After all, she feels numbness inside
The feeling's gone
She's upside down.
The pictures behind her closed eyes
This time you went too far.
Delerium – "After All"
It was late the following day when the phone in the temple's foyer rang. Keiichi, standing by the stairs as he waited for Skuld to bring him a part for his bike, answered it on the second ring.
"Moristao residence." He held the phone to his ear for a moment before placing it gently down on the table. A brief frown crossed his face as he turned towards the kitchen. "Belldandy! It's for you."
Exiting the kitchen with her apron still on, the goddess moved across the room as if she was as light and delicate as a feather. "Who is it, Kei?"
"I didn't ask. It sounds like it might be someone from the Goddess Relief Office, but there was some static on the line." Keiichi didn't mention that the caller was male simply because there was no problem with it. As he had discovered, not all in Yggradsil were Goddesses. Besides, for all he knew, it might have even been the Almighty himself.
She took the phone from the table gently, putting it to her ear. "Hello?"
"Ms. Belldandy? We met previously – this is Marcus Cole with the newspaper."
"Hello Mr. Cole! What can I do for you?" Her face brightened into a smile at the voice of the young man she had met only a day or two previously.
There was a brief burst of static and then the voice came in clearly. "I know this is a bit sudden, but would you and your fiancée care to meet me tomorrow for a lunch interview? I had a block of time open up at the office, and my article is due in a few days."
"Oh?" Belldandy's eyes brightened a bit more. "Perhaps you would care to come here for lunch, then? I am a fair cook."
"As good as that sounds, I'm afraid that I must decline. As a reporter we never know when a breaking story may happen. I was thinking somewhere else, like Dominique's Café downtown. It's not far from the office, in case something big breaks out."
"That would be nice! When would you like to meet?" Belldandy replied, not noticing that Keiichi looked confused or that her sisters had crept down the stairs to listen in on the conversation.
Skuld had spent much of the previous day attempting to figure out where she'd seen this Mr. Cole before, but it had been largely unsuccessful and she had, instead, shipped the image off to Yggradsil to let its databases handle it. Peorth had promised it would be given top priority, especially with the closeness of the wedding date. The only problem was that there were millions of demons on file which would take some time to go through. Urd, in the meantime, had been trying to keep busy but was running out of things that needed to be done. The poor Goddess of Love's nerves were frazzled enough as it was with all that she had been attempting to accomplish while Skuld sat at her computer, eating ice cream for hours on end as she continued her quest.
"I am free at eleven. Why don't we meet then, order some food, and do our interview?" Marcus' voice was fading in and out with static, thanks to the poor connection he had from where he was within the Dark Realm. "I fear that my mobile phone's battery is dying on me! I will see you then!"
There was a click, then silence filled the line as the connection was terminated. Belldandy hung up the phone and gave Keiichi a smile, the kind that he loved so much. It never ceased to amaze Keiichi how much her smile made it feel as if spring had permanently settled with him. It was more then enough to keep him smiling as he went about his day. Still, his curiosity was piqued. "Who was it, Bell?"
"That was Mr. Cole from the newspaper. He wants to interview us for a story he is writing about spring marriages." Urd and Skuld listened intently, looking at each other with worried expressions. "He asked if we would have lunch with him tomorrow at eleven, and since you don't have classes tomorrow I agreed."
Urd's and Skuld's expressions darkened to concern, but they listened carefully as Belldandy told him where they'd be meeting. Then, quietly, they withdrew back towards their rooms. Something was very wrong, and this meeting was cause enough for them to be extra concerned.
In the Dark Realm, Omega turned to the two silent figures standing near him. "The trap is set. Tomorrow at eleven they will arrive at the restaurant for a meal and an interview with Marcus Cole. What they will get instead is their last meal on the planet and an interview with the Reaper!"
He chuckled darkly but was interrupted by the shorter of the two women, Aura. As her name suggested, she seemed to radiate a feeling of mystery and beauty combined with evil, making those around her involuntarily shiver. Brushing back a strand of dark hair, she focused her gaze squarely on Omega. "What of the sisters?"
"Oh, never fear. I have little doubt that they will tag along or even follow the two. I am sure that you can handle them easily. Besides, when was the last time that they had to do any serious fighting?"
"But why a morning meeting? It would have been so much better to have had this meeting in the evening when the sun is down. I wouldn't have to drain a lot of mortals to keep my strength up," Luna's blood-red lips were a sharp contrast to her white skin as she smiled and revealed a pair of sharp fangs. Omega threw her a sharp glare of disapproval and she hurried to correct the damage before it was too late. "I know, Loki gave you permission to create this plan and he ordered us to help you. I know that Aura has a long-standing feud with Urd, so I suppose that leaves me the younger one."
Omega paused, his wrath successfully turned for now. "I have faith in both of you to accomplish your tasks. The younger one should prove to be no match for a skilled vampire such as yourself, Luna. As it stands, if we do our jobs right they will have no chance whatsoever."
