Author's Note: I would like to extend my deepest apologies for not updating for so long. School and my personal life was hectic for a while, but now I can actually settle down and write some more. I am hoping to make this 20 chapters long in keeping with how many missions there are in DMC 3, however this still is up in the air. In this chapter Vergil is introduced to new characters and will face new challenges as he embraces his new line of "work". I am very curious about your feedback so please review. Enjoy!

Chapter 6

"How much?"

"Twenty-thousand, all in advance,"said the man in a black business suit," Just bring back my son."

"Forty or no deal,"Vergil said quietly his blue eyes flashing.

The man sighed and shook Vergil's hand. Vergil stared at his palm after the transaction was made with a furrowed brow. He was disgusted that he had just shaken hands with a demon. A normal life, huh? Vergil had never known that there were so many demons that wished to follow Sparda's example and live among the humans as he had done so long ago. Such a dream could not exist in the picture painted in the blue clad warrior's mind. Humans were weak beings. Vergil was merely doing this to protect demons who wanted to redeem themselves as he was trying to redeem himself.

Demons had killed his mother, and he had never been quite comfortable with humans since her death. He loathed this new line of work and yet he enjoyed it already. Forty thousand would be a nice start. Dante would wait. He knew that his brother was watching his actions very closely in case of him returning to his old ways. He walked down the long hallway to the bottom of the stairs while gazing at the envelope that his client had just graciously given him. He opened it and only a single ticket fell into his grasp. Vergil sighed, this was already more than he bargained for.

The screams of the performers on stage made Vergil slowly cringe on the inside as he advanced into the pit where fans were moshing. He had no clear weapons on him making him feel vulnerable, yet he had a few tricks up his sleeve. Strobe lights and pyro technics lit up the stage. The boy would be here, he was sure of it. He could sense two demons within the crowd closing in on what he sensed was the boy who had a rather positive energy around him for a demon. Vergil's eyes swept and met with that of a bald man with a black trench coat wading through the pit for the center. His eyes shifted again to the right to see a man with a nose ring and sunken eyes in a leather coat walk in from the right.

Vergil walked through tossing humans aside as he plowed on through with a calm stride. There was the kid as described by the gentleman in the suit.

"Are you Steven Faust?"

"Yeah, "said the kid shouting,"Who the hell are you?"

Vergil grabbed his arm,"There is no time to explain, just come with me."

"Hell no dude, I don't even know you!"

"Look you wretched worm, you either come with me or die," Vergil hissed standing in front of him.

Both of the darkly clad men stood on either side of the two.

"The boy is coming with us,"spoke the trench coated man over the roar of the performance.

"I think not devil,"Vergil smirked.

"Fuck this man, I'm outta here," the kid climbed out of the pit running up through the seats in a frenzy as the two men leapt high in the air and following in pursuit while Vergil cursed under his breath.

Vergil teleported himself out of the pit in a flash looking around to see where the demons were, he got his answer when he felt a tap on the shoulder.

"Don't interfere here Darkslayer," the human face flashed with a demonic visage as the strobe lights flickered.

Vergil clenched his fists rapidly as Beowulf formed over his arms and legs,"Shut up."

With a fast hook kick the demon's head flew into the pit with nobody noticing, so entranced were they by the music. The headless form crumpled into dust at Vergil's feet. The sunken eyed demon was no more. The gauntlets had disappeared again as Vergil ascend the stairs to the exit with puzzled looks of panic and bewilderment. Though the strobe lights had effectively masked the decapitation, the people were sure they had "seen something". Ignorant humans, Vergil knew he should leave and achieve his objective quickly before there would be further incident.

He went into the bathroom Seeing that the farthest stall was occupied by a figure who was breathing fearfully. There was nobody else save the last remaining demon who punched the stall in and attempted to grab the kid who had been cowering in the corner.

Vergil came from behind deftly slamming the monster's face into a sink before punching him in the gut with Beowulf and twisting his fist. Cracks of light began breaking their way across his body before he exploded in a brilliant blaze of light. Vergil sighed and began to walk away slowly as the shining gauntlets flickered away until needed again.

