Angels May Cry

Something Strange

Chapter 1: Something Strange.

25, September 2014

Noelle stood atop a building, looking out over the lights of Redgrave City. They had been stationed here for six months now. The townhouse they had bought, though modernly updated, was slightly smaller than the one they had shared back in NYC. She rubbed a faded scar along her exposed midriff. Something about tonight felt off. Her mind had been wandering a lot lately. The move to this city was something she had almost begged her brother and Michael to allow. Something called her here, and it wasn't just the influx of demons after the Qliphoth incident that was felt across the world. Something, good or evil, wanted her here. She just hadn't figured out what. As the sun set over Fortuna, the city across the bay, Noelle let out a sigh in the cool Autumn air.

Noelle turned away from the setting sun and sat on the raised edge of the rooftop. She felt the familiar tingle as her snowy white wings appeared and stretched out behind her. At twenty-five years old, Noelle had filled out beautifully. Her soft curves were accentuated by slightly wider hips and full chest. Her abdomen was toned from years of training and fighting demons, giving her an hourglass figure. She stood at an average height of 5'7 and did her best to keep her weight up, as her higher metabolism made it a struggle. Her snowy white wings gave her away though. Of the seven Valkyrie, Noelle had matured to the largest wingspan. At nine feet wide from tip to tip, her wings paralleled Michaels in size. She stretched out the joints and flexed them before leaning back and letting go of the edge of the roof.

The ground came at her quickly as she flipped through the air to get her feet beneath her, but a flap of her powerful wings slowed her descent enough to only cause her to hit one knee upon landing.

She brushed the dirt off her black leather jacket and her dark wash skinny jeans. Her black pearlescent Ducati sat in the alleyway she had landed in, and she smiled as she tucked her hair into her shiny black helmet. She straddled the bike and let it roar to life as she pulled out of the alley and headed back through the city. The ride was short, but enough for her to get distracted from the thoughts plaguing her mind. She parked her bike in the drive of the little townhouse, killing the engine to not draw attention from the neighbors. The house was dark as she stepped inside, save for a light on in the kitchen. A note on the counter told her that Alexis would be out late, working at the hospital again.

Noelle headed upstairs to shower. Her familiar scents of strawberries and roses wafted from her bodywash as she let the heat soak into her bones. Steam billowed out of the open bathroom door into her room. She didn't waste any time drying and curling her waist-length brunette hair. After applying her light makeup and toweling off her body, she stepped into a matching white lace set of undergarments and stepped to her large closet. Thumbing along hangers, she selected a tight pair of dark wash bootcut jeans with rhinestone pockets. She slid them on, shimmying them over her hips and wrapping a white studded belt around her hips to accent them. She slipped a white crop top on that had mesh long sleeves with rhinestone cuffs on the wrists and white fishnet from the bottom of her breasts to her navel. She cleaned and placed her strawberry navel piercing and added her studded white choker and her black cowboy boots. Checking herself in the mirror, she collected her wallet and her keys, leaving the house.

The streets were dark as her bike coasted out of the drive, the engine purring as she headed back into the city. She aimed for Rose Underground; a bar owned by an old friend that she had known for a while. She parked her bike and pulled the key, stepping away and into the dimly lit bar. She took a seat on the bar stool, ordering a whiskey on the rocks and turning to face the dance floor. The bar had a DJ spinning every Friday night and she usually came to dance. Tonight was no different as she scanned for a worthy dance partner. Her eyes lingered on a man at the end of the bar. His red duster was a dead giveaway. Reputation preceded him and she had been warned he lived in this city. She had had a few close calls with run ins with his business partners. Her emerald eyes met his over the rim of the cut glass tumbler as she sipped her whiskey. His silvery white hair and slight stubble had butterflies in her stomach as he offered her a cocky grin.

