Chapter 2 – Frost and Roses
"Everything is set, I think. Once the observation terminals have their data gathered, we can leave this place." Bullet said as the pair waited at the edge of the city. Supposedly, this was off-limits with all the restricted signs and apparent dangers that may be lurking here. Not that they encountered any such sort on the way here.
Having been made to work for Sector Seven, maybe coerced a little, Velvet was allowed to partner up with someone else for this mission. Two others in fact, with their latter companion briefly at a different location setting up a second of said observation terminals.
"Did you really need to have the same outfit as her. You know, if someone calls you 'butt-floss,' that's on you."
Velvet glared at Ragna's spirit though said nothing in response. If she replied, Bullet would likely be confused and she didn't need any further questions until she's at least settled a bit more. Besides, she didn't see anything wrong with the outfit. Certainly not when it had been freely offered. Lightweight, easy to move about in, and ensured she was able to fight with no interruptions. A few modifications to add a gauntlet and greaves and it was perfect already.
She adjusted the blade hidden in her gauntlet and sighed. She hadn't expected to be back in this kind of lifestyle. Granted, she wasn't sure what her new benefactors are actually planning to do but she didn't have much of a choice. At the very least, they seemed like a nice enough bunch.
"What's keeping him?" Bullet said as they sat atop the building.
"Tager seems like he could handle himself. If he ran into trouble, he'll be in contact I'm sure."
"I don't doubt that," Bullet replied. "But if anything actually does give him trouble, are we expected to clean up?"
Velvet tilted her head and looked up at the older woman. "How often does that happen?"
"Not too often. Unless the higher-ups of the Librarium get involved, we shouldn't need to worry too much."
"Everytime I hear about the Librarium, the more I get annoyed. Are they always in charge?" Velvet frowned.
"Pretty much. But I hear it was worse many years ago. We are… amicable now, for the most part. Though what we do here isn't always looked at in high esteem."
"Things at least seem calm." Ragna murmured.
The minutes passed and Bullet soon held a hand up as her communicator flared up. "Sir?"
"….Interference….. Hero…..on the way…..be careful."
"So he's in trouble?" Velvet stood up.
"Maybe. I'm more concerned of what he said. I couldn't make out all the words but someone's on the way? A Hero?"
"Why are you two still here?" Ragna walked up to Velvet. "If you hear something like that, it can't be anything good."
Velvet frowned again, "Should we wait?"
"Not in full view, no. Find a hiding place and wait for a signal." Bullet replied.
"Got it." Velvet nodded her head and immediately leaped down from the roof. Ragna awaited her at the bottom as she landed. He was quick to gesture her towards some fallen debris and seeing no reason not to accept his help, Velvet headed there and placed her back to the ruined wall.
She didn't know where Bullet would choose to hide but until they know what they were dealing with, she had to wait and hope for the best.
Everything was quiet, until she heard the sound an ominous whistling. Velvet shivered and breathed in deep, only to find a curiosity. It was biting cold. Cold enough that she could see the vapors of her breath cloud up with each exhale. The oddity was the fact she could actually feel the cold in her current state. It was both uncomfortable and unfamiliar ever since her transformation into a daemon.
"That's an unnatural amount of… wait, hold on." Ragna said and disappeared right through the wall.
Velvet listened and waited, hearing the sound of footsteps through the empty street.
"I knew something was odd when I encountered the Red Devil. Sector Seven is getting too bold with these little incursions aren't they?"
"Velvet, can you get a good look?" her communicator flared up and she peeked around the corner of the wall. She can see the man there, clad in blues and whites with long, blonde hair tied up in a single ponytail. His face had a light stubble and certainly made him look older than he might actually be.
"I see him." Velvet whispered, taking note of the man's weapon. "One single sword sheathed by his waist. Is he the source of the cold?"
"Yeah, don't engage. He's quite possibly the second most dangerous person to cross in the Librarium. One of Imperator Homura's closest confidants next to Kagura Mutsuki. The Hero, Jin Kisaragi."
"Hero, huh?" Velvet said.
"Stay calm. Like I said, we shouldn't need to engage. No one has seen him fight in a long time and I don't see anyone else around."
"Sector Seven, you're falling behind. Even we can listen in to your communications at this range." Jin called out, his hand going to the hilt of his sword. "And I fear you are gravely mistaken. I wouldn't be here if I couldn't force the Red Devil to retreat myself."
