Rumi sat nervously on the couch of Huntrix’s luxurious home. Being idols and all. Once more, her bandmates had begged to go to the bathhouse with her. She always declines, no matter what offer they make. She doesn’t want her bandmates— her closest friends— to find out her secret.

They hunt demons. To strengthen the Honmoon and keep demons sealed away for good. Rumi stared at her hands in her lap as she waited for the others to return. She felt so… shameful. She always hid it, her real identity. How could she not? These patterns. The filthy demon patterns that ran up the skin under her clothing. A demon huntress who is half demon? What a joke.

She stands up from the couch and walks to her room, lifting the long sleeves of her hoodie to stare at the patterns on her arms. They grow every day, like an infection. She hates them. It’s disgusting. She hates herself for having these patterns. She hates having to hide them, why can’t she just accept who she is?

She hardly noticed the time go by as she just stared at the mirror, her expression full of loathing as she took in the patterns on her body. Snapping out of her thoughts at the sound of a knock on her door, she quickly tugged her sleeves down and tried her best to act like her normal self. Calm, reserved. Not full of self hatred.

“Yes?” She croaked, cringing at how her voice sounded weak. Huntresses can’t be weak, they can’t show fear. She has to be strong.