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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫
Ⅳ 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇𝒇
A few weeks later
RORY RAN HER HAIR THROUGH HER HAIR AND LOOKED OVER THE DAMAGED CITY. "Why didn't I just go with Nero and Nico," Rory mumbled to herself walking along to the cathedral in Red Grave city. Rory tilted her head, the cathedral in considerably more damage than she expected. "What did you boys do?" Rory jumped off the large broken wall, landing in front of a massive hole in the floor.
Rory looked back at where she came from before jumping down the hole and landing on giant blocks of concrete. "Cat!" An all too familiar voice screeched, and suddenly V's large panther was rushing for Rory.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy kitty," Rory shouted, holding her hands up. The cat circled her, nudging the back of her knee before running back to V. Rory shook her head and stepped out of the cathedral. "Well, seems I missed all the fun!" Rory called walking over to Nero and V.
Nero shook his head and slotted Blue Rose away. "Starting to think you weren't going to show," Nero spoke up, watching Rory walk towards him.
"Well, honestly... I got lost," Rory mumbled stopping beside Nero. "Red Grave is a massive city." The three turned their heads, watching as one of the larger tree roots changed to white color and fell apart, dropping to the floor in chunks. Rory threw her hand out and sent the chunks away from the group.
"So... you think Dante's still in there?" Nero questioned turning his attention to V.
"If Urizen defeated him, then I expect he's not much more than Qliphoth pollen by now," V thought aloud as he caught a small amount of pollen in his hands, crushing it between his fingers.
"A what?" Nero questioned, taking a step forward.
"Qliphoth. It's a tree that grows in the underworld," V explained, glancing back at the pair. "It thrives on human blood and those whose blood it sucks well..." V raised his cane to point at human-like figures covered in holes, flakes of dried flesh tearing off and floating in the wind. "... Let's just say they don't turn out too well."
"Wheather he's pollen or not, we better find out for ourselves," Rory spoke up stepping between the boys. "If Dante's alive, great. If not, he's not."
Nero nodded in agreement and the two went to step away but V caught Rory's shoulder with the head of his cane. "Wait," V called and Rory turned to him. "First we need to exterminate some Qliphoth roots." V tossed the cane back into his hand and Rory glanced at Nero. Rory shrugged slight but Nero remained silent but raised his eyebrows in agreement.
The panther circled around Nero before going back to V. Griffin did the same, landing on V's outstretched arm. "V... What the hell are you?" Nero questioned, looking up at V.
Before V got a chance to answer, music blared behind them and Nico sped toward them in the van, stopping just a few meters away. Nero and Rory stayed still as V jumped back slightly. "I know. I know. I'm late. Shut it!" Nico shouted, leaning on the door. "The roads were all clogged."
Nico's eyes drifted to the tattooed V and his bird and her eyebrows dropped. "Hey, you must be V, huh?" V barely got a moment to nod before Nico kept talking. "Hey, ding, ding, right by your feet!" Nico pointed to a piece of a demon just in front of Rory. V tapped his cane on the floor and flicked the piece up to Nico, who caught it and sniffed along its scales. "Whoowee! I'm gonna make something amazing out of this," Nico called.
"Did you just sniff that?" Nero snapped, walking up to the window. "Do you have any idea where that's been?"
"Up your butt," Nico shot back.
"Focus on the mission," Nero fired back.
✦
NERO AND V LOOKED OUT THE FRONT WINDOW OF NICO'S VAN AND OVER THE FORK IN THE ROAD. "I think we should split into two groups," V suggested, moving back to sit on the couch.
"And cover more ground," Nero agreed. "Good idea." Nero nodded kicking himself off the seat and walking over to Nico. Rory hummed quietly flipping the page of her book.
"Behold my genius!" Nico shouted holding another arm for Nero in the air. Nero reached for it but Nico ripped it out of his way. "Ah! Ah! Cash first."
"All the materials that I collected for your little pet projects don't count for anything?" Nero questioned.
"My brilliant, badass work is worth every dime and you know it," Nico insisted.
"Well, your quality control sucks ass, and you know it," Nero argued.
Rory let the book floating in the air and pulled out her bag from under the seat. "Both of you stop," Rory ordered taking out a ball of cash. She stood and motioned towards Nico. "Nico takes the cash, Nero takes the arm."
"Seriously Red?" Nero sighed, waving her down. Rory rolled her eyes and brought the book back to her hands and moved to sit beside V.
"I am truly gifted. It's a work of art," Nico went on, spinning the arm in her hands.
Griffin chuckled darkly at Nico, watching her show off the arm. "Oh, so you're an artist now?" Griffin taunted.
"Yes I am," Nico snapped, spinning to face Griffin making him jump in response. "Got any questions, little chicken?" Nico spun again, facing V and Rory. "My grandmother was called the '45 Calibre Virtuoso... Legendary gunsmith. I hope to be like her someday. An artist, and a lethal artisan. Everything I create is art, whether it's a gun... Or a steel pot... to cook birds in." Nico put the arm down and took a seat across from Rory. "Any more questions? Huh?... Little chickee."
Nico flicked her lighter a few times and lit one of the cigarettes' she took out. V's lips curled in disgust and he turned his face. "I'll take my leave now," V announced, waving the smoke from his face. "And if I don't see you along the way, I'll see you at the bottom of the Qliphoth." V stepped out of the van and Griffin flew out the door.
"Stay safe Nico," Rory ordered closing her book and waving it into a cloud of smoke that absorbed onto Rory's skin.
Nero said goodbye to Nico before he and Rory stepped out of the van as well. "Come on Witch!" Griffin screeched, flying down to land on her shoulder.
"Rory's coming with me," Nero insisted motioning her along.
"Go," Rory encouraged. "You got guns and Red Queen, V's got a cane." Rory dug into her pocket and tossed Nero her mother's necklace. "If it gets too bad, smash it, and I'll come to you."
Nero reluctantly nodded and pulled the necklace on. "Stay safe, Red," Nero ordered and ran off.
"Come on Witch," V encouraged, starting to walk ahead. "Were on a time limit."
