Oathbound

In Downtown Asheville, Bree hunts a lesser demon as it feasts on a human’s negative emotions. She easily forges a construct to kill the demon. It is Bree’s first night hunting with the twins, Zoelle and Elijah, but Erebus has been training her for this for months. Elijah had been closely following Bree, but when they meet back up with Zoe, she informs Bree that they hunt lesser demons not because it helps humans, but because it reminds the lesser demons who outranks them. Bree tries to learn more about the twins’ family, but they are quiet about it.

Over the last three months, Bree has recovered parts of her memory. Even though she can’t remember her friends, she still feels guilt and worries about them as if she knew who they were. The twins are going to The Ratskellion, or the Rat, a cafe where they often carry out mysterious business, to meet someone who will leave within the hour. Erebus has forbidden Bree from going to The Rat, but the twins are unsure if they can get her home and meet their contact in time, as they are also required to chaperone Bree. They relent and take Bree inside, where she learns that the owner of the cafe is a human who has dealings in the demon world.