Chapter 2 "Crystal's Past"

"Crystal..." No! Daddy! Don't leave me!

"Crystal!" That calling isn't dreaming...

"Crystal, wake up. It's me, Dante."

Now I know I'm awake. "Mmmfmm"

"I just got a call. It's time for another mission. This time, it's a real one."

Crystal sat up on the couch, clothes wrinkled. The same black outfit she had been wearing for a few weeks, plus a cape with a hood that was a deep blood red. "What time is it? Do you have any food?"

"It is five-thirty. Here. Eat this. It will have to do." Dante mumbled, tossing her a chunk of stale bread.

Crystal took a few bites then tossed it to the side. She got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

"I'm in kind of a hurry if you don't mind." Dante groaned, taping his foot while standing at the door.

"Fine, let's go then!" Crystal yelled then walked out the front door as she pulled her dripping wet hair back, which caused her shorter bangs to fall out.

They left and about seven minutes later, Crystal found herself standing before the immense tower that used to be 'Arkham's'.

"This is a good field test to find your strengths and weaknesses. Can you devil trigger yet?" Dante said, just about ready to open the door.

"You mean change? Yeah," Crystal took a step back and concentrated for a moment. Then slowly, she transformed into a demon that looked very similar to Dante's devil trigger. The only difference was that she had a green theme like color to her scales, while Dante had red.

"Interesting. How long can you stay like that?"

"About an hour" came a dark, low pitched hum of an answer.

"Then let's go!"

Two and a half hours later...

"Man, that was a rough training session!" Crystal said as she limped out the door into the blinding sun, then fell to her knees.

"We should go back now. We can finish this mission tomorrow." Dante said as he picked Crystal up and carried her the five blocks to the office.

"Thanks"

"We're here." Dante said gently, and then placed Crystal on the couch. "You never told me why you were searching for me."

"My father kind of told me to look for you. He said that my life rested in your hands." Crystal said like she was seeing her past.

"So, I know I asked before, but what was he like?" he said, sitting by Crystal's feet.

"He was wonderful, yet mysterious. He never really talked about my mom or being a demon. He was more of a loner. I also had a sister. She was a year and a half older than me. Her name was Kiara. She died when I was sixteen." Crystal paused to let a tear run down her cheek. "I never thought that my life would turn out like this. I've lost everyone in my family except you. I don't know if I could move on."

"I know the feeling. My father died when I was young, so I never got to know him. My brother doesn't know how to control the anger so he always fights against me, or at least that is what it feels like." Dante said as he got up to sit down at his desk, obviously with his feet up on it. "You want some pizza? I'm gonna order some, and then jump in the shower. Is that cool with you?"

"Yeah, I guess." Crystal said, sitting up a little. "How long do you take in the shower? I would like to take one after you. I also need to wash my clothes."

"I take about a half hour. I have some spare clothes for you to wear if you want. Do you want cheese pizza?"

"Sure. Not like I have anything else to wear. Yeah, cheese'll have to do."

Dante picked up the phone and called the pizza place. "Hello? Uh, yeah. It's Dante. I'll have the regular and I'd also like to add a medium cheese pizza in there. Thanks. Bye." Dante hung the phone up then walked to the bathroom door, then stopped. "Pizza will be here in forty-five minutes or it's free."