'Thoughts'

"Flashbacks"

Flashback actions

"Dialogue"

Assiah, the realm of humans, it reeked of innocence and betrayal at the same time. It lacked the dark homey feeling from Gehenna.

'Tsk, these humans can't even decide on a religion, yet they have all of this splendor at their fingertips, I swear it isn't even fair.'

She clicked her tongue as her violet eyes focused on her surroundings. She was trained for any kind of infiltration situation, but this seemed ridiculous; why would her boss be interested in a bunch of school kids? Especially exorcist wannabes. What purpose did they serve him? Sera couldn't think of anything, unless there were more complex things demons could do that were beyond her knowledge. She shook off any doubts and jumped down from her tree branch. It was time to get to work in the starry night city in Assiah. As hard as she tried to keep the questions at bay, her mind continually wondered about the reasoning behind this assignment. She wasn't being replaced was she? This felt familiar to her, as if this was how she was found. She blocked any attempts to access any memories, it was pointless anyways. She had nothing, only a few scattered figments hazy as if they were being forgotten with each day; fighting to find memories was pointless at this point. It never did her any good, just tired her out and made her irritable, she didn't have time for that now. Her violet orbs flicked to each passing building searching for any sign, something to show this wasn't a dead end job. Sera turned a corner and smirked; the outline of a large academy caught her eye.

'Well, where better to look for students then the prestigious academy that fell into my lap. Let's get this over with, Assiah smells weird.'

Chapter 1

The Night of Nights

'A campus this big may take a while to scout, and besides I have to stay hidden. No telling where that freak Mephisto is… Hmm, come to think of it I wonder why Boss chose to send me here again. Mephisto wasn't too happy last time I came here to get some kind of sword and ended up destroying half the campus. Ha! That was fun though.'

She flipped her midnight black braid over her shoulder debating if it should stay down or up. Boss wasn't very specific about her job this time, normally he gave her an entire rundown, and this time was different. Also he hadn't updated her for awhile; he just left her to wander through Tokyo before she found her way here- wherever here really was. Sera sighed and continued walking; it was so late no one should have been outside. It didn't matter though, she had a job to complete. Her entire life so far was spent doing jobs for Boss; she owed him that for saving her when she was young. At least that's what she remembered.

"Now what is this? A young girl… no a witch… and not just that, a skin-walker? Your people normally don't tread here, what brings you here?"

A young girl covered in necklaces and rings looked up at the Demon King. Her coyote skin cap covered her eyes, but violet fires stared back at him through the shadows, her hands soaked in blood. She never spoke a word, just gazed intently into the demon's eyes.

"Already soaked in blood, hm? Whose blood is that?"

He waited a second and cocked his head to the side, tapping his long nails against his chin, amused.

"Not much of a talker, I like that. Well, I might as well make use of you. From this day until your contract termination you are mine and mine alone, in body and soul. Do you understand, my little killer?"

The little girl nodded without saying a word. The Demon King then engulfed the girl in rotten black smoke, filling her lungs.

She sighed shaking the memory away. She didn't want that memory, she wanted memories of her family- she knew she had to have one, somewhere out there. Sera didn't have many doubts about her Boss since he was always there for her. Hell, he practically raised her -to be a killer, but raised her nonetheless- for as long as she could remember. He'd trained her to be perfect, taken care of her. She trusted him, for as much as that was worth. He wouldn't want her to get killed or badly injured; she was one of his best. She wasn't any use to him dead, or horribly disfigured. Focusing back on her surroundings, Sera made sure that her footsteps didn't echo across the night campus. She was on high alert, just find scouting places and a place to stay, nothing fancy, tonight was just recon. A cold breeze blew past her causing her to shiver; her necklaces jingled as she rubbed her arms with her hands and ice cold rings. She hated the cold. Cold weather sucked. Maybe having a crop top was a bad idea, but it was helpful earlier when it came to blending in. Sera laughed to herself as she remembered some of the short skirt and tank tops she saw a girl wearing earlier, how that one didn't freeze to death was beyond her.

