Chapter 1: Another Hunt
It was way past midnight, the new moon illuminating only little of the surroundings. Carefully Dante made his way through the overgrown graveyard. This was a strange place to meet, especially since Lucia had picked it. They usually met on the Isle or in a bar near 'Devil may cry'. He never suspected a spooky streak in the fire headed Protector.
Yesterday she had called and asked him to meet her here, then with only a few words she had hung up. He knew it was important, Lucia wouldn't call without a reason, but she never had been so secretive.
It took him a while to find the statue of the angel she had mentioned, but it didn't matter, she wasn't here, yet. Wondering about what significance it could hold, he looked over the statue. It was simply another angel, wings, halo and all, except for the name chiseled on the base. A grave then?
"Lilith." He read aloud.
"Yes, Lilith."
He turned to find Lucia standing next to a small kid's grave, a big envelope in her hands.
"I have to ask you for another favor, Hunter." On her grin he could see, that she already anticipated a yes as his answer.
"What kind of favor?"
"Another hunt, of course." She answered.
"A little too much for you?"
Lucia's grin disappeared. He just loved teasing her.
"Not that kind of hunt." She informed him.
"What makes you think I would be interested otherwise?"
"Because it is in your own best interest. But if you do not want to know, fine." Lucia shot back and turned to go.
"Hold your horses. What kind of hunt would you have me go on this time?"
"A hunt for her." She had stopped, but didn't turn, her hand pointing over her shoulder.
"Then this isn't her grave?"
"Not likely. Necromancers have a way with death, you know."
This finally struck his interest.
"A Necromancer?"
Lucia simply nodded and turned back toward him. "You are interested now, yes?"
"Maybe." Dante looked back at the statue. "What does she have to do with me?"
"I don't know, I'm only the messenger."
"Matier strikes again? What did she see this time?" This was really getting interesting now. The old seer had never been wrong as far as he could tell. Who knew, maybe there was such a thing as destiny after all.
"There are many gates to hell and not all of them end up on this world. The Necromancer could be a threat, but I really don't know."
"Then what do you know?" Patience wasn't exactly one of his better formed traits. In a way he was glad to be talking to Lucia and not to the seer herself. That conversation would have driven him insane.
"There are seven bloodlines of Necromancers. Lilith belongs to the seventh, the strongest according to old lore."
"What threat could a Necromancer be? They recall souls into stiffs for a short time, so they can ask them some questions. Big deal." Dante fell into her sentence.
"You have a very narrow idea of what a Necromancer does. They are guardians, too, and protectors and they hold the key to many sealed gates."
"What did Matier see, Lucia?"
She didn't answer right away, something very disconcerting.
"She saw a war of gods, Dante, and this Lilith holds the key. You have to find her, before she can open the gates."
"I never killed a Necromancer, sounds like an interesting change."
Lucia laughed suddenly. "Interesting indeed, but are you sure you can kill her?" She waved and left before he could ask her what she had meant with this remark. Didn't really matter, of course he could kill her. A Necromancer couldn't be as strong as demons, and he hadn't met one of those, that he couldn't kill.
On the grave next to the statue, where Lucia had stood, was the envelope. At least he didn't have to start from zero. On the way back to the bike he looked through the contents: a letter from Matier, some newspaper clippings, a necklace and a picture of a little girl. Maybe that was harder then he thought. Necromancer or not, he couldn't just go and shoot a little school girl.