My gut twisted the moment I'd recognised those and my lips had moved to blurt out the truth. I was so surprised I hadn't been able to stop them. The colour and energy drain out of me as I spoke. And Trace's aura stilled before it turned an almost sewage brown. But his response was the opposite of what I could see.

"A hunter?" Trace scoffed, a slight shake at the end. "I've never even held a gun, Ryleigh."

"You're a Hunter." I repeated blankly, my eyes glued to the side of his head that was purposefully tilted away from me.

"I don't hunt, Ryleigh."

"You're a Hunter." I swallowed softly as I forced myself to meet his eyes. My heart had stilled in my chest. "You can't lie to me, Trace. I've seen that tattoo before."

Trace hesitated slightly before he rolled his eyes. "It's a-a common tattoo, Ryleigh. You work at a bar. You've probably seen all ty-"

"You can't lie to me, Trace." His aura was horrible. It reeked of guilt. "You're a Hunter. I've seen that tattoo before."

Trace tried to laugh, but only his smile stuck as he looked me over. I finally saw the dread settle over him. It drowned out his smile. "I... How do you know?"

"I..." Was it worth telling him? He was a Hunter so if he found out that I'm chummy with demons and angels wouldn't he get mad? Maybe shoot up this place too? He didn't have a bag with him, but it wasn't a farfetched idea. "I've... seen it before." I replied carefully.

Trace's eyes shifted, the brown colour faded away as the aura returned to its usual blue, tinged with green this time. "Where have you seen it? Not everyone has it."

"Like you said..." I reached for the jug on the table and poured out a glass of water to stall. "I'm a bartender. I see this stuff." Fucking Lou. This is why I need his number.

"You don't just see this." He narrowed his eyes. "We keep it hidden for a reason."

"Not hidden enough." I looked at him pointedly. "Should've kept your hair long."

He pressed his lips together. "This is my normal hairstyle."

"Your normal..." I felt a chill cross through my body. The worst one I'd felt yet. "Who... Who are you?"

He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" The sewage brown returned.

"You're not... Trace." I had to force that out. It felt like my throat was closing up. The immediate shift in his aura confirmed my suspicions. I leaned back in my chair as I started to feel my world collapse around me. "You've been lying... all this time."

I saw his Adam's apple bob. He started to shake his head. "You can't lie to me." I spoke up before he could. "You're... You're not my old friend."

He grimaced as I said that. His head fell, he broke eye contact. "I... I'm sorry."

My head reeled, my vision tunnelled on him. All the memories I had with him flashed through my mind. How did I not notice? Was I dumb? Was I this fucking daft? This is not real. This can't be. Faking identities, that's something that only happens in movies. I'd seen his driver's license. Was that a fake? It has to be. This man in front of me is a fake. This relationship was a fake. Everything... Everything was a fake.

I felt a lump form in my throat. A tear slid down my cheek before I could do anything about it. "It's all... a lie. You're... a lie."

Trace bit his lip. He slowly raised his head to look at me... Wait, this wasn't Trace. This man... wasn't Trace. "It wasn't all a lie." He whispered, pain in his eyes. "I do care ab-"

"Shut up." I whispered back, my soft voice enough to cut him off. "None of it was real. I don't know you."

"You do know me." He leaned forward, reaching out to grab the hand I'd left on the table. My eyes fell to it as he continued. "I'm not Trace, but I still like you, Ryleigh. What we had... have is real. I wouldn't have done any of this if I-if I had a choice."

"If you... had a choice?" I looked back up at him. I couldn't read his aura, it was too convoluted. "You... You did have a choice." I pulled my hand back to me. "You had a fucking choice... NOT TO LIE TO ME!"

The words burst out of me in a scream. My hand slapped over my mouth to stifle me as I felt the anger rise from deep in my gut. The humiliation I was feeling right now...

"Hey guys!" I jumped as I heard that voice. The waitress leaned in front of me. "Here's your drinks and..." Her eyes went to my face, concern crossed her face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I replied curtly. My hands pushed me back from the table and I stood up. I knew where the washroom was, and I made a beeline to it to escape the eyes on me.

