Cassia sat in the uncomfortable wooden chair, her hands uncomfortable from the hot cup of tea burning her palms, and all while the uncomfortable pressure of the room pressed upon her shoulders.

She took a deep drink of the herbal tea, ignoring the way it scalded a path down her throat. She needed something to do besides think about all the gazes upon her. All the things that Flann had said.

The mark that had floated over her head.

"Is she okay?" Tal whispered. "She hasn't said anything for, what, five minutes? I think Flann sent her into shock."

"I don't think people move at all when they're in shock," Rayner mused. "Maybe you should go poke her to check."

"And risk getting hit like Aeden? No way."

"She doesn't even have the stick anymore."

Someone else sighed. "You're both idiots."

Cassia resisted a shiver as another voice cut through the two's banter. Rin. He was one of these... these Spirit Hunters. The term had seemed childish at first. Some silly group coming together to find proof of the supernatural. But then Flann had come and put so many claims behind that title.

Cassia squeezed her eyes shut before lifting them to the woman in question. She stood next to Bram, and they both observed her. Aeden sat in a seat beside the two adults, an ice pack held to his jaw. Catching her gaze, the silver-eyed boy averted his eyes. A faint blush crept up his cheeks.

She swallowed as she looked back at Flann. "I think—" She coughed. Took another drink of hot tea to soothe her throat. Tried again. "I want to know what's going on. And not the quick version you gave me before."

Flann smiled knowingly. "Do you?"

No. Cassia wanted to go back to the start of the day and call in sick. She never would have run into that strange grandmother, never would have heard of this 'mark of death', never would have been so rattled she told her friends, never would have ended up here. She would have lived her life in ignorance.

If her life even continued for long.

It was that rattling truth that steeled her nerves. No matter how much she wanted to turn away, it wouldn't stop reality, and she wanted to be able to face it fully prepared. She nodded. "Yes."

Flann scrutinized Cassia, and then she smirked. "Alright then." She walked over to the desk and leaned against it. She only avoided hitting the bowl of mango chunks because Rayner snatched them away. "There are some details that don't concern you, but I'll give you a brief overview. First, we are Spirit Hunters. We're humans with something different about us that makes us compatible with spiritual energy."

Cassia frowned. "And what's that?"

"Why is it you can just say magic and nobody asks questions?" Flann rolled her eyes, but there was no true bite behind it or her words. She flapped her hand through the air. "Think of it as electrons and protons, just floating around, but instead of being positively or negatively charged, they're charged with life force. And that," Flann said when Cassia's confused expression only intensified, "is basically magically energy produced from a person's spirit. Their aspirations, their emotions, their fears, all that stuff.

"Now, this spiritual energy can coalesce into a concentrated point, and when it does, a spirit is born. There are common ones that the usual emotions can create, like a pixie or ghoul, but sometimes, the energy coming from a person is so charged or specific that it produces a unique spirit."

"I thought you said we were only giving her a brief overview," Bram mused. He, Aeden, and Rin all still leaned against the wall opposite from Cassia, and she had a brief moment of guilt. Would they all be forced to stand around awkwardly if not for her?

"She asked a question, alright?" Flann stretched her arm behind her, and though Cassia's view was blocked, she had a feeling the woman was making a particular gesture with her hand. "Anyway, where was I? Right, Spirit Hunters. Anyway, we go around, hunting down rumors about any of these spirits that may be malevolent. This knucklehead here"—she hooked a thumb toward Tal—"had the genius idea of advertising our services while here. He said that it was so... what was the word... dweeby, I believe, that nobody would think it was real except for those truly shaken."

Cassia cringed. Well, he hadn't been far off about that. She would have thought it ridiculous if not for her own predicament. Even with how many in the city held some amount of superstitious belief, she didn't think many of them would have run to these Spirit Hunters.

As if reading her mind, Tal sat up straighter, beaming. Once again, she had the strange impression of his canines being even particularly sharp.

