So, here's the latest update! I hope it's satisfactory.

And I know this plot may seem off but this is supposed to be sort of AU-ish. Not completely, but a little bit so some stuff might not make sense. Sorry, but I'm trying to make it work as best I can. I hope you all get through this chapter without falling asleep. Lol.

Also, I don't want to spoil anything but will go ahead and say that I'm introducing some other ocs in this part of the story. Now, onto the story!

~Fairylust~

The day wore on feeling slow and hot. The sun seemed to be way too smiley in my opinion and the fact only a gentle breeze blew through the air didn't improve my dreary mood much. I utterly despised the fact I was getting nowhere. I found myself eventually resting at a cafe where I just watched people as they passed me by while I sat in a sad daze sipping on a cool glass of iced tea. My frustration built as kids ran by playing some stupid game, laughing.

Maybe it was because of my childhood, the way I was raised, or the fact I've always been on the serious side of things, preferring real adventures to childish games, but seeing those kids play made me feel really pissed. I was enraged that those kids could be so carefree when everyone else went through hell trying to claw their way through life, some people actually attempting to stay alive through frantic, literal clawing. It just seemed so stupid they were playing some game of make believe when real life tragedies occurred everyday.

Just let it go, Artemis. I told myself, feeling very dumb and foolish for being upset with children. Of course they would play. Every child played a game. Even Crona and me had our games. Sighing it was then I realized that I was trying to find reasons to hate in Death City now after noticing how nice everything else seemed.

Honestly, it was a tad disappointing. I was expecting a challenge seeing as I was technically close to the lion's mouth, so to speak. I was kind of expecting danger to be everywhere, perhaps expecting to find out some information way before mid-day came around, at least figure out where the DWMA was exactly or how to get in without getting caught. In all honesty, I expected Death City to be like the other multiple places I went in the world. Dangerous.

"Oh, Artie!" I gave a sigh of annoyance as I recognized the undeniably male voice that sounded more than glad to see me. "What are you doing here? I thought you would've headed for Asia after our brief encounter."

"Speak of the devil." I muttered.

"Aww, you were thinking of me?"

"No. Seriously, you're the devil, Zephyr."

"Sweet as ever. That's how I can tell you love me. So, what's with the loser wear? The only hot part is your skirt."

"You know." Ignoring his last comment I flushed and kept my voice low, tone vague. "What're you doing here, Zephyr?"

"Taking in the sights. And, you know, seeing how you're doing. I expected you to be caught, dead, or at least maimed by now. You're seriously too arrogant and overly confident when it comes to dealing with these people."

Zephyr Williams had to be the single most infuriating person I knew in my entire life. He was my age with short, neatly trimmed black hair and eyes that were a rather lovely shade of lavender even if I did say so myself. He was a witch just like me. It was rare for male witches to be born, but like many other tragedies, it happened. The sway of magic almost always brings out a female witch's destructive nature; however, it seemed to always bring out some destructive force in a male witch.

In Zephyr's case the result of his parents union was a violent, annoying, obsessive, sort of nice, yet still a huge sociopath stalker that wouldn't get off my back!

I had first met him and his younger half brother, Richie, in Western Europe when I was twelve. At the time Zephyr was involved in a series of rather bloody murders, supposedly trying to get back at his human father for being abusive towards Richie, as well as their witch mother to the point he killed her in a rage. I thought his reasons were well founded, but hated that Zephyr had to get me involved and risk both our necks in his selfish act of revenge. And after all was said and done he confessed to being the one to murder his mother.

Apparently his entire family, except for Richie, was pretty screwed up because his mother had secretly been poisoning him and Richie for several months until Zephyr found out and 'accidentally' killed her by 'accidentally' shoving her down the stairs. Upon meeting the real him I found that nothing he did was by accident.

