Throughout the streets of the Big Forbidden Apple, the demon citizens thoughtlessly walked through their afterlives, enjoying the good times or passing by the little times without a care in the world. As far as anyone was aware, there was nothing new awaiting this life.

However, hidden deep below, somewhere no demon could ever find, a dark plot brews, and it all began with Lucy Deathwish, the Omen Daughter. The Devilitis demon entered the main hall where the Betrayed resided. It was empty of followers, bar a select few that stood by their leader, Father Betrayed. Lucy knelt before her father as he sat on his throne.

"You have been gone for a long time, daughter," Father Betrayed spoke.

"I'm sorry, father, I was just taking care of some business regarding one of those escaped false devils," Lucy replied.

Father gave a disappointed hum. "I asked of you to remain here. I demand you not be so careless."

Lucy lifted her head up to her leader. "But, father, I got him!" She looked down at her wrist with a clenched hand. "His blood runs through me now. There's no need for concern."

"There is plenty need for concern!" Father's voice grew. "We cannot risk anything happening to you as we draw closer to our time."

"If you're talking about that girl, I saw her while hunting for the other guy. She was scared stiff as soon as she saw me. No way someone like her poses a threat to us." Lucy recalled the blow that girl gave her at the hotel. It hurt a little more than she had anticipated.

"If her blood is as rich as you describe, then she may well be a formidable threat, and if you have encountered her, this means that she may be following you. I will not allow you to venture the surface anymore."

Lucy stood up straight and looked at her father with shocked eyes. "But there are hardly anymore false devils with blood worth a damn to find out there. I'm the only one who can easily sniff them out. You can't keep me here!"

"I must, Lucy. I foresee dark times ahead. My visions, they all include her. I am afraid you are not ready to face her. You are just not strong enough," Father Betrayed told her directly.

Lucy stood still with her mouth agape, as though she wanted to say something, but no sound came out. Her lips slowly came up into a grin, silently laughing, which grew louder with her anger. "Strong enough. You think I am not strong enough? I am the Omen Daughter. I am the key that will lead us to victory, and after everything, I'm not strong enough?" In an instant, Lucy's face contorted into rage as she turned around and kicked the seats behind her into splinters for everyone to see.

The followers beside Father flinched as her furious gaze moved towards them. However, Father Betrayed remained unwavering.

"I'm one of the most powerful demons in all the city. All of Hell! And if you can't see that, then I'm gonna fucking prove it!" She stormed out of the hall afterwards, leaving the others to face the result of her outburst.

The hooded demons looked to their leader. "Father, are you alright?" one of them asked.

"Fret not, my children. Our path is written and will not be faltered. How Lucy proceeds is her quill now. We must wait to see what decision she makes."

A few days had passed since the team of detectives' encounter with Lucy Deathwish at Harbinger Heights. A day spent following a trail that would lead to the greatest break in the Betrayed case thrown to the waste, all because they were just a little too slow.

They were all shaken up after the events at the hotel, not just because of their opponent. Those visions they witnessed, pulling from the deepest, darkest corners of their soul, and bringing them out to what they couldn't tell apart from reality, none of them knew how to progress with the new thoughts on their minds.

Everyone sat at Fetch's table, with the detective holding his head in his hands. Barb appeared to be lost in thought, while Sunset tapped a claw on the table.

"What are we going to do?" Sunset asked, breaking the others out of their trance.

Fetch sighed. "I don't know. We're back to square fucking one. That bitch beat us to it. We've got nothing now."

"What about the Blob?" Barbed Wire suggested. "Maybe he could help again?"

"The guy doesn't even remember his own name. We got everything we could out of him." The detective stood up and went over to his evidence board. "I just can't understand how these guys can operate with such discretion, yet let themselves be known at the same time. I've searched every possible place they could be, and still nothing! At this rate, we'll never find anything before our deadline."

Then, Fetch's phone began to ring. He pulled his device out of his pocket and read the caller ID. It was the lieutenant. He pressed answer and put the phone up to his ear. "Lieutenant, is there a problem?" he asked.

Sunset and Barb watched the detective as he talked with his superior. It was just a faint murmur they could hear, but judging by Fetch's increasingly positive responses, they could assume that what he was talking to him about was something good.

