Warning*

This chapter may contain mention of violence, explicit language, sexual references and loss of child.

Mature audiences only.

Chapter 9: Arix

17 December 2014

Vergil

I stood in the foyer of the old house, staring up at the painting of my parents. Thoughts had swirled in my mind since the morning before. Blue eyes and blonde hair were among those thoughts. A shuffling near the door alerted me and I turned. Trish stood, leaning against the doorframe. She simply looked at me with a knowing look and tilted her head towards the door. I nodded and checked the time, taking one last look up at the painting before walking out.

The walk back to the shop was enough for me to clear my head. I stayed a step behind Trish as we walked, still in my thoughts. The sun had barely begun to rise when I had headed out this morning. Now it was just over the buildings in the city. We were all expected at the angels townhouse in less than an hour and I needed to get Dante up and moving before we were late. I entered the building I had come to call home, and was pleasantly surprised to find my twin at his desk. He looked rough, but had showered and changed at least.

"Nero and Lady are waiting there for us. We should get going." I said, looking out at the fresh snow on the sidewalks and streets.

Dante stood, the weary look in his eyes something that concerned me. Slightly. I clicked Yamato free of its sheath and opened a portal into the girls backyard. Dante stepped through followed by Trish and myself. The portal closed behind us as we stepped out into the snowy backyard. Lights and garland were strung along the roof and windows, poinsettias in pots and planters at each entrance. I shook my head as we headed for the patio door to go inside.

Alexis

I sighed as I poured coffee into the larger carafe to keep it warm. I had been up all night setting out the Christmas decorations. The outdoors had been done last night, with Nero's assistance on the lights. I had wrapped the front railings in lights and garland as well as put out the fresh poinsettias that I had convinced Vergil to assist me in carrying home. The front den had a five foot tall tree in it with purple, red, and blue ornaments and lights. A silver star sat atop the tree. The main living room had the larger, eight foot tree, decked out in silver and gold garland, white lights, and white angel and snowflake ornaments. A cross topped that tree and I had already tucked a few gifts under it.

The kitchen had been transformed as well, garland and lights strung along the tops of the cabinets. A Christmas village sat up above the cabinetry, glowing with lights. I looked over the extra chairs at the table and the full breakfast spread I had set up. Warmers covered the kitchen island filled with French toast, scrambled eggs, sausage links, and bacon. I had finished cleaning up the dishes as Nero had come in and gone to get cleaned up with a hot shower in the guest bathroom downstairs. Lady was snoozing on the couch in the den.

I looked over as the patio door opened up and in stepped Vergil, Trish and Dante in tow. It seemed that we were only missing a few more bodies before we would start this little gathering. Nero walked in, his jacket over his shoulder and a duffel bag in his hands. He set them out of the way and nodded to the rest of the group.

"I'll go wake Lady." Trish said, walking through the living room to the front hall where the Den was.

"Sage will be calling in for this meeting. Her job got extended. And I need help getting Noelle down here. Nero carried her upstairs last night but she probably still can't walk very well." I said, looking between the three men in my kitchen.

"I'll carry her down." Vergil said as he stepped forward.

I nodded and headed upstairs to get Noelle up, listening for footsteps to follow. She was already half propped up in bed, running a brush through her hair as best as she could. I walked around her bed, helping her sit up fully and taking the brush. It was short work to get her hair brushed and pulled up in a ponytail. I checked her bandages before helping her into a tank top and calling out to the hallway for Vergil.

Noelle gasped softly and I raised an eyebrow as Dante walked in instead. I nodded as he stepped over to the side of the bed Noelle was sitting on. I shuffled out of the way, stopping at the doorway to give them a moment, but still in the room to keep her calm.

"You look a little better…" Dante said. "You alright?"

"I've been better. But I'm not as bad as I was a few days ago." Noelle told him. "You look tired…"

"It was a long night." Dante told her as he tucked his arm around her body and one under her legs.