Inside the cafe, no one looked at me. Inside here, no one knew about the way I'd snapped outside. And inside the bathroom cubicle, no one could see me hunch over my own knees and squeeze my eyes shut as I held back a scream. I couldn't think, my mind was blank with the weight of all that had been revealed to me and all I could was wait for the demon essence to kick in.

But it didn't kick in. My mind didn't clear. The knot stayed in my gut as I waited and waited. It was futile. I was done. The tightness in my chest wouldn't vanish. This was on me. This was entirely my own problem to deal with.

I exhaled shakily and forced my eyes open to stare down at the white tiles and my sneakers. My hand shook as I pressed it to my lips. It took another moment before I could force myself onto my feet and open the cubicle door. The one lady there looked at me and frowned slightly. She flicked the water off her hands and left. Use the damn hand dryer. How nasty can you get?

The taps turned on. I splashed my face and held my hands under my faucet to let the water run down my neck. I heard another cubicle door open, another stranger's face appeared in the mirror beside me. And then she left too.

Alone once again, I turned and started to pace the small bathroom as my thoughts finally cleared up enough to start racing.

Trace wasn't Trace.

Not-Trace was a hunter.

Not-Trace might have been placed by other hunters to spy on me.

Or, he might coincidentally be a Hunter and all this has nothing to do with the fact that I run a bar frequented by the supernatural.

It can't be a coincidence. He wouldn't need to lie about his identity then.

He had a reason to approach me in the super market. He had a reason to get closer to me. He had a reason to get into my apartment... which when back on these last two months, he was very insistent about. He had a reason to rummage through my room. And it was very clearly related to the sharp, pointy object that liked to follow me to work.

Because it can't be a coincidence. Not again. They were after the duffel. They knew about the knife. Or maybe they didn't. How did they know I have it?

My sneakers squeaked on the tiles as I did a one-eighty. Did an angel tell them? Can't be. Only Mike knows I had the bag.

Was I, or was I not their target?

If I was... why did... why did they have to destroy the only good thing in my life?

My feet stopped me just inches from the wall. My vision went blurry again with the flood of emotions crowding my insides. I wanted to get away. I wanted to leave. I can't do this anymore. I-

Anger flared up once more, my body moved before I could think. My fist slammed into the hard wall, and it was like a jolt of electricity. I gasped in pain and pulled my trembling hand back to me. My knuckles were red, my bones throbbed but... but the pain felt good. It felt distracting.

I clenched it tight once more through the pain and pulled my arm back. My fist slammed full force into the wall once more. I bit my lip as the pain and the harsh vibrations ran up my arms. My eyes shut against it as I pulled my arm back and... once more... and once more... and once more...

And once more.

After the fifth punch, my arm was jelly. I couldn't feel my shoulder. My knuckles burnt with pain, but my mind was so clear. The adrenaline was exhilarating. It pumped through my veins, speed up my stilled heart and sharpened my senses. This felt good. The pain felt good.

I turned away from the wall and moved towards the taps once more to wash my hand. The water stung on my split knuckles. It was slightly pinkish as it swirled down the drain. My left hand wasn't my dominant hand. As long as I didn't raise it, no one would notice the damage.

I put my hair up into a ponytail and made my way back outside. My shake was placed on the table, and so was Trace's food. His bouncing leg stopped the moment he spotted me. He relaxed in his seat as I sat down in front of him. "I thought you perhaps took the back exit and ditched me."

"I should've ditched you ages ago." I muttered. My jab a distraction as I pulled the napkin down to cover my left hand. I'd lost my craving for a dessert. The six pieces of cheesecake would have to go Sasha and Dottie.

"Hilarious." The stranger in front of me replied with a fading smile.

I watched his smile completely fall off, blank thoughts in my mind about how I'd ever kissed him. My fist tensed under the napkin, the pain helped me force my eyes away. The stinging pain centered me again. I took a sip of my milkshake to think. I needed to move forward with this. This is another neverending circle of self-pity and unfairness. We were clearly over now.

A wave of exhaustion crossed through my body. I wanted to be asleep again. I wanted to be able to sleep again. This has to end. I can't live like this- in fear of demons, angels, and hunters. This cannot be all that the rest of my life will amount to.

I looked up from the table, meeting Tr-the stranger's green eyes. Seems like he'd lost his appetite too.