What really irked me about everything he did was that when his reasons were broken down he said he just wanted to toy with his father's mind for his own personal amusement. And the whole time he had his brother in the palm of his hand willing to do anything for him. Even take blame for something he didn't do and Zephyr was more than willing to let Richie take a fall for him. That was one thing I hated the most. It was one thing I just couldn't tolerate no matter how hard I tried. It sickened and irritated me, especially afterwards when Richie still remained as loyal to Zephyr as ever. He was like some cute, yappy puppy that didn't care how much it was kicked as long as its master kept it around.

To be honest, Zephyr was something of a monster, granted he did bail me out of a couple situations when I really needed help, but he always wanted something in exchange afterwards, which was rather infuriating especially considering his nature. It just made his animal theme make more sense. I was just thankful that Richie was usually around to keep his favors decent and reasonable.

"Well, you can relax your pretty head because I'm doing just fine."

"What's with the venom!" He asked, using a silky toned voice, attempting to make the situation seem less hostile. "I was just being honest. Anyway, I'm surprised that you thought to use your Soul Protect, or to disguise yourself."

"Hey, I didn't just dress up like a geek for appearances!" I lied, blushing a brighter shade of pink. "I can be smart."

"Sure you can be." Zephyr laughed with a heavy coating of sarcasm laced in his words. "And you don't suck the life out of everyone you ever meet. You're a great person."

"Listen, I don't have to put up with you anymore, Zephyr. I can legally kill you and get away with it."

"Maybe," He said with his usual smirk, "maybe if this were Witch City or Wonderland, but it's not. This is Death City and murder is strictly forbidden, actually it's punishable by death or imprisonment."

"Don't remind me." I groaned with a bitter chuckle, scowling with distaste. "This is just the most freakin perfect place in the world, isn't it?"

"You wish." He scoffed rolling his eyes at my question, which I could already tell he thought was beyond stupid. "What's wrong, Artie? You are so cute when you're frustrated. Are you getting second thoughts on finding your brat sister, hmm? Or is she dead?"

"Shut up!" I hissed at him. My determination flared then and I sternly, but quietly stated, "I'm still gonna find her. I just...dunno where to find her...exactly."

"Are you serious as hell or just messing around with me?"

"Zephyr," I spoke through gritted teeth, "don't you dare f****ing test me or so help me I'll beat you until your birdbrain is nothing but a fine pulp. Or should I remind you what I did for you during our last encounter?"

"I could say the same thing to you."

"Zephyr! You're such a jerk!"

"Artie! You're such a nerd!"

"Don't call me that," I whisper yelled at him with a faint flush lingering on my cheeks, "either of those things, you stupid freakin bastard! If we weren't in public I'd let Murena suck you dry, and then I would personally tear your body to pieces!"

"You're so cold. But seriously, you should just get out of here, Artie. These people are dangerous. They wouldn't hesitate to kill you, whether you're good or bad. In their eyes, you're just a witch to be dealt with."

"So you do have a heart. How sweet."

"Listen, I'm serious. If the academy has your sister then you should just let them keep her. I appreciate family as much as the next guy, but this kid probably doesn't even remember you. And even if she does she might be ready to kill you the second you two meet. And even if she doesn't, then there is no way she'd want to run off with you. Face it, Artie, she's a meister and you're a witch, whatever happened to her couldn't have been all bad. Especially if she's a student here."

"What about Richie? What if they'd kidnapped Richie and left you alone? You may act like a jackass half the time, Zephyr, but I know you care about him in your own sick, twisted way. Be as honest as scum like you can be. Would you give up? You know he'd be safe but could you sleep at night knowing you left your little brother alone with them?"

"This isn't Richie." He said pointedly. "This is some girl who may not be around anymore. You can't compare them, Artie."

"It's been ten damn years. I didn't come all this way just to quit now. All I need are some directions and a single clue. I just need to know if she's a student or if she's a prisoner." I then rested my hands on my forehead hating that I was getting so frustrated, looking back up to Zephyr I continued in frustration, "Ugh! See? This is another problem. I hear way too many 'ifs' from everybody. Do you honestly expect me to think 'If she's at the academy things are okay because she's a meister, not a witch'? That's not good enough for me, Zephyr. I need a definite answer."

