Beneath The Shadows

Chapter 8

Seven Months Later

The summer heat cooked on the smooth surface of the pavement, hazy vapor hovering above the smoldering asphalt. The sky was an unspotted ocean of blue save for the beating hot sun that seared whatever it touched. Ninety-five degrees and a humidity of one hundred percent, but that wasn't what the people had to complain about. With the blistering heat and incessant inactivity, the city did seem somewhat like an old western ghost town. But the cowboys always came out to play eventually. Everyone waited; those involved, and those that watched, and prayed. These incidents would usually be triggered by a subtle action. Sometimes a single shot, sometimes even a glance in a certain direction. As soon as it happened though...

"Shit!"

The winged beast crashed into the squad car, splitting it in half and killing the two officers inside. The other officers around them exited their cars and opened fire on the sky of flying terrors. As was the routine, everyone else who wasn't armed went for cover, while all others, remaining hunters and vigilantes alike, followed the cops lead. A large group of ground-based demons came from the north of the interstate, trampling over abandoned cars as more closed in from the east and west.

"They're surrounding us!"

The group came to a center and stood in a triangle, backs to each other while they each tried desperately to ward them off. But it was to no avail. They were only killing one demon for every ten seconds, and they were closing in fast, the remaining flyers picking off those who were firing at them on rooftops and from windows.

"Nice to know you have shit under control!" One stated towards the officers.

"Where's our backup?"

"They're tied up with those south side assholes!"

"Fuck!"

As the group from the north neared, a rocket from the south descended upon them, vaporizing the majority as the group looked back to see where their saving grace had come from. They weren't surprised to see Lady standing a top the roof of a tall building, now picking off the remainder of the flyers, dropping them to the streets where the human forces were starting to regain the upper hand.

Lady's pinpoint accuracy made short work of her targets, allowing her to quickly make her way back down, flipping on and off of whatever foothold she could find until she was on the ground. She immediately opened fire on the group from the east, whose focus had been directed towards a group of screaming civilians. She redirected their attention to her by dropping a few of them, remembering to always go for the head like Dante had beat into her head over the years.

The hideous creatures dashed at the huntress, drool dripping from jagged fangs as she dropped her machine guns once depleted of ammo and went to her twin nine millimeters, with which she was just as efficient. She sensed more coming at her from the west, and split her pistol fire, decreasing the numbers in each group while the others took care of the remainder of the demons from the north. Although she was on point, the gaps between Lady and the demons was shrinking fast, and she would have to regroup if she didn't get them all down, which would have left the others vulnerable.

Luckily, a few bolts of electricity hit each group from inside another building as Trish emerged, sunglasses on and guns out. She landed next to her colleague and gave her a couple of clips, instantly opening fire afterwards.

"Damn is it good to see you!" Lady said over the gunfire.

"Likewise!" Trish did the same. "I thought I wasn't gettin' outta' that building! It was totally overrun!"

"I think everywhere is!"

They continued their fire, killing off the last of the demons as the group fending off the north did the same.

Cheers filled the air, as they believed they had vanquished the attackers.

But it wasn't over.

From the north came a line of massive armored demons, who slaughtered the others with only a few swipes of their mighty blades. One officer who was falling to his death fired a shot that hit the gas tank of a car near Lady and Trish, which sent them into a wall.

The line of charging demons trampled over everything in their path as they closed in on Lady and Trish, who were just getting up from the explosion of the car, and both completely out of ammo.

"This isn't good." Lady plainly stated.

"Don't worry." Trish smiled, and rose up her arms.

Static electricity swirled around her fingertips as she prepared her attack. She hurled the concentrated energy at her inner closing row of targets, but much to her and her partner's chagrin, the attack bounced off the demons' hardened skin.

"Well, fuck." Trish removed her sunglasses.

Unnerved, they stood stoic as the demons closed in, salivating over the nearing flesh they would dine on. They were about to duck out of the way, but before they got any closer, something cut through the air as if it were something ethereal, and before Lady and Trish knew it, seven headless demons were falling at their feet.

"Perfect timing." Trish said.

The white-haired warrior landed in front of them, giving no other response save for the return of his sword to its case.

"I guess he doesn't care for compliments, either." She laughed.

"Compliments are for the weak." He chillingly uttered, and turned to face them. "But I don't need to remind you two of that."

"What does that mean?" Lady snapped.

The elder twin smiled, and began walking towards them.

