Angels May Cry

The Mystery

Chapter 2: The Mystery

26, September 2014

Noelle stood atop the building, watching as the female demon hunters took care of some Empusas. She hadn't felt the need to get involved. Her mask remained in place, and she stiffened as she felt a presence behind her. She turned slowly, sitting on the raised edge of the building roof. The Red Devil himself stood before her. Her green eyes were shadowed in the glow of the city lights below. She felt those same butterflies from the night before as he watched her. It seemed neither would make the first move tonight until Dante sighed and tucked his hands into his pockets.

"You are a very difficult creature to track down." He spoke. "I've been hunting you for months now."

"Oh?" she asked in a soft voice. "Well, you found me."

"I did. So, what," He stepped closer to her, and her wings flared out behind her as her aura pushed against him. "Brings an angel to my city. Besides demons of course."

Noelle cursed her wings and gripped the edge of the wall she perched on. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that."

"You can. Or we can take this little chat back to my shop. See, I'm quite capable of protecting this place. And having your kind here... Well, that's just not my style." He said.

"Unfortunately, I must decline that offer. I don't care what you are capable of. Only that I see to my mission." She told him, her voice firm.

"And what mission would that be?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

The sudden pulse of aura had them both looking to the streets. Hell Caina had appeared as well, and Noelle cursed softly. There were too many for the females below to manage alone. Noelle moved, leaping over the edge of the roof closest to the street and falling. Her wings caught her, and she tucked into a roll as her silver pistol lined up with a demon and she pulled the trigger. Blessed bullets turned the demon to ashes. She fired two more shots into an approaching demon, destroying it as well. Her katana freed from its sheath easily as she blocked one of the demons from hitting the dark-haired hunter. She flicked the blood from her blade, turning toward the three demon slayers. Dante must have followed her down and joined the fight without her noticing. She stepped back, her wings ready to lift her away if needed.

"I won't be answering your questions. And I advise you not to seek me out any longer. You are meddling with things that are beyond your concern." She warned.

She turned on her heel and flapped her wings, lifting herself away from them. She glanced back, her green eyes meeting Dante's grey blue. The confrontation wasn't one she wanted to deal with. She lit down a few blocks away and pulled off her jacket after her wings and weapons disappeared. Having done this a time or two, she flipped her jacket inside out, the red interior suede now showing as she slid it over her crop top and folded her boots down to make them shorter. She let her hair down and finger combed it thoroughly before sticking her hands in her pockets and starting down the street to the alley way she left her bike in. She kept her aura dampened and her eyes alert as she moved along. She was well aware she was near the devil hunter and his friends as she started her bike and pulled out of the alley. She headed away from them, trying to get back home safely. A beat-up van passed her, and she merely glanced at the driver as she sped away.

Noelle felt the presence of someone following her as she took side roads and detours. The tail seemed to get closer, and she growled softly, heading for the ruined parts of the city. Red Grave had plenty of spots still damaged, even though they had done well to rebuild in the last two years. She stopped her bike and looked around her. Her senses were on high alert as she waited. The feeling spiked again, making her look around as she backed away from the parked bike. She backed into a solid form and spun, her sword out and her wings forming. Her eyes narrowed as the place behind her was empty. A cynical laugh echoed in her head, and she froze. She had heard that laugh in a nightmare. Her heartbeat sped up as she turned, scanning for anyone or anything. The area was silent, save for a few stray leaves on the breeze. She could feel her control slipping as her wings and her blade faded.