Blood of the Covenant: One Demon Plan, Two Men Laughs (DMC V - Double SI)

[Atma]

The light had changed. It was a subtle thing Gabrielle realized, but the tiniest shift in this world of pale light was the difference between peace and war. She gazed skyward and saw a trio of figures slowly descend toward her and Zeke. She recognized them and knew that despite their appearance, they were just as evil as the world around her. The three demons swooped down to attack as if realizing their deception was seen, and Gabrielle met them.

Her jump was low but just high enough to grab onto one of the Fallen's legs. It thrashed as her weight brought it down to the pathway below. Before it could do anything else, she moved between its wing and its body before dragging her blade through its torso, waist to throat. The Fallen fell backward in a spray of blood, and Gabrielle spun on her heel and leaped up to avoid another Fallen's attack. On her descent, she brought her fans across the demon's neck and kicked off of it. The headless demon collapsed in a heap of limbs and feathers, but Gabrielle was already in motion. She snapped one of her fans shut and launched it at the last Fallen. The fan flew through a gap between the Fallen's feathered shield, pierced the demon's chest, and exited through the back, severing its spine in the process.

Gabrielle wordless called the fan back to her and with a melodic song, it flew back into her waiting palm. She collected the orbs that fell from the demons and looked back to Zeke, finding he was still arranging that bizarre puzzle that would open the way to The Demon's lair and she attempted to resume her position by his side. Unfortunately she never was able to. The light changed once again and from the sky more Fallen began to descend.

"Fine. I could use the boost in power." Gabrielle stated aloud before fishing out a vitality star and crushing it. The demons swooped down towards her as the feeling of wellness flowed through her body. She began to backpedal, parrying the various strikes that the Fallen began to level at her. One Fallen attempted a dive that would have struck the top of her skull before luck proved to be on Gabrielle's side. As she moved to dodge another strike, the fallen crashed down. Not skipping a beat, Gabrielle let out a vicious kick, snapping the falling Fallen's arm and sending it careening into its fellows. With a moment of relief, she threw one of her fans at another demon before snatching up the Fallen sword. With a half step, she shifted around another's guard, thrust, and twisted. The resulting wound caused the demon to fall to its knees.

However, what little victory and room that may have given her was short lived. With a resounding boom, several presences made themselves known behind her. Turning, she saw that it was another series of stone-like demons styled after chess pieces. The one that she assumed was the King began to glow violently and emit a blast of demonic energy towards her. Reacting, she was forced to throw herself to the side as a brilliant flash of demonic energy filled the world. In doing so, she was forced to unveil her own hidden trick. Boosting her movement, a single articulated wing burst from her back. The surge of motion saved her life, but that was not the point of the King's attack. The King piece began to emit more and more demonic radiance, burning the very stone of the platform with its sheer heat before the five pieces turned to face her.

Gabrielle looked past the demonic chess piece and saw the damage and saw that it had separated her from Zeke. She attempted to move forward, to get around them and back to his side, and for the pieces to close rank and slide their way across the floor like a moving demonic wall. She began to backstep and saw that the remaining Fallen hovered silently in the air, cutting off. For a moment, there was silence as the two parties sized themselves up before the sound of a cackle split the air. The Queen rolled its stone head back and flew towards Gabrielle at breakneck speeds. Using her wing, she leaped up to avoid the strike, only to be intercepted by another Fallen. Wrestling with the demon, she was brought down directly into the path of the Rook. With a tremor, the piece opened itself up and unleashed a blast of demonic energy at the two. Using her wing as leverage, Gabrielle launched off the ground and used the Fallen as a shield. The blast tore straight through it and the force sent her flying back right into the descending path of the Knight. The horse-headed demon began to slam down on the spot where Gabrielle had landed. Rolling out of the way, she retaliated by slashing at the piece several times. However, while the cuts were deep and would have normally impeded movement, they began to pull themselves together.

Seeing another piece out of the corner of her eye channeling energy, she quickly realized what was going on and abandoned her battle with the Knight piece. She began to run towards what she assumed was the Bishop and spied one of the last Fallen on intercept. Grinning, she closed and threw both her fans at the Bishop, impacting it in the chest and base, and then leaped at the Fallen. The flying demon attempted to strike her, but she was faster and grabbed its blade arm. The sudden arrest of motion allowed her to use her weight to pitch the Fallen forward and down on top of the Bishop. The Fallen Blade cut through its owner and the Bishop's head, and with a thought, the fans opened. In a storm of chunks and dust, the Bishop shattered into a mess of demonic stone. However, her small victory was short-lived.