If the new day had any indication of the evil that was about to be committed, it gave no hints. Just as with the day before, the new day brought with it a brilliant crystal-blue sky and warmth that seemed to draw every living thing in Japan out into the sunlight. Since it was the start of a weekend, children ran and played on sidewalks, in yards, and in parks. They were glad to be free of both school and the oppressive feeling of a winter's worth of days spent indoors. It could not have been a better day for Belldandy and Keiichi to spend walking the streets of Nekomi and both listen to and watch the sounds of spring.
Unlike their sister and her fiancée, Urd and Skuld were busy with other things that day as the hour drew nearer to eleven. Skuld had given up on expecting an answer from Yggradsil at the moment and was instead working on another of her inventions. The machine, currently laying on the floor in a million pieces, incorporated various household items into a typical Skuld invention. She'd already named it in her mind – the Mega Confetti Thrower. It was her hope to be able to use the machine, which looked something like a cannon mated to a cart with a few additions, to launch confetti all over the wedding. It was sad, she thought as she wielded her screwdriver like an artist wielded a paintbrush, that she had so many good ideas and so little time to put them to use.
Urd, meanwhile, was reflecting on life over her standard glass of sake. Even though it was early in the day for a drink, she knew that sake tended to help her think straight – so long as she didn't drink too much. The problem with Urd was that she had always been in conflict – being half demon and half goddess would tend to do that. It didn't help things that her control over her powers was less than perfect and that her feelings of loneliness – something she normally kept locked away – were being amplified every time that Belldandy and Keiichi kissed or held hands or did any number of the sappy things that lovers do with each other. Yes, she had pushed to get them together, but sometimes she wondered if that was out of wanting to be seen as a martyr instead of trying to be helpful. A part of her wished fervently that Marcus Cole turned out to be normal; she admitted that she liked something about him, even if it was just a crush.
Skuld had just finished tightening a bolt on her invention when the phone downstairs rang. "I'll get it!" she called out, jumping to her feet and rushing to the phone before Urd could even react. Skuld grabbed the receiver of the phone as she reached the last step. "Hello, Morisato residence!"
"Skuld? This is Peorth. We have a problem…"
"WHAT!" The cry from downstairs a minute later brought Urd out of her reverie. In that instant every bad feeling she had seemed to be confirmed, even before she could hear Skuld crying out as Peorth finished her explanation. "There are hellhounds attacking the city and Marcus Cole is one of the highest members of the Dark Realm! Belldandy and Keiichi just went to meet with him for lunch!"
Urd's memory clicked at these words, and a curse escaped her lips even as she came running from her room. She remembered the face now. It had been a long time ago, but she remembered. It was Omega. "Damn it. Why couldn't I remember it sooner?" She half-spoke as Skuld handed the phone to her.
"Listen, Peorth, we don't have much time. The hellhounds are the distraction. Send whomever you're going to send to deal with them. We'll take care of Omega and anyone with him."
"But…" Urd wasn't going to brook any interference with time against them. "No buts, Peorth. Get your forces moving." Slamming the phone down with a growl, the tall goddess was already transforming into the clothing and weaponry she used to fight with. The goddess markings on her forehead and under her eyes made it seem as if she was going to war – which she was – as the black, red, and gold clothes covered her body. These were the same as what she had worn to face Celestine, though the black staff in her hand was a new addition. She was past Skuld and out the door before the younger goddess could react to the shock of the news she'd been given. "Hurry up, Skuld! We don't have time to waste!"
Urd had already mounted her broom before Skuld was even finished transforming, but the younger goddess caught up quickly and the two of them raced on towards the city ahead of them. The two had a vague idea of where Dominique's Café was and were racing towards the center of town. They were just able to make out the busy café below when disaster struck. With no warning whatsoever, a bolt of lightning struck Urd's staff and sent it spiraling towards the top of a high-rise near the café. Before Skuld could react, a second bolt had struck her broom as well, sending it and its rider cart wheeling towards a second building next door to the first.
Hitting the ground on one knee, her broom clattering to the ground not far from her, Urd shook her head and picked up her staff. No sooner had she wondered what had hit her when a familiar voice sounded from behind her. "I was wondering when you'd bother to show up. You Goddesses have gotten so lax and lazy lately." Aura stood towards the center of the flat roof, holding her own staff. The staff she carried was unusually designed; it looked like a shepherd's crook with three spikes running out the back. A ruby was centered in each, and the staff seemed to crackle with unused lightning. Urd had no doubt that it was Aura, a name and face she was familiar with, who had caused her and her half-sister to come crashing to the ground.
"The only lazy one here is you, Aura," Urd retorted back, coming erect and readying her own staff. "I don't know what your purpose is, Aura, but I promise you that you'll pay for what you've done."
"Such sharp words will only cause you pain," Aura shook her head tauntingly. "You won't live to regret those words, Urd. Of that you have my word." Raising her staff over her head, Aura twirled it before pointing it square at the Amazonian goddess. Instantaneously a bolt of lightning shot from her staff straight at Urd.