"The recurring theme." He confidently proclaimed. "When all is bleakest, turn to the half-devil to save you. I did it upon my return, and I've done it ever since."

"We didn't need your help."

"And before it was me… " He continued as if she hadn't spoke. "... It was my brother." He grinned. "It just goes to show you how much weaker you are than us." He directed his stare to Lady individually. "That is what that means."

Lady, never one to take provocation with a grain of salt, immediately withdrew her pistol, and held it to Vergil's chin. Trish smiled.

"Let me tell you something, demon…" Her glare intensified. "We've been the ones fighting the past six months. We've been the ones struggling to survive, sleeping less than an hour a night, keeping your kind from destroying us."

"And I've been idling away my time." His snide tone made her stomach turn. "But you can blame Dante for that." He paid no attention to the gun.

"Well I guess we could, Nelo..." Trish smirked, catching his attention "... but whose fault was that exactly?" She stared at him.

Lady stood in a confused state. She wasn't familiar with the incident at Mallet Island.

"Well why don't we ask Dante? Oh, but where is he?" He mockingly looked around for Dante with his hands out. "Shooed away by those who now desperately cry for his return. Even more pathetic." He laughed. "Though maybe you shouldn't be hoping for his return as much as you should be thanking me for your lives, though I'm sure you might have a problem with granting appreciation to a demon." He looked at Lady.

"Not true. I've done it for your brother plenty." She slyly said.

"I'm certain you have." He turned his back. "His affection for humans is unwavering. Sickening, in my mind. It has always been the biggest difference between us." He closed his eyes. "And his biggest weakness."

"I don't think anything about defending those who can't defend themselves is weak." Lady stated. "It sure as hell didn't bother you."

Vergil quickly turned to face Lady.

"Understand this, human." He slowly stepped to her. "My return was my finding a way out of hell, not something based upon my care for humans. I could care less if each and everyone of these sheep are slaughtered at the hands of this horde."

"Yet you saved us." Trish once again intervened. Vergil smiled.

"All part of a plan. All you need to know is that you two are more used to me alive than dead. Don't think I have any soft spots for you, or Dante for that matter."

"Trust me, the feeling's mutual." Lady rebutted.

As arrogant as Dante was, she couldn't believe the arrogance that just seethed through Vergil's pores. Dante was always a boastful pompous-ass, but Vergil truly believed that he was above all, that he was the ultimate authority, though in the midst of this chaos, authority ceased to exist.

Shortly after Dante's disappearance, the demons started coming back in their regular numbers and consistency. Soon, without Dante there to kill off the majority of them, they quickly began gaining the upper hand on all remaining hunters, and eventually, law enforcement as well. Lady and Trish found it easy enough to survive, but much more difficult to protect the citizens of the city. Within the first weeks of the New Year, the fatality rate had already doubled from the year before within the city, and more and more demons were coming in, and barely any were being killed. To everyone's disdain, even months after the destruction had ensued, the mayor of the city still had yet to declare martial law, for fear that he may look weak as a leader, and the government made no intervention, fearing that widespread panic might rise in the rest of the nation if military involvement is now required to keep the public safe. They only hoped to resolve the situation with the power of the city's law enforcement, which was failing miserably. Unlike all other cities, this city had lost the vast majority of its hunters, which was what the upper powers didn't understand, and which was why the police couldn't handle the demons anymore.

The complete demolition of the city and its people was almost complete. The portals of hell were opening more frequently than ever before. The more demonic congestion in a given area, the more the portals open in that area. Demons were pouring out of hell into the city, but the now oft-open portals also provided at least a temporary halt in the city's demise. Vergil, who had been wondering in the darkness ever since his defeat at the hands of Dante, finally saw his chance for escape with more portals opening, and made his way through, killing a number of demons in the large group that was crossing over in the process.

His minor acquaintance with Lady allowed for an understanding between the two once he caught up with her, as well as Trish, and with their efforts, they stopped the demons from consuming everyone for the time being. But more and more demons were still coming through, and they were gaining more power each moment. With the city on the edge of an end, even Vergil knew that they alone couldn't vanquish the rest of the demons. He knew that Dante would have to return to get this job done. But his words were true; he truly didn't care about the people. He did, in fact, have ulterior motives, and Lady and Trish were hell-bent on finding out what they were.

"And don't think he's not coming back, because he is. And you two are gonna' have to work together to stop this."

