Luce ed Ombra
Prologue

The Devil May Cry
[By Ultema and Guo ]




Blaring lights flashed across the floor. The resonance of sound; constant beats as the system bleated out every note at a deafening decibel. The occupants were normal people, it seemed. From purple-haired punks to red-haired ravers and everything in between like part-going office workers and club hopping teenagers, the place was packed to the brim. This place was well known amongst all sorts of people, and the business was fine here. There was never a night when the dance floor wasn't jammed packed with bodies. The Devil May Cry; a popular place for the populace to enjoy a night of music loud enough to blast the brains from one side of your head and out the other ear.

In the midst of bodies, cutting through the sea of people was one of the regulars. She didn't seem to talk to anyone, or really even know anyone, save for maybe a few of the office workers that hung out in the darker corner of the establishment, where the strobe lights failed to hit. Cinnamon-sandy-chestnut brown hair, striking green eyes and plenty of pleather in that jumpsuit, every now and again she'd stop to move those liquid curves with the music alongside some random face in the crowd, but tonight it seemed as though she was heading in a particular place. This time, she seemed to be heading off towards one of the doors that lead to the main office. The owner here was well known, and liked as it seemed.

"He in tonight?" A distinct Spanish accent flooded over a pair of full dusty-rose lips as the woman jerked her head towards the door, eliciting but a little response in way of a nod from one of the patrons.

Reflections of an unknown origin seemed to be waving back and forth, emanating from a large opaque window located next to the aforementioned door. Within was one lanky, platinum haired mess; arms dangling from the edges of a lounge chair facing the window and his head cocked to one side with a small opening in the man's mouth. A busy night? How could one really tell when they were asleep? It seemed to be the only time the owner was ever able to get a bit of sleep, and he enjoyed it, or at least that was story the drool on his office chair seemed to tell; but that was assuming he could even count on a bit of sleep during this hour, even with the lullaby of progressive house in the background.

His foot pressed against his desk in a slight spasm or dream, causing a strip or two of his gaudy red pleather coat to waver more, reflecting light back onto the window behind him and towards the dance floor. Not one to be startled easily, his body was already aware of an approaching figure, of course his mind was still in la-la-land. His door was left unlocked for any of his workers or friends who might bring him some money, or what have you, or just out of carelessness, not realizing he'd again be snoozing "on the job."

Too bad the respite was to be short lived, for a few moments more, the owner would be granted the time to enjoy his beauty rest before the sudden and very distinct sound of the buzzer at the door screeched inside. On the opposite end of things, a delicate fingertip pressed ever so tactfully upon a worn, black disk on an illuminated white rectangle; carmine nail flicking some of the chipped paint off the wall with the opposite hand, and the pleather-clad patroness stood with eyes fixed on the heavy metal door ahead.

For a few moments, the Hispanic regular allowed the sounds muffled just a bit by the wall beside her to wash over her, a few sliding movements here and there before a pair of keen eyes noted the crack of light from within. The door was unlocked. Slipping a hand forward, that massive door was pushed open with two fingertips. She'd given enough warning, hadn't she? The click of heels against the carpet drowned out by the now duller sound of music in the background, she strolled straight in, no questions asked.

The sound of the buzzer was easily over powered by the current track being played, as well as the emanating sound of snoring, yet the distinct sound of the door being opened, even so gently, didn't go quite as unnoticed. Without even awakening, the man's hand had reached for a gun holstered on his hip, and needless to say, was unable to grab a thing. He was however, able to topple over backwards out of his chair.

A grunt or three came out as he staggered to his feet like a hung over bum, a grin sweeping over his features as he the image of the one who had entered began to come into focus. The chair swung back into place with himself effortlessly placed back on his ass, he leaned back with a leg up on his desk, and arms behind his head. He seemed quite confident in his abilities … to do something. He was no rookie when it came to being suave, so it seemed.

"Ah, not so often such a catch like you falls out of the sky... and how can I help you, baby?" One gun was drawn, and now being used to pick the man's teeth, and a wink was offered over the oddly tinted pale blue eyes.

And, well, there she stood with lights glistening against the slick surface of what looked like wet rubber; a single silver zipper straight up the middle from the navel to the throat. One hand akimbo, sweeping her attention left and right to the skulls mounted on the walls around them. Not to mention the left over pizza boxes and risqué photos of women with stars on their breasts. Compared to the floor, the office was a regular wreck.

After those green hues took in all of this, the woman placed her attention back on the red-clad owner of the establishment. It wasn't every day you found a man with platinum hair, nor the charms of a troll in heat. Though that was something that made her heavy-lipped pucker turn upright at the corners. But, the whole picking-of-the-teeth thing was over the top. She had to raise a hand to cough into it, before addressing him.

"Seems you have a unique taste in decoration, Dante," Hell, everyone knew his name, regardless of whether or not they had seen him before. The hand placed to the woman's lips consulted the various blood-streaked skulls idly, before letting it fall to her side. A simple stride carried her around towards the front of the desk, where two bare arms placed themselves palm-down atop its surface, leaning over slightly.

"I need a favor from you..."

