Helena Voss... The Luminous Consortium... These names bounced around Aubrey's mind as she roamed Thornhaven, exploring the side streets and alleyways that ran alongside the more prominent thoroughfares.

It had been two weeks since their encounter with the two Hunters, and things had returned to a state of relative normalcy—as far as what was normal for Unhallowed beings, at least. Their last performance had gone well, and no surprise attackers had shown up to ruin the evening. It seemed like those Hunters had either given up or moved on to other prey.

Good. One less thing to worry about.

It was also a bit of a shame, though. If only they weren't trying to kill her. Those two—Seraphine and Levy—looked cute together. A good-looking girl with a nice figure paired with a guy who... didn't look too shabby. He wasn't really Aubrey's type—handsome and boyish—but he had the whole 'awkward nerd' thing going on.

Aubrey could appreciate that. But she preferred bad boys with beards and rugged, masculine faces over nice guys with smooth, pretty features. Still, there was something to be said for the wholesomeness of cute couples. Even if they did want her dead.

Not that it mattered anymore. She doubted they would be back anytime soon, if at all.

Under the advisement of Thaddeus, she had laid low and limited her excursions outside of the cathedral after the event, spending most of her time either practicing her music or exploring the many nooks and crannies of the great building's interior.

However, it wasn't in her nature to sit idle. As the saying went, an idle mind was the devil's workshop.

Aubrey kicked a pebble across the cobblestones, her thoughts returning to Helena Voss. Finding that woman was at the top of her list of priorities right now. She had spent most of the past few days searching for any clues as to her whereabouts, but so far, she hadn't found anything useful.

She couldn't just keep asking around about her without drawing unwanted attention to herself—even if she disguised herself with the Facsimile Mask. She had tried talking to some of the locals and even stopped by a tavern or two, but nobody seemed to know anything about her.

Whoever Helena Voss was, she wasn't a prominent figure like Julian Blackwell. And that made her much harder to track down. But it wasn't impossible. Aubrey just needed to keep looking.

She took out the parchment that she had found in Julian's study, examining marks that denoted the locations of several ley lines within Thornhaven. According to the notes, these places were used to charge the crystals that powered the Luminal Projectors.

If she had a shot at finding someone related to Helena or the Luminous Consortium, it would be at one of those places. But where to start? She had no idea how to use this kind of information, let alone how to navigate through Thornhaven's winding streets.

"Okay... So if I'm reading this right, the nearest ley line marker should be about a block from here," she muttered, studying the map carefully. "I guess I'll just start there and see what happens."

It wasn't much of a plan, but it was better than sitting around doing nothing. And maybe she'd get lucky and stumble across some clue that would lead her to Helena. It was worth a shot.

Following the crude map scribbled onto the parchment, Aubrey navigated the streets of Thornhaven, heading in the direction of the nearest ley line marker. She passed by a few other people along the way, but nobody paid her much attention. With the help of the Facsimile Mask, she blended in seamlessly with the crowd.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, she found herself standing in front of a small park. The grass was overgrown, and the stone path that wound through it was cracked and covered in moss. A rusted metal bench sat next to a broken fountain, its water long since dried up. It looked like it hadn't been used in years.

"I guess this is the place," Aubrey said, examining the map again. "But where's the marker?"

She stepped into the park, peering around. After a moment, she spotted a small stone plaque jutting out from the grass. She made her way toward it, brushing aside the weeds that had grown up around it.

"Huh. I guess that's what this thing is," she mused, inspecting the marker. It was covered in runes and arcane symbols that she couldn't decipher, but she had a feeling they were related to the ley lines.

Now what? Did she just wait here until someone showed up? That seemed like a long shot.

She sat on the bench, leaning back against the cold metal and propping her feet up on the cracked stone rim of the fountain. If she was going to wait, she might as well make herself comfortable.

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Time passed, and Aubrey started to get bored.

Aubrey stood up from the bench and paced back and forth in front of the marker, trying to come up with a better plan. Maybe she should go to one of the other locations on the map and see if anyone turned up there instead. It was worth a try, at least.

Just as she was about to leave, she noticed a familiar figure approaching from the opposite direction—Seraphine.

Aubrey quickly ducked behind a tree, peering around the trunk to watch the Huntress.

Seraphine looked different from when they had last met. She seemed more relaxed, almost at ease with her surroundings. She had removed her Hunter's coat, revealing a more casual outfit beneath it. Unlike the usual dresses Aubrey had seen women wear in this period, Seraphine wore pants—a pair of slim-fitting trousers tucked into knee-high leather boots. Her hair was loose, falling around her shoulders in soft waves. She wasn't wearing any makeup either, her face bare and free of adornment.

