Forum Thread

"It's not nice to try to trick your generous benefactors by lying about your entire identity."

Abyss was perfectly fine, not shaken at all.

he'd dealt with worse, after all.

he continued eating.

---

"I'll call you Calico buddy, you might not be able to catch up with me though so I'll use this." Sobble does a technique making Calico flash. "There we go, now you also have all the powers of the shinobi or ninja if you prefer. Ok Calico, let's explore other places." Sobble throws a smoke bomb to the ground and jumps onto a nearby house. Sobble then resumes to jump house to house and eventually to the ground with Calico following him.

Nox reacts quickly. She stands up, but leans down slightly to place her hand onto Cerberus' back, trying to calm him down. Once the dog seemed to calm down a bit, she unsheathes her katana and moves towards Abyss, glaring towards him. How could she miss the signs? This girl was a demon!

-But she looked so human...

-She acts so human...

-Is she really?...

"Stay back!" Nox warns. She brings her armed hand down to her side, but adjusts her arm so she could fire it forward or curve it to the side if necessary. "You foolish demon! You made a mistake coming in here! Why don't you come on out? I promise to make your death quick."

"Wow, you're fast Calico!."

---

"Stand down, Thorne."

Abyss got up.

"She is not a demon."

He unsheathed his daggers.

"Put away your weapons."

---

"Wow, this is very nice with someone to talk with."

---

Mei was slightly annoyed at Abyss's reaction, but she did nothing about it. She was more focused on her poor dog anyways. Could she even call him her dog? Cerberus clearly didn't like her... Anyways...

"Aww, how'd you guess! I thought I did a pretty good job, too bad you're such a party-pooper!" Mei began to snicker, only to be stopped by Nox. She was still smiling eerily, staring at her as she approached, only to immediately fade after her hollow "threats". Before anyone could react once more, she popped up behind Nox and laid her freezing hands on her shoulders, bringing her face closer to the katana wielder. "A demon? What makes you think I'm one of those b***ards..." Her tone was low and menacing, almost as if she was pissed. Well, she was, Mei didn't appreciate being called that. "Hehe, I don't take orders from dummies, I'm surprised you didn't come to that conclusion with this weirdo..." She moved her head away and gestured towards Abyss, who she now had a slight hatred for.

While she had her eyes on Abyss, she pointed out the unfairness in his statement. God, such a hypocrite, ain't he? Telling the more reasonable person in the room to put away their weapons, while immediately pulling out his? She hated people like that, and hated Abyss specifically. Why'd he have to ruin the fun...

---

"Maybe I should get something for you to eat, how would you like some salmon?" Sobble brings out some raw salmon for Calico to eat.

---

Narrowing his eyes, Belphi stared at Asters back suspicious at why the other was so damn energetic. Was he usually like this? Did he sleep for so long that someone replaced the Aster that he had heard about with a puppy? Whatever, he could appreciate that the other was walking slower though, carrying around extra weight was such a pain to do. Shifting the bait again, he picked up the pace eager to get this thing done and over with.

As they walked, Belphi began to formulate his plan. He would have to pretend to be pitiful enough to save one single human and earn the wrath of the Goddess as a result. What would he go with, his family was mean to him so he could relate with enslaved humans? He took pity on these brainless creatures for being so weak and pathetic that he could only try and see what happens? So many options, each more idiotic and embarrassing than the next. But... well he didn't have to think too hard, right? Simple was best and he could be a convincing enough actor. Probably. He hadn't actually acted in front of anyone before so he'd see how it goes. If anything, at least this will give him the chance to get close enough to work his magic.

"By the way, who was the rat that bit you? Tell me and I'll save it for you to pick apart." He called out absentmindedly, rolling over different plans in his head. If they were going to trash that nest apart, then they'd all have their fill of the hunt but Aster seemed particularly incensed by that particular cockroach. Belphi could let him at it as a treat, he supposed.

---

Sobble does a side flip. "You are very cute Calico."

