Lady arrived outside the gates of Albert Manor, with Morrison leaning on his car whilst smoking his cigar. The huntress parked her motorcycle before walking up to the older man.
"Five minutes early. You seem eager Lady!" Morrison spoke as he shook Lady's hand.
"I wasn't planning on taking it easy, especially when there's a nice wad of cash to earn." She couldn't hide how excited she was to partake in this case.
"Alright. Like I said before, our client is giving us alot of cash if you conclude your investigation, and clear out any major threats." The elder sat on the hood of his car as he explained.
Lady gave a nod of understanding, and she began to walk through the broken gates until Morrison stopped her, giving her an old cellphone.
"Just press the number six, and it'll send out a distress call. Only if you need backup though."
"I don't need it." She quickly said, sounding irritated.
"Well take it anyway as a last resort." Morrison insisted.
With great reluctance, Lady huffed before taking the old cell phone, putting it in one of her pouches on her ammo belt which hugged her waist. A nod from her was all Morrison needed as she continued towards the manor, it's stone path looked broken, but rememberable at least. As the huntress carried Kalina Ann over her shoulder, she felt the air around her changing, like entering into another world.
The Albert Manor stood before Lady like a giant. Its front doors barely hanging on by its hinges, almost ready to just snap off at any moment. The windows surprisingly were not damaged, nor boarded up. The huntress carefully scanned the front of the manor with her eyes, noticing a light emitting from the highest window.
"Bingo. . ." She quietly whispered to herself before proceeding to push open the door, only for it to snap off and fall down, causing the thud to echo throughout the desolate building.
"So much for being subtle. . ." Lady thought to herself as she transcended up the broken yet stable stairway.
Meanwhile in Redgrave City. . .
"Well at least the weather is on our side for a change." Nero said as he walked hand in hand with Kyrie, with Vergil walking ahead of them.
"Agreed, we've got time before we head down to the buffet, may as well enjoy it while it lasts." The blue devil said as they walked through the market district of the city.
For several hours, the trio wandered all over town, finding new places to visit, and places to avoid. Now the three were sitting together in an indian buffet, Nero filled his plate with chicken korma, pakora, and a small soda to wash it all down. Vergil on the other hand stuck to chicken tikka, and a coffee, but Kyrie went for something neither of the men would go near.
"The ultra spicy tandoori? Are you sure that is a wise choice Kyrie?" Vergil asked, trying to hide his concern from the songstress who nodded firmly.
Within seven minutes, she was done eating the curry. The two devil hunters looked at each other in shock as Kyrie downed her glass of wine with no effort. For a girl who is rather quiet, she truly was a mystery in her own right, especially when it came to food. Nero could tell she was unphased by the meal, almost as if she was ready for more.
"I might have that again, maybe try making it myself for you two." Kyrie spoke cheerfully whilst the two males looked almost fearful.
"Uhhhhh. . ." The father and son both looked at each other, their heads shaking, only for the girl to giggle in response.
Albert Manor, later that night. . .
Lady was pissed off, there were no signs of demons nor cultists within the desolate manor. Letting out a sigh of fraustration, she made her way into the library, the last room she had not checked within the vast building. Upon entering, she was surprised to see how large the room itself was, rows and rows of old books filled the shelves which were made of the finest wood one could get their hands on.
Her eyes locked on to the fireplace, and judging by the intense heat emitting from it, someone else is possibly nearby. Without hesitation she drew out her dual pistols, scanning the area whilst keeping her guns in front of her.
"Whoever is here, they wanted me to come in." Lady said in her head, thinking of what kind of monster she'll have to contend with. She could hear small footsteps before jumping at the sound of the door she went through earlier slam shut.
"Come on out. . . Save me the trouble of finding you." The huntress spoke out as she looked over her back, then looking up just incase if the demon was stalking her from the ceiling.
