Disclaimer: I do not own the Devil May Cry Series, However Alexander Felicia Valentine is an original character created by myself

Devils Pack
Chapter 1: Different Sons Living Under Different Shadows

Heaven I could no longer see the pain and turmoil that ravaged this city. Thick grey cloud shrouded it from view the kind that threatened rainfall whilst restricting sunlight. The occupants of this city woke fairly often to this sight as it rained rather regally here, either by fate or mere coincidence.
Dressed in a three quarter length black leather jacket I wondered the streets of the city denied heavens view, eyes downcast I avoided the puddles of fresh rainwater as well as the pedestrians that rushed about the sidewalk. Soon another torrential rainfall would strike this pavement and the people would run for cover; I intended to be at my destination by the time the inevitable happened.
The person I was going to meet was talked about often in the underworld of this city but few people knew concrete facts, it seemed rumours and hearsay shrouded in him from view of regular mortals. Demons however all knew of this legendary son, legendary mainly for his father whom he'd always be inferior to; living in his shadow.
I could sympathize with his position, being the son of Lucifer few people actually knew of my existence and even fewer believed I could best my father in combat, including myself.
I'd fought Lucifer on many occasions and he was always injured but seemed impervious to pain and thus never actually died. It would take all my effort to inflict such injuries whilst in comparison my father would strike me down with minimal effort.
Why did the devils son try to kill the devil that fathered him? It's a long story mostly because he tried to manipulate me into committing evil but I'd taken the path of good which not only frustrated him but it also gave him free reign to keep testing and manipulating me in the hope I'd eventually stop persevering and turn to fight under his banner. Now I was going to enlist help for my cause as the person I was going to see was also spawn of the devil, however he was the son of a different devil then my own.
When the rainfall came I strode at my same leisurely pace the newly upturned collar offering some minimal form of protection. My shoulder length black hair conducting the water making my fringe heavy and weighted to my brow. The weight of my hidden Kaiken (Authors Note: a Kaiken is a Japanese short sword used by female samurais and is lesser known then the more common Katana) felt reassuring, whilst I was perfectly proficient with many forms of martial arts I still preferred to use my blade.
Stepping into a side street I knew I was getting closer to my destination, the red luminous glow coming from the single neon sign confirmed my suspicions.
"Show time" I muttered to myself striding up the centre of the street to the buildings front door.
My hand reaching behind my back to rest upon the cream coloured ray skin wrapped in deep red leather that makes the handle of my blade. The natural strength of the leather combined with the rough and firm texture of the manta ray's skin giving it superior grip.
The scabbard is made of the same deep red leather that can be mistaken for black unless light is directly upon it, this all concealed by the folds of my jacket. For a brief second my mind wondered back to the time I once merely clipped the blade to the back of my belt without the need for such extreme concealment measures.