The Red Devil himself was soon seated next to her, nursing a beer as he leaned on the bar with one arm. His eyes raked over her body, taking her slim figure and pretty features in. Something about her was off, but he couldn't pinpoint it. He had been tracking the presence of angels around the city for months. Every Friday night he felt their presence leading here. Tonight, had yet to trend the same way but he was anticipating it. The beauty of a brunette at the bar had met his eyes and he figured he would pass time while he waited.

"So, what brings a pretty girl like you into a place like this?" He asked.

"They usually have good music," Noelle said, swirling the whiskey in her glass. "I like to let loose and dance after a long week."

"Oh yeah?" The man in red asked. "Well, there's always a good band or DJ here on Fridays. A pretty thing like you shouldn't be dancing alone."

"I'm never really alone," she said absently. "My names Noelle, by the way."

"Dante. I haven't seen you around before. Are you new in town?"

Noelle shook her head. "Kind of. I moved here with my sister about six months ago. We bought a townhouse in a nice neighborhood."

"That explains why we haven't met before." Dante said.

Noelle simply nodded. She was well aware of the reputation the Devil Hunter had with women. Her past had her very wary of men, but there was no denying the attraction to the male beside her. And what woman wouldn't want him? Dante was tall, built, and hot. Any woman sharing his bed would be lucky. She wasn't sure if she would be able to keep herself free of loose strings if she became involved with the Devil Hunter. She also wasn't in it for a hook up. Noelle had sworn off relationships after her last. She sipped her drink again, setting the empty glass on the bar and ordering another.

Dante watched the brunette. Something about her had him intrigued. She wasn't like other women in this city. Most knew of his reputation and avoided him if they hadn't already been one of his hook ups. But this woman... She made him stop and rethink the whole one-night stand thing. He had never thought about the possibility of settling down. Not many humans would willingly want a half demon as a lover in the first place. He was always guarded with woman, always keeping a tight leash on his control. Noelle... He thought. She could be different. She definitely seemed different from the others.

Noelle kept an eye on the man beside her as she worked through her second drink. By the time she had finished it, she was ready to get out of the stuffy bar. She paid her tab and slipped out, aware of the man following her. As she stepped into the cool fall night, she walked to her bike. A sudden spike in energy had her cursing under her breath. Demons would pick the worst time to show up. She grabbed a worn cigarette pack from a pouch strapped to her bike and made her way to the alley behind the bar. Two Hell Caina snarled at her as she rounded the corner, surprised by the closeness. They must have sensed her or Dante and come looking. She wouldn't have enough room in the narrow alley for her wings. She began to summon her weapons when a flash of steel cut into the first demon.

Dante wasted no time in handling the two minor demons. He had barely broken a sweat as he flicked the blood off his blade and let it return to wherever he sent it when not in use. He turned to look at Noelle, cautious as he approached her. She stepped back, hesitant to let him get closer when she had almost revealed her true nature to him. This was yet another close call. She just shook her head, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag.

"Well, that was intense." She said as she flicked her cig. "Nice work."

"You seem pretty used to seeing those things." Dante said with a bit of surprise. "You a hunter too?"

"I've seen a lot in my life." She countered, dodging his question. "Things like that have always been after me. I just got lucky getting away from them."

"Must have had a heck of a guardian angel." Dante chuckled.

"You have no idea." Noelle muttered, finishing her smoke, and putting it out. She headed for her bike once more, Dante following her.

The red devil whistled at the sight of the Ducati as she straddled the bike and held her helmet in her lap. He met her gaze again, standing just inside her personal space. She tucked her pack of cigarettes back in the pouch on her bike and flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"That's a pretty nice ride. Guess this means I'll see you around." Dante said as his gaze lingered over her body once more.

"I'll try not to get into any more trouble with those things." Noelle said.

"Well, I'd be happy to save you again if you do. See you around Noelle." Dante said with a smirk.

Noelle slipped her helmet on and started her bike, taking off from the bar and heading to the outskirts of the city. She ended up at the docks that looked out over the bay. Across the water was Fortuna and she could see the flickering lights reflecting on the water from the newly built bridge connecting the two cities. Noelle found a bench and took a seat, letting her thoughts wander once more.