The only response she was given, was dead, erie, silence. Lady's breathing became faster as she could feel a presence of some kind, despite her experience as a hunter, she hated demons who liked to hide.
"Help. . . Help. . ." A voice called out from the shadows, the sound of a young girl whimpering made Lady's arm hairs stand on end.
Was it actually a girl crying for someone to save her? Or a shapeshifting demon trying to trap her? Lady always assumed the latter. Taking no chances she advanced towards the whimpering, using her flashlight attached to her belt and checking her corners. The suspense only grew worse as she got closer to the sound of the child, a sudden chill ran down her spine as she stood before a large red curtain.
"Count to three Lady. . . One. . . Two. . ." The huntress counted down mentally and then with swift movement, she tugged on the curtain, ripping it off the railings, revealing the supposed child/demon.
The girl was tiny, for a teenager anyway. Behind her thick raven hair was petrified violet eyes which stared back at Lady, who aimed her weapon with uncertainty.
"Please. . . kill me. . ." The teen's voice was hoarse, crying for a long amount of time can do that to you.
"Why am I hesitating? A demon begging for death is either a coward or a pretty good liar." Conflicting thoughts in Lady's mind caused her hands to shake slowly. It reminded her of herself when she was a child, when her father murdered her own mother.
Lowering her gun, she knelt down in front of the girl, who looked at her, confused by the older woman's action.
"You don't look like a demon. They never beg to be killed." Lady spoke in a soft yet tough manner.
"Please. . . Just shoot me. He's coming back and I don't want him to take me!"
"Who is trying to take you?" The huntress asked as she got closer to the distraught teenager.
"My dad. . . He's a monster!" The girl spoke inbetween sobs before letting out a scream, grasping her head in pain.
The library doors suddenly were torn off its hinges by a shadow like being, it's four glowing yellow eyes illuminated its path towards to the two females. A sinister, cold laugh echoed throughout the vast room as it slowly made its way to them.
Lady stood up before telling the girl to run, aiming her weapons at her new target before saying to herself, "Deja Vu."
"Come now Rachel. . .come to papa." the demonic being said before a sudden barrage of bullets came flying towards him.
The huntress could see the creature absorbing the bullets like a sponge, simply unphased by the attack. The next idea was to switch to her shotgun and get up close and personal. The demon blasted out bolts of black energy towards Lady, dodged them with grace and speed whilst making her way towards him. As for Rachel, she ran as fast as she could, dashing past the fight that was taking place and made her way out. Just as she neared the exit of the manor, she was stopped by a wall of black magic, with hands reaching out for her trying to grab her legs.
She kicked them away before running back up the stairs and made her way through another hall, one that seemed to be a dining room, filled with tables and chairs covered in complete dust and decay. Spotting an open balcony, she sprinted towards it with the hope that her father couldn't reach her in time, only to stop as she looked down over the stone balcony. The drop would be lethal if she leapt off, Rachel slammed her hands on the stone guard railing in fraustration.
"Why can't I just jump? If killing myself just to get away from father is the only way, why am I hesitating?" Rachel's dilemma would be interuppted by an explosion within the dining room.
The demonic creature burst through the wall, it's roar meant it was hurt. It struggled to get up before being blasted by a rocket, sending it up in the air before a hook like grapple wrapped around it's legs, slamming it back down. The grapple retracted back into the large hole in the wall to Lady's cannon, before the huntress herself emerged from the smoke and dust.
Her coat sleeves were torn to ribbons, and her glasses were off her face which revealed her hectochromatic eyes. Rachel gasped in surprise before a large shadow like hand grabbed her, causing her to scream.
"LET GO OF ME!!" She yelled out in anger as the demonic being rose back up from the broken tiled floor, bringing her closer to its face.
"Shhh my dear Rachel. . . It will all be over soon and I'll have complete control of you!" The sinister creature laughed as it turned to face Lady who aimed the Kalina Ann on her foe.
"Let. Her. Go." She said, gritting her teeth in anger.