"Okay. Yes, I understand. I'll be over as quick as I can. Thank you, Lieutenant." Fetch then hung up the phone and turned to his partners.

"What's going on?" Barb asked.

"Someone called the station. They apparently have info they want to share about the Betrayed. Let's go. Who knows how long they're willing to be kept on hold for."

The team wasted no time getting out the door. They raced through town to the police station, scrambling their way inside to find where the call was being made. They found the lieutenant resting on the edge of a desk with a phone to his ear. He spied the trio and spoke to the caller, "Detective Fetch has arrived. I'll pass you on, now." He then gave the device to Fetch.

The wolf brought it to his own ear. "This is Detective Fetch speaking. I've been told you have information for the Betrayed case?" he asked.

He could hear a nervous breathing coming from the other end. "Yes, I escaped from them a while back, but I'm not sure how much longer I'll be safe before they find me!" the voice on the other side tried to whisper.

"Easy there, ma'am. We'll be able to protect you. Are you in any danger at the moment?"

"Not right now, I'm sure, but they'll have a way to track me down. I just don't know when that will be."

"Alright. Just tell me where you are, and I'll gather a squad to keep you safe."

"No!" the demoness on the phone exclaimed. Almost everyone around the detective could here her. "I-I'm sorry, but I don't want to risk attracting unwanted attention. If you come with anyone, please, keep the numbers low. They're bound to find me, but I need someone to know this before that happens. I'm near the warehouse by Everlost Boulevard. Meet me there, okay?"

Fetch nodded. "I'll be there as soon as I can. Stay safe." He passed the phone back to his superior.

"Need any backup, Fetch?" the lieutenant asked.

"Negative. They don't want to stand out. My team and I should be more than enough, however," Fetch explained, gesturing over to Barb and Sunset.

The lieutenant couldn't tell exactly how useful the girls were by a glance, but he found no reason to argue with one of his best. "Alright. Good luck out there, Detective."

The arctic wolf gave him a grin as he tilted his hat. "Don't worry. Today, we're finally going to be a step closer to finding these bastards."

And with that, they were off towards their next objective. Thus far, the team's efforts have come fruitless, with the Betrayed managing to stay a few steps ahead of them, but the detective felt hopeful about this call. Not just that he wanted it to be true, but that it needed to be. Knowing how much was at stake, their goal was more clear than ever. It was up to them alone that the worst would never come to be.

They pulled up to the warehouse mentioned on the call. The paths around it were packed with demons. Sunset and Barb looked around to see if anyone stood out. Meanwhile, Fetch had his eyes on the warehouse entrance. It was chained shut, but he spied an open window around the side. The car came to a stop, and the demonesses followed the detective to the window.

Before they made another move, Sunset used her devil eyes to get a view inside. "It's really dark in there, but I can see someone crouching on the floor. It's got to be the caller."

"Then let's get in there," Fetch said.

Sunset went to the window first, and locked her fingers together to create a step for Barb for leap over. Fetch followed, and Sunset was able to jump and climb over herself. As expected, the entire place was engulfed in darkness, with the only light coming through the windows.

They stepped further into the shadows, keeping an eye out for anyone.

"Is anyone there?" Fetch called out.

"Detective? Yes, I'm over here!" another voice came, sounding worried, yet innocent. The detective recognised it being the caller. The three could see something within the darkness. It was faint, but it was unmistakably a body.

Fetch walked ahead slowly, with Barb close behind. However, a strange sensation washed over Sunset. She was sure she felt something like it before. Getting closer, Fetch lowered himself to the caller's level, lifting a hand to put on her shoulder.

"It's okay, we're here now," he said.

"Yes, you are," the demoness whispered. Her worried tone vanished completely, replaced with a low, manic giggling. She looked up towards Fetch, and he could see her glowing green pupils.

Before they realised their mistake, a fist flew towards Fetch at a breakneck speed, sending him stumbling back! Sunset and Barb managed to catch him before he fell over, their eyes glued to the figure that hid in the shadows. The perpetrator leaped backwards and the flick of a switch could be heard, turning on the dim lights high above them. It was then, they could finally see who this caller truly was.

"No..." Sunset said.

