“Damn it!” Becky hollered in frustration as her bow vanished in a quick flash of light.

  Aya dissipated her sword and slung an arm around Becky’s shoulders. “You almost had me. That trap came out of nowhere.”

  Becky huffed but smirked. “It’s a new one I just created the other day—a camouflage trap. Once I set it, it turns invisible. You won’t see it… until you see it.”

  As they walked back to where Amanda and I were sitting, Amanda beamed. “That was so cool, Becky! Even if the trap didn’t hold her for long.” She stood up and handed them each an energy-restoring elixir.

  I picked up the cat, holding it in one arm. It glanced up at me, looking mildly annoyed. “I guess that means it’s my turn,” I said, glancing at Aya.

  Aya finished drinking and looked at me with a smirk. “Yeah, sure. But you should probably turn into that form you were in yesterday. I can sense your energy, and there’s no way you’ll be able to keep up with me as you are now.”

  I scratched the back of my head, embarrassed. “Yeah, about that… I actually don’t know how to get back into that form. I don’t even know why I’m out of it. I think it has something to do with the cat.”

  “That theory makes sense,” Becky said, holding her chin, deep in thought.

  Aya narrowed her eyes at the cat, then turned to the others. “Guys, focus on the cat’s center.”

  The others immediately honed in on the feline. I just stood there, watching them. I figured they were sensing its energy, but since I couldn’t, I just waited.

  “Ohhh,” Amanda murmured, eyes widening.

  “I can’t believe we didn’t feel that sooner,” Becky said, her expression shifting to surprise. “Though… it is suppressed.”

  Amanda and Aya both nodded in agreement.

  “What? What’s suppressed? What do you guys see—or feel?” I asked, impatient.

  Becky looked up at me. “Remember yesterday when we said you had the cat’s energy in you?”

  “Yeah. What about it?”

  “Well… how do I put this?” She struggled for a moment before saying, “It’s back inside the cat.”

  I blinked. “What?”

  “You still have some energy left, but it’s nowhere near as much as before.”

  I looked down at the cat in my arms. “You took all my power while I slept?” I asked, glaring.

  The cat meowed innocently, but through our apparent mental bond, I could tell it thought this was hilarious—and that it didn’t care at all. Greedy little shit.

  “So, what do I do?” I asked, looking back at the group.

  “Why don’t you just… absorb more energy?” Aya suggested. “I mean, the cat clearly has most of it, but just get some more. Maybe then your ears and tail will come back.”

  That made sense.

  “But how do I do that?”

  Amanda opened her palm, and a small bottle appeared in a flash of light. “Just drink this.”

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  Oh yeah, I forgot she had those.

  “Thanks.” I took the bottle and eagerly downed its contents, waiting for something—anything—to happen.

  Nothing.

  “That’s weird,” I muttered. “It’s not working.”

  Becky let out an exaggerated sigh. “Probably because you need demonic energy.”

  We all turned to her, confused.

  She crossed her arms. “What? He got his connection to divine energy from a demonic cat. None of you thought he might use a different type of energy than us?”

  Amanda frowned. “But… demonic energy is, well, demonic.” There was a hint of concern in her voice. “I don’t think the gods will be too happy if they find out he’s using the energy of our enemies.”

  Aya shrugged. “Didn’t they say demonic energy is an offshoot of divine energy? If it comes down to it, we could use that as a loophole.”

  Becky tapped her chin, then grinned. “Besides, it’d be pretty cool to see what this ‘taboo’ energy can do.”

  I sighed. “Okay, but how do I get it?”

  Aya smirked. “Well, yesterday, you drank that demon fluid, right?”

  Amanda and Becky recoiled in unison. “Demon fluid?” they repeated, disgusted.

  “Long story.” Aya grinned at their reactions. “Anyway, what if you just find more of that stuff? It restored your strength and healed you, right?”

  “Actually, I think my demonic energy alone heals me,” I admitted, grinning.

  “So that’s how you healed earlier,” Becky murmured, intrigued.

  Aya nodded. “Then I guess we’re going demon hunting—to find you some demon goo to drink.”

  “To unlock the secrets of demonic energy,” she added, pumping a fist into the air.

  Amanda still looked hesitant, but she sighed. “I guess… it could be fun.”

  I smiled. “Thanks, you g—”

  A woman’s scream cut me off.

  All of us snapped to attention, rushing to the edge of the building. Down on the street below, we spotted a woman screaming for help”

  We looked at each other, silently agreeing to check it out. Then, without hesitation, we jumped.

  We landed on the sidewalk, just a few feet away from where the woman was screaming. The sun had mostly set, casting the city in a dim, neon glow. It was a busy Friday night downtown, with crowds of people walking, chatting, and going about their lives. Despite the woman’s cries for help, no one had stepped in—some simply stared, others ignored her, and a few had even pulled out their phones to record.

  A handful of people gasped as we landed, but we ignored them and rushed straight for the woman.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, noting the tears streaming down her face. Her hands were clutching her head, her entire body trembling. She was in full panic.

  “My… my baby—she’s gone!” Her voice cracked with desperation.

  We all froze, exchanging shocked glances.

  “What happened?” Aya asked, her tone turning serious.

  “I… we were walking home from getting ice cream. I was holding her hand… and then—” The woman choked on a sob, struggling to get the words out. “A figure—I don’t know who or what it was—it happened so fast—but it took my baby! It flew off with her!”

  Aya tightened her grip on the woman’s shoulders, trying to ground her. “Did you see which way it went?”

  The woman blinked rapidly, trying to piece her thoughts together, then shakily pointed down the street. “There… it flew that way.”

  My stomach twisted. Something that could fly had taken her child. That meant one thing—it had to be a demon. But… weren’t regular people unable to see demons?

  Aya’s jaw tightened, but she nodded. “We’ll find your baby, ma’am.” The words were strong, but I could hear the uncertainty beneath them.

  And she wasn’t the only one. None of us knew if we actually could.

  Whoever—or whatever—had taken the child already had a head start, and with no clear description, all we had was a vague direction to go on. It wasn’t much. Still, we had to try.

  “Please,” the woman sobbed, gripping Aya’s arms. “Please find my baby.”

  Aya hesitated for a second before placing a hand over the woman’s. “We’ll bring them to the police when we do. Just go home for now and wait.” She offered what was meant to be a reassuring smile, but I could tell she wasn’t sure it would help.

  The woman slowly let go, swallowing her sobs. “Thank you.”

  Aya nodded, then turned to us.

  We all met her gaze, ready.

  “Let’s go,” she said, her eyes burning with determination.

  Without another word, we took off into the night.