The children were sent to school the next morning with strict instructions not to discuss the incident at the park. Not long after they'd departed, Kyrie decided to follow them. "I'd like to have a talk with Scipio's teacher," she told Nero. "That boy Marco has targeted both Scipio and Flavia now, and I want to make sure the faculty are aware of the situation in case he decides to retaliate."

Nero nodded. "Make sure they know Scipio wasn't even involved in yesterday's fight. We don't want them thinking he's the instigator."

"I'll make that clear. Will you be all right managing the boys on your own?"

He spread his hands. "Who knows? I'm as prepared as I can be, but those two have a way of finding new kinds of chaos to throw at us."

"Troublemaking must run in the family." Kyrie winked and gave him a quick kiss. "You have lunch duty."

"Yes, ma'am." Nero saluted. "Maybe I'll let the boys help cook. That ought to keep them busy for at least ten minutes."

She gave him a skeptical look. "Please don't burn down our house in the process."

"Aww, you take all the fun out of babysitting." He grinned and shooed her toward the door. "Don't worry. I got this."

For all his confidence, however, Nero soon found that the twins were more difficult to entertain now that they'd had a taste of the great outdoors. Every time Nero suggested a quiet indoor activity, Rosso asked if they could go to the park, or go for a walk, or play outside. "Absolutely not," Nero declared when Rosso wanted to explore the garage. "That violates the rule about dangerous activities. There's a lot of stuff in the garage that could hurt you."

"Like what?" Rosso asked, eyes shining, and Nero sighed. His usual child-management tactics were clearly not going to work here.

"Why don't we go to school like the others?" Zaffiro interjected suddenly. He'd remained mostly silent through his brother's insistent questions, deeply engrossed in one of Julio's books—one that should have been several reading levels beyond his skills, Nero thought, but these days both boys were absorbing knowledge faster than he could track, their minds developing as quickly as their bodies.

Zaffiro's question was perfectly valid, and it was one Nero hadn't even considered. Everything had happened so fast with the twins, he doubted if even Kyrie had thought of schooling for them. "You aren't enrolled," he said after floundering for a moment. "You came here so late in the year that you didn't get signed up with the others."

Zaffiro's sharp blue eyes flicked to Rosso, then back to Nero. "Why are we here?"

Nero wasn't remotely prepared for that question. He wasn't ready for a conversation about who they were, how they were connected to him, what had happened to them, why he had brought them here… He forced a laugh. "Congratulations, you've discovered the great existential question. People have been asking that since the beginning of time, and as far as I know, the correct answer is still anyone's guess."

The corners of Zaffiro's mouth turned down at his response, and even Rosso's effervescence dimmed. "We don't belong here, do we?" the younger twin murmured.

"Of course you do," Nero said quickly. All of their foster children had gone through this phase; this, at least, he knew how to handle. "I know it's hard to learn all the rules and things, but you'll fit in just fine. And don't ever think we don't want you here."

Rosso shook his head. "But this isn't our home."

"It is now," Nero insisted. "I promise, Kyrie and I will look after you just like we're your own—" The last word stalled in his throat as he realized exactly what he was saying. How often had he recited this speech to some frightened child coming into their home? He'd meant every word, every time he'd said it, but the realization that these particular children really were his own family was jarring.

Rosso and Zaffiro were frowning intently at him, but Nero was saved from answering by the ring of the telephone. He jumped up from the sofa and all but ran to the kitchenS.

Nico's drawl broke through the shoddy connection. "Hey, you wanna pick up some work? Just got a call about a bunch o' demons on the east edge of town."

Nero swore softly. "I'd be up for it, but I'm babysitting the twins today."

"Bring 'em along! It's good socialization, right? They might as well get used to huntin' demons, since that's pretty much gonna be the rest of their lives."

"Nico, they're barely the size of five-year-olds right now! I'm not putting them in a combat situation. We don't even have the van to lock them in."

Nico gave a thoughtful hum. "What if I watch them while you kill the demons? We could, like, hang out in a shop or somethin', an' you can come get us when you're done."

Nero drummed his fingers on the wall. "Why don't you just come here and stay with them, and I'll go do the job?"