"However." Bram's deep voice drew back her attention. He smiled apologetically at her. "We don't like explaining all of this to people. It's unsettling for many to live on knowing that spirits exist out there, potentially intent on harm. If people report hauntings or attacks, for their own sanity and the peace of humankind, we must modify their memories to erase anything to do with the spirits."

"What?" Cassia shot to her feet. Her tea splattered across the floor. The cup rolled beneath the desk, the only sound to occupy her heavy breathing. "Is that what's happening to my friends right now? Are their memories being messed is? Is that what you were going to do with me?"

Despite her outburst, Bram didn't so much as flinch. When he spoke, there was a cold edge to his words. "What would you prefer? Should we let them continue on with the knowledge? Are you going to enjoy having it, Miss Cassia? To wonder about every shadow you think moved oddly? To fear every creak whose source you cannot see? To question a passing chill or a stray drop of water? Then to know that, even if it were a spirit with your death on its mind, you are powerless to stop it? Now, because we exist, that shouldn't happen, but the human mind will always wonder what if."

The galloping of Cassia's heart no longer had anything to do with rage. She thought she was going to puke, and a part of her thought the man deserved bile all over his shoes for the torturous scenario he'd just put her mind through.

Because that would now be her life.

Something must have given away Cassia's horror, because the harsh lines of Bram's face softened. He sighed. "This is why we modify people's memories if they know too much. Nobody should have to live with that constant fear. But I assure you, you are safe."

Biting her lip, Cassia wrapped her arms around her torso. Despite Bram's assurances, the world suddenly felt too large. She glanced down. The spilled tea stared back up at her, and a tinge of guilt stirred beneath her panic and fear.

"I'm not safe, though, am I?" She hated the tremor in her voice, but just because this random man, or even this group, said she was safe didn't mean she felt it. "I saw the mark over my head. That means something bad, doesn't it?"

If they wouldn't tell her the truth, she'd mention the old lady, but she wanted to see how much they'd willingly tell her. They didn't get to have all the cards.

Surprisingly, though, they didn't hold back. "It means that you've caught the interest of a spirit, and not the good kind." Flann stared hard into Cassia's eyes. "The spirit of the Jade Manor seems to have marked you as its prey."

Prey. Something about being hunted rather than just cursed for death made everything worse. Even if she didn't plan to attack the Spirit Hunters again, she desperately wished for the stick again. "And yet you guys said I wasn't in danger," she pointed out.

"You're not," Flann confirmed. She twirled her wrist, vaguely gesturing around the room. "Because you wisely brought this to our attention in time, and we can take care of it."

Cassia fiddled with the edge of her shirt as she rolled the information around in her mind. She glanced around the room again, taking in each of the people there. She couldn't help the pang in her chest when she noticed Rin staring out one of the hut's two windows.

"So, I'll continue on with my life, and you guys will, what? Hunt down this spirit?"

Flann grinned. "It is in the job title."

Cassia almost returned it, but her worries hadn't fully ebbed quite yet. There were still more details for them to iron out. "And what will I owe you?"

"Don't worry about it." Flann waved her off. "Our customers usually don't remember they hired us, remember? We don't charge. Me and Bram have jobs in the morning that get our group by."

That would explain the lack-luster base, at least. Cassia felt even guiltier about her wasted tea and dropped cup, though. She hoped the cup hadn't cracked.

"That's all then?" she asked.

"Mostly. We still need to get you and your friends back to your car, where we'll release the spell and stir them from their slumber," Flann said. "They'll think you all came to the park and had a very exhausting time, and any memories they have of any spirit discussion will be blurred too much to correctly recall."

Although the idea still inspired a stirring of guilt, Cassia nodded. "Alright."

"And," the Spirit Hunter continued, "we will work to defeat this spirit swiftly, we will have to take some time to investigate. It shouldn't be more than a day or two, but during that period, you will be at some risk. Because of this, one of our number will be keeping watch over you at all times."