Lucy Deathwish stood before them! Her stance was tall and confident, standing higher than the two that tried to aid their injured friend. The demon slowly approached them. "At last, we formally meet. How I've been waiting for this. Allow me to introduce myself: my name is-"

"Lucy Deathwish," Fetch interrupted, facing her with his bloody muzzle. "Right hand to Father Betrayed, a Devilitis demoness, and the one behind so many missing demon cases."

Lucy closed her eyes as she placed her claws on her hips. "Heh. Someone's been doing their homework. Well, I know a thing or two myself, Detective," she mockingly said. "We all know how much you put in to trying to find us, only to consistently miss us at the very last second. But I'm gonna warn you here and now, the road you walk only leads to suffering. I'd stop before it gets worse for you."

"You say that as if it's not me you wanted," Fetch replied.

Lucy clicked her tongue. "D'aww, it's adorable how important you thought you were. Luckily for you, you managed to serve one purpose, it being that it just so happened you have something I need." She pointed a claw his way, before slowly letting it drift to the fiery-haired demoness on his side.

"What do you want with Sunset?" Barbed Wire asked.

"The Betrayed have spent years preparing for a day that draws near, and I will be leading the way to greatness. All I need is to be undoubtedly unstoppable, and you are the last great hurdle before it becomes definite," Lucy explained. "Ever since we first crossed paths, I knew it was only a matter of time until our paths would meet."

Sunset was dumbfounded. Since the day they arrived to the Big Forbidden Apple, she feared the energy she felt from Lucy. As inevitable as it seemed, Sunset hadn't pondered what she would do should they come face to face again. But now, she realised how important her Devilitis condition was.

"That's why you killed Azure Wayfarer. You target Devilitis demons because you fear they'll stand in your way. So, by being the only one left, you think you're guaranteed victory," Sunset said.

Her answer only caused for Lucy to laugh scornfully. She didn't waste the opportunity to let Sunset know how right she really was. "Oh, you poor thing. I thought you were more experienced with your other side, but you're as much a false devil as any. Don't worry, though, your power will be put to good use once I'm finished."

The trio then watched as Lucy channeled her energy from within. She exuded a warmth as her skin became hard, her eyes went dark, and horns shot out of her forehead.

Sunset immediately knew the danger they were now in. The time to act was now!

"Barb, take Fetch and get out of here!" Sunset warned. She went ahead, holding an arm out to shield her retreating friends. Once they were a distance away, Sunset felt her own blood begin to boil as she underwent her own change. She still hadn't perfected her devil form, but she was able to activate her hardened skin and strength simultaneously, with her horns barely poking a few inches out of her head. Regardless, she was prepared for a face off.

Barbed Wire and Detective Fetch hung close to the wall as they readied themselves for a devil clash!

The two devils stared each other down, one appearing more confident than the hero. In an instant, Lucy charged forward, running on all fours before leaping up high towards Sunset. Lucy prepared her fist for a strike, for Sunset to narrowly block her by holding up an arm.

Lucy bounced back with a devilish smirk. Sunset tried to appear strong. Though, she feared if her enemy could see right through her confidence.

The Omen Daughter sprinted towards her prey once more, coming in for a rush of attacks. Sunset gave it her all to dodge or block as many as possible, but Lucy proved to be swift, managing to breach Sunset's guard and land some attacks on her body. For her finisher, Lucy quickly spun around, bringing a leg flying into Sunset's left side. Even blocking it, the strength was enough to send the victim down to the ground, already heaving from the efforts she was having to give.

"What's with the game of defence? Give me a fight!" Lucy said, holding a fist within her other palm.

Bringing some of her hair back over her head, Sunset picked herself back up and faced her opponent.

"Kick her ass, Sunset!" Barb cheered from the sidelines.

It was her turn to show what she could do. Sunset raced forward and showed Lucy her own strength with a punch. But Lucy was able to evade her attempt. Sunset would try again, and again, and again, but Lucy was far too fast for her to pin her down.

While she kept trying, Lucy would go to mock her by catching one of Sunset's hands. Sunset pushed her hand against Lucy's, who was even showing some struggle holding her back. Sensing the trouble her opponent was having, Sunset used the chance to throw her trapped hand to the side, sending Lucy's guard along with it, allowing her to bring her other hand up, delivering an uppercut to Lucy's chest.