"Uh, because I'm the one who negotiated our fee, and I'm the one who has to collect it. C'mon, it'll be fine!"

"Kyrie's gonna kill me," he muttered, "but we really could use the money… Okay, where should I meet you?"

She gave him an address, which he jotted down on the pad Kyrie kept beside the phone before hanging up. He tore off that sheet and left another note for Kyrie explaining where they'd gone, then hurried back to the boys. "Hey, kids, guess you get to go out today after all! Get your shoes on. We're going to take a walk and meet Nico."

Both boys jumped to their feet, but Rosso cocked his head. "Who's Nico?"

"She's a friend. You'll like her; all the kids do. Now hurry up! Shoes on. Let's go."

Nero felt more than a little conspicuous carrying Red Queen's case down the street, but he thought he would stand out more wearing the sword openly on his back. There had been a time when Holy Knights of the Order of the Sword were a common sight all over the city, but enough years had passed since then that large weapons were liable to make at least some of the town's residents nervous. Plus, he didn't relish trying to explain to the twins why he was toting a huge sword around.

The sword case occupied one of his hands, so Nero kept his other firmly on Zaffiro, watching to make sure the boy's other hand stayed linked with Rosso's as they navigated to the eastern end of the city. The address Nico had given him was a good twenty minutes' walk at his own pace, and slowed by two shorter-legged children, it was a full half hour before Nero reached the corner where Nico was pacing impatiently.

"'Bout time you showed up!" she scowled. "Hope that other hunter hasn't sniped us by now."

Nero glared at her and indicated the twins with a jerk of his head. "Rosso, Zaffiro, this is Nico."

Nico stopped pacing and grinned sheepishly at the boys, clearly only just realizing why Nero had been late. "Oh, right. Hiya, kids." She extended her hand for a shake, and the twins stared at it before slapping her palm in a timid approximation of Nero's high-five the day before. Nico laughed. "Okay, that's how we're gonna roll? Fine by me. You kids ready to hang out with Cool Auntie Nico for a little while?"

Both boys twisted to stare up at Nero, looking suddenly anxious at this turn of events. "I've got a little work to take care of," Nero explained. "Nico's gonna take you on an adventure, and then we'll all meet up afterward, okay?"

"What kind of adventure?" Rosso asked.

"Well, I thought we might wander around, look at the shops…" She glanced helplessly at Nero, and he sighed. Apparently she hadn't thought this through at all. Suddenly she brightened. "Hey, you boys like scavenger hunts, don't you?"

Zaffiro cocked his head. "Scavenger hunts?"

"Yeah! It's like a game where you look for stuff. We'll make a list of things, an' then see how many of them we can find. It'll be fun." Nico took the twins' hands and nodded at Nero. "You better get goin' before that other hunter shows up. It's the building at the end of the block. The old hotel."

"Right. I'll meet you back here when I'm done. You kids be good for Nico, okay? Stay with her." Nero looked hard at Zaffiro. "All the home rules still apply."

He took off at a run for the building Nico had indicated, the reassuring weight of Blue Rose pressing against the small of his back. The former hotel's door stood open, and Nero stepped inside to let his eyes adjust before unlocking Red Queen's case. The hotel's once-elegant lobby was in disrepair, with the space carved up into what looked like dilapidated market stalls. From somewhere deeper in the building, Nero could hear the faint chittering and scraping of low-level demons. He started for the stairs, but halfway across the lobby, he jerked to a halt, staring at the floor.

Scraped out in rough paint on the polished marble was a Solomon's Noose.

Suddenly, from somewhere above him, the explosion of a pistol shattered the stillness of the building—three shots in quick succession. Nero bolted across the summoning circle and up the stairs, already drawing Blue Rose as he reached the floor above the lobby. The stairwell opened into a ballroom space, where the air was choked with ash from dying demons. Another shot rang out, and a Scarecrow near Nero toppled over backward before struggling to right itself.

Nero didn't give it the chance. A single stroke from Red Queen bisected the demon, and it curled into ash as he stepped over it into the middle of the room. "It's not polite to start the party before the invited guests arrive," he called into the room, both announcing himself and challenging the other hunter. "But it seems you're not the polite type, the way you keep stealing my gigs."

