Chapter 1 – Introductions
The only sound in the small dank alley was the clacking of black boots on damp cement. The smell was a mix of decay and fresh blood. The endless black night sky loomed overhead a constant reminder of how dark the world could be.
"So, you must be the great Hercules?" The sharp edge tone of a young meister echoed through the alley. She stopped just before the soft light of a lamp, hanging above a door, illuminated her face. She wore a black jacket tailored to run along her curves, her black jeans were tucked into her knee high black boots, and a black tie hung loose around her neck complimenting her white tank top perfectly.
"What's it to you?" A hulking man holding a glowing blue soul in his hand ready to eat it asked. He eyed the new comer with slight curiosity.
"Maybe you haven't heard, but consuming innocent souls is forbidden." Her hands swung forward revealing two palm sized gleaming silver pistols with interlocking skulls etched into the sides. Her middle fingers clutched the triggers ready to squeeze them tighter.
"I never thought they'd send a Grim Reaper after me, I must be doing something right." He laughed a sick, demented sound.
"I'm glad you've heard of me." She smiled taking another step forward allowing her face to come into view. Three white lines cut across half of the bangs laying flat against her forehead. Her long black hair framed a round pale face. Her eyes shinned bright yellow around the edges and a rich gold closer to the pupil.
"You're nothing but a badly copied version of your father," he sneered.
She narrowed her eyes clenching her jaw muscles as his words ran through her ears. He staggered back looking dumbfounded just as his body vanished leaving only his dark red soul behind.
She tossed her guns into the air watching them flash blue as the weapons transformed. Filling the alley now were the bright smiling faces of Sully and Sid. The two were identical twins from their shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes down to their shoe size everything was the same. They wore form fitting white sweatshirts, blue jeans, and green sneakers. The only difference in their appearance was a jagged scar running along Sully's cheek.
"Have at it guys," she waved them toward the soul. A buzzing began in her jacket pocket, and she quickly answered the phone. "Death Angel, what can I do for you?"
"Angel, good work!" The always elated voice of her father, Death the Kid, came through the speaker. "Hurry home we need to discuss tomorrow evening's party."
"Be home soon, Dad." She sighed putting the phone away. "Am I really just a copy of him?" she mumbled.
"Of course not!" Sid shouted with a horrified expression.
"You may be Kid's daughter but you're nothing like him." Sully smiled patting Angel's shoulder.
She dropped her eyes to the ground and started walking away from the alley. Her father had shown her some of the best weapons in the world, but she had chosen twin pistols just like he had. Then there was the fact that she look a lot like him.
Death Angel would always be compared to Death the Kid, the Grim Reaper who fought the Kishin.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way?" The hooded figure asked pulling himself away from his hiding spot in the shadows. He pushed back the hood of his red jacket revealing the jagged spikes of his white hair. His grassy green eyes were no longer concealed behind his sunglasses. One of his hands remained tucked inside the pocket of his gray jeans as his yellow sneakers slapped against the dirty road.
"How did I get so lucky as to receive the attention of the legendary weapon and meister?" The crackling laugh from the criminal known as Lady Snake filled the empty road.
"Legendary? I must be moving up in the world." He smiled showing off pointed teeth.
"Come now, you must be proud to have parents as famous as yours." Her slender form trembled with excitement.
"Don't remind me." He stretched both arms out to the side. In an explosion of red his arms sprouted scythe blades that he held in front of him defensively. He charged at Lady Snake slicing her in two with speed she couldn't keep up with. She disappeared leaving behind her soul. He took the soul and quickly swallowed it.
He shuffled over to a nearby rock and sat with a grunt. He pulled out his phone dialing the first number that came to mind.
"Death Angel, you better have a good reason for calling." She answered with a teasing smile in her tone.
"Funny," he chuckled. "You busy?"
"Well, Evan Albarn, that all depends on why your calling." He heard a loud slap followed by a door slamming shut. Angel must have gone somewhere to get a little privacy.
"I was just reminded of my mom and dad…" he trailed off unsure of what else he could say.
"Ouch, how long has it been?"
"Almost three years," he sighed pinching his eyes shut. Of all the people Evan knew Angel was the most understanding when it came to his feelings about Maka and Soul's sudden disappearance. He knew for a fact that they weren't dead, but the reason why they were gone was a mystery to everyone.
"Wanna come over?" Sully's ordering takeout." She offered as an attempt to get his mind off of things.
"Sounds good," he stood up putting his shades back on. "Thanks, Angel." He tucked his hair back into his hood making his way toward her house.
"Anytime, Evan." She ended the call.
Evan Albarn was proud that Soul Eater Evans and Maka Albarn were his parents, the greatest weapon and meister duo history has ever seen.
Assassins rule number one: blend into the shadows, erase your breathing, and wait for your target to let down his guard.
The young woman eased herself behind a pillar taking carefully controlled breaths watching her target. She was grateful for the high collared white tank top and black pants she wore to make movements easier. Her hands, in black fingerless gloves with a band of stars along the edge, gripped her weapons tighter.
Assassins rule number two: tune in to your target, predict his thoughts and actions.
She focused her black eyes on the man at the head of the long dining table concentrating on his soul. She could see that he was rash and easily angered man, one who could always be counted on to lose all control.
Assassins rule number three: strike your target before he notices you.
She slipped silently through the room sticking close to the shadows. Not even her star tipped black boots with a white star on the toe make noise. Within moments she was positioned behind him ready to deliver a death blow.
The target spun around staring her straight in the eye. "Well now this is surprise."
She bit her lip to keep herself from reacting to the man's words.
His eyes lingered on her right shoulder that bore the tattooed mark of the Star clan. "Looks like you're still just second best next to your dear old dad."
She raised her chain scythe bringing it down on her target's head with all the force she could muster. The man slumped back in his chair turning to dust except for his floating soul. She grabbed the soul tucking it away in the pocket of her pants fading into the shadows one more to make her exit.
Arriving in a safe area she let go of her chain scythe watching the flash of yellow transform into a girl. She took the soul out of her pocket handing it over, "Eat up, Masa."
"Thank you, Gold Star." Masa devoured the soul with a smile. Masa's chin length black hair and pale gray eyes were a startling resemblance to her mother, Tsubaki.
Gold Star tightened the rubber band holding her golden blonde hair back. When her hair was pulled back it tended to stick out at odd angles making it look like a star. "We should get going."
"Alright, are you mad about what he said about Black Star?" Masa said straightening her yellow dress with a white star patch sewed on the hem. She fidgeted with her thigh high white boots that had bunched up while she was in weapon form. She had inherited all the weapon forms of Nakatsukasa family, but insisted on acting as girly as possible whenever she could.
"No." Gold Star headed away from the looming mansion in the background.
"By the way Angel wants us to come over for dinner." Masa said falling in step beside Gold Star.
Gold Star was used to being second best next to Black Star, the number one assassin who follows the path of god.