Lucy was visibly winded as she stepped back. She held where Sunset had gotten her, recalling the last time this low-life had managed to give her such a blow. As much as an amateur this demoness was, Lucy knew she'd better not underestimate her.

Sunset appeared more frustrated than when they began their bout, but it would make no difference. Deathwish jumped high into the air, blocking the light directly above Sunset, appearing as just a dark silhouette as she quickly came back down. Sunset was quick to leap out of the way, letting Lucy crash into the ground with a cloud of dust forming around her.

Regaining her bearings, Lucy looked around for her goal, not noticing it coming from directly behind. Sunset grabbed the Betrayed member by her arrow-pointed tail, forcefully pulled her back and began swinging her around like a hammer toss. They both spun at a blistering speed, appearing as just a red and black blur to Barb and Fetch, until Sunset finally released Lucy, sending her flying towards the rows upon rows of tall, iron racking that populated the warehouse.

Lucy burst through the lined up rows, disappearing deeper into the building. Sunset couldn't see where Lucy landed, but she could hear a clattering coming from the back. The sound grew louder and closer, permeating throughout the entire building until it became an ear-bleeding collection of crashing metal on concrete. It distracted Sunset, shutting her eyes and shielding her ears from the agony. She failed to realise that all of the racking was toppling down like a row of dominoes, landing on top and trapping the demoness.

The horrible sounds finally subsided, and Sunset could only look up to see Lucy standing on top of the debris that held Sunset down. In her hand, Lucy held a large piece of metal, torn from one of the railings.

"Father always said to stop playing with my food, but it's too fun to resist!" Lucy said, near breathless. She held the piece of metal up high, pointing a razor sharp end directly above one of Sunset's eyes.

The enemy brought it down with the intent to kill, but Sunset was able to narrowly free her arms and catch the blade. The metal dented in her tight grasp, not being enough to penetrate her devil skin. Even in her position, the red head was able to push the giant knife back up to the wielder, poking her in the head with the other end. Lucy stumbled back with an irritated growl, allowing Sunset the chance to slip her fingers beneath the racking pushing against her body and lifting it enough to free herself.

Back on her feet, Sunset looked around, but there was no sign of Lucy anywhere.

"Sunset! Behind you!" Barbed Wire shouted.

She was able to quickly spin around, but by then, Lucy was already inches away from her, and Sunset was kicked down. Lucy flew by her, and then immediately came back, knocking Sunset on her other side. It soon became a series of Lucy returning with punches and kicks. Sunset was powerless in her current position as Lucy appeared everywhere at the same time. Eventually, the Betrayed member ended her flying rampage and wrapped an arm around her target's neck, trapping her in a headlock. Sunset attempted to pull the prying arm away, but she felt weak, and Lucy's grip was solid. She wouldn't so easily escape this time.

"I'm going to enjoy this!" Lucy whispered into Sunset's ear.

Barb and Fetch then saw Lucy baring her fangs as she spied a spot on the side of Sunset's neck. They dashed forward in an effort to help her, with Fetch reaching for a weapon beneath his jacket.

Meanwhile, Sunset continuously thrashed in the opposing devil's hold. Nothing she tried seemed to make a difference. So, she tried the last thing she could think of. On an exposed part of Lucy's arm, Sunset leaned her head down and bit directly into her wrist, managing to draw some of her blood and accidentally swallowing it. Lucy yelled in pain and immediately pulled away from Sunset.

She stood far away from her enemies and assessed the injury on her wrist, watching as droplets of blood seeped out of her punctured skin. Her arm shook. Her mind was racing. The wound closed because of her devil healing, but the damage had already been done. "What...? What did you do?!" Lucy shouted.

The moment was silent. Barb and Fetch were frozen from shock, and Sunset wiped the crimson that stuck to the outside of her mouth. It was an in the moment decision, but for some reason Sunset felt as though all of her energy had returned to her and then some.

Lucy's breathing grew. It couldn't be told whether it was in anger or fear. She was near exhausted, feeling weaker by the second. Regardless, she knew she couldn't waste around any longer. With an enraged shout, she lunged towards Sunset one last time.