Raising her own staff to the ready, Urd blocked the attack with a shield. Rising into the air to gain the advantage of altitude, she released a fireball from her staff. The flaming ball of energy shot towards Aura with incredible speed but the demon simply lept into the air and began circling as she ascended. Raising her staff, she prepared to call down another assault onto her foe.
Leaping from her staff before it hit the ground, Skuld had fared better than Urd on landing and hastily ran to collect her staff. She had just reached it when she felt a cold chill on the nape of her neck. Turning, the young goddess caught a glimpse of a figure in black retreating into the shadows of the office building's elevator shaft. Frowning, Skuld advanced a few steps towards the shaft, staff at the ready.
"Hasn't anyone ever taught you, little girl, to fear the shadows?" A sultry voice seemed to float on the air and Skuld paused in her tracks hesitatingly.
"Come out where I can see you!" She called out, hoping that the quiver of fear she felt didn't reflect in her voice.
From the shadows Luna looked on at the goddess then licked her lips. She had spent the previous evening gathering her strength for this battle and now the time had come. Relying on her wit, she moved silently through the shadows, pausing when she was at the corner behind Skuld. "No, I really do not like the sunlight. I'd much rather stay here where it's dark and comfortable."
Something about these words made Skuld remember the pictures she had taken with her hidden camera. Omega had been standing beside a woman who had put on a pair of sunglasses. Was it possible…? "You must be that lady that Marcus Cole… I mean… Omega was talking to the other day. I remember you."
Luna quirked an eyebrow in amusement. So, the little goody-goody had been spying on their meeting? All the more reason to eliminate her. Unlike her partners in crime, Luna did not carry a staff with her. She was a traditional vampire, preferring to rely on speed, strength, and seduction to take care of whatever problems arose. In this case, the problem was standing only a few yards in front of her. She smiled and bared her fangs. "Oh, so be it. That was a touch of clever detective work, little goddess. I'll grant you that. It's too bad that you won't be able to save either sister." Tensing her muscles, she bounded out from the shadows toward her prey at incredible speed even as Skuld turned slowly to face the threat from an unexpected direction.
On the other tower, Aura's lightning attack danced across the ground between her and Urd. Fingers of electricity measuring billions of watts vengefully sought the goddess. Dodging in an effort to avoid becoming Kentucky Fried Goddess, Urd shifted and brought her staff up and focused. "Dark storms of the West, I call upon you to rise up and bring me your power! I call upon the wind and the rain and the elements to come to my side! Lend your powers to your servant, grant me your gifts, and strike down my enemy!"
Dark storm clouds gathered overhead and bolts of lightning began striking the rooftop around them even as the rain began to fall like wet, heavy tears. Recognizing the spell Urd was casting, Aura reversed her staff and drew a series of runes in the air, creating her counterattack. The new summoning spell runes leapt into existence in front of her and she raised her hands to embrace them. "Desert winds, heed my call! Lend me your aid and send me your power! O dry desert winds, drive the clouds away and bare the landscape!" The wind was howling and she had to strain her voice to be heard. Even as she finished the last word, the winds seemed to shift and grow dry and hot. Overhead the clouds that Urd had summoned were showing signs of breaking up. Realizing that she had a perfect distraction, Urd slid her hand into her tunic and removed a small green vial. Quickly she tossed the vial at Aura, watching with satisfaction as it detonated in front of her.
Before the demon could react, the gas coalesced into a creeping vine that effectively wrapped itself around Aura and prevented her from escaping. Swooping in, her staff leveled, Urd smiled. "Well, Aura, I think you look better in green. Peorth has a lot of questions for you."
Skuld may have been slow in reacting, but she already was figuring out just what Luna was. Between the shadows and her sunglasses, the young inventive goddess was fairly certain that her prey was a vampire. Reacting even as Luna rapidly crossed the distance, Skuld dropped to one knee and lowered her shoulder. As Luna reached the goddess, she found herself being flipped across Skuld's shoulder.
Momentarily winded from the sudden change in direction, the vampire got up and stared at her opponent for a minute. Mesmerism wouldn't work against a goddess, even one so young and naïve as this one. Approaching her quarry slowly, Luna smiled and bared her fangs so the young girl could see the instrument of her impending destruction. Instead of cowering away in fear as most would, the goddess only smiled and pulled a small mirror from her pocket.
"What are you going to do with that, show me my reflection?" Luna barely had a chance to ask before Skuld demonstrated. Angling the mirror, the Goddess watched as sunlight was reflected off of the mirror and into Luna's eyes – eyes that did not have sunglasses on them. Crying out in pain, the demon fell to her knees, her hands on her eyes.
Taking the opportunity given her, Skuld summoned several of her special "Skuld Bombs" and tossed them around the vampire, noting with satisfaction each cringe as they detonated. Summoning a net for the vampire, Skuld looked over at her sister across the way. She had just turned back to look down at the café, which was clearly visible, when all hell broke loose.