---

A device let out a soft beep, so soft most people would have missed it. But not Athena. Snapping her fingers, the curtains closed, and the door locked, giving absolute privacy. Checking to make sure there were no cameras spying, she stood up, walking over to her cupboard and pulling open the top drawer. Removing the fake bottom, she uncovered a small round disk that was beeping and vibrating slightly. So Cath had called.

Walking over to her wardrobe, she pulled out her camouflage bodysuit. It had been made by Cath and her, perfect for the sneak missions she used to go on. And generally just sneaking around. Hurriedly changing, she stored the clothes she had been wearing away carefully. Not that they would be used in a long time. Slipping the device into a small pocket, she tied her hair in a tight bun and hid it under the hood of the bodysuit. It was strange how she went through all of this like she did it every day. Calm and controlled, knowing exactly what to do next. Her wardrobe had a fake bottom as well, in which she had hidden a black briefcase. For this situation exactly. All equipment necessary for the journey was packed and ready. At her snap, the briefcase collapsed into itself, turning into a tiny black box that she stored in her pocket. Cath's making as well. She was ready to go.

Carefully climbing out the window, she raced along the roofs. This was second nature to her. Every night, she would sneak out onto the roofs of the base, sometimes even going exploring a little in the forests around. She knew where all the cameras, guards and traps were, and how to avoid them. Her bodysuit blended her right in, and with her natural skills of slipping around, nothing was going to stop her. She was finally going to meet Cath again, it had been a long time.

---

"Wow, it would be weird if you could stand up like a human and talk Calico."

---

Cath stood up abruptly.

"Enough, all of you. You're ridiculous with your childish mind games." She was going to put a stop to this stupidity, goddammit. The last time she had a team that argued this much... Don't think about that.

"Lilac, and we all know that's not your real name, you are not a demon. But what are you? You show up in the middle of nowhere and claim to be an innocent passerby-er. But you have had recent contact with demons, as is evidenced by your injury, which you are decidedly overplaying. Explain. Now."

"Nox, she isn't a demon. Do not kill her yet, and do not kill the dog just because he likes you."

"Abyss. Sit down, and put the daggers away." She locked eyes with him. "Sit down, NOW."

She began to pace, taking long strides around the table. "I welcome you to my home, which I compromised to let Abyss in, and further compromised to aid the rest of you. There are two people attacked by demons in the next room, and a third laughing in the damn shadows. There are two demon hunters who hate each other for reasons that are becoming less important by the minute. And there. Is. A. Dog. Getting hair. ALL OVER MY KITCHEN."

She balled her hands into fists. "The organization we all put our faith in at one time or another is letting us down as we speak. We are the only ones that can stop it. So I swear to heaven and hell, if any of you are keeping any more secrets critical to the mission, and I find out too late-" A beeping from the table cut her off.

"Athena." She sighed. "Start talking, people."

---

Athena had almost arrived. Cath's lab was surprisingly quick to get to, that is, if you knew the right way to get there. And she did. Cath's technology also helped a lot, letting her travel a lot faster than the fastest transportation known to the general public. The device gave a soft beep, sending out a transmission to Cath to let her know she was near. Just a few more minutes...

There. Nestled among the trees, a simple house built of strong metal. Walking up, Athena took a deep breath and knocked. Two fast and two slow. Cath would know she was here anyways, the device would have given that away. Willing her blade to appear in her hands, she stepped back. Cath wouldn't call her here for a chat, and she had no idea what was awaiting her behind that door. Be it a crazy new invention, or a battle, there was no way to tell with Cath.

---

Cath walked over to the wall, and typed a few words onto a monitor. She had full vision of the main door. This time, she would not let Neo open the door and admit random strangers. A quick check confirmed it was Athena. She strode over to it, and opened the door. One look at Athena, and she was certain her friend could tell that she, Caerthynna Elysium, was in a VERY bad mood.

"Welcome." She stepped aside to let her pass. "Nox, Lilac, Doggo, and of course, you already met Abyss." She pointed at each of her companions in turn. "Sit and eat. Only the water is drugged."

She looked at the other three, daring one of them to speak.

---

Abyss grinned.

"Oooh... how scary. Just how I remember it."

He took a seat, looking at Athena.

"If it isn't dear ol' sis, eh?"