"What's your name?"

Trace's... Not-Trace's eyes cleared up. He frowned at me before be slowly shook his head. "I can't say."

"Well..." I shrugged haplessly. "I don't want to call you 'Trace' anymore." My stomach lurched and my lips turned down. "It makes me want to throw up."

"Thanks." He replied as he away from me. "Call me..." He closed his eyes, sighing. "Call me anything, actually."

"Alright, Anything." I countered. A wry smile crossed his lips as he looked up. "I want to meet your leader."

Anything's eyebrows shot up. There was surprise on his face for the first time since this stupid meeting started. "Uh, what?"

"I want to meet your leader."

Anything laughed in confusion, eyes flitted over my serious features. "You come in peace?"

Not even a joke. "Yes." I nodded. "I just want to meet. It's about the demons and angels."

He laughed again, a bit more incredulous this time. "You've got to be kidding me."

I narrowed my eyes. "Does it look like I'm kidding you? Maybe it does because you took my life as a joke, but I assure you it's not."

Anything's eyes went to the sky, letting out an irritated groan. "Can you stop being so passive aggressive already?"

"Shut up. I'm serious. I want to meet whoever leads your group, Tr-" I turned my head to the side, cutting myself off. "I want a meeting. That's it."

Anything let his head face back in front, suspicion in his eyes. "Why?"

I smiled at him. "Complete this phrase- 'enemy of my enemy...'"

Realisation crossed through Tr-Anything's eyes. They shot wide open for the second time. "What the- are you serious?" He looked to his left and his right, leaned in and lowered his voice to a whisper. "You want to be a hunter?"

"No." My rejection was immediate. "I'm not interested in your supernatural vigilante bullshit." My hand tightened around the milkshake glass. "I want my life back."

"What is..." He was still looking surprised. "What is the meaning of this? Aren't you on their side?"

"I'm on my side." I replied blankly as I pushed away from the table once more. "Day after is my day off. You know where I live. I'll unblock your number, come pick me up." I paused. "Or I tell my special customers about my thieving ex."

I didn't stop to look at Anything's face. The napkin fell off my hand, the other hand still holding the glass as I headed inside to pick up my takeaway and get the drink in a to-go cup. Anything could pay for the shake. It's the least he could ever do for what he's done to me.

I didn't remember getting back to work. I was at the cafe, and the next thing I knew, Sasha and Dottie had descended on me like a pack of vultures sniffing out a dead body. Or in my case, a secret.

The cheesecakes were good for distracting them while I got my head and my look together. Then I gave a vague explanation about a fight involving an ex and how we were back together now. It made me feel physically sick to imagine that, or even say his fake name. My unease was further agitated when I found the stupid knife at the bottom of the takeaway bag. It must have been waiting for the opportunity.

I still didn't feel like myself by the time the night descended on me. I looked up at the clock to announce last call only to meet Lou's eyes as he waltzed right in.

"Good evening, Ryleigh." He grinned at me, moving towards his stool. "Good weather outside."

I nodded absently. "Yeah. Seems like it." I placed a glass to the side. "Last call. Fifteen minutes."

"It feels so good to be here!" Lou threw his hands up. "It's like home... I don't have a home, but I imagine what this feels like."

"Glad to have you back." I replied absently as I pushed a filled tumbler in front of him.

"You don't sound glad." Lou raised an eyebrow. "Someone run over your dog?"

"I don't have a dog."

"Clearly. I can smell it." He went quiet as I dealt with a customer at the register. "Are you still in pain?" He asked, the moment the bell above the door dinged with an exit.

"Not really."

"Did you fall?"

I turned to meet his eyes, confusion crossing my face. "No. Why?"

"The hand." My eyes fell to my busted fist. "Actually, it seems more like you were out punching walls." I looked up at him again as he smirked. "Is there an unlucky wall out there dented in anger?"

I turned slightly red, turning away from Lou to deal with some glasses. "Don't look at this."

"It's more interesting that your replies today."

"It's been a hard day."

"The pain?"

Just say yes. "Partly. I wish I'd taken the day off."

"Aww." Lou pouted, resting his chin in his hand. "Then I wouldn't have been able to see you today. Today being my first free day in ages."

