Disclaimer: DMC and its characters belong to Capcom. Alastor's/Ifrit's personalities are mine. The helnyne demon is also mine.

A/N: A "prowl" is a group or squad of demons/devils. Thank you Shanisasha for your help.

The demon moved so suddenly she didn't have time to blink.

Instead of attacking her, he leaned forward, stopping just short of mashing his nose against hers.

Stifling her surprise, the blonde flinched back. Her pride screeched and slapped her, but she barely felt its sting beyond the scrutinizing discs of gold. Abruptly the demonic eyes diminished in their intensity by drastic degrees, becoming soft, even bland. As Trish remembered to breath she could detect the faint odor of ash clinging about him....and something else, something that was at odds with the first scent.

I don't understand you, she thought, at the same time sensing just how accurate her admission felt. The helnyne quirked his mouth in a way that she thought he might respond to her silent confession. He didn't. Instead he spoke with the frankness of one who knew the immutable truth of things.

"I'm really not all that interesting, you know. You can gawk all you want, but I'm no different from you. We're devoted to the Master and his endeavors, we serve him unquestioningly because he will inevitably guide the Underworld down the path to greatness. He is power. To follow him is to attain that supreme end all we denizens crave: Revenge against Him."

The demon spat the last word in distaste, a smoldering hatred in his eyes. Trish had seen that expression many times in other spawn at the mere mention of mankind's Creator...

"But Mundus can be a harsh slave driver," the helnyne went on, calmer now. "Of course, I can't see you complaining. Ever. You being his personal spy is more than anyspawn could hope for, and it's more than I can say for myself. For you see, I lead the fantastically exciting career of an errand boy. Yay. And speaking of debasing professions, I have orders to carry out, and none of them involve amusing myself with a blonde mute...though amusing it was."

At this comment, Trish narrowed her eyes to dangerous slits.

"Quiet..." the demon remarked as he strode passed her field of vision, "...and so easy to read."

In passing, the long leathers about his waist brushed across her bare arm. Trish suppressed a shiver as she struggled to subdue a flustered blush from her cheeks. It wasn't easy, what with her wits in a fabulously tangled heap.

Easy to read... What does he mean by...?! Screw that! Son of a Nobody thinks he can get under just anyone's skin? Well I show him...!

She whirled, fully intent on demonstrating just how bad her day had really been. Glaring knives in his back wasn't enough to get his attention, but she thought a lightning bolt up the ass might do the trick. The helnyne turned to face her, effectively ruining her plan of assault. The glitter in his golden stare instantly told her he had not been so oblivious to her hostile musings. Needless to say, this annoyed her to no end.

"By the way, I thought you should know, in case you didn't," he said casually. "Mundus rearranged the island. The castle, especially. When you explore it next you won't find certain doors anymore, nor the rooms that were once behind them. He does it to better guide Sparda's boy to him. "Poetic justice," he called it. He wants the hunter dead at all costs. Rumors say he's scared. I think this is so."

Not in the best of moods to begin with, Trish verily bristled as she stood up for the being that gave her life.

"Bite your tongue, demon. Where do you get off saying that? Mundus fears no one, least of all a mortal."

"Mundus fears," the helnyne defended flatly. "The hunter refuses to die, no matter how many warriors, or deadly traps His Darkness casts his way. It's unheard of; Mundus can't stand the thought of someone not dying on command. Whatever ungodly power that sustains the hunter's life, Mundus fears this, and what it might mean. He has become stupid in his fear."

Her voice was like chilled steel. "I beg to differ."

What is he thinking? Mundus will have his hide for this!

The bastard had the balls to look calmly at her. No...it was patience she saw! As if she were a stubborn whelp!

Argh! Mundus can have him, but not before me!

Before she could indulge her violent urges, the blasphemer spoke again.

"Judging by your expression, you wish to re-educate me and my way of thinking. Fair enough. Then explain to this demon-of-profane-opinion why our magnificent and perfect leader neglected to warn you, his own creation?"

"Warn me of what?" she growled, power jumping between her fingertips. "Speak quickly, 'cause ignorance is bliss and you need to fry."

"Speaking." He bowed his head in acquiescence. "The rooms that disappeared were sent somewhere, agent. Where do you think they went?"

"How in Hell should I kn -"

But she did. Trish remembered a moment in limbo when her fury had died as suddenly as it did now. She sensed denial on her doorstep.

Seeing comprehension wash away her fire, the demon nodded solemnly as he imparted the grievous news.

"More than one prowl was decimated because their assigned posts decided to implode with them inside. I promise you they won't be missed. Mundus's vision has regrettably narrowed, and I doubt he sees anything beyond his need to kill the son of Sparda. And as our Emperor blinds himself with obsession, so do his servants suffer. He abandoned the prowls to death, just like you, because of his haste, and carelessness."

Trish felt her heart sink. With her mission complete, Mundus had allowed her to roam Mallet as she pleased. She had obediently accepted her temporary freedom without much thought. Even as hours slipped by, with no new orders forthcoming, she had stoically resigned herself to waiting. In her boredom, she had tackled self-appointed tasks in the vague hope her Emperor would notice her, and find use in her again.

But if what this demon said was true... If the impossible had happened, and Mundus's personal vendetta had made him succumb to incompetence, then that could conceivably explain why she had been overlooked all this time.

No. It's a convenient explanation, it can't be true. But what if...

If it was true, then her future had just veered into a big steamy pile the size of Mount St. Helen. The only reason everyone tolerated her was because of Mundus. The only reason she was still breathing and in one piece was because Mundus, the angel that gave her life, protected her from the denizens of the Underworld who would just love to peel the flesh from her bones, merely because of the way she looked. The helnyne said something about rumors...and if he had gotten wind of Mundus's condition, then how many others knew?

If her creator had become weakened in any way - like sinking into a single-minded fugue - then the masses of the Devil Kingdom wouldn't stand idle for long. The great Emperor may lose his seat of power with his attention fixed as it was... It was the nature of all hellkin to bite the hand that fed them. Only later, after they sated themselves with carnage, would they seat a new leader in the former ruler's place.

For chaos to be born again, stability must first play its part.

Trish fought the rising panic inside her as her worst fears became more and more real in her mind. Her eyes were clouded as she thought, again opening herself to an attack, though she couldn't care less at the moment.

"What do you suggest?" she heard herself ask. "If the situation is that bad..."

"Nothing."

"What?"

"Do nothing. Let it run its course like its done in the past." The demon crossed his arms. "Still, you might want to invest some time in finding somewhere to hide."

Trish shook her head. "You can't be serious. If things deteriorate anymore than they already have..."

"I am serious. You're a resilient girl, agent. Just look at you, standing there no worse for wear. Only you survived the clutches of limbo...albeit with a little help..."

Realization found her with a visible jolt. Hells, she felt so stupid for not seeing it sooner! The demon may have had informants telling him about the unfortunate prowls, but there was no way he could've known about her erstwhile predicament in the void.

That could only mean one thing.

She opened her mouth to say something - hundreds of questions, a simple thank you - but never got the chance.

A distracting buzz filled her mind, just like before. The helnyne disappeared in the same white-hot flash of light which had, once upon a time, carried her from oblivion. The next moment she was blinded by yet another flash, this one a strobe of lightning from the brewing storm outside. The demon had timed it perfectly. Disoriented by a harsh double dose of sound and light, there was no way to track his exit. Even his taint had been shielded from her.

As thunder became echoes, she thought she heard his parting words.

"You're welcome, agent."