Chapter 1: stressful times and new employment.

Ah, here it is. My first chapter of the sequel. This fic is dedicated to all three of you who actually reviewed my last fic. Including BloodyDemonEmpress, BladeMaster16, and Devilman666. This is the longest first chapter I've ever written. Enjoy. And if you enjoy this chapter, you'll definitely enjoy the next chapter, which involves sewers—and a drunken Rayne…

Warnings: death, violence, language, very very brief nudity, romance, and drunkenness. If you don't like it, don't read it. Always on the lookout for reviews and constructive criticism.

Disclaimer: as always, I do not own any of the characters, places, or events in any of the Bloodrayne or Devil May Cry games. Sigh…

The room was dark, illuminated only by a splash of moonlight from a single rectangular window. By this sparse light, you could just barely see a glint off of a pair of white fangs and the hooded figures who sat around a square table. The fangs vanished as the red haired female shifted in her chair.

"Well, what do you need this time?" she asked.

The man sitting across from her simply pushed a black envelope across the table to her. She opened it and carefully looked over the mission file.

The location of your target is within the city. You will find the target at a facility known as the Devil May Cry. You will have seventy-two hours to eliminate your target before we at Brimstone take matters into our own hands.

She looked up from the file, directly into the depths of the cloaked man's hood. She'd never gotten a mission like this before. She was used to going after groups of baddies, not former partners. She pushed back from the table and crossed her arms over her chest.

"No, I can't take this one." She said, matter-of-factly.

"We're not giving you an option. You are to terminate Dante Sparda, or we will do it ourselves."

"No, you can't."

"Why not? What makes this mission different than any other?"

" I can't explain it. I just can't go and kill someone who saved my life before. I'm not taking this mission." She said with a sigh.

"I see. Well then, I have little choice but to terminate your employment."

In a flash, a dagger came out from the folds of the man's robe. He slashed out at the woman, but she ducked under the table and then dove out the window. As soon as she hit the ground outside, she started running.

Inside the dark room, the hooded man stared down at the bloodstained knife he held in his hand. Hm, she's faster than I could remember. No matter. Whether she likes it or not, she WILL be the one to strike down the son of Sparda. He thought to himself with a light chuckle.

Rayne hurried to gather what belongings she had into a black duffel bag as she thought about where she was going to go now. Thoughts kept whirring into her head, only to be rejected by some other thoughts about Brimstone. Finally, she got one. She would warn Dante, and live in various hotels for the rest of her life. Okay, maybe not the deal with the hotels, but she figured it would be a good idea to warn her former partner about Brimstone's intentions. She changed into some street clothes and hopped into a cab the first chance she got.

Dante pulled out his handmade guns as he ran out of the alley. The four Geist Demons that stalked him knocked over the trash bins he's used to block the alley in a frenzy to reach their prey. Before they could reach him, Dante had gotten onto his motorcycle and sped off down the road. The four demons gave chase, following ever so closely. They stiffened as they cornered him for the kill. He turned the bike towards them, staring for a minute at the hideous creatures. They resembled skinless, eyeless bulldogs, only much larger and covered in black slime. They had sets of six-inch long fangs and claws, hunted in packs, and had a nasty habit of eating the heart out of your chest. Dante merely drove past them, using their stiffening as an advantage. He quickly whipped the front of it towards the pack, and then leaped into the air, guns blazing. He landed smoothly on it as soon as his attack was finished, and began to drive back to the Devil May Cry to sit and think. That was his life lately. Only one week previously, Trish had been brutally murdered. He had returned from a job one evening to find her sprawled grotesquely across the couch. Her limbs had been severed and placed into the lap of her remaining body. Her long blond hair had been hacked off maliciously, and various slashes adorned her corpse. The most disturbing thing was the symbol that had been carved into her chest- a bizarre infinity symbol with an arrow going through it vertically. Dante had been forced to replace all of the carpeting and furniture.

But these were not the thoughts which haunted him. Indeed, he could care very little about the murder, except that it happened in his own home. Three years had passed since he'd met her. The crimson haired assassin who had been his partner on a big mission to permanently put down Mundus. At times, when he was busy pouring over files and lists, he could swear he saw a gleam of a silver blade in the shadows. But, as always, these were mere illusions conjured by his tired mind.

Dante's thoughts were interrupted, however, when a knock sounded at the door. Wondering who could be interested in his "extermination services" this late, he was shocked solid when he saw Rayne standing on the other side of the door. She stood rigidly, looking paranoid. She had changed a bit during the past three years. Her hair had grown out to reach her shoulder blades, and she was dressed much more casually than he was accustomed to. She had on a pair of blue jeans frayed at the bottom, a black tee shirt, and black sneakers. He also noticed a black duffel bag draped over one of her shoulders.

"Well, if it isn't Agent Bloodrayne." He mused.

Rayne, however, did not answer. Nor did she look very amused. She quickly glanced over her shoulder before addressing him hastily.

"I need to talk to you. This is important."

He invited her in, noting her urgency. Rayne tossed the duffel bag carelessly aside before she sat down to explain the situation. He sat patiently, chin propped on his hands, trying to think of some solution. Like Rayne earlier, he eliminated one idea after another when overlooked factors came into play. If she stayed in a hotel, they would find her and kill her. If she returned to them, she would be forced to murder him. Finally, a thought occurred to him that would forever change his life. She would stay with him, where he could protect her. He had no idea why he wanted to, but he knew that he did. She was to work with him, and they would split the profits from the jobs they received. In the meantime, they would think of how to deal with Brimstone. Rayne thought about the prospect, and finally gave in when she could think of no better alternative. He took her upstairs to show her where she could sleep for now. It was Trish's old room, now stripped of any indication anyone had ever lived there. Rayne was a little surprised that he could make such a dreary office downstairs, and such a homey living space upstairs. It was complete with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, a washer and dryer, and a living room. Unable to imagine the demon slayer doing laundry, she dropped her duffel bag onto the floor and plopped down onto the bare mattress. She fell asleep immediately with an overburden of stress.

Dante walked by the room and saw Rayne deep in sleep on the mattress. She was uncovered, and even still had her shoes on. He grabbed a spare blanket from a box in his closet and covered her with it. It was amazing how peaceful she looked in her sleep. Impossible to imagine that she could be a cold-blooded killer. She slept in an awkward position, and he wanted to make her more comfortable, but he also didn't want to end up with one of her blades through his chest. He was a little tempted to do something else, too. Maybe just—no! He smacked himself. Bad Dante! He quickly exited her room and shut the door behind him.

Early the next evening, Dante came up from his office to see Rayne in her regular outfit. But that was all that was regular. She sat comfortably on his sofa, eating peanut butter with a spoon and watching Whose Line is it Anyway? Sheesh. Did she know how to calm down, or what? He grabbed the remote and switched the TV off, receiving a death glare in the process. It was time for her first mission as a member of the Devil May Cry duo. Unfortunately, this job would involve sewers, nests, and well, sewers.