Another shadow like hand emerged from beneath her feet and grabbed her body, forcing her to let go of her weapon. Lady struggled and struggled to no avail, trying to free herself from the demons grasp.
"Ah. . .the blood of the priestess flows within your pretty little veins." The demon said as he brought Lady close, examining her body.
"You will make a fine sacrifice, but perhaps I'll have my way with you first."
"You're a sick bastard. . ." Rachel said with venom within her voice, causing her father to turn his head to her.
"Aw, is my little girl jealous of the lady? Don't worry. . . She could be your new mommy if you wish it!" The demon chuckled as he tightened his grip on the duo.
Lady grunted in pain, her eyes flaring at the demon. Despite the creature's grip, she managed to reach her ammo pounch on her belt, quietly trying to reach for the cellphone that Morrison gave her. Rachel could see that the huntress was reaching for something, she took a deep breath despite the grip of the demon tightening around her body.
"Why did you do it? Why did you kill mom?" Rachel asked in anger, causing the creature to look at her in fury.
"She merely stood in my way. . . She did everything she could to prevent me from hurting you, but alas she failed. Your mother was a foolish witch, and a pathetic excuse of one at that!" The demon bellowed in anger, unbeknownst to him, it was all a distraction.
Lady felt his grip loosen on her, a small smile formed as she reached for the cellphone more easily, with her right hand she punched in the number six and pressed the dial button. A loud ringing sound brought the demon's attention back to her before snatching it off of her.
"Calling for help? Too bad no one is coming for you!" The demon shouted before stomping on the cellphone, smashing it into tiny pieces.
Snapping his fingers, demonic symbols appeared in the hall, glowing menacingly before placing both Lady and Rachel on the ground, summoning a smaller group of demons who held onto both of the girl's arms and legs, restraining them whilst cackling and chanting.
"Let us begin the ritual!!" The head demon cried out, his minions roaring in unison as they began to prepare.
Lady turned her head to look at Rachel, whose tears flowed down her cheek in fear. It reminded her too much of her own past.
"I pray that the distress signal worked. I have to get out of this alive, and this girl too." The huntress thought as the demons began to cut into her hand, the blood leaking onto the floor as they chanted.
Rachel on the other hand was left alone, her father looking at her with a sinister grin on his face as she struggled to get out of the lesser demon's cold grip, screaming in fraustration.
Back in Redgrave. . .
Vergil stared at the his phone, he knew Lady wouldn't have sent the distress message if she could handle the mission. Nero and Kyrie were walking in front of him back to Devil May Cry, both engaged in conversation as the night went. The blue devil could sense something was wrong, and the message only furthered his concern, he quickly tapped Nero on the shoulder to grab his attention.
"Lady's sent me a distress call, she's in trouble. I'm heading to the location now!"
"You want an extra pair of hands?" Nero asked as Kyrie held his demonic arm, worried for her friend.
"I'll deal with it, Lady is my responsibility. For now just stay with Kyrie, she'll need the company." Vergil said as he summoned Yamato with his power.
Nero didn't argue with him, he gave Vergil a small hug and a nod before he and Kyrie went into Devil May Cry, while the blue devil slashed open a portal that would take him outside the Albert Manor.
"Foolish girl. . ." Vergil muttered under his breath, he wanted to lecture her for trying to fight a battle she can't win.
But within his thoughts he considered that she did not know what she was up against until now. A small grin formed on his lips as he walked through the portal.
To be continued. . .
Author's Note
The character Rachel is actually also a reference to the DC character Raven [ Teen Titans ] and her demon father is also a reference to DC's Trigon [ Who is Raven's father ] but it's merely a little reference to the characters and NOT a crossover story.
Next chapter will involve Vergil saving both Lady and Rachel from the demon father, along with another segment of Dante and Trish on their vacation. Hope you all enjoyed this so far, and I welcome any feedback. Until next time!