She took a seat on the bench, crossing her legs and closing her eyes. She then reached into a pouch at her side, pulling out a small runestone and holding it in her hand.

Aubrey watched with interest, wondering what the Huntress was doing. Was she meditating?

For a moment, it seemed like she wasn't doing anything, but then Aubrey noticed a faint glow emanating from Seraphine's body. It was subtle, but it was definitely there.

As she watched, Aubrey could have sworn she saw the runes on the stone pulsate in response to the glow. Was Seraphine doing that? How?

Aubrey leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. She wanted to get a closer look at what Seraphine was doing. She tiptoed toward the tree next to the one she had been hiding behind, crouching behind it and peering around the trunk.

The girl's face seemed more relaxed than before, as if she was in some kind of trance. Despite the beating Cedric had given her, she looked much better than the last time they'd met. She'd healed up nicely. Not even a scratch.

Hunters must have access to a wide array of alchemical remedies for their injuries. Or perhaps they've devised other ways of treating their wounds?

Thaddeus had mentioned that humans didn't possess inherent supernatural abilities. They needed tools and other mediums to channel their mana through. That runestone Seraphine had could be a conduit of some kind, allowing her to tap into the ley lines.

Aubrey wasn't entirely sure what she was doing, but it seemed to require concentration.

Now that she had a good look at her, Aubrey couldn't help but notice that Seraphine was rather pretty. She had a soft, delicate face with a light smattering of freckles across her nose. Her lips were full and pink, her lashes long and thick. Even without makeup, she was strikingly beautiful.

Did she have another one of those bangle that detected Unhallowed beings around her? Aubrey had confiscated the one Seraphine had worn during their previous encounter, but that didn't mean she hadn't obtained another.

No. Seraphine's wrists were bare. If she did have one, it would have to be concealed elsewhere.

Aubrey took another step forward, moving behind the tree next to Seraphine's bench. She crouched down, peering around the trunk to watch the girl.

After watching for a few more minutes, Aubrey decided to take a chance. She stepped out from behind the tree and made her way toward the bench. Her Veil of the Hidden Stretto ability masked her approach, keeping her steps silent and her presence hidden.

She sat down next to Seraphine, careful not to disturb the Huntress.

Seraphine remained still and focused on her meditative state, her expression serene. She seemed completely unaware of Aubrey's presence.

Aubrey leaned back against the bench and removed the Facsimile Mask, getting comfortable. She needed to be patient and wait for Seraphine to finish whatever she was doing before they could talk.

Several minutes passed before Seraphine finally opened her eyes, blinking a few times as if coming out of a deep sleep. She stretched her arms over her head, then turned to look at Aubrey—her eyes widening into saucers as Aubrey's grinning face came into view.

"Sup."

As Seraphine reached for the dagger at her hip, Aubrey dove on top of her, grabbing both wrists and pinning her to the bench.

"Now, now, let's not do anything hasty," Aubrey said, her tone playful. "I just want to talk."

Seraphine glared up at her, struggling against Aubrey's grasp. "Unhand me!"

"I don't think so," Aubrey replied, tightening her grip.

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Woah, this girl is strong for a normal human.

Not that she looked weak. But this girl had muscles like an Olympic gymnast. Her body was lean and toned, like she spent most of her time doing acrobatics and sprinting through obstacle courses. The feeling of her toned body pressed against her own, their chests mashed together... sent a jolt of heat through Aubrey's body, making her blush.

Seraphine glared at her, but ceased struggling. "What do you want?"

"You know, I can't help but notice how relaxed you look now compared to when we last met," Aubrey said, giving her a playful smirk. "I'm guessing you've come to terms with the fact that we didn't kill you? That's a good thing, isn't it?"

Seraphine's eyes narrowed. "Get off me."

"Fine," Aubrey said, releasing Seraphine's wrists and climbing off of her. "But if you try anything funny, I won't hesitate to throw you back down."

Seraphine sat up, rubbing her wrists and scooting as far away from Aubrey as possible. She gave her a sidelong glare, her gaze darting toward the runestone she had dropped in their struggle.

"Looking for this?" Aubrey asked, picking up the stone and tossing it to her.

Seraphine caught it, quickly slipping it back into her pouch.

Aubrey sighed, leaning back against the bench and stretching her arms over her head. "I didn't come here to fight," she said. "I just wanted to talk. You know, to clear the air."

"You think I'm going to listen to anything you have to say?" Seraphine retorted, still glaring at her.

"You've already listened this far," Aubrey replied, smirking. "Why stop now?"

Seraphine turned away, crossing her arms over her chest. "Fine. Talk."

