Capcom (c) Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry: Restitution
Chapter One - Devils' Reunion
Trish had her twin pistols, Luce and Ombra, raised and aimed at the seated man's back. Her fingers resting heavily on the trigger and ready to fire at the slightest sign of duplicity. Though a gnawing doubt in the back of her mind told her that the she-devil wouldn't stand a ghost of a chance against him. Especially if he was indeed the source of the enormous explosion of demonic power she sensed earlier.
Trish had been following a trail of demons that skulked about what remained of Redgrave City on another job from Morrison. The objective was to hunt a large cluster of Empusa Queens and their broods. Despite the Qliphoth being dead a month now, the chattering worker bees were still as persistent as ever in their labours. Like ants in the human world, they diligently - mechanically - continued their task of attempting to feed lingering human blood to the long dead and rotting tree.
More often than not, Trish had come across Hell Canina and Antenoras too. Those had required a little more attention than the demonic bugs, but nothing so arduous that it outstripped her capabilities. But that was before she sensed the vast demonic energy. One that completely and utterly eclipsed anything for kilometers. A power, if she was quite frank, that was comparable in potency to the kind unleashed by Vergil and Dante's clash atop the Qliphoth.
Against her better judgement, Trish had taken it upon herself to locate the epicenter of those powers. If not to stop them, then at the very least track the individual down so she could ascertain if their intentions were good or ill. The trail took her through the abandoned library. The building had been utterly destroyed by demonic and mundane squatters alike. It wasn't until she caught an out-of-place melody on the wind that she found her quarry.
She followed the musical notes to its source, a grand organ in the ruins of one of Redgrave's many churches. A once beautiful heritage building whose roof had partially collapsed in on itself. The door looked as though it had been wrenched open with superhuman strength and afforded a view of the grand Organ. Though dusted with debris, the greater instrument had somehow miraculously survived the destruction around it and still placed crisp clear notes.
The man who sat before it had white hair cropped in a neat style, more alabaster white than the silvery threads on Nero, Vergil and Dante. He was dressed in black slacks, stylish boots and a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow. A folded black jacket rested on the seat besides him with a gleaming black gladius-shaped sword leaning against the chair within easy reach. Both the blade and grip had been modified and enlarged to resemble the dimensions of a zweihander.
"How do you do?" He greeted, not even looking up from his playing and Trish was startled. She was sure she was silent in her approach, but then realized that if this was the devil she thought it was, she shouldn't have been so surprised he could sense her too. But what took her back the most was how pleasant and cordial his greeting was.
Trish kept her guns leveled at his back with her eyes narrowed as he swayed with the notes, seemingly possessed by the passion for his music. Even without seeing his face, she could recognition the demonic aura emanating from him though it had been many years since she'd last sensed it. So many in fact, she thought he had been slain long ago.
"I don't suppose you're the one whose been controlling all these demons, are you?" Trish probed, keeping her tone light.
"No." He continued playing as if uninterrupted. "Though even if I were, do I have any reason to give you an answer? As I last recall, we were enemies when we last spoke. Do you trust the word of an enemy?"
"Because I'm the one with guns pointed at the back of your skull, and you're not in any position to deflect them." It was a cheap bait tactic, but Trish had to be sure of this devil's intentions.
The notes trailed off and he glanced over his shoulder, his unnaturally golden eyes glimpsed Luce and Ombra in Trish's hands then he resumed playing. "So you do. Well, if you doubt my intentions then shoot. Don't keep those up unless you're willing to use them - its insulting otherwise."
Trish's lips pursed in a fine line, testing the waters one last time. "You left us. You abandoned us."
There was a skip in the notes but the melody continued to play. "Yes I did. And happily would again." He replied then smirked in mild amusement though Trish could not see it. "But from what I've heard, you're no longer batting for that team anyway - so that accusation comes across as rather hollow and hypocritical, wouldn't you say? Now, would you please be so kind as to lower those firearms? We both know you wouldn't be able to stop me if I decided to do anything untoward."
Trish glared at his back before giving a conciliatory shrug and lowering her weapons. "So, what do I call you? I highly doubt you'd be operating under the same name."
"I go by Cifer." Cifer stated.
"So not quite the same then."
"No." Cifer shook his head slowly, "While I may hate my origins, one must always remember them if they wish to become better than what they are."
"Nice line." Trish said and walked on, stopping at five paces from Cifer's back. "Well, you're not here to idly chat and I don't think there's anything particularly interesting about that Organ to captivate your attention."
"There is, but would you be so kind as to tell me the name your picked out for yourself?" He inquired, "Last time we met, you hadn't picked one out yet."
"Trish. My name is Trish."
"Well Trish - its an Organ that's in your path. That makes it interesting enough." Cifer finished off the musical piece with a flourish before turning to face her completely, patting the Organ's varnished wood appreciatively. "Besides, Ode to Joy is one of my favourite pieces and I couldn't resist the urge to hear it on this beautiful thing."
Trish frowned suspiciously, "You knew I was coming this way?"