With a shriek, the King piece roared, and the corona of demonic energy threw her to the side between the Queen and the Rook. A part of her realized what was coming and wanted to flee, but another part realized the opportunity. She watched as the Rook began to open anew and listened for what she assumed was the telltale cackle of the Queen. When it came, she stood still for a second and a half longer than most would have and finally dodged. The Queen piece screamed past and into the Rook's blast, heavily damaging it… but also destroying the Rook in the process. She turned towards the Knight and watched as it rolled its head in defiance of her. Calling her fans back, she held them at her sides and began to charge it, moving at the last instant and using her wing for a boost. The Knight's blade-like protrusion missed her by a mile and left it wide open. With an unconscious smile, she descended, carving deeply into the stone several times before throwing her arms to either side. The Knight jerked slightly before breaking apart.

She heard the cackle again before taking flight once more, the Queen rocketing past her and the King shrieking once more, its blazing aura destroying more of the bridge. Both seemed to move to come around to her front, and she began to realize her options of getting back to Zeke were becoming virtually nonexistent by remaining on this bridge. Looking around briefly, she eyed a set of stairs that led upwards and quickly took them. Coming to the head of the staircase, she saw that it stood at a circular area that looked like it connected to the entrance they took when they entered this place. Her thoughts were interrupted as another shriek came, and she saw the damaged Queen be thrown to her position. Another shriek came shortly thereafter as the King made itself known. It moved behind her, in front of a large mockery of an angelic figure. She realized that she had taken her eyes off the Queen for far too long and heard the cackle before it charged her. Leaping out of the way, she watched as the Queen turned, shredding the floor as it did so.

"Even in this damaged state, its speed is tremendous, and with its power, it would only need to hit me a few times as opposed to the times I could strike it… Think! THINK!" She thought as her mind raced.

With another cackle, the Queen charged again, and Gabrielle dodged once more, this time noticing the aura around the King, building and growing in intensity.

"That aura keeps pushing me back. I would need… That's it!"

She descended slowly, letting herself fall between the King and Queen. The stillness for a second that seemed to drag on forever.

"Come on, do it. I'm right in front of you!" She thought frantically as she felt more and more demonic energy roil from the King's position.

The Queen was silent until she let out an oddly keening cackle before screaming forward. Gabrielle waited until the last second before flying upwards. She could feel the tips of the crown against the soles of her boots before hearing and then seeing the Queen piece collide with the King. The two smashed against each other, and the sudden torrent of demonic energy threw her across the platform like a strike from God.

Gabrielle didn't know how long she lay there, but it had to be long enough for whatever passed for adrenaline in her body to ebb away. She began to hiss in tightly controlled pain and felt the burns she received from the demons, as well as the sensation of torn muscles from her previous battle against the Fallen. With a groan, she sat up and looked out across the pale expanse to Zeke. She could make him out in the distance. The pale light from his current task shone ever still and, more importantly, with a distinct lack of demons. She sighed in relief and began to wonder how she would get back to him upon shifting her to the now-destroyed bridge. Her musings were interrupted, however, by a grinding noise.

She turned and saw that the mock angel statue was drawing in the demonic energy still emanating from the two statues, pulling it into the area that exposed its prominent spinal column. Its marble flesh began to change, taking on a pale but unmistakably fleshy tone. There was silence, and then it spoke.

"COMETH F'RWARD, ALLOWETH ME SEETH THEE, THIEF."

Gabrielle began to rise to her feet but remained silent, unwilling to humor the demon.

"THOU WOULD HOLDETH THY TONGUE? THERE IS NO SHAME IN THINE ACTIONS, ONLY IN THY RETICENCE. SPEAK THIEF AND BE TRUE TO THYSELF."

"Why, why do you refer to me as a thief?" Gabrielle finally asked the demonic statue.

"AS I LOOK UPON THEE, I SEETH THE WING OF ONE MY KIN, A BLESSED OF THE FATHER."

"A demon, the wing of a demon that attempted to take my life and the lives of others," Gabrielle interjected.

The statue was silent for several moments before responding, "WHAT THOU CALLEST DEMON, I WOULD CALL BRETHREN."

It attempted to roll its shoulders, and Gabrielle watched as the recession it was in shifted, with spider-like cracks appearing along the edges.

"HOWEVER, I BELIEVE I UNDERSTANDETH THY REASONING. WE HAVE FALLEN, WE HAVE LOST OUR LUSTER IN THINE EYES. TO THEE, WE ARE LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE SPAWN OF THE FALLING STAR AND HIS BASTARD SUCCESSORS."

