"I'm looking at you through the glass. Don't know how much time has passed. Oh God, it feels like forever, but no one ever tells you that forever feels like home, sitting all alone inside your head."

Stone Sour, "Through Glass"

Leo

Leo stared at the chemistry textbook, his cheek resting in his palm and his pencil tapping the kitchen table. He was trying to study, at least. His grades had been slipping over the past few months, and if they fell any more, he would have to go to summer school. It wouldn't be difficult for him to pass. Finals were coming up in two weeks, and they were a quarter of his grade. All he had to do was pass those, and he was good to go.

The problem was that he couldn't grasp the material.

Chemistry wasn't his strong point. All the chemical naming rules escaped him, and ions being involved didn't help. Leo sighed, closing his eyes. This wasn't new. He had trouble studying when it was just him and his mom on their own. Once he met his siblings, though, he studied with Chase. Chase had different ways to describe things that just made things click for Leo. Without him, it was back to memorizing things and praying that it was enough to get him through.

Leo opened his eyes again, glancing at the living room. Adam was upside down on the couch, his legs bent over the back and his head near the floor as he watched cartoons. Bree tucked her legs under her in the chair by the door, scrolling through her phone without typing anything. Leo didn't know why she was holding it. People didn't talk to them as much over the past few months unless they were trying to taunt them or sympathize about their missing brother.

Leo's knuckles were almost healed from the last time someone told him Chase vanishing was a good thing. That Chase was probably dead in a gutter somewhere, which was possible. Between Krane and the wildcard that was Douglas, there was no telling why they hadn't found Chase in almost four months. At least people left him alone about it after that fight.

The room was too quiet for this house. Adam wasn't talking to the TV, Bree wasn't telling him to shut up, and Leo didn't have to complain that he was trying to study. This felt wrong on all levels. Leo sighed, sitting up and closing his book. Studying was pointless, anyway. He wasn't paying attention to what he was reading anymore, and he didn't get it, anyways. He needed to change this scene right now. His therapist said keeping a routine could help him with all of this. Why wouldn't it help Bree and Adam, too?

Leo set his pen down with a click on the tabletop, pressed his palms into the surface, and pushed himself up out of his chair. Bree glanced up at the sound of the chair scooting on the floor, but only for a second. Adam seemed not to notice at all. Leo crossed the room, skirting around the couch until he stood beside Bree. She looked up again, an eyebrow raised. Leo resisted the urge to step back. Okay, so she didn't want to talk right now. Leo offered her a smile, then leaned forward. In a matter of seconds, he snatched her phone out of her hands and took off across the room.

"Hey!" Bree was out of her chair and on his heels before Leo could open her text messages. She snatched around him, trying to get her phone. "Give that back!"

Leo twisted away from her. As long as he didn't provoke her to use her speed, he had a chance here. He scrolled for the one person who stuck around Bree the most these days. If he just found –

"Leo!" Bree managed to make his name a command. Leo found himself hunching over the phone as he typed, protecting it with his shoulder. Bree ducked around him with a frustrated snarl, forcing Leo to spin in a circle.

"Get him, Bree!" Adam craned his neck, throwing his fist in the air as he watched them squabble. If he hoped for a long fight, though, he was going to be disappointed. Leo hit send on his message and let Bree tug the phone away from him, at last. He didn't need it anymore, anyways.

Bree's eyes darted around as she read the screen, then landed on Leo with a scowl. She poked the phone screen with one finger. "What's wrong with you?"

Leo shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Nothing. I'm just tired of watching you mope around today. It's bumming me out."

A thud stopped Bree from responding. Leo leaned over to look past her, his brow furrowed as Bree turned around. Adam was picking himself up off the floor, dusting off his shirt as he stood up. "Getting off the couch is hard." He blew a breath out, nodding towards them. "What's going on?"

Bree whipped around to glare at Leo again. "He texted Owen to ask him on a date."

Adam frowned, tilting his head. "I didn't know you were dating Owen, Leo."

Bree rolled her eyes before she shot a look at Adam. "No, he set Owen up on a date with me."

Adam hesitated. Then, comprehension flickered on his face as he nodded.

Bree turned back to him, and Leo raised his hands and spoke first. "Look, we haven't done anything fun in weeks." Leo gestured towards the door. "Go see a movie with Owen. It won't kill you." He leaned forward, smiling. "You might even have fun. Who knows?"

Bree's expression softened after a few seconds. She passed the from one hand to the other, looking down at the device as she nodded. "You're right." She looked up, the corner of her mouth lifting as she repeated herself. "You're right."

Leo pointed at the stairs now. "You have an hour before he gets here, by the way."

Bree's eyes widened. "Just an hour? Why didn't you give me more time?" She shot up the stairs in a blur of color, leaving only a breeze behind her.

Leo rolled his eyes but stepped up to Adam. One sibling down, one to go. "Come on. Let's go get some yogurt."

Adam frowned. "Why?"

"Hello, yogurt," Leo reasoned, spreading his arms out wide.

