Chapter 2

A moonless night hid shadowed forms and thunder masked the whistling steel and sudden grunts and cries. A fire spit and hissed as another demon corpse was tossed on it. With only the whistle of steel as warning, another body fell to her black blade. They didn't even have time to scream.

"Three should be enough, Crimson," I told her.

"We should head back to the Undertaker's and rest till tomorrow. Then we'll find him."

Her ice blue eyes looked nearly ghostlike in a lightning flash. "Okay."

I heard her steel sword slide back into its umbrella scabbard before we walked from the scene.

Sebastian

"The bodies are almost too mangled to identify, aren't they? What do you think, Sebastian?" my young master asked out of the blue.

I looked at him oddly before answering. He had never asked my opinion before. I couldn't tell him the whole of it, he wouldn't understand it.

"Yes, they are rather difficult to identify. I think it best if people remain watchful at night until this violent killer is stopped. I also believe that we shall be late for tea if we don't leave soon."

But this killer wouldn't be stopped, at least not by humans, for they themselves weren't human. Not even the victims were human, they were demon. This was the work of hunters and damn powerful ones at that. These weren't low level demons; two were arch demons, my own level. The letter M with the center lines forming an X carved into some victims burnt flesh gave it away.

Maddox…so the sisters have returned.

"I don't think we can be of more help, Sebastian," Ciel said.

"I think our views agree on this Master. Very well, I shall retrieve the carriage."

The next three minutes a handsome carriage carted by two pretty blood bays pulled up. Being a demon myself, my two favorite colors were black and red. I couldn't resist the horses' rich crimson velvet coat color, and their silk black manes and tails. Besides, like cats, horses were far more intelligent than humans gave them credit.

Trees and brush seemed to pass by as in a dream as the two mares towed the carriage gladly home where they knew rich oats and warmth awaited them, plus an apple on my part.

It wasn't long before I sensed the danger, about the same time as the horses. But, already too late, they spooked. The mare on the left tried to run left while her partner tried the opposite. I didn't even have time to steady them before a blade caught my throat and strong arms forced my head back against the carriage painfully.

The horses stopped instantly when a female voice shouted something in old Slavic. The force knocked both me and my captor to the ground. This freed my hands enough to try to fight, but my opponent was strong and I didn't even see their face before I ended up pinned to the ground, knife at my throat and the point of a sharp heel digging into my back.

I only saw their feet, booted in tall black heels, and the hem of their black leather trench coat with faint gold trim. Then I heard the voice to match.

"Well, well Jasper Hex. You're a hard man to find." The woman's voice dripped heavily with a Slavic accent, but all the same I recognized it. There was only one being alive who still knew that name.

Ivy…

"You used to bodies to make us come into London, didn't you?" I inquired.

Her chuckle rang as clear and sweet as the ring of the black blade she wield.

"You caught on quickly, Jasper. I wasn't sure you would."

"It's been awhile, Ivy. Could you possibly tell Crimson to release me?" I ventured.

"So you do remember me. I'm so touched you do," my captor hissed in my ear.

Instead of loosening her hold, she yanked my head up and back by my hair. Had I been human, she would have snapped my neck.

"How could I not? You tried to kill me thrice, not counting now."

The carriage door opened. "Sebastian, what the hell happ….uh, did I miss something?"

Ivy's tone turned haughty. "This is your new master, Sebastian, this little shrimp?"

"What did you call me?" Ciel growled.

"Simply stating the truth, Young Earl," Ivy laughed. "Crimson, you may release him now."

Almost reluctantly Ivy's elder sister released her death grip on me.

I stretched my neck once I stood up and brushed off. "You've gotten my coat all muddy, Crimson. That deserves punishment."

The hot head's icy blue eyes flashed like deadly sapphire daggers. "Just try, it and see how quickly I take your head!"

Knowing enough from experience not to challenge her, I ignored her and turned to Ciel. "Young Master, may I introduce Miss Ivy and Crimson Maddox. They're old friends of mine, and also hunters…demon hunters," I said, glancing to Ivy.

She appeared exactly as I remember, though her pale face looked thinner, cheekbones much more prominent. This exaggerated the sleek blue/black hair cascading just past her shoulder and her amber eyes, oh her eyes! They shone bright as fire, though rich and sweet as fresh drawn blood; so beautiful, so cat like. She looked as lithe as ever, though almost too thin. She tried to hide this using the long thick coat. On a belt hidden, a light weight single bladed sword peeked from under her arm, easily in reach. I supposed also, a black blade.

Crimson looked also as I remember; her long black and green kimono and spiraling black hair streaked with red. Icy cobalt eyes glared hauntingly from her ashen face. I knew the black lacy umbrella she carried hid a black bladed sword in the main shaft. She would never go anywhere without that sword. Both of course, carried other weapons, just hidden ones.

"Why didn't you just fight them off? I have no time to stop for this!" Ciel demanded.

I looked down, wondering how to put it. "Well, you see, Master, they're actually stronger than I."

"What? Impossible! You're a demon and they're - well, women! How -"

Nearly as fast as lightning Ivy rushed forward, then held both his arms wrenched behind his back painfully.

I rushed to stop her, but I didn't even take two steps before faster than even I could see a black blade slammed into my chest with the force of twenty rhinoceros. Wind knocked, I stumbled back and tried to duck under it, where the blade only slammed on my knees, nearly snapping them. Crimson's arctic glare stopped me from trying anything else.

"Now what were you saying about women?" Ivy hissed.

Ciel glared. "Annoy – Ow! I mean wonderful, strong and smart!"

Ivy nodded and slowly released him. "Good."

"Was that really necessary?" I reproached, rising from my sore knees.

She glared fiery daggers. "Children need to be taught properly."

"Why have you come after twenty years?" I questioned.

"You need our help. You're being targeted from both sides. You cannot hope to fight this one alone," Ivy explained.

I raised my brows. "Oh are we? That's what you said last time. I'm sure it's nothing I can't handle." I turned to Ciel.

"BAKA! You think you can fight Satan alone? Good bloody luck!"

I fought to keep the sudden fear off my face as I turned to Crimson.

"Yeah, he and just about everyone else want your head on a plate! Someone couldn't keep their damn mouth shut. Think you can fight them all alone?" Her icy eyes flashed like lightning, as if blaming me for Satan wanting my head.

"Young Master, I do believe we shall be late for tea. Ivy, Crimson, care to join us?"