Another groan and the right side of the recession shattered, revealing a proportionally muscular arm. Gabrielle took a step back without realizing it.

"HOWEVER, WE ONCE WERE KNOWN TO THINE ANCESTORS. WE ONCE LOVED THINE KIN AND IN RETURN WERE BELOVED BY THEM."

It was that statement that dragged Gabrielle's mind to a painting she once studied, of a woman pouring water while being watch…

"You are a watcher, a Grigori." Gabrielle declared with no small degree of surprise

"THEN IT HEARTENS ME TO KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL KNOWN TO THEE, DESPITE HIS WISHES. YES, WE LOVED THEE AND WERE BELOVED BY THEE. YET HE SPURNED OUR DESIRES AND RENDERED UNTO US A FATE NO BETTER THAN THE SERPENT. OUR CHILDREN WERE MIGHTY, GREAT, AND MORE WORTHY OF THIS WORLD THAN YOU THIEVING HALF-BREEDS, AND YET HE DASHED THEM AGAINST THE WATERS OF THE WORLD WHEN THEY WOULD NOT BEND THE KNEE."

The recession finally gave way, and the angelic demon emerged onto the platform. Its headless frame towered over her.

"I WOULD OFFER THEE AN ACCORD; OFFER UNTO ME YOUR STRENGTH TO OPEN THE WAY TO THE WORLD OF YOUR KIN, AND IN RETURN, I WOULD SHARE WITH THEE THE SECRETS THAT THE HEAVENS WOULD DENY YOU."

Without hesitation, Gabrielle responded, "No, I know of a path and I will walk with only one other." She wouldn't turn her back on Zeke like Ivan had. His was the way and the right path home. Even as she said it, her hands drifted down to her fans.

The demon looked beyond her and responded. "THOU ART IN LOVE, BUT IF HE CARED, HE WOULD BE HERE BY THINE SIDE. I WOULD LOVE THEE IN HIS PLACE, AND THOU WOULD KNOW OF A LOVE GREATER THAN ANY POET OF THE LAND COULD IMAGINE."

"And my answer remains the same. I am no traitor. I will stay my course. Do not interfere with our duty." Gabrielle declared before drawing her fans and flaring her wing.

The demon began to let loose a deep reverberating chuckle. "THOU ART A FOOL AND TRAITOR STILL. THE BLOOD OF YOUR KIN, BOTH MAN AND DEVIL, STAIN THY HANDS. OF GREATER IMPORT STILL, THOU HAST ALREADY BEEN BETRAYED."

"What did you say?" Gabrielle asked in disbelief.

"IT MATTERS NOT, FOR THOU AND THINE LOVE WILL FALL THIS DAY AND I SHALL RETURN TO THE LOVE OF MANKIND!"

SEMYAZA: WATCHER OF DESIRE​

In a burst of speed that shocked her, the demon lunged forward, its outstretched hands grasping at her as she unconsciously threw herself backward. The resulting thunderclap produced a sound that, for a moment, brought forth a wave of nauseating disorientation in her being. Gabrielle was not sure if it was the sound or her previously prolonged battle that caused it, but she was sure that letting it continue would not be in her best interest.

Using her wing for extra lift, she leaped over the demon before closing her fans and trying to carve down the length of its back. She realized very quickly, though, that this would be a problem. Not only did her fans lack the capability of making a truly noticeable effect on the demon's stone-like skin, but it was quickly apparent that the demon had one thing she didn't. The gouges and cracks on the demon's back began to quickly close and seal themselves in front of her eyes.

She watched as the demon turned and regarded her.

"DOST THOU THINK AN INCOMPLETE WEAPON SUCH AS THAT COULD HARM ME!? I HAVE EXPERIENCED FAR WORSE TRIBULATIONS THAN THOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE!" Semyaza roared in anger before charging her again. Gabrielle was able to dodge the charge with some degree of leeway, and that may have saved her life. The resulting pressure from the demon's movement was such that it felt like a slap from god himself. The demon twisted its upper half before its feet moved in step, and Gabrielle got an idea.

"My fans won't cause enough damage to kill the demon outright, and it regenerates too quickly to bleed it. That spine, though, if I could break it like the damned chess pieces earlier, that could slow him down."

"THOU DO NOT ATTACK? HAVE THOU BEGUN TO SEE THE FUTILITY OF THINE ACTIONS?"

"No, I was just imagining how much easier things will be when you die," Gabrielle responded.