Aubrey frowned, noticing the shift in her attitude. Was she offended that she had grabbed her? It was only to stop her from attacking. Still, that kind of brazen confidence is what made this girl so interesting. Her whole vibe reminded her of an aristocratic tomboy. She was feisty, cute, and hot all at once—sprinkling a bit of Noblesse Oblige into the mix.

"You're cute when you're mad," Aubrey said, grinning.

Seraphine arched an eyebrow at her, as if caught off guard by the compliment. "Excuse me?"

"You're cute when you're mad," Aubrey repeated, undeterred by Seraphine's annoyed expression. "But I'm guessing you already know that, right? I mean, it's pretty obvious."

"Is that why you're here?" Seraphine asked, her tone icy. "To tell me I'm cute?"

"It was a coincidence, actually," Aubrey said, shrugging. "I just happened to notice you while I was wandering around the district."

Seraphine scoffed. "I find that hard to believe."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Because I've seen what you can do," Seraphine replied. "You're not the type to just 'happen' upon anyone. You're far too cunning for that."

Aubrey's eyes lit up from the compliment. She had been called many things before, but never 'cunning.'

"You think I'm cunning?" she asked, smiling brightly. "Thanks! I like to think I'm pretty smart too."

Seraphine blinked at her, clearly taken aback by Aubrey's response. Her scowl faltered, replaced by a look of confusion.

"What? Did you expect me to deny it?" Aubrey asked, still grinning.

"I... don't know what to make of you," Seraphine admitted, shaking her head. "You're not like any Unhallowed I've encountered before."

Aubrey raised an eyebrow. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Seraphine studied her for a moment, then sighed. "It's neither," she said. "It's just... confusing."

"Well, I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually," Aubrey said, leaning back and crossing her legs. "Until then, I guess you'll just have to keep dealing with my 'confusing' presence."

Seraphine frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I have no intention of letting you kill me," Aubrey said, grinning again. "But I also don't want to kill you or your friend. So we're going to be seeing a lot more of each other. At least until you give up on hunting us down."

Seraphine stared at her, disbelief written across her face. "You can't be serious."

Aubrey gave her an exaggerated shrug. "Sorry, but that's how it's going to be," she said. "So I suggest you get used to me, because I'm not going anywhere."

Seraphine continued staring at her, as if waiting for the punchline. When none came, she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're mad."

"Maybe a little," Aubrey admitted. "But that doesn't mean I'm wrong."

Seraphine turned away, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. She ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head again.

Aubrey watched her with amusement, noting the subtle twitch of her hands as they rested on her knees. The girl wanted to punch something, but she had too much self-control to give in to the impulse.

"Look, I get it—we got off on the wrong foot," Aubrey said, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees. "But you attacked us first. We were just defending ourselves."

Seraphine's eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything.

"So... let's call a truce," Aubrey continued, giving her an encouraging smile. "What do you say?"

"Just because you're acting friendly doesn't absolve you from all the people you've murdered," Seraphine snapped.

"I've only killed those who attacked me," Aubrey retorted, her own eyes narrowing. "And the only ones I'll kill are the ones responsible for turning me into this, and all those who follow their will."

"Right," Seraphine said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "And you expect me to believe you wouldn't murder anyone else? Even if they posed no threat to you?"

"Why would I do that?" Aubrey asked, frowning. "If I went around killing everyone on a whim, who'd be left to watch me and my band perform? Or fill my stomach with delicious food and alcohol? Or look at me with those awe-struck faces of admiration when I sing?"

Seraphine seemed about to retort but hesitated, thinking better of it. Her expression softened, the hostility in her gaze dissipating. "I suppose... you have a point."

"Right?! I'm a musician first, an Unhallowed second," Aubrey said, pointing at her. "If anything, you should be grateful I'm not an evil monster that goes around killing people for no reason."

Seraphine pursed her lips, mulling over Aubrey's words. After a moment, she let out another sigh. "Fine. I'll... take your proposal under consideration."

Aubrey grinned, clapping her hands together. "That's all I ask!"

Seraphine eyed her with suspicion, but there was also a hint of curiosity in her gaze. "So... what happens now?"

"Well, if you're interested, I could tell you my story," Aubrey offered. "Maybe it'll help convince you that we're not all monsters."

Seraphine stared at her for a moment, considering the offer. Then, she nodded. "Very well. I'm listening."

"Great! So, it all started when I died..."

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Seraphine leaned forward, listening intently as Aubrey told her story. She had to admit, the woman was a good storyteller. Her voice was captivating, and she had a way of painting vivid pictures with her words.

Aubrey had opted for simplicity, providing enough details to illustrate the event without embellishing or dramatizing her narrative.

"...And that's how I ended up here," Aubrey finished. "Well, there's more to it, but you get the gist."

