The hotel manager could have had a heart attack when he saw the state of his hotel room. He had come upstairs to see what all the noise was that his guests had been complaining about. When he got there ... there was a gaping hole in his wall, Blood spattered the walls and carpet. There were long, deep gouges in his carpet and furniture had been smashed up. There were bullet holes in things. The window was shattered. Blood dripped on the carpet.

"Y-You!" He spluttered angrily pointing at Dante, who he saw was holding a sword. "You are the spawn of Satan! How could you have done this to my beautiful hotel ... this will take weeks to repair ... this was my best suite ..."

Dante sheathed his sword and raised his hand in surrender to the elderly hotel manager.

"Whoa, whoa!" He said. "Chill out, pops. I'll pay for the damages ... and besides ... those two are closer to Satan spawn than I am. He's their uncle."

The hotel manager looked disapprovingly at the man.

"You ... you need a therapist. You are not right in the head. Just get out of my hotel! NOW!" The manager screamed.

"I think if I had a therapist ... they would need a therapist after dealing with me." Dante said.

Selene stepped forwards, smiling politely to the man. His temper seemed to cool.

"I am so sorry for this mess. I will be happy to pay for the damage ... and something extra for compensation." She said.

The manager seemed to have completely forgotten he was angry with the group.

"Oh ... dear girl ... that's awfully sweet of you." He said, now smiling insanely.

Dante shook his head, muttering 'damn angelic charm' under his breath.

Selene led the man out, discussing figures with him, drawing out a cheque book.

"It does come in handy sometimes." Michael said, smiling.

"You guys still let me take a roasting from that old geezer before you stepped in." Dante said, sighing.

"I thought you handled the situation ... rather diplomatically." Michael mused.

Dante shook his head, muttering under his breath.


The following morning, they had hired a car to drive to Fortuna. They had a stark white, convertible Cadillac, vintage model.

"They just don't make cars the way they used to." Dante said, inhaling the smell of the leather seats.

He was driving down some of the less crowded roads, the wind ruffling his hair. Michael was in the back, avidly reading a book. Selene sat in the front passenger seat beside him. They figured travelling in quieter areas would pose less risk to those around them. If they took the major highways and motorways ... innocent people would get caught up in this.

They were only about an hour away from Fortuna now, and there had been no further attacks.

"Is it just me ... or is this road ... too quiet? The last time we passed another car was about an hour ago." Selene said. "It's a country road but still ... we should have run into something."

"You're right." Dante said, and he stepped on the accelerator.

"Dante, look out!" Michael shouted from the back.

A barrier had sprung up around them. Dante came down hard in the brakes, the car skidded to a halt, and the group had to hold on tight so they weren't thrown out. The car spun as Dante yanked on the wheel to stop them hitting the barrier in front of them. The car tipped ... and then rightened.

The group looked around them, and jumped out of the car.

"A demon barrier." Dante whistled. "Not bad."

There came sharp, roaring noises in the distances. The three peered at the end of the road. A set of jet black motorbikes came speeding towards them, the wheels on them made of hellfire, the tail pipes made of what seemed to be bone, and the mud guards made from some kind of biological armour plating.

Settled on the bikes were demons ... but they were unlike anything they had ever seen. They had stubby, tatty little white wings poking from their back, a set on their head, and tiny ones on their ankles. Their bodies were skinny, with bony arms, and their legs were too long for the motor bikes, poking up over their heads. Their faces looked that though they had a long leather beak, their arms were covered in bristled, short white plumage. Above their heads were tiny, barely visible halos.

"Uh ... what are ... those ...?" Selene asked.

Dante could barely contain a bubble of laughter. "Check it out ... it's got wings!"

Selene drew The Seraphim, Dante took out Rebellion and Michael took out The Halo. The bikes circled them, the demons howling.

"Brings a whole new meaning to hells angels ... doesn't it?" Dante said, smirking.

Selene nodded. "They're new ones for the books."

Dante surged forwards in a stinger move, ramming his sword into one of the bike spokes, arresting the wheel. The demon saddled on it went flying. Some of the demons behind it crashed into the halted bike, and they went pitching forwards and were caught under the wheels of the remaining riders bikes. One of the bikes went out of control as it drove over one of its comrades, flying into the air ... and crashing into the car ... exploding on impact.

The remaining riders scattered, pulling away.

"Not too bright ... are they?" Michael said.