With a wordless shout, the demon charged again, this time clapping its hands as it did so. This had two effects. The first was that it slowed Semyaza's speed, and that might have been good if it had not been for the second effect. The sounds from the claps were like an ever-pounding thunder in Gabrielle's ears.

Disorientated, Gabrielle stumbled back and cupped her hands around her ears, leaving herself open. Semyaza took the opportunity gleefully and smacked Gabrielle with his open palm. The force of the sucked the air from her lungs and sent her flying across and over the platform. There was a moment of sheer weightlessness before Gabrielle realized she was falling and righted her descent. It wasn't perfect, as she partially fell over the side of the platform she aimed herself at. She leaned forward and carefully pushed herself forward until she could safely sit.

She realized almost immediately that she was on the bridge that connected to…

*SLAM*

Her thoughts were interrupted as Semyaza landed in front of her, quickly taking a half step forward, and the shock of his landing destroyed the segment of the bridge. There was a moment of stillness between the two before Semyaza charged again. Gritting her taking and pushing away the pain, Gabrielle met the charge and decided she needed to end this battle now. Semyaza attempted to swing both arms wide in an attempt to either catch Gabrielle in a dodge or further force her back.

Gabrielle performed something else. She met the charge and slid underneath Semyaza. The demon, realizing what had happened, attempted to turn but was too slow. It felt two sharp stings of pain emanate from its spine, and unlike before, the pain did not fade. Fully turning, Semyaza saw Gabrielle and stomped. The force sent spiderweb cracks throughout the bride, and with another quick stomp, the bride began to collapse into the void. Gabrielle had leaped at the moment Semyaza's foot came a second time and maneuvered above and over him.

Semyaza repositioned himself and asked sharply, "DO THOU BELIEVE THY STINGS CAN SLAY ME!? I HAVE HEALED FROM THEM ALREADY!"

Gabrielle spread both her arms wide, and Semyaza realized that some things were missing. The Fans, where were… realization and dread dawned upon him. The pain was still there, still in his…

With an audible click, Semyaza felt a familiar degree of pain like he had once long ago. The fans were not merely stings but had lodged themselves into his body, waiting for their command. He lost feelings below his chest and desperately attempted a scrambling grip on the bridge.

"I needed a way to stop you. This bridge has been a welcome boon, all things considered," Gabrielle said softly as her fans returned to her.

Semyaza howled in agony before dragging his weight forward. "THIS IS NOT THE END! I WILL RECOVER FROM THIS!"

His rage was such that any thoughts of love he may have had towards this human were gone, and he arched his shoulders to drag himself forward, intent on breaking this human in two.

Gabrielle, realizing what sort of situation she had just created, began to quickly backpedal, her speed just barely outpacing Semyaza's. Still even as she did so, she began to notice that his rage fueled movements were causing further damage to the bridge. She could use that, she would use that.

Watching each hand come down, she began to gauge the time between impact and pull, then saw it. As Semyaza raised its right hand once more, she threw her fans at the exposed palm. They cut deeply into the stone like flesh, and Semyaza lost balance, coming down harder than intended. The bridge buckled under the weight, and the spiderweb cracks that had been forming expanded greatly. When Semyaza attempted to pull himself forward again, she aimed at the opposite hand, causing the demon to fall hard again. This time, however, the bridge broke. Without his spine and lower body, Semyaza's chest dragged the demon down, and in a panic, his fingers dug deep into whatever remained that would give purchase.

"YOU! THINE PEOPLE! WE LOVED THEE!!!" Semyaza howled as his grip began to falter.

Gabrielle stared dispassionately for a moment before responding. "God commanded you to fall once before; now I command you to fall for all eternity." She threw her fans once again, and the two sliced through Semyaza's fingers. The demon reacted instinctively and let go of the bridge before falling into the void, screaming, its voice becoming increasingly distant.

She took several hoarse breaths as she looked at the destruction Semyaza had brought before the pain made itself known to her. She clutched at her and felt them move in ways they shouldn't have. Gritting her teeth, she took stock of her surroundings and saw something that gave her hope. Down and back, close to the place she and she and Zeke had entered, there was the path that led around to the portal. It would take some time longer than she would like, but she could still reach him that…

Her thoughts were interrupted as several lesser demons made themselves known. She snarled angrily before steeling herself and taking out her last vital star. Crushing it, she felt the pain in her chest recede and exhaustion fading.

"Come to battle over the remains? Typical, I could use the red orbs anyway." Gabrielle spat before charging the horde.

One way or another, she would return to Zeke's side.

