Alfred and Grayfia Meeting? You'll have to see~

Also this took longer than expected due to health complications and me getting over that rather blunt and frustrating review someone left. If you don't like something or how something is done, then don't bother with it? Why leave something negative and cause unnecessary stress?

That said I actually took some parts out of this chapter that was going to fast and far too early. I wanted to maintain the pacing of the story and didn't immediately resolve certain plots early.

Chapter 3

The one boon having magic that was only limited to his imagination was that Bruce was a very imaginative person. So much so that he took to Devil Magic very well. He was lucky that the Cimeris Family Magic was based on Shadows, meaning he could manipulate the ve1ry element he thrived in. He worked hard to perfect this magic well so he could utilize it when he got back to the Human World.

Thus he utilized it in the most him way; slinking in the shadows of places he shouldn't be in. He had perfected it to the point that any type of sensory magicks went right through his shadowy veil and acted like there was nothing there. Not even Bered or Serafall knew of this level of mastery.

That said, Bruce found himself in the House of Bael. He mentally scoffed. The arrogance of the Devils. No protection or sensory magics to be found anywhere. The Myskia side of him wanted to disagree with him but with the level of protections his human side had applied to their home, he could safely say that his home was safer than even the Maou's homes.

It's not paranoia if it's a contingency plan.

That was another thing he had to eventually deal with. He was suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder on an extreme level. He never acknowledged it before because for the most part, Bruce and Myskia agreed on a lot of the actions taken. Both were men who understood practicality and respected intelligent individuals. Where they differed was simply… their love life and pathos. Myskia desired Serafall and had no problems in killing people, especially those who deserve it. Bruce was deeply in love with Selina and did not kill unless it was the very last resort. He even had a contingency plan just in case he did kill.

'We should definitely deactivate that no matter what.' a thought floated in from the Devil side of himself. 'I understand the concept but that could be used against us. What if our enemies end their own lives and blame us for it?'

'You're right. We'll have to handle it once we get back.' Honestly it was something that he worried about but hearing it from another part of him clinched it.

Both halves then decided to focus on the task ahead of them. Currently they were in the shadow of a servant within the House of Bael. Bruce noted that the servant was recently injured, something that silently ticked him off.

'I know not every devil is like myself or the Sitri, but they're asking to be betrayed.' Myskia thought annoyed.

The servant entered a room where Lord and Patriarch Bael were sitting. Slipping into another shadow, he listened in.

"What is the plan, Father?" Alaric asked, accepting a drink from the servant. "And please tell me I'll get to do something about Lord Cimeris. His charisma is unraveling everything we've built."

"Our benefactor will be unleashing some of their expendable pawns near the Nekoshou Village. They will incite chaos and you'll swoop in and save them. Act like a benevolent savior and that'll entice enough of them to follow you. Then we'll ship them off and complete our contract." Zekram Bael told his son. "And for Maou sake, if Lord Cimeris appears to help, work with him."

Alaric gritted his teeth before speaking. "And what of our contractor? You never really explained them to me? What do their pawns look like?"

"The Parademons look like mutated Rogue Devils. You cannot mistake them for anything else. As for our contractor, that's on a need to know basis."

Bruce silently grimaced, but silently slipped onto the shadow of the servant once they were dismissed and soon he slipped out of the Bael house. There was much to think about.

Meanwhile in Kyoto…

"Are you sure of this, Kitten?" An Elderly Nekoshou questioned a younger one.

"I know the penalty for lying to you, honored Elder. My sister is being abused and what's worse, the human managed to cripple her from the waist down." The young Nekoshou replied with tears in her eyes. "I have to do something!"

The elder sighed. It wasn't like this wasn't common among their people. The desire to mate often blinded them from the truth of those who they wish to mate with. That said, one of their own was suffering and doing nothing would set a bad precedent among the supernatural communities.

"Very well child; retrieve your sister and dispose of her husband, then retreat back to the Village in the underworld. We will find a way to heal her there."

"The Village? Are you sure it's safe?"

"I understand your apprehension, kitten, however those who have moved there have found prosperity. Do not worry because I will be there waiting for you as well."

The young Nekoshou hesitated before nodding. The Elder dismissed her and the young Nekoshou was heading off to her destination. The Elder let out another sigh.

'So headstrong the younger generations are…' she thought as she got up. 'Perhaps I'll seek the advice of Lady Yasaka before heading off.'

Years ago, when Myskia reawakened, Bered had told her that there was something off with the Lord of the Cimeris Clan, something different that he remembered. And that concern didn't fade when they both saw how fervent he worked to not only improve the devils' lives but to protect the lives of many species that lived in the underworld. That level of altruism in a Devil was not heard of, not even in the political circles Bered ran in but he leaned heavily into it. It was improving their own standards while showing that devils aren't ruled by their sin.

Serafall found the change attractive. He took charge, showing both his intellect and charisma in spades and he pushed for change that made sense for the devils which made him well liked. He was all about progress and perfectly fine in maintaining traditions, advocating that traditions need to progress with their own progression as well.

When they started to talk on a personal level, she was surprised at how polite and caring he was to her problems. It wasn't until they started to date on some level when he felt comfortable enough to actually fully tease her. He wasn't scared of her power or position, she realized a long time ago, he was afraid of hurting her and an individual, that he cared for her as Serafall Sitri, not the Maou Leviathan.

Even now the thought of that lit a flame of desire inside of her. So much so that she made her way to his home once more. The Servants were used to her popping in and so they didn't even bat an eyelash when they saw her walking towards their Lord's Office. Stopping by the door, she heard voices inside.

Was he in a meeting?

"...So that's how it is. To think that any devil would be able to make contact with Apokalyspe is worrying." Said a voice she hadn't heard before.

"Taking the information we already know, it's clear that their mysterious client is Granny Goodness. She has always looked for the strongest women to bring under her control, and having a race of women that often gave birth to women and had the strength to boot would certainly appeal to her." Myskia said with authority.

"That does line up with what we know about Apokalypse. What's your plan then?"

"I'm going to need backup if I'm going to keep their plan from going their way and I know two individuals who wouldn't look out of place helping me: John Constantine and Jason Blood."

"I thought you might say that. I'll be able to procure the soul contract that Constantine has easily, though Jason Blood might be tough."

"I'll try and talk to him then. He and Etrigan would be helpful in the years to come." there was a pause. "Thank you again for your support, Fate." Wait. Fate? As in Doctor Fate? One of the world's strongest Magicians known to the supernatural world?

Serafall opened the door to see the legend himself floating in front of Myskia; said man was looking like he was caught doing something illegal with his eyes widened and sweat dripping down his face.

"You want to explain to me what's going on here?" Serafall questioned, her power rising slightly.

Both the human and devil side of himself thought the same thing. 'Fuck.'

End of Chapter 3