Noelle braced as he picked her up, carrying her out of the room and downstairs. I followed them down, going into the living room to the couch that now faced the opening to the kitchen. I had pillows and a blanket set up for Noelle who adjusted easily once Dante settled her in her spot. I grabbed her some coffee and turned to the others.

"Well. Everyone feel free to eat. I made plenty. We won't get started until after Sage calls." I said, going to open up the warmers and gesturing to the plates and utensils I had set out.

Something in my brain told me to start the kettle and I put water on to heat while I dished Noelle up a plate of food and gave it to her on a tray with some juice. Nero and the girls took up places at the table after getting their own food. Dante wasn't far behind. I felt a familiar aura and sighed, stepping into the hall and making my way to the front door. I pulled it open as Gabe was readying to knock. Michael stood behind him, both of their wings hidden. I stepped aside and let them in, taking their coats and adding them to the coat rack.

We all convened in the kitchen once more, and I busied myself with pouring tea for the Archangels and offering them breakfast. We all ate in comfortable silence and shuffled to different seating as I cleared away Noelle's tray and started to set up the IPad to call Sage. The archangels leaned against the doorway arch, Michael looking quite stoic while Gabe tried to be a bit more friendly. I called Sage on the IPad and waited for her to answer. I was greeted by Sage's tired face, Azrael's cloaked figure behind her. I set the tablet up on the mantle so they could see all of us. Eyes turned to Noelle as she stared at her lap.

"Well…" Gabe said. "What is the reason Raphael has been holding back telling us what happened four days ago?"

I was surprised, having assumed Rafe would have told them of the events that transpired. Noelle fidgeted, her brothers tone making her uncomfortable. I tightened the reins on my aura. The last thing I wanted to do was sooth her and anger either of the men we reported to.

"Gabe…" Noelle started.

"No." Sage's voice rang out from the tablet. "That's not gonna happen. You can zip it and let her talk as she's ready or you can get filled in from Az later. Noelle doesn't need the pressure from all of us when she's still not one hundred percent."

Gabe raised an eyebrow but didn't reply. I folded my arms as I watched Dante perch on the edge of the couch, almost protectively hovering beside Noelle. My eyes flickered to Vergil, who had moved to stand behind me, hovering next to me with a hand on the small of my back. Michael shot me a look but all eyes returned to Noelle. She sighed deeply and Sage nodded on the screen.

"Four days ago we were at Devil May Cry. I had just returned to the city and we were making a good faith effort to explain what we could to most of the devil hunter team." Noelle started. "I felt a strange pull… Heavier than before…. So I went to investigate it. Alone."

"Why did you go off on your own? Where were your sisters?" Gabriel asked.

"They were both there with me. It was supposed to be a quick recon and I was to return. The trail turned cold very quickly, but I tracked it to the rubble at the base of the Qliphoth tree." Noelle answered, emerald eyes meeting her brothers.

"Did the aura fade?" Michael asked.

Noelle nodded. "I turned around because I felt watched… And I heard that laughter again. The same one I heard a few months ago when Rafe had to bring me home."

"Laughter?" Lady questioned.

"Like a ghostly… chilling laughter. I can't explain it. But I've heard it before. When I turned, there was a woman there. She was my height. But she dressed in black and had black hair. And wings."

"Wings?" Azrael questioned. "One of ours?"

"No." Noelle shook her head. "Her wings were covered in black feathers. She knew things…. About my baby… And my nickname. She had red eyes. I could smell the Fallen aura."

"Why is the nickname a big deal?" Dante asked her softly as she looked up at him.

"The girls all have nicknames from us. Things we called them as little girls." Michael said. "Alexis is Little Flower. Sage is Little Bone, and Noelle is Little Bird. Only those in this room and the Brotherhood of Archangels should know them."

"She knew mine." Noelle said, her eyes showing remnants of fear as she recounted her attack. "She told me that they could offer me power. I told her I wasn't interested. She thought… She mentioned my bloodline."

"Bloodline… Like relatives…?" Sage asked.

Noelle nodded. "I think she thought I was Michaels sister."