Another shot cracked through the room, and a cloud of plaster exploded from a pillar at Nero's left shoulder. Nero brought Blue Rose up and scanned the room. "Now that was just plain rude. Get out here and apologize." A Scarecrow charged from Nero's left, and he just had time to squeeze Red Queen's throttle for a little extra flash before slicing the demon into neat quarters. The burlap body burst into dust. "I'm waiting!" Nero held his arms wide, a weapon in each hand. "You gonna shoot at me and make me do all the work? C'mon, that's just embarrassing. Have a little professional pride!"

His taunts were sidelined by another pair of Scarecrows, which he downed with well-placed dual shots from Blue Rose. From across the room he heard the echo of another single shot—something loud, not quite as punchy as Blue Rose's high-load ammunition, but probably the same caliber—and another Scarecrow staggered. He oriented toward the sound and dashed forward with his full devil-augmented speed, trailing Red Queen and slicing through the couple of demons he passed on his path. In the far corner of the room, a human figure was silhouetted against the light of the window, and Nero swung his sword overhead and brought it down toward center mass—not hard, not unstoppable, but fast. He had a point to make.

There was a shriek of surprise, and Nero hauled back against the sword's momentum just as it struck something metallic. The other hunter had instinctively flung both arms up in defense, and Red Queen's blade crashed into the barrel of a revolver clutched in one of the upraised hands. Nero eased his grip and let the weight of the massive sword rest fully on the gun, pressing it down.

The other hunter's arms dropped under the weight, and Nero caught a glimpse of curling red-gold hair before his sword was thrust suddenly to the side. His opponent used the instant's distraction to bolt for the door, but Nero was faster. He dashed ahead, swung out an arm in a loose haymaker, and executed a neat clothesline maneuver with the inside of his elbow. The hunter's shoulders slammed into the floor with bone-jarring force.

Nero dropped a knee into his opponent's solar plexus as he reloaded Blue Rose and finished off the last few Scarecrows. Only when the room was cleared of demons did he relax and glance down at the stranger, already composing a sarcastic jibe about the ease with which he had won the fight.

The words died on his lips as he took in the body below him, and he quickly levered himself up. "Shit. Are you okay?"

The girl he'd been kneeling on rolled to one side and began coughing. The first few breaths wheezed in her lungs. Nero had flattened her with more than necessary force—but then, he'd been expecting another devil hunter, not a petite, stick-thin teenage girl. When she'd recovered her breath, she raked limp auburn hair back from her face and shot him a baleful glare, but said nothing.

Nero slung Red Queen onto his back and crossed his arms. "You gonna tell me who you are, and what the hell you're doing here?"

The girl remained silent, considering his stance. Nero spotted her tensing muscles an instant before she rolled onto her back, bringing the revolver up to aim at his face. "Get back," she hissed. A trace of accent curled around her words.

Nero rolled his eyes. "Or what?" He dropped into a crouch and tapped the warm muzzle with a finger. "You already fired six shots, genius. You've got loose rounds falling out of your pockets, but you haven't had time to reload since I got here. Now, I suppose you could have a speedloader tucked away somewhere, but after listening to all the women I know gripe about how tiny the pockets in women's clothing are, I'm willing to bet you don't. So you can either get that empty gun out of my face, or you can prove me wrong." He cocked his head at her, expectant. "Go on. Pull the trigger."

The girl's mouth curled into a scowl, and she swung the pistol at Nero's face. He caught it a hand's breath from his cheekbone and wrenched it out of her hand, drawing a hiss of pain as her finger caught in the trigger guard. Nero examined the revolver and let out a low whistle. "Well, now. I was gonna play nice, but now that I see this—" He flipped the gun around and tapped the engraving on the barrel. "—I'm inclined to drag you downstairs and just hand you over to Nico. Because busting up our van and costing us an assload of money in repairs is nothing compared to stealing Nico's only memento of her grandmother. She's gonna tear you a new one, assuming she doesn't just shoot you outright. Get up." He seized her arm and hauled her to her feet.