"Are you coming?"

The boy followed silently where there was a car waiting to take them back to Frontline Inc. They remained silent though Vergil could not shake the smell of weed and alcohol that had stuck to his clothes since the empty bathroom. Disgusting.

"My father sent you to get me, huh. Figures, ever since we got out my old man's been paranoid. I could have taken those two losers myself eventually."

"You did such a good job too,"Vergil quipped sarcastically eyeing the young man," You really are a pathetic excuse for a demon."

"What's that supposed to-"

"Calm yourself. I was merely sent to retrieve you, nothing more. This is all in the interest of business."

Vergil stared out the window at all the people walking by, oblivious to the demons who lived among them. A senseless mass of humans who wouldn't notice anything unless it was shoved at their face. Vergil thought about Steven he supposed demons even shared human ignorance as well. All that he needed to know was why Mr. Faust had hired him other than to retrieve his son.

The car stopped and the two left the black car behind and made their way to the elevator. Both remained silent as they made their way to Mr. Faust's office.

"Ah, good to see that you've arrived," said the balding man from behind his desk,"Your pay has been transferred to your account as promised."

Vergil didn't move. He said quietly." There is more to this than just the boy isn't there?"

"Whatever are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me demon. You fled Hell because you know something."

Vergil leaned over the desk, his blue eyes concentrated on the eyes of the CEO, which had a reddish tint.

"We-we fled Hell because of the return of the Demon Emperor. Though weakened he plans to rise again. I had heard whispers before of a son of Sparda that served in his father's place, so that is how I knew I could trust you. Who better to return my son to me than one who has fought alongside the Dark Lord himself."

Vergil soaked in the information as his blue eyes stared searchingly over the desk. This explained the dreams and the red eyes. Mundus was rising again.

"You two are on your own. Unless of course you wish to hire me again. Until such a time, farewell."

The demon known as Steven as his human name shouted after Vergil as he headed to the elevator. Vergil got in but the kid grabbed his arm," Hey man, I really appreciate what you did for me out there. You really are a badass."

Vergil shrugged off the arm giving the boy a cordial nod before the doors closed. He held the Yamato tightly at his side from retrieving it earlier from the car. Now more than ever he must be on his guard.

"How was your first day's work?"

"What's it to you?"

Vergil was staring out the window of the filth in which he stayed. It was raining now…again. He turned to look at his "helper". The low hood still concealed his features except for the rather polite smile that curled his lips.

"I merely wanted to see whether I had served out my usefulness yet or not,"The demon said wispily taking Vergil's place at the window as Vergil sat on the bed staring at the floor.

"You've done more than enough, now begone."

"As you wish, but know this. I'll be in touch like I promised,"The demon sank into a pool of darkness that seemed to emanate from his feet.

Vergil ran his fingers through his hair as his coat lay draped over the end of the bed. He couldn't stay in this place much longer. With the money he received he would be able to seek lodging with his own base of operations. He supposed house hunting was in order, and he had just the place in mind.

He rubbed his eyes, sleep had not come easily since his return. Flashes of his servitude to the Prince of Darkness were ever more frequent when he shut his eyes. It was going to be a long night that much he was certain.

He laid back stiffly on the uncomfortable bed not at all at leisure as his brother would have been. The vest, pants, and boots were stifling, but they were the only clothes he had to his name for the time being. At least he had sheets and was not using his expensive coat.

He pulled out the pendant and stared at the gold chain and red jewel marveling at its beauty. It had been so long since he had seen it last. He clasped it to his chest and stared at the ceiling watching the fan twirling overhead. He was drifting away now back into the hell that existed when he closed his eyes.

Another job showed up when a woman with flowing black hair hired Vergil to act as a bodyguard. It was certainly not Vergil's cup of tea but she paid well. He could sense that she was unnerved by the cold silence in which he treated her. She was a demon in the guise of an attractive girl in a white dress. Her green eyes had an odd luster that made Vergil uncomfortable every time she stared at him.

They were sitting on the park bench, she had a small cone of ice cream in her hand while Vergil sat stiffly beside her. She sighed and stared at the sun and smiled.