A shiver ran through the Holy Trinity. Misinformation could be deadly, but I had a gut feeling this was all connected to the Brethren. Were they after me? Or Michael? I looked over to my brother, who seemed lost in his thoughts. Gabe cleared his throat and prompted Noelle to continue.

"She opened portals… I've never seen that ability before. Not like how the Yamato works… She didn't use a blade or weapon to do it. These two other black winged beings stepped out. She called them the twins."

"Two on one.." Nero said. "No wonder you…"

Noelle nodded. "They were fast. Strong. I could barely keep up to block them let alone fight them off. I caught the younger one in the leg. But they over powered me. They went for my wings…" She trailed off as tears formed in her eyes.

"Hey." Dante said, moving to kneel in front of her. "You survived that. You will be okay." He said, gently tilting her face towards his to wipe away a stray tear.

"We must have found her just after they tried to tear her wings off. I felt her aura flare and Sage felt her soul start to leave." I chimed in. "We all went to find her. She was atop building in a pool of her own blood. Her wings had been nearly torn from her spine and her blade, Hand Maiden, had been speared through her abdomen."

Sage nodded. "Rafe arrived to help Lexi fix the wings. We had to rush her back here and Lex had to stitch her up on the kitchen island. She was so close to dying…" The redhead said, paling at the memory.

"Since then, we haven't left the house without escort. I've been paying the Devil May Cry crew to protect the house and Noelle. Noelle is healing as best she can. Then we will start training to get better than the Fallen." I told our brothers.

"Fallen work like demons. In strength and speed, they are almost equal. You will need to train against those who can fight similar to the two who attacked you if you wish to win. The twin devil hunters could match their styles." Azrael's voice rasped out.

I nodded, frowning as Michael looked at Noelle. "Brother?" I questioned.

"If the Fallen are involved… I doubt they work alone. The fallen angels are not ones to go out on their own. They are like sheep. They must have a leader or the chaos that ensues is too much and they fall apart from the inside." Michael said.

"So then we figure out who is behind this then. Who has a vendetta against Michael and who knows the intricacies of the Brethren?" Sage asked.

"That list is surprisingly long, little one." Azrael said sourly.

"Indeed. I fought in many battles, several against the fallen and their ilk." Michael said. "Even some battles sharing the field with the Dark Knight Sparda himself."

"You knew our father?" Vergil asked, his body stiffening.

"I did. He was an ally for a long time after sealing Mundas away… Long before he met your mother. He knew many of the demons involved with the fallen factions. It helped in the last great war."

"That war was against Arix, the demon lord of hatred…. He lost his physical form when you set him back to the Underworld and sealed him away with Sparda's help." I said, recalling my extensive history knowledge.

"Yes. It took everything we had to best Arix. But he was left with a scrap of his soul and little to no power. He had been dormant for a few thousand years now." Michael mused.

"Mundas was dormant for nearly two thousand before he came back to hunt Dante and Vergil." Trish piped in. "It is not uncommon for demons to regain power. Arix is still well known down there."

"I can see if we can gather any information on recent fallen who have been created." Gabriel said. "Do you have any contacts who can assist with information from the underworld?" He asked Trish.

"I have a few I can look into. Nero and Lady will need to take turns coming with me on these visits." She said.

"We will still need the girls protected. Especially Noelle. I presume Alexis can work that out with you all." Michael said, straightening up. "Until we hear back, we will be keeping a safe distance. Sage will return soon. And once Noelle is healed, she will begin training again. This cannot happen again." He said sternly.

We all nodded and I stepped forward, hugging him gently. Michael and Gabe took their leave, waiting to orb out until I had closed the door behind them. I returned to the living room where Sage also bid her goodbye, promising to be home in the next couple of days. I nodded and ended the call, tucking the IPad back in the office before returning to the kitchen where I started to clean up and put things away. Nero said goodbye, he and the girls heading out since they had work to do. Vergil watched me from the archway between the kitchen and living room. I felt his eyes on me as I put things away and finally wiped my hands on the dishtowel before tossing it in the laundry shoot.