The girl struggled all the way to the stairs, but Nero kept a tight grip on her upper arm. She became docile as they descended to the ground floor, shoulders slumping in defeat. When they were halfway across the lobby she stumbled, and Nero let his hand drop with her to avoid dislocating her shoulder. His captive caught herself with her palms flat on the floor, hissing something too low to hear. Nero knelt beside her. "C'mon, Red, back on your feet. I don't want to drag…"

His words were cut off by a flare of light and an unsettling shift in the air around him. He stumbled back, realizing too late that she'd thrown herself directly on top of the summoning circle painted on the floor. The Solomon's Noose activated, a portal bubbling into existence above it, and a second later a bladed appendage pierced through the veil between worlds. Nero swore and reached for Red Queen.

It took less than a minute for him to dispatch the handful of demons who surged through the portal, but by the time Nero had struck the last one into ash, the mysterious girl had vanished completely.

Nero felt as though he had paced a trench into the pavement by the time Nico and the twins returned. "Leave the kids with me and go collect from the client," he called without even pausing to greet them. "That other hunter was here, and I don't want her claiming our pay."

"Her?" Nico blinked behind her glasses, then shook her head. "Uh, okay. I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere!" She bolted across the street.

The twins stared after her, then made their way to Nero. He crouched in front of them. "Sorry about that. Just had a little excitement while you were gone. Did you have a good time with Nico?"

Rosso nodded. "We found a lot of things on the list! I like scavenger hunting."

"I saw a store I want to go into," Zaffiro added. "Nico said we had to ask you first because it's an expensive shop."

Nero suppressed a grimace. "Well, I suppose we can walk by and look at it, but I don't have a lot of money right now."

Rosso glanced in the direction Nico had run. "You will when Nico gets back, though. Right?"

The twins' powers of observation were impressive, if occasionally irritating. "That money is to pay for things like this week's groceries," Nero explained. "It's for everyone to share, so it wouldn't be fair to spend it on something only you wanted."

Both boys nodded, but Zaffiro turned hopeful eyes on Nero. "Looking doesn't cost money, though, does it?"

Nero sighed. Well, he had wanted to keep the kids busy today. "Okay, you can show me where this shop is after Nico gets back."

Nico returned a few minutes later, grinning and carrying an envelope. She divided the cash into two stacks and handed one to Nero. "Not our biggest payday ever, but it sure feels good to have a little bread in the hand, y'know?"

"I found something that'll make you even happier," Nero told her, but then caught sight of the twins' attentive gazes and hesitated. Probably best not to flash guns around in front of them. "Hey, Zaffiro, why don't you lead us to that shop you wanted to see?"

"Lead?" Zaffiro blinked. "I don't have to hold your hand?"

Damn. He didn't dare slack off on the rules, or he'd never get Zaffiro in line again. "This is a test to see if you're ready to walk on your own, okay? Hold hands with Rosso, and don't run ahead. We'll be right behind you, watching how well you do."

The boys linked hands and headed off at a brisk pace, which corresponded to an easy walk for Nero and Nico. Nero waited until the twins were distracted by their surroundings before pulling the pistol out from under his coat. "Here."

Nico's eyes widened, then actually teared up as she took the .45 in both hands. "Nell's gun! How…?"

"Compliments of that rival hunter. It probably needs cleaning; she was using it to kill demons."

"Well, that's probably what it was made for." Nico traced the engraving reverently. "Thanks, Nero." She turned the revolver over in her hands and stopped short. "Hey!" she snapped.

Ahead, the twins turned back at the exclamation, and Nero quickly stepped between them and Nico to hide the gun. "Not you. You're doing great. Keep going." He waited until the boys resumed walking before dragging Nico forward. "What?" he hissed.

Nico held out the gun and pointed at a silver gouge in the metal. "Did you do this?" she demanded. "That looks like the kinda mark Red Queen would make."

Nero sighed. This wouldn't end well. "Yeah, she used it to block me."

"Do you know what you did?" Nico slugged Nero hard in the shoulder. "You damaged a Nell Goldstein original!"

"Ow!" Nero rubbed his arm and shot her a murderous glare. "Would you knock it off? She was shooting at me, and I didn't know it was your gun until afterward! It's only a scratch, anyway. Just buff it out."

"But that'll ruin the patina!"

Nero rolled his eyes. "Nico, you can fix anything. You'll find a way."

