milady Aubrey, you've bested me. Please let me serve under you like a squire!' You sure had a change of heart, didn't you?" She scoffed at him, jutting her chin in a defiant gesture. "What happened to that, huh? I think I'm the strongest one here."

"I had been taken aback by the sacred artifact's acceptance of you as its rightful wielder," Cedric admitted. "For that, I offered my allegiance. However, should the fight have continued any longer, I would have thrown you out the second time that night."

Aubrey scowled at him, hands still planted on her hips. "Whatever, dude. I had my Excalibur moment. There was no way I wasn't going to win."

Cedric sighed. "It appears we are at an impasse. Therefore, let us resolve this disagreement through combat."

"You wanna go? Alright, fine," Aubrey growled.

Thaddeus walked between the two, shaking his head. "Enough. We mustn't bicker among ourselves. Besides, 'Tis clear who holds the greatest strength among us."

"Well?" Aubrey asked. "Who is it, then?"

"Mine dear friend Liza," Thaddeus said simply.

Liza stiffened at the mention of her name, her gaze darting around nervously. She shuffled back a few steps, clearly uncomfortable with the attention.

Hmm... Now that he mentioned it, Aubrey had to admit that he had a point. When she'd first met Liza, the girl had exuded this otherworldly, eldritch aura that left Aubrey unnerved. Even after getting to know her and bonding with her, there was still something intimidating about lurking beneath that introverted demeanor.

Aubrey looked back at Cedric. "What do you think? Is Liza stronger than you?"

"In terms of physical strength, no. But in terms of sheer power, she would likely be more capable," Cedric admitted. Then, with a dry chuckle, he added, "But we all know she has neither the temperament nor the will to engage in conflict."

Aubrey couldn't help but smile at that. He was right—Liza was the least likely to cause any trouble out of all of them, unless she was feeding. And that was saying something, considering who their company consisted of.

"I suppose there's only one way to settle this, then," Aubrey said, crossing her arms. "Let's have a vote. Who do you think is the strongest among us?"

She looked around at her bandmates, gauging their reactions. Liza shrank back further, hiding behind Thaddeus, who seemed unbothered by the question. Cedric kept his expression neutral, his arms still crossed. Only Thaddeus voiced an answer.

"My vote goes to Liza, of course."

Aubrey nodded. "Yeah, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm not the strongest here. I mean, I'd like to think I'm a close second, but I know when I'm beat."

Cedric nodded as well. "I must concur. I may have the brute strength and fighting prowess, but I do not possess Liza's eldritch power."

"So Liza is the strongest. Then who is the second strongest?" Aubrey asked.

There was a moment of silence before Thaddeus spoke up. "T'would be Cedric, with his raw might and physical prowess. Then, I would posit that I am next in line. My strength of mind and sheer intellect would make me quite formidable in combat."

Wait—what? If Thaddeus thought that Cedric was stronger than him, and Thaddeus had thoroughly thrashed her, then... oh no.

"Oh crap," Aubrey said out loud. "Does that mean I'm the weakest? Are you kidding me? I'm not that weak!"

"I don't think you're weak," Liza mumbled, lowering her gaze. "You're just... different."

Different? What the hell did that mean? Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?

Aubrey grasped her hair in frustration, groaning. This whole thing was turning into a headache.

"Ugh, whatever," she finally said, giving up. "Let's just get this over with." She glanced over at the two Hunters, who had been watching the exchange with confused expressions. "Sorry about all that, but it looks like you still have to fight Ceddy... because apparently, I'm the weakest. But I'm not in the mood to fight, so he can do it instead."

Cedric smirked. "Are you sure? Perhaps we should have another match to determine the true hierarchy of power among us?"

She shook her head. "No, no, no. Let's not do that. You're just gonna be smug if you win again, and I don't need that kind of negativity in my life." She sighed. "Let's just get this over with already."

The Hunter pair regarded them with cautious skepticism, the blade still clutched tightly in Seraphine's hand. Levy shifted slightly behind her, his eyes never leaving the band members.

"Very well," Cedric rumbled, moving to take his place in front of Aubrey. "As Milady commands."