"That's stupid." He muttered sullenly. "You're playing with fire. If you get burnt, or whatever, then I can't guarantee I'll be able to save you again, Artie, you're really poking at fate, or tempting it, as others would say."

"You seem to know an awful lot about playing with fire, hell, you may know more about tempting fate than I do, so don't give me that lame lecture."

"I mean it. If you screw around with these meisters and their weapons, then you're on your own when they try to kill you."

Exhaling sharply, I looked away from the dark-haired boy across from me. I took a gulp of my drink, ignoring how Zephyr still managed to get on my nerves. What really irritated me though was that he actually did have a point. Ever since I was eight and on my own I'd tempted fate one too many times. I had nearly escaped death ever since I was a little kid, so that didn't bug me so much as the not knowing did. As it turned out fear wasn't in the past or even in the present, but in the future. It turned out that thinking of what could be would slowly drive you crazy if you think on it too much.

"I have to try." I mumbled quietly. "I just have to. If she's alive then I have to try to save her, even if that means dying for nothing. You know, at least I could find some peace knowing I had tried."

"You know what your problem is, Artie? You can't let go of the damn past. I f***ing hate that. I hate when you have to act like some stupid bitch! And I really hate you when you get so...so...lost in all this nonsense! Somehow, though, it just makes you seem more appealing. Even when you're in loser wear. Damn you, damn you and your looks!"

"Oh, just shut up you pervert!"

"Ha! You're redder than a bleeding cardinal! It's hilarious! Anyway, I suppose I should get going before the cat gets out of the bag and I say something I shouldn't." He said with a frown that betrayed his words. A sly glint in his lavender eye tipped me off that he was hiding something. This peaked my interest, grabbing his coat sleeve I smiled a bit at him. "What're you hiding and what do you wanna trade for it?" I questioned. He smirked cattily and leaned down to where we were eye-to-eye.

I noticed he slipped a small strip of paper into my jacket pocket. I blushed a dark shade of red and could feel myself start to work up a nervous sweat as he leaned close to my ear, lowering his voice to a serious whisper. "Go to this bookstore. I was randomly tipped off by a pretty little bird that you could get some free info there if you bother the right person enough for it, I mean."

"You mean Richie?"

"Yeah. Whatever. Oh, and I need you to do me a favor in exchange for this, okay?"

"What is it?" I asked nervously, expecting him to request something perverted or sinister, both seemed to simplify his usual 'favor' requests. He was a twisted individual, yet somehow cunning about what he did, being blunt and laying fault to those who fell for his help, only to then accuse him when he wanted something in return.

Then again, Zephyr was an individual I had never really understood. One minute he was a real bastard, then the next he actually seemed to be...caring…in his own sick way, of course. It was then he decided to baffle me, irritating me all the more. His next words really caught me off guard.

"Stay safe."

I gave him an indignant glare and finished sipping on the tea, leaving some money on the table and walking away as fast as I willed myself to, so I didn't appear as stunned as I felt. I was pretty sure it would have only pleased Zephyr to see me so shocked and puzzled by those two simple words. The thought of checking the paper didn't occur until I was certain that Zephyr couldn't see me anymore. I glanced over my shoulder once to make sure he wasn't following me again, but thanks to his damn Soul Protect and the fact he was also part human he very well could have followed after me and I wouldn't have known it.

Bastard. Strange thing about the whole situation was that, which single word was all I could think afterwards, even as I drew the thin strip of paper from my lavender pocket with a shaky porcelain hand to look over the directions.

Sighing with agitation through my mouth I crumpled the slip up, shoving it back into my pocket in case I forgot something. It may have just been my stubborn pride that made me mad, but I was also a bit offended Zephyr had no faith in me and just assumed I would need him, of all people, to help me out.

That was a laugh.