"No meetings?"

"None."

"No... other type of the meetings?"

"Nope. None of those either?"

"No other girl you can annoy tonight."

Lou laughed easily. "You know you're the only girl for me, Ryleigh."

I laughed to myself, feeling a genuine smile cross my face. "I'm the only bartender for you. I'm not your girl."

"That's mean." Lou took a sip. "You're definitely my girl."

"Dream on."

"That's exactly where you're my girl."

I burst out laughing at that smooth reply, turning away from him. "By the way, I got you something."

"A gift? That's sweet. I've never gotten a gift."

I turned around with the box of brownies, some surprise crossing through me. "You've never gotten a gift? Damn." I placed the box in front of him. "How old are you?"

"Twenty-nine, according to my ID." He placed a finger on the box, dragging it towards him with ease. "Nice. Brownies. You made them?"

"Yeah." I shrugged, turning away from him. "They're fairly okay."

"Fairly okay." Lou snickered. I heard the box open. "That's an interesting way to say average."

"I'm going to take my gift back if you don't shut up."

"You're the one who said it." I looked over to throw him a glare only to find Lou chomping down on one piece. He nodded slowly, speaking with his mouth full. "Nice crust."

Shaking my head to myself, I looked away from him. "Eat with your mouth close."

"Then don't... look."

"Horrible manners as usual, demon."

My head jolted up at that title. I still had human customer's in the house. Something the unknown angel strolling through my door was oblivious to.

I frowned as I looked him over from head-to-toe. Signature blue eyes, but overall different look. "Who are you?"

The angel gave me a dry look, flaring up his aura at the same time. I caught a glimpse of a sharp edge glowing like burnt paper and surprise crossed through me. "Mike?"

"Yes." Lou replied, liking his finger. "Different body. Same annoying feathered bastard."

I grimaced again, looking over my present, still-very-human customers. "Interesting. What happened to the other Mike?"

"The body's in the hospital." I saw a human regular turn to look at New Mike in curiosity. "There was an accident." Her hand rose to press against her lips, worry clear in her eyes.

"Get well soon." I replied slowly, going quite in the hopes that they would understand and shut up as well.

"Eat with your mouth closed."

Lou rolled his eyes. "No."

I snickered. "That's why no one ever gave you a gift, Lou."

Lou gasped dramatically, wiping non-existent tears from his eyes. "How dare you... I'm going to have a word with my therapist about you."

I pressed the back of my foamy hand to my lips to stifle a laugh. "Set me up if he's cute."

"No way." Lou's smirk widened. "I've already got my eyes on him."

"Oh my god." I bent my head over the sink, shaking with laughter and taking a break from the dishwashing.

"A therapist for the demon? Not even the best would do."

"You're right. The millennia of trauma would be too much for one therapist." Lou smacked his lips. "These are really good, Ryleigh."

"Thanks." I straightened myself, looking over the two. I was so glad they were here.

"I haven't had brownies in..." Lou licked his teeth. "Ages."

"And how long is that?" I asked curiously.

He frowned, staring at the piece he was holding as he thought it over. "Roughly... ten years, I'd say." Lou's eyebrows shot up in surprise at his own statement. "Wow! It feels just like yesterday."

For a being that has existed since the beginning of everything, it probably does.

I laughed to myself again, returning to my end-of-day chores. The familiar argument between Lou and New Mike was comforting. It was a really good addition to the distraction provided by work. I didn't want to think about what had happened this morning.

I'd only ever met two hunters. The first meeting had been pretty short. The second one, someone I'd never expected, and unprecedentedly long.

I'd asked for my ex for meeting with the hunters. The same people who'd peppered my bar and me with bullets. What was I expecting out of it? Freedom? Answers? Knowledge? Maybe an actual bullet to the head to end my misery?

Similar thoughts and questions swirled through my mind as the night progressed. I looked up once at the clock as the first few angels started heading out. A few hours past midnight. It was a new day. I had a day off tomorrow. I had the meeting tomorrow. I had no way to gauge what would happen tomorrow.

What would I discuss? What would I say? What would I ask? What would I find out?

I looked up as I heard Lou laugh loudly, probably taunting New Mike as usual.

Would I... Would I miss them once they were gone?