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She lost count of how many she had slain, but she knew they were more nuisance than threats. She had made it to the entrance to the previous land before her fans found themselves buried in the neck of the last. It clawed at her arms in an attempt to free itself before she dragged the fans out. The demon's head fell softly as the greater broke down into orbs. It was done, no more stragglers to get in her wa…

She heard the door open behind her and saw two figures standing in the doorway. For a moment, she thought they were demons until she realized they weren't. Her mind was blank for the most recent battle, so much so that she hadn't even realized the keening sound her fans emanated. She heard one of them ask a question.

"Well, I didn't expect this. Who are you?"

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"Well, I didn't expect this. Who are you?" Alex asked the woman, putting the boots back into his inventory and leaning casually on his umbrella, a vaguely charming smile on his face.

The figure was quiet momentarily before making quick closing motions with her hands. There was a sharp sound as two wicked-looking fans snapped shut. She placed them at her sides and calmly removed her helmet, revealing a red-eyed woman with black going-on silver hair staring at the two with dispassionate eyes. She glanced at the hole in the center of the room before taking a breath.

"So, Ivan's dead too… He should have stayed with us." She said with a small degree of sorrow underlining her voice.

Sol cocked an eyebrow and tightened his grip on Gevaudan. "I think my friend asked you a question."

Her eyes moved back to them. "Gabrielle, my name is Gabrielle. And may I ask yours?"

"My name's Alex. Currently, a kidnapped victim of whatever brought us here. If you would be so kind as to show us the exit, we're going to be on our way." He ended his spiel with a bow, half sardonic, half serious.

The way his hand—behind his back—gripped Calcabrina's hilt clearly indicated that the only reason he wasn't attacking right now was that he was still trying to understand the person in front of him.

"The name is Sol, and I've got a nearly identical story to his," Sol said, his hand slowly drifting down to Nymphaeum.

The woman smiled sadly. "I think the time for that has passed. You've already killed four of our own when all we've done is to do what we've been asked. We could have used them just as much as we could have used you to slay this demon. Don't you care? Doesn't that matter to you?" She asked before shaking her head.

"I can't be helped, I suppose. I can't let you go beyond this point. I've gone too far to allow two interlopers to stop us now." She turned away at that statement, looking past the white marble and pale expanse to a light in the far distance.

"I believe he's almost through, and then we can claim our freedom. Just a few more steps before the demon is slain."

"Wait, you really believe that?" Alex blurted out, blinking. "You aren't just paying lip service to it? You really believe that killing the demon that has brought us here with the power given to us by the very same demon is doable?"

The disbelief in his voice was both a mix of truth and a lie: he knew that they believed that, but it was such a good opening that he couldn't stop reusing it again and again. The lack of communication between the groups helped, and that was for sure.

"The demon is just gonna rip those powers from your bodies and then kill you. If removing the powers doesn't kill you first, anyway."

"You could always be lying. I've met enough people envious of life and with enough power to lie at every opportunity." She responded easily.

"But we're not." Sol began. "We've seen the shards, had them pulled from our very souls like invasive parasites. They're as real as the rest of this damned place! And you're just giving yourself to…"

"I don't care," Gabrielle said frostily. "I truly do not care. Where Zeke goes, I go!" She said, raising her voice before taking a quieter tone. "When chaos broke out among us when we were lost and confused, he saved my life; he showed us the way. I can't thank him in any truer way than by protecting him. I'll be his shield while he opens the way for as long as I can, even if I'm killed doing so."

"Way? What way!? There was never mention of a way!? You're just being used by that demon!" Sol shouted angrily.

There was a flash of uncertainty across her face as Gabrielle looked back towards the light in the distance before shaking her head. "Ways, demons… they're all the same when you really stop to look at it. Just obstacles between us and home."

She slipped the helmet back over her head.

"I'm going to help Zeke in every way I can. As long as I can repay that debt, I'll be fine with the consequences."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Something kinda special here. This is the first and only true interlude of this story, and we get to see the perspective of one of the Red Eyes. Gabrielle and the idea of this incredibly loyal warrior serving this... well, you'll all see, were fun as hell to write. Her fights and dialogue were the easiest to write and conceptualize. When we originally wrote and checked this part, the original version took a while, mostly due to trying to figure an older form of speech for Semyaza. Speaking of which, Semyaza's appearance actually came from the DMC 3 manga, as Vergil encountered several sealed demons bearing Angelic appearances distinct from the Fallen.

Obviously, the next chapter will pick up immediately after this, so stay tuned for the next battles. Enjoy, everyone!