Vergil smiled, and scoffed as if the statement had no substance.

"Think whatever you'd like."

The half-breed turned and walked away.

"And you thought Dante was self-absorbed." Trish looked at her.

"Ugh, it sickens me even more that we share the same living arrangements as him."

"Hey, at least he's not there ninety percent of the time."

"That's ten percent too much for me."

Shortly after the demon attacks began, Trish had let Lady move in with her at her safe house. There was really no business for the hunting of demons anymore - it was now just a game of survival - so Lady had no way to continue to pay the rent. They also knew they'd have the best chance surviving as a team. Then, upon his return, Vergil needed a place to rest when he needed to, and given the help he was granting, whatever his intentions were, they decided to help him in that regard. But as soon as he replenished his strength, he would vanish.

Both stood sweating profusely, the baking heat wearing on both of them.

"Why'd you call him Nelo?" Lady asked.

"Eh, I'll tell you some other time, maybe in a bit cooler of an environment. So, what are your plans for today besides the never-ending avoiding of death?"

"I think it's time I'd paid Chance a visit. The cops can't do anything to help fight against the demons as long as they're at war with that idiot, and vice-versa."

"You sure that's a good idea?"

Lady smiled. "Trust me, he doesn't have the balls to make a move. He knows he'll be the one with a bullet hole or a few dozen. How about you?"

"I'm still trying to get in contact with Morrison. I haven't heard from him in months."

"Well with Ricky popping off agents like it's his job."

"They didn't have any beef, though. Not that I know of at least."

"Alright, well let me know if you get word on anything else. We have to hit the heavily populated areas later on. The demons have been targeting them recently."

"Will do. Be safe."

"You too."


"... as the destruction continues in the major metropolitan area. Casualties are now being estimated in the high thousands since the December Sixteenth Massacre, which resulted in the disappearance of fugitive, 'Dante' who was witnessed murdering a criminal syndicate known as Trappers, who, along with their profession of poaching demons, had been linked to multiple vendetta-related homicides involving Hunters, another crime ring within the city, and civilians Nina and Patty Lowell. There have been no leads as to who was funding the Trappers, nor to whom they were selling their captured demons. Meanwhile, the police continue their ongoing feud with the South Side Dice, the last known remaining functional group of Hunters within the city."

"Man, this is some bullshit." Eddy said as he steadily cleaned a glass while keeping his eye on the television.

"Yeah, I definitely liked it better when Douche Bag was here." Johnny added.

"He is, isn't he?" Jose slurred.

"No, I guess that's supposed to be his twin brother." Eddy replied.

"Wha?"

"Yeah, that's what I said."

"It took forever for the cops to realize it wasn't him." Johnny said.

"I heard he cut his hand open and slapped an officer who was chasing him in the face, and said, 'Let me know how the test results come back.' then bolted." One added.

"Where'd you hear that?" Eddy smirked.

"Dude I know who sells weed in that alley."

"An always reliable source." Eddy laughed and shook his head.

"Heh, not really." He wittily replied.

The police ultimately did decide to use the blood off the officer's face to do a DNA test, and though extremely similar to the DNA from their sample of Dante's blood they had collected from the crime scene, it wasn't an exact match. The chief wanted to rip his hair out once he realized that there were in fact two of them, and that he could really do nothing about Vergil since he had yet to commit a recorded crime. He technically wasn't even in the system.

"But really, I'm sick of this shit." Johnny complained. "I had to blast one in my backyard just the other night."

"Sure it wasn't your wife?" Eddy got the whole bar laughing.

"Eat shit, Eddy."

"Well, that motherfucker better get back here quick. He's probably putting mad miles on my truck if he hasn't wrecked the damn thing yet." Eddy said.

"Fuck your truck, I'm trying not to die!" Jose replied.

"As is evident by your oh-so-healthy lifestyle." Johnny snapped.

"Now don't you go shittin' on others just 'cause I shit on you." Eddy pointed at Johnny. "And Jose, go pick up my trash cans."

"I didn't even hit 'em this time."

"Go pick 'em up anyways."


Lady climbed the long staircase to the top of Chance's club. Only Dante had ever set foot in his office, which was a surprisingly peaceful result over a money dispute involving a job which both had been involved in.

Demetrius Chance was the former Director of Weapons Intelligence and Crime & Narcotics for the Central Intelligence Agency. After his promotion from Weapons Intelligence to Crime & Narcotics, he was in the running to take over as Executive Officer of the CIA, but was passed over for the job due to what he later discovered in the report as having a "radical personality" and "possible clouded judgment due to anger issues."