The sound of rock music made me smile as I covered the ground of the threshold; my own personal musical taste.
I glance at the jukebox emitting the music to my right but keep striding towards the large desk and the individual seated behind it with his feet upon the desk.
"Closed at eight buddy but if you want to use the can its in the back" he gestured with his right thumb over his shoulder.
I unintentionally chuckled, this person was barely older then myself and for such a strong lineage I'd expected more manner then this rashness.
He bushed a band of silver hair from his eye but kept his gaze upon me as I approached closer to the desk and seated myself on the chair opposite his.
He merely raised an eyebrow at my behaviour.
"My name is Alexander Felicia Valentine…" I began before he interrupted:
"That's very nice but we still closed at eight"
The corner of my mouth twisted into a grin, time for another approach, I'd tried being polite.
"My father is Lucifer"
He smiled and rose to his feet walking beside my chair but I kept my gaze fixed on the red cushioned chair he'd occupied.
"Listen buddy I don't like time wasters…"
"I'm asking you're assistance in killing my father, Mr…?"
"Names Dante"
"Dante…" I looked into his pale blue eyes and leaned closer towards him.
"…Please help me"
My inferior hazel eyes begging his blues with the tint of sadness that resided there.
"Sure why not, one demon is as good as another"
Striding back to his desk he opened a single draw to reveal a small wooden case, the symbol of his business was embossed upon its surface and the irony of it nearly made me laugh.
Devil May Cry
"Do you have any idea what you're dealing with? Lucifer isn't some possessed little girl or troublesome half-demon he's invulnerable.
Dante smiled, his face lighting up with boyhood mischief that made women weak at the knees.
"Can he bleed?"
I nod in conformation before speaking:
"Yes, but his wounds heal within seconds"
"You inflict these wounds?"
"Yes"
He looked me up and down, examining my physique.
"No wonder" he smiled as my expression changed from neutral to annoyed.
From the box he produced two dull steel firearms, both identical.
"Desert Eagles?" I asked gesturing to the guns
"These? Nope little buddy these are hand and homemade, this is ebony and this is ivory"
"You're going to shoot Lucifer?"
"Why not?" he questioned smugly
"I don't use guns strictly blades only"
He smiled before firing a single bullet over my shoulder, as the deafening roar of the gunshot subsided I gave him a questioning look as I strode back to where I'd entered; on the street a blackbird twitched in its death throes as a cloud of black feathers floated down to the pavement.
"You don't know what you're missing" he laughed from behind me
He didn't even feel the recoil
The last (and only time) I fired a handgun the recoil jerked it out my hand.
Angrily I advanced upon him, each stride breaking the distance between us but despite the advance he still remained behind his desk totally composed with that boyish grin of success and showmanship.
"Valentine I thought you were the son of Lucifer, that reaction time was terrible"
I drew my sword, the reflection of well-polished steel flashing across the space between us.
He didn't even move, his eye merely tracked the blade as it came within a centimetre of his face but no reaction registered from the demon hunter.
"Wow that was pretty fast Damien…"
"Alexander" I corrected
"Whatever chill you've impressed me, even for a kid that was quick although I could do better at you're age"
I grinned
"Sure" the sarcastic tint of the comment rolling off my tongue.
"Want to see if my swordsmanship equals my sharp shooting?" his tone playful
"I've come to fight a devil not you Dante" sheathing my sword.
"Oh but I am a devil Valentine"
I raised an eyebrow
Surrounded momentarily in a red aura his form shifted into a demonic mockery of his image, long silvery white hair, leathery blood red wings, muscles expanding in his chest, arms and legs but his clothing still remained despite the shape shift.
"Whoa!"
Then he was back to normal, the entire change had lasted about the same time it takes for a camera to flash but I'd seen the basics of the display of his demonic powers…which is exactly what he intended.
"Show off" I exclaimed
"Me?…" he faked hurt, his smile lighting up his features
"…Never!"
"Wish I could do that"
"You can't? All the devils I've known can but it's kinda random when it kicks in"
"There's still hope for me yet" I smiled at the black jean, black boot and white shirt clothed individual opposite me.
"So Valentine you say you've hurt Lucifer, no offence intended but how…?"
My words caught in my throat
"I mean don't take it personally you can certainly handle a blade but I would have though your daddy could tear you into ravioli"
"My mother trained me to be a warrior since birth, plus I'm a vampire"
To this information the demon hunter certainly seemed impressed.
"Whoa a Dracula never met one of those, wait no there was the chick with the bats…"
"…Ancient history" he commented upon witnessing my confused expression.
Dante stripped off this white t-shirt exposing chest and abdomen muscles to match my own.
"What are you doi…?"
He shushed with a gesture
"Jealous Valentine? I guess you're tagging along as well"
"Damn right I'm tagging along he's my fucking father"
Clothing himself in a red overcoat Dante threw his pistols into the air and walked towards me.
"You gonna get ready?" Dante asked
I nodded in reply.
He grabbed a broadsword that had reclined on the desk beside me, its handle a large skull with carefully carved twists and spirals in the metal.
Its about this time Dante's guns dropped perfectly into the back holster of his leather overcoat with a noticeable thud; I can't hide I was deeply impressed and this was just with his timing I'd yet to see the demon hunting mercenary in combat yet.
"Why?" I asked finally regaining the use of my tongue.
"That's why"
I turned to follow his pointed hand; a rag-clothed skeleton was swinging a scythe straight at me.

