A Devil with an Angel's Heart

Chapter 30, Part 2

||Kate

You ran as fast as you could, with Lucifer hot on your heels. Somewhere, in the back of your mind, you worried about Diavolo. You'd lost sight of him and Barbatos shortly after exiting the Crimson Eagle's Nest and basically jumping of the draw bridge. And, only for a moment, you were distracted but Lucifer used the chance to gain on you. You could feel his fingers brushing against your back and you jumped, throwing yourself forward and willing your legs to move even faster. Your lungs burned and your legs were begging for rest. But you couldn't stop. Not when Lucifer was chasing you. You had gone from hunter to prey and you knew Lucifer was a relentless hunter, just as much as you. But there was one difference; The demon had more endurance than you. He was taller, his legs longer. For the same distance he needed fewer steps and less energy. And that had always been your peril. In the depth of your mind you knew you were running a race you couldn't win. Now, you were only buying time. And by now, you started to feel like actual prey. Your heart pounding. The human in you, knowing that you were being chased by one of the most powerful demons in hell. And as much as you hated to admit it, fear was beginning to creep up your spine, fuelling your legs. And Lucifer noticed. He smelled your fear and he was going to use that against you. But you wouldn't give up so easily. You weren't easy prey. You would fight!

||Jotaro

Kate and the demons had been gone for quiet some time and the sun had begun to set. Jotaro and co. had offered to help and the Adler's had gladly accepted. So, Jotaro and the others had helped moving heavy crates and Jotaro for one had tried his hand with some of the beasts, copying what he'd seen Kate do. But, he had to admit, it was quiet difficult. Only Cerberus had wagged his tail at the sight of Jotaro, probably because the hound was able to sense that Kate liked the teen. The hellhound had arrived together with another hellhound, a pack of wolves, some lions, tigers, panthers and so on, as well as some chimeras and some other mythical beasts. By now the huge pond was filled with sea serpents, some small sharks and to be honest, Jotaro wouldn't be surprised if the Adler's had managed to get some Sirens to settle in the pons. There were forest nymphs living in that forest behind the castle after all, as the teen had been told. In the end the Adler's had taken over and Jotaro had gone to offer help with building the tunnels, but the earth mages had already taken care of it.

He just emerged from the bathroom, hair still damp from the nice, cool shower. The castle was big and the rooms had their own bathrooms and an additional one for each floor. For common use. The teen grabbed a fresh set of clothes, and got dressed, not bothering with his beloved jacket, thinking about how, tomorrow, they'd start looking for Dio, scouring the city of Cairo until they'd find the building the vampire was hiding in. Jotaro stepped out of his room and went looking for the monitoring room. Vincent had said he'd be there to try and find Kate with Jaeger. Her tasks had never been to help with cleaning up in the first place had Vincent explained. Her tasks would start at sundown. It was her job to build an information network and to take over Cairo's underworld. That's what she did best, he spoke ever the proud father. Jotaro wandered the halls, decorated with knight armours, paintings, here and there a plant and littered with doors. He'd been walking through this maze of walls and doors and he wasn't sure he was on the right track until he heard his grandfather's booming voice from behind a door at the end of the hallway. It was a room at the base of another tower, a bigger one, more spacious. He entered the room and there they were. The old man, Polnareff and Iggy together with some of the Adler's. The old man told everyone who would listen what they'd been through so far. Iggy was curled up by the open window in a patch of the day's remaining sunlight, surrounded by a bunch of the Adler children, petting the dog and spoiling him rotten.

"Careful, that mutt is not as cute as you may think. He's actually quiet a bastard and ill-mannered. Doesn't listen. Watch out, or he'll jump at you and fart into your face and rip out your hair!" warned Polnareff. Iggy reacted almost instantly and did exactly as Polnareff had just described, jumping at Polnareff and ripping out his oh so precious hair and farting into his face. Luckily the window was open. The children toppled over in laughter while Polnareff cursed at the dog.
"You brought that upon yourself." Jotaro thought.
Jotaro didn't say much and instead quietly moved to the windy stairs to his right. One step after the other he carefully scaled them, grateful to the fact that this stairwell wasn't as cramped as the others. The risk of developing claustrophobia had been high in the other tower. He quietly opened the door to the monitoring room. Vincent's eyes were trained onto the monitor.
"It's amazing." he said, without turning around, "Come and take a look."
Jotaro did as told, only mildly surprised that the man had known the teen was there without looking. Kate often had done the same. Even before they came together. She'd somehow always known when he'd stepped into the nurse's office, greeted him before he even had fully stepped inside.
The teen stood next to the man, about the same size as Kakyoin, and watched the screen. There she was and his heart skipped a beat at the sight of Kate. She was running from Lucifer, throwing out her legs and running in zick-zack, suddenly turning directions and doubling like a bunny to throw the demon off. But Lucifer kept up, knowing his master well and expecting most of her tricks and turns.
"Stay!" she ordered, half gasping the word. Stay, an order which the demon would be forced to follow. But he didn't. The demon kept on running.
"Why is this not working?!" wondered the girl, gasping the question, panic lacing her voice.
"Because you're scared of me." answered Lucifer in a deep rumbling voice, barely out of breath.
And then she did it. She used Black Siren, fusing her with her body and surging forward. The Stand allowing her to put more strength into every step, jumping forward, covering more ground with every leg thrown out, claws digging into the stony ground beneath, pushing her forward.
"If she uses Black Siren, then her body must have grown tired." commented Vincent, not the least bit worried for his daughter. Trusting the demon to capture her unharmed.
Jotaro only watched fascinated. How Kate refused to give up and surrender to the demon. And how Lucifer, too, refused to let her get away. The demon transformed, revealing his demon form , and then he gained on her again until he finally had her in his grasp, capturing his prey.