Seraphine remained silent for a moment, processing everything she had just heard. It was a lot to take in.

Aubrey Sinclair... The diva Mrs. Coltridge had mentioned to her one morning over breakfast. The one who had died during her concert. That Aubrey Sinclair.

She had never seen her perform until recently, but she knew the name. The infamous diva of Mordenstradt's aristocratic elite. Aubrey's face and voice had graced many advertisements and flyers around the city, showing off her beautiful appearance and incredible talent.

Seraphine had never paid much attention to those advertisements, but she'd heard others talking about the woman's skills. But Aubrey's appearance now didn't quite match what she remembered from those posters and promotional materials. Not exactly. The Aubrey in front of her looked younger, closer to Seraphine's own age than the 30s she seemed to have been before her death.

Aubrey smiled, leaning back against the bench. "Well? What do you think?"

Seraphine opened her mouth, but no words came out. She wasn't sure what to say. The details were too specific to be a lie. Names that an Unhallowed wouldn't normally know or be privy to. Her descriptions of events and places... it all sounded too real to be made up.

Julian Blackwell, Luminous Consortium, the Iron Circle, and a conspiracy to influence the masses using the diva's music and devices embedded with crystals that influenced those who heard or seen it—there's no way she could have known these things unless she was telling the truth.

But then again, Seraphine had only encountered a few Unhallowed who were originally human before their corruption, so perhaps this was par for the course. Her brief encounters with them had always resulted in violence. They hadn't exactly been inclined to converse with her outside of spouting jibberish and trying to tear her throat out.

They had all been monsters—feral creatures driven by instinct and hunger, but there was nothing feral about this woman. In fact, she seemed remarkably normal for an Unhallowed.

Aubrey giggled at her confusion, seeming to enjoy her discomposure. "Come on, don't leave me hanging."

Seraphine shook herself out of her thoughts. "It's... it's a lot to take in," she admitted.

"I'm sure it is," Aubrey replied. "That's why I tried to keep it short and simple."

Seraphine looked at her, her gaze hardening. "If you expect me to feel sorry for you, you're wasting your time. Your death may have been tragic, but you've revived as an Unhallowed, which means you're corrupted and dangerous."

Aubrey's smile faltered. "Wow. Rude much?"

"I'm just being honest," Seraphine said, crossing her arms. "You can't deny that your nature has changed. Outside of otherwordly entities, Unhallowed are beings created through acts of evil or blasphemy, condemned to wander the land with twisted desires and bestial instincts—so much so that they defy the natural laws of this world. Their existence threatens the sanctity of all life. There's no way around it."

Aubrey stared at her, then let out a long sigh. "You Hunters sure are tough nuts to crack."

"This isn't a joke," Seraphine snapped. "You're not human anymore. And as long as you persist in this state, you're a threat to everyone around you. It doesn't matter how civilized you might seem now. Eventually, your hunger will consume you, and you'll become like all the rest."

"What if I only hunger for emotions?" Aubrey asked.

"I'm sorry?"

"What if I only want to feed on emotions?" Aubrey repeated. "You know, fear, sadness, anger, joy, despair—the good stuff. I can feed on them without killing people or leaving them catatonic."

Seraphine blinked, caught off guard by the question. It had never occurred to her that an Unhallowed could feed on something other than flesh or spirit. Rare were ones like the Murmuros Leviathan who fed on the knowledge and sanity of its victims, leaving behind nothing but mindless husks.

An Unhallowed that fed on emotions without killing their prey... it was unheard of.

"I... don't know."

"Well, that's not a 'no,'" Aubrey said, giving her a hopeful smile. "So maybe there's hope for me after all?"

Seraphine sighed, rubbing her temples. "This is ridiculous."

Aubrey chuckled, eventually standing up, and stretching her arms over her head. "Well, I've taken up enough of your time," she said, grinning at her. "And I still have other places to go. Places where I might find more information about what happened to me."

Seraphine eyed her warily. "Where are you going?"

"Oh, nowhere in particular," Aubrey replied with a nonchalant shrug. "Just... around."

Seraphine looked like she wanted to ask more, but she held her tongue. "Fine. But don't think this means I trust you."

Aubrey gave her an exaggerated bow. "Of course not. But if you're really curious to verify my story, you can investigate those places for yourself. I'm sure you'll find something that corroborates what I've told you."

She gave Seraphine one last look before turning to leave, her gaze turning serious. "Unhallowed aren't the only ones you should be wary of, little Huntress. Those with influence and power—people like Julian Blackwell—can do far more harm than any Unhallowed could ever hope to accomplish."

With that, Aubrey put on her mask, her visage becoming that of a stranger's, and left Seraphine alone on the bench.