Cifer offered his hand with a shrug, he dusted off his trousers and crossed his ankles, leaning his back against the organ behind him. "I'm the one who commissioned this little foray. I hope the military blockade wasn't too difficult for you to pass? Well, no matter. I told that Morrison gentleman that I wanted Devil May Cry to attend to the matter. Imagine my confusion when he mentioned that the man who founded the agency, the Legendary Devil Hunter Dante, was no longer present to run the agency."
"Is that right?" Trish mused, holding her tongue regarding how that situation came about.
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" Cifer questioned politely, "I know what your original purpose was, but with the current state of affairs that's become somewhat muddled."
"What did you want with Dante?" Trish half-demanded, holstering her pistols and crossing her arms.
"Help in stopping a pesky witch coven's ritual, and in the process righting a monstrous wrong." Cifer answered frankly.
Trish raised an eyebrow. "A witch's ritual? Care to explain precisely what kind of ritual we're talking about?"
"To make a rather long story short, the build-up of demonic energy has allowed for the Wiccan arts to grow in power. Some have even entertained the outlandish idea of attempting to summon demons into this world. While I don't particularly care in most cases since their rituals end disastrously - which I confess amuses me to no end - the demon these women are attempting to summon specifically irks me."
"Are you going to tell me or keep me in suspense?" Trish asked,
"They want to break the seal surrounding Mundus' prison and bring the Demon King back into this world."
The revelation struck Trish like a physical blow. "What - how?! Dante sealed him away back on Mallet Island!"
Cifer waved his hand and shrugged dismissively. "As you can imagine, I don't particularly want that calamitous event to occur - as I'm sure you wouldn't either. I suppose Daddy dearest wouldn't have the best in mind for either of us if he ever broke out of his little prison"
Trish signed, hands planted on her hips. "That's why you wanted Dante's help?"
"Any kin of Sparda would do," Cifer uncrossed his legs and leaned forward elbows on his knees, "The ritual has already amassed a significant amount of ambient demonic energy. When this monstrosity tore through the city, it was like pouring gasoline on the inferno."
"How much demonic power?"
Cifer met her gaze, his expression as grave as could be expected, "More than enough to create a rift through the dimensions. What they need now is a focus. And you and I both know the best focus for such a spell is blood. Specifically the blood of the demon the summoner wishes to invoke into our world."
"I assume if you're resorted to this tactic, then there's no way to safely disperse the energy."
"No," Cifer shook his head, his gaze lowering. "Sadly, the amount of energy built up has nearly reached critical mass. It would take centuries for it to disperse completely, and for that intervening time, the area would be a demonic hot spot. Its like a lighthouse in a storm, demons would be drawn to it like a magnet for centuries to come. But if that energy was turned towards more... benign purposes, then we can discharge it all in one go. And it would take years before the covens could even attempt something this foolish again."
Trish nodded slowly, now grasping precisely what his plan was. "And that's why you want to find Sparda's kin."
Cifer stood and dusted himself off. "That, and to warn you. Some of the Wicca may know of or somehow discover your connection to Mundus too. You're not of his blood, but you are his creation - its possible that they might find a way to use that connection to substitute for a direct blood relation."
"That's uncharacteristically kind of you." Trish noted.
Cifer shrugged nonchalantly. "You haven't seen me in over thirty years - I was a rebellious brat back then so its understandable that one matures during that time, no?"
"You still are. You're just less of a brat these day."
Cifer chuckled, raising his hands in defense. "We're both guilty of that charge I'm afraid, but I don't particularly mind the results. Do you?"
Trish paced back and forth, back onto business and considering the situation, mulling over all the possibilities. "You're planning to hijack this ritual?"
"Hijack's such an ugly word, I prefer the term 'appropriation'...but essentially, yes." Cifer nodded. "Nothing as nefarious as you're thinking I'm sure. All I want is to give a gift to the family that mine has committed such brutal crimes against."
"That's all?"
"That's all," Cifer shrugged. "I may have to kill a witch or two that can't be dissuaded from their foolish notions, but I'm not entirely fussed by that concept."
Trish scratched at her temple, turning away to pace up and down the church's length. Her lips pursed in consideration. Cifer waited patiently, his golden eyes never once leaving her form. She came to a stop directly before him, and observed that he was half a head taller than her. She met his expectant gaze.
"There's a devil hunter in Fortuna, kid by the name Nero. He's the last Sparda in the human world."
"He'll do," Cifer picked up his coat, which upon closer inspection looked designer, and the sword - carrying it in a reverse grip. Removing the article of clothing revealed a black leather briefcase which he gestured too. "Payment for your time and efforts. And thank you, Trish. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to introduce myself to a young soul and a summoning ritual to hoodwink."
As the taller demon moved to pass her, Trish put her arm out to bar his path. "Cifer. If you do anything untoward or if you lie to that boy, then I will personally hunt you down and put a bullet between your eyes."
Cifer turned to a surprisingly soft smile towards the blonde woman. There was a mix of kindness and pride in his features.
Trish met him expression with a challenging look of her own. "What?"
"A human heart suits you, Trish." Cifer complimented with a genuine warmth before departing. "We should catch up some time but until then watch your back, little sister."
Author's note:
This is my first foray into DMC fanfic. I welcome any criticism and feedback you could give me.
Thanks and regards,
Aurora313