I grabbed the blade, the force of the blow penetrating my skin and dripping my dull blood down the steel as well as the floor.
My hazel eyes staring into the sockets of my opponent, my sixth sense telling me there was more then one and I was surrounded.
"My turn"
Keeping the scythe embedded in my left hand, my right drew my Kaiken slicing it across my opponents face. With an unholy squeal of defeat it collapsed into a sandy pile upon my feet.
Spinning on the spot my Kaiken claimed another demons life on my right whilst I twisted the scythe into my armpit but still held the shaft of the weapon.
I stood still for a few seconds, my eyes looking at Dante who had not moved throughout the entire encounter.
Two squeals of defeated demons reached my ears; one killed by my sword another by the scythe of their own companion.
Twin mounts of dust and sand piling upon Dante's carpet.
"Impressive Valentine" Dante commented rushing past me.
Letting his sword drop to the floor he drew his custom guns, his left and right hands both firing a single round into a demon by his side before he crossed the guns across his body discharging more lethal bullets into more opponents.
Dante's foot kicking his sword (that had still to hit the floor) the added force and momentum propelling it upwards so that it pierced the jaw of another grim reaper clone.
I trust my own sword at the ribcage of another, my face coming mere inches from my adversary; he roared a animalistic growl of aggression.
I smiled withdrawing the blade horizontally cutting the skeleton man in half as his body began to degenerate.
Changing me footing I high kicked another, its decapitated head flying across the room before exploding into a cloud of dust.
Dante's expert gunshot claiming the target.
We glanced at each other and both smiled.
But still more demons advanced upon us, spawning from various cloud like apparitions that appeared momentarily in the office, spitting out a few demons, then vanishing.
Back fisting one I repositioned myself closer to Dante, the demon hunter anticipated my movement and moved closer to me till we were back to back.
Two individuals, one with shoulder length silver hair and another with black, standing back to back, our swords drawn and held at defensive stances.
We could be brothers I let myself think as the image hit me.
"Friends of yours mon philosopher?" I asked
"Low level demons Valentine, not who I associate with…dull party's"
"Can't say I've been to a party like this before"
"Stick with me Valentine and the party never stops"
I chuckled at his statement whilst a two deep ring of "low level demons" surrounded us.
"Some party Dante, no booze, no babes, no music"
"Why didn't you say something Valentine? Can't have you thinking I'm a bad host!…"
He side kicked the jukebox against the wall beside us, after a moment of silence loud rock music emanated from the speakers that surrounded the office.
"…Better?"
"Much"
I looked ahead at a single enemy, metaphorical hazel coloured fight in my eyes.
The demon stopped its advance for a second, his head tilting to one side as it examined my expression, its hollow sockets watching my eyes.

The flinch in your eye calls your bluff
Feel free to die when you've had enough
Useless cause is breaking your back
Your life will end when you attack