That was all the convincing Adam needed. He grinned, clapping once and hopping. "Sweet! Let's go."

Leo turned around long enough to scoop his wallet and Adam's keys off the counter before he started for the door. It was hard to miss the way Adam hovered around him as Leo called up the stairs. "Mom, we're going to get some yogurt."

Tasha's answer came a second later. "Be home by eight."

Adam patted Leo's shoulder as he called back. "You got it."

Leo shifted away from Adam to get some space before opening the door. He didn't want Adam breathing down his neck. They were just walking to the car, after all. What could go wrong? Adam sped up to walk beside Leo, holding out his hand for the keys. Leo pressed them into Adam's palm, biting down a sigh. So much for space. Adam was going to stick close today.

Then, Adam froze.

Leo frowned, looking over his shoulder at his older brother. Adam focused on the fence, his brow furrowed. Adam had been doing this off – and – on for the past few days but never had an explanation. Leo sighed, stepping closer to Adam. "What's wrong?"

Adam shook his head. "I just feel like we're being watched."

Leo looked around himself. He suspected this was nothing but Adam being paranoid, but Leo could humor him for a moment. The only signs of life were birds hopping around the yard and a black cat by the gate. It watched them but didn't move. When Adam's eyes lingered on the creature, Leo sighed. "It's just a kitty."

Adam stared at it for several seconds, tense. It was like he thought the cat would attack them or something. At last, he nodded. "Yeah."

Leo patted Adam's arm. "Come on." The last thing he wanted was for Adam to decide it was too dangerous to go anywhere. When Leo started for Adam's car again, Adam hurried after him. A stray cat around the gate wasn't a threat. He just needed Adam to pay attention to something else long enough to forget about it.

The car lights flashed as Adam hit unlock on the key fob. Leo darted around to the passenger's side and pulled the door open, plopping down in his seat as Adam pulled the driver's door open. Adam looked around again, then climbed into the car. After a second of fumbling with the seatbelt, Leo was ready to go. Adam adjusted the mirror, pulled his own seatbelt over his shoulder, and pressed the button hooked to the visor over his head before he started the car. The gate swung open as Adam pulled out of the drive. He pushed the button again, and the gate closed behind them.

Leo looked out the window as they drove away from the mansion. The cat was still there, nipping at its haunch as they drove by. Hopefully, it was gone before they got back. He didn't want Adam to panic over a cat, of all things. It wasn't like the cat was a spy or anything.

Chase

Douglas was onto something, because my decision to sit outside the gate of my old home in the guise of a cat wasn't the best idea I'd had. I made it all the way to the house, at least, which was farther than I expected. I was ready to head back to Douglas halfway there. The gate was as close as I could get, though. My paws wouldn't cooperate with me. So there I was, the closest I'd been to home in four months, and nobody knew it. I was just a cat haunting the gate.

I didn't care what Yahn said. Demons haunted things.

I got up to leave a few times. They hadn't wanted me back when I ran. Why would they want me back now? If Douglas was right, why did I have to be the one to show back up? Shouldn't they be coming to find me? Like, I knew I was a background fact before, but damn.

If you're so angry with them, burn the house down.

That voice was chiming in the whole time, too. It was hard to have a conversation when the thing you were talking to had a one-track mind.

I got two steps into leaving before I laid down by the gate again. I didn't want to go, either. If Douglas was right, I could trot back in there. If I did that, though, what could I say? 'Hey, I'm a monster now. I might end up killing you guys someday. Oh, and I'm staying with Douglas, too.' That would go over well. Hell, I might never be allowed to leave the house or see Douglas again. I couldn't just drop him after he got me off the streets, either.

Mr. Davenport would want an explanation of what happened while I was gone, too. I couldn't give him that. I'd spent time doing many things I wasn't proud of and things that I was proud of, but he wouldn't be. How did I justify stealing things from stores or lockers? How was I supposed to spin getting my tail kicked through my teeth and eating dumpster scraps regularly? How did I explain that I found conning people out of money was like a fun puzzle game? He'd be so disappointed. At least Douglas understood where I was coming from with that.

I tucked my paws close to my body, curling my tail around myself. I couldn't do anything without a plan, and I just didn't have one. I could figure something out – I'm the smartest man alive, after all – but I needed more time. These were emotional problems, and I couldn't logic my way through them. It complicated things.

An itch flared up in my side. There was a consequence to holding the wrong form for too long. It started as an itch and progressed to pain as time passed. It was agony if you held it for too long. If I went back to school, I'd have to find a place to change into my cat-eared self a few times a day or feel like I was being stabbed by the time school let out. It was also why I couldn't just pretend to be normal if I went inside the house. That would last a few hours before I had to come clean.

I sat up to scratch my side with my hind leg. I wasn't about to change forms to alleviate this. Eddy would see me, and that might force a meeting right now. I shook my fur out, then settled down onto my belly again. God, why did I come here? The gate never seemed so tall.

My ears twitched as the front door opened. Adam and Leo emerged from the house, Adam hurrying to catch up with Leo.