Suddenly, Sunset was the one with the upper hand, catching Lucy by the arm without any kind of strain. Fear now crossed the Betrayed's face as Sunset swung Lucy over her head, slamming her into the ground. Her body caved in some of the concrete floor.

Lucy was still for a moment before slowly picking herself up with a quiet, pained groan. She looked up to see Fetch pointing his pistol her way.

"Lucy Deathwish, I'll ask you only once, and you're going to answer. Where are the Betrayed? What are you all planning?" Fetch demanded.

Lucy gave a soft chuckle, which only caused her to cough. "If I tell you, then it wouldn't be much a surprise. Isn't that the point of gifts?" she answered, much to the detective's annoyance.

Fetch held his gun closer, showing he wasn't bluffing. "Enough games, Deathwish! I won't ask again!"

The devil pushed herself into a sitting position and held her head closer to the weapon, unphased and still full of smiles. "But where's the fun in that, detective? It's not too long a wait anyway. In time, everyone will come to know Betrayal's gift."

Fetch just stared at her, confused. "Betrayal's gift? What is that? Answer me!"

"Oop!" Lucy said, playfully slapping a hand over her mouth. "Guess I accidentally spilled a bit of the tea! We can't have you go ruin the surprise, so..." Before she finished her sentence, she slapped the gun out of the detective's hand and tried going in for one more swipe at Sunset.

Her efforts remained futile, however, with Sunset grabbing her wrist, looking down with an unwavering glint. Lucy's arm hurt in Sunset's hold as tried to break through, but she was just thrown back to the floor.

"Enough, Lucy, you've no power over us anymore," Sunset said.

But instead of responding, the trio could hear the helpless demon whimpering softly. Lucy kept her head down as she began to tremble. A tear drop could be seen falling onto the floor beneath her.

"I just wanted to make my father proud," she suddenly said. The team looked at each other with surprise, then back down to her. "All I've ever done, it was all for him. As the Omen Daughter, I've been entrusted with so much power, and I pushed him away when all he wanted was to help me." She couldn't help but let gasps escape her mouth. Her small sniveling became a more audible weep. "He would be ashamed ever thinking I could be something great! I couldn't possibly show my face to him again, knowing just how much I've failed him!"

Everyone was taken aback by the sudden change in demeanour. They all mentally questioned what her goal could even be anymore, asking themselves, 'Would a psychopath like her really do all this for the sake of pleasing her father?' Even so, they knew they shouldn't show her any sympathy.

However, all Lucy needed, and got, was for their guard to be put down.

In the blink of an eye, Lucy snatched Barbed Wire by the arm and jumped towards the window they all came in through, creating a lot of distance between the rivaling devils. She held her hostage close and tightly around the neck, using her as a human shield.

"Barb!" Sunset shouted.

"You sick fuck! Put her down, now!" Fetch shouted. They both stepped forward, signaling for Lucy to visibly tighten her grip around Barb. They stopped where they were.

Despite her face being stained by the streaks of her tears, Lucy still wore an ear-to-ear grin. She heaved while staring intently at the devil who wronged her.

"How is it I can be bested by a goody-two-shoes like you? I am supposed to be the Omen Daughter! I am the key! I am perfect! Who are you?! Nothing but a disgrace to every demon with the blessing of devil's blood! I earned this! I won't return empty handed! I can't!" Lucy screamed, never averting her gaze from Sunset. Her mind felt fuzzy; she could barely even see. The one cohesive thought that crossed her mind now was the weak girl she held in her arms. Eyes still on her prize, she turned her head towards her hostage, and deviously licked her cheek with her slender tongue. "You know, regular demon blood isn't nearly as nice as devil's, but the suffering more than makes up for it!"

Fetch took notice of Deathwish's concentration on Sunset. It caused her head to slowly drift away from Barb's, leaving an open spot for him to act. He took no time to raise his weapon again and finally fire. The bullet flew towards the enemy, with her barely noticing it in time to move away. The flying lead managed to graze her cheek.

Lucy completely froze. Her grip loosened around Barbed Wire, allowing her to slip out of her arms and fall upon the floor. Sunset and Fetch immediately went to care for their friend while Lucy could only feel the strange pain on the side of her face.

She slowly raised a hand towards the sensation and analysed her fingers. Her arm shook more and more. Blood. Her blood. How could this be? A feeble weapon like that was able to harm her? She began to hyperventilate. "No... No, no, no, NO!" Lucy shrieked.