He swung the blade towards the right side of the building they had been waiting at. With another fluid movement, another slash aimed at the ruined wall Velvet had been using. Forced to reveal herself, she dove out of the way before the structure shattered into fragments of ice along with an entire section of the building where Bullet had been hiding.
"Did you think I would sit idly by in the past few years languishing? I've heard the rumours as well, claiming I am unable to fight anymore. But I assure you that was only true for a few years. Now…" Jin watched as Bullet and Velvet stepped into full view of him, "…give me a good reason why I shouldn't have you both arrested for trespassing in a restricted zone?"
"I don't remember a law that says we can't be here. Civilians maybe, but not those of Sector Seven." Bullet replied, walking over to Velvet.
"You know as well as I do that Sector Seven members still fall under the qualifications of being civilians. I don't know what Kokonoe is trying to pull here, but looking for these loopholes slows all the processes down. And you…" he pointed the hilt of his blade at Velvet, "I don't recall seeing you before. A new recruit of theirs?"
"That's none of your business now is it?" Velvet replied, her blade emerging from her gauntlet.
"This isn't going to end well." Ragna sighed, waving his hand in front of Jin. "And of course there's still no response. Hey, Velvet! Don't get yourself killed!"
That's a given of course. She brought her blade arm out in a stance and faced the man before Bullet placed a hand on her shoulder. "What are you doing?" the older woman asked.
"What's it look like? He's picking a fight with us isn't he?" Velvet replied.
"And giving him a good reason to retaliate. Step back a bit, breathe, and calm down."
"So you have a problem with temper. How disappointing." Jin said.
"I'll show you temper…" Velvet glared and suddenly lunged at the man, her arm blade aimed forward only to be parried by the sheathe of his weapon. Still in mid-air, she spun about and brought out the blade hidden in her right greave and kicked out. But it too was blocked and parried, forcing her back to land on her feet.
She didn't stop though and as soon as she landed, Velvet sprung forward to close the distance, becoming a whirlwind of slashes and kicks, all of which the man avoided or blocked without fully drawing his weapon.
"Don't think I've seen him play this defensively before." Ragna watched, though suddenly winced as Jin unsheathed his blade for a brief moment. Velvet's right arm was suddenly frozen in a block of ice and just as she broke free, another slice attempted to cleave her in two.
Her instinctive response was to bring her left arm forward to catch the blade. Too late, if not for the fact that a wave of darkness gathered around her free arm. What caught the blade was a red and black claw, though Jin pulled away quick and retreated a few steps back.
"What in hell…?"
"Now that looks familiar…" Ragna said as he continued to watch. Velvet had dissipated the demonic claw, enough that she had escaped from harm for the moment.
"I didn't want to use that too early. But I suppose there's no point hiding it." Velvet said, clenching and unclenching her left fist. "Shall we continue then? I don't plan on backing down now when - !"
A yawning void of darkness covered Velvet where she stood and she simply vanished.
"Damn it!" Ragna called out and entered the void as well.
When the darkness faded, the smell of flowers was the first thing she noticed. This was different from the city, and ahead loomed an ominous castle. Yet here she was, daemonic claw outstretched in an awkward position.
"Where am I now?" she grunted, and then turned around.
Someone sat a few paces away. A woman in an elegant-looking black gown, trimmed in red, with long blonde hair tied up with two ribbons that made her look like a…
"…Rabbit…" she heard Ragna whisper beside her. But something about his demeanor had changed, almost as if he slunk back, trying to avoid looking at the woman. If there was a word that could be used to describe her, it would be… well, beautiful. She looked only a few years older than Velvet at most but she exuded an aura of sophistication and opulence. Even Velvet found it difficult to say anything to even start.
The woman looked up, long… sharp… fingernails tapping on the table in front of her and then frowned. "How curious. Here I was hoping to catch a familiar face, yet what appears before me but a fool playing the part of a would-be hero."
Velvet lowered the claw, allowing it to revert back to her bandaged arm. "Did you summon me here?"
"Not intentionally," the woman shook her head. And then she simply vanished, only to reappear behind Velvet, looming over her. "But I shan't turn down a meal. Maybe it was your blood that called me to you?" she said, leaning in close as her fangs brushed past Velvet's neck.