"Quite a night hmm? So, are you here to play with me? Or do I have to find other ways to eliminate my boredom? Wait… you don't look like a student, you smell different."

A monotone voice resonated behind her. Her blood froze, where did that voice come from? Sera could normally sense people or demons before they could lay eyes on her! She snapped around, hand on the knife she kept behind her back. Violet fires scanned the area for the intruding voice.

"Who the hell are you?! Where did you come from?!"

A man- the term being used loosely- stood across from her crouched on a light pole. His green hair spiked up in the middle, his clothes all mismatched and there was nothing human about him. His fangs chewed on the tip of his nails as he stared over Sera's petite form. He was a Demon King, she felt it in her soul; they all gave off a certain resonance.

"I'm Amaimon and I'm bored. Now, are you going to play with me?"

She couldn't help the smirk growing on her face. She did love to fight, and this guy may be the perfect outlet.

'So he wants to play? Sure, I'll oblige with my knife!'

She drew her knife from behind her and charged Amaimon as he squealed in joy.

"Oh goody! You're playing with me!"

Both jumped and dodged their way into the nearby forest. Destroying the city would draw too much attention and leave a trace, and that wasn't allowed to happen...not after last time. Sera refuse to let a little skirmish with Amaimon foil her plan. Her skills in martial arts and dagger mastery had no parallel, though with each slash and kick she noticed how strong Amaimon was. His obvious joy from her attempting to fight here was sickening. His ridiculous grin stretching across his face as if it were about to crack down the middle entirely.

'Damn bastard, I can't even land a hit on him. He's just as fast as I am.'

"Are you even trying? This is getting boring."

His monotone voice grated on her nerves, now she really wanted to beat the crap out of him.

"Now you're asking for it!"

She tossed her dagger into a nearby tree and let loose a hellish shriek causing shadows to swarm and the smell of rot filled the air. A large rotted paw stepped out of the shadows and howled at Amaimon, her familiar, Actaeon. As faithful as ever, her ghoulish hound charged at Amaimon only to be knocked aside by Behemoth. She didn't mind getting pushed around, but her familiar was another story. She had a unique bond with Actaeon, it wasn't demon and tamer, it was more.

An enormous ghoul hound steps forward, snarling at the young coyote capped girl.

"Don't be afraid of him, control him, and bend him to your will." The Demon King commands his new underling with a stern tone, though he suspects the hound will resist and kill her. He doesn't care; she has to be strong now. He has no use for a weak underling.

The little girl stretches out a small arm, slender like a twig. Her rings seem to be too big on her tiny fingers, but as she extends her hand up straight the hound freezes. The rotten hound tilts its skull, one eye glowing menacingly. The Demon King watches his underling utter one word and smirks as the hound obeys and sits, eyes dimmed to a subservient shade of crimson.

"Very good. Now he will be yours, summon him and he shall fight for you. Use Actaeon well, he is a strong ghoul."

"Oh yay! Now our pets can play! Now come on before I get bored!"

She charged him with her long black nails and chanted as her rings turned into spikes, no one pissed her off and lived to tell the tale. And no one, human or demon, knocked Actaeon around.

'Now you've pissed me off! I'll destroy you for pushing Actaeon around!'

The two tangoed dangerously as trees collapsed and the forest filled with her rotten black smoke. Sera swore she was going to kill this Demon King brat no matter what! It became a hurricane of snarls and punches, kicks and curses. Each step another flirt with disaster. Amaimon jumped down from a nearby tree and kicked her square in the jaw sending her flying backwards. Deep gashes lined the ground as she tried to stop herself with her claws. Sera grimaced, holding back her power was painful, but she couldn't let loose yet. She had a mission that required subtlety, her true power wasn't subtle. Lunging with tempered wrath in her eyes, Sera clawed at Amaimon's chest sending him back into a giant oak. The ancient tree groaned into the night as it clattered to the ground. Sera lunged forward to finish him off as an umbrella flew in front of her.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I never thought to see you again Sera. Especially not slinking around on my campus, now let's talk. And Amaimon," the clown glared at Amaimon eyebrows twitching in frustration, "STOP DESTROYING MY FORESTS!"