Nico tucked the gun away and continued sulking for a few more strides, but eventually her curiosity got the better of her. "So, that new hunter is a woman?"

"Barely that. Girl's maybe sixteen, seventeen at most. And I'd lay odds she's the one behind those summoning circles, too. I saw her activate a Solomon's Noose."

"A devil hunter summoning devils?" Nico scowled. "That don't make any sense at all. Where is she now?"

"She got away while I was fighting the pack of demons she summoned."

"Huh." Nico stuck a cigarette between her lips and was halfway to lighting it when Nero caught her wrist. "Oops, right, sorry. Forgot about the kids." She frowned thoughtfully. "Though, do they really count? Because Dante and Vergil are at least forty—"

"Nico."

"Fine, fine." She put away the cigarette and pointed ahead. "Hey, there's the shop he wanted to see. I don't know why he was even interested in it, but I figured it was out of your price range."

Rosso and Zaffiro had stopped walking and were waiting patiently in front of a large window display. Nero caught up with them in a few strides. "Hey, you guys walked really well."

Zaffiro looked pleased. "Does that mean we can go in?"

Nero peered at the display. The window was crammed full of antiques: A spinning wheel sat beside an old rocking chair and a stained-glass lamp, while the carved wooden table beside it supported a cast-iron bulldog, a flaking violin case, and an assortment of antique kitchen implements. Nothing on display seemed like it would be of the least interest to a boy of four or five. "This is an antique shop, kiddo. Are you sure this is the place you wanted to see?"

Zaffiro nodded enthusiastically, and Nero hesitated. He knew they had no business here, but the boys had been well-behaved today, and Zaffiro seemed to have his heart set on it. "Okay, we can go in if you really want to, but don't touch anything without permission."

"I'll wait out here." Nico was already fishing in her pocket for the discarded cigarette.

Nero rolled his eyes and opened the door. A bell tinkled somewhere overhead, and he ushered the twins into the darker interior of the shop. Inside, the narrow space was packed full of heavy furniture, faded books, and an assortment of knick-knacks that looked like they hadn't been dusted since the previous century.

A bespectacled man in an ill-fitting waistcoat ducked out of a curtained back area and beamed at his customers. "Good afternoon! Welcome, welcome. Is there something in particular you're looking for?"

While trying to frame a response that would make it clear they weren't here to buy anything while not being overtly rude, Nero glanced toward Zaffiro. The boy evidently took the look to mean the question was his to answer, and stepped forward. "May I see the violin in the window, please?" he asked, eyes large and hopeful.

The shopkeeper seemed surprised by the request coming from such a young child, but went to fetch the instrument. "It's quite old," he said as he wiped a layer of dust from the case. "And probably out of tune. I love to listen, but I don't play, myself. But it is in fine condition." He opened the case and held it low so Zaffiro could see it.

Zaffiro tore his eyes away from the polished honey-colored instrument long enough to cast a pleading look on Nero, who took a few seconds to realize he was asking for permission to touch it. "Go ahead," Nero said, squelching the inner voice that told him this was a terrible idea and he should get his miniature bulls out of the china shop as quickly as possible. "Just… be very careful with it."

Zaffiro reverently wrapped his left hand around the neck of the instrument and positioned it against his shoulder. The violin was clearly too big for him, requiring him to extend his arm nearly straight to hold it, but he craned his chin atop the rest and plucked a string. He made a face at the sour tone and adjusted the peg, then repeated the process across all four strings until he seemed satisfied with the pitch of each one.

The shopkeeper beamed at Nero. "I've never seen anyone tune purely by ear before. Your boy must have quite the ear for music!"

Nero was staring at Zaffiro in growing wonder. "Yeah, I guess he does."

"Do both your sons play?"

Nero was so distracted by Zaffiro's obvious skill that it took him a moment to catch the man's meaning. "Oh! Uh…" He glanced at Rosso.

"Not violin," Rosso volunteered. "Do you have any guitars?"