Dante drew Rebellion from the wheel of the bike. There were three remaining bikers, those that had been forced off their bike or mowed down by them had vanished – now dead.

"Looks like we still get to each to take down." Selene said.

The three split up, charging at the demons. Michael fired The Halo, the bullet hitting the demon in the head. It collapsed backwards. Strange ... it didn't turn into dust ...

Selene was firing round after round at her target. It evaded, revving up the bike and whirled around her. She jumped out of the way, charging her weapon ... and launched a blessed bullet.

The force of the bullet knocked the demon of the bike ... but it didn't kill it. As she landed, she fired a few rounds into the demons head ... and the demon stilled ... and exploded.

Dante had sliced at his opponent, knocking them off the bike, and then drove Rebellion into the demon. It burst and vanished as well.

"What's going on ...?" Selene said.

"Our weapons aren't having the usual effect on them." Michael agreed.

"Yeah ... I noticed that." Dante said, hefting Rebellion over his shoulder. "You think that demon girl did something to them?"

"This is serious." Selene said. "Our weapons aren't working anymore."

Michael looked at the smouldering car. There went their deposit ... and their ride.

"I don't mean to change the subject ... but how do we get to Fortuna now? It's an hours drive ... but I'm pretty sure it'll more than double if we have to walk." Michael said.

Dante looked at the motorbikes the demos had ridden. They hadn't vanished.

"Who said anything about walk ...?" He said.


The three sped down the road, leaning low on the bikes which roared as they tore across the road. It was the final mile to Fortuna. Dante had enjoyed the ride in the Cadillac ... but he was really enjoying the feel of riding a motor bike, belting along at top speed with the wind screaming past his ears.

He looked to Selene beside him on her own demon bike. She seemed to be enjoying herself just as much. Michael on the other hand looked a little uncomfortable. Motor bikes it seemed were not really his thing. He even sat awkwardly on it.

Michael always seemed to strike him as a refined gentleman. Unlike Selene, he enjoyed high class parties and the company of other people with titles. He was by no means a spoilt rich boy, nor was he a snob. But it seemed he was in his element in the world of the aristocrats.

Selene was the opposite. She didn't mind living in a small apartment, or spending lots of time in Dante's low grade budget office. She didn't mind eating pizza all the time. She even loved rock music just as much as Dante. She enjoyed the thrill of slaying demons, of getting even with them for killing her mother.

Though she had been born a noble woman, and was a duchess ... she certainly didn't live like one. Dante guessed that after spending her life running from demons ... it didn't leave much incentive for high society life.

"We're almost there." Selene said, pointing up ahead.

Just as the three made to put on a last burst of speed …. the ground beneath them burst upwards, throwing them into the air. Underneath them, a huge demon that was like an Assault slinked out from the ground. It three times the size of a normal assault, covered in winding white lines … with wing stubs poking from it's back. The armour was black … and the demons tail was lined with smaller wings. Above its head again was a barely discernable halo.

"What the-" Dante exclaimed, leaping off his bike as the tail swung at him. Selene threw her bike at it, and Michael did the same. The force of the bikes hitting it sent the demon stumbling backwards.

The three landed at the same time. The creature roared in anger … and stomped forwards. It stood before them, puffed its chest out, leaning back and then, thrust itself forwards giving a deep base bellow which shook the ground. Its body burst with what appeared to be white spikes which pulsed and hummed.

"That's new." Dante said, drawing Rebellion.

Selene and Michael drew their own guns. Though they wouldn't be able to use their blessed bullets … they could still at least use normal ones.

The demon lunged and the three jumped out of the way. Michael and Selene gave support fire while Dante stabbed at the oversized demon with his sword. With every strike Dante made, the demon blocked it with the spiked and its armour.

"This one's a tough bastard." Dante growled.

The fight continued and it seemed they weren't getting any closer to breaking through its armour.

"Hey! You guys need and hand?" A male voice came.

Then, from around the corner, a huge blue fist smashed into the demon, cracking its armour. The three took the opportunity and made for the opening. Dante sliced straight through, sword trailing down the demons body. Selene and Michael were firing, deepening the gash … and then … the demon toppled back. It smacked to the ground … and fizzled away.

The group turned to see Nero sauntering towards them.

"Hey, kid." Dante shouted. "Thanks for the save."

Nero grinned, wiping his nose. "Trust you three to make a big mess outside Fortuna."

Selene drew The Seraphim.