A puff of purple smoke caused Sera to cough and blocked her vision momentarily, Sera found herself in a garish office tied to a chair with ridiculous purple ribbons. After blinking a few times the haze cleared and Sera found herself with a freakishly happy Mephisto watching her and tapping his umbrella on the ground as Amaimon snacked on some pocky in the corner silently sulking. She frowned at the sight; he apparently already got his lecture about fighting. The clown could have at least let her see the lecture...

"So what brings you to my beautiful campus Sera? You could have at least dropped in to say hi. It's been so long since I've seen you, my, look at your hair! Oh and you've added to your rings! You're growing up so-"

"Shut up Mephisto! God, you never know when to shut up. My job is classified, you shouldn't even ask. Besides, why would I want to say hi to you, you freaky clown?"

He tsked his tongue again. Pushing his flowing cape out behind him, Mephisto dramatically sighed.

"You are still so much of a hassle again, Sera, just like old times! Destroying my forests, having such a negative tone for such a young lady, I'm appalled. You should be mannered, cultured, refined, then I'm sure we could find you a suitable man," Mephisto chuckled at her death glare then continued musing oblivious to the fact she mentally checked out of his lecture about the life she should have,

"... And since you only just got here, I would hate to send you away… hmm I know! Perfect punishment! Why don't I make you a student?" Sera's head snapped up at the last part. He had to be making a sick joke, there was no way… that damn smirk gave it away, he was serious.

"Why in great Gehenna would I accept that deal?" She snarled at Mephisto.

'This clown is insane. Surrounding myself with other students? Actual normal people?! Having to blend in? I haven't been around humans in ages... Especially not other teens. And definitely not a place meant to be rid of demons...'

"Don't be so harsh, it isn't so bad here, besides I wouldn't want to meddle in your bosses affairs. I don't like angering my brother; his smoky anger smells wretched and stains my clothes."

Amaimon perked up for a moment then sighed.

"Brother, that's why he is called the King of Rot. Can I go play now? I'm so bored."

'So my first guess was right, Mephisto really does remember me. Don't blame them; Lord Astaroth does enjoy bragging about my successful jobs. And attempting to infiltrate the Academy a few years ago did leave quite a mess.'

"No, Amaimon!" Mephisto turned his attention back to Sera, "so what about it, I'll allow you to continue your work uninterrupted, as long as it doesn't interfere with my goals."

"What are your goals then?"

"It's classified, you shouldn't even ask."

She tugged at her restraints as Mephisto smirked. Still as immature as ever. Damn clown.

'So become a student and do my work undisturbed? Sounds too good to be true...'

"What's the catch Mephisto?"

"Oh nothing! Just join the cram school and keep up good attendance, here I'll even give you a room and a uniform!"

Sera sighed and wiggled her wrists as the restraints fell to the ground.

"Join a class to become an exorcist? You must be crazy… oh wait."

"It's simple really. You'll fit right in, besides you can even make some friends!"

"Like I need friends..."

'I just need Actaeon at my side, I work alone... I always have.'

Mephisto bounded over and tapped her lightly on the head with his umbrella.

"Everyone needs friends. Now, go hurry to your dorm! I can't wait to see you working with the rest of the class. And about your ghoul hound, keep him on lockdown that would draw bad attention."

Sera stood up to leave as she touched the door she looked down at the gold key in her hand. She turned it over in her hands a few times. 'This key can take me to the cram school? From anywhere? Is it one of Mephisto's toys?'

"Oh, and Sera?"

"Yes, Mephisto?"

"When was the last time you talked to my brother?"

"I haven't seen Lord Astaroth in a few months. I've been out on various jobs. The last message from him was about four months ago."

"That's all, enjoy the rest of your day. You have classes tomorrow."

Mephisto laughed as Sera headed out the door. After the door closed Sera gazed upon a creepy looking dorm.

"Well, here I am…"

Sera took a deep breath and headed inside.