"I'm afraid not. Just the violin, and a few brass instruments, in the back. When the opera company disbanded a few years ago, several members of the orchestra sold me their spares." The shopkeeper watched Zaffiro pluck another string, then brightened suddenly. "Oh! Wait here just a moment." He set the case on the counter and hurried into the back area, then reappeared with a bow in hand. A few strands of horsehair flew loose from the end, but it seemed serviceable. "Hopefully this one isn't too long for you. Here, try it out if you like." He presented the bow to Zaffiro.

With a look of great concentration, Zaffiro positioned his fingers and drew the bow across the strings. It was a little squeaky, but the tone was good, and the boy played through a very respectable practice scale.

Where he'd picked up that skill, Nero couldn't imagine. Kyrie was always singing around the house, and Nero had an acoustic guitar hidden away in his closet—he'd sold his electric after losing his arm, a hasty decision he still regretted—but violin scales weren't something one learned from a book, or even from watching or listening another player. Zaffiro knew exactly what he was doing. But how?

"Wonderful! Simply wonderful!" The shopkeeper clapped his hands when Zaffiro had finished. "Young man, I am very impressed. You must practice a lot at home."

"No," the boy replied. He stroked a hand over the luminous wood. "I don't have a violin."

The shopkeeper's eyes slid to Nero, who found himself trapped between two equally hopeful gazes. Knowing he'd regret it, Nero flipped over the price tag dangling from the end of the case. The number nearly stopped his heart; it was as much money as he'd made in the past month. "Um," Nero managed.

His shock must have shown on his face, because Zaffiro's shoulders sagged a little, and he dutifully handed the violin and bow back to the shopkeeper. "Thank you for letting me play it."

The shopkeeper glanced between them. "It is a very reasonable price, for an instrument of such quality," he tried.

Zaffiro shook his head. "We only have enough money to buy this week's groceries," he said artlessly. "We can't spend it on something that's just for me."

The boy sounded so resigned that Nero found himself wanting to apologize for his inability to make the extravagant purchase. The shopkeeper must have felt it, too, because his face flooded with sympathy. "Look, I… I'm not an expert, but I've heard that it's not good for instruments to sit too long without being used. So… if you wanted to stop by every once in a while, I'd appreciate it if you could test this violin for me. You know, just to check that it's in tune. Maybe play it for a few minutes to keep it in good shape."

Zaffiro's eyes glowed, and he whirled to Nero. "Can I?"

It was impossible to crush such hope. "Sure, as long as Kyrie or I come with you. Thank you," he added to the shopkeeper.

The man dismissed Nero's thanks with a wave of his hand. "Don't mention it. I can't sell a violin that's out of tune, after all." He winked over the boy's head.

They found Nico waiting outside the shop, reeking of cigarette smoke. "Took ya long enough," she chided. "What was so excitin' in there?"

"Turns out Zaffiro is a musical prodigy." Nero ruffled the boy's hair, which Zaffiro smoothed back into place with a scowl. "He plays violin."

Nico stared at him. "That's… very interestin'. Did you know that… uh, that there were any violinists… in the family?"

"Nope. Had no idea. Still not entirely sure where it came from." Nero glanced down at Zaffiro. "Where did you learn to play, Zaffiro?"

"I dreamed about it." The boy kicked at a pebble and chased it across the sidewalk to kick it again. Apparently that was all he had to say on the subject.

"Maybe next time, we can find a shop that has a guitar," Rosso suggested. "I want to try playing one."

Nico caught Nero's eye. "Your uncle plays guitar, right, Nero?"

"Yeah. At least, he's got one in his shop. Along with…" He looked thoughtfully at the younger twin. "Rosso, how about drums? You have any interest in those?"

Rosso considered it, then shook his head. "I don't know much about drums. But I think I could play guitar if I tried."

"Huh." Whatever was going on with their memories, clearly not all of their musical knowledge had carried over; he was certain Dante's drum set had seen a fair amount of use. "Well, as it happens, I have a guitar back at the house. Maybe sometime you can try playing mine."

"Cool!" Rosso grinned and chased after his brother to steal the pebble he was kicking. The boys jostled along the sidewalk, trading off pebble-kicks like football passes.

Eventually the little stone rolled into the street, and only Nero's sharp "Hey!" stopped the boys from dashing after it. "What's the rule about staying on the sidewalk?" Nero held out a hand to either side. "You've just lost walking-alone privileges for the way home."