Hey guys. So, no great reason why I haven't updated in a year...yeah, my apologies. I may have mentioned it before but I am attending university and it eats up a ton of my time. I'm in my junior year studying civil engineering and have almost zero free time. I'm able to update now because I am on winter break! However I start back Monday so I don't know what that means yet. However, I absolutely have NOT given up on this story! I have a taste for writing again so there's hope yet.
Thank you everyone who has stayed with me for this long. I hope that this chapter will be a nice surprise.
Nero cautiously opened the door to Dante's car, half-expecting a trap to have been planted by the insane slayer. The door creaked open and revealed the worn interior- nothing more. He gave a shrug then threw his equipment into the backseat before settling into the driver's chair.
The silver-haired slayer cranked the engine and gave it a little gas. He flexed his fingers on the steering wheel already enjoying himself. The music came on blaring in a split-second. Nero's excitement was snuffed out immediately. More of Dante's 'classics'.
"Hell no!"
He hastily extracted the CD from the player and proceeded to forcefully throw the disc into the backseat floorboard. Saying that he was over Dante's classic rock would be a severe understatement.
Nero leaned back and rummaged in his bag for a second before producing one of his own CDs. He carefully inserted the disk and waited for the music to fill the car. The music began blasting as a smirk fell over Nero's face.
"You don't know what good music is old man," Nero said to himself.
He put the car into gear and pulled out of the parking spot like a bat out of Hell.
The cool air ruffled Nero's hair as he cruised down the strip. He wasn't entirely sure where to start, that was usually left to Dante since he had more 'experience' or whatever. All he needed was a clue though; something that could point them in the right direction- then maybe his partner would give him some credit for once.
It was a fairly peaceful day, the sky was clear and people were milling about along the sidewalks and in the shops that littered every corner.
He casually checked the time then decided to poke around the apartment complex that one of the people had gone missing from. It was one of the only leads he had so he went with it.
Nero parked the car and ruffled through his bag. He had written down the exact address of the place a while back when Robert told Dante and him about it. It was in the French Quarter, he knew that much. A moment later he found the crumpled paper and double-checked the location. It was fairly close.
The teen took the necessary items, and what he could get away with. He slung his bag over his shoulder and discreetly holstered blue rose.
It didn't take long to find the historic district. The complex was old but fairly nice. The building was well-maintained and had new paint throughout. There were people going in and out at any given time.
"How could someone go missing from such a populated place," he thought to himself.
Nero decided to check the nearby surroundings for any clues that could be useful. He was just about over the case entirely; nothing was making sense and it was all pissing him off. Usually Dante and himself dealt with simple things; here's the problem now go kill it.
"Excuse me, hello?"
The silver-haired teen faintly heard a voice and he snapped back from his thoughts. He had been in a daze and didn't even realize it. A young woman was standing with a couple of her friends looking at him.
"Would you mind taking our picture?"
The girl let out a giggle and one of her friends elbowed her in the side. She hopefully held her phone out for him to take.
"Uhh….sure…."
Nero rolled his eyes then grabbed the phone that the girl handed him. There were three of them, and from the looks of it they weren't from around this area. He held the phone up and waited for them to 'duck face' or whatever girls did.
The three of them scooted in close and smiled. Deeming them ready he took the shot and hastily handed the phone back to the middle one. She nervously retrieved the phone.
"Thank you; you're a life-saver!"
He simply nodded at the comment, ready to get back to work. The world was against him ever getting any work done nowadays.
"Ask him, I bet he parties."
"You think so, oh okay."
The girls were whispering amongst themselves a little too loudly. One of the girls stepped forward and engaged Nero.
"Hey, you look like you know how to have a good time; we're going to a party later and you should totally come," the middle one asked eagerly.
Her two friends stood there eyeing Nero as he thought for a moment. The left one casually flipped her hair. Nero's face held a look of confusion for a moment- he was not much of a 'partier'. Growing up in a faith-based community, however skewed it had been, had kept him on the straight and narrow…for the most part. Of course he should say no- but wait.
"Are there going to be a lot of people there," he asked the small group.
"Oh yeah, lots of people," one of the girls excitedly announced.
This would be a good opportunity. A gathering with a lot of young people would be the perfect place for this 'thing' to strike next. It was his first inkling to a clue that he had gotten in days. What else was he going to do? Plus he knew it would infuriate Dante that he was the one to solve the case.
"Yeah sounds good, where at," Nero threw in a small grin.
The three looked at each other gleefully.
"It's downtown, here's the address."
She fumbled in her purse for a moment before retrieving a pen and paper, sloppily writing the information down, and handing him the slip of paper.
"Hope to see you there stranger."
She gave him a wink before grabbing her friends and fleeing down the street. The three of them were giggling the whole time.
Nero turned and opened the paper; there was a time, address, and a phone number. He crumpled it up and shoved it in his pocket.
"What a bunch of weirdoes."
After giving the apartment a solid once-over and talking with the roommate Nero found himself sitting and thinking at a lone diner. The missing girl's room looked fairly typical- no spell books, demonic amulets, or general items and artifacts that typically get you into trouble.
He casually sipped his drink and let out a sigh. This whole thing was a mess. While he was confident in himself when it came to fighting, he was less sure of his abilities in 'crime-solving'. The thought of his analyzing abilities lacking and maybe causing more people to suffer kind of bugged him.
"I wonder if Dante ever thinks about these kinds of things," Nero murmured to himself.
"No kid, the only thing I'm wondering is why you are talking to yourself."
Nero was slightly startled by the sudden appearance of his partner. Dante slid into the chair in front of him and threw him a crooked smirk.
"How the Hell did you find me, do I have a tracker," Nero joked as he furrowed his brow.
"Don't flatter yourself; you're so simple I always know where to find you. Plus, it doesn't hurt that you stick out like a sore thumb. Although, this town is full of strange people so…." Dante trailed off with a grin.
Nero chose to ignore Dante's 'simple' comment.
"Hope you at least found something good to make up for taking the car this morning kid."
Nero froze mid-sip; he had forgotten about that. Instead, he tried playing it cool; he hated it when Dante gave him a hard time.
"Yeah, I gathered lot's of information while you were sleeping the day away old man. All it took was not having your ass slow me down." Nero leaned back in the chair with a coy smile before continuing. "Looks like you aren't quite the detective you thought you were I guess."
Dante took this in for a second before calling the kid's obvious bluff. "You know what kid, you're right. You're doing so well, you don't need me at all."
Nero sat there for a second a little lost.
"You know what, how about I take the evening off and let you continue your superior detective work without me- so I only get in the way right."
"Wait, I uh-"Nero was cut off.
"Yeah, you'll probably have this whole case wrapped up by morning without me." Dante watched Nero squirm a little in his seat. He knew it was coming, the inevitable confession and plead for help.
Nero decided that even though he didn't have as much to go on as he had led Dante to believe he did still have a small lead. There was no way he was going to ask for help.
"Sure Dante, take the night off and I'll take care of it."
Nero arose from the table and pat Dante on the back as he strode out of the diner. Before he exited he added," thanks for getting the bill!"