The trio looked up, seeing the terror that had completely taken over their foe. Lucy trembled as her eyes seemed to race between each of her blood-stained fingertips, and with one final glance to the team of detectives, she raced out of the window, disappearing into the city again.

The team were left in the warehouse with only each other now. They all breathed heavily from fatigue, holding each other close.

After a moment, Sunset turned towards Barb and checked her for any injuries. "Are you okay, Barb? Did she hurt you at all?" she asked frantically.

"I'm okay. I'm okay," Barb repeated. She hadn't felt that close to death for a while now, but that moment there, she felt like it would have ended much easier than last time. Her head turned over to Fetch, giving him a thankful smile. "You really saved me back there. Thank you."

Fetch gave a glad hum as he put a paw on her shoulder. "I'll do anything to keep us all safe. Come on, let's get out of here. It's been a long day."

Everyone picked themselves up, making their way back out to the city. They silently went back into the wolf's car who began driving back to the station.

"Sorry things didn't go as planned, Fetch," Barb apologised.

"It's fine. I should have realised it from the beginning, but I let her trick me and nearly got us all killed. It won't happen again, though," Fetch said. He didn't show it, but the detective was furious that the Betrayed managed to lure him out like a mouse. Even more than that, he was used to get to one of the demons who came to help him. They may have made it out alive, but because of him, it could have so easily played out differently.

In the back seat, Sunset appeared completely lost in her own world. She just stared at the passing citizens as they drove down the street, reminiscing on the events that just occurred. Never before had she felt so evenly matched with an opponent. Lucy thwarted her as much as she bested Lucy, and yet, in that moment where her pain and weakness seemed to dissipate in an instant, she was suddenly fighting Lucy without much effort.

Either Sunset somehow became stronger, or Lucy became much weaker. She looked down to her hands, making way for another thought. Maybe it was both. She began to ponder just why it was Lucy really needed her. She wouldn't stop mentioning devil's blood. That couldn't be a coincidence.

And then there was Barbed Wire. How horrible she felt. Reduced to a spectator while her friend fought for her life, then to be used as a shield, with her enemy knowing that she couldn't do a single thing about it. How could she have let herself become so fucking useless? Even with her injury, she shouldn't have let herself become so weak that she can longer stand up for herself. What would she do if she didn't have people like Sunset or Fetch to fall back on anymore? The thought would keep repeating in her mind, and she wouldn't be any close to an answer.

What was envisioned as a chance to get closer to their end goal resulted in possibly a glimpse into what might happen should they proceed. The same words from Lucy Deathwish played in everyone's heads, 'Betrayal's gift'. What could it mean? What did it have to do with their plans?

If they could never figure it out themselves, they were practically destined to find out eventually.

For now, they lived to see another day. But just how long would their luck last?

Later that night, as the Big Forbidden Apple became dark and silent, a figure leaped across the rooftops, hot on the trail of her next target. The scent of boiling copper grew stronger with every passing building. She was getting close.

She scanned the streets below for any signs of life. There were plenty of people minding their own business, but her eyes fell upon one demon in particular. With a satisfied grin, she jumped down into a nearby alley, biding her time until her prey was within reach.

The demon in question just wandered down the street, heading for home after a full day's worth of things done. They walked in view of a dark alleyway, only to her a soft clatter coming from within. They couldn't see anything inside, and was about to call it up to nothing. Until suddenly, a pair of arms reached out and pulled them inside. They tried to scream, but they were immediately silenced with an uncomfortable snapping sound.

The body was carried back up to the rooftops, where the predator would lay them flat and reveal the side of their neck. How beautiful their blood smelled, the only thought that raced through her mind.

Before long, the beast leaned in and sunk her teeth into the demons' skin, siphoning out every ounce of devil's blood as she could. When her work was finished, she released her mouth with a satisfied sigh. She could feel some of her lost strength returning to her.

The beast looked up towards the night sky. "Sorry, Father, but I'm doing this my way from now on!" Lucy Deathwish then began laughing maniacally into the night.

"Her path is written," Father Betrayed foresaw.

Author's Note

What a milestone! We have finally reached chapter 20!