As his scythe rose into the air I lunged forward and counter attacked, my right hand holding the handle of my sword whilst me left struck the base giving it extra penetration. It impaled the demon, its form evaporating to dust as I continued my attack to the next foe.
I turned three hundred and sixty degrees, giving me a fleeting glimpse of Dante dispatching another three demons.
My blade lopping off the hands of another generic foe, its wail of pain sounding over the loud rock music.
Throwing the sword upward I broke into a run, my right foot standing on its arms before I launch upward stepping onto its shoulder, my foot kicking back at its head decapitating it and propelling me forward.
In midair I grasp my sword's handle and plummet to the ground, a single vertical slash killing another demon mid fall; he splits in half as I twist and dismember another demon by slicing its bony ankles from under it.
I turn to see a steel blade, coming for my neck…decapitation and fire being the only two things that can kill me.
Frozen by fear it takes me a seconds to recognise the demon, flinch once, twice, then fall over backwards.
I look across the room.
Dante's holding his smoking firearm aimed in this direction; Dante my saviour.
He leans backwards as I throw the discarded weapon of a demon in his direction, the long length of blade embedding in the skull of the demon that had been advancing upon him.
"Stay frosty Vampire"
"You too Demon Hunter"
A squeal of pain as I thrust my blade backward in the small gap between my ribs and arms…the advancing demon killed by the surprise stab.
"Valentine! Catch!"
I snatch the flying back hand cannon of Dante's from the air, put the barrel in the face of the nearest demon before pulling the trigger.
The demon dies but the gun flies from my grip falling to the floor:
Damn recoil
Behind me I can hear Dante laughing at my expense.
My foot rests on the firearms then kicks it backwards back at its owner.
"Keep it, I really do prefer blades"
Another skull parting following the wake of my short sword, the fortunate lack of blood; or I'd be covered in it…not that I'd complain.
From the raised area of the office a blur of motion made me dive out the way, a large demonic creature pouncing on the position I'd been in.
Its body ripped with shadows as its red eyes looked at me.
"Valentine! Pull your socks up!" Dante yelled
Instead of diving to the floor as commanded I leaped backwards into a backward flip, the torrent of high calibre bullets from Dante's firearms passing harmlessly beneath me…the deafening noise of the bullets however didn't pass me by.
"Thanks" I yelled
"Anytime Valentine"
"I do have a first name ya know!"
"Now now kiddo I'm only messing"
More demons appeared, the creatures soon crowded what little free space remained within the combat torn office. Once more myself and Dante found ourselves back to back.
"You always party this hard?" I asked
"Actually yeah"
"I think its kicking out time Dante" I commented
Dante stepped forward toward the mass of demons, ebony and ivory held in each of his hands:
"You hear that guys? Party's over, come on haven't you got homes to go to?…"
I laughed behind him, watching the demon hunter mock creatures spawned from hell itself.
God he's got some balls
"…Don't say we didn't warn you, Hey Valentine"
"Yeah"
"Lets kick it!"
His roundhouse kick, toppling one demon into the one behind it. My straight kick connects with one's chest collapsing it into dust, I back flipped following the contact landed knees first upon a demon's shoulders and twisted.
The sound of the shattering neck, echoed around the room.
Meanwhile Dante was rapidly kicking a demon across the face, his right foot sweeping across the skull before he twisted making the heel of his boot connect again, a change of footing and he spinned literally kicking its face in.
Two scythes rushed at me, stepping backward at the last possible second the two demons killed each other: friendly fire.
Dante's feet were becoming a blur as he repeatedly and rapidly kicked at the hoard that surrounded us, launching into mid air he split kicked two creatures, then before hitting the floor twisted in mid air and caught another once with an over the head kick.
Witnessing this bravado I doubled my efforts in an attempt to keep up with Dante's kill count…

Before long only one demon remained, it un-phased by the deaths of its companions slowly advanced upon the Demon Hunter and Vampire.
As the high tempo music reached its crescendo the Vampire kicked out the knees of the demon dropping in to the floor before another sweeping kick threw the creatures weapon across the room.

Knee in the blood with your crying pleas
Wade in your sorrow, bathe in your fear
Clear the mind from righteousness suffer
Witness the moment of your failures prosper

"So what do ya say, partners?" the vampire asked extending his hand to the demon hunter.
"Don't normally work with guys…but sure Valentine you've got a partner"
The pair shook hands to confirm they're alliance against the forces of evil.
"And him?" Alexander asked looking at the disarmed creature on its knees between them.
Dante pointed his gun at the creature's head and fired a single bullet killing the final demon. The pair looked about the dust and sand covered floor of Dante's building.
"Got a vacuum?" the vampire asked with a smirk upon his face.
"Valentine keep up the sarcasm and I see nothing but good things for this partnership!"
"Good, well I've gotta go to my motel and grab my fighting gear then we can start hunting for my father…"
"Nope…" the Demon Hunter exclaimed
"Nope?" the Vampire was shocked and confused, it was obvious by the expression upon his youthful face.
"…First we get you some real clothes then find a party"
"Whoa…Hey…" the vampire followed the Demon out into the torrential rain of the street, the red neon glow of Dante's business sign illuminating the street.
"…Dante what's wrong with my clothes?
"Any dude could wear that generic jacket Valentine"
"I TOLD YOU! I've got a first name"
Dante ignored the younger vampire and continued down the street with the vampire in tow.

From the shadows of a nearby alleyway a single figure stubs out his cigarette with the heel of his shoe.
"So my son's found another friend…" Lucifer speaks to himself
"…And a son of Sparta no less…this could get interesting"
Footfalls echo off the dirty brick walls of the alleyway as Lucifer walks away, his mind already thinking of what manipulation he could conjure to make the two teammates cross blades with one another.

Scene Fades Out

Cue Music:

Implodes your moral and drain your pride / Hail to a father of divine
Too late for debate or run and hide/ To the sone the light will shine
Time to take your life it tolls the bell / From the angst of lost memories
To your hell I'd like to welcome you / A just revenge to cure misery