"What was that thing?" Nero said as he came level to the group.

"Dunno." Dante said. "Never seen anything like it."

"Well, you guys better follow me into Fortuna … before another one shows up." Nero said.

They followed him. Nero led the way, and once they had made it to central Fortuna, Nero assigned them their own temporary dorm. Michael had hung around in his dorm, wanting to take notes on what had happened. So in the meantime, Selene and Dante followed Nero to The Hall.

The communal room used by all the knights was a little empty. Only a few knights were there. Those present stood and saluted their commander before settling down again.

The three sank down into a seat before the lit fire.

"So … I see you've been making some new friends." Nero said.

Dante ran a hand through his hair. "Tell me about it. Things are … getting a little … complicated."

"Oh?" Nero raised an inquisitive brow.

"The Seraphim and The Halo aren't working anymore … that is … the blessed bullets are having no effect what so ever anymore." Selene explained. "There has been a huge rise in demon activity … and that thing outside was the second unusual demon we have encountered."

"Third." Dante corrected. "If you count the she-demon that attacked us at the hotel."

Selene explained what had happened at the hotel, right up until they had fought the demon at the gates of Fortuna.

Nero whistled. "Jeez. That sounds like bad news. If your weapons aren't working I can lend you some of The Order's devil arms. You need something with a little more bite if you're going to kill demons like that."

Selene inclined her head, indicating she was grateful.

"And you're saying … that demon has the counter part of Yamato as well?" Nero slouched in the seat.

"Every devil arm has an angelic counter part … but because only angels can use them … they're rarely seen and most have gone missing. That's just the way they were made. Lucifer crafted the Devil Arms. My father and the angel Michael crafted those to stand against them."

"I guess that would really cut out the number of people who could use them to you, your brother, your father and that guy Isaac. So ... what about this girl?" Nero folded his arms behind his head.

"She felt ... so strongly like a demon ... and yet ... she has the beauty of an angel." Selene said. "All angels are born with it. Much like our aura which puts people at ease."

"You don't suppose she could be an angel then?" Nero sat up and stretched.

"I ... I don't know. I suppose the best people to ask would be my father and Isaac. But my brother says they left a while back to go and check something important. They didn't say what." Selene sighed.

"Can't we just summon those guys with a horn ... or a trumpet ... or a harp ..." Dante trailed off as he caught Selene and Nero's unimpressed look. He gave a tactful cough.

The heavy atmosphere was broken when a burbling giggle echoed to them. Kyrie was wandering in holding Hope in her arms. Nero smiled.

"Sorry ... I just wanted to make sure Selene got here okay." Kyrie said.

Nero patted the seat beside him and Kyrie sank down. She passed him his daughter ... but the child stretched its arms out at Selene.

"It seems she missed you." Kyrie beamed brightly. "You're a natural with babies."

Hope gurgled and giggled, reaching out to Selene. Kyrie chuckled lightly and Nero smiled, looking from Selene to Dante, who was making an awkward face.

Selene reached out her hand, and Hope grasped her finger.

Nero grinned, stood with Hope in his arms and plopped the baby onto Dante, who almost leapt from the seat.

"Here you go." Nero said. "Spend some time with your uncle Dante."

Hope immediately reached up, grasping two fistfuls of his hair. Dante was trying to prise the baby's hands from him while not knocking it off.

"God ... this baby ... is just as much a pain in the ass as you are ... how do you get it to stop?" Dante exclaimed.

"Just watch her for a minute, I'm going to get Selene some devil arms she can use." Nero grinned at him.

Dante scowled, leering venomously at Nero, who waved at him. Hope had already dribbled over him, and was yanking hard on his hair still.

"Ewwww ... stop it, kid ... c'mon." Dante managed to gently wrestle his hair from its grip, and tucked the baby into his arms. "Nero don't you leave me here with this ... this thing."

Hope began bawling, the sound hurting Dante's ears.

"Awww. You hurt her feelings." Nero said, winking. "You better make it up to her ..."

And he left with Kyrie and Selene in tow behind him.

"When I get my hands on him ..." Dante held Hope out as though she were a diseased thing.

Suddenly ... he felt a warm, damp patch growing on his leg. He looked down and screamed.

"Those were my favourite pants ..." He groaned miserably.

Consequently, Hope had stopped crying and was now laughing hysterically, clapping her hands together.

"I'm glad you find this funny ... because I don't." Dante grumbled.