---

Athena walked in cautiously, her blade still in her hands. Every detail in her posture indicated that she was ready to strike. Which was normal, considering the mood Cath was in usually meant there was tension in the air. And that meant she had to be ready.

Finally determining that it was safe, she relaxed a little. Until her eyes met Neo/Abyss's. She froze, just staring at him. Her brain screamed at her for being so silly, just because Neo/Abyss was here didn't mean that she could just go on holiday! She still had to be ready! She used another whole minute to take it all in, then glanced at the others seated around the table. This was an odd bunch. And there seemed to be quite some tension.

---

The sudden coldness shocks Nox in place. Liliac's-- or whatever her real name really was-- icy hands seems to cut through her heavy coat and shirt. She felt tempted to whirl around and attack, but she had a feeling that she would just disappear anyway.

Besides, Abyss and Liliac both confirmed her suspicions. Although Liliac's anger is what really tipped her off. But now Abyss seemed to be challenging her!? She chuckles to herself and most certainly does not put away her weapons. She was about to respond to the challenge when Cath speaks. She listens to the woman, staying rooted in her spot. Cath was asking all the right questions, so she didn't feel the need to say anything.

When it was her turned to be chewed out she sheaves her weapons and sits down onto her chair. Muttering something like "I wasn't going to kill the dog" under her breath while she gently pets the dog's head.

Besides, she should go back to silently analyzing the group. Cath was right, the two had secrets to share- Nox was an open book. Slaying demons kept her schedule pretty busy to take part in traitorous acts.

She glances towards the door, nodding at the newcomer. She wasn't sure how to feel about her. But Cath had welcomed her inside with open arms. Abyss seemed to recognize her too. Well isn't this a jolly, happy reunion? She narrows her eyes at Athena and Abyss. Watching how Athena had come in ready to fight only to relax and snap back into action once she caught sight of Abyss. Interesting...
...
Belphi's question makes Aster pause in his tracks for a moment before he continues forward, closer to the scent, closer to their prey. "She wears a dress, has lavender colored eyes, and purple[?] hair. That's what she looks like when she isn't hiding in the shadows. She is a brave one, it'll be interesting to see how she'll react once we make our move." Curses, did he really just compliment his prey?

"She had a dog with her. I can't tell if the dog is currently with her now... Too many scents are clustered in that spot. It's a possible weakness to exploit. Since you're so kindly giving me the girl, I'll allow you to have the dog." He pauses again, glancing back to peg Belphi's reaction and see if the other demon was still keeping up. "So what really made you want to release that human out of Hell? Miss Persephone isn't going to like that you know... And I'm not sure if I should believe that you wanted to use it as bait." He narrows his eyes and watches Belphi's reaction closely.

"Ah, Dakota, you don't know the family history, do you?"

Abyss was looking at Nox with a hollow, crooked grin.

"Well, I can fill you in on the situation between me and my little sisters, if you want."

---

The unexpected compliment towards a Rat of all things was surprising but that was pale in comparison to the follow up accusation. He knew the question would pop up eventually but this quickly was slightly unexpected. He had guessed that it would come after the hunt but he could work with this as well. But the real question became: should Belphi lie of tell the truth? Because the truth was embarrassing and required a whole backstory to it which was annoying in of itself. But lying meant weaving himself a web in which he would tangle himself to keep invisible, the horrendous amount of effort it took to maintain false truths also exhausting. So instead, he settled on a compromise.

"Did you know," he began slowly, "that this is the first time in ten years that I've been awake? All of my little sleeping spells have lasted maybe 3 years at most, but this time it was almost triple that time. Things change in 10 years and I knew none of it. How am I supposed to work as the Head of Intelligence when everything has changed to the point of being a stranger? So yes. This cockroach is bait but not to exterminate the other vermin. For information. Knowledge. And maybe a bit of bloodshed." There. A half truth, believable enough to sate any curiosity yet leaving out enough details. No mentions of the Goddess who refused to tell him anything, nothing of his petty anger, nothing. Because in a way, what he said was the truth. How was he expected to do anything when every piece of information he had was outdated?

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