"I love the sun, don't you?"

Vergil remained silent as she continued," It was cold in Hell. Dark. I'm glad I was able to escape my master. Rumor has it that you escaped too."

The red eyes flashed in Vergil's mind and he grunted as he clutched his head.

"What's wrong?!"

"It's nothing," he gasped.

"I'm sorry, it must have been awful to serve him. I did not mean to remind you of that."

It frustrated Vergil that so many people knew of his fall. Of how he had served his own father's worst enemy in servile degradation. But, in truth he had to admit the power that Mundus had given him had made him feel invincible. Though it had been a lie and his power stripped, part of him still craved to be Nelo Angelo again. It was what scared him the most. In fact he had not Devil Triggered since his escape. He was too afraid…

"Are you alright? You are so silent," The girl said rubbing his back.

"Let's go," he said his voice calm as he rose to walk down the pathway to the road.

She went to follow him but something didn't feel right. Vergil ran forward and grabbed her just as there was an explosion seconds after where she stood. He reached into the black suitcase-like-satchel and pulled out the Yamato. His eyes widened.

The smoking gun was carried by none other than a girl with black hair in white with red gloves. He would have recognized that gun anywhere. It was Arkham's daughter. No doubt hired to kill a demon who resembled a girl.

"Outta my way,"She said drawing a hand gun from her bag at her waist.

She paused seeing Vergil and recognizing him and tightening the grip on her gun.

"So its true then…"

"What? That I'm back?"

"That girl is a demon so she needs to die."

Vergil flicked the hilt upward with his thumb with a severity to his tone,"I can't let you do that."

"You never struck me as the sentimental type when we last met,"She advanced her gun trained at his head. He could not help but notice she had become far more voluptuous since they had last met. Her clothes tighter too. Those however were things that did not matter for the time being.

"I'm attending to the girl, now leave," He said firmly.

"No offense, but I need to get paid. I guess we'll just have to do this the hard way," she said with a wry smile. She placed the handgun away and swung her bazooka into position.

Vergil lashed out having his blow deflected by the Katlina Ann. "Funny we've been in this situation before,"She smirked shoving the sword away.

She spun around putting the missile launcher firmly on her back and training the handgun at Vergil who batted it aside and swiped at her legs. She backflipped barely over the attack but landed shakily due to the weight of all her arsenal.

"From a foolish girl to a foolish woman. You haven't changed at all daughter of Arkham."

"Don't you ever say his name!"

She popped a few shots off which Vergil deflected before she fired a missile at him which he narrowly dodged.

He landed in a crouch ready to draw his sword until he heard the voice of his current employer shout his name.

"Leave her to me. Go!"

The girl had been hiding behind a tree. Suddenly he heard Arkham's daughter say,"Gotcha!"

A shot was fired. The girl collapsed a perfect hole in her head. She had been a lesser demon, and the shot was fatal to be sure. He stood and walked over to the body that had looked so innocent. It contorted, changing into the form of a demonic maiden that crumpled into black dust that blew away.

She had managed to barely gather enough money together for Vergil to accept the job. Now after an entire day of being her bodyguard he had failed. He hadn't even cared to learn her name.

"It was just a demon you know," The woman said coming up from behind Vergil her head cocked to the side. She placed her gun away and crossed her arms.

"I was hired to protect her,"Vergil said calmly,"That was my job."

There was silence then she spoke,"I didn't know."

"Not all devils deserve their fate. She wished to live as a human and abandon a life of evil. Knowing this, I agreed to protect her from her master."

"And right she was to fear me,"said the voice of a man clad in black with gray hair walking through the trees.

"He was the one who hired me,"Arkham's daughter she said with disgust.

Vergil unsheathed the Yamato, "This one's mine."

"Have at him,"she said almost playfully.

He glared at her,"Better than having a trigger-happy human handle this."

"Well sooorry,"she said scratching her head.

Vergil continued to walk forward and pointed his blade at the newcomer who transformed into a lion headed demon with a flaming mane and a snake tail.

"I am Chimera human don't think you can stand against me and expect to live."

"Human, right."

Vergil knew that this would be fun.