Noelle

I sat in silence, listening to Alexis fuss in the kitchen. When the patio door opened I looked over, seeing her and Vergil step outside and close the glass door behind them. Dante had moved to sit on the chair in the corner, watching me. I glanced over at him and sighed. There was so much tension between us and I still didn't know how to fix the damage I had caused. I winced as I shifted slightly and felt the stitches in my side pull a little.

"You okay?" He asked softly.

"Yeah. Still getting used to the feeling of having my side stitched shut. Moving is a little difficult."

"Noelle… We need to talk…" He said with a heavy sigh.

"I know. Unfortunately I don't know where to start…" I said as I looked back at my hands. "You seemed pretty set on wanting me to disappear before this mess."

"That's not… Look. I care about you. I was pissed about the whole angel thing. But I understand you had rules you had to follow and things you couldn't tell me. That doesn't change the fact that the trust we had is gone."

"I just want to fix this. I miss you. Miss whatever it was that we had. I want that back." I whispered.

"I won't tell you that we can't try again. But I need time to figure out my own feelings first. And you need to heal." He said, moving to kneel in front of me once more and lift my chin with a gentle touch.

"Can we at least be friends?" I asked him, hoping he would accept that.

"Sure." He said with a soft smile that he had used with me so often before. There was a comfortable silence for a moment before he spoke again. "So… How did you end up getting the nickname 'Little Bird'?"

I groaned. "It's ridiculous. I think Gabe did it to make fun of me." I said, shaking my head.

"Make fun of you? How so?"

"When I first released my wings, I used to crash a lot. Learning to fly was harder for me than the other two girls. I think he started calling me that because Michael said I flew like a baby bird with weak wings." I said with a chuckle.

"Your wings… They're a lot. They seemed oversized for you…"

"I have the largest wingspan of the Valkyrie. My spread parallels Michaels at nine feet wide. The average is only six or seven feet." I explained.

Dante nodded, shifting to sit on the couch with me. We fell into silence again, him watching out the patio door while I fidgeted with a loose thread on the blanket over my legs. Thoughts and doubts in my head seemed to swirl about and soon I felt Dante's hand on mine. He was looking at me with a curious expression.

"You okay? You suddenly got really warm and glowy."

"Oh… I didn't feel it…" I said, reigning in my aura that had begun to glimmer around me. "Just thinking."

We both looked up as the patio door slid open again. Alexis was shivering as she stepped inside, Vergil in tow. I gave them both a look as they joined us in the living room. Vergil sat on the chair where Dante had been, pulling Alexis to perch on the arm. I raised an eyebrow at them.

"You two seem awfully cozy the last two days."

"They've been plotting and having coffee dates while you and I self destruct." Dante said, smirking at the blush on Alexis' face and the glare Vergil shot his way.

"Well then. Miss Prim and Proper thawing the Ice King himself. Good for your Lex." I giggled.

"Noelle. It's not like that. Just. Please drop it." Alexis groaned softly at my teasing.

I shook my head and yawned. The meeting with everyone had been draining and had taken longer than I anticipated. It was now early afternoon and I felt like I had run a marathon. Alexis took note and nodded towards the hall. I rested my head against the back of the couch and took a deep breath.

"You need to go rest, Nells." The blonde chided softly.

"I'm good right here." I grumbled. "Let me nap. Then I don't have to come down for dinner later."

"Fine. Dante can watch you. Vergil and I are going to go grab coffee. And I need to go to the library." She said.

I nodded as I slowly started to drift off, tuning out their talking and noise. I barely felt the sofa and blanket shift as a warm body pulled me close and darkness engulfed me.

A/N This one was another loaded chapter. I rewrote parts of it a couple of times to make it work. I hope you all like it. The next couple of chapters will be centered around Alexis and Vergil and of course Noelle's birthday and Christmas.

Disclaimer: I do not own Devil May Cry, its characters, or material. This is purely fanfiction.

Story Available On: Wattpad and AO3