Smirk, smirk, it seemed like he made that face once to many times and it got stuck that way. A small chuckle given as he cocked his head to one side, not glancing towards his ... fine arts of the female posters which were so tastelessly humiliated. Instead all concentration lay upon the strange female getting ever closer. Dante didn't so much mind the female part, as much as the strange part. Did anyone normal ever want any normal favors from him? He could always hope, couldn't he, besides, it looked like quite a fine one to him, and he wasn't about to give up so quickly. But business came first,

"And what could you possibly need from me?" Anyone who needed to know what he really did was able to find out so easily he didn't even bother hiding it anymore. His attitude seemed to stray slightly from his arrogant flirting to more of a serious nature. He squinted as he pushed his chair back slightly from his desk, while moving his head closer -- perhaps some show of false bravery, who knew.

As his legs dropping from their place, the owner raised to his feet for a brief moment before his hands were placed flat on his desk, face moving slightly closer to the strange woman whom had interrupted his lovely dream. An eyebrow raised as his head was tilted upwards towards hers, almost in an intimidating, or perhaps, inviting way.

"Whatever it is, I promise a great performance ... " A tooth showed through his grin, he was quite intrigued, obviously ... but about the job? Who cared about the job? Unless, of course, it was a good paying one.

Not being one to stay too close for too long, Dante had already looked back to his seat, perhaps formulating a plan of retreat. A bit over-confident at times, it seemed. His attention, even with all distractions abound, remained fixed upon the one in front of him.

There was a lingering silence for the time being, almost nose to nose with the owner of the establishment, but that expression he wore was simply priceless. The corners of the wet rubber-clad woman's full lips twitched into uprising corners as she scanned over his face at close proximity. It was even then that her own expression tugged itself into a winning smile, flashing two rows of perfect pearly whites; straight as could be. Her legs shifted slightly beneath her, weight falling from left to right hip respectively, fingertips curling against the slick surface of the desk below, and carefully carved oval fingernails tip-tapped on the almost reflective surface. She seemed quite confrontational in all reality.

"Not here, though ... After hours meet me on the corner. We can talk there." Suspicious, yes, and it sounded as though there was something devious going on, either in her method of communication, or exactly what this particular job was. The green hues of her eyes disappeared partially behind their lids, one hand rising upwards to tap on the bridge of the red-clad man's nose with the pad of a solitary fingertip, then drawn up to her own lips in much a hush-hush fashion before pulling back to stand at her full height.

And so Dante again took his seat. For the time being, he liked the girl, obviously ... but who wouldn't? The job on the other hand, seemed a bit like fish. He debated not even attending at night ... After all, he wasn't quite sure if he was ready for another heart stabbing ... literally ...

He nodded with a slight chuckle -- he wouldn't even bring up the fact that it sounded strange, even for him, but then again, she didn't exactly seem all that trust-worthy in the first place.

"And how can I know that you'll show ... and this isn't going to be just a one night stand, baby? ... " He smirked, but it was a serious question. Collateral was what he wanted, even though with his hand placed on the desk, it looked more like he wanted a tip for being the doorman.

" Well, for starters --" the woman paused for a moment, tenderly grasping the zipper of the black jumpsuit she wore and let it down another notch or two from the collar bone to the beginning of a flash to the swell of moderate cleavage below. The other hand rose up and slid below the rubbery fabric, only to procure a set of keys and dropping them into the open palm of the platinum-haired man. They were somewhat old looking, with tape on the largest gold one, displaying an address in black marker.

"I'm not going anywhere without those, you know." Perhaps she didn't have a down payment at the time, but that could have been an invitation all of its own. A quick zip and the exposed flesh disappeared under the black pleather again, squeaking gently as she once more shifted her weight and cocked a hip, hand resting upon it. A wry grin passed over her thick set of cinnamon lips, and from below a barrage of hair, peridot eyes stared back towards the other.

" And, you can always come and find me..."

Dante's eyes didn't stray from the stranger's stare, surprisingly, despite the eye candy being displayed below. The keys were rolled around in his hand and his eyebrows dropped slightly to show his curiosity. It was good enough, so he thought. Leaning back in his chair, he couldn't help but think this job must have been something a bit beyond his initial thoughts. This tongue made a quick, but noticeable appearance as she was quite enough to make the job worth it -- he was quite the ladies man -- or something, after all.

"Deal. We'll be seeing each other again.." He chimed, nodding in the direction of the door. It was obvious his sleep came before entertaining company, even the interesting ones. Besides, he had a bit of preparation before the next meeting.

Shoes were flicked off, and the chair, which was obviously also a bed, was reclined. A low grunt as he settled into his chair again, the man's eyes were concealed by silver, but stared back at hers. He could tell there was a bit more to this one, just by the way her body moved. He might actually be cautious around a female for once... or at least not go rushing straight towards the meeting point without observing the surrounding areas. Scenic routes were always his favorite. His mind formulated plans of perhaps attempting to watch her from afar, if he wasn't noticed first -- after all, he was no master of stealth.

"I'll be looking forward to it --" The girl turned on her thick, three-inch heels before pausing again. This time, a glance cast over a single tattooed shoulder, pushing the hair that obscured her full vision away from her eyes, and offered yet another smile, though this time perhaps more predatory than the last few of amusement.

"Oh .... And just for future reference; I'm Isabella." Ee-Sah-Bell-La ... take note of it, pretty boy. Most men end up screaming it as their last words, but that particular little thing was to be left out of *this* meeting. After this, without waiting for a response from the other party she had taken off towards the door again, slipped out and once more merged into the crowd.