Hope Within

Chapter 23 The Silent Guitar

Jovanna, Ostrythe, and Von were outside walking in the city making their way to the Chapel to go and warn Pope Saul that there is an attack that is coming to the city. While they are walking Von heard a guitar playing from a far off distance.

"So that dark aura is coming from you hmm..." Said a mysterious voice, Von quickly turned around but he didn't see anything but people going about their day. Jovanna looked at Von with worry and then grabbed his arm and pulled him towards him. Von pulled his arm away quickly and looked and the sky like something was happening. Ostrythe took a glance at the sky and saw nothing but Von saw the sky turning dark red. In an instant he jumped onto the building and dash off to the Chapel. Jovanna was about to go after him but Ostrythe grabbed her arm and started running the other way.

"Ostrythe where are we going?" Jovanna asked, Ostrythe kept running and turned into an open alleyway across the street. They went into the alleyway and Ostrythe quickly put his back against the wall and slowly peaked out like they were being followed by someone.

"We have to leave this to Von because it looks like we aren't what the enemy wants now." Ostrythe said, looking back at Jovanna as she is trying to catch her breath. Meanwhile Von is dashing on top of the building and looking at the sky. The Sky had a black Soul energy leading him to something. Out of nowhere he heard the same guitar again but it sounds like it was getting closer. Von stopped and looked around and was shocked to see Stacy walking by herself but Von sensed a dark aura by her. Before he could do anything Von was shot in the arm and fell off the building he was on. A loud crash came which caught Stacy's attention. Von gets up and starts running through a crowd of people that were trying to swamp him.

"Well I wonder if you will save them or just let them die." Mysterious voice said, like that person was behind him. Von looked behind and saw a dark red lightning hit the people. The screams of the people that got hit stun him. But he slowly grabbed his greatsword and he saw out of the corner of his eye the mysterious person walking from the shadow behind him.

"So there is my prey. Von allows me to introduce myself. I go by the name Sin. I am an Elite Contract Killer." Sin said, smirking at him but Von couldn't tell if Sin was a male or female because Sin had a black coak on that face and body. Von quickly slash a shockwave at Sin, step to the side and dodge it. Sin raises his and Red magic symbols appear and shoots lightning at Von but he dodge but Sin chuckles at him. Von looks back and sees that more people were hurt from Sin's attack.

"Why are you attacking the people you bastard!?!" Von aggressively shouted at Sin.

"You really think I am the one hurting them?" Sin replied back with a question, Von looked confused and gave Sin an angry face.

"You are so new to this world of power it's actually adorable really. But I'll explain what I just did and be on my way." Sin said, Von goes to strike Sin again but is knocked back by an air blast. Von smash into a wall creating a big dent in it. He got up and there was a woman with long hair and a cowboy covering her face. She is wearing denim booty shorts and thigh boots as well as a pink heart t-shirt with a leather jacket. Sin walked passed the woman and stood in front of him then knee to his level.

"You see Von The demon that gave you that mark she told to make sure I caused enough trouble so you get blamed for all of it. The best part is No one can see me but you. Now that you will be fighting the Chapel we can go on with our plan like The Boss wanted. Bye Bye..." Sin said, then in an instant Sin vanished without a trace. Von gets up and before he could do anything she started playing the guitar and Von realized it was her. She was the one that was playing that guitar he was heading. The vibration from her guitar created shockwaves that were being aimed at Von. He quickly was dodging the shockwaves.

":Listen to me Lady, I am not your enemy..." Von said, slash at her causing her to move back and stop playing.

"Who are you?" Von asked as he aimed his greatsword at the woman.

"Rosalina Sophia Jacob. Daughter of Saul M.Jacob and I came to kill you the legendary Son of Savage." Rosalina responded, Von looked shocked about how she knows him.

"I don't know where you learn that name but I know you can't beat me with that guitar of yours. You need to remain at a distance and I don't plan on letting you have that advantage over me." Von stated but Rosalina looked at him with a serious look and whispered to herself.

"You really think I can't fight close combat either, that is very interesting..." Rosalina said, charging at him and swung his greatsword and she dodge it and strum her guitar and it knocked Von into the air. Von turned back around but saw she was playing her guitar and there was no sound coming from it. Suddenly Von was getting hit everywhere on his body and smashed down on the floor. Von gets up on one knee and looks at Rosalina and he struggles to keep himself conscious.

"I can finish you off now but where is Sin?" Rosalina asked, Von looked shocked at her.

"I thought I was the only one that can see Sin?" Von replied back with a question of his own. Rosalina did a powerful kick to Von's chest and sent him flying to the wall. Von coughing up blood.

"Don't waste my time! Tell me where Sin went too?" Rosalina demanded him to answer her question.

"I don't know Rosa..." Von said, coughing up blood again and Rosalina grabbed him by the neck then lifted him up in the air.

"Don't call me Rosa...My name is Rosalina...." Rosalina said, giving him a serious look then tossed him through the wall.

"If you saw him why didn't you stop him from killing those innocent people?" Von questioned her trying to sit up.

"I don't care about those people whose death happens everyday. They were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Not my problem so no need to worry about them." Rosalina said, looking at Von with curiosity but suddenly Von got up from the ground and gritted his teeth.

"You have the power to save those innocent people and you chose to watch him die for what!?!" Von asked, giving Rosalina a very frustrated look. Rosalina remains silent and Von screams with rage. Von's dark aura finally consumed him. Rosalina attacks with her guitar but Von vanishes completely. Then appears behind her and throws her outside. Rosalina gets up and Von wasn't there where he threw her. But that moment she was struck by lightning. Rosalina looked at the top of the building and saw her.

"Layla there you are..." Rosalina struggles to stay awake. Layla smirked at her getting ready to deliver the finishing blow and Rosalina closer her eyes.

"I am sorry Daddy I wasn't strong enough..." Rosalina said that moment Von took the lightning attack. Rosalina was shocked to see him protecting her.

"Layla you're the one who marked me...You have a lot to answer for..." Von said, Layla smirked at him.

"But why did you save me?" Rosalina asked, tears filling her face. Von looked at Layla with rage in his eyes.

"I am not an asshole that will let people die...Besides you do have a good heart deep down...And finally Layla marked me and she has to pay for it." Von said, looking back at Rosalina.

"Well it's time to see what the one of the Sons of Darkness can do since you peak his interest. Von show me all of your hate." Layla said, smirking at him. Von walked up and looked to his left and saw World standing right next to him.

"Let's do this World!" Von shouted and charged at Layla. Jovanna and Ostrythe were watching on top of a building from afar from the fight. Jovanna was holding her hands together hoping for Von's victory. Ostrythe sitting down looking very tense like something is really bothering him.

"Von...You have to win because if she manages to release the darkness inside of you I'll be forced to kill you and I can't do that for her sake...I made a promise to her that I'll watch over you until she awakens her memories. We're gonna ride this storm until the end..." Ostrythe said, giving off a side smirk. Then gets up and looks right at Stacy as she was getting close to Von not knowing what she is getting into.