Cassia bristled. It made sense, but it unsettled her regardless. Not only did it mean that she needed protection, but also it meant that there could be two entities watching her at any time.

The idea was also just weird.

"Aeden volunteers for bodyguard duty!" Tal hopped to his feet, beaming as he made his proclamation.

All eyes swung toward the silver-eyed boy, and either Tal's words or all the attention summoned vivid red embarrassment to his cheeks. Aeden rubbed at his neck. He glanced at Cassia for what couldn't have been half of a second before looking at Bram and Flann. "I wouldn't mind. The others have missed enough schoolwork anyway, and I should be able to keep up even with missing better than they are."

Flann peered at Aeden, and whatever she saw made her smirk. Bram was the one who spoke, though. "You make a good point, but considering Rin goes to the same school as Miss Cassia, I think he would be a wise choice—"

"No."

Bram's head was the one that jerked sideways to peer at the younger man, but it was Cassia that felt as if she'd been slapped. Not recognizing her had been painful enough, but he didn't have to sound so opposed to the idea of helping her.

Rin fixed Bram and Flann with a level stare. "My father agreed to allow me to train with you rather than a private tutor because he thought the on-the-ground training would be useful, but that doesn't mean my grades can slip. I won't be like the others here. My training is to supplement my successful future with my father's company, not be my main career path. I won't jeopardize my academics to bodyguard some girl who got herself into a stupid situation."

Tal muttered a word that earned him a sharp look from Bram, and then he that same stare back on Rin. Even if he didn't approve of Tal's choice of words, he was clearly not happy with Rin's declaration either. Before Bram could reprimand him, though, Flann placed an interceding hand on his shoulder.

"We'll compromise," Flann said, that smirk still in place. "You'll be at the school anyway, Rin, so should any spirits appear, you have every reason to intercede. After all, that is part of your training, is it not? It will help you learn to stay aware of any surrounding spirits, and if one appears, hands-on experience with combat."

Rin peered at her but said nothing.

"And then Aeden here can have the after-school shifts. It should only be a couple of days, and the weekend will be here soon. That sounds like a nice split, doesn't it? Keeps the two of you from having to expend your energy all day on guard duty."

Suspicion creased Rin's brows, but he must not have been able to piece together the cause of Flann's smugness any more than Cassia could because he only grunted. "Fine."

"But I do think I'll have a discussion with your father of what exactly he wishes to occur with your training," Bram said. The edge had yet to leave his eyes as he assessed Rin. "Just to make sure we proceed with his wishes."

Rin stared back, his eyes just as hard. "Of course."

Flann rolled her eyes at both of them. "Does this plan work for you, Aeden?"

He seemed to find something extremely interesting on the ground. "Yeah, I'm fine with that."

Tal and Rayner shared snickering grins, and Flann almost looked like she wanted to join them. The only solace to Cassia's growing confusion was that Bram appeared as lost about their reactions as she was.

"And you, Cassia?" Flann asked her. "Do you have any issues with this proposal?"

Of course she had issues. They were discussing bodyguards to keep her safe from dangerous spirits while they investigated an even more dangerous entity that wanted her dead.

But saying any of that wouldn't change things. She sighed. "No, I don't."

Flann clapped her hands. "Goodie. Then it's settled. Now, Aeden, Tal, help Cassia out, will you?" She looked down at the still-unconscious forms on the ground. "We need to drag her friends back to the park."

***

Chapter WC: 2,317
Total WC: 8,819

The 8k mark has been bolded.

So, plans are under way.  The Hunters are off to investigate, and who knows what they'll find?  Meanwhile, it seems like Cassia gets to just chill while two of their peeps watch over her!  And for whatever reason, a few of them are really amused at assigning Aeden to the task, while Rin is... not quite what Cassia thought him to be.  Also, some lore for the world!  Woo!

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter down below, and if you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote and comment! I also have a discord open to anyone who wants to join, and we have somewhere there to discuss the book :D Let me know if you want to join!