My heart shot into my throat. I'd been caught! They were coming to drag me inside! What did I say? My tail lashed. I hadn't sorted anything out yet. They –

Didn't notice me.

Well, that wasn't true. Adam stared at me for a few seconds, and Leo glanced in my direction. Neither one of them cared, though. They stood around for a second, then went to Adam's car. My fur fuzzed up. What the hell? Did they not want to talk to me? Didn't I matter?

Really? Did you forget you're a cat?

Oh, right. They didn't know I was here. I sighed, forcing my fur to lay down again. That would explain their indifference, I guessed. That was good, right? I didn't want to be caught here. I could still do this on my own terms.

Do what? Kill them?

No, not kill them. I pinned my ears. That instinct was one thing Yahn couldn't help me with. He didn't have any evil instinct like that, as far as he could tell. He just didn't have the same moral structure that humans did. No, my voice was unique, and it gravitated towards violence.

My hip twinged this time. I whipped my head around to nip at it as the gate opened. Adam pulled out of the drive just in time to see me chewing on my ass. Awesome. I licked the fur down to keep my cover as they drove away. If cats could blush, I'd be all over it.

Why are you concerned with what mortals see? If they bother you so much, you should kill them or leave them alone.

It just matters, okay? I stood up, shaking my fur again. No, I wasn't going inside today. I might as well find out where Adam and Leo were going. Anything to stop me from going back to Douglas to admit defeat just yet. Besides, Yahn was trying to force bird forms down my throat. This could count as practice.

It took all of a second for me to loosen my essence and shift it around into a robin. I could work on getting colors right with that one, too. As far as I could tell, my chest was a vibrant red. The itch in my side eased as I hopped a few times, beating my wings until I was airborne.

Can I just say that it was easier to take off as a bird? The wind tried to pull me around in the air because I didn't weigh as much, but I could manage it. I could even glide. If I wanted to fly around as my usual self, taking off was a pain. I had to get a running start or jump off the top of a building. Hell, the first time I flew was when an imp kicked me off the top of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Birds were made for flying. I wasn't.

I found Adam's car in a moment, falling in with a few birds to be discreet. If I wanted to be a bird, I had to act like a –

Why was there an imp with me?

Among the birds I'd fallen in with was an imp. It looked like a bird on the surface, but it was all kinds of demon by plane three. There was a lot of chitinous shells and sharp bug limbs. More importantly, it seemed to have the same destination I did. Wherever Adam's car went, the imp was right there with them. After a few minutes, it noticed me, too. It had to know something was up now. Why would a djinni be following it, right? Well, for two reasons: I was with Adam and Leo or hunting for an imp to snack on.

It wasn't uncommon for demons to eat each other. I didn't have a taste for it, and this one looked too much like an insect to be appealing. For all I knew, it was poisonous. I'm just saying it had good reason to worry about my presence.

You should kill it. A dead enemy is no enemy at all.

I banked in the air, drifting towards the imp. It backed off, its many eyes focused on me while Adam pulled into the parking lot of the local yogurt shop. The imp circled now, its attention torn between my brothers and me as they got out of the car. It wasn't getting closer to them, at least. I waited until Adam and Leo walked into the shop before I pulled my wings in. I dropped in the air, extending my talons to land on top of Adam's car. I didn't want to draw their attention by landing when they were right there. I looked up again, locking eyes with the imp.

It circled overhead, thinking. On the one hand, it clearly had orders to follow Adam and Leo around. On the other hand, I was here now. A djinni was more powerful than an imp by default, and I was ready to unleash demonic hell on the thing if it landed. I didn't know how I would do that, but I'd figure it out. Something involving fire would be the easiest for me. What happened now depended on how vague the imp's orders were.

This was where people got in trouble with demons. Sure, we had to follow orders, but we could interpret things however we wanted to. The more vague the order, the more we could twist it to our own ends.

Whatever the imp's orders were, they were loose enough to let it turn around and fly away from this fight. I fluffed my chest feathers out, pleased. That was the idea result.

Yes, very good. You let an imp go free with the knowledge that you guard the mortals. I'm sure this will end well.

Wait, shit. An imp following my family around just flew off with a story about a guard djinni. Whoever sent it might send more than one now. Worse, they might send a few djinn or – god forbid – an afrit. I couldn't do anything about an afrit! Those could tear me to pieces in seconds. It wasn't like anybody at home could do much about a demon, either. They didn't even know an imp was around.

Or that demons existed at all!

What did I do? What did I do?

Eat the imp.

I fluffed my feathers up, my heart sinking. Killing it is what I should've done in the first place. It's long gone now.

I could sense disgust in the thought's tone now. You know a Summoner, then. Force him to do something.

That wasn't a bad idea. I couldn't do anything on my own – I couldn't hang around my home all the time – but Douglas could help. He knew more about Summoners and demon orders than I did. I spread my wings and hopped off the edge of the car, taking off with a few quick wing flaps. Besides, I was sure Douglas would want to know that an imp was following his kids around.