Chapter 1:
Sitting atop one of the highest roofs in the city of Reveille, Bliss and Valentin glance across all the busy citizens as they use the last remaining bits of day to buy their necessities. The strong winds gust Bliss' long white hair with her pink ribbon the only thing keeping her locks from flaming wildly; her albino eyes meet to the black orbs of Valentin who places his tan hand against her pale neck.
"Does the mark hurt, Bliss?" Valentin's dark voice questions.
Bliss smiles cheerfully, admiring the way he says her name. She treasures the few words he ever speaks longing for their conversations to extend more than little replies.
"Not yet." Bliss responds "But if you decide to battle again, today, I do not know if I can handle the strain."
Valentin nods briefly then returns to scanning the town as Bliss latches onto his arm, easing herself to a sitting position on the ledge with her legs dangling down. Her pink dress flaps against the forceful air mimicking the sound of birds and their wings. She closes her eyes, envisioning herself flying in the open sky; a sense of freedom she longs for but the mark over her heart interferes with her dream. Yes, the mark of an illegal contractor burned for eternity upon her breast. How could she ever forget? That mark which resembles a clock – her clock- reminding her how much longer she will be with the living. When the time strikes twelve, completing the demonic circle, she will be sucked into the Abyss and used as a toy for all the chains.
Bliss swings her legs, in a bored manner as she watches the setting sun. She purses her lips then peers over the edge, analyzing the height of the building and contemplating a way down that does not involved injury. She sighs and leans back, realizing that the only way to get off is to jump which is something her human body could not possibly do.
"Valentin, I am hungry. Can we go down now? Obviously there is no chain about. If there were, would it not be seen by now? There are so many humans to dine on." Bliss states.
"I suppose you are correct. Rogue chains with weak contractors would have dined on human flesh by now." Valentin steals one last glance across the city before crouching low and lifting Bliss into his sturdy arms as he leaps off the building, landing softly on the cobblestone street. He gingerly sets her on her feet then steps beside her, prepared to follow.
Bliss smiles then rushes towards the nearest shop praying for good fortune that they are still open. She stops in front of the glass window of a home restaurant with succulent meats to dine on. With a growling stomach, Bliss lurches through the door while Valentin nonchalantly walks afterward.
Valentin respectfully pulls out a red cushioned chair allowing Bliss to sit first before he places himself in front of her. Bliss smiles happily and sips her tea while Valentin prods at the meat dinner before him, his attention diverted from his contractor while she feasts on her own meal.
"Valentin, please eat. The owner only allowed us in due to my appearance of fragility. It will disrespect him much if you do not dine on the dinner he carefully prepared for his out of hospitality." Bliss murmurs.
Valentin turns his black eyes on Bliss analyzing her familiar features before scanning the area. His large hands curl into fists feeling an all too human nervousness. Why is he feeling so anxious? His stomach tightens, his eyes dilate to a crimson red, his breathing steadies.
As Bliss extends her petite hand towards his, Valentin ejects from his chair, tackling his contractor until their bodies collide into the wooden floor just in time for large entity to forcefully erupt from the boards. Valentin urgently lifts Bliss into his arms and jumps back, evading the serpent's enormous fangs only to meet the tail of the monstrosity. With a grunt of pain, Valentin leaps onto the counter, caressing Bliss to his chest as his scolding eyes glare fiercely toward the snake.
"Valentin," Bliss mutters "is this the chain?"
Valentin nods and leaps to the side avoiding a green spray that ejected from the mouth of the reptile; Bliss watches as the substances turns acidic, bubbling and eating away at the countertop. The chain hisses and coils around the two, its body cramped in the home restaurant before it pushes its head to the ceiling, making the boards creak in protest before giving way, showering debris.
Valentin's eyes widen before using his body as a shield, protecting Bliss from the fall of wood and other waste. The sharp objects damage his exposed torso, cutting and piercing his delicate skin until blood seeps through his tender flesh. At this moment Valentin wishes he accepted Bliss' offer of purchasing a black cloak but he believed that being a chain would offer power to keep him and her safe. How stupid could he possibly be? By encouraging meaningless fights, Valentin knows he has used too much of Bliss' will and now the time in which he truly needs the energy to protect her and himself he has no access to it without harming her physically.
Valentin clutches the delicate skin of Bliss' legs in frustration. He easily maneuvers past and away the chain but every attempt he creates for the exit, the snake only creates a block using its extremities to its advantage.
"Sitra, is this the one the Will of Abyss wants?" a man gasps from the serpents side.
How did Valentin not notice him? His concern for Bliss is clouding his vision.
"No." the snake hisses "But this is someone the Will of Abyss will eagerly accept. Phoenix. A most rare and powerful chain who seems to be defenseless." Valentin holds Bliss closer as he positions himself against the wall not allowing an attack from behind to catch him off guard. He must keep this annoyance in sight at all times for Bliss' survival. "You should've gorged yourself more on human flesh. Such a tasty meal gives even weaklings enough power to make this city burn."
"I do not need such a thing to kill a nuisance like you." Valentin growls through gritted teeth.
Sitra recoils and hisses angry, its head swaying side to side preparing for attack but Valentin expects it and readies himself for an offense. The beady eyes of the snake meet the black furnace of the Phoenix both holding a bloody past too torturous for words.
"Bliss, I apologize." Valentin murmurs as he steals the energy of his contractor to release the power of the Phoenix.
The red tattoos on Valentin's back ignite like an inferno creating flames in the shape of wings that outstretch towards the enemy. Fire propels forward aimed for the scales of Sitra, scolding the skin to the bone as the chain yells in agony sending multiple curses towards the duo. The flames lick at the thrashing body from tail to head sending the intense smell of burning flesh into the air.
A purple seal envelopes the chain, Sitra, and its contractor, slowly devouring the two towards the deepest level of Abyss. The contractor screams in fear, begging for a savior, pleas which Valentin ignores.
The fire recedes back to the source allowing Abyss to deal with her insubordinates. They will receive a punishment unimaginable to Valentin.
Valentin's attention turns to Bliss, her unconscious form lying limp in his arms. He sighs and holds her close before fleeing from the scene in case detectives of Pandora hear about two chains in this city and encountering Bliss' father is not a fight either wishes to enter.
Deep in the shadows, away from Valentin's senses, resides a tainted man with a red eye glowing vibrantly in the dark. A crooked grin appears on his half hidden face as he watches the illegal contractor and chain make their escape.
"We need to go after them!" a shrill voice cries
"No, Emily, they will soon come to us. Besides, I am curious to see what more this 'Bliss' and 'Phoenix' can really do. They might even give Alice a challenge."