In turn, he responded by using his access to the information of the drug and weapons flow inside the country to secretly form his own criminal organization by setting up major seizures on heavy transports with those he knew outside the CIA who had the resources and manpower to pull them off.

Soon, he had the money and weapons to set up, and resigned from the CIA before they even realized what was going on. Even after they did, they didn't have the power to go after him directly, and if it got out that someone within the CIA had sabotaged drug and weapon trafficking that they knew about for his own benefit, their trust amongst the public would plummet, and their government funding would most likely take a severe hit, so there was no chance of putting him on trial.

Now, he was the leader of the last organized group of hunters in the city.

Lady made her way up to the massive guard blocking the door of his Chance's large office.

"What's your business, girl?" He said with his arms folded.

"I'm here to meet with Chance."

Without responding, he turned and went into the office, closing the door behind him. After a brief moment, he came back out, and held the door open for Lady.

She entered, and saw the longhaired man sitting at his large desk at the far end of the room, rings on his fingers, a pile of coke on his desk, multiple guards standing throughout the room... and Ricky.

She had heard that he had joined Chance shortly after the incident with Enzo, but she couldn't believe it until she saw it herself. She never thought he'd be following someone else.

"So, she finally decides to travel to our neck of the woods." His low, rough voice filled the room. "Come to buy some guns, maybe help you actually get things under control up there?"

"I'm here because of this bullshit you've started with the cops." She wasted no time in getting to the point.

"The bullshit I've started?" He laughed. "Now there's a skewed view of things." He looked at Ricky. "Was it not the cops who started it by killing Kifer for no reason?" He looked back at Lady. "You know what?" He snapped his fingers. "I think it was!"

"I don't care who it was, Chance. We're in trouble here, and if you don't lay off the cops, they can't do anything to help us. And it'd be mighty white of you if you could actually help us out a little. Once everyone in the center of the city is gone, who do you think is next?"

"You're worried about the demons. I'm not."

"I'm not either. I'm worried about everyone else that's suffering because of this.

He did a line of his candy. "Ah, good shit."

"Chance," Lady put her hands on his desk. "Could you just cut me some Goddamn slack here? We're fighting for our lives, and you're not making it any easier. Just do me a favor and stop this shit with the cops, at least until we've dealt with the demons."

He looked down from her and smiled.

"You routinely talk shit on me and my crew for the past two years... you proclaim to be the baddest bitch in the land, better than all the rest of us, yet here you are now, asking me to do you a favor..." He laughed. "What's wrong, can't hang any more since Dante's left?"

Lady's eye twitched at the remark. She could have killed him right there.

"Here's some advice," He stared at her. "Can't take the heat, get the fuck up out the kitchen."

She turned and started to walk away before turning back to look at Ricky, whose eyes were fixed on the ground.

"Yeah, I wouldn't look at me, either." She snapped, and walked out of the office.

"Funny, how little she actually knows." Chance grinned.

"Aren't we the only ones who really do, though?" Rick asked.

"Yes, and that is precisely why we are in control of this situation, not that cunt."

"You want me to get everybody together?"

"... No. Something tells me we may have some trickle-down effect from the demon attack today. It's possible we'll catch whatever's left of them. Have them stick around, but make sure they're sharp."

"Got it."

"Well, no help here." Lady thought to herself as she exited the club. "Where are you, Dante?"

Well damn, a chapter less than 5,000 words. In truth, the next couple will be about this long. I could've cram-packed my ideas into one chapter, but that leaves you with no suspense now does it? Hopefully there aren't too many fuck ups in this chapter (I went back and fixed A LOT of shit I missed in the previous chapters), but if there are, let me know. Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Back in school, working a shit ton (but at least no longer on the night shift) and I did wind up playing in that alumni game. Fun as hell. Yakked after two series, felt great for the rest of the game, won that shit 23-7. I never did more five-step pass blocking in my life. The next couple of chapters should be up soon. I'm back in that college writing mode, so I should get them written quicker than usual.

"I don't like you suckin' around and bothering our citizens, Lebowski. I don't like your jerk-off name, I don't like your jerk-off face, I don't like your jerk-off behavior, and I don't like you, jerk-off. Do I make myself clear?"